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Matilda, Lady of the English. Eleanor of Aquitaine. Queen Isabella. These are some of the most important figures of Medieval England, united by their rejection of the expectations of misogynist Medieval society. Often, we know only in detail of those high-status women who – brought into the light of history by their relationships with powerful men – are then scorned by contemporary writers and piled with stereotypes and tropes: the ‘jealous lover’, the ‘scheming stepmother’, the ‘she-wolf’. Sifting the historical record, handling the biased original sources with a degree of skepticism, and bringing out the hidden histories of Medieval women is a vital task of the modern historian. And one such woman desperately in need of this re-examination is Emma of Normandy.
Like Eleanor of Aquitaine, she was married to two kings, and her children would become part of a swirling maelstrom of competing dynastic claims as Late Anglo-Saxon England began to crumble. Yet amid stormy seas, she was not adrift: she was a kingmaker in her time. And, unlike all but a tiny handful of women in the whole Medieval era, she got to write her own history: the Encomium of Queen Emma, a vital written source for this period. It is this work which seeks to pierce the many lies and myths that would later be built around her, as if predicting the condescension to come. Ultimately, though she was not a military commander, Emma of Normandy spelled doom for the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England: it is her dynastic position that provided William the Conqueror with the vital link between Normandy and England upon which he would base his invasion of England in the fateful year of 1066 CE.
A Norman Upbringing
Emma was born in the mid-980s CE, to the Count of Rouen, Richard I of Normandy, known as Richard the Fearless. Normandy was a comparatively new state in the north of what is today France – the fertile riverlands of northern Frankia were a tempting target for Viking raiders from the late 8th century onward, and after a series of increasingly serious raids on Chartres and Paris, eventually King Charles III the Simple of West Frankia resolved to buy peace. Charles made the Viking warlord Rollo his bannerman in about 911 CE, and ceded to him land around the mouth of the Seine – in practise, this was probably land the Vikings already controlled – in return for his loyal service as a feudal vassal. Gradually, the settled Scandinavians adopted a unique cultural fusion of French feudalism and Viking martial culture – the name ‘Norman’ is literally ‘North-man’, ie. ‘the people from the North’, ie. Scandinavia. The process of ‘Frankification’ was in its second generation at the time of Emma’s birth, her father Count Richard being the grandson of Rollo the Viking. The Norman aristocracy probably remained bi-lingual, speaking both Old Norse and Old French, although they were becoming rapidly naturalized to Frankish/French ways.
Richard is identified by modern historians as heavily favouring the model of French feudalism, above the older Norse social relations. His nickname ‘the Fearless’ is well warranted – when he was still a boy, King Louis IV of France imprisoned him and moved to break up the growing power of this Viking County on his borders, but Richard successfully rallied a mob to have him released and re-installed in his father’s position as Count of Rouen. The bad blood between the two rulers remained, and Richard would defeat King Louis in battle, ransoming him in return for his position as Count. Later, Richard defeated a combined invasion of King Louis and Holy Roman Emperor Otto I – Fearless indeed! He is referred to in official documents as Count or Prince of Rouen (Latin: comes or princeps) – although it seems like these titles were rather fluid; neither Rollo nor Richard’s father are given any official title by surviving French royal documents, and it seems that over the following decades the Counts of Rouen would surreptitiously upgrade themselves to ‘Dukes of Normandy’ without ever really being confirmed as such by the Kings of France.
Gunnor: Viking Girlboss
Emma’s mother is named as Gunnor, a noblewoman from a powerful Norman family – but their partnership is quite different to the chivalric ideals which quickly took over in Normandy not long after Emma’s time. The Normans were only just beginning to convert to Christianity by the time of Emma’s birth – Emma’s father Richard the Fearless had taken a wife before, and had married her, as contemporary Christian writers put it, ‘in more danico’, ie ‘in the Danish fashion’. The Normans recognised the legitimacy of non-Christian forms of marriage, in this case likely by simple ceremony and cohabitation. But Richard had a wandering eye, and took Gunnor as his mistress – one writer recounts how Richard seduced a woodcutter’s wife, but that she substituted her sister, Gunnor, at their meeting. Clearly, Richard was not a fussy man, and after his first wife’s death, he legitimized his relationship with Gunnor. However, the pair would only seek Christian affirmation of their marriage much later in life, after their attempt to have one of their sons nominated as Archbishop was refused due to their marriage being only in more danico. Regardless, Gunnor is recorded as being significantly wealthy in her own right, and she ruled the Norman state ably as a regent whenever Richard the Fearless was absent, witnessing charters and dispensing justice. She was also a principle source for Dudo of St. Quentin, a Picard historian who spent some time at the Norman court, and who gives her a glowing depiction in his history of this period as a learned and intelligent statesperson, with a prodigious talent for languages and memory.
In this environment of a Scandinavian-Frankish culture, in which the chivalric ghettoization of women from public life had not yet taken hold, Emma had a strong and powerful mother-figure as a role model. We do not know if Emma was formally educated, but it isn’t hard to see her future power-broking in her childhood. Because even the Norman aristocracy were largely illiterate, we don’t really know the order in which Richard the Fearless’s children were born – Emma’s older brother Richard (who would take over the County after his father’s death in 996 CE) was probably eldest, and Emma may well have been the eldest daughter. Richard the Fearless fathered many children, at least six of whom were legitimate – although bastardy was not yet a serious obstacle to political ambition, and several of Richard the Fearless’s illegitimate children became Counts in Normandy and elsewhere. His daughters were viewed largely as dynastic pawns, to be used to shore up alliances and unite claims with a view to Norman expansion. Emma was no different in this regard.
A Diplomatic Marriage
The first time we can view Emma directly in the historical record is with her marriage in 1002 CE to the King of England, Ethelred ‘the Unready’. We have examined the life of King Ethelred, and his disastrous policy toward Viking raids which led to the feeding frenzy of invasions at the end of his life – but the marriage between Emma and Ethelred was one of the King’s few diplomatic successes. Although we cannot be certain, it seems that the background to the marriage is intensely linked to the problem of escalating Viking raiding on England’s shores from the 980s CE onward. In an era before the widespread and systematic usage of coin, most economic activity involved ‘payment in kind’, or barter – thus, Vikings would often come away from their raids with valuable objects (textiles, animals, arms and armor, etc) rather than actual precious metals. Having stolen (or ‘taxed’) whatever they could lay their hands on, they would need to trade for silver or gold. And Normandy, where the elite were closely related to the Vikings and many of whom remained bilingual, was an obvious place to sell their booty. Richard the Fearless, it seems, was more than happy to harbour his Viking cousins and profit from this trade – which angered King Ethelred. This dispute became so heated that the Pope was apparently forced to intervene between the two Kings, and in 991 CE Richard and Ethelred signed a peace accord known as the Treaty of Rouen – one of the first internationally mediated treaties in recorded history. Richard the Fearless apparently abided by the Pope’s admonition to refuse pagan raiders succour at his harbours, and tensions de-escalated between England and Normandy.
But Richard II, Emma’s brother, seems not to have felt bound by his father’s promises, and seems to have re-opened his ports to his Viking kinsmen. Things apparently got so bad between England and Normandy that King Ethelred even sent a punitive raid across the Channel to the Cotentin, with orders to capture Count Richard II and bring him in chains back to England. But this punitive raid was rapidly repulsed by the mounted Norman warriors – one gets the impression from the sources that this was a fairly minor raid designed to make a point as a means of setting the tone for negotiations between the two states. Richard II offered to renew his father’s pledge to deny safe harbour to the Vikings, if King Ethelred was to marry his sister Emma. The King accepted, and the pair were wed in 1002 CE.
Queen of England
Emma now became Ethelred’s queen – a significant step up in terms of her social status. She was given many estates and properties across the South and West of England, and became a significant patron of monastic and religious works. But her position – and that of the Norman claims that she represented – was far from secure. King Ethelred was a widower, having been married to the daughter of the Ealdorman of York, and they had had many children together, including at least six sons. Æthelstan Ætheling, King Ethelred’s oldest son, was groomed for succession, and their younger sons, including young Edmund, were slated to become his loyal supporters. Any of Emma’s children would come last in the order of succession, so she would have to fight tooth and claw for her sons to have any chance to become Kings of England, amid the coming storm.
We can say frustratingly little about Emma’s life in this time period: as a noble woman in Late Anglo-Saxon society, she was largely ghettoized from public life, managing the King’s household and confined largely to religious and artistic patronage. Emma and King Ethelred had three children in the early 1000s CE: Edward, Godgifu and Alfred. As the seventh son of King Ethelred, it seemed very unlikely that Edward would ever rule England, but he appears as witness to a handful of charters in the early 10th century, indicating that he was marked out for a noble title in the future. We have no contemporary sources which shed light on the personal relationship between King Ethelred and Emma of Normandy, but one cannot wonder how she would have reacted to the St. Brice’s Day massacre, when Ethelred ordered that all of the ‘Danes’ in his lands be put to the sword. Emma’s mother Gunnor was of Danish ancestry, and her upbringing was in a heavily multicultural Frankish-Scandinavian court. That said, Emma and Ethelred continued to have children in this period. Our sources become more fragmentary and confused as the Viking invasions ramped up in intensity, and so Emma falls largely from view.
Crisis and Opportunity
As the crisis of Late Anglo-Saxon England deepened, Emma’s children were all less than ten years of age, and so she was largely relegated to a domestic role. When King Sweyn Forkbeard invaded England in 1013 CE, he stopped off at the court of Emma’s brother, Richard II of Normandy – and by all accounts, he was warmly received, with Richard making a declaration of alliance with the Viking king (although one might wonder if Richard had had little choice in the matter). When King Sweyn launched his invasion, King Ethelred sent Emma of Normandy and her children back to her brother’s court in Normandy – likely to keep them safe, but one cannot imagine that this was a comfortable exile for Emma.
Raised by an independently powerful Norman mother, she may well have chafed under the more restrictive West Saxon tradition of largely invisible queenship. King Ethelred was finally dislodged by Sweyn in 1014 CE, and he crossed the Channel to join them in Normandy – one can only guess at the frosty air between Count Richard and his brother-in-law the King. But soon, news of Sweyn’s untimely and sudden death reached the Norman court, and before Sweyn’s son Canute could secure the English throne, King Ethelred re-invaded England, bringing Emma and her children with him. King Ethelred quickly regained London, and, after swearing to renounce the disastrous policies which had marred his reign, was declared King again by the Witan.
Although it is unlikely that Emma would have celebrated the deaths of the King’s other children, her hopes of a dynastic future for her children began to be kindled in this period: King Ethelred’s eldest son Æthelstan Ætheling had died during Sweyn’s invasion, adding to the four of the King’s other sons who had already predeceased him. Only Edmund ‘Ironside’ and Eadwig, the second and third of King Ethelred’s sons by his first marriage, still lived. Where years previously, it had appeared that Emma of Normandy’s line was destined forever to be a cadet (junior) branch of the House of Wessex, now things looked very, very different. Emma was in London, and had her young sons with her, whilst Edmund was away fighting the Vikings. With the King possibly already ill in this period and already examining matters of succession, there would be few better opportunities to secure the future of her sons on the throne of England – and so she began canvassing support amongst the leading nobles for a change in succession. One of her main supporters was Eadric Streona, the Ealdorman of Mercia, who had become notorious as one of King Ethelred’s brutal political hitmen.
But Emma of Normandy’s sons were still children, and the Kingdom was in the depths of a military and political crisis: most nobles likely felt it would be suicide to interfere with the succession. A strong military leader in the form of Edmund ‘Ironside’, the King’s eldest surviving son by his first marriage, was poised to inherit. However, it may have been that the King was persuaded by Emma’s arguments in favour of her children, because in this period Edmund ‘Ironside’ rebelled against the King, and moved North to set up an independent base in Northumberland. It soon became clear that the overwhelming majority of the nobility supported Edmund to succeed rather than Emma of Normandy and young Edward. The King was now ailing, and Edmund returned to reconcile with him before his death. He died in April of 1016 CE, widowing Emma of Normandy, and leaving behind two sons by his first marriage (Edmund and Eadwig), and two by Emma (Edward and Alfred).
Thus, Emma of Normandy was unable to secure her children on the English throne in 1016 CE – yet. Edmund was quickly called away to continue the battle with Canute, leaving Emma in control of London. The war between Edmund and Canute resulted in the Battle of Assandun, at which Edmund was probably mortally wounded, and Edmund agreed to partition the Kingdom for his lifetime, with the crown of all England passing to Canute upon his death. Only six weeks later, Edmund died, and Canute became King of all England. Although the Witan formally agreed to honour Edmund’s agreement, Emma of Normandy had become an important symbol of the Anglo-Saxon resistance to Canute. And so, displaying the canny diplomatic mind for which he was renowned, King Canute married Emma of Normandy in 1017 CE.
This act was a clever one. By marrying King Ethelred’s widow, he gave assurance to the Anglo-Saxon nobility that Canute was to be a continuity ruler. And for Emma of Normandy’s part, it was a move that ultimately saved the lives of her children. As we detailed in our examination of the life of King Canute, in the aftermath of Canute’s conquest he moved brutally to snuff out resistance to his rule – eliminating both those he felt had demonstrated insufficient loyalty (including Emma of Normandy’s old ally Eadric Streona), but also those who posed a dynastic threat to his house. Initially, Canute showed some lenience toward Eadwig, the only remaining son of King Ethelred by his first marriage – he was at first exiled, but later reconciled with the Danish King – but after a failed rebellion against Canute’s rule, he was executed in 1017 CE. This left Emma’s children as the only remaining scions of the House of Wessex – and though Canute wished to take no chances, he was not in the habit of murdering children. Instead, he had them sent away to foster at the court of Richard II of Normandy, where they would remain until their adulthood. It seems that Emma was separated from them for many years, and as we shall see, this may have become a lingering source of resentment for young Edward in future years.
Ironically, Emma of Normandy found herself again in a position of dynastic competition with another woman. Canute was already married – during his father’s invasion of England, he had been married to Ælfgifu of Northampton to secure the loyalty of the Mercian nobility. And again, in a strange echo of her life with King Ethelred, Canute and Ælfgifu had already had children: two sons, named Svein Knutsson and Harold (later known as ‘Harefoot’). However, it seems likely that this earlier marriage was a political ‘handfasting’ not committed before a priest, like Emma’s parents’ marriage in more danico. There is a tradition that such marriages could be set aside in favour of subsequent marriages before God – although Ælfgifu remained an active part of Canute’s growing North Sea Empire and shows no sign of being illegimitized in this manner. One might think that the politically complicated nature of their marriage might have led to Canute and Emma of Normandy being cold and distant, but contemporary sources depict their political marriage turning quickly to one of love, and the two remained very close throughout their lives. The pair quickly had two children: Harthacnut, and Gunhilda. Already, we can see Emma at the heart of a dynastic maelstrom – Canute’s sons by his first marriage, Emma’s sons by her first marriage, and their son together would all have competing claims to the Kingdom of England.
Trophy No More
However, in the time of Canute, Emma of Normandy gained significantly more power and prestige than she had during her marriage to King Ethelred. She became an extremely large landholder, possibly the wealthiest woman in England, based at a large estate in the royal city of Winchester. As well as significant jurisdictional power as a landlord, she also had a lot of influence over ecclesiastical appointments as well. Where with Ethelred she had been little more than a trophy, a symbol of the treaty of friendship between Normandy and England, with Canute she wielded significant if subtle power at court. Over time, her prestige only grew, in tandem with King Canute’s, as she also became queen of Denmark, and then of Norway as the consort of the ruler of the North Sea Empire. Unlike his first wife Ælfgifu, Emma of Normandy was not entrusted any of the Empire to rule directly – but the numerous surviving charters bearing her name show that she governed at a lower level in a practical fashion. A doubtless proud moment for Emma of Normandy came during King Canute’s glorious procession at the side of Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II during his coronation, where their daughter Gunhilda was betrothed to Conrad’s son, the future Holy Roman Emperor Henry III.
England enjoyed relatively stability for the duration of Canute’s rule, free from Viking raids and significantly restored in wealth, due in no small part to Canute’s policy of recompensing communities for the raiding of the previous decades. However, inevitably, the death of Canute would re-open the dynastic questions that the complex web of marriages and second marriages had created – and the North Sea Empire would founder on the rocks of these questions, with the Kingdoms of England, Norway and Denmark heading their separate ways. It is this period that is covered by the Encomium Emmae Regis, known in English as the ‘Encomium of Queen Emma’. It is a fascinating document: an unashamedly propagandistic telling of the dynastic disputes of King Canute’s reign and its immediate aftermath, given in the form of an encomium to Queen Emma – a Classical form of literature that aims to praise the life of an individual. The document was completed in about 1041 CE, and is a strong attempt to justify Emma’s actions during this period, and to lay the groundwork for the accession of her children by King Ethelred to the throne of England. So, where possible, I will point out the partisan nature of the sources in our understanding of this period, and the duel between Ælfgifu and Emma that it represents.
The House of Cards Falls
Thus, we shall witness the dynastic disintegration of Canute’s Empire. By the time of Canute’s death in 1035 CE, both Edward and Alfred (Emma of Normandy’s sons by King Ethelred) had grown up as healthy young men in Normandy. Svein (Ælfgifu and Canute’s eldest son) had just been evicted from his regency in Norway, due to the mismanagement of the Kingdom, and so had sought refuge with Harthacnut (Emma of Normandy and Canute’s eldest son) who was ruling as regent in Denmark. Harold Harefoot, Ælfgifu and Canute’s second son, was in England. Judging by the available sources, it seems that Harthacnut was widely seen as the legitimate successor to all three of King Canute’s crowns – but he was unable to travel to England. The mismanagement of Svein and Ælfgifu in Norway and their eviction threatened to spill over into Denmark, and Harthacnut had both hands full dealing with affairs. Svein died shortly after his arrival in Denmark, and though there is no suggestion of foul play made by contemporaries, there was clearly debate as to whether Svein had formally named his half-brother Harthacnut as his successor. Now, as the only one of the five half-brothers resident in England and the eldest still living, Harold Harefoot pressed to have himself crowned King.
But it was apparently not that simple for Harold Harefoot. The Encomium Emmae Regis, which is heavily biased against Ælfgifu’s children, states that he was rebuffed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, despite threats and offers of bribery. But the Anglo-Saxon nobility were anxious about a potential slide into anarchy and civil war, and it seems that any regent was better than no King at all. It appears that Harold was accepted by the Anglo-Saxon Witan – although a contemporary letter written by a German priest seems to indicate that Ælfgifu had a heavy hand in securing this agreement through bribery and oaths of loyalty. We are not even quite sure whether Harold Harefoot was even considered a full King, since some sources name him only as regent for his absent brother. Clearly, this confusion was all the opening that Emma of Normandy needed: with the support of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, she refused to accept Harold Harefoot as King – and in practise, a de facto partition of the Kingdom along the old Danelaw lines seems to have taken place: Harold and Ælfgifu ruling the North, and Emma and Godwin ruling the South and West in the name of the absent Harthacnut.
A Desperate Gambit
Into this unstable situation, Emma of Normandy’s two sons by King Ethelred decided to make their return to England, accompanied by a small military force. Again, this event is confused and unclear. The Encomium Emmae Regis states that Edward and Alfred were lured to England by King-regent Harold Harefoot with a forged letter purporting to be from Emma herself, bewailing them for help against Harold. Other sources give the arguably more convincing explanation that they were invited there by Emma to use as a counterweight against Harold directly. However, this gambit would fail. Whilst travelling to visit his mother, likely for the first time in more than a decade, Alfred was seized by men under the command of Earl Godwin, and was delivered in chains to Harold Harefoot. It seems that Earl Godwin had been looking for a way of ingratiating himself with Harold’s camp, showing that the mood of the Anglo-Danish nobility has swung decisively behind Harold – and so he turned on Emma with absolute cynicism.
Bearing no scruples or love for his dynastic rival, Harold had Alfred blinded with a hot poker in order to render him illegitimate for succession. The young man would die from his wounds soon after. Upon the murder of his brother, and without enough support to mount a serious rebellion for the throne, Edward fled England into exile again. By 1037 CE, it was clear that Harold had secured the support of the overwhelming majority of nobles in the Kingdom, and with no prospect of affairs in Denmark stabilizing enough to permit Harthacnut to come to England. Outplayed at the game of thrones, and stricken with grief at the murder of Alfred, Emma was forced to flee her long-time home at Winchester, for the County of Flanders.
The Fruits of Patience
However, Emma’s patient vying for the throne, which had begun two decades ago, was not over. Whilst resident in Bruges, Emma summoned Edward in an attempt to create an alliance between her two children – albeit by different Kings. Her other surviving son Harthacnut had by now largely secured peace in Scandinavia – but at significant cost. He had signed a tontine pact with King Magnus the Good of Norway: that whichever of them survived the other would inherit the other’s Kingdom. This did mean, however, that he was now free to pursue his claim to the throne of England, and so he was preparing an invasion. But Emma of Normandy could not persuade Alfred refused to participate. Sources actually say that Edward disavowed any interest in the throne of England, even for the sake of revenge for his brother. (It is in this period that Emma of Normandy commissioned the Encomium Emmae Regis). Despite only being a young man, Harold Harefoot suddenly died in 1040 CE – and the Anglo-Saxon Witan invited Harthacnut to take the throne unopposed. Setting sail with his mother Emma of Normandy, but without the support of his half-brother Edward, Harthacnut would be crowned King of England in June of that year.
With the accession of Harthacnut, one of Emma of Normandy’s children finally sat upon the throne of England. Historians assess Harthacnut as a highly successful ruler, having much the same character as his father King Canute: a fierce warrior, but also a sharp intellect capable of melding diplomacy and violence. Emma demanded vengeance for the death of Alfred, and Hathacnut had the former King’s body exhumed and publically beheaded, dumping it in the River Thames – but we can imagine that this was only but little satisfaction for Emma. But tragically, Harthacnut’s rule would be brief. The Encomium Emmae Regis states unequivocally that Harthacnut, knowing his death might be soon, summoned his surviving half-brother Edward in 1041 CE, and crowned him as his co-King. There is some hint of this in other sources – but perhaps this is Emma’s propaganda machine emphasizing what makes her children’s claims as cast-iron as possible. Regardless, Edward appears to have been acclaimed unanimously by the Witan as Harthacnut’s successor whilst he still lived – and the rocky relationship between the two brothers ended with Harthacnut’s death in 1042 CE. With the young sudden King’s death, the thrones of Denmark and Norway passed on to King Magnus the Good, as per their tontine peace agreement – thus, King Canute’s North Sea Empire broke up for good.
Whilst the sources describe Harthacnut’s death as sudden – one source has him dying of a terrible seizure after overindulging at a feast – one cannot wonder if the European aristocracy in this period was becoming dangerously inbred, with such a closely tangled web of genetic relationships. Although we have seen a tumultuous and violent period, both King Ethelred and King Canute died before they were 50 with little explanation given in surviving texts, as did several of their children: indeed, Svein, Harold and Harthacnut were apparently young and otherwise healthy men when they died. Perhaps we can chalk this up to the vagaries of Medieval illnesses and poor medical knowledge – but regardless, kingship in the early 11th century was highly hazardous to your health.
A Well-Earned Rest
Thus, with Edward’s coronation in 1042 CE, it seems that Emma’s days of politicking were over. By her mid-60s, she had witnessed the deaths of two of her sons – Alfred and Harthacnut – and the death of her daughter Gunhilda in 1038 CE. Though it is easy to see these events as mere historical footnotes, these must have been devastating for Emma, as is shown by her cold fury taken out upon the body of Harold Harefoot. A strange postscript for Emma exists after the coronation of her son Edward as King – in 1043 CE, the King rode to Emma’s restored estates at Winchester with the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria, as well as her old frenemy Godwin of Wessex. There, the King stripped her of her lands and titles, declaring according to one source that she had failed to press his claims effectively enough. This is hard to square with the life of a woman who appears to have been uncompromisingly dedicated to securing the throne for her children – but perhaps Edward is referring to the many years in which Emma was absent from her elder children’s lives, after their fostering at the Norman court, enforced by King Canute. Or maybe, Emma had indeed failed to prosecute Edward’s claim as strongly as she might – perhaps she perceived the character flaws that Edward seems to have. As late as 1040 CE, Edward appears to have been actively disavowing any interest in the throne of England – which we can hardly blame him for, after the grisly deaths of his elder brothers. Where many of Emma of Normandy’s sons were clearly immensely capable rulers, particularly Harthacnut, Edward displayed significant weakness as King: he would fail to contain the rising power of the Godwins, and would permit England to slide into chaos at the end of his rule. We can only guess as to whether Emma foresaw these flaws, and favoured her other sons before him. Nevertheless, after some time the King cooled off, and restored her to favour. She lived out her final years in a period of relative peace at last. She would have some satisfaction at least, that Earl Godwin, who she and Edward held responsible for the murder of Alfred, would eventually be exiled from Edward’s court – and though he would outlive Emma, it was only so by a year.
Emma of Normandy died in 1052 CE, during the reign of her son Edward the Confessor, and she was buried alongside her husband and lifelong love King Canute, and their son Harthacnut, in the Old Minster at Winchester. She was in her late 60s, and she had fought almost ceaselessly for her sons’ position in the succession of England for almost four decades. And she had won. Through her, William ‘the Bastard’ of Normandy would claim a tenuous dynastic link to his first-cousin-once-removed King Edward the Confessor in the tumult of 1066 CE – but Emma is so much more than a passive dynastic figure. From a Norman trophy wife, to a landholder, rebel and kingmaker, Emma of Normandy is a fascinating Medieval queen, who should be far more well-recognised than she is. Historians have noted that she is one of the first Medieval queens to be depicted in contemporary art, due in no small part to her Encomium – a vital source, and a cynical piece of propaganda, all in one. | <urn:uuid:e99849d5-48c4-4537-bcc5-5d9c503283b6> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.medievalware.com/blog/emma-of-normandy-englands-norman-kingmaker/ | 2024-12-11T18:58:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066092235.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20241211174540-20241211204540-00075.warc.gz | en | 0.983252 | 7,123 | 3.046875 | 3 |
What is the thyroid gland and how does it work?
The thyroid gland lies in the front of your neck just below your Adam’s apple. It is made up of two lobes, on either side of your windpipe, joined by a small bridge of thyroid tissue called the isthmus. The thyroid secretes two main hormones into the bloodstream. One of these is thyroxine, which contains four atoms of iodine and is often called T4. This in turn is converted to tri-iodothyronine (T3), which contains three atoms of iodine. It is the T3 that is biologically active and regulates your body’s metabolism.
The amount of T4 and T3 secreted by your thyroid gland is regulated by the pituitary gland, which lies underneath your brain. The pituitary senses the level of thyroid hormones in your bloodstream, just as the thermostat in your living room senses the temperature. If the level drops just a little below normal the pituitary reacts by secreting a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which activates the thyroid gland to produce more T4. When the thyroid hormone levels rise above normal, the ‘thermostat’ senses this and the pituitary stops secreting TSH so that the thyroid makes less T4. TSH is also called thyrotropin.
What are thyroid function tests?
The usual blood tests done for thyroid function are TSH, T4 and sometimes T3. A blood sample is taken from a vein in the arm and sent off to the laboratory for analysis. Usually the ‘free’ or active portion of T4 and T3 is measured (i.e., FT4 and FT3). Laboratories use reference ranges to compare blood test results with results in the normal healthy population. Typical reference ranges for healthy adults are:
Test | From | To | Units |
TSH | 0.4 | 4.0 | mU/l (milliunits per litre) |
FT4 | 9.0 | 25.0 | pmol/l (picomoles per litre) |
FT3 | 3.5 | 7.8 | pmol/l (picomoles per litre) |
In pregnancy the serum TSH reference range is different from the general population and should ideally be based on reference ranges derived from healthy pregnant women in the same population. Where such pregnancy reference ranges are unavailable a TSH range of 0.4–2.5 mU/l in the first trimester and 0.4–3.0 mU/l in the second and third trimesters can be used.
These ranges are only a guide and will vary according to laboratory. There are different reference ranges for testing babies and young children.
How can blood tests be used to diagnose thyroid disorders?
Your doctor will interpret these tests, together with your symptoms and how you feel, in order to diagnose whether you have a thyroid disorder, how severe it is, and how to treat it. If your TSH and FT4 results are outside the reference range your doctor may order additional tests.
TSH and FT4
If the TSH level is high and the FT4 result is low this suggests an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism) that requires treatment.
If the TSH level is low and the FT4 result is high this suggests an over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism) that requires treatment.
If the TSH level is slightly raised but the FT4 level is still within the normal reference range this is called subclinical hypothyroidism or mild thyroid failure. It may develop into overt or clinical hypothyroidism; an additional test for thyroid antibodies will help to determine the risk. Some people with subclinical hypothyroidism, particularly those whose TSH level is greater than 10 mU/l, may benefit from treatment with levothyroxine.
A low TSH with a low FT4 may be a result of a failure of the pituitary gland (secondary hypothyroidism caused by hypopituitarism) or a response to a significant non-thyroid illness
This is only used in testing for hyperthyroidism or assessing its severity.
If the initial thyroid test results show signs of thyroid dysfunction and if there is a suspicion of an autoimmune thyroid disease, one or more thyroid antibody tests may be ordered. The main thyroid antibodies are thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb), and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TSHR Ab formerly known as TRAb). There is no standard reference range for thyroid antibodies because this depends on many different factors.
Other more specialised tests are thyroglobulin (Tg) (used in monitoring people who have been treated for differentiated thyroid cancer) and calcitonin (used in monitoring people with medullary thyroid cancer).
How can blood tests be used to manage thyroid disorders?
The aims of treatment are to make you feel better and to ensure that you come to no long-term harm from your thyroid hormone replacement. The blood test for TSH, which is the most sensitive marker of your thyroid status, is used as a biochemical marker to ensure that your thyroid hormone replacement is adequate.
The recommended target range for TSH for patients on thyroid hormone replacement should preferably be within the reference range. Over-replacement may cause long-term harm to the cardiovascular system and the bones. The exception is thyroid cancer where the aim in selected patients is to keep the TSH level suppressed just below the reference range (usually to 0.1-0.5 mU/L).
Occasionally patients only feel well if the TSH is below normal or suppressed. This is usually not harmful as long as the FT3 is clearly normal. There are also certain patients who only feel better if the TSH is just above the reference range. It is recommended that each patient is treated as an individual and in conjunction with their supervising doctor is set a target that is right for them and their particular circumstances.
If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism you will start treatment with levothyroxine – a synthetic version of the thyroxine (T4) produced by the thyroid gland.
If you have hyperthyroidism the available treatments are antithyroid drugs to reduce the production of thyroid hormones; surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland; or radioactive iodine to reduce the activity of the thyroid. Your doctor will discuss treatment options with you.
At the start of treatment your doctor will carry out blood tests usually every few weeks. The results will help to fine-tune your treatment. You will normally have less frequent tests when you are stable on your treatment. In hypothyroidism, a TSH test once a year will check that levels are within the reference range. In hyperthyroidism the usual tests are TSH and FT4; how often these take place will depend on the treatment.
You will have additional tests if the results are abnormal, and you should tell your doctor about any change in your health between blood tests. If your results are normal, but you still don’t feel entirely well, ask your doctor whether there is room for a slight adjustment of your dose. This can be considered if your TSH level can be kept within the reference range. You should not, however, alter your dose without discussing this with your doctor.
Once you start on levothyroxine it may take several months before your symptoms improve even if the tests are biochemically satisfactory. This is especially the case in patients with a history of Graves’ disease who may have been hyperthyroid for many months and who may take a considerable time to adjust to feeling ‘normal’ with biochemically satisfactory tests following radioiodine or surgery.
What can affect the results of thyroid function tests?
Thyroid function tests can be influenced by medications and illnesses. Let the person taking your blood test know of anything that might affect the readings, especially:
- Any serious illness such as heart attack, infection, trauma, serious liver disease or kidney failure
- Medication used to treat thyroid disorders, especially when taking too much or too little
- Any other medication you are taking, including: the contraceptive pill, steroid hormones, anticonvulsants, anti-inflammatory drugs, lithium (used for certain mental disorders) and amiodarone (used to control irregularities of the heart beat)
When should I have a thyroid function blood test?
You should make an appointment with your GP and ask for a blood test if you have:
- Symptoms of an over- or under-active thyroid
- Swelling or thickening in the neck
- An irregular or fast heart rate
- High cholesterol (which causes atherosclerosis – a build-up of fat in the arteries)
- Osteoporosis (fragile or thinning bones)
- Fertility problems, abnormal menstrual cycles, recurrent miscarriage, low libido
- Family history of autoimmune disorders, e.g., type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, etc
- Feeling unwell after having a baby
- Planning pregnancy or in early pregnancy (and you have a family history or personal history of thyroid disorders, a past history of postpartum thyroiditis, or type 1 diabetes)
You should have a blood test once a year, or more frequently if your doctor advises, if:
- You have a diagnosed thyroid disorder
- You have had previous treatment for an over-active thyroid (radioactive iodine, thyroid surgery, medication)
- You have had irradiation to the head and neck after surgery for head and neck cancer
- Before you have treatment with amiodarone or lithium, then 6-12 months during treatment and 12 months after treatment
People with Down’s syndrome, Turner syndrome, Addison’s disease or other autoimmune diseases should also be tested regularly.
Some important points….
- Blood tests are currently the most accurate way to diagnose and manage thyroid disorders
- Your symptoms and how you feel are an important part of the diagnosis
- It is important for your health that the TSH level is within the reference range
- If you are taking medication for a thyroid disorder, there may be scope to fine-tune your treatment so that you feel better
- If you have a diagnosed thyroid disorder or have had previous treatment for an over-active thyroid, it is important to have a blood test every 12 months, or as advised by your doctor
- If you have a thyroid disorder you should have a blood test in early pregnancy or if you are planning a pregnancy
- If you are taking medication, do not alter your dose without discussing this with your doctor
It is well recognised that thyroid problems often run in families and if family members are unwell they should be encouraged to discuss with their own GP whether thyroid testing is warranted.
If you have questions or concerns about your thyroid disorder, you should talk to your doctor or specialist as they will be best placed to advise you. You may also contact the British Thyroid Foundation for further information and support, or if you have any comments about the information contained in this leaflet. | <urn:uuid:7ba09162-2656-4763-bc7c-53a6b8fdda87> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://kashmirhealth.com/know-your-thyroid/ | 2024-12-13T03:05:41Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066115574.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20241213012212-20241213042212-00667.warc.gz | en | 0.926477 | 2,321 | 3.65625 | 4 |
As regards pitch, we notice immediately that there is an enormous diversity in pitch of sounds, from very low sounds to very high. We know also that man’s ear is limited in its capacity to detect the pitch of sounds, that there are animals which are capable of hearing sounds at a pitch that man cannot hear. It would be interesting to explore how far animals’ sensing of dangers in the physical world that are movements, such as earthquakes and tidal waves etc., is by hearing. We observe a correspondence between the pitch of a sound and the location of its origin in the physical world: deep, low sounds we can associate with the ‘below’ of the earth, higher sounds with the ‘above’ of the sky. (Perhaps the phenomenon of thunder is so alarming precisely because it is a deep, low sound coming from up above us.)
The pitch of a sound being due to the frequency of the vibrations set in motion by a body resonating due to a movement against it, we notice that there are vibrations that we ‘feel’ throughout our whole body as well as hear, or indeed sometimes that we feel rather than hear. There is a certain touch involved here. This is the case particularly for low sounds. (Animals’ advantage over man for the detection of movements in the physical world perhaps lies in this sensing of movement that is closer to touch, although we should not forget that man is the animal with the most refined sense of touch.) Thanks to the intermediary of the air, a certain contact, therefore, is established between the matter that resonates when struck, and the matter of my body, with the ear being the organ of the body especially designated for the reception of sound, an organ extremely refined for that purpose, even though, as we have noted, it is limited in the range of pitches it can detect.
The pitch of a sound, then, is fundamentally to do with the matter of a body that resonates, and on the receiving end, with the matter of my own body. If we were to look more closely at how matter is linked to pitch, we would perhaps see that it is to do with the density of that matter – more dense matter resonating at a low pitch, more rarefied matter resonating at a high pitch. (Here again we come across the deep sounds of the earth and the high sounds of the air.) If pitch is to do with matter, it is also to do with quantity: larger bodies make lower sounds; smaller bodies make higher sounds. It is, very basically, the length of a string that determines the pitch of its sound when plucked, (the aspect of tension comes second, and is perhaps more to do with density?); the amount of water in a bottle – or rather the amount of air left in the bottle – that determines the pitch of the sound produced by air being blown across the top.
Types of sound
We shall begin by considering the different types of sound that exist. There is a basic experience we have of the sounds of the natural, physical world; the sounds of wind, of rain, of an earthquake, of an avalanche, of fire etc. We have seen that sound is caused by movement. The physical world is in constant movement, is constantly changing, constantly being reordered, and the movement proper to the physical world is one of corruption and decomposition: the physical world is fundamentally in corruption. The sounds of the physical world, therefore, are sounds which denote degeneration, the breaking up of an order. They are the sounds of a constant reorganisation that is one of degeneration. This is not to say that they are not pleasant sounds; we enjoy, for example, listening to the sound of breaking waves. But it cannot be denied that in listening to waves breaking upon the shore, we are listening to the slow but sure wearing down of stones to sand – listening for a few moments to the movements of a degenerative process that lasts millions of years.
It is only with the living world that we meet a movement which is one of regeneration rather than of pure degeneration. It is proper to the living being and what characterises it as living, that it regenerates itself. It has an immanence which allows it to be the source of its own movement. If the physical world ‘is moved’, the living world ‘moves itself’. The living world brings us, therefore, to sounds of growth, rather than decay, of a movement that is vital. We see that all movements of the living world, including local movement, are ultimately for the preservation of the individual by nutrition and of the species by generation. All animal cries and calls are directed to these two ends. The sounds of the living world are sounds of movements which are victorious over the pure degeneration of the physical world.
If man is the summit of the living world we also find a summit in sound at the human level, with voice and language. With the voice man has a unique way of expressing his reaction to a sensible reality. The voice is the special vehicle of man’s spontaneous expression of the passions that a sensible reality arouses in him: we think, for example, of a scream of fright, a burst of laughter, a gasp of surprise, a sigh of relief. But in addition to these spontaneous expressions, the voice is also mastered by man: he is capable of conveying meaning, in sound, using language. It is thanks to his intelligence, to his ability to make universal relations, that man has language, and that he instrumentalizes his capacity to make sounds, placing those sounds in a conventional arrangement to convey meaning and express thought. Thus man’s capacity to make sound, coupled with the sense of hearing, is at the foundation of a spiritual communication. It is thanks to the voice and to language that I can enter into contact with my fellow man, that a spiritual contact can be made with another. This is what makes education possible. This is what enables me to know the friend: without speech, without discussion, without the sharing of thoughts, ideas, of each one’s experience of reality, expressed in language it becomes more difficult to know who someone is, to know his person. Indeed, the ultimate use of voice and language for communication will be in the ‘I love you’ expressed to the friend. With this we find the summit of man’s expressing his intentional relation as regards the fellow spiritual reality that is the person of the friend, expressing the most profound vital operation he experiences, that of loving another person.
The sense of hearing and the passions (continued)
Sensible knowledge and the passions
We observe first of all that all forms of sensible knowledge give rise to affective tendencies or emotions in us. We experience emotion when we see someone we love; the smell of baking bread or brewing coffee gives rise to a desire in us. These affective tendencies are a certain tension in us whereby we are turned towards, inclined to the sensible reality that attracts us, or on the other hand we are repelled by it and want to flee it if it is an evil rather than a good for us. These emotions I experience necessarily presuppose a sensitive knowledge of the reality, obviously, and yet sensible knowledge of itself does not involve my being drawn towards the object known. The sensible knowledge I have of a reality comes from the reality itself, but the emotion I experience comes from within me; it links me to the reality that attracts me, in a link that is not a physical corporal link (implied in my being drawn towards it is precisely a distance between myself and the reality) but is an intentional, affective link – a spiritual and sensible link.
If we consider very carefully, we see that the reality I am drawn towards is not desired for its particular qualities – its colours, its shape, etc. – but is desired in as much as it is a good for me, i.e. capable of bringing me a certain perfection, a certain fullness, a pleasure. (It is thanks to the internal sense we call the cogitative faculty that a reality is grasped in as much as it suits me, is good for me, is connatural to me.) And thus we see that whereas sensible knowledge is an intentional assimilation of a reality’s qualities, and that the presence of that reality is thus a necessary condition for that assimilation, these affective tendencies or emotions are not an assimilation but a tendency towards a reality in as much as it is good for us, and therefore do not require the physical presence of the reality in question; just thinking of the person we love is enough to experience the affective link whereby we are drawn towards him. Indeed we ‘suffer’ under sensible realities more profoundly in our affective tendencies than in our sensible knowledge because in these affective tendencies we are drawn to realities as they exist in themselves which is not the case with sensible knowledge, where it is only the sensible qualities of a reality that we ‘suffer’ or receive.
The sense of hearing and the passions
Auditive sensible knowledge
Each of the five senses gives me a different knowledge of any given reality. Thanks to each sense I have a knowledge of certain sensible qualities of a reality, qualities that no other sense perceives. The reality itself remains completely unaffected by my reception of its sensible qualities; it is I who am changed by the qualities of that reality. The knowledge I have is thanks to an intentional assimilation of the reality’s sensible qualities. In a certain way, I become the qualities that I receive through my senses, as I know them. It is clear that a certain physical change occurs in the organ that receives sensitive qualities: light touches and acts upon the retina of the eye, sound on the inner ear etc. But, except in the case of touch, I am not conscious of this physical change and alone it does not explain how this physical contact becomes a knowledge I possess. It is the vital power of, for example, seeing or hearing, linked to the relevant physical sensory organ, that makes those sensible qualities I receive a knowledge that I can live of.
What, then, is the particular sensible quality of a reality that I know from the sense of hearing? My sense of hearing lets me know the sound that a reality makes, and here we must make a distinction: I know the sound that a reality makes when in contact with another reality, but in the case of living realities, I know the sound that it is capable of making alone, either bringing different parts of its body into contact with each other, or by an internal movement which produces a ‘voice’. This being the case, it is still true, strictly speaking, that a sound always involves two realities; it is one reality coming into contact with another that produces sound; water splashing onto rocks, the soles of my shoes touching the ground, the air passing over the vocal chords etc. Aristotle affirms this when he says:
‘Actual sound is always of something in relation to something and in something; for it is a blow which produces it. For this reason it is impossible for there to be sound when there is only one thing; for the striker and the thing struck are different. Hence the thing which makes the sound does so in relation to something; and a blow cannot occur without movement.’ (De Anima II, 8, 419 b 9 ff.)
So the sensible quality of sound gives me a knowledge in fact, either of two realities, or of a living reality.
"If music be the food of love, play on" - William Shakespeare
What is this power that music has to ‘move’ us? Why should music affect how we feel? What is the link between music and our emotions? We set out to answer these questions with a basic grasp of the rudiments of music theory and a lifelong and progressively more attentive experience of listening to music. There will be many questions left unanswered, but we hope at least to glimpse something of what constitutes this relation that we observe between music and the human passions, and to start to understand it.
The experience of being ‘moved’ by music
We do not have to look far in our experience to see that the power of music to move our emotions is both well and universally recognised, and even exploited. The lullaby is perhaps one of the most universal and time honoured examples of music’s power to play on the emotions; why should the particular qualities of a melody or rhythm so affect us as to send us to sleep? The twentieth century has seen the arrival of the rock genre, music which specialises in communicating feelings of angst and violence to the listener. Why should music have the power to do this with such effect? In the same century we have also observed that the same series of visual images accompanied by different music produces very different emotions in the viewer (we think of the importance accorded to the soundtrack by film directors). Why should it be the music that affects our emotions more than the image?
In all cultures, different types of music have always been considered appropriate for different occasions – for a funeral, for example, or a coronation. How is it that particular music can suit the feelings of a specific occasion? Or even of a time of day? Grieg’s Morning Suite, for example, is well named for the sense of freshness and burgeoning hope it conveys, whereas a Chopin Nocturne creates an atmosphere of pensive solitude and calm. How do they manage to do this? We think also of how different types of music have been developed in different cultures – the particular musical modes adopted in China or India for example, or the highly developed rhythms and harmonies on the African continent; what is the link between the temperament or character of a people and its music? | <urn:uuid:d4b94492-2f13-4fd1-a323-a32f0e7b9485> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://stjan.org/nl/jac/johannesblog/itemlist/tag/body.html | 2024-12-07T23:40:09Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066433271.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20241207224914-20241208014914-00268.warc.gz | en | 0.966671 | 2,837 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Finland is Europe’s most heavily-forested country. Forests as defined by the FAO cover 23 million hectares or 74.2% of the land area.
In Europe, Finland is a “forest giant”, there being over sixteen times more forest per capita than in European countries on average. Finland’s forests have been intensively harvested over the last few decades. Despite the loss of land after the last wars, its forest reserves are now greater than ever before in the 20th century, and they are continuing to grow.
Finland’s forests are probably the most intensively studied in Europe. Since the beginning of the 1920s, they and especially the wood resources that they contain have been inventoried and monitored in a great variety of ways. The inventory system now in use incorporates about a hundred variables, which relate not only to the volume and composition of wood resources, but also to such matters as soil, vegetation cover, and the health of trees. Few non-experts taking a stroll in a Finnish forest are very likely to realize that the ecosystem surrounding them is the subject of such precise monitoring and statistical recording.
The total volume of a stock in Finnish forests amounts to nearly 2 billion cubic meters. This amount of timber would make a 10-meter wide and 5-meter high wall around the globe.
For as long as there has been an independent Finland, the increment of stock has exceeded harvesting volumes and natural drain. Today the annual increment is about 75 million cubic meters, whereas around 60 million cubic meters or less are harvested or die of natural causes. Of the total logged area, regeneration felling accounts for roughly one-third and thinning two-thirds.
Geographically, most of Finland is situated at a latitude of between 60 and 70 degrees north. A significant area extends north of the Arctic Circle. The climate in Finland and Scandinavia is influenced by the Gulf Stream bringing warm water from the Atlantic. Thanks to this, there are forests even in the northernmost parts of Finland. Areas located equally far north in Russia and North America are mainly tundra, a treeless wasteland, because of the cold climate.
Winters in Finland are quite mild, and summers are temperate although of short duration. In the south, winter lasts about three months, in the north about six months. In wintertime, the ground is covered by snow, and temperatures usually drop below zero degrees centigrade. Despite the briefness of summer, there is a lot of light, enabling an intensive growing season.
Precipitation is sparse: on average 700 mm in southern Finland and 400 mm in the north. About half of this is snowfall. Around late winter, there can be more than a meter of snow in Lapland, less in the south. Many organisms would not survive the winter without the sheltering snow; the roots of plants would freeze and the cold would kill the animals moving at ground level.
Finland lacks real mountains but, on the other hand, the terrain is not altogether flat, either. The bedrock and the soil in general have been formed by the ice ages. The inland ice has eroded the bedrock, scraping off soil from here and leaving heaps there. In places, the rock is totally exposed. The tens of thousands of lakes in Finland are post-glacial. Another unique phenomenon, land elevation, is also an effect of the glaciers. Finland is rising from the Baltic Sea at an annual rate of 0.5-0.8 cm, which means that its land area is continuously growing.
Various kinds of peatlands are a fundamental element of the Finnish landscape. In the cool and humid climate, the soil becomes waterlogged, which creates the right conditions for peatland vegetation and the formation of peat. Originally, about one-third of Finland was covered by peatlands. They have been drained for farming, forestry, and peat extraction purposes. About half of the original peatland area has been preserved in its virgin state.
There are about twenty indigenous tree species growing in Finland, the most common ones being pine (Pinus silvestris), spruce (Picea babies), and birch (Betula pendula and B. pubescens). Usually, two or three tree species dominate a forest. Naturally pure pine stands are found in rocky terrain, on top of arid eskers, and on pine swamps. Natural spruce stands are found on richer soil. Birch is commonly found as an admixture, but it can occasionally form pure birch stands.
About half of the forest land area consists of mixed stands. Rarer species are found mostly as solitary trees. The southwestern corner and the south coast of Finland are touched by a narrow zone growing oak, maple, ash, and elm.
Finnish forestry aims at imitating natural succession. Here it is quite unproblematic to practice near-nature forestry: the commercially valuable tree species belong to Finland’s natural flora and can be grown on their natural sites. Forest regeneration is comparable with forest fires or storms, and intermediate felling resembles natural thinning.
The forests have managed a compartment at a time, i.e. felling or management work is directed at a part of the forest with a homogenous tree stand. The average size of a compartment is less than two hectares. Even a natural forest has a certain mosaic-like structure: young stands here and more mature ones there. Forests are allowed to grow between 60 and 120 years, depending on the tree species and the composition of the site.
Rather than being systematic and dull, the forests are rich in variety and subtlety of detail. Especially in the southern and central parts of the country, one can find a great variety of forest types within even a small area: dense stands of spruces, pines scattered thinly on poor, healthy soils, clearcut areas, scrub in river and stream valleys and stunted growth in valley bogs.
Individual hardwood trees grow scattered among conifers and here and there one finds homogeneous stands of white birches. The trees also vary widely in age. They are not monocultures, nor do the trees stand in straight, evenly-spaced lines.
Yet Finnish forests could not be said to be in a natural state, either. Agriculture, tree harvesting, and active silviculture have been reshaping forests through the ages. As a rule, not even the oldest and apparently most natural forests prove to have remained completely untouched by the woodsman’s axe when one looks two or three centuries back into their history. Prolonged use has gradually made the forests more uniform and consistent in character.
In the 20th century, foresters have favoured conifers, especially pine, at the expense of other species. The oldest generations of trees have been gradually felled and the forests have in general become younger. Forestry and forest roads have fragmented large contiguous wilderness areas. Forest fires and other natural disasters have been largely prevented, and effective management has increased growth rates. Managed commercial forests of this kind now cover over 90% of Finland’s productive forest land.
If you’re interested in finding out more about boreal forests you could always go to our website, as it has many posts regarding all the useful information about forests you’ll need.
Forests have been Finland’s most important natural resource for centuries. In the 17th and 18th centuries, those in the southern regions of the country yielded wood for shipbuilding, whilst further inland they were slashed and burned to provide temporary cropland or provided the raw material for pine tar. The 17th century saw Finland become the world’s leading tar producer.
The scale on which wood was being consumed attracted the attention of the powers-that-be in Sweden, of which Finland was then part, and around the middle of the 17th century the Riksdag passed legislation making it more difficult to obtain permission to open a sawmill. This step was taken to ensure that there would be enough charcoal to meet the needs of ironworks. The primary goal of later forest legislation was to ensure an adequate supply of raw materials for the wood-processing industry.
The Finnish wood-processing industry began with sawmilling, but the main emphasis nowadays is on pulp and paper. The forest products industry as a whole is second only to metal products as an export sector. It uses an enormous volume of wood, but nevertheless, the amount fell in the country’s forests each year is no more than it was in the 1930s. That is because a lot of wood was used as fuel in the early decades of the 20th century.
As a result of improved forestry methods and bog drainage, our forests nowadays contain more wood than they did sixty years ago. And that in spite of the fact that the territories that Finland had to cede to the Soviet Union at the end of the Second World War contained over an eighth of our total forest area and in excess of a fifth of our best saw-timber stands. Bog drainage reached a peak in the 1970s when nearly one percent of the country’s total land area was being drained each year. All in all, more than half of the original total bog area has been drained in the course of the centuries
The wide variety of topography and growing conditions in Finland has mitigated forests becoming uniform, cloned monocultures. Another factor explaining the mosaic patterns and fragmentation that are features of forests everywhere in Finland is ownership. Although the King declared away back in the 16th century that all of the uninhabited wilderness areas in the country belonged to the Crown, much of the land was later given to existing estates or to newly-established ones for a variety of reasons.
Today, private persons own nearly 60% of the Finnish forests and one in five of the national population belongs to a forest-owning family. The average size of a private forest holding is 30 hectares. With everyone tending and felling his or her own trees, which are often growing on several scattered lots, extensive uniformly-managed areas of forest have not come into being.
Family forestry is the cornerstone of Finland’s forestry. Three-quarters of the wood raw material used by industry comes from private forests. Ownership is divided over a broad spectrum of the population, with every fifth Finnish family owning some forest.
The interest that private owners take in their forest holdings goes well beyond income from selling wood. For many, the home forest is their childhood landscape, which they would like to preserve in as unchanged a state as possible. Other important values are biodiversity and the berries, mushrooms, and game that the forests provide. Values other than wood production have likewise begun to be strongly emphasized in national policy on forests. After a long public discourse on the matter, the legislation dealing with this sector was thoroughly revised in the 1990s.
An environmental program for forestry was adopted in 1994. It was based on two international documents: the set of forest-related principles approved at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 and the general principles for sustainable forestry adopted at the second meeting of European forest ministers in Helsinki the following year. With the adoption of the environmental program and the entry into force of the new legislation, the goal of Finnish forestry became one of not only ensuring a sustainable economic return but also preserving biodiversity and facilitating multiple uses of forests.
The goal did not remain merely an aspiration expressed on paper. Four years after the adoption of the environmental program, we can see that much progress towards the sustainability stipulated in it has been made. This is reflected on the ground in the almost total abandonment of heavy-handed practices like bog drainage, deep plowing of forest soil, and using herbicides to kill undergrowth.
Habitats of importance for the preservation of biodiversity have been excluded from forestry and felling operations, and both living and dead trees have been left in felled areas. Natural regeneration of trees has increased in importance relative to planting nursery-grown seedlings and more attention is paid to preserving forest landscapes.
The aim is that ecological landscape plans will have been drafted for all significant contiguous areas of state-owned forest by the end of the year 2000. Regional programs and holding-specific plans with the aim of ensuring economically, ecologically and socially sustainable forestry practices are being drafted for private forests.
Endangered Species in Finland
If the development remains as positive as it has been up to now and the goals are achieved, the Finnish forest environment will offer more richly varied landscapes and habitats for a greater variety of flora and fauna. The threat that forestry poses to both will decline. For the moment, however, forestry is still a greater threat to the preservation of species than any other human activity.
One reason for this is that about half of the plant, animal and fungus species found in the country live in forests. Of the various threatening factors attributable to forestry, the most important are changes in the ratios of tree species to each other, which mainly means a decline in the proportion of deciduous woodland containing stout trees and decaying trunks. Both of these problems are now gradually easing.
There are about 3,000 threatened species in the Nordic region. According to OECD, Finland and Sweden are among the countries in Western Europe that have the smallest number of threatened species, regardless of whether plants, insects, fungi, birds, etc. are concerned. The situation is not critical for most of them. The list of endangered species in Finland contains about 1,700 plants, animal, and fungus species, of which 138 are feared extinct.
The vertebrates that have made it into the Red Data Book include all four of our large predators: the bear, the wolf, the wolverine and the lynx. Hunting restrictions and active protection have improved the position of these animals in recent years. Bears and lynxes now number nearly a thousand each. Wolves and wolverines each number 150 or so.
Populations of some birds of prey have likewise revived markedly in recent decades. The number of breeding pairs of sea eagles has grown from under ten in the 1970s to about 140 now, largely thanks to winter feeding. One of the biggest success stories of them all is that of the whooper swan, Finland’s national bird. Only 15 pairs were nested in Finland in the 1950s; now there are 1,500 pairs.
However, there is a risk that some of the most threatened species will die out in the near future if the factors putting them at risk are not removed, or if conditions conducive to their survival are not created.
Their long-term survival is not regarded as secure if their total number is small, or if their habitats are threatened in the long term.
Approximately half of the threatened species are found in forests. Forest companies in the Nordic countries are therefore working intensively to ensure both the short and long-term survival of the species in their forests. This involves personnel correctly locating those habitats that threatened species need for their survival. These places then receive special care and attention.
Some species have, however, become extinct in the Nordic countries during the last few hundred years. There are many reasons for this, such as changes in agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, and air and water pollution.
For many hundreds of years competition between predators and humans was intense. The predators took livestock and as a result, many birds of prey and other predators became threatened. Through active conservation policies, these predators have in recent years increased in number and their numbers are still growing.
For example, the wolf population in Sweden has grown from a few individual animals at the beginning of the eighties to over 40-60. Growth trends for total populations, taking Sweden and Finland as a whole, are similar for lynx, bears, and wolverines. The latest figures (1996) show that in Finland and Sweden there are altogether approximately 2,200 lynx, 1,800 bears, 150 wolves, and 360 wolverines. Government authorities are monitoring the population and hunting, if allowed, is strictly regulated.
More Parks and Nature Reserves
Finland has 30 national parks with an area of 6,743 km2. Together with other nature reserves, the total protected area amounts to approximately 29,000 km2, or about 9% of the total land area of Finland.
To this is added the nature reserves and other areas which are increasingly being provided by private forest owners, from individual forest owners to large forest industry companies.
Protecting habitats either totally of partially from human activities is the main way in which an effort is being made to improve the situation of endangered species and encourage biodiversity.
Where forests are concerned, this mainly means protecting the remaining old-growth stands and broadleaf woodland growing on rich soil, because these are the habitats that have been declining most rapidly.
The Government adopted a special protection program for old-growth forests in 1996. Another program to protect broadleaf woodland has been in effect since the late 1980s. All in all, there are ten or so programs designed to protect various types of natural features and areas.
The aim is that they will extend protection to 3.1 million hectares of land and water, some ten% of the national territory, by the year 2007. About 2.7 million hectares had been included in the programs by the beginning of 1999.
One of the obstacles in the way of designating protected areas is that very strict limitations on the ways in which they can be used are generally set. When land remains in the possession of private owners, they are paid compensation for these restrictions.
The main rule is, however, that the State acquires land intended for inclusion in protection programs. There are also elaborate arrangements for consultation with landowners during the planning stages of protection programs. This process of consultation was followed when the areas for inclusion in the Finnish Natura 2000 scheme were being designated.
The planning work for Natura was exceptionally thorough and took place in several stages, which was partly due to the fact that several thousand private landowners were affected. Besides that, very ambitious goals had been set for the program and every effort was made to implement it in a way that would optimize prospects of their being achieved.
More than 1,450 areas totaling nearly 4.8 million hectares have been proposed for inclusion in Natura 2000. Three-quarters of this is land and the remainder water bodies. Most of the areas are already protected, being national parks or wilderness.
The largest category of protected areas are the wildernesses in Lapland. Unlike the other areas, they have been established under a separate Act of Parliament. They cover a total of nearly 1.4 million hectares of forest, bog and treeless Arctic fells in the northernmost part of the country.
Provided it is done carefully and within pretty strict limits, forestry is permitted in some parts of these wilderness areas.
The total area under nature protection in Finland, January 1998 | |
National parks | (hectares) |
Nature reserves | 689,1 |
Peatland areas | 149 |
Bird waters | 588,3 |
Shore lands | 83 |
Herb-rich forests | 145,5 |
Old-growth forests | 5,2 |
Special protected areas | 344,1 |
Other protected areas on private land | 44,8 |
Wilderness areas | 15,1 |
Total | 1,377,800 |
New National Forest Policy and Program
Finland has in its national forest policy sought long-term solutions, the most important program being Finland’s National Forest Program, sanctioned by the Government in March 1999. The NFP is the most comprehensive Finnish forest program to date. It recognizes the economic, ecological, social and cultural aspects of the sustainable utilization of the forests. In addition to national needs, it also meets the new demands of international forest policy.
The NFP is the most representative example of how different groups of the public can be incorporated into decision-making. The NFP work was based on the regional forestry programs, on the one hand, and on the other ideas and initiatives received from various parties and at numerous information and feedback meetings. While preparing the program, the working groups consulted 38 experts, and the NFP was discussed in 59 Public forums with almost 3,000 participants. The public were also given the opportunity to influence the preparatory work via the Internet.
The NFP’s goals are to increase the industry’s annual consumption of domestic wood by 5-10 million cubic metres by 2010, double the wood processing industry’s export value and increase the annual use of wood for energy to 5 million cubic metres. In addition to this the State will, in collaboration with forestry companies and businesses, ensure competitive conditions for the forest industry, such as supplying energy at a competitive price, and launch the technology and development programs needed for promoting the wood processing industry and wood-based energy production.
Based on the Environmental Program for Forestry, the NFP secures ecological sustainability in ecosystem management by proposing more funding for this. Ratified protection programs on private land will be implemented. A broad-based new working group will assess the need for protective measures, based on research, and draw up a forest protection program, observing the economic and social aspects, of southern Finland, the western parts of the Province of Oulu and the southwestern region of Lapland.
Furthermore, the NFP recognizes and promotes in conjunction with forests utilization and protection the multiple-use of aspect, including hunting, reindeer husbandry, wild mushroom and berry picking, scenic and cultural values, recreation, and tourism. Forest-related know-how and innovations are advanced by intensifying research, the implementation of results, and training. The interaction between the producers and consumers of information is boosted by creating an Innovation Forum. An internationally active forest policy, forest research and training cooperation, and forest and environmental information are the means to secure Finland’s interests and promote sustainable forestry.
Finland is heavily dependent on the forest and the good condition of forest ecosystems; one third of the country’s export earnings come from forests.
For several decades now, Finland has been concentrating on sustainable timber production and the health of the forests to create the foundations for the sustainable use of the latter. Sustainable economic use of the forests paves the way towards, and provides resources for, the safeguarding and enhancement of the ecological and social sustainability of the forests as well. Ecological and social sustainability nowadays is just as important as sustainable timber production. With this in mind, Finland has reformed the most important Acts applying to the forests, as well as the forest management guidelines, in the course of the 1990s.
Finland drew up a forestry environment program in 1994. At the beginning of 1999, a National Forest Program emerged to guide the activities of the entire forest sector. Criteria have been laid down in Finland as a basis for forest certification. Using these criteria it is possible to evaluate the achievement of sustainable forestry in practice. As an EU member state, Finland actively participates in the Union’s forest affairs. EU decisions affecting forestry and the forest industry are of immense importance to Finland since the country’s economy is much more heavily dependent on forests than that of other member states.
Forest Industry in Finland
For decades, the forest industry has been the backbone of Finland’s national economy. The solid foundation of the Finnish industry is the industrial manufacture of forest-based products, which has its roots in the 19th century. The export income of the wood processing industry and the employment it offers have maintained a fairly constant economic growth.
Forest industry production in Finland increased by nearly 5 % in 2000. Production rose to record levels in every main category. Plywood production showed the fastest growth, rising by over 8% compared with the previous years. Production totaled about 1.2 million cubic meters. Sawnwood production rose by nearly 5%. Production in 2000 reached a record 13.3. million cubic meters. Paper and paperboard production reached in 2000 a record 13.5 million tons, up 560,000 tons or 4.3 compared with the previous year.
The forest industries’ annual consumption of domestic roundwood amounts to more than 50 million cubic meters; of this 30 million cubic meters are used in chemical and 20 million cubic meters in mechanical processes. The chemical wood processing industry produces paper and board, chemical/semi-chemical pulp, and ground pulp; the paper and board converting industry also belongs to this category. The mechanical wood processing industry produces sawn timber, plywood, chipboard, fibreboard and building timber.
Paper and Paperboard Production in Finland in 2000: | |
Total | 13.5 million tons |
mechanical pr&wr-paper; | 5.3 m.t. (40%) |
woodfree pr&wr-paper; | 3.0 m.t. (22%) |
newsprint | 1.4 m.t. (10%) |
paperboard | 2.8 m.t. (20%) |
other paper | 1.0 m.t. (7%) |
The wood-processing industry makes good use of raw materials. Timber logs are either sawn or veneered to make plywood. Pulp wood is processed into pulp and paper. The topmost part of the tree trunk is chipped for energy production or left to decay in the forest where the nutrients are released back into the ground to fertilize the remaining trees. Sawmills and plywood factories turn about half of the raw material into final products; sawmill waste, i.e. chips, is sold to pulp and paper mills, whereas bark and sawdust are used for energy recovery.
One method of exemplifying the importance of the forest industry to the Finnish national economy is to refer to its export value. Finnish export has relied heavily on forest industry products: as late as 1970, roundwood and forest industry products constituted more than half of Finland’s total export of goods. Today, forest industry products still account for about 30 % of total exports.
Over the years, Finland’s foreign trade has grown more varied, and forest industry products are now rivaled by products of the metal and electronics industries.
In 2000 the export value of forest industry products was 68.2 billion Finnmarks (EUR 11.47 billion). About 80 % of this sum was brought in by pulp, paper and paper products, and 20 % by timber and wood products.
Production has become more diversified, and the degree of processing is higher. The export of printing and writing paper has grown rapidly since the mid-1970s, while the export of newsprint has remained more or less at the same level. The import value was 7.1 billion Finnmark. Most of it was roundwood, wood residues, and sawn goods.
Forest industry production has a remarkably high degree of domestic origin. The industry’s primary raw material, wood, is mainly of Finnish origin as is the energy. On average, only around 16 % of production needs have to be met by imports.
Global roundwood production in 1997 (million m3 under bark): | |
Industrial wood | 1 525 |
Fuelwood & charcoal | 1 857 |
1 857 | |
Hardwood | 2 266 |
Softwood | 1 116 |
3 382 |
The total value of the global export trade of forest products amounted to US$ 136.3 billion (f.o.b) in 1997, of which Finland’s share was 7.6 %.
The accrued income from logging and forest haulage contracts contributes more than one billion Finnmarks (EUR 168 million) to the Finnish national economy. Much of the harvesting is carried out mechanically, and only some thinning and felling for special purposes is done manually. Forest industry companies generally buy their timber as standing sales, i.e. the company takes care of the logging. The forest owner can also opt for delivery sale, carrying out the felling himself and delivering the timber to a roadside landing.
In Finland, logging is based on the so-called assortment system. This means that a tree trunk is cut immediately after felling into saw-timber and pulpwood, based on its quality and diameter. The butt end of a large tree gives about 2 or 3 logs which can be used for saw-timber, whereas the top is used for making pulp and paper. The thinnest part of the tree top can be used for energy.
Roundwood transports constitute a major part of all haulage on Finnish roads. Haulers and their employees transport about 60 million tons of timber annually, and for this, the forest industries pay more than one billion Finnmarks (EUR 168 million). Timber is also transported using waterways and railways, to the total value of about 300 million Finnmarks (EUR 50 million) annually.
Product Development Gives Added Value
There are more than 150 industrial sawmills in Finland and thousands of small gang mills. The total annual production of sawn wood is more than ten million cubic meters. The largest sawmills are truly high-tech, almost all automatic. They export three-quarters of their production. Small and medium-sized enterprises produce timber mainly for the domestic market. Their primary raw material is spruce or pine. Nowadays, sawmills can process smaller logs than before, and the raw material is used with better efficiency.
There are 16 plywood factories in Finland. They use birch and spruce logs as raw materials. Birch is used, for example, for high-quality plywood for airplanes. Other products of the wood board industry are chipboard and fibreboard. There are four chipboard factories in Finland and two fibreboard factories. Their products are sold mainly on the domestic market.
Forest industry production in Finland in 2000 | ||
Coniferous sawwood (est.) | Unit 1000 | 2000 |
Plywood | cu mtrs | 13320 |
Chemical pulp | cu mtrs | 1167 |
– softwood bl. | ||
– hardwood bl. | tons | 7101 |
Other pulps | tons | 3496 |
tons | 2898 | |
TOTAL PULP | tons | 4810 |
Paper | tons | 11910 |
– Newsprint | ||
– Other Printing&Writing; paper | tons | 10758 |
– Mechanical P&W; | tons | 1394 |
– Woodfree P&W; | tons | 8354 |
– Kraft paper | tons | 5348 |
– Other paper | tons | 3005 |
Paperboard | tons | 528 |
tons | 483 | |
TOTAL PAPER | tons | 2751 |
tons | 13509 |
Source: Finnish Forest Industries Federation
The mechanical wood processing industry accounts for about one-fifth of the total export value of manufactured wood. The objective is to advance the degree of processing within the sawmill and board-manufacturing industries and thus increase the export value of products. Examples of highly developed products are laminated timber, special veneer, thermo-treated wood, and components for the furniture industry. The chemical wood processing industry uses smallwood from logging plus chips from sawmills and recycled fiber. In Finland, the industry is highly integrated: next to the pulp mill normally stands a paper mill that refines the pulp into paper.
The raw material used in pulp and paper mills is mainly pine, spruce, and birch, and nowadays also aspen. Softwoods give the long-fiber pulp or groundwood pulp needed for the production of newsprint. Printing and writing paper are today the central products of the Finnish chemical wood processing industry. Shorter hardwood fibers, for example, birch, have proven to be suited to the production of these papers.
Finns have recycled paper waste since the 1920s. Today more than 60 % of paper consumed is recovered and recycled. As only one-tenth of the production of the chemical wood processing industry is consumed domestically and most is exported to Europe, Finnish forest industry companies have founded plants using recycled fiber pulp in various European countries.
The Forest Cluster – a strong concentration of industry know-how
A cluster enterprise offers expert services, makes forestry-related machines or parts thereof, produces chemicals, or offers services related to forestry work or transportation. The Forest Cluster also includes producers of forest industry chemicals, automation enterprises, packaging and printing, energy producers and logistics companies.
In the early 20th century, the Finnish forest industry depended almost completely on foreign manufacturers of machines and equipment, although there was some domestic metal industry that could cater to the forest industry. After the end of World War II, the metal industry’s production gained momentum and variety due to the war reparations. The production of machines and equipment became more diversified and know-how rose to an internationally competitive level. Today almost one fifth of the metal industry’s production consists of machines and appliances for the Forest Cluster. The cooperation and partly joined product development between the forest and metal industries have given both parties a competitive edge, making many of their products world market leaders.
The turnover of the Forest Cluster is roughly 140 billion Finnmarks (EUR 23.5 billion); forestry contributes 10 billion Finnmarks (EUR 1.7 billion), the forest industry 100 billion Finnmarks (EUR 17 billion), and machines and other equipment 30 billion Finnmarks (EUR 5 billion). Forestry and the forest industry employ about 100,000 people, the rest of the cluster about 50,000 people. The Forest Cluster’s share of Finland’s GDP is about 10%, industrial production 30%, and of the export income nearly 40 %. The average annual increment of the Forest Cluster is 3-4%.
One of the strengths of the Forest Cluster is its wood supply which is based on family-run forestry. The competitive power of the Cluster is based on the interaction between its various sectors and businesses as a source of knowledge, skills, innovation, and development. Thus the Forest Cluster is one of the strongest concentrations of Finnish know-how. Research and training, which constitute a fundamental part of the Cluster, are important for its innovative and developmental power. The total input of the Cluster into R&D; is substantial, about 1.5 billion Finnmarks (EUR 250 million).
Wood – ecologically sound energy
One of the objectives of Finland’s National Forest Program 2010 is to increase the consumption of wood for energy by 5 million cubic meters annually. Ecologically, wood is a fairly unproblematic energy source, which in every way boosts sustainable development. Wood is a renewable natural resource, which when burnt does not cause many harmful emissions. The carbon dioxide released when burning wood is taken up by the growing forests. Wood as fuel also helps us to avoid fossil fuels. The ashes and its nutrients can be returned to the forest.
At present, about 20% of the total energy production of Finland is based on wood, which is a high figure in terms of global comparison. The industry produces about 80 % of wood energy by burning black liquor, a by-product from pulp mills, and sawdust and chips from the wood processing industry. As far as energy is concerned, pulp mills are completely self-sustaining and even able to supply other plants with energy.
Households and small heating plants produce about 20 % of wood energy. They use primarily Smallwood from thinning, chips made out of logging waste, and building waste. Some forest owners sell wood energy. They may, for example, supply the energy wood needed for the heating of the village school plus take care of the heating as well.
Finnish forests still play an important part for Finland as producers of renewable raw material, wood. The raw-material value of the volumes harvested annually varies from 6 to 10 billion Finnmarks (EUR 1-1,7 billion). Roughly 80 % of this sum is returned to the private persons and families who own the forests.
Sustainable and financially sound family forestry
Most of Finland’s forests are owned by private citizens; private forest owners number more than 400,000. Counting their family members, about one million Finns can be estimated to be forest owners either directly or indirectly. Finnish forestry is commonly termed family forestry: small-scale forestry run by ordinary families, focusing on maintaining the chances of future generations to use the forests.
Changes in society, such as urbanization, cause changes in forest ownership as well. An increasing number of forest owners are city or town inhabitants and live on paid wages or a salary. The number of women among them is also growing. The forest owners’ ambitions in relation to their forest holdings vary greatly. For some, the forests provide work and income; others use their forests mainly for recreation or investment purposes. Nevertheless, most forest owners wish to reconcile several objectives.
About 60 % of all Finnish forests are owned by private persons or institutions, whose role from the point of view of the forest industry’s timber supply, is all the more important as they control more than 80 % of the industry’s raw material.
Private forest holdings are usually quite small, on average 20-30 hectares. Still, for many forest owners, forest earnings play an important part: an average forest holding under sustainable management may return an annual timber-sales income of about 15,000-20,000 Finnmarks (EUR 2,500-3,300). By carrying out the harvesting himself, the forest owner may receive a substantial income. Many forest owners carry out a major part of the forest management work on their holdings, such as planting and young stand management, themselves.
Logging, where larger volumes are harvested at one go, is usually carried out every 3 to 4 years. There are about 100,000 timber sales deals made every year between forest owners and forest industry companies. The average sales volume is about 500 cubic meters.
Finnish forest owners have easy access to expert advice relating to the management of their forests. There are about 250 Forest Management Associations that provide the forest owners with advisory services relating to forest management and felling as well as other types of related services. The association’ task, stipulated by law, is to promote private forestry while securing its economic, ecological, and social sustainability. The expertise of the Forest Management Associations is guaranteed by their trained personnel.
The operations of the Forest Management Associations are financed by the forest owners. The right of decision lies with the board which the forest owners have elected from among themselves. The forest owners pay an obligatory forest management fee, which depends on the size of the holding and the current price level for timber. Forest management fees make it possible to provide instruction at reasonable prices, and to assist forest owners in the planning of logging and timber sales. When needed, the Associations also provide help with planting or young stand management. These services are subject to a charge.
Financially sound forestry makes good forest management
In addition to logging, forestry includes forest management and improvement work. More than one billion Finnmarks (EUR 168 million) is invested every year in forest regeneration, young stand management, fertilizing, improvement ditching, and constructing forest roads. About three-quarters of this is financed by the forest owners themselves and the rest is covered by state subsidies. The State supports those forestry investments which would not immediately profit an individual forest owner but which are, nevertheless, desirable from the point of view of national economics.
The value of roundwood, logging, forest management, and improvement work, and haulage accumulate to an annual cash flow of about ten billion Finnmarks (EUR 1.7 billion). As such, this does not amount to a large proportion of the total national income but its multiplied impact is considerable. Forestry employs more than 20,000 people, to which is added the labor input of the numerous private forest owners. Forestry income also creates job opportunities in other sectors, especially various services.
Although Finnish forests grow quite slowly, forestry is still economically worthwhile. According to researchers, the annual net income in southern Finland is 500-600 Finnmarks (EURO 84-100) per hectare. | <urn:uuid:948d9a05-5242-4261-ac50-6522eca46ec0> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.borealforest.org/finland-forests-and-forestry/ | 2024-12-02T19:24:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066129078.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20241202185948-20241202215948-00033.warc.gz | en | 0.955609 | 8,265 | 3.671875 | 4 |
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is a poorly understood but very controversial drug among those who are familiar with it. Many people use kratom as an alternative to prescription opioids for treating pain. Others use kratom as an alternative to methadone/buprenorphine to treat heroin withdrawal and opioid addiction. But the majority of the population is still wondering what it is, whether it’s safe, and if it really lives up to all its advertising claims about curing opioid addiction, ending chronic pain, and treating depression. We’ll discuss what kratom is, where you can find kratom for sale, kratom’s effects, and the evidence from both sides of the debate about whether it should be used as a medical treatment. Kratom is a small tree that grows in Southeast Asia that is a distant relative of coffee plants. The people of Thailand have chewed kratom for hundreds of years. However, more recent concerns about long-term kratom use led the country of Thailand to pass a law making kratom use illegal. Users describe kratom as tasting bitter or tart. Kratom can be sold as dried leaves, an extract, a gum, as capsules, or in e-liquids. The most popular way to use kratom in the United States is to drink it as a tea, although people also chew, vape, and smoke it. Regardless of who you ask, kratom certainly does have some psychoactive properties, and they are beneficial enough to lead to increased kratom use in the US. Although its active ingredients (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) have a very different shape and structure from opioids (like opium, heroin, or oxycodone), they connect to and activate (aka “turn on”) the same structures in the brain as opioids do. Research is exploring whether kratom also activates the serotonin pathways in the brain, which are the same ones targeted by SSRI antidepressants like Prozac or Paxil. Several patents have been initiated in the United States for pharmaceutical companies to try to develop kratom-based medications, but kratom currently is not approved for any medical use.
Other Names for Kratom
The scientific name for this species is Mitragyna Speciosa. Slang terms include the following:
- herbal speedball
- herbal heroin
Kratom’s Legal Status in the United States
In the United States, people fall on all sides of the debate over whether or not kratom offers any medical benefits, and kratom’s legal status reflects the confusion. Some states have completely banned it, and other states have not even attempted to regulate its use. The US Army has also banned kratom use altogether. The DEA has currently scheduled it as a Drug of Concern on the federal level. To see if you live in a state that prohibits kratom use, you can look at this list.
Where Is Kratom Sold?
Occasionally, you can find a bar or a vape shop dedicated to selling kratom tea for consumption onsite, often along with kava, oxygen, and e-liquids. The owners of more reputable places will ask customers if they have any history of addiction before selling them kratom. However, not all owners of kratom bars are this thoughtful, and people in recovery who are uneducated about kratom can find themselves suddenly facing heroin or opioid cravings after drinking the tea. In states where kratom is legal, it is often marketed as a dietary or herbal supplement. Otherwise, it can also be sold in a headshop with other herbal products labeled as “not for human consumption”. It’s easy to purchase kratom online, although often those products are smuggled in from Asia illegally and may not be properly labeled. Kratom is not sold by prescription anywhere in the United States.
Getting High on Kratom: What’s It Like?
Depending on the amount taken, kratom has different effects. Keep in mind that every person is unique, so the way that their brain processes a drug may vary as well. Also, kratom might impact people who don’t use drugs in a different way from those who regularly use opioids (and then immediately switch over to kratom). Below are the most common symptoms (both positive and negative) of a kratom high for low to moderate doses. A low to moderate dose of kratom is considered to be 1 – 5 grams of dried leaves.
- Increased energy and alertness
- Pain relief
- Tongue feeling numb
- Mild euphoria
- Increased sex drive
- Feeling more sociable
- Easily sunburned
- Cough suppressant
- Loss of appetite
- Dry mouth
Kratom doesn’t appear to cause the same intensity of euphoria and withdrawal symptoms as opioids. Accordingly, most researchers think that kratom is less addictive than the other opioids. In animal studies conducted to look at the addiction potential of kratom, mice developed tolerance more slowly to kratom than they do to opioids, meaning that it took them longer to become addicted to the kratom.
Is Kratom Safe?
Kratom is definitely not safe for children and adolescents. Kratom is often not safe for adults who are combining it with prescribed or over-the-counter medications (even when they are taking these medications as prescribed). The medical field understands so little about kratom that it’s a guessing game to figure out which medications may cause a dangerous interaction when combined with kratom. But is kratom safe for adults who are not currently taking any opioids, over-the-counter, or prescribed medications? Answering this question is even more complicated. High doses of pure kratom can cause symptoms like seizures, hallucinations, dangerously fast heart rate, coma, and liver damage. Several deaths have been reported following kratom use, along with hundreds of phone calls to poison control centers about bad side effects. Kratom is addictive, even if it’s not as strongly addictive as opioids. So, if you’re an adult without any history of opioid addiction, and you’re looking for a safe, recreational, non-addictive substance to use for stress relief or to get high, kratom is not your solution. However, if you already have an addiction to opioids or suffer from chronic pain and are trying to self-medicate, keep reading on. One of the most concerning problems to sort out when trying to determine whether kratom is safe lies in the lack of regulation. Since there is no oversight, anyone can package any number of chemicals or dried plant leaves and sell them with the label “kratom”. Unless you’re a botanist or a chemist, it’s impossible to determine whether the product in your hand (or in your teacup) is actually kratom and whether anything else has been added to it. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that kratom naturally grows overseas and is often then transported to the United States, changing hands (and possibly labels) many times on the way. Because kratom is not always labeled, it’s difficult to know how concentrated any given sample is, which makes it difficult to dose it safely. Unfortunately, some dealers dilute the amount of kratom in a bag/pill with other dried plant material, or they cut kratom with toxic substances. Until kratom has some type of rules put in place by a third-party regulatory agency, you’re not going to know what you’re getting when you purchase it in public. Even if you have found a reputable, pure form of kratom, researchers disagree on whether it causes respiratory depression. Respiratory depression, or slowed breathing, is the main problematic symptom that leads to overdose deaths following opioid use. Many argue that if kratom were legalized and regulated, it may be safer than opioid replacement therapies like methadone, which has a comparatively high potential for overdose. However, some pain specialists argue that kratom can cause an overdose. Perhaps most concerning, researchers are worried that naloxone may not be effective in reversing a kratom overdose. Opponents of kratom also argue that there is no real medical value found in kratom that isn’t better served by a medication already proved to be safe and on the market.
Kratom To Treat Opioid Addiction
Although kratom is used for many ailments, its most popular use is to treat chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and opioid addiction. We’ll focus most of our attention on whether kratom can serve as a safe alternative to opioids. Given the many risks of self-treating with kratom, Northpoint Recovery does not endorse the use of Kratom currently, as it is not FDA approved to treat addiction. Kratom proponents claim that the drug is an effective method to treat opioid addiction. Because kratom acts on some of the same receptors in the brain as opioids, people who want to self-treat their pain-pill or heroin addictions often opt to use kratom as their replacement drug. Research is limited on whether or not this actually works, but new studies are continually being conducted. Addiction treatment professionals are concerned that kratom could serve as a gateway drug to opioid addiction – in other words, people who previously had no problems with opioid use may try kratom and eventually graduate to more intense drugs like prescription opioids or heroin. Harm-reduction advocates argue that if kratom were developed into a standardized, safe medication, then using it to treat opioid addiction would be no different than taking buprenorphine or methadone. When opioid replacement therapies (like methadone and buprenorphine) are used most effectively, they are combined with counseling and relapse prevention plans. So just using kratom to replace addiction to heroin may work for some people for a little while, but they also run the risk of triggering a relapse. To illustrate, one user shares her experience with a kratom-induced relapse in a 2016 New York Times article. If kratom is approved for opioid addiction treatment in the future, education and therapy will need to be given at the same time. In summary, kratom is not going to be the cheap substitute for addiction rehab that many folks are looking for. Some individuals use kratom to treat the withdrawal symptoms following relapse to heroin or prescription opioids. Again, research on whether this is effective is very limited. From a biological standpoint, it makes sense, as kratom’s effects are a very mild version of opioids’ effects. But emergency medicine doctors are seeing ER visits from individuals trying to self-treat opioid withdrawal with kratom – and then having seizures. Whether these seizures are caused by kratom alone or kratom mixed with other drugs remains to be seen. Regardless, people need to beware that kratom could trigger cravings and a second opioid relapse while trying to get rid of withdrawal symptoms from the first relapse.
The Future of Kratom
More medical research and clinical studies using kratom are needed to determine how effective and safe kratom will be for treating chronic pain and opioid addiction. The American Kratom Association and many users claim that kratom is an effective remedy for depression and anxiety. These advocates state that they would prefer to take it over a prescription medication like Valium or Klonopin. Confusingly, anxiety can actually be a reported effect of kratom use for other people, most likely when they take too high of a dose or suddenly stop taking it. Future research is needed before anyone can make statements as to whether kratom could someday be used to treat anxiety or depression. If kratom is someday proven to be effective for treating any of the above disorders, a few things would need to happen in order for kratom to become a safe product. First, it would need to have some marketing regulations, including restricted access so that children and teens cannot easily access it at headshops, gas stations, and convenience stores (where it is currently being sold). Next, all of the chemicals in each pill or bag of dried leaves would need to be regulated to ensure quality control, so that users can be sure that they are getting just pure kratom in the correct doses. Also, research would need to determine what other medications cause dangerous effects when combined with kratom, and this information would need to be easily available to the public. Last, kratom would need to be combined with substance abuse treatment before it becomes a good option for treating opioid addiction. In the meantime, the risks of using kratom seem to outweigh the benefits. Kratom is certainly being used as an alternative to opioids, but whether or not it is a safer option remains to be seen. If you are concerned that you may already have an addiction to kratom, you can take our online drug addiction quiz to get further information. Addiction treatment for kratom use is available, and people do recover from it. | <urn:uuid:e0ceb695-b46e-4d11-876a-ebe3bb1b8f69> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.northpointrecovery.com/blog/kratom-safe-effective/ | 2024-12-10T11:47:28Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066058729.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20241210101933-20241210131933-00767.warc.gz | en | 0.942914 | 2,644 | 2.515625 | 3 |
FAQs: Acid reflux
What is acid reflux?
As part of the digestive process, the stomach produces acid. This acid is meant to stay in the stomach but in some people it leaks into the bottom of the gullet (oesophagus) and it can then also travel up to the back of the throat. This causes a variety of symptoms including a burning feeling behind the breast bone (heartburn), sour/acid taste in the mouth and sometimes a persistent dry cough.
What is dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia literally means 'bad digestion'. In medical terms it encompasses a group of symptoms including upper abdominal discomfort, heartburn, acid reflux, nausea and/or vomiting, bloating, and burping. Most dyspepsia is termed 'functional' dyspepsia and is caused by a miscommunication between the gut and the brain, leading to oversensitivity of stomach nerves and overproduction of stomach acid.
I have a new irritating cough - could it be caused by acid reflux?
There are many causes for a cough, including acid irritation from reflux. A persistent new cough, especially if you are over 40 years old, should be checked by a GP and not assumed to be caused by acid reflux.
What is GORD?
GORD is Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease. The US spelling is GERD - Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease.
What causes GORD?
Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease happens when stomach acid leaks into the gullet from the upper stomach, because the valve which keeps stomach contents in the stomach fails. The acid in the gullet causes irritation and inflammation. It can also reach the throat, causing irritation there and a cough.
What's causing my acid reflux/GORD symptoms?
Symptoms of acid reflux/GORD/indigestion are usually:
- A burning feeling in your chest behind the breastbone.
- An unpleasant acidic/sour taste in the back of your mouth.
Other symptoms can include:
- Chronic dry cough.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Hoarse voice.
The symptoms should settle easily with occasional medication. Some of these symptoms can also be caused by more serious conditions, including cancers, so if you are unsure or they persist, discuss with a GP - do not self treat.
Is there anything I can do for acid reflux/GORD/dyspepsia without taking medication?
There are a variety of lifestyle changes which can help:
- Weight loss if overweight or obese - check using a BMI calculator.
- Avoid obvious trigger foods, e.g. cola, acidic fruits and acidic vegetables, fatty or spicy foods.
- Eat smaller portions and have your evening meal at least 4 hours before bedtime.
- Stop smoking - smoking increases the production of stomach acid.
- Reduce alcohol intake - alcohol (and cocaine) can cause inflammation of the stomach (gastritis).
- Look at ways to reduce stress and anxiety - these can trigger more acid production.
- Some other medications (especially anti-inflammatory tablets) can trigger reflux/indigestion - discuss with your GP if you think this may be the cause.
- Regular aerobic exercise (bending exercises not recommended with GORD).
How can I treat acid reflux/GORD/heartburn/dyspepsia?
As well as lifestyle measures, antacid medication in the form of tablets or chalky medicines which neutralise the stomach acid can help. More frequent problems can be helped by taking a PPI medication such as omeprazole (Losec), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole, or pantoprazole. These reduce production of stomach acid.
What does PPI mean?
PPI stands for Proton Pump Inhibitor.
How do PPIs work?
The 'proton pump' is the biochemical process which is used by the cells lining the stomach to make digestive acid in response to a meal. A Proton Pump Inhibitor blocks the pump so reducing acid production and reducing the level of acid in the stomach. As there is less acid, the symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn are reduced.
Why are there so many different PPIs?
The class of PPI medication was discovered in the 1970s, and omeprazole was the first one licensed in the UK. It was developed by AstraZeneca and sold as the brand 'Losec'. Other drug companies also developed their own PPI (e.g. esomeprazole and pantoprazole) by altering the chemical structures slightly.
Most PPIs in the UK are now out of patent and so generic versions are also available alongside the branded originals.
Research has shown that despite slight differences in the chemical structures all PPIs have very similar effects.
Acid reflux treatmentWhich PPI should I use?
Dr Fox offers a range of PPIs, as either capsules or tablets. They are all effective at treating symptoms of acid reflux/GORD/heartburn. It is best to take the lowest dose for the least amount of time.
- Losec/omeprazole 10mg capsules are the lowest dose to take once or twice a day.
- Nexium/esomeprazole and pantoprazole are stronger tablets (20mg) for once daily use.
- More people report side effects with lansoprazole and rabeprazole.
- Pantoprazole may be better for some people as there are fewer interactions with other medications and people report the fewest side effects with pantoprazole.
Brand name | Equivalent standard dose | Equivalent low dose | Tablets | Capsules | Orodispersible/melt in the mouth | Contains lactose | Number of common side effects reported | |
Omeprazole | Losec | 20mg | 10mg | No | Yes | No | Yes | 8 |
Esomeprazole | Nexium | 20mg | Not available | Yes | No | No | Some tablets | 8 |
Lansoprazole | Zoton FasTab | 30mg | 15mg | No | Yes | Yes | Zoton FasTab | 15 |
Pantoprazole | Not available | 40mg | 20mg | Yes | No | No | No | 1 |
Rabeprazole | Pariet | 20mg | 10mg | Yes | No | No | No | 18 |
Do PPIs for acid reflux contain lactose/sucrose?
- Losec contains lactose.
- Generic omeprazole capsules often contain sucrose and some contain lactose.
- Nexium/esomeprazole tablets contain sucrose.
- Pantoprazole tablets do not contain sucrose or lactose.
- Zoton FasTabs contain lactose but generic lansoprazole capsules and orodispersible tablets do not contain lactose.
- Neither Pariet nor rabeprazole gastro resistant tablets contain lactose.
What are the side effects of PPIs?
Most PPIs have a similar range of possible side effects, though not everyone will get them. Pantoprazole users report fewer side effect problems.
Side effects can include:
- Constipation or diarrhoea.
- Flatulence (wind).
- Stomach pains.
- Small harmless stomach polyps (only seen on endoscopy and settle on stopping medication).
Are there any long-term risks of taking PPIs?
Taking PPIs daily for a long time has been linked with some other medical problems.
- Low magnesium levels - PPIs reduce absorption of magnesium in the intestine. If taken for longer than 3 months continuously, this can cause magnesium levels in the blood to drop. This can be worse if also taking other magnesium lowering tablets (e.g. Digoxin). Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, confusion, fits, and irregular heart rhythms. Some GPs recommend regular magnesium blood checks, after 3 months use.
- Low vitamin B12 levels - the body needs stomach acid to absorb vitamin B12. If there are already reduced body stores of vitamin B12, or after long-term use, the levels may become too low. This can lead to anaemia. See a GP who can arrange a blood test if you have any symptoms or concerns.
- Bone fractures - there is a slight increase in the risk of fractures especially of the hip, wrist and spine. Patients are recommended to discuss long term use with a GP and to follow national guidelines for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, including an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D. Risk is further increased if also taking regular steroid medication.
- There is a slightly higher risk of catching diarrhoea and vomiting caused by Campylobacter or a Salmonella, as stomach acid plays a protective role against D&V/gastroenteritis bacteria.
- There is a very small risk of developing a very rare skin condition subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE). Consult your GP promptly, if you develop a skin rash on sunlight exposed areas.
- Research published in 2023 seems to show a link with long term use of PPIs and the development of dementia in later life. More research is needed to clarify this.
Can anyone take PPIs?
Short term PPI treatment is generally very safe.
However PPI treatment should be supervised by a GP/specialist in certain situations:
- Long-term continuous use.
- You may need extra blood test monitoring if taking phenytoin (for fits) or warfarin type anticoagulants (blood thinners requiring regular blood tests).
- PPIs interact with some other medicines and in particular may make some treatments less effective - these include HIV/AIDS treatments and some cancer chemotherapy, including high dose methotrexate.
- If there is severe liver or kidney disease, they may not be suitable.
I take other medicines - can I take PPIs?
PPIs do interact with some other medications. Checks are carried out in the online consultation and there is more information in the patient information leaflets included in the packet of individual medications. Anybody taking regular medication should let their GP know they are taking occasional PPIs. The GP may want to monitor the regular medication or adjust the dosages.
A wide range of medications can cause or worsen symptoms of dyspepsia and GORD. Check the patient information leaflets included in your medication and if in doubt consult your GP.
The PPI isn't working - what next?
If taking the medication at the recommended dose does not help your symptoms at all within 2 weeks, or symptoms recur immediately on stopping, or you find you need to take it every single day to control symptoms, consult a GP for further investigations.
How soon should PPIs work?
Most people with simple acid reflux/GORD/heartburn/dyspepsia/indigestion will find good relief of their symptoms within a few days. Symptoms should settle within 2 weeks. Consult a GP if you have ongoing problems.
Does heartburn damage the heart?
Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. It is a symptom of acid in the gullet (oesophagus). It does not cause heart problems.
Is acid reflux/GORD/heartburn/dyspepsia dangerous?
Many people suffer from occasional acid reflux/GORD/heartburn which settles quickly and easily with occasional medication.
If symptoms are left untreated, then more severe damage could develop in the oesophagus leading in rare instances to ulcers, scarring, narrowing or permanent cell changes (Barrett's Oesophagus). There is a very small risk of these changes leading to cancer in the gullet.
Acid reflux/GORD/heartburn/dyspepsia/indigestion can also be signs of more serious health conditions, including cancers. If it doesn't settle easily or persists frequently, consult a GP.
When should I consult a GP?
As there is a risk of PPI treatment hiding more serious illness, it is important to be sure of a diagnosis of simple acid reflux/GORD/heartburn.
Consult a GP if:
- You are not sure about the symptoms or have never seen a doctor about acid problems.
- You are over 55 years with new symptoms in the last year or with symptoms that are worsening or changing.
- You have acid reflux/GORD/heartburn/dyspepsia with any of the following:
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Anaemia (pale and lethargic).
- Difficulty or pain on swallowing.
- Frequent vomiting, particularly if there is blood in the vomit.
- Black, shiny or bloody stools, or new persistent diarrhoea.
- Previous gastric ulcer or gastric surgery.
- Jaundice or severe liver problems.
- Persistent upper abdominal pain or new unexplained abdominal lump.
- You have had to take an antacid or acid suppressor continuously for four or more weeks in order to control symptoms.
- You have taken an indigestion or heartburn remedy for two weeks with no relief of symptoms.
- Symptoms return immediately on stopping tablets.
- You need to take a PPI on most days after completing the initial course.
Can antibiotics be used to treat acid reflux/GORD/heartburn/dyspepsia?
Sometimes acid reflux/GORD/heartburn/dyspepsia can be linked to long-term infection in the stomach with H. pylori. A GP may arrange a test for this. The test is usually either a simple breath test or stool (poo) test (home self tests are also available). For the test to be reliable, you must not have taken a PPI in the past 2 weeks, or antibiotics in the past 4 weeks. If the H. Pylori test is positive, a course of antibiotic treatment alongside a PPI is usually prescribed.
Can I take a PPI in pregnancy or if I'm breastfeeding?
You must discuss this with your GP/specialist as no medication should be taken in pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding unless absolutely necessary. Dr Fox does not supply for use whilst pregnant or breastfeeding.
Losec/omeprazole seems to be safe and may be taken in pregnancy and when breastfeeding if your GP or specialist advises to do so. See Best use of medicines in pregnancy - omeprazole.
There is no information available about safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding for Nexium/esomeprazole or pantoprazole and they should generally not be used. Pantoprazole is secreted in breast milk.
Further information: Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) in pregnancy.
I had an allergy reaction to Losec (or another PPI). Can I take a different PPI?
No. This often means that you will also react to the other PPIs.
If you have any symptoms or signs suggestive of an acute allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), you must get medical help immediately (telephone 999 if in the UK).
Symptoms/signs of an acute allergic reaction include:
- Difficulty breathing, tight chest, wheezing.
- Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue.
- Skin rash - urticaria/hives.
I am due a medical investigation or blood test should I stop my PPI?
Possibly. PPIs can interfere with the results of some blood tests, or hide serious conditions during endoscopy. Let the doctor or nurse know that you are taking a PPI. You may have to stop it for up to a few weeks, to prevent it interfering with the results.
Why can't I buy Zantac (ranitidine) anymore?
Zantac/ranitidine was withdrawn by the manufacturers in October 2019, due to the discovery of the contaminant N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) which has genotoxic and carcinogenic potential - further details. It is unclear if and when production will start again (April 2024). Although Zantac is from a different class of drug (H2 receptor antagonists), the PPIs Losec (omeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), lansoprazole, or pantoprazole can be taken as an alternative.
What is H. pylori?
H. pylori stands for Helicobacter Pylori which are bacteria that can live in the stomach and cause inflammation. It is thought up to 40% of the UK population has this in their stomach but it does not cause any problems in 80-90% of these people. In those that it does cause symptoms, it can lead to stomach or duodenal ulcers. If symptoms of heartburn or reflux do not settle with treatment then it is recommended to have a test to check if H. pylori is present. This is usually done through a stool test although it can also be performed via a breath test.
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Cats have long been surrounded by myths and misconceptions, often leading to misunderstandings about their behavior, needs, and personalities. This article aims to unravel these myths and provide a clearer understanding of our feline friends. From their supposed disdain for water to their enigmatic body language, let’s dive into the fascinating world of cats and debunk some common misconceptions.
Cats and Milk: A Purr-fect Mismatch
One of the most enduring images in popular culture is that of a cat happily lapping up a bowl of milk. This association has been reinforced by countless cartoons, children’s books, and media portrayals, leading many to believe that milk is a staple in a cat’s diet.
In truth, most adult cats are lactose intolerant. Kittens can digest their mother’s milk because they produce an enzyme called lactase, which is necessary for breaking down lactose, the sugar found in milk. However, as they grow older, most cats lose this enzyme, making it difficult for them to digest milk properly. Drinking milk can lead to digestive issues such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, and gas.
The misconception about cats and milk likely originated from a time when milk was more commonly available and people would give it to stray cats as an easy source of food. Over time, this act of kindness turned into a widely accepted belief that cats love and need milk.
Veterinarians caution against giving cats milk as it can cause more harm than good. Instead, they recommend providing cats with fresh water and a balanced diet tailored to their nutritional needs. If you want to give your cat a special treat, there are lactose-free milk options designed specifically for cats.
Many cat owners have stories of discovering their cats’ lactose intolerance the hard way. Sharing these experiences can help others understand the importance of proper feline nutrition and avoid common pitfalls.
Do Cats Really Hate Water?
Another common belief is that cats hate water. Images of cats frantically avoiding baths or streams of water have cemented this idea in many people’s minds. This perception has been perpetuated by various media representations, including movies, cartoons, and books.
Cats’ relationship with water is more complex than simple aversion. While it’s true that many cats dislike getting wet, this isn’t a universal rule. Some breeds, like the Turkish Van, are known for their love of swimming and playing in water. Cats may avoid water due to their fur’s slow drying time, sensitivity to temperature changes, or simply because they haven’t been exposed to water in a positive way from a young age.
From an evolutionary standpoint, domestic cats (Felis catus) descend from desert-dwelling ancestors. These ancestors didn’t encounter large bodies of water frequently, so their modern descendants might not have developed a natural affinity for water. This historical context helps explain why many cats seem indifferent or adverse to getting wet.
If you need to bathe your cat, making the experience as stress-free as possible is crucial. Use warm water, be gentle, and ensure you have everything you need within reach before starting the bath. Introducing water slowly and associating it with positive experiences, such as treats and gentle petting, can help your cat become more tolerant of water.
Some cat owners have successfully trained their cats to enjoy water by starting at a young age and using positive reinforcement techniques. Sharing these anecdotes can inspire other cat owners to try similar methods with their pets.
The Nine Lives Myth: Fact or Fiction?
The idea that cats have nine lives is a myth steeped in history and folklore. This saying suggests that cats can escape dangerous situations and seem to come back unscathed, giving them an almost magical ability to survive.
Cats are incredibly agile and have a knack for surviving falls from significant heights, thanks to their flexible bodies and righting reflex. However, they don’t possess any supernatural abilities that grant them multiple lives. Like all animals, cats have only one life and should be treated with care to avoid accidents and injuries.
Cats’ unique skeletal structure allows them to twist their bodies mid-air and land on their feet, which has contributed to the myth of their multiple lives. This ability, known as the “righting reflex,” involves a series of rapid movements that enable cats to adjust their bodies and land on their feet. Research has shown that cats can survive falls from great heights, but this doesn’t mean they are invincible.
The myth of cats having nine lives can be traced back to various cultural beliefs. In ancient Egypt, cats were revered and considered to have divine qualities. The number nine itself has mystical significance in many cultures, which may have contributed to the idea of cats having nine lives.
There are numerous stories of cats surviving incredible ordeals, such as falling from tall buildings or being rescued from dangerous situations. While these stories are remarkable, they underscore the importance of keeping our feline friends safe and not relying on the myth of their multiple lives.
To protect your cat from potential dangers, ensure they live in a safe environment. Keep windows and balconies secure, provide plenty of mental and physical stimulation, and regularly check for any potential hazards in your home.
Cats Are Independent: True or False?
Cats are often labeled as aloof and independent creatures that don’t need or want human interaction. This stereotype suggests that cats are content to be left alone and don’t require the same level of attention and care as dogs.
While cats can be more independent than dogs, they still crave companionship and can form strong bonds with their owners. Many cats enjoy affection, playtime, and social interaction. Their independent nature means they can handle being alone for longer periods, but they also benefit from regular attention and stimulation.
Understanding Feline Behavior
Cats communicate their needs and affection in different ways than dogs. Understanding their body language and vocalizations can help strengthen your bond with your feline friend. They might show affection by purring, rubbing against you, or following you around the house. Additionally, cats have different personalities, and while some may be more aloof, others can be very social and affectionate.
Research on Cat Social Behavior
Studies have shown that cats form attachments to their owners similar to those of dogs and even infants. Research conducted by Oregon State University found that cats can form secure bonds with their owners, demonstrating that they are not as solitary as previously thought.
Tips for Enhancing Bonding
To strengthen your relationship with your cat, engage in regular play sessions, provide interactive toys, and create a comfortable and stimulating environment. Spending quality time with your cat, offering gentle petting, and respecting their boundaries can also enhance your bond.
Many cat owners have stories of their cats seeking attention, following them around the house, and showing affection in their unique ways. Sharing these experiences can help dispel the myth of the aloof and independent cat.
Deciphering Cat Body Language: Beyond the Myths
Cats are often perceived as inscrutable and hard to read, with their body language and vocalizations being a mystery to many. This belief leads to misunderstandings about their needs and emotions.
Cats have a rich and complex system of body language and sounds that they use to communicate. Understanding these signals can help you better interpret your cat’s needs and emotions, leading to a more harmonious relationship.
- Tail Position: A cat’s tail can tell you a lot about its mood. A high, upright tail often indicates a happy and confident cat, while a low or tucked tail can signal fear or submission. A twitching or flicking tail can indicate irritation or excitement.
- Purring: While purring usually indicates contentment, it can also be a sign of pain or distress in some situations. Pay attention to the context in which your cat is purring to understand its meaning.
- Ear Position: Forward-facing ears typically mean a cat is relaxed and curious, while flattened ears can indicate fear or aggression. Ears that are slightly tilted to the side may show that the cat is alert and listening.
- Eye Movements: Slow blinking is a sign of trust and affection, often referred to as “cat kisses.” Direct staring, on the other hand, can be perceived as a threat or challenge.
- Body Posture: A relaxed cat will have a loose, comfortable posture. A cat that feels threatened may arch its back, puff up its fur, and hiss or growl.
Cats use a variety of sounds to communicate, including meows, purrs, chirps, and growls. Each sound can convey different messages, from a simple greeting to a demand for attention or a warning.
Spending time observing your cat’s behavior and responses in different situations can help you better understand their unique communication style. Keep a journal of your observations to identify patterns and preferences.
Animal behaviorists and veterinarians can provide valuable insights into interpreting cat body language. Consulting with experts or attending workshops can enhance your understanding of feline communication.
Cat Intelligence: Smarter Than You Think
There’s a misconception that cats are less intelligent than dogs because they don’t follow commands as readily. This belief undermines the cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills that cats possess.
Cats are highly intelligent animals with their own ways of learning and interacting with the world. Their independence and curiosity are signs of their intelligence. They can be trained to perform tricks, solve puzzles, and even use the toilet.
Evidence of Intelligence
Research has shown that cats can understand human emotions, remember past events, and even plan for the future. Their problem-solving
skills and ability to adapt to different environments further demonstrate their cognitive abilities. For example, cats can learn to open doors, retrieve objects, and navigate complex environments.
Training a cat requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. Using treats and praise, you can teach your cat to respond to commands, use a litter box, or even walk on a leash. Clicker training, commonly used with dogs, can also be effective with cats.
Providing mental stimulation through interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and environmental enrichment can keep your cat’s mind sharp. Rotating toys, creating vertical spaces, and setting up scavenger hunts are great ways to challenge your cat’s intellect.
Cat owners often have stories of their pets displaying remarkable intelligence, such as learning to fetch toys, turning on lights, or even figuring out how to open cabinets. These anecdotes highlight the cognitive capabilities of cats and challenge the notion that they are less intelligent than other pets.
Cats and Dogs: Natural Enemies or Best Friends?
The saying “fighting like cats and dogs” has led to the belief that these two animals are natural enemies. This stereotype suggests that cats and dogs cannot coexist peacefully in the same household.
Cats and dogs can coexist peacefully and even form strong friendships. The key to a harmonious relationship is proper introduction and understanding of each animal’s behavior. Early socialization and positive experiences can help them get along.
Cats and dogs have different ways of communicating and interacting with their environment. Understanding these differences can help owners facilitate positive interactions. For example, dogs are generally more social and may approach cats with enthusiasm, which can be intimidating for a cat. On the other hand, cats may be more cautious and need time to adjust to a new dog.
Tips for Introductions
When introducing a cat and a dog, do so gradually. Allow them to sniff each other’s belongings before meeting face-to-face. Supervise their interactions and provide positive reinforcement for calm behavior. Using barriers, such as baby gates, can help them get accustomed to each other without direct contact. Over time, many cats and dogs can learn to live together happily.
Many households successfully integrate cats and dogs, with both pets forming strong bonds and enjoying each other’s company. Sharing these success stories can provide hope and guidance for others attempting to introduce a cat and a dog.
If you’re having trouble with introductions, consulting with a professional animal behaviorist can provide valuable insights and strategies. They can assess the individual personalities of your pets and create a customized plan for a smooth introduction.
The Truth About Cat Allergies
Many people believe they are allergic to cat fur, which leads to the misconception that short-haired cats or hairless breeds are hypoallergenic. This belief can influence people’s decisions when choosing a pet.
Cat allergies are typically triggered by proteins found in a cat’s saliva, skin cells (dander), and urine, not their fur. These allergens can be present in all cats, regardless of their breed or coat length. Some breeds produce fewer allergens, but no cat is completely hypoallergenic.
The primary allergen responsible for cat allergies is Fel d 1, a protein found in a cat’s saliva and sebaceous glands. When cats groom themselves, the allergen is transferred to their fur and skin, which can then spread to the environment. Understanding the source of allergens can help in managing allergic reactions.
For those with cat allergies, regular grooming, cleaning, and using air purifiers can help reduce allergen levels. Bathing your cat can also help, but it should be done with caution and not too frequently to avoid skin irritation. Creating cat-free zones in your home, such as the bedroom, and using allergen-reducing products can also help manage symptoms.
Consulting with an allergist can provide additional strategies for managing symptoms. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) and antihistamines can be effective in reducing allergic reactions. Some people find that their allergies lessen over time with regular exposure to the allergen.
Sharing personal stories of living with cat allergies and how they are managed can provide practical tips and encouragement for others. Many cat owners with allergies successfully coexist with their pets by implementing various strategies and treatments.
Cat Superstitions: Fact or Folklore?
Throughout history, cats have been surrounded by various superstitions. For instance, black cats are often associated with bad luck in Western cultures. These beliefs can impact how people perceive and treat cats.
These superstitions are based on historical and cultural beliefs rather than facts. In many cultures, cats are seen as symbols of good fortune and protection. Black cats, in particular, are considered lucky in some parts of the world.
The association of black cats with bad luck dates back to the Middle Ages, when they were believed to be witches’ familiars and symbols of evil. This belief led to the persecution of black cats and even their owners. In contrast, ancient Egyptians revered cats and considered them to be sacred animals.
Understanding the cultural context behind these superstitions can help dispel the myths. For example, in Japanese culture, the “Maneki-neko” or beckoning cat is a common talisman believed to bring good luck and fortune. In Scottish folklore, a black cat’s arrival at a home signifies prosperity.
Promoting positive images of cats and educating people about their true nature can help change negative perceptions. Social media campaigns, educational programs, and community outreach can all contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of cats.
Many people have stories of their black cats bringing joy and companionship into their lives. Sharing these stories can help counteract negative superstitions and highlight the positive aspects of having a cat.
Cats are fascinating creatures with rich histories, complex behaviors, and unique personalities. Dispelling common misconceptions helps us appreciate them for who they truly are. By understanding and respecting their nature, we can build stronger, more fulfilling relationships with our feline companions.
By unraveling these myths, we can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of cats. They are intelligent, affectionate, and complex creatures that enrich our lives in countless ways. Let’s continue to learn about and celebrate these wonderful animals, ensuring they receive the love and care they deserve.
Recommended Websites and Online Resources
- International Cat Care – Provides comprehensive information on cat health, behavior, and care. International Cat Care
- The Humane Society of the United States – Offers resources on adopting and caring for cats. Humane Society
- ASPCA – American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with resources on cat behavior and health. ASPCA
- PetMD – A reliable source for articles on cat health and behavior. PetMD
- The Cat Fanciers’ Association – Information on different cat breeds and their care. CFA
By leveraging these resources, you can further explore the fascinating world of cats and ensure your feline companion leads a happy, healthy life.
FAQ: About Cat Myths and Comman Cat Misconceptions
1. Do cats really have nine lives?
The myth of nine lives is a popular misconception. While cats are incredibly resilient and have a knack for surviving falls, they don’t possess magical lives. Their agility and ability to land on their feet have contributed to this enduring belief.
2. Are cats lactose intolerant?
Yes, most adult cats are lactose intolerant. Their bodies stop producing the enzyme lactase, which is necessary to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk. Consuming milk can lead to digestive upset.
3. Are cats nocturnal creatures?
While many cats are more active at night, they are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk. However, with proper socialization and training, cats can adapt to their owner’s schedule.
4. Do cats always land on their feet?
Cats have a remarkable ability to right themselves in midair, helping them land safely on their feet. However, this instinct isn’t foolproof, and injuries can still occur from high falls.
5. Are black cats unlucky?
The superstition that black cats are unlucky is unfounded. In many cultures, black cats are actually considered lucky. Their reputation for bad luck is likely rooted in historical associations with witchcraft.
6. Do cats intentionally bury their waste?
Cats have a strong instinct to bury their waste to maintain cleanliness and avoid attracting predators. This behavior is natural and should be encouraged by providing adequate litter box facilities.
7. Are cats jealous of other pets?
Some cats may exhibit jealousy towards other pets, especially if they feel their territory is being invaded. However, with proper introduction and patience, cats and other pets can coexist peacefully.
8. Do cats purr only when they’re happy?
While purring is often associated with contentment, cats can also purr when they are stressed, in pain, or during labor. It’s a complex vocalization with multiple meanings.
9. Are all white cats deaf?
While it’s true that some white cats with blue eyes can be deaf, not all white cats are deaf. The condition is linked to a specific gene and is not always present.
10. Can cats be trained?
Absolutely! Cats are intelligent creatures capable of learning tricks and commands. Positive reinforcement training methods are most effective for building a strong bond with your cat. | <urn:uuid:f4cb5ab6-79bd-4276-9a14-d6c07bb590b0> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://howdyfox.com/cats-101-unveiling-the-astonishing-truth-behind-common-cat-misconceptions/ | 2024-12-13T10:54:54Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066116798.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20241213105147-20241213135147-00800.warc.gz | en | 0.944035 | 3,979 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Eco-dyed clothing is a beautiful and environmentally friendly way to add color to your wardrobe. Unlike conventional dyeing methods that use chemicals, eco-dyeing relies on natural elements like plants, flowers, and leaves, making each piece unique and sustainable.
In a world where fast fashion dominates, choosing eco-dyed clothing is a step towards more conscious living. Whether you’re new to this trend or already a fan, this guide will help you explore how to style these one-of-a-kind pieces in a way that reflects your personality and values.
Table of Contents
- What is Eco-Dyeing ?
- Choosing the Right Eco-Dyed Pieces
- Eco-Dyed Fashion Trends on How to style eco dyed clothings ?
- Eco-Dyed Fashion Trends
- Where to Buy Eco-Dyed Clothing
- Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
What is Eco-Dyeing ?
1. Understanding Eco-Dyeing
Eco-dyeing is a process that uses natural materials like plants, flowers, and leaves to color fabrics. Unlike traditional dyeing methods that rely on synthetic chemicals, eco-dyeing embraces nature’s palette, creating beautiful, organic shades and patterns. This technique not only produces unique and stunning designs but also minimizes environmental impact.
2. Techniques of Eco-Dyeing
There are several methods of eco-dyeing, each with its own charm. The most common techniques include:
- Bundle Dyeing: Fabric is wrapped around plant materials and steamed, allowing the natural colors to transfer.
- Immersion Dyeing: Fabrics are soaked in a dye bath made from plant extracts.
- Solar Dyeing: Fabric and dye materials are placed in a jar and left in the sun to develop colors slowly.
3. Environmental Benefits of Eco-Dyeing
Eco-dyeing is not just about aesthetics; it’s also about sustainability. Traditional dyeing processes often involve toxic chemicals that can harm the environment and human health. Eco-dyeing, on the other hand, uses renewable resources, reduces water pollution, and promotes a more responsible approach to fashion. By choosing eco-dyed clothing, you’re supporting a movement towards cleaner, greener fashion practices.
Choosing the Right Eco-Dyed Pieces
1. Selecting Fabrics for Eco-Dyeing
When choosing eco-dyed clothing, the fabric is key. Natural fibers like cotton, linen, silk, and wool are ideal for eco-dyeing because they absorb natural dyes more effectively. These materials not only showcase the vibrant colors of eco-dyeing but also feel great against the skin. Look for garments made from these fibers to ensure the best results.
2. Exploring Eco-Dyed Color Palettes
Eco-dyed clothing offers a wide range of colors, often inspired by nature itself. Earthy tones like browns, greens, and soft yellows are common, as well as muted shades of pink, blue, and purple. When selecting pieces, consider your personal color preferences and how these natural hues can complement your existing wardrobe.
3. Finding Versatile Eco-Dyed Garments
Versatility is important when choosing eco-dyed clothing. Opt for pieces that can be styled in multiple ways, such as scarves, dresses, or tops. These items can easily be dressed up or down, making them perfect for various occasions. Look for simple, classic designs that allow the unique patterns and colors to take center stage.
4. Understanding Quality and Care
Eco-dyed garments are often handmade or crafted in small batches, making them special. When selecting these pieces, pay attention to the quality of the dyeing and the fabric. Natural dyes may fade over time, so it’s important to follow care instructions, such as hand-washing in cold water and avoiding direct sunlight. This will help maintain the vibrancy and longevity of your eco-dyed clothing.
Eco-Dyed Fashion Trends on How to style eco dyed clothings ?
Trend | Why It’s Popular |
Natural Earth Tones | Reflects a connection to nature and sustainability, offering a calming and grounding aesthetic. |
Handmade Artisanal Pieces | Supports small businesses and artisans, while emphasizing uniqueness and craftsmanship. |
Minimalist Designs | Focuses on simplicity, allowing the natural beauty of the eco-dyed fabric to stand out. |
Botanical Prints | Celebrates nature by incorporating floral and plant motifs, which are naturally created during the dyeing process. |
Upcycled Clothing | Encourages reducing waste by giving old garments a new life with eco-dyeing techniques. |
Seasonal Collections | Uses seasonal plants for dyeing, ensuring that the colors and patterns reflect the time of year. |
Slow Fashion Movement | Promotes conscious consumerism, focusing on quality and longevity over fast fashion trends. |
Monochromatic Outfits | Utilizes a single eco-dyed color in different shades to create a cohesive and stylish look. |
Eco-Friendly Accessories | Complements outfits with eco-dyed scarves, bags, and hats, adding a touch of sustainability to everyday wear. |
Eco-Dyed Athleisure | Combines comfort and sustainability, making it easy to incorporate eco-dyed pieces into casual and active lifestyles. |
Eco-Dyed Fashion Trends
1. Embracing Natural Earth Tones
Natural earth tones are a major trend in eco-dyed fashion. Colors like warm browns, soft greens, and muted yellows are popular for their calming and grounding effects. These shades reflect a deep connection to nature and are versatile enough to be worn in any season. The simplicity and elegance of these colors make them a favorite for those looking to create a harmonious and sustainable wardrobe.
2. Rise of Handmade Artisanal Pieces
Handmade and artisanal eco-dyed pieces are gaining popularity as consumers seek unique, one-of-a-kind garments. These pieces are often crafted by skilled artisans using traditional methods, ensuring that each item is truly special. Supporting handmade eco-dyed clothing not only promotes sustainability but also helps preserve cultural heritage and craftsmanship. This trend is a celebration of individuality and the beauty of imperfection.
3. Botanical Prints and Patterns
Botanical prints are a prominent trend in eco-dyed fashion, with designs inspired directly by nature. Flowers, leaves, and other plant materials are often used in the dyeing process, resulting in intricate and organic patterns on the fabric. These prints add a touch of nature to your wardrobe, making each piece feel like a work of art. This trend is perfect for those who appreciate the beauty of the natural world.
4. Sustainable Athleisure and Casual Wear
Eco-dyed athleisure and casual wear are becoming increasingly popular as people seek comfortable and sustainable clothing options. These pieces combine functionality with style, making it easy to incorporate eco-friendly fashion into everyday life. From yoga pants to cozy hoodies, eco-dyed casual wear offers a relaxed yet stylish look that aligns with the values of conscious consumers. This trend how to style eco dyed clothings reflects the growing desire for fashion that supports both personal comfort and environmental responsibility.
Where to Buy Eco-Dyed Clothing
Store/Brand | Why It’s Recommended |
Patagonia | Known for its commitment to sustainability, offering high-quality, eco-friendly clothing. |
People Tree | A pioneer in fair trade fashion, offering ethically produced and eco-dyed garments. |
Amour Vert | Specializes in eco-friendly fashion, using non-toxic dyes and sustainable fabrics. |
Christy Dawn | Features vintage-inspired, eco-dyed dresses made from deadstock fabric and natural dyes. |
Indigo Handloom | Offers handwoven and eco-dyed clothing, supporting artisans and traditional methods. |
Eileen Fisher | A leader in sustainable fashion, using eco-dyeing and organic materials in their collections. |
Anthemia | Specializes in plant-dyed clothing, offering unique and naturally colored pieces. |
Jungmaven | Focused on hemp-based clothing, using eco-friendly dyes for sustainable fashion. |
Mara Hoffman | Known for its commitment to sustainability, including eco-dyeing in its vibrant collections. |
Bhumi | Offers organic, fair trade, and eco-dyed clothing with a focus on ethical production. |
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q. What is eco-dyed clothing?
Eco-dyed clothing is made using natural dyes derived from plants, flowers, and other organic materials. This process creates unique colors and patterns without the use of harmful chemicals.
Q. How long do the colors in eco-dyed clothing last?
With proper care, eco-dyed colors can last a long time. However, they may fade slightly over time, especially if exposed to direct sunlight or harsh washing methods.
Q. Is eco-dyed clothing more expensive?
Eco-dyed clothing can be more expensive due to the labor-intensive process and the use of natural materials. However, it often reflects higher quality and sustainability.
Q. Can I wash eco-dyed clothing in a washing machine?
It’s best to hand wash eco-dyed clothing in cold water to preserve the colors. If using a washing machine, select a gentle cycle and avoid hot water.
Q. Is eco-dyed clothing safe for sensitive skin?
Yes, eco-dyed clothing is generally safe for sensitive skin since it doesn’t contain the harsh chemicals found in synthetic dyes.
Q. Where can I buy eco-dyed clothing?
Eco-dyed clothing can be found at sustainable fashion brands, artisanal shops, and online marketplaces dedicated to eco-friendly products.
Q. Can I eco-dye my own clothing at home?
Yes, you can eco-dye your own clothing at home using natural materials like leaves, flowers, and vegetables. There are many DIY guides available online.
Q. Are all natural dyes considered eco-friendly?
Most natural dyes are eco-friendly, but it’s important to consider the source and harvesting methods. Sustainable practices ensure that natural dyeing remains environmentally friendly.
Q. How can I tell if a product is truly eco-dyed?
Look for certifications, brand transparency, and information on the dyeing process. Trustworthy brands will often provide details on how their products are dyed.
Q. Why should I choose eco-dyed clothing over conventional clothing?
Eco-dyed clothing is better for the environment, often more unique, and supports sustainable practices. It’s a great way to make a positive impact through your fashion choices.
Q. Can eco-dyed clothing be repaired or altered?
Yes, eco-dyed clothing can be repaired or altered. Use natural or eco-friendly materials for any repairs to maintain the garment’s sustainability.
Q. Do eco-dyed clothes require special care?
Eco-dyed clothes generally require gentle care, such as hand washing in cold water and air drying. Avoid harsh detergents and high heat to preserve the colors.
Q. Are eco-dyed clothes durable?
Eco-dyed clothes can be durable, especially when made from high-quality natural fibers. Proper care will help extend the life of these garments.
Q. How do I store eco-dyed clothing?
Store eco-dyed clothing in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use breathable garment bags to protect them from dust and light.
Q. Can eco-dyed clothing be composted?
If the clothing is made from entirely natural fibers and dyes, it can be composted. Check the garment’s care label for compostability information.
Styling eco-dyed clothing is all about embracing natural aesthetics and sustainability· “How to style eco dyed clothings ?” is crucial to creating a unique, environmentally conscious wardrobe· How to style eco dyed clothings?” requires attention to pairing with neutral tones, allowing the natural dyes to stand out· Incorporating How to style eco dyed clothings into your wardrobe is versatile, whether casual or formal· How to style eco dyed clothings ? with accessories that complement their earthy tones adds depth to your look· Remember, How to style eco dyed clothings ? emphasizes the beauty of sustainability· | <urn:uuid:715bfd52-ede2-46da-976b-0d856974927b> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://1cllick.in/how-to-style-eco-dyed-clothings/ | 2024-12-10T18:02:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066067282.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20241210163759-20241210193759-00483.warc.gz | en | 0.928963 | 2,666 | 2.65625 | 3 |
If you love plants as well as cats, ensuring the two live harmoniously together can be a tricky business. Some plants simply don’t survive cats’ insatiable curiosity, and, in some cases, this can be dangerous as certain plant species are toxic to cats. Luckily, there are also several species that aren’t toxic, making them better choices for plant lovers with feline friends. Read on to explore your options.
Note: Though these plants aren’t toxic to cats, it would still be best to keep them out of your cat’s reach in case their munchies end up in an upset tummy. Moreover, some plants may be spiky in texture, which could cause a mouth injury or choking hazard.
1. Air Plants
Tillandsia species, commonly known as air plants, are epiphyte plants, meaning they grow on the surface of another plant. They are found in Central and Southern America, the southern U.S., and Mexico. They are very beginner-friendly and can grow without soil—in nature, they typically grow on branches of trees. Air plants only need to be watered regularly and kept in an area with good air circulation and filtered light. They can be placed in a variety of locations around your home.
2. Rattlesnake Plant
The scientific name for the rattlesnake plant is Goeppertia insignis, previously known as Calathea lancifolia. It comes from Brazil and is a non-toxic plant commonly featured in many homes thanks to its wavy, dark and light green leaves and purple-red undersides. They should be kept in loose soil and out of direct light. It’s best to water them when the soil starts to feel dry on top, and you can spray their leaves for extra moisture, too.
3. Ponytail Palm
The ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is native to southeastern Mexico where it grows in semi-desert areas. It has a rounded, chunky base that somewhat resembles a coconut and a spray (or sprays) of long, fine, evergreen leaves. Larger ponytail palms grow flowers. This tree thrives in fast-draining soil and direct sunlight and can remain outside in the summer. Just make sure to gradually introduce the ponytail palm to summer weather, as sunburn is a possibility.
4. Spider Plant
Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are native to South Africa (coastal areas in particular) and are especially popular with cat parents thanks to their non-toxicity and low-maintenance care requirements. An adaptable houseplant, the spider plant does well in a wide variety of environments and comes in different shades of green. Some have variegated leaves with yellowish stripes, but others are lush, solid green.
5. Calathea Orbifolia
The Calathea orbifolia is a type of prayer plant from the tropical rainforest of South America and is a member of the Marantaceae family of plants. This houseplant has deep green foliage with lighter stripes and is a little harder to care for than some of the others on this list. It doesn’t thrive in cold climates and needs to be kept in an environment with high humidity and regularly fertilized. In addition, the soil needs to be kept damp at all times.
6. Polka Dot Plant
The scientific name of the polka dot plant is Hypoestes phyllostachya. This beautiful and eye-catching houseplant is native to Madagascar. It’s famous for its green leaves that come with splashes of pink in shades ranging from light to deep pink and is great for adding a pop of color to rooms that need brightening up. Its color comes out best when kept partially in the shade, but low lighting conditions can cause its color to fade. A humid environment is best for this plant.
The luxurious and elegant orchids (Orchidaceae family) have a sweet scent, come in a variety of lovely colors, and, best of all, are not toxic to cats! Except Antarctica, orchids grow on every continent and there are approximately between 17,000 and 35,000 species in the world. These tropical houseplants do best in humid environments and temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and they’re not keen on drafts and cold spots.
While orchids are considered safe, those that belong to the Cypridedium genus, which grows wild, are classified as toxic to humans. For this reason, it is best to keep cats away from them.
All the different plants in the Bromeliaceae family are non-toxic to cats. They can be found in tropical areas in North and South America, and the term “bromeliad” refers to a whole plant family—the pineapple family. Distinguished by their spray of lush green leaves topped with deep red foliage (or foliage in other colors), Bromeliad plants are another great option for adding a splash of color to your home. They should live indoors in temperate climates.
9. Venus Flytrap
The easy-to-care-for venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous flowering plant native to North and South Carolina. Though these plants are lethal to any insect that dares venture into their “mouths”, they’re not toxic to cats. They do best in acidic, consistently damp soil that drains well, and they need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight daily. The ideal temperature is between 70 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
10. Watermelon Peperomia
The watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) is a South American plant with a foliage pattern that resembles watermelons. It does well in bright indirect light (not direct sunlight) and needs to be watered when the top of the soil feels almost dry. It requires consistent and moderate watering and thrives in very humid environments in the summer months.
Native to Brazil, the gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa) has trumpet-like flowers that come in white, red, purple, or lavender. It blooms seasonally, requires well-draining soil, and does well in USDA Zones 11–12 but can be kept in colder climates and can live outdoors when the weather warms up. This is one of the higher-maintenance plants due to its specific care needs, but it’s not very difficult to care for overall.
12. African Violets
African Violets (Saintpaulia species) come from the same family as the gloxinia, but they’re native to Tanzania. The flowers bloom blue, purple, pink, and white, and the plant sits low to the ground. They like to be kept in good lighting conditions (but they don’t need to be kept in direct sunlight) and don’t do well in cooler temperatures as this stunts their growth. The soil needs to be kept consistently damp, but you don’t need to water the foliage.
13. Bird’s Nest Fern
Scientifically known as Asplenium nidus, the bird’s nest fern is a plant native to Hawaii and the Pacific. This slow-growing plant has apple-green-colored foliage that has a crinkly or wavy appearance. It should be kept out of direct sunlight and instead be placed in bright, warm areas with high humidity. Moisture should be even, but the soil shouldn’t be soaked to the point where it is soggy.
14. (Some) Succulents
We use the word “some” because, while most succulents aren’t harmful to cats, some are. Poisonous succulents include aloe vera, kalanchoe, jade, and pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli). Safe succulents are burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum), Haworthia species, Sedum species, and hens and chickens (Echeveria elegans). They can be kept in the full sun for around half a day (though this may vary depending on where you are), spending the rest of the day in bright shade or dappled light conditions.
15. Bamboo Palm
Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea elegans), which is native to Mexico, is a houseplant popular for its air-purifying capabilities, winter hardiness, and low-maintenance care requirements. It was named after the bamboo-like look of its stalks, and it has dense foliage. The bamboo palm occasionally produces red berries that darken when ripe and white flowers in summer if the light is good.
If you’re a fan of growing your own herbs, you’ll be pleased to know that basil is a safe herb for homes with cats. Basil comes from the mint family and is native to tropical Asia. It’s very popular in Italian recipes, especially in pesto and tomato sauce, and is easy to grow and maintain. This herb does best in full sun, but part sun is also fine.
17. Nerve Plant
The Nerve plant (Fittonia albivenis), also known as the red mosaic plant, is an herbaceous perennial plant from southern tropical America with beautiful white or red/pink lines on its leaves. It does best in warm environments (room temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit) with medium humidity, but shouldn’t be kept in direct light—part shade is best. Nerve plants need to be watered frequently and their foliage can be misted for extra humidity.
18. Baby Rubber Plant
Baby rubber plants (Peperomia obtusifolia) are small, thick-leaved, and red-stemmed plants native to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Florida that are pretty easy to care for.
They don’t need to be watered too often, and the soil should be left to dry between watering sessions. The baby rubber plant thrives in humid environments and low to medium light conditions.
19. Boston Fern
With its luscious, hanging fronds, the Boston fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata) is a popular and low-maintenance house plant native to tropical and subtropical America. It thrives in warm environments and should be kept out of the cold, and well-maintained humidity is all-important for this tropical plant. For this reason, it should be watered and fertilized regularly.
20. Friendship Plant
The friendship plant (Pilea involucrata) is native to Central and South America and is a popular gift, which is where the name comes from. Its deep or apple-green leaves are uniquely textured with bronze and purplish markings. It likes to be kept in environments with high humidity and can grow in low or moderate light, but bright and indirect light is also fine. The top of the soil should be left to dry before you water it again.
21. Chinese Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides, commonly called Chinese money plant, comes from southern China and is a member of the nettle family. It is so-named thanks to its coin-like leaves, though these are sometimes referred to as resembling UFOs or pancakes. The Chinese money plant is pretty easy to care for, making it a great beginner plant for those with cats. It does best in bright light and with moderate watering.
If you’re a plant lover worried about your cat’s safety, there’s no need to despair. As we can see, there are plenty of plants—some of which are very easy to care for—that look great in homes, offices, and gardens and that are not toxic to cats.
Nevertheless, as mentioned in the intro, all plants (except for cat grass) are best kept out of your cat’s reach because, though some plants aren’t toxic, they could still cause some digestive problems if your cat nibbles on them a bit too much.
Featured Image Credit: Candid_Shots, Pixabay
- 1. Air Plants
- 2. Rattlesnake Plant
- 3. Ponytail Palm
- 4. Spider Plant
- 5. Calathea Orbifolia
- 6. Polka Dot Plant
- 7. Orchid
- 8. Bromeliad
- 9. Venus Flytrap
- 10. Watermelon Peperomia
- 11. Gloxinia
- 12. African Violets
- 13. Bird’s Nest Fern
- 14. (Some) Succulents
- 15. Bamboo Palm
- 16. Basil
- 17. Nerve Plant
- 18. Baby Rubber Plant
- 19. Boston Fern
- 20. Friendship Plant
- 21. Chinese Money Plant | <urn:uuid:7493e9ab-3751-42ab-881c-a4d2d10994cc> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/plants-safe-for-cats/ | 2024-12-04T00:45:10Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066140386.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20241203224435-20241204014435-00824.warc.gz | en | 0.93947 | 2,707 | 2.96875 | 3 |
This question may seem overly broad or ambitious to be addressed in this short essay. But however briefly or incompletely, in a time of hyper-connectivity it is important to explore into this burning question. In a period of mass information, public opinions and social imaginaries have an impact on global feeling and governance, as a consequence of their growing mutual interdependence. It is almost impossible to understand national phenomena and international relations without taking into account the realm of public opinion—even in dictatorial or authoritarian regimes—and the architecture that shapes it. Reciprocally, the world’s current transition is leading to a new information order that goes way beyond the fragile rules in the multilateral framework. This situation means citizens, communicators and the media have new responsibilities and new battles to fight.
Since the nineteenth century, democracy, modern nationalism and communication have been converging. Essentially, widespread communication combined with the emergence of nationalisms has radically transformed public opinions. The scope from Gustave Le Bon’s prediction of an Era of the Crowds at the end of the nineteenth century to Dominique Moïsi’s contemporary Geopolitics of Emotions offers an interesting timeframe of this structural evolution and its connection with politics. Le Bon and Moïsi describe how the emergence of nationalism and democracy sowed the seeds of the manipulation of the masses. The latter left the field of political means to become an objective of politics itself, seeking to win the minds of people through mediated persuasion. Even current dictatorships, unlike those of the past that could negate the opinion of their subjects, need to win over public opinion through nationalist, religious or progressive narratives.
In this context it is useful to remember that apart from well-known periods of mass manipulation, such as Italy or Germany during their ultra-nationalist period, or during the history of the Soviet Union and the Cold War, the most effective mass persuasion campaigns have occurred in democracies, especially Great Britain during World War I. According to the geostrategist Gérard Chaliand, almost everything that was invented during this period inspired what was later implemented in peacetime. Curiously, this fact does not seem to have persisted in the memory. Forty years after the World War II and just after the intense propaganda of the Cold War, many western journalists were shocked during the First Gulf War (1990-1991) to discover that Iraq was not the only antagonist using propaganda. Like many other conflicts, the current situation in Syria sees these methods updated with new networked modalities of psychological manipulation from local to global level. In practice, communication and information continue to be weaponized, closely tied to confrontation and interests. In this respect, this is probably only just the beginning of a new state of affairs.
Emphasizing this issue must not lead us to excessively generalize mass manipulation. Our intention is mainly to point out the importance of the social and psychological dimensions that are now much more integrated with other dynamics within and between the societies. On the one hand, it has become more than evident that control over the media and journalists has increased all over the world, in parallel with a concentration of the media economy and an erosion of freedom of expression. Far beyond the weak regulatory framework for communication at national and international, not much seems to have changed at institutional level since the “non-aligned” proposals for a new world information order suggested by the MacBride Commission in the 1980s. On the other hand, we can observe that each significant event or issue at stake on an international or local scale is now inseparable from a stronger investment in psycho-cognitive persuasion. Let us think about the 2016 presidential elections in the USA, or recent referenda in Great Britain (Brexit), Bolivia, Catalonia, the migrant quota referendum in Hungary, or the intensity of industrial lobbies in global debate on such issues as climate change. Conventional political persuasion requires more investment in media and psychological manipulation. This phenomenon is often named “psychological warfare,” waged in the information and media realm, both in times of war and peace. But let’s relativize this term a little to focus more on underlying phenomena.
Because of these major changes in the sociopolitical sphere, two significant facts are important to consider for communicators. First, as social imaginary and psychological issues have become more deeply embedded in the political realm, part of its modus operandi has been reshaped. Reactionary populism or emotion-led decision-making, combined with psycho-emotional expressions, an obsession with opinion polls, moral principles and realpolitik pragmatism are forming a trend in the way leaders deal with global and national affairs. Resentment, grudges, revenge, hatred but also victimization and blaming are becoming more intertwined with political attitudes, both in the North and South. In the past, when post-Westphalian diplomacy was more of a confidential affair, passions were to some extent left out of the political equation. But that is no longer the case, and international relations are closely influenced by moods and opinions. In many aspects, political leaders are now using these new circumstances to their advantage. Attitudes to migrants and refugees are currently the most visible part of this iceberg. In another area, the irrational reaction of the USA following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, when the American superpower had to face up to both a massive psychological shock and its own naivety to understand the complexity of the international scene, has led to a complete fiasco in the Middle East. Modern terrorism is currently weaponizing the psychological field with efficient methods and intelligence.
Another important aspect is that western public opinions and ideologies have grown more vulnerable, reticent and weaker. In the last forty years, attitudes to violence, social diversity and political transformations have changed deeply, particularly in those societies coming from a period of stability and prosperity. One example of this is a growing sense of fear, accompanied by skepticism about science, the media, mainstream narratives and political institutions. The consequences of this change of mood, hard to imagine only a half century ago when imperial North America and Europe were convinced of their superiority over other societies, include identity crises, difficulties in engaging in deeper political changes, and the emergence of a new radical politics (including Donald Trump) and the challenge of irregular warfare. The psychological “energies” and motivations are different in many societies of the global South. This new equation between geopolitics, thought manipulation and widespread communication is a central aspect of our times. And the modern information technology revolution is not so much a cause as a new condition that interacts with and speeds up this long-term evolution.
What kind of world architecture are we moving in? This is certainly another ambitious question, closely connected to the above, that we will only outline briefly here in as much as it concerns the main theme of this article. Basically, a new historical period is underway, dragging with it the two main driving forces inherited from the last centuries, nationalism and modernity, in a shifting balance of global powers. The great European boom, from the fifteenth century to its colonial zenith at the beginning of the twentieth century, have placed these two driving forces at the core of the international system. Their assimilation through the Industrial Revolution but including also the concepts of Republic, Nation-State, political party, democracy, critical rationality and human rights, was a central issue in the independence of various countries. But these concepts are still fairly new for societies coming from other political backgrounds. In practice, many world crises are still due to some societies’ difficulties in updating their own structure to this modern globalized system, and the need to deal with persistent forms of domination on the international scene, such as neocolonialism. One illustration is the growing antagonism between local “winners” inserted into the global economy and “losers” on the margins of the market. The same can be said with the divide between national identity and cultural diversity (migrants, minorities), between urban and rural population, between national perspectives and global realities which have deeply reconfigured social classes and political parties in the last four decades. In this sense, the place of hegemonic capitalism in these crises is sometimes overstated. Naturally, the latter generates many contradictions, but political leaders have historically played a crucial role, surrounded by a cohesive national elite, in mobilizing their society towards modernization.
A persistent factor of transnational relations is that geopolitics continues to be the result of a permanent flow of common and divergent interests, managed by fluctuating power relationships. Half a century after World War II, despite the emergence of transnational phenomena and a culture of global politics oriented towards common goods and human rights, no consistent supranational organizations have been created to rule above national sovereignties on a legal and political level. In general, indirect strategies of conflicts and diplomacy (on economic, psychological, and political grounds and common spaces) have continued, while direct conflicts between nation states have diminished. In practice, the impossibility of reforming the laudable United Nations and the failure of hegemonic players like the post-war United States to address global issues beyond their own vision or “imperialist instinct” are two of the main reasons why a cooperative governance system suited to the level of global interdependences has not been brought into place. Aside from discourses and human rights norms, the international system continues to be contradictory, anarchic and cynical. Is it necessary to remember that human rights were exploited to implement the first ideological offensive against the USSR at the outset of the Cold War? The facts show that western countries are not fundamentally concerned by regions standing up for their own interests. Consider Rwanda, Congo, Kurdistan and other minorities, or to some extent Syria. In this changing international system, new issues like climate change, global terrorism and transnational capital flows bring a new level of complexity to the world agenda, going far beyond the mere sum of national and corporate powers. Civil societies play a growing role but without graduating to the role of a supranational actor organized around common ideologies and objectives. Of course, huge social progress can be seenand must not be ignored. What perspective is emerging from these global trends? In short, a geopolitical reconfiguration, switching from an imposed (due to the outcomes of previous conflicts) and relatively stable single-pole, inter-state model towards one more complex and multipolar.
The existence of a pre-multipolar system should a priori be celebrated. National autonomy and post-colonial independence have continued to spread since the 1950s. Economic growth in emerging countries, depending on their capacity to modernize and build a “state capitalism”, has become a sure way to regain power and recover from past humiliation. First Asia, then Latin America and Africa have emerged in this way, often prioritizing growth over human rights. But while the geopolitical center of gravity is migrating to the global South (by 2020, eight-five percent of the world population will be living in the global South), oligarchic connivance and half-measure governance still characterize the deep logic of current world politics. Even if the asymmetry of geopolitical powers is gradually diminishing between the USA and the main emerging countries, China, India or Russia are still outsiders to be able to modify the rules of world governance. In the weakened but far from defunct multilateral framework, issues like climate change, collective security, migration, financial stability and social inequities are only loosely addressed. In practice, these questions are already creating serious crises and destabilization. The same goes for telecommunications and cyberspace, where states and private companies have gained control over the common infrastructure. In this context, in the absence of a new regulatory framework, instability and complexity are becoming two main variables of the international system. Zbigniew Brzezinski rightly pointed out that without a stable geopolitical basis, any effort to promote international cooperation is bound to fail. This can explain to a certain extent why the winds of hope that started to blow in the 1990s around a stronger multilateral culture have died down, in particular since 2001. Two central perspectives must be retained: first, that the world is increasingly volatile and must be stabilized; and second, that the international architecture must be reformed to address the new level of global interdependences.
If we digressed from the above issues before, it is fundamentally because they offer a more holistic and political framework to tackle the issue of communication. While communication and information always go hand in hand with the idea of human emancipation, they have also become more socially ambivalent, squeezed in this international reality. It is one thing to analyze communication from an epistemological basis, which is necessary as we will see below, and it is another to understand how information and communication are becoming intertwined with all layers of power in a context of pervasive connectivity. In practice, many of the issues that have recently come to the fore are reflected in the realm of communication and media. On the one hand, rising informational interdependences, in a context of a lack of regulation, are creating mayor vulnerabilities, corporate captures and mistrust, while a techno-ideological and monopolistic inclination has gained ground over communication architecture due to new technologies and financial convergences, and on the other hand a multipolar configuration is underway in the media. While the western media continues to proselytize, new actors—especially India, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Russia—have harnessed the potential of digital globalization and emerged to challenge US hegemony and prefigure a multipolar information order. Naturally, this multipolar dispute, as a new ground of counter-hegemonic and ideological confrontation, is not really synonymous with a new democratic information order.
This anchoring to power politics leads us to the structural issue of the central place science and technology hold in the economy today. Almost everywhere, technologies, markets and science have developed much faster than ethics, thought systems and regulations, causing political purposes and means to be reversed. Communication systems are no exception to this fundamental lag. They have been shaped in the last decades by liberal globalization and it shows: commodification, concentration and deregulation, uniformity, erosion of diversity, financialization, speed and immediacy, information overload, techno-centered approaches, etc. The ideological biases of this framework in the presence of a galloping cybersphere have created symptoms like cognitive bubbles, disinformation, and other forms magnifying the broken lines of modern societies. In the mainstream media, profit interests often drive editorial considerations in a broader context of economic turbulence. End-to-end networks transporting digital information are generating unprecedented monopolies, contributing ultimately to the erosion of freedom of expression, confusion and miscommunication. In summary, things unfold as if the nature of economic tools, networks, protocols, devices, were becoming self-referential and evolving separately from social values.
In this regard, it is interesting to note that media and communication closely interact with traditional systems—myths, beliefs and religion—that still give meaning to societies. The so-called era of “post-truth” demonstrates once again that the distinction between power, beliefs and information is very porous. The historian Yuval Noah Harari points out that “humans prefer power to truth and spend far more time on trying to control the world than on trying to understand it.” Are the current times of information overload propitious to embracing reality rather than myths or power? Are there signs of renewal in mainstream political imaginaries and public opinion, in particular regarding global affairs? Nothing could be less certain. In practice, even if serious media and investigation do really exist, only a few are actually working to prepare a public opinion on world affairs. It should be remembered also that a more honest and realistic understanding of societies in the global South is quite recent in western countries. The language used in the media, often prioritizing national insights and event-centered approaches, does not gain a deeper understanding of complex realities. Here again, the perceptive gap regarding migration issues between old and new democracies could be an accurate indicator. In general, it seems that the greater complexity of global phenomena creates more restrictions for dealing with realities, even in a more globalized information system. Depending on the issues and societies in question, facts are often argued over, negated and exploited through ignorance, ideologies and dogmatisms, instead of considering biases and mistakes. Causes and root problems are rarely addressed. The black and white duality of both radical left-wing and right-wing groups feeds this trend. This general pattern is amplified further in a context of political crisis, where national opinions become more defensive, for instance in the USA, in the European Union after the 2007 financial crisis, or the case of Brexit (although various countries in the Eurozone demonstrate a consistent awareness of regional affairs); and also in Latin America with the conservative right’s conjectural offensive and polarization.
Again, we should be cautious not to generalize such conclusions when the context is so diverse. The idea here is to focus essentially on communication in its transversal dimension, as an interface between public opinions and socio-political dynamics. In essence, as an institutionalized or informal vector of meaning and knowledge, media and communication processes are part of the problem in envisioning medium- and long-term social transformations. The more they avoid delivering a clearer reflection of what is at stake at national and international level, the more they feed a perceptive barrier and mistrust in their legitimacy. According to a 2018 survey of thirty-eight countries, world public opinion overwhelmingly agrees that the news media should be unbiased in its coverage of political issues. This is a reassuring finding. Nevertheless, only fifty-two percent say the news media in their country do a good job of reporting on political issues fairly. People in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia-Pacific are more satisfied with their news media, while Latin Americans are the most critical. Indeed, significant disaffection and growing skepticism are affecting dominant media, not only in global issues.
In addition to the information biases described above, all these trends are contributing to bringing the fundamental values and the political dimension to the forefront. What goals frame communication and information systems? What is the purpose of so much information flow? What communication is needed? What is the new role of information and communication in society? In many ways, widespread connectivity is leading to a return of meaning through the “back door” for many communicators and citizens concerned by the divorce between media, knowledge and political action. In practice, this willingness to re-appropriate or re-signify communication is visible when one participates in debates on climate change, feminism, conflicts, social struggles or any social transformation that engages a cultural shift. Around all these issues, communication strategies are handled as a central leverage, going far beyond the sphere of the media.
This last point is an opportunity to outline some perspectives contained in our initial question. Like other social struggles, these perspectives should not be considered in a theoretical or abstract way (although this is still necessary), but mainly in a context of transformation here and now, where specific conflicts and actions can help reach new horizons. First, it is important to seize the opportunity to re-appropriate and re-signify communication in this new political context and in long-term effort. It should be kept in mind that communication is both a vast and loose field, including many domains and practices with their own logic and way of evolution. But as can be observed in other strategic areas, new meta-perspectives or models are emerging beyond scientific positivism. It is imperative to consider these perspectives as a whole, as communication researcher Dominique Wolton suggests. On the one hand, the progress of markets and technologies has broadened the possibilities to both communicate (and miscommunicate). The right to communicate is emerging implicitly (sometimes explicitly in constitutional texts), as a reflection of the possibility for everybody to access and practice modern communication. On the other hand, the effort to renew a conceptual framework of communication in a time of growing inter-sociality has been delayed or even substituted. In this way, communication should be situated above economic and technical processes, as a sociopolitical construction and a power to build collectively. This emphasizes a more social-oriented communication approach, where contexts, situations, cultural backgrounds and relational patterns are becoming central variables. Communicating is far from synonymous with informing, nor is it a linear transmission between persons or groups. It is a process of conflict negotiation, involving social contexts, circumstances and a diversity of identities, subjects and interpretations.
This first reframing of communication has important consequences. It implies rethinking temporality, polarized today around the speed of information transmission, and respecting social learning cycles. It also means rethinking pluralism and diversity, techno-centered ideologies, mediations, norms and regulations (for each domain of communication.) In the background, the interdependences generated by a pervasive communication are pushing towards a new institutionalization in the political systems. As we said, communication became a modality of social and political relations. In a similar manner to legislative or judicial powers, the importance of the communication realm enhances the institutional architecture with a more advanced definition of functions, domains, governance models and communication resources, going beyond market-led information patterns. Indeed, we are probably only at the beginning of this debate with the regulation of data, digital services taxation, multimedia convergences, monopoly regulation, etc. These perspectives are inseparable from existing human rights standards. But a new governance architecture of information and communication is at stake. More details are required to feed these proposals, but it is not the purpose of this first chapter to respond exhaustively to these initial perspectives. Our aim here is to bring together disparate elements and give a general overview.
If communication is to be reframed, particular attention should be paid to how mainstream communication is being questioned and changed here and now. What specific struggles or practices could lead to new frameworks and paradigms? Again, there is no simple answer. There is at least a diversity of innovations and resistance ongoing in every kind of political regime. Paradoxically, while a certain culture of “permanent revolution” might lead one to think that pervasive communication could also push the political system to democratize, the reality shows a much more complex equation. There is an ongoing struggle to democratize communication and defend the right to communicate. But states and national institutions are still here and are basically determining the geometry of communicational citizenship, depending on their ambition to democratize and control. We have learned from the last three decades that this doesn’t stop communication from becoming widespread as a common space and a social practice, especially through the expansion of modern tools of communication. And as occurs in other common spaces, this point strategically moves the discussion towards the possibility of building power in the communication sphere.
One illustration of this power to build collectively is that during the last three decades, a large number of communicators, researchers, media workers and journalists have constructed new kinds of alliances around issues, shaping a progressive communication agenda at global level. Climate change and sustainable transition, regional integration and social movements, democracy and rights, racism and Islamophobia, the emergence of sciences and technologies, corruption and transparency, social economy and finance, immigration and mobility, gender and feminism, violence and conflicts, technology and digital sovereignty, free media and communication rights, conspiracy narratives and fake news all appear among the issues where communication is closely tied to social struggles. Independent and “free media” are propagating in a context of stronger state repression or capture by corporate powers. These networks and alliances do not necessarily depend on institutionalized media or structures and are configured according to issues, ideologies, regions and methodologies, and organized at national or transnational level, with a highly variable level of intensity and depth. Although it is ambitious to expect consistent coordination between them, given such a thematic diversity (except at national level), they configure a multi-layering of identities and frameworks, rooted in ethical and conceptual foundations. In the latter, communication is often given as a common or public good and a process to leverage new practices and system transformation. In addition, new funders back initiatives for an investigative and independent media sphere. It is relevant that these networks are growing reciprocally, empowered by other political movements and struggles. This is the case with democratic or environmental movements, for instance, or with religious or feminist mobilizations.
Asymmetric struggles for a “citizen communication” are likely to proliferate in a context of increasing power disputes. This landscape is similar to what is happening in other global common spaces, whether land, urban spaces or cyberspace. Here too, confrontations with the leading powers are intensifying. It is likely that new crises or scandals in information ecosystems will create new conflicts and thus opportunities to forge new paths. This is an argument in favor of building a proper strategic intelligence for the communication realm and being prepared to oppose new architectures capable of replacing the old ones. Precisely, in terms of intelligence of the asymmetric struggles where the weak fight the strong, the power balance in the information and communication realm has its own rules and equations. The large, monopolistic players are not always the most powerful. While monopolies controlling content and infrastructure are obviously a serious obstacle, they are ultimately key allies in influencing minds. But in a world flooded with irrelevant information, other variables are likely to turn powerful. Clarity, reliability, and the capacity to innovate are three examples.
Clarity means the intelligence to understand and structure a deeper vision of realities. Analyzing his own society during the national liberation period, the distinguished African revolutionary Amilcar Cabral suggested that “a battle should be waged against ourselves to raise the knowledge necessary to transform reality.” He pointed out the challenge, too often underestimated or ignored by ideological bias, of making a qualitative leap in the relation between realities, knowledge, mass mobilization and action, as a condition for power relationships shifting in an asymmetric confrontation. Today, this kind of clarity is needed to embrace a deeper knowledge of world and national affairs, the diversity of the sociocultural and historical foundations of societies, and their relation to globalization. In some ways, this effort to generate knowledge in this new international period could be compared with the postwar period when the western world changed its whole interpretation of the world to finally leave behind the posturing of colonialism and western superiority. Of course, this structural shift was not the outcome of a mere movement of intellectuals of both colonized and colonizing sides. Instead, it resulted from a mix of conflicts, political struggles, critical reviews, cultural and communicational processes, leading to a complete questioning of these societies.
Reliability connects the idea of legitimacy, transparency, security, trust and rigor with the production of knowledge and information. It involves a mediation processes, today in crisis in the news industry due to disintermediated or deregulated forms of connectivity. This also means mechanisms to rank communicational practices and actors. The capacity to innovate culturally (and technologically) entails different aspects. The USA, as a main technological power, leads numerous innovations in the domain of electronic communications and internet, even if other powers are gaining ground in the electronic industry. To illustrate its cultural radiation, Régis Debray recently underlined how the whole of Europe and Latin America has partly absorbed US culture. But as mentioned above, western ideologies have somehow declined and weakened. Some regional powers, for example in the Middle East, have a better understanding of how to exploit irregular conflicts to benefit their ambitions, regional interests or hegemony. In countries of the global South, although racism and class segregation are a serious barrier, the framework of identities is in general more flexible. The struggles of migrants, the young and women are currently generating cultural syncretism, creating a deep shift in the cultural patterns in these societies, inseparable from new forms of cultural cosmopolitanism and communication.
The organizational frameworks are also a key dimension in the capacity to innovate. Political or “vanguard” parties are often overwhelmed when ideological or local divides widen. There is a need to design new flexible frameworks where a plurality of innovations, identities or social movements can converge towards common perspectives. The international movement around the “commons”, as a paradigm going beyond market and state regulation, is one current example. The rise of free media in many places, with local coordination, and sometimes international movements like the World Charter of Free Media is another one. It implies a capacity to ally with other political identities, to boost them through communication as a vector of sociocultural transformation.
To be continued in part II…
Philip M. Taylor, Munitions of the Mind, 1990 and British Propaganda in the First World War, 1982.
The Atlantic, War Goes Viral. How social media is being weaponized across the world, 2016. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/11/war-goes-viral/501125/
World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development, UNESCO, 2017 https://en.unesco.org/world-media-trends-2017
See the interesting study Challenging Truth and Trust: A Global Inventory of Organized Social Media Manipulation, Oxford University, 2018 http://comprop.oii.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2018/07/ct2018.pdf
Andrew Bacevich, The Limits of Power: the End of American Exceptionalism, 2008 ; Gérard Chaliand, Why we’ve stopped winning wars?, 2017. http://losing-wars.net
Growth of alphabetized people, development of female education, life expectancy duplicated in Southern countries, reduction of inter-State conflicts, etc. It is useful to read the long-term perspective of Yuval Noah Arari, in Sapiens. A brief history of humankind, 2014.
Zbigniew Brzezinski, Strategic Vision, 2012.
Daya Thussu, A new global communication order for a multipolar world, 2018. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22041451.2018.1432988
Conclusions of the World Citizens Assembly, 2001, Lille, France. http://www.alliance21.org/lille/fr/resultats/docs/Esquisseagenda21es_mar02.pdf
See for example Laura Flanders, Next System Media: An Urgent Necessity, 2017. https://thenextsystem.org/learn/stories/next-system-media-urgent-necessity
To be balanced with Social Media, Political Polarization and Political Disinformation: a Review of the Scientific Literature https://hewlett.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Social-Media-Political-Polarization-and-Political-Disinformation-Literature-Review.pdf
Yuval Noah Harari, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, 2018.
World Charter of Free Media, 2015. http://www.fmml.net/spip.php?article146
Pew Research Center, Publics globally want unbiased but are divided on whether their news media deliver news coverage, 2018 http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/01/09131309/Publics-Globally-Want-Unbiased-News-Coverage-but-Are-Divided-on-Whether-Their-News-Media-Deliver_Full-Report-and-Topline-UPDATED.pdf
Dominique Wolton, Informer n’est pas communiquer, CNRS, France, 2009.
Just to mention some existing networks: International alliance of journalists, Indymedia, Confederation of contents for a world democracy, Real Media (UK), Global ground Media (Asia), In Depth News (Asia), Democracy Now (US), Communication Forum for Integration (LatAm), World Forum of Free Media, Climate change communication center (China), Coordination of free media (France), Peace and Conflicts Journalist Network, Global investigative Journalism Network, First Look Media.
See for example the charters of the Alliance of international journalist, the World Forum of Free Media or Other News.
Amilcar Cabral, The Weapon of Theory, 1968.
For example the Trust Initiative of Reporters without borders.
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Understanding IaaS in Cloud Computing: An In-Depth Guide
~5 minutes read
In today’s rapidly evolving IT landscape, cloud computing has become a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. IaaS in the cloud stands out as a flexible and cost-effective solution among the various cloud service models. This article will delve into the basics of IaaS in the cloud, exploring its benefits, use cases, and how it fits into the broader ecosystem. We’ll also examine popular cloud service AWS offerings and other major providers.
What is Infrastructure as a Service?
IaaS in cloud is a cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. It allows organizations to rent or lease IT infrastructure components such as servers, storage, and networking on a pay-as-you-go basis. This eliminates the need for businesses to invest in and maintain their own physical hardware. Cloud service AWS is a prime example of an IaaS provider, offering a comprehensive suite of infrastructure services.
Key Components of IaaS
These are software-based emulations of physical computers. Users can run operating systems and applications on these virtual machines just as they would on physical hardware. Virtual machines provide flexibility, allowing users to choose their preferred operating system and easily scale resources up or down. Cloud service AWS offers Amazon EC2 for this purpose.
IaaS providers offer various storage options, including block storage (similar to traditional hard drives), object storage (for unstructured data like images or videos), and file storage (for shared file systems). These storage solutions are typically scalable, reliable, and accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud service AWS provides services like Amazon S3 and EBS for storage needs.
IaaS in cloud includes networking capabilities such as virtual private networks (VPNs), load balancing, and DNS management. These features allow users to create secure, isolated networks in the cloud and manage traffic between different components of their infrastructure. Cloud service AWS offers Amazon VPC and other networking services to support these requirements.
These distribute incoming network traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server becomes overwhelmed. Load balancers improve application availability and responsiveness by efficiently managing resource utilization. Cloud service AWS provides Elastic Load Balancing for this purpose.
IaaS in cloud providers offer firewall services to protect cloud resources from unauthorized access and cyber threats. These firewalls can be configured to allow or block traffic based on predefined security rules, helping to maintain the security of cloud-based applications and data. Cloud service AWS includes security groups and network ACLs for firewall functionality.
By offering these components as services, IaaS in cloud providers like cloud service AWS enables businesses to build and manage their IT infrastructure without the need for physical hardware investments.
Benefits of IaaS
One of the primary advantages of IaaS in cloud is its potential for significant cost savings. By leveraging cloud service AWS and other providers, businesses can avoid large upfront investments in hardware and ongoing maintenance costs. The pay-as-you-go model of IaaS in the cloud allows organizations to align their IT expenses with actual usage.
Scalability and Flexibility
IaaS in the cloud allows organizations to scale their infrastructure up or down based on demand. This flexibility ensures that resources are available when needed, without wasting capacity during periods of low usage. Cloud service AWS offers auto-scaling features that automatically adjust resource allocation based on predefined rules.
Faster Time to Market
With IaaS in the cloud, companies can quickly provision new environments for development, testing, or production. This speed accelerates innovation and reduces time to market for new products and services. Cloud service AWS provides tools like CloudFormation that enable rapid deployment of complex infrastructures.
Focus on Core Competencies
By outsourcing infrastructure management to cloud service AWS or other IaaS in cloud providers, IT teams can focus on strategic initiatives rather than day-to-day maintenance tasks. This shift allows businesses to allocate more resources to innovation and core business activities.
Popular IaaS Providers
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Cloud service AWS is a pioneering and leading IaaS in cloud provider offering a wide range of solutions. Their Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) service is a prime example of IaaS in cloud in action, providing scalable computing capacity. AWS offers a vast array of services beyond EC2, including:
- Amazon S3 for object storage
- Amazon EBS for block storage
- Amazon VPC for networking
- AWS Lambda for serverless computing
- Amazon RDS for managed database services
Cloud service AWS’s global infrastructure spans multiple regions and availability zones, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance. Their pricing model is flexible, offering on-demand, reserved, and spot instances to suit various business needs and budgets.
Are you curious about the world of cloud computing and how it can transform your business? Look no further than Amazon Web Services (AWS), the leading cloud platform that’s revolutionizing industries across the globe.
Azure offers a comprehensive set of IaaS in cloud services, including virtual machines, storage, and networking capabilities. While not a cloud service AWS offering, Azure competes directly with AWS in the IaaS in cloud space. Key Azure IaaS offerings include:
- Azure Virtual Machines for scalable computing
- Azure Blob Storage for unstructured data
- Azure Files for fully managed file shares
- Azure Virtual Network for isolated and secure network environments
- Azure Load Balancer for distributing network traffic
Azure integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, making it an attractive option for organizations already using Microsoft technologies. They also provide hybrid cloud solutions, allowing businesses to connect their on-premises infrastructure with Azure cloud services.
Learn how to manage cloud resources in the article Microsoft Azure: An Overview of Cloud Resource Management for a comprehensive guide.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
GCP provides robust IaaS in cloud offerings, with services like Compute Engine for virtual machines and Cloud Storage for scalable object storage. Similar to cloud service AWS, GCP offers a wide range of IaaS in cloud solutions. Other notable GCP IaaS services include:
- Google Kubernetes Engine for container orchestration
- Cloud Networking for global networking
- Cloud CDN for content delivery
- Cloud Load Balancing for distributing workloads
GCP is known for its strong data analytics and machine learning capabilities, which integrate well with its IaaS offerings. They also emphasize sustainability, aiming to run on carbon-free energy 24/7 by 2030.
Check the overview of the key services and features offered by GCP in the Google Cloud Platform: Basics and Pricing Overview article.
IBM Cloud offers a range of IaaS solutions, leveraging IBM’s enterprise IT expertise. Key offerings include:
- IBM Cloud Virtual Servers for on-demand compute resources
- IBM Cloud Object Storage for scalable storage
- IBM Cloud Networking services for secure connectivity
IBM Cloud stands out with its focus on hybrid cloud solutions and integration with IBM’s AI and blockchain technologies.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)
Oracle’s IaaS offering provides high-performance computing instances, storage, and networking. Notable features include:
- Oracle Cloud Compute for bare metal and virtual machine instances
- Oracle Cloud Storage for block, file, and object storage
- Oracle Cloud Networking for software-defined networking
OCI is particularly attractive for organizations running Oracle databases and applications, offering optimized performance for these workloads.
Each of these providers offers unique strengths and specializations, catering to different business needs and preferences in the IaaS space. When choosing an IaaS provider, organizations should consider factors such as service offerings, pricing models, geographical presence, integration capabilities, and alignment with their specific technical requirements and business goals.
Delve into the fundamentals of Oracle’s product suite in our other article Understanding Oracle’s Product Suite and Partner Network.
Use Cases for IaaS
Development and Testing Environments
IaaS in cloud is ideal for creating temporary development and testing environments. Teams can spin up resources as needed and tear them down when the project is complete. Cloud service AWS provides services like AWS CodeBuild and CodeDeploy to support this use case.
Big Data Analytics
The scalable nature of IaaS in cloud makes it perfect for big data workloads. Organizations can process large datasets without investing in expensive on-premises hardware. Cloud service AWS offers services like Amazon EMR and Redshift for big data processing and analytics.
Disaster Recovery and Backup
IaaS in cloud provides a cost-effective solution for disaster recovery. Companies can replicate their infrastructure in the cloud, ensuring business continuity in case of disasters. Cloud service AWS offers services like AWS Backup and Amazon S3 for implementing robust disaster recovery strategies.
Many businesses use IaaS in cloud for hosting websites and web applications, benefiting from the scalability and reliability of cloud infrastructure. Cloud service AWS provides services like Amazon Lightsail and Elastic Beanstalk specifically designed for web hosting scenarios.
Implementing IaaS: Best Practices
When adopting IaaS in cloud, security should be a top priority. Implement strong access controls, encryption, and regular security audits to protect your cloud-based infrastructure. Cloud service AWS offers comprehensive security features like AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) and AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to help secure your IaaS in cloud environment.
Monitor and optimize your IaaS in cloud resources to ensure optimal performance. Use auto-scaling features to match capacity with demand automatically. Cloud service AWS provides tools like Amazon CloudWatch and AWS Auto Scaling to help manage and optimize your infrastructure performance.
Implement cost monitoring tools and set up alerts to avoid unexpected expenses in your IaaS in cloud environment. Regularly review your resource usage and adjust your infrastructure accordingly. Cloud service AWS offers AWS Cost Explorer and AWS Budgets to help manage and optimize your cloud spending.
Compliance and Governance
Ensure that your IaaS in cloud implementation complies with relevant industry regulations and internal governance policies. Cloud service AWS provides various compliance certifications and features to help meet regulatory requirements across different industries.
Challenges of IaaS Adoption
Moving to IaaS requires new skill sets. Organizations may need to invest in training or hiring to manage cloud-based infrastructure effectively. This challenge involves:
- Cloud architecture expertise: Teams need to understand how to design scalable and efficient cloud environments.
- Security in the cloud: IT staff must learn new security paradigms specific to cloud infrastructures.
- Cost optimization: Skills in monitoring and optimizing cloud spending are crucial.
- DevOps practices: IaaS often requires adopting DevOps methodologies for efficient operations.
To address this, companies can invest in training programs, hire cloud specialists, or partner with managed service providers to supplement their in-house expertise.
Migrating existing applications and data to an IaaS environment can be challenging. Careful planning and execution are crucial for a successful transition. Complexities include:
- Legacy application compatibility: Some older applications may not be cloud-compatible without significant modifications.
- Data transfer: Moving large volumes of data to the cloud can be time-consuming and may require special tools or services.
- Downtime management: Ensuring minimal disruption to business operations during migration is critical.
- Testing and validation: Extensive testing is necessary to ensure applications function correctly in the new environment.
Organizations should develop a comprehensive migration strategy, possibly employing a phased approach to minimize risks and disruptions.
Dependence on a single IaaS provider can lead to vendor lock-in. This can result in:
- Difficulty switching providers: Moving to a different cloud platform can be complex and costly.
- Limited negotiating power: Being tied to one vendor may reduce an organization’s ability to negotiate better terms or pricing.
- Vulnerability to provider changes: Businesses may be affected by changes in the provider’s services, pricing, or policies.
To mitigate this, consider multi-cloud strategies to maintain flexibility and avoid over-reliance on one provider. Develop applications with portability in mind, using container technologies or platform-agnostic architectures.
Performance and Latency Issues
While IaaS can offer high performance, some challenges may arise:
- Network latency: Distance between users and cloud data centers can impact application responsiveness.
- Noisy neighbor effect: In shared environments, other tenants’ activities might affect your resources’ performance.
- Inconsistent performance: Cloud resources may not always deliver consistent performance levels.
To address these, organizations can use content delivery networks (CDNs), choose cloud regions closest to their users, and employ performance monitoring tools.
Compliance and Data Sovereignty
IaaS adoption can complicate regulatory compliance:
- Data location requirements: Some regulations mandate data storage within specific geographic boundaries.
- Shared responsibility model: Understanding which compliance aspects are the provider’s responsibility versus the customer’s can be complex.
- Audit trails: Maintaining comprehensive audit logs in a cloud environment may require additional tools or services.
Businesses should thoroughly research their industry’s compliance requirements and choose IaaS providers that offer appropriate compliance certifications and features.
While IaaS can lead to cost savings, managing cloud costs effectively can be challenging:
- Unexpected expenses: Without proper monitoring, costs can quickly escalate due to unused or overprovisioned resources.
- Complex pricing models: Understanding and optimizing costs across various service types and pricing tiers can be complicated.
- Forecasting difficulties: Predicting future cloud costs can be challenging, especially for businesses with variable workloads.
Implementing robust cost monitoring tools, setting up alerts, and regularly reviewing resource usage can help manage this challenge effectively.
By understanding and preparing for these challenges, organizations can develop strategies to overcome them and maximize the benefits of IaaS adoption. Proper planning, ongoing education, and leveraging expert resources when needed can significantly smooth the transition to and operation of IaaS environments.
The Future of IaaS
Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Strategies
The future of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is evolving towards hybrid and multi-cloud strategies. Businesses are increasingly seeking to optimize their cloud approaches by seamlessly integrating on-premises infrastructure with cloud services.
This shift involves developing unified management platforms for resources across multiple providers and on-premises systems. Improved workload portability and advanced cost optimization tools are also key components of this trend, allowing organizations to leverage the strengths of different providers while avoiding vendor lock-in.
How can a company decide which strategy is best for operations and business in general? In the Hybrid Cloud vs. Multi-Cloud article, we explain what stands behind hybrid cloud and multi-cloud strategies and drive your attention to aspects you need to consider while choosing between them.
Edge Computing Integration
IaaS providers are expanding their offerings to support edge computing, bringing cloud capabilities closer to data generation and consumption points. This development includes the deployment of distributed cloud infrastructure, with major providers setting up mini data centers near end-users to reduce latency for time-sensitive applications.
Enhanced support for Internet of Things devices, integration with 5G networks, and the development of industry-specific edge computing solutions are also part of this trend, enabling new use cases and improving performance for applications requiring real-time processing.
AI and Machine Learning Enhancements
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities are becoming increasingly embedded in IaaS platforms. Future developments will see AI playing a larger role in automated infrastructure management, including optimizing resource allocation and predicting failures.
IaaS providers are expected to offer more sophisticated, pre-trained AI models as part of their service offerings, along with specialized hardware for AI workloads. These advancements aim to make AI technologies more accessible to a broader range of businesses and developers.
Increased Focus on Security and Compliance
As IaaS adoption grows, security and compliance features are becoming more sophisticated. This includes the deeper integration of zero-trust security models into IaaS offerings and the development of more advanced tools for automating compliance checks and reporting.
In response to advancements in quantum computing, IaaS providers are also implementing quantum-resistant encryption methods to protect data. Additionally, more advanced AI-powered security tools are being integrated into IaaS platforms to detect and respond to threats in real-time.
Serverless Computing Evolution
While not strictly IaaS, the evolution of serverless computing continues to influence the IaaS landscape. Serverless technologies are becoming suitable for a wider range of applications, including those with long-running processes.
Tools and frameworks for serverless development are growing more sophisticated and user-friendly. New models combining serverless and traditional IaaS resources are emerging, offering greater flexibility and potentially reshaping how we think about IaaS.
IaaS providers are placing greater emphasis on environmental sustainability. This includes increased investment in renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies for their data centers.
The development of carbon-aware computing tools and more detailed reporting on the environmental impact of cloud usage are also part of this trend. This focus on sustainability will help organizations meet their environmental goals while leveraging cloud technologies.
As these trends shape the future of cloud computing, they offer new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and sustainable growth. Organizations that stay informed about these developments and adapt their strategies accordingly will be well-positioned to leverage the full potential of IaaS in the coming years.
IaaS in cloud has revolutionized the way businesses approach IT infrastructure. By offering scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions, IaaS in cloud enables organizations to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure management. As cloud technologies continue to evolve, IaaS in cloud will play an increasingly crucial role in shaping the future of IT.
Whether you’re considering a move to the cloud or looking to optimize your existing cloud strategy, understanding IaaS in cloud is essential. By leveraging cloud service AWS and other IaaS providers, businesses can gain a competitive edge in today’s digital landscape. As the IaaS in cloud market continues to mature, we can expect even more innovative solutions and services to emerge, further transforming the way organizations build and manage their IT infrastructure.
If you’re interested in cloud technologies, read our other article How is SaaS Software Distributed? to learn more. | <urn:uuid:002793a7-c2e8-476f-bc68-e407bacc5d74> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.binadox.com/blog/understanding-iaas-in-cloud-computing-an-in-depth-guide/ | 2024-12-12T05:05:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066100961.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212031335-20241212061335-00201.warc.gz | en | 0.90893 | 3,819 | 2.84375 | 3 |
By Dr Shahid Nasim
Breast cancer is the most common and most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. One in 8 women is currently affected by this cancer in France and this figure could double within twenty years despite advances in technology and early detection. Breast cancer develops in three quarters of cases in women over 50 and in 95% from the epithelial cells of the mammary gland: we then speak of adenocarcinoma.
During the AGM on April 1st in Le Mans, we had the pleasure and honor of welcoming Dr Shahid Nasim, oncologist, who gave us a conference on breast cancer. I thank Dr Nasim for his conference and for his article announced by Émilie Barrère, in his summary included in the report of the AG, published in the magazine Sources Vitales n°103 of June. Roger Cattell.
The breasts, symbols of seduction and femininity par excellence, are a very sensitive and very fragile part of the body. Breasts begin to develop in the uterus, a few weeks after the embryo forms. In the sixth month of pregnancy, some cells develop into the baby's nipples. In girls, breasts are most often formed between the ages of 8 and 11, but even when they are fully developed, they cannot produce milk at this age. During pregnancy, breasts increase in size and become twice as heavy.
They weigh on average between 150 and 400 g but can sometimes reach 1 kg. At menopause, breast volume decreases. The inside of the breast is made up of blood vessels, nerves, glands, fat cells, and milk ducts that serve to transport milk to the nipple. Breast tissues are influenced by hormones (estrogen and progesterone) produced by women in varying quantities throughout their lives (puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, etc.).
To date, many elements of our daily lives have been suspected of increasing the risk of one day developing breast cancer. The main ones are:
– the presence of certain genes with a mutation of the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes; Breast cancer is the most common and most diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. One in eight women is currently affected by this cancer in France and this figure could double within twenty years despite advances in technology and early detection. Breast cancer develops in three quarters of cases in women over 8 and 50% from the epithelial cells of the mammary gland: this is called adenocarcinoma.
– the precocity of the first menses before the age of 12, a late first pregnancy after the age of 35 and the absence of pregnancy are important risk factors;
– alcohol, smoking and excessive consumption of calories (fats, desserts, fatty and bloody meats), increase the danger, as does the absence of physical activity;
– hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progesterone) slightly increases the risk after 5 years of treatment, as do oral contraceptives if they are taken for several years.
Symptoms and complications
The first commonly observed symptom of breast cancer is a lump in one breast. Generally painless, this mass may be accompanied by hard nodes in the armpit (axillary nodes) corresponding to a spread of cancer, but the nodes remain painless. Other symptoms are: a discharge from the nipple, breast pain, a nipple that closes inwards and the skin of the breast that thickens, hardens or reddens. When a tumor appears in the milk ducts, the size and shape of the breast may change.
Also, the nipple may pull inward or the skin may retract causing a dimple to form. Metastases occur when certain cells of a tumor break off and travel to other parts of the body, passing through blood or lymph vessels. The tissues affected are often the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bones, brain and skin. By the time the metastases are discovered, the cancer has probably already spread to other places, even if these tumors are not detected.
A preliminary clinical diagnosis must be made by palpation of the breast by your doctor. To confirm and refine his diagnosis, he can then prescribe a bilateral mammogram, then a biological analysis of the tumour. The X-ray of both breasts shows the appearance of the mass, the biopsy confirms the presence of cancerous cells and if necessary, an ultrasound can specify, for example, if the lump is a cyst composed of liquid or rather a solid tumor. Early detection of breast cancer reduces the likelihood of the cancer spreading and increases the chances of a complete cure.
The classic treatment combines surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
– Mastectomy consists of the total removal of the mammary gland, while sparing the pectoral muscles. Lumpectomy, a less invasive surgery, involves removing the tumor while preserving the mammary gland as much as possible. It concerns 75% of cases. The sentinel lymph node technique now makes it possible to avoid having to remove all the lymph nodes in the area if they are not affected. In the case of tumors of less than 2 cm, the surgeon removes it at the same time as the tumor.
– Radiotherapy is also almost always part of the care protocol for breast cancer, especially after conservative surgery. The objective is to destroy, thanks to targeted irradiation, any cancerous cells that may persist in the breast. Side effects are redness of the skin and feeling tired.
- Chemotherapy given by injections, reduces the growth of cancer cells, but its common side effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss and infections.
– Finally, hormone therapy also helps stop the growth of cancer cells and can be used for up to 5 years for women. Hot flashes and irregular periods are among the common side effects of hormone therapy. Biological therapy reduces the growth of cancer cells and helps the body to destroy these cells, targeted therapies generally complete the care protocol for patients with breast cancer.
Physical activity reduces the risk of one day developing cancer and also reduces the risk of recurrence after breast cancer. It is estimated that the practice of 3 hours of physical activity per week reduces these risks by 20%. Patients who have been treated for breast cancer often feel very tired, even several months after the end of treatment. However, unlike “classic” fatigue, physical activity helps them regain energy.
When the patient has had to undergo an axillary treatment (the nodes closest to the tumor have been removed), she is at risk of developing lymphedema (swelling of the arm). This painful, disabling and unsightly phenomenon is reduced by physical activity. Given the risks associated with the use of any drug, the decision to use preventive treatment should be made only after a thorough examination of the risks and benefits of the treatment in question.
You can take other steps to reduce the risk of breast cancer, including having, a healthy diet low in fat and with lots of fruits and vegetables, practicing regular muscle activity, refusing to smoke, reducing alcohol consumption (no more than one drink per day) and finally taking into account the risk associated with hormone therapy (especially if it lasts more than 5 years ).
Between the ages of 40 and 49, women should talk to their doctor about the risks of breast cancer and the screening options available to them. These measurements can help detect any unusual lumps or abnormalities in the breast tissue, as early detection is critical to successful treatment.
Products promoting prevention
Our immune system generally tries to fight off abnormal cancer cells, but since this response is sometimes insufficient to stop the growth of the tumor, 12 superfoods can help neutralize this danger.
1. Mushrooms. Recent studies have shown that their consumption can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in pre-menopausal women, because they contain an antioxidant called ergotinine which is believed to have anti-cancer properties.
2. garlic contains highly active fat- and water-soluble sulfur compounds.
3. Broccoli sprouts. Broccoli helps prevent cancer because its sprouts resemble those of soy, but are finer and very rich in anti-cancer compounds such as glucoraphanin. Many experts consider these sprouts to be an excellent source of detoxifying enzymes that protect cells against cancer.
4. Pomegranate seeds. Pomegranate provides large amounts of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc and a large number of group B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9). Its properties also fight against high blood pressure and coronary disorders. We have known for some time that pomegranate seeds are high in anti-cancer antioxidants.
These crunchy little seeds are rich in ellagic tannins, a particularly effective antioxidant that may prevent the development of breast cancer. Additionally, arils (fleshy coverings around a seed) may also improve heart health. But remember that pomegranate has a high content of natural sugars, so limit yourself to half a fruit or a glass of juice per day.
5. Lentils. Recent studies link lentils and other vegetables (eg beans) to drastically reducing the risk of developing breast cancer in women. Lentils, just like other legumes, are high in folacin, fiber, and nutrients that keep our bodies functioning efficiently.
6. Nuts. They are rich in several health-promoting compounds, including Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and plant sterols, which can prevent or slow the development of cancer cells.
7. Salmon. Wild salmon is considered a superfood due to its high content of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can drastically reduce the risk of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. But did you know that salmon also contains high amounts of vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin,” which helps reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women by around 25%?
8. Rye bread. Many health experts warn us against eating too many carbohydrates like breads and cereals. But rye bread combines fiber, vitamins, minerals and a phytonutrient called phytic acid, a healthy and cancer-fighting compound. The key is to opt for rye bread made with rye flour and not wheat flour.
9. Turmeric. In Asia, turmeric has been used for many centuries for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-infectious properties. Turmeric slows the development of several types of cancer. Combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, turmeric promotes cell destruction and reduces the formation of metastases as well as the toxicity of treatments (in particular the skin damage caused by radiotherapy during breast cancer).
10. Selenium. This precious trace element acts to prevent cancer and reduce the side effects of treatments (radiotherapy and chemotherapy). It has an antioxidant effect, which strengthens the immune system and blocks oxygen free radicals. This enzyme works in concert with vitamins C and E to protect cell membranes against oxidation which leads to premature aging. Selenium is found in organ meats, egg yolk, shellfish, seafood, oilseeds (Brazil nuts, hazelnuts), brewer's yeast and cereals.
11. Green tea. Green tea contains a powerful nutrient known as epigallocatechin or EGCG. In short, this element of nutrition is the main polyphenol (a family of organic molecules from the plant kingdom) found in green tea. This polyphenol present at more than 50% in green tea is a powerful antioxidant. A study published in April 2010 on cancer prevention confirmed that EGCG could inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
12. Nigella oil or black cumin. This oil, of exceptional richness, contains glucosides, phenolic components, carotene, minerals (phosphorus and iron), enzymes and polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (linoleic acid). Its composition helps strengthen the immune system, fight digestive problems, reduce the oxidation of cell membranes and inhibit the formation of inflammatory molecules. It is a health treasure.
Unity is strength
Three years ago I created my product called Curcumisan Plus including fermented turmeric, pomegranate, olive and black cumin. After several years of trials on my patients, I added lemon (rich in vitamin C) on the recommendation of Roger Castell, president of ABE France, who had measured my product using bioelectronics. The results specified that this natural product, “very vitalizing, antioxidant and very mineralizing”, restores the soil since it acts on the three parameters of Vincent Bioelectronics (pH, rH2 and resistivity).
As it has an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-infectious action, I strongly advise you to take Curcumisan Plus, as a preventative to avoid all serious illnesses. According to Dr. R. Béliveau in his book The Anticancer Method, turmeric is the best example among anti-cancer products.
Ladies, protect your breasts
Cancer is a formidable enemy, which must be fought using all available resources, whether preventive or curative. Although the disease affects approximately one in three people worldwide and in Western countries, I hope that cancer will soon be classified as a disease of the past. Already, knowledge about cancer is very extensive and we understand better and better the appearance and evolution of cancer. We now know that this disease, rather energetic and non-genetic, is linked to an enzymatic disruption.
All humans (women and men) should therefore feel concerned and ask themselves the question “What should I do to preserve my long-term health?” ". Because health depends above all on our nutrition which weighs heavily in the balance of the risk of being affected by this malignant condition. To protect themselves, women (and men) should first halve their food calorie intake (desserts, fatty meats, alcoholic drinks), and replace them with seasonal fruits and vegetables.
This is how, ladies, you will effectively protect the beauty and health of your breasts. | <urn:uuid:00e153c0-09e6-47c5-b274-e4cc39298e25> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://en.phytomisan.com/le-cancer-du-sein-dr-shahid-nasim | 2024-12-07T09:11:44Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066426671.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20241207071733-20241207101733-00451.warc.gz | en | 0.949075 | 2,865 | 3.015625 | 3 |
The Zumbrunnen family descends from the Barons of Attinghausen. As already discussed, the first Zumbrunnen in history was Walter Zumbrunnen, who had been born into the Attinghausen family and changed his name to Zumbrunnen in the year 1209.
But who were the ancient Attinghausens? There are some undisputed facts, and then two basic theories about their origin. It’s unlikely the answer can ever be fully known, with just too much lost in the mists (and fires) of time.
Undisputed FactsThe Attinghausens were the only members of the upper nobility in the Canton of Uri where they occupied the Attinghausen Castle. Much of the land in Uri was owned by the great church the Fraumünster of Zürich, but the Barons of Attinghausen held this land as fiefs. They also owned much land outright.
Beginning in the mid-1200s, the family is very well-documented. One example is the seal at right, attached to a letter that Werner Von Attinghausen sent in October 19, 1264. (There were several generations of men in the family named Werner, so it’s not always clear which is which.)
By the mid-1200s, and possibly earlier, the Von Attinghausen family was also known as Von Schweinsberg and controlled several castles near Bern that are now completely ruined. (Their landholdings in Bern were specifically in a valley called Emmental, which is now famous for its cheese.) The name Von Schweinsberg seems to have originated in Bavaria, Germany.
It was somewhat unusual for a family to control two disconnected regions as far apart as this. When the family was in the Canton of Uri they called themselves Von Attinghausen, and when they were near Bern they called themselves Von Schweinsberg. It’s certain that, by the time of Ulrich Von Attinghausen/Von Schweinsberg in 1240, they controlled both far-flung estates.When they conducted business in the Emmental Valley near Bern they used the name Von Schweinsberg. When they conducted business in Uri, they used the name Von Attinghausen. At right, is a seal of Werner’s from 1303 using the “Von Schweinsberg” name.
Around the late 1200s, the estates were divided, likely as part of an inheritance between two brothers, Werner and Diethelm. Werner remained in Uri and began to exclusively use the name Von Attinghausen. Diethelm resided near Bern and began to exclusively use the name Von Schweinsberg.
The Von Attinghausen branch of the family became pivotal figures in the creation of an independent Switzerland. The male line of both branches died off over the next century or so.
Of the above facts, there is no dispute. The question is: where did this family come from originally and how did they acquire two baronies that were so far apart from each other?
Theory 1: Colonizing Nobles
Aside from the Holy Roman Emperor himself, the most powerful noble family in Switzerland in the 1100s and 1200s were the Dukes of Zähringen, who controlled lands in Bavaria and across Switzerland, including near the city of Bern (a city the Dukes of Zähringen founded).
Thus one hypothesis is that the original Barons of Attinghausen were loyal knights of the Zähringen who were given the newly created barony of Attinghausen, possibly as an award for valorous military service (often the basis for awarding new baronies) and also because they could be trusted to act on the behalf of their sponsors.
One family in particular has been identified: a family named Von Signau who lived near Bern. Several facts support this theory:
- The family traces back to a Werner Von Signau who is mentioned in records in 1130 and 1146. Though merely circumstantial, Werner is also a common name among the Barons of Attinghausen.
- collection of the Swiss National Museum in Zürich) which was given to Werner Von Attinghausen as a wedding gift and has the seals of many other noble families from Bern, indicating his close social ties to the region. The Von Signau family certainly served the Dukes, and held lands and a castle or two in the Emmental Valley, near Bern and in the heart of the Zähringen sphere of influence. A particularly cool piece of evidence for this is a treasure chest (in the
- The lands that the Von Schweinsberg family controlled in the Emmental Valley were an enclave within Von Signau lands. One possible way that such an arrangement could have arisen is through land being divided via inheritance.
Thus if this theory is correct, a descendant of Werner Von Signau distinguished himself with valorous service to the Dukes of Zähringen and was awarded the Barony of Attinghausen in addition to his lands near Bern, perhaps around 1173. As the deputy of the dukes he was thus an outsider who came to Uri, set himself up in the mighty castle, and retained his power even after Berthold V, the last Duke of Zähringen, died in 1218.
Theory 2: An Ancient Alemanni FamilyThe other theory is that the Barons of Attinghausen were a family with deep and ancient local ties. Uri was very remote in the Middle Ages, primarily accessible via Lake Lucerne, and not easily reached via land. The mountain pass from Uri to Italy, known as the Gotthard Pass, was accessible only via a treacherous footpath. The first bridge was not constructed until 1220, so it was not yet an important trade route.
In antiquity, Uri was under the rule of the Roman Empire, part of the Roman province of Maxima Sequanorum. But as the Roman Empire collapsed, the tribe of the Alemanni swept in. The archaeological record suggests this was the last major colonization of the valley.
Thus the second theory is that the Barons of Attinghausen were the leading local family who were elevated to barons, perhaps because this was far easier than sending someone in to attempt to displace them. (The historian Theodor Von Liebenau speculates the family could have been awarded a barony in their homeland for serving Emperor Frederick I in his campaigns against Italy.)
Several facts support the theory of an ancient, local family:- The most recent archaeological excavations of Attinghausen Castle show it was built atop an even older castle that originated in the 1000s or 1100s. This early construction date suggests an occupant of the castle well before the Dukes of Zähringen. It would have taken serious effort to dislodge the occupant from such a powerful and remote fortress. The original church appears to also have been built in this much earlier era.
- The ancient church books mention members of the Attinghausen family who are completely unknown in the 1200s and 1300s and thus likely represent earlier generations from the 1100s. These include Lamprecht, Albrecht and Heinrich, and women named Bertha and Othilia. Lamprecht is thought to be the builder of the castle.
- Very early on, perhaps as early as 1206 but certainly by the late 1200s, the Attinghausen men were not just barons with authority from Rome, but held the title of landammann, implying popular support of the people of the valley. This situation is nearly unprecedented and may make more sense if the Barons of Attinghausen were viewed as kinsman of the valley people rather than outside colonizers.
- Also early on, the Barons of Attinghausen appear to have fought and negotiated for the independence and democratic rights of the people of Uri, an unusual stance (to put it mildly) for barons of this era.
Thus if this theory is correct, a leader of the men in Uri built a powerful castle in a remote alpine valley, and through service to the emperor (or as the only expedient way to control Uri) was elevated to baron. His family then married an heiress to the Von Signau and acquired lands near Bern as well. But the Barons remained more loyal to their kinsman than to other nobles, and helped establish the independence of central Switzerland.
So Which Theory Is Right?Old historians like Von Liebenau and Girard believed the Barons of Attinghausen were an ancient family from Uri. For much of the 20th century, many historians favored the hypothesis that they were colonizing members of the Von Signau family. But the most recent excavations, suggesting such an early construction date for the castle, also favors the theory that the Attinghausen’s were an ancient family from Uri.
It is likely that this fascinating debate can never be decisively resolved.
Edit: In initially conducting this research, I thought the evidence was somewhat stronger that the Barons of Attinghausen were an ancient family from Uri who married a Von Signau heiress. I said it was likely that this fascinating debate can never be decisively resolved.
But after writing this post, Ulysse Ulrich Schnegg Zumbrunnen, who lives in Switzerland and has researched the family in great detail, writes that the “Colonizing Nobles theory” is the correct one. He says that while an earlier family indeed inhabited the castle, they likely died off, and the Von Signau came in and took their name. I have included his comment here so that people do not miss it!
To the people of Uri it is clear that the von Attinghausen / von Schweinsberg family arrived from the Emmental.
The Burg Schweinsberg was built by Werner III von Signau, henceforth called Werner von Schweinsberg (1212).
That plot of land had been under control of the Barons von Signau.
The von Signau family was closely linked to the Counts von Kyburg, von Habsburg and the Dukes von Teck and Zähringen.
The inhabitants of the original Burg Attinghausen don‘t seem to be linked to this family directly. They are unknown and must have become extinct.
I would therefore date the family not to 1209 but to 1130 (first mention of Frh. Werner I von Signau).
Note: I have used the date 1209 on this blog because it appears to be when the name Zumbrunnen first came into use. I certainly agree with Ulysse that “the family” came into existence before this date. | <urn:uuid:1efe716f-e4fc-43a8-a655-3f65fba80537> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | http://zumbrun.net/genealogy/the-origin-of-the-barons-of-attinghausen/?replytocom=259 | 2024-12-05T09:34:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066348250.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20241205085107-20241205115107-00699.warc.gz | en | 0.979584 | 2,240 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Fatty liver (steatosis hepatis) is the most common chronic liver disease. As a result, fat accumulates in the liver. Although a fatty liver initially causes hardly any symptoms, it can have serious consequences. Learn about the symptoms of fatty liver, life expectancy with fatty liver disease, how to treat it, and how to reduce your risk of developing fatty liver.
ICD codes for this disease: K76 | K70
- Symptoms: initially hardly any symptoms, as the disease progresses and additional liver inflammation, a feeling of pressure/ fullness in the right upper abdomen, pain in the liver area, nausea/vomiting, sometimes fever.
- Treatment: Mainly change in eating and exercise habits.
- Causes and risk factors: Non-alcoholic fatty liver is mainly associated with obesity, insulin resistance or diabetes mellitus; medication is rarely the cause.
- Diagnostics: A doctor’s consultation, blood value analyses, ultrasound of the liver, tissue sample from the liver shows how far the disease has progressed.
- Course of the disease and prognosis: If left untreated, fatty liver often develops into inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) and eventually even cirrhosis of the liver, with the threat of serious complications up to and including liver failure. If a fatty liver is treated in time, complete healing is possible.
- Life expectancy with fatty liver disease: Most people live a long life with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, NAFLD may reduce life expectancy by about 4.2 to 4.4 years.
What is fatty liver?
In a fatty liver (hepatic steatosis), liver cells store more fat (especially triglycerides). The fat content of the liver is normally less than five percent of the liver cells. Depending on the extent of obesity, different degrees of severity of fatty liver can be distinguished:
- Mild fatty liver: Less than a third of the liver cells are excessively fatty.
- Moderate fatty liver: Less than two-thirds but more than one-third of the liver cells are excessively fatty.
- Severe fatty liver: More than two-thirds of the liver cells are excessively fatty.
The exact extent of liver cell fatty degeneration can be determined by a histological (histopathological) examination of a tissue sample from the liver (liver biopsy).
Accompanying symptoms and consequences of fatty liver
A fatty liver in itself is initially not dangerous. A suitable fatty liver diet can reduce excessive fatty degeneration in the liver cells. However, if fatty liver remains undetected and untreated for a long time, the liver structure changes, which leads to inflammation. Such inflammation of the liver is also called hepatitis. If there is also increased connective tissue between the liver cells and this tissue becomes scarred, this is referred to as cirrhosis of the liver. With such scarring of the liver, fatty liver therapy no longer helps.
Almost all fatty liver patients are overweight. About every second person also suffers from diabetes (diabetes mellitus) or has elevated blood lipid levels. In addition, fatty liver is often a side effect of the metabolic syndrome.
Last but not least, fatty liver is an important risk factor for liver cell cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).
Frequency and classification of fatty liver
Fatty liver (steatosis hepatis) is a very common liver disease. Most of those affected become ill between the ages of 40 and 60. Men are slightly more likely to be diagnosed with fatty liver disease than women. But children and adolescents are also increasingly developing fatty liver.
As the name suggests, alcohol is the trigger of alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFL) – more specifically, chronic alcohol abuse. If alcoholic fatty liver leads to liver inflammation, this is referred to as alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH).
Fatty liver disease not caused by alcohol abuse is referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These include “simple” non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL) and the resulting inflammation of the liver, called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is considered a “disease of affluence”. In industrialized countries, for example, they are becoming increasingly common in children and adolescents because they are becoming increasingly overweight, which is a central trigger of NAFLD. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL) is significantly more common in overweight boys than in overweight girls.
How does a fatty liver manifest itself?
The occurrence of fatty liver correlates with obesity and an unhealthy diet. In particular, greasy foods and high-sugar foods and drinks play a role here. However, sometimes a very low-protein diet or extremely rapid weight loss also leads to the development of fatty liver.
Read more about fatty liver diet
Blood pressure and blood lipid levels are usually elevated long before fatty liver symptoms appear. If the waist circumference is also larger and there is insulin resistance, as in the case of diabetes (diabetes mellitus), more attention should be paid to fatty liver symptoms.
This is often difficult without a visit to the doctor, as people with mild fatty liver usually have no symptoms at first and only develop symptoms as the disease progresses. Sometimes those affected feel a slight feeling of pressure or fullness in the upper right abdomen. These symptoms occur when the liver becomes significantly enlarged as part of fatty liver disease (hepatomegaly) and puts pressure on the surrounding organs and the abdominal wall.
Fatty liver symptoms with alcoholic causes
Even if increased alcohol consumption is the cause of fatty liver disease, there are initially no specific fatty liver symptoms. One indicator is usually alcohol consumption: for women, the critical limit for regular alcohol consumption is 20 g alcohol per day (corresponds to about 0.5 l beer), and for men it is 40 g per day.
Symptoms of chronic alcohol use are often easier to spot than fatty liver symptoms. The air breathed by those affected smells of alcohol. If the alcohol addiction is more advanced, the patients often neglect personal hygiene or no longer eat enough. A resulting vitamin deficiency can damage the nerves, for example.
Fatty liver symptoms in secondary diseases
The non-alcoholic fatty liver disease leads to liver inflammation (hepatitis) in about one in four people affected, and the alcoholic form in almost one in three. The symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis (NASH) and alcoholic fatty hepatitis (ASH) do not differ.
If the cause of the fatty liver is not remedied, cirrhosis of the liver sometimes develops after a few years due to the fatty liver. Liver cirrhosis is the most serious complication of fatty liver because it is an irreversible, life-threatening disease and liver cirrhosis greatly increases the risk of liver cancer. It should be noted, however, that there are other possible causes for both hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.
In the case of fatty liver inflammation (steatohepatitis), there is a pronounced inflammatory reaction in the liver. A typical symptom of this inflammatory reaction is severe pain in the liver area, i.e. under the right costal arch. On the other hand, functional disorders of the liver occur due to the inflammation. For example, the blood breakdown product bilirubin is no longer sufficiently metabolized by the liver.
The increased bilirubin level in the blood is also visible externally when the bilirubin is deposited in the tissue and the skin and eyes appear yellowish as a result. This is therefore also known as ” jaundice “. People with fatty liver hepatitis also often suffer from poor appetite, nausea, vomiting and occasionally fever.
Fatty liver symptoms in cirrhosis
If the disease progresses unchecked, the fatty liver may develop into liver cirrhosis, in which the connective tissue of the liver changes. Possible symptoms include:
- Pressure and fullness in the upper abdomen.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Weight loss due to lack of appetite.
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) due to increased levels of bilirubin in the blood.
- Itching caused by bilirubin or bile acids that have not been broken down in the skin.
- Spider web-like changes in the skin (spider naevi).
- Red palms (palmar erythema).
- Strikingly reddened, shiny lips (“lacquer lips”).
- Water retention in the legs (leg edema) and abdomen (ascites).
- Visible blood vessels around the navel (caput medusae).
- Male Breast Augmentation (Gynecomastia).
- Decreased hairiness in the abdominal area in men (“abdominal baldness”).
- Blood clotting disorder; usually recognizable by increased nosebleeds and bruises.
Fatty liver symptoms in liver failure
Many patients don’t even know that their liver is fatty if they don’t have any fatty liver symptoms. However, if the liver is already damaged, substances such as alcohol or certain medications can more easily lead to acute liver failure.
Unlike an initial fatty liver, liver failure results in symptoms that are unmistakable. The skin and whites of the eyes are discolored yellowish. Blood coagulation is disturbed because the liver no longer produces any coagulation factors. Even small bumps can result in bruises. If the bleeding is larger, those affected may vomit blood or pass black-colored stools.
Consciousness is impaired in patients with liver failure. They often speak slowly, have a bad memory or are no longer able to speak properly. In addition to the general fatty liver symptoms, there are often fluctuating blood sugar levels and altered mineral levels in the blood. In the case of liver failure, the same blood values are greatly increased as in a symptom-free fatty liver.
Fatty liver diseases are often only noticed when secondary diseases have already occurred. In order to prevent these consequences, non-specific fatty liver symptoms must also be taken seriously, diagnosed and treated quickly.
How is fatty liver treated?
Currently, all potentially helpful active ingredients are still in the testing phase. There is no scientific evidence for alternative healing methods such as Schuessler salts. There is no evidence that potentially helpful home remedies such as liver wraps have a positive effect on fatty liver. Efficacy has not yet been proven for food supplements either.
A specific medicinal fatty liver therapy or the one effective home remedy that makes the fatty liver disappear does not exist so far. Rather, therapy is about eliminating or treating the triggering causes.
A fatty liver can be reduced with a targeted lifestyle change. Existing excess weight should be sustainably reduced with a low-fat, low-sugar and calorie-reduced diet and regular exercise.
If fatty liver is diagnosed early enough and treated appropriately, the liver can make a full recovery. However, it is not about losing weight as quickly as possible. Because even if it sounds contradictory: losing weight too quickly promotes fatty liver. Therefore, a change in diet aimed at long-term success should take place.
Fatty liver patients who are not overweight should also eat a diet low in fat and sugar. All patients with fatty liver should also avoid alcohol altogether.
If patients who are very overweight (obese, BMI ≧35) do not lose weight despite diet and exercise program, there is the possibility of weight-reducing surgery in which the stomach is reduced (bariatric surgery).
If you have a fatty liver, it is also important to have your doctor adjust your blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipid levels correctly. If the fatty liver is caused by medication, an alternative preparation may be found.
Fatty liver treatment includes regular check-ups (such as measuring liver values and ultrasound) in order to detect the progression of the disease to liver inflammation or possible liver cirrhosis at an early stage.
If the disease is already more advanced and has led to connective tissue remodeling of the liver (liver cirrhosis), the therapy consists primarily of treating any complications that may arise. Since a fatty liver is one of the greatest risk factors for liver cancer, the liver should also be examined regularly in order to detect liver cancer at an early stage.
If the liver tissue is completely destroyed, there is no chance of healing the fatty liver. Liver transplantation is then the last treatment option. If a suitable donor is found, the liver of another person is used to take over the failed liver function.
Causes and risk factors
How fatty liver develops has not yet been explained in detail.
What is clear is that there is a mismatch between calorie intake and calorie consumption. As a result, there are too many neutral fats (triglycerides) in the liver cells. These fats are made by the liver itself from fatty acids that are transported from the food in the intestines to the liver via the blood. A certain proportion of the fatty acids is burned immediately and made available to the body as energy. However, if too much fat reaches the liver, fatty liver develops.
There are various explanations for how this imbalance develops. One theory is that certain transporter proteins in the liver transport too many fats into the organ. In the case of a vitamin B deficiency, on the other hand, the fat contained in the liver, for example, is not processed properly and accumulates.
Alcohol as a cause
There is a clear connection between alcohol consumption and fatty liver. Alcohol is high in energy and is broken down in the liver. Among other things, this produces fatty acids, which are stored in the liver. If people drink alcohol constantly, this is a common reason for fatty liver. A maximum of 10g of alcohol per day is recommended for women and 20g per day for men. 10 g alcohol corresponds to about 250 ml beer or 100 ml wine.
However, these are only approximate guide values. It is also crucial how long the constant alcohol consumption has existed and whether additional metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or obesity (obesity), rare congenital metabolic disorders or a hormonal imbalance (polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS) are present.
In addition, the liver is often damaged by the toxic effects of alcohol and its breakdown products. These substances sometimes lead to the liver being remodeled and cirrhosis of the liver developing. In addition, the liver becomes inflamed more easily with constant alcohol consumption, which in the worst case means that even a single excess of alcohol triggers acute liver failure.
However, not all people who drink alcohol develop fatty liver. This is due to individual sensitivity, gender and individual equipment with enzymes that break down alcohol.
Diet, obesity and diabetes as risk factors
Many people with fatty liver are confronted with the misconception that they drink too much alcohol. In fact, alcohol does play a role in some cases. However, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases are much more common than the so-called alcoholic fatty liver disease. They have many possible causes and also occur in people who don’t drink alcohol at all.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is often associated with increased calorie intake and an increased body mass index (BMI) as a measure of obesity. Heavy fat deposits on the abdomen (visceral obesity) are particularly dangerous.
Another important risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. One speaks of insulin resistance when the body cells only react insufficiently or not at all to the blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin – i.e. absorb little or no blood sugar for energy production. Eventually, manifest type 2 diabetes develops from insulin resistance.
The insufficient absorption of blood sugar in the body cells causes the cells to suffer from a lack of energy. To compensate, the body increasingly breaks down stored fat, which now provides energy instead of sugar. More free fatty acids get into the blood and the liver cells absorb them more. This promotes fatty liver.
When the body has developed a certain resistance to insulin, more iron is also deposited in the liver. This creates harmful substances (oxide radicals) that cause an inflammatory reaction more quickly. People with type 2 diabetes are therefore also at a higher risk of liver inflammation.
Type 2 diabetes is a very important trigger of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. There is also a correlation in the opposite direction: patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people without fatty liver.
Other risk factors
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with older age. Genetic predisposition also plays a role. Regardless of nutritional factors, lack of exercise is a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Rare causes of fatty liver
However, fatty foods or diabetes are not always to blame for non-alcoholic fatty liver. Other possible triggers of fatty liver are prolonged starvation periods, pronounced weight loss, long-term sugar infusions (e.g. in the case of pancreatic defects) and artificial nutrition.
In some cases, certain medications are also the reason why the liver becomes fatty. These include, for example, the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, synthetic estrogens and other steroids. The so-called glucocorticosteroids are used, for example, in rheumatism, asthma or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.
There are also operations on the small intestine, liver and pancreas, after which there is increased accumulation of fat in the liver.
In addition, inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease) is a rare but possible cause of fatty liver.
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy develops in about one in a million pregnancies. In late pregnancy (usually after the 30th week of pregnancy) there is a sudden fatty degeneration of the liver. This very rare disease is very dangerous and leads to death in 30 to 70 percent of cases. How acute pregnancy fatty liver develops is unclear. A genetic enzyme defect may be responsible for this.
investigations and diagnosis
Anyone who suspects that they are suffering from fatty liver should contact their family doctor or an internist.
History and physical examination
In order to diagnose fatty liver, the doctor first asks about symptoms and existing diseases (anamnesis). Possible questions for this conversation are:
- Do you drink alcohol and if so how much?
- What is your nutrition like?
- What medications do you take?
- Do you suffer from an increased feeling of fullness or a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen?
- Do you have diabetes (diabetes mellitus)?
- What’s your weight?
After the interview, there is a physical examination. Among other things, the doctor feels the liver through the abdominal wall. If it is enlarged (hepatomegaly), this indicates a fatty liver. However, there are many other causes of liver enlargement and this one is not specific to fatty liver.
As part of the physical examination, weight and height are measured in order to calculate the body mass index from the values. The doctor also measures abdominal circumference and blood pressure.
During a physical exam, the doctor is sometimes able to palpate the enlarged liver. The changed liver structure then becomes visible at the latest during the abdominal ultrasound.
Blood tests are also helpful in clarifying a possible fatty liver. If certain values are permanently elevated in the blood test, this is an indication of fatty liver.
These so-called liver values are a series of substances that are released from the liver cells into the blood when the liver is damaged. These include, for example, the enzymes GOT (also called AST) and GPT (also called ALT), as well as the bilirubin value and the enzyme gamma-GT (GGT). The iron storage value ferritin, the protein albumin and blood coagulation often also provide valuable information.
However, increased liver values are not specific fatty liver symptoms, but only a general indication of liver damage, regardless of the cause. An increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) also indicates acute hepatitis, i.e. liver inflammation.
However, the most important examination when a fatty liver is suspected is an ultrasound examination (sonography) of the upper abdomen. Typically, a fatty liver is conspicuously bright in the ultrasound image because fatty liver tissue is denser and therefore reflects the sound more strongly.
A liver biopsy may be performed to determine the exact extent of the fatty liver and, if necessary, to obtain indications of the cause . The doctor takes a small tissue sample from the liver with a thin hollow needle under local anesthesia. This is then examined for histological (histopathological) examination under the microscope.
Sometimes further investigation is indicated. If, for example, the fatty liver has led to pronounced scarring in the liver tissue (liver fibrosis) or even to liver cirrhosis, early detection examinations with regard to liver cell cancer are useful.
Fatty liver: finding the cause
Once the diagnosis of fatty liver has been made, it is important to determine the cause. This sometimes requires further investigation. For example, determining blood sugar levels (fasting blood sugar, long-term blood sugar HbA1c) helps to find indications of insulin resistance or previously undetected diabetes.
It is also important for the patient to be as truthful as possible about alcohol consumption in order to find out whether an alcoholic fatty liver is present.
Life expectancy with fatty liver disease
Most people live a long life with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However:
- 30% of people develop an inflamed liver or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and scarring.
- 20% of people with scarring and NASH can develop end-stage cirrhosis, leading to liver failure and cancer.
According to statistics, NAFLD may reduce life expectancy by about 4.2 years for women (95% confidence interval 1.1-7.5) and about 4.4 years for men.
For some people, the fatty liver may reverse, whereas for others, the fatty liver may progress to inflammation and ultimately liver cell damage.
Course of the disease and prognosis
In the case of fatty liver (steatosis hepatis), the prognosis depends on how early the disease is discovered and treated. On the other hand, it plays a role whether it is fatty liver caused by alcohol consumption or not. If alcohol is the cause, the prognosis is slightly worse. Nevertheless, it is initially a benign disease.
If those affected quickly do something about the causes of their fatty liver, there is a good chance that the disease will heal completely, since the liver is one of the most regenerative organs.
However, if liver cirrhosis develops from the fatty liver, there is a risk of serious complications up to and including liver failure. The liver never recovers from cirrhosis. Because the liver cells are destroyed and replaced by functionless scar tissue. To prevent this from happening, fatty liver should be treated as soon as possible. | <urn:uuid:7c9a92a0-55f0-47fd-9e4f-c66b1a0bc65d> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://healthtwentyfour.com/fatty-liver-steatosis-hepatis/ | 2024-12-12T01:35:42Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066097081.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212000506-20241212030506-00454.warc.gz | en | 0.935982 | 4,785 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Modified on: 09/08/2024
The effects of CBD explained
Imagine a natural remedy that holds the promise of pain relief, reduced anxiety, and improved overall well-being without causing a sense of intoxication.
Enter CBD, a non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant that has been making waves in the medical community. As curiosity about CBD continues to rise, so does the need to understand how it works and the impact it has on our brain.
In this comprehensive exploration, we aim to unravel the mysteries of CBD’s effects on the brain, offering insights into its potential as a therapeutic agent for a myriad of health conditions.
What is CBD and how does it work?
CBD is none other than one of the more than 60 cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. It is a non-psychoactive chemical compound that can be used for medicinal purposes. According to a report by the World Health Organisation in 2018, no consequences related to addiction or states of abuse have been detected for CBD.
But how does CBD work?
Once it is consumed in various ways, it interacts with our body’s endocannabinoid system, which is made up of neurotransmitters that connect to cannabinoid receptors and proteins.
The ECS, therefore, acts as a bridge between the brain and the body and is responsible for sensations such as pain, sleep, appetite, immune response and much more.
But how do the effects of CBD on the brain unfold?
The effects of CBD on the brain
As we have seen, CBD is a substance that interacts with the endocannabinoid system that plays a fundamental role throughout our bodies. CBD, therefore, allows us to feel less pain, less inflammation, reduced stress levels and other benefits for the whole body.
Let us see in the next few lines what CBD effects on the brain.
At least once in our lives, we have all experienced physical pain. However, in some cases, it is something chronic that we carry with us every day. You should know that, one of the main reasons why people use CBD is because of its ability to relieve all types of pain, even chronic and particularly acute ones.
There are plenty of over-the-counter drugs that can be administered to treat these pains. However, CBD is considered among the safest because it is non-addictive and can help relieve pain caused by fibromyalgia, arthritis and neuropathic pain.
Treatment for anxiety and depression
One of the reasons why more and more people are turning to CBD is because of its properties that are able to calm the mind and body. In fact, you should know that more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. For decades, treatment for such health conditions has taken the form of therapy, counselling or prescription drugs. However, in some cases, these treatments do not have the desired effects.
CBD can greatly reduce symptoms caused by anxiety and depression simply because it interacts positively with serotonin receptors in the brain, a neurotransmitter that is able to influence mood and emotional state.
In this sense, it is important to emphasise that balanced levels of serotonin are indeed important in dealing with conditions such as depression. In fact, unbalanced serotonin levels are capable of ensuring states of anxiety and disorders of various kinds.
Stress is also one of the disorders that many people experience and is particularly common. Being in a constant state of stress is certainly not normal, although a minimum of stress can be considered physiological and even positive, from a certain point of view.
However, as mentioned, chronic stress can negatively affect your physical, mental and emotional well-being. There are many ways to minimise the impact of stress on your body. One of these is CBD, which changes the way your brain reacts to states of anxiety by affecting the blood flow in certain areas of your brain.
You are probably aware that sleeping the right amount of hours does not guarantee restful sleep. In fact, many people constantly struggle to achieve the quality sleep they need to be able to tackle a number of important tasks the next day. If this does not happen, being tired is only one of the problems you will experience: it will also affect your physical and mental well-being.
The reasons why people do not sleep at night are numerous.
Some are always in a hurry, others think of a thousand problems. Still others may feel chronic pain. As you have no doubt realised, CBD is able to ease the mind and minimise pain. This also has an important impact on the quality and quantity of sleep.
Protects the brain
CBD also has neuroprotective properties that help protect the brain from damage caused by stress and other sources. Some believe that CBD oils may also be relevant to those suffering from dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The reason why this would happen is related to the way this substance reacts with CB2 receptors that are present in the brain. As we understand, CBD reacts with these receptors by creating a response in the immune system and reducing the damage caused by inflammation in the brain.
Read also: Medical uses of cannabis: here are the fact
The possible side effects of CBD
Cannabidiol is an active ingredient with many beneficial effects; it is generally well tolerated by the body and causes little or no discomfort. Reports of side effects are mainly related to dry mouth and a feeling of tiredness, but episodes of dysentery, nausea and drowsiness may occur in some cases.
One of the most potentially serious adverse effects is low blood pressure, so it is always best to seek medical advice before trying legal cannabis products.
Effects on appetite occur with either increased hunger or decreased appetite, and should be monitored depending on the individual’s characteristics. All in all, the therapeutic properties of CBD far outweigh the side effects.
Let’s look at all the possible side effects of CBD.
Have you read that CBD can increase thirst? Or that it makes your mouth feel dry?
Dry mouth is one of the most common side effects for cannabis users, which can occur with both THC and CBD, although with the latter it is much rarer. Dry mouth caused by hemp inflorescences is easily resolved by drinking some water or a sweet drink.
However, the sensation one experiences should not be equated with thirst or dehydration, but can be described as a lack of saliva inside the jaws. In fact, dry mouth due to cannabinoids is caused by reduced functioning of the salivary glands, and is known as xerostomia.
Basically, CBD and THC interact with cannabinoid receptors located in the salivary glands that produce saliva, temporarily decreasing their function.
This explains why dry mouth occurs not only with combustion or vaping, but also with other types of intake.
To be more precise, it must be said that with THC this effect is due to its direct interaction with CB1 receptors. CBD, on the other hand, does not act directly on this type of receptor, but causes an increase in the amount of anandamide, leading to the same consequences.
Tiredness and asthenia
Feeling tired and wanting to relax is another side effect that can result from CBD. Generally, people turn to CBD precisely to feel more focused and energetic and to re-establish circadian sleep-wake rhythms. One of the positive effects of the active ingredient is precisely its ability to balance sleep and improve concentration in times of stress.
Nevertheless, it may happen that an overdose of CBD or the first approaches with the molecule may result in asthenia, headaches or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
To avoid this, it is advisable to approach CBD with a very low dosage and to prefer evening use.
Changes in appetite
Are you concerned that CBD affects your appetite? Have you heard that CBD may increase hunger or, conversely, decrease it?
Anecdotally, it is very common to hear that CBD affects appetite, either by increasing the feeling of hunger or by inhibiting the desire to eat.
Changes in appetite are not uncommon in legal weed users but, in general, it seems that the active ingredient acts differently in different individuals. In some people, it tends to increase metabolism and, consequently, the need to eat. In others, on the contrary, there is a decrease in appetite and subsequent weight loss.
Some users report feeling or experiencing a sensation of nausea following the use of CBD. However, this is an individual perception that varies depending on:
- The type of product chosen
- The amount taken
- One’s body’s reaction to it
On the other hand, it should be noted that there is a lot of ongoing research into the anti-emetic effects of cannabis on chemotherapy –induced nausea and vomiting.
Should you experience a feeling of nausea caused by CBD, our advice is to vary the dosage or turn to other CBD products.
Low blood pressure
Do you have cardiovascular problems or suffer from low blood pressure? If so, it is essential that you know that CBD can sometimes cause low blood pressure.
Despite this, it can happen that an overdose of CBD or the first approaches with the molecule can cause some asthenia, headaches or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In this regard, an interesting contribution comes from a 2015 study on the treatment of children with epilepsy with CBD extracts.
This effect is not common and is only felt in sporadic cases, but it should nevertheless be taken into account. In some subjects, in fact, even a minimal change in pressure can have serious repercussions.
Although this is among the more serious side effects of CBD, it must also be said that scientific studies show that in times of stress, CBD modulates the reaction of the cardiovascular system, reducing the reaction to tension.
A paper on this subject was published in 2017, explaining how a dose of cannabidiol reduced blood pressure in nine healthy volunteers. Researchers concluded after the study that CBD lowers blood pressure at rest. In addition, analysis showed that the stress response decreased following cannabidiol intake. The effects on blood pressure, according to the research team, could be related to the anxiolytic properties of CBD.
From the accounts of cannabis users, among the most annoying side effects of CBD are intestinal disorders. Confirmation of this also comes from scientific research that mentions diarrhoea as a side effect of CBD in several studies.
One of them concerns the long-term effects of cannabidiol in patients with severe epilepsy – one of the diseases that can be treated with cannabinoids – in which more than one third of those treated experienced diarrhoea.
However, in most cases, it appears that the gastrointestinal symptoms are related to the carrier oils used in the formulation of CBD oil.
Typically, carrier oils – such as hemp oil, coconut oil, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, olive oil – are used in the production of cannabis oils, which facilitate the absorption of the active ingredients contained in the oil.
In some cases, however, the gastrointestinal system cannot tolerate certain types of oil and manifests this with episodes of dysentery.
To improve intestinal tolerance to CBD, two types of strategies can be adopted: avoid crude formulas and opt for full spectrum or broad spectrum extracts, or take the products immediately after meals.
In very rare cases, CBD consumption may cause dizziness and sensations of spinning and oscillating movements. The perception that the environment moves is a personal reaction to cannabidiol that cannot be predicted in advance. Each organism, in fact, responds in its own way to cannabinoids and no scientific research is available to explain why dizziness occurs.
Scientists believe that it is the activation of cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system that triggers vertigo. When CBD and THC extracts are taken, they interact with the central nervous system by giving a different stimulus to the bloodstream. Due to this momentary alteration, dizziness may be experienced.
In conclusion, CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant with a wide range of potential medicinal uses. Its interactions with the endocannabinoid system in our bodies enable it to offer various benefits, making it increasingly popular among users seeking natural remedies. Among its effects on the brain, CBD has shown promise in providing pain relief for chronic and acute conditions, acting as a treatment for anxiety and depression, reducing stress levels, and improving sleep quality. Additionally, its neuroprotective properties may offer potential benefits for conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease.
While CBD is generally well-tolerated, some users may experience mild side effects, such as dry mouth, tiredness, changes in appetite, nausea, low blood pressure, diarrhea, and dizziness. These side effects are typically sporadic and generally outweighed by the therapeutic properties of CBD.
Overall, the growing body of research on CBD and its potential applications continues to shed light on its diverse benefits and how it may positively impact our well-being. As the scientific community delves deeper into understanding CBD’s mechanisms and its interactions with the human body, its potential as a valuable therapeutic option could become even more significant.
Nevertheless, it is essential for individuals to seek medical advice and carefully consider their personal health conditions before incorporating CBD into their wellness regimen.
💡Takeaways about the effect of CBD
- CBD is one of more than 60 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant and is a non-psychoactive chemical used for therapeutic purposes.
- CBD interacts with our endocannabinoid system, which is composed of neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors and proteins.
- CBD’s effects on the brain include pain relief, treatment for anxiety and depression, stress reduction and improved sleep.
- CBD acts positively on serotonin receptors in the brain, affecting our mood and emotional state.
- CBD has neuroprotective properties that protect the brain from damage caused by stress and other sources, and is being researched for possible benefits in neurodegenerative disorders.
- CBD is generally well tolerated by the body and causes little or no discomfort. Possible side effects include dry mouth and tiredness.
- Episodes of diarrhoea, nausea and drowsiness may occur in some cases.
- A more serious side effect may be low blood pressure, so it is advisable to consult a doctor before using legal cannabis products.
- CBD can have different effects on hunger, causing an increase or decrease in appetite, depending on the individual.
- In very rare cases, taking CBD may cause dizziness.
FAQ about the effects of CBD
What is CBD and how does it work?
CBD is one of more than 60 cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. It is a non-psychoactive chemical compound used for therapeutic purposes. According to a 2018 World Health Organisation report, no addiction or abuse-related consequences have been found for CBD.
What are the effects of CBD on the brain?
The effects of CBD on the brain include pain relief, treatment of anxiety and depression, stress reduction and improved sleep quality. In addition, CBD has neuroprotective properties that help protect the brain from damage caused by stress and inflammation.
What are the possible side effects of CBD?
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Teach child read
9 Fun and Easy Tips
With the abundance of information out there, it can seem like there is no clear answer about how to teach a child to read. As a busy parent, you may not have time to wade through all of the conflicting opinions.
That’s why we’re here to help! There are some key elements when it comes to teaching kids to read, so we’ve rounded up nine effective tips to help you boost your child’s reading skills and confidence.
These tips are simple, fit into your lifestyle, and help build foundational reading skills while having fun!
Tips For How To Teach A Child To Read
1) Focus On Letter Sounds Over Letter Names
We used to learn that “b” stands for “ball.” But when you say the word ball, it sounds different than saying the letter B on its own. That can be a strange concept for a young child to wrap their head around!
Instead of focusing on letter names, we recommend teaching them the sounds associated with each letter of the alphabet. For example, you could explain that B makes the /b/ sound (pronounced just like it sounds when you say the word ball aloud).
Once they firmly establish a link between a handful of letters and their sounds, children can begin to sound out short words. Knowing the sounds for B, T, and A allows a child to sound out both bat and tab.
As the number of links between letters and sounds grows, so will the number of words your child can sound out!
Now, does this mean that if your child already began learning by matching formal alphabet letter names with words, they won’t learn to match sounds and letters or learn how to read? Of course not!
We simply recommend this process as a learning method that can help some kids with the jump from letter sounds to words.
2) Begin With Uppercase Letters
Practicing how to make letters is way easier when they all look unique! This is why we teach uppercase letters to children who aren’t in formal schooling yet.
Even though lowercase letters are the most common format for letters (if you open a book at any page, the majority of the letters will be lowercase), uppercase letters are easier to distinguish from one another and, therefore, easier to identify.
Think about it –– “b” and “d” look an awful lot alike! But “B” and “D” are much easier to distinguish. Starting with uppercase letters, then, will help your child to grasp the basics of letter identification and, subsequently, reading.
To help your child learn uppercase letters, we find that engaging their sense of physical touch can be especially useful. If you want to try this, you might consider buying textured paper, like sandpaper, and cutting out the shapes of uppercase letters.
Ask your child to put their hands behind their back, and then place the letter in their hands. They can use their sense of touch to guess what letter they’re holding! You can play the same game with magnetic letters.
3) Incorporate Phonics
Research has demonstrated that kids with a strong background in phonics (the relationship between sounds and symbols) tend to become stronger readers in the long-run.
A phonetic approach to reading shows a child how to go letter by letter — sound by sound — blending the sounds as you go in order to read words that the child (or adult) has not yet memorized.
Once kids develop a level of automatization, they can sound out words almost instantly and only need to employ decoding with longer words. Phonics is best taught explicitly, sequentially, and systematically — which is the method HOMER uses.
If you’re looking for support helping your child learn phonics, our HOMER Learn & Grow app might be exactly what you need! With a proven reading pathway for your child, HOMER makes learning fun!
4) Balance Phonics And Sight Words
Sight words are also an important part of teaching your child how to read. These are common words that are usually not spelled the way they sound and can’t be decoded (sounded out).
Because we don’t want to undo the work your child has done to learn phonics, sight words should be memorized. But keep in mind that learning sight words can be challenging for many young children.
So, if you want to give your child a good start on their reading journey, it’s best to spend the majority of your time developing and reinforcing the information and skills needed to sound out words.
5) Talk A Lot
Even though talking is usually thought of as a speech-only skill, that’s not true. Your child is like a sponge. They’re absorbing everything, all the time, including the words you say (and the ones you wish they hadn’t heard)!
Talking with your child frequently and engaging their listening and storytelling skills can increase their vocabulary.
It can also help them form sentences, become familiar with new words and how they are used, as well as learn how to use context clues when someone is speaking about something they may not know a lot about.
All of these skills are extremely helpful for your child on their reading journey, and talking gives you both an opportunity to share and create moments you’ll treasure forever!
6) Keep It Light
Reading is about having fun and exploring the world (real and imaginary) through text, pictures, and illustrations. When it comes to reading, it’s better for your child to be relaxed and focused on what they’re learning than squeezing in a stressful session after a long day.
We’re about halfway through the list and want to give a gentle reminder that your child shouldn’t feel any pressure when it comes to reading — and neither should you!
Although consistency is always helpful, we recommend focusing on quality over quantity. Fifteen minutes might sound like a short amount of time, but studies have shown that 15 minutes a day of HOMER’s reading pathway can increase early reading scores by 74%!
It may also take some time to find out exactly what will keep your child interested and engaged in learning. That’s OK! If it’s not fun, lighthearted, and enjoyable for you and your child, then shake it off and try something new.
7) Practice Shared Reading
While you read with your child, consider asking them to repeat words or sentences back to you every now and then while you follow along with your finger.
There’s no need to stop your reading time completely if your child struggles with a particular word. An encouraging reminder of what the word means or how it’s pronounced is plenty!
Another option is to split reading aloud time with your child. For emerging readers, you can read one line and then ask them to read the next. For older children, reading one page and letting them read the next page is beneficial.
Doing this helps your child feel capable and confident, which is important for encouraging them to read well and consistently!
This technique also gets your child more acquainted with the natural flow of reading. While they look at the pictures and listen happily to the story, they’ll begin to focus on the words they are reading and engage more with the book in front of them.
Rereading books can also be helpful. It allows children to develop a deeper understanding of the words in a text, make familiar words into “known” words that are then incorporated into their vocabulary, and form a connection with the story.
We wholeheartedly recommend rereading!
8) Play Word Games
Getting your child involved in reading doesn’t have to be about just books. Word games can be a great way to engage your child’s skills without reading a whole story at once.
One of our favorite reading games only requires a stack of Post-It notes and a bunched-up sock. For this activity, write sight words or words your child can sound out onto separate Post-It notes. Then stick the notes to the wall.
Your child can then stand in front of the Post-Its with the bunched-up sock in their hands. You say one of the words and your child throws the sock-ball at the Post-It note that matches!
9) Read With Unconventional Materials
In the same way that word games can help your child learn how to read, so can encouraging your child to read without actually using books!
If you’re interested in doing this, consider using PlayDoh, clay, paint, or indoor-safe sand to form and shape letters or words.
Another option is to fill a large pot with magnetic letters. For emerging learners, suggest that they pull a letter from the pot and try to name the sound it makes. For slightly older learners, see if they can name a word that begins with the same sound, or grab a collection of letters that come together to form a word.
As your child becomes more proficient, you can scale these activities to make them a little more advanced. And remember to have fun with it!
Reading Comes With Time And Practice
Overall, we want to leave you with this: there is no single answer to how to teach a child to read. What works for your neighbor’s child may not work for yours –– and that’s perfectly OK!
Patience, practicing a little every day, and emphasizing activities that let your child enjoy reading are the things we encourage most. Reading is about fun, exploration, and learning!
And if you ever need a bit of support, we’re here for you! At HOMER, we’re your learning partner. Start your child’s reading journey with confidence with our personalized program plus expert tips and learning resources.
Teaching children to read isn’t easy. How do kids actually learn to read?
A student in a Mississippi elementary school reads a book in class. Research shows young children need explicit, systematic phonics instruction to learn how to read fluently. Credit: Terrell Clark for The Hechinger ReportTeaching kids to read isn’t easy; educators often feel strongly about what they think is the “right” way to teach this essential skill. Though teachers’ approaches may differ, the research is pretty clear on how best to help kids learn to read. Here’s what parents should look for in their children’s classroom.
How do kids actually learn how to read?
Research shows kids learn to read when they are able to identify letters or combinations of letters and connect those letters to sounds. There’s more to it, of course, like attaching meaning to words and phrases, but phonemic awareness (understanding sounds in spoken words) and an understanding of phonics (knowing that letters in print correspond to sounds) are the most basic first steps to becoming a reader.
If children can’t master phonics, they are more likely to struggle to read. That’s why researchers say explicit, systematic instruction in phonics is important: Teachers must lead students step by step through a specific sequence of letters and sounds. Kids who learn how to decode words can then apply that skill to more challenging words and ultimately read with fluency. Some kids may not need much help with phonics, especially as they get older, but experts say phonics instruction can be essential for young children and struggling readers “We don’t know how much phonics each kid needs,” said Anders Rasmussen, principal of Wood Road Elementary School in Ballston Spa, New York, who recently led the transformation of his schools’ reading program to a research-based, structured approach. “But we know no kid is hurt by getting too much of it.”
How should your child’s school teach reading?
Timothy Shanahan, a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an expert on reading instruction, said phonics are important in kindergarten through second grade and phonemic awareness should be explicitly taught in kindergarten and first grade. This view has been underscored by experts in recent years as the debate over reading instruction has intensified. But teaching kids how to read should include more than phonics, said Shanahan. They should also be exposed to oral reading, reading comprehension and writing.
The wars over how to teach reading are back. Here’s the four things you need to know.
Wiley Blevins, an author and expert on phonics, said a good test parents can use to determine whether a child is receiving research-based reading instruction is to ask their child’s teacher how reading is taught. “They should be able to tell you something more than ‘by reading lots of books’ and ‘developing a love of reading.’ ” Blevins said. Along with time dedicated to teaching phonics, Blevins said children should participate in read-alouds with their teacher to build vocabulary and content knowledge. “These read-alouds must involve interactive conversations to engage students in thinking about the content and using the vocabulary,” he said. “Too often, when time is limited, the daily read-alouds are the first thing left out of the reading time. We undervalue its impact on reading growth and must change that.”
Rasmussen’s school uses a structured approach: Children receive lessons in phonemic awareness, phonics, pre-writing and writing, vocabulary and repeated readings. Research shows this type of “systematic and intensive” approach in several aspects of literacy can turn children who struggle to read into average or above-average readers.
What should schools avoid when teaching reading?
Educators and experts say kids should be encouraged to sound out words, instead of guessing. “We really want to make sure that no kid is guessing,” Rasmussen said. “You really want … your own kid sounding out words and blending words from the earliest level on.” That means children are not told to guess an unfamiliar word by looking at a picture in the book, for example. As children encounter more challenging texts in later grades, avoiding reliance on visual cues also supports fluent reading. “When they get to ninth grade and they have to read “Of Mice and Men,” there are no picture cues,” Rasmussen said.
Related: Teacher Voice: We need phonics, along with other supports, for reading
Blevins and Shanahan caution against organizing books by different reading levels and keeping students at one level until they read with enough fluency to move up to the next level. Although many people may think keeping students at one level will help prevent them from getting frustrated and discouraged by difficult texts, research shows that students actually learn more when they are challenged by reading materials.
Blevins said reliance on “leveled books” can contribute to “a bad habit in readers.” Because students can’t sound out many of the words, they rely on memorizing repeated words and sentence patterns, or on using picture clues to guess words. Rasmussen said making kids stick with one reading level — and, especially, consistently giving some kids texts that are below grade level, rather than giving them supports to bring them to grade level — can also lead to larger gaps in reading ability.
How do I know if a reading curriculum is effective?
Some reading curricula cover more aspects of literacy than others. While almost all programs have some research-based components, the structure of a program can make a big difference, said Rasmussen. Watching children read is the best way to tell if they are receiving proper instruction — explicit, systematic instruction in phonics to establish a foundation for reading, coupled with the use of grade-level texts, offered to all kids.
Parents who are curious about what’s included in the curriculum in their child’s classroom can find sources online, like a chart included in an article by Readingrockets.org which summarizes the various aspects of literacy, including phonics, writing and comprehension strategies, in some of the most popular reading curricula.
Blevins also suggested some questions parents can ask their child’s teacher:
- What is your phonics scope and sequence?
“If research-based, the curriculum must have a clearly defined phonics scope and sequence that serves as the spine of the instruction. ” Blevins said.
- Do you have decodable readers (short books with words composed of the letters and sounds students are learning) to practice phonics?
“If no decodable or phonics readers are used, students are unlikely to get the amount of practice and application to get to mastery so they can then transfer these skills to all reading and writing experiences,” Blevins said. “If teachers say they are using leveled books, ask how many words can students sound out based on the phonics skills (teachers) have taught … Can these words be fully sounded out based on the phonics skills you taught or are children only using pieces of the word? They should be fully sounding out the words — not using just the first or first and last letters and guessing at the rest.”
- What are you doing to build students’ vocabulary and background knowledge? How frequent is this instruction? How much time is spent each day doing this?
“It should be a lot,” Blevins said, “and much of it happens during read-alouds, especially informational texts, and science and social studies lessons. ”
- Is the research used to support your reading curriculum just about the actual materials, or does it draw from a larger body of research on how children learn to read? How does it connect to the science of reading?
Teachers should be able to answer these questions, said Blevins.
What should I do if my child isn’t progressing in reading?
When a child isn’t progressing, Blevins said, the key is to find out why. “Is it a learning challenge or is your child a curriculum casualty? This is a tough one.” Blevins suggested that parents of kindergarteners and first graders ask their child’s school to test the child’s phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency.
Parents of older children should ask for a test of vocabulary. “These tests will locate some underlying issues as to why your child is struggling reading and understanding what they read,” Blevins said. “Once underlying issues are found, they can be systematically addressed. ”
“We don’t know how much phonics each kid needs. But we know no kid is hurt by getting too much of it.”
Anders Rasmussen, principal of Wood Road Elementary School in Ballston Spa, New York
Rasmussen recommended parents work with their school if they are concerned about their children’s progress. By sitting and reading with their children, parents can see the kind of literacy instruction the kids are receiving. If children are trying to guess based on pictures, parents can talk to teachers about increasing phonics instruction.
“Teachers aren’t there doing necessarily bad things or disadvantaging kids purposefully or willfully,” Rasmussen said. “You have many great reading teachers using some effective strategies and some ineffective strategies.”
What can parents do at home to help their children learn to read?
Parents want to help their kids learn how to read but don’t want to push them to the point where they hate reading. “Parents at home can fall into the trap of thinking this is about drilling their kid,” said Cindy Jiban, a former educator and current principal academic lead at NWEA, a research-based non-profit focused on assessments and professional learning opportunities. “This is unfortunate,” Jiban said. “It sets up a parent-child interaction that makes it, ‘Ugh, there’s this thing that’s not fun.’” Instead, Jiban advises making decoding playful. Here are some ideas:
- Challenge kids to find everything in the house that starts with a specific sound.
- Stretch out one word in a sentence. Ask your child to “pass the salt” but say the individual sounds in the word “salt” instead of the word itself.
- Ask your child to figure out what every family member’s name would be if it started with a “b” sound.
- Sing that annoying “Banana fana fo fanna song.” Jiban said that kind of playful activity can actually help a kid think about the sounds that correspond with letters even if they’re not looking at a letter right in front of them.
- Read your child’s favorite book over and over again. For books that children know well, Jiban suggests that children use their finger to follow along as each word is read. Parents can do the same, or come up with another strategy to help kids follow which words they’re reading on a page.
Giving a child diverse experiences that seem to have nothing to do with reading can also help a child’s reading ability. By having a variety of experiences, Rasmussen said, children will be able to apply their own knowledge to better comprehend texts about various topics.
This story about teaching children to read was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for Hechinger’s newsletter.
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How to teach a child to read: important rules and effective methods
Teaching a preschooler to read without losing interest in books is real. Lifehacker has selected the best ways for responsible parents.
0How to understand that it's time to teach your child to read
There are several signs of psychological readiness.
- The child speaks fluently in sentences and understands the meaning of what is said.
- The child understands directions: left-right, up-down. For learning to read, it is important that the baby can follow the text from left to right and from top to bottom.
- The child distinguishes sounds (what speech therapists call developed phonemic hearing). Simply put, the baby will easily understand by ear where the house and the bow are, and where the tom and the hatch are.
- Your child pronounces all the sounds and has no speech problems.
Speech therapist with 33 years of experience
A child with speech therapy problems does not hear and does not distinguish similar sounds. From here come errors with speech, and subsequently with reading, and even more often with writing. It is very difficult for a parent to identify violations on their own, so usually a teacher or a speech therapist can point this out to them.
How to teach your child to read
Be patient and follow these simple guidelines.
Set an example
In a family where there is a culture and tradition of reading, children themselves will reach for books. Read not because it is necessary and useful, but because it is a pleasure for you.
Read together and discuss
Read aloud to the child and then look at the pictures together, encouraging them to interact with the book: “Who is this? Can you show me the cat's ears? And who is that standing next to her?” Older children can be asked more difficult questions: “Why did he do this? What do you think will happen next?"
Don't learn the letters as they are called in the alphabet
Instead, help your child remember the sound the letter makes. For example, you show the letter "m" and say: "This is the letter m (not em )". If a child remembers the alphabetic names of letters ( em , es, ef and so on), it will be quite difficult for him to learn to read. Then, when he sees the word ra-ma in the book, he will try to pronounce er-a-um-ah .
Go from simple to complex
Once the child has memorized a few letters (from 2 to 5) and the sounds they represent, move on to syllables. Let the words consisting of repeated syllables be the first: mum, daddy, uncle, nanny . In this case, it is not necessary to break the syllable into separate sounds. Do not say: "These are the letters m and a , and together they read ma ". Immediately learn that the syllable is pronounced like ma , otherwise the baby may start to read letter by letter. After mastering simple combinations, move on to more complex ones: ko-t, zhu-k, do-m .
Help to understand the meaning of what they read
Do this when the child begins to slowly but surely reproduce words and whole sentences in syllables. For example, the kid read: "Mom washed the frame." Stop and ask: “What did you just read about?”. If he finds it difficult to answer, let him read the sentence again. And you ask more specific questions: “Who washed the frame? What did mom wash?
Show that letters are everywhere
Play a game. Let the child find the letters that surround him on the street and at home. These are the names of stores, and memos on information stands, and advertising on billboards, and even traffic light messages: it happens that the inscription “Go” lights up on green, and “Wait so many seconds” on red.
And play again. Stack blocks with letters and syllables, make up words, ask your child to read you some kind of sign or inscription on the packaging in the store.
There are many exercises for memorizing letters. For example, circle the desired letter among a number of others, circle the correctly written among the incorrect ones, color or shade. You can also ask the child to tell what the letter looks like.
Use every opportunity to practice
Whether you are waiting in line at the clinic or driving somewhere, take out a book with pictures and short stories to accompany them and invite your child to read together.
Build on your success
Repeat familiar texts, look for familiar characters in new stories. Runaway Bunny is found both in "Teremka" and "Kolobok".
Do not force
This is perhaps the most important thing. Don't take away a child's childhood. Learning should not go through violence and tears.
What techniques to use to teach your child to read
Here are six popular, affordable and effective techniques. Choose one or try several and choose the one that interests your child the most.
1. ABCs and primers
Frame: This is all mine / YouTubeTraditional, but the longest way. The difference between these books is that the alphabet fixes each letter with a mnemonic picture: a drum will be drawn on the page with B , and a spinning wheel next to Yu . The alphabet helps to remember letters and often interesting rhymes, but will not teach you how to read.
The primer consistently teaches the child to combine sounds into syllables, and syllables into words. This process is not easy and requires perseverance.
There are quite a lot of author's primers now. According to the books of Nadezhda Betenkova, Vseslav Goretsky, Dmitry Fonin, Natalya Pavlova, children can study both with their parents before school and in the first grade.
Parents agree that one of the most understandable methods for teaching preschoolers is Nadezhda Zhukova's primer. The author simply explains the most difficult thing for a child: how to turn letters into syllables, how to read ma-ma , and not start naming individual letters me-a-me-a .
2. Zaitsev's Cubes
Shot: Little Socrates / YouTubeIf a child consistently learns letters and syllables while learning from an ABC book, then in 52 Zaitsev's Cubes he is given access to everything at once: a single letter or combinations of consonant and vowel, consonant and hard or soft sign.
The child effortlessly learns the differences between unvoiced and voiced sounds, because the cubes with voiceless consonants are filled with wood, and the cubes with voiced consonants are filled with metal.
The cubes also differ in size. The large ones depict hard warehouses, the small ones - soft ones. The author of the technique explains this by the fact that when we pronounce to (hard warehouse), the mouth opens wide, or (soft warehouse) - lips in a half smile.
The set includes tables with warehouses that the parent sings (yes, he doesn’t speak, but sings).
The child quickly masters warehouse reading with the help of cubes. But there are also disadvantages: he may begin to swallow endings and face difficulties already at school when parsing a word by composition.
"Skladushki" and "Teremki" by Vyacheslav Voskobovich Shot: Games and Toys Club / YouTubeIn "Skladushki" Vyacheslav Voskobovich reworked Zaitsev's idea: 21 cards show all the warehouses of the Russian language with nice thematic pictures. Included is a CD with songs, the texts of which go under each picture.
Folders are great for kids who like looking at pictures. Each of them is an occasion to discuss with the child where the kitten is, what the puppy is doing, where the beetle flew.
It is possible to teach a child with these cards from the age of three. At the same time, it should be noted that the author of the methodology himself does not consider it necessary to force early development.
"Teremki" by Voskobovich consist of 12 wooden cubes with consonants and 12 cardboard cubes with vowels. First, the child gets acquainted with the alphabet and tries with the help of parents to come up with words that begin with each of the letters.
Then it's time to study the syllables. In the tower with the letter M is embedded A - and the first syllable is ma . From several towers you can lay out words. Learning is based on play. So, when replacing the vowel , the house will turn into smoke .
You can start playing tower blocks from the age of two. At the same time, parents will not be left alone with the cubes: the kit includes a manual with a detailed description of the methodology and game options.
4. Chaplygin's dynamic cubes
Shot: Both a boy and a girl! Children's channel - We are twins / YouTubeEvgeny Chaplygin's manual includes 10 cubes and 10 movable blocks. Each dynamic block consists of a pair - a consonant and a vowel. The task of the child is to twist the cubes and find a pair.
At the initial stage, as with any other method of learning to read in warehouses, the child makes the simplest words from repeating syllables: ma-ma, pa-pa, ba-ba . The involved motor skills help to quickly remember the shape of the letters, and the search for already familiar syllables turns into an exciting game. The cubes are accompanied by a manual describing the methodology and words that can be composed.
The optimal age for classes is 4-5 years. You can start earlier, but only in the game format.
5. Doman's cards
Frame: My little star / YouTubeAmerican doctor Glenn Doman suggests teaching children not individual letters or even syllables, but whole words. Parents name and show the child the words on the cards for 1-2 seconds. In this case, the baby is not required to repeat what he heard.
Classes start with 15 cards with the simplest concepts like females and males . Gradually, the number of words increases, those already learned leave the set, and the child begins to study phrases: for example, color + object, size + object.
How can one understand that a child has understood and memorized the visual image of a word, if the author of the methodology recommends starting classes from birth? Glenn Doman in "The Harmonious Development of the Child" strongly emphasizes that it is not necessary to arrange tests and checks for the child: kids do not like this and lose interest in classes.
It's better to remember 50 cards out of 100 than 10 out of 10.
But given that parents can't help but check, he advises the child to play the game if they want and are ready. For example, you can put a few cards and ask to bring one or point to it.
Today, psychologists, neurophysiologists and pediatricians agree that the Doman method is aimed not at teaching reading, but at mechanical memorization of visual images of words. The child turns out to be an object of learning and is almost deprived of the opportunity to learn something on his own.
It is also worth adding: in order to proceed to the stage of reading according to Doman, parents need to prepare cards with all (!) Words that are found in a particular book.
6. Montessori method
Photo: Kolpakova Daria / ShutterstockMontessori reading comes from the opposite: first we write and only then we read. Letters are the same pictures, so you first need to learn how to draw them and only then engage in pronunciation and reading. Children begin by tracing and shading the letters, and through this, they memorize their outline. When several vowels and consonants have been studied, they move on to the first simple words.
Much attention is paid to the tactile component, so children can literally touch the alphabet cut out of rough or velvety paper.
The value of the methodology lies in learning through play. So, you can put a rough letter and a plate of semolina in front of the child and offer to first circle the sign with your finger, and then repeat this on the semolina.
The difficulty for parents is to purchase or prepare a significant amount of handouts. But you can try to make cards with your own hands from cardboard and sandpaper.
What's the result
On the Internet and on posters advertising "educators", you will be offered ultra-modern methods of teaching your child to read at three, two or even from birth. But let's be realistic: a happy mother is needed a year, not developmental classes.
The authors of the methods as one insist that the most natural learning process for a child is through play, and not through classes in which the parent plays the role of a strict controller. Your main assistant in learning is the curiosity of the child himself.
Some children will study for six months and start reading at three, others have to wait a couple of years to learn in just a month. Focus on the interests of the child. If he likes books and pictures, then primers and Folders will come to the rescue. If he is a fidget, then cubes and the Montessori system are better suited.
In learning to read, everything is simple and complex at the same time. If your child often sees you with a book, you have a tradition of reading before bed, your chances of getting your baby interested in reading will increase significantly.
See also 🧐
- How to teach a child to keep promises
- How to teach a child to say the letter "r"
- How to teach a child to ride a bicycle
- How to teach a child to swim
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How to teach a child to read: techniques from an experienced teacher
At what age should you start teaching a child to read
Speech therapist Naya Speranskaya believes that the optimal age at which you can gradually start learning to read is 5.5 years.
“But still, the starting point for the first steps in this matter should not be a specific age, but the child himself. There are children who are ready to master the skill as early as 3-4 years old, and there are those who "mature" closer to grade 1. Once I worked with a boy who could not read at 6.5 years old. He knew letters, individual syllables, but he could not read. As soon as we began to study, it became clear that he was absolutely ready for reading, in two months he began to read perfectly in syllables, ”said Speranskaya.
How to teach your child to read quickly and correctly
The first thing you need to teach your baby is the ability to correlate letters and sounds. “In no case should a child be taught the names of letters, as in the alphabet: “em”, “be”, “ve”. Otherwise, training is doomed to failure. The preschooler will try to apply new knowledge in practice. Instead of reading [mom], he will read [me-a-me-a]. You are tormented by retraining, ”the speech therapist warned.
Therefore, it is important to immediately give the child not the names of the letters, but the sounds they represent. Not [be], but [b], not [em], but [m]. If the consonant is softened by a vowel, then this should be reflected in the pronunciation: [t '], [m'], [v '], etc.
To help your child remember the graphic symbols of letters, make a letter with him from plasticine, lay it out using buttons, draw with your finger on a saucer with flour or semolina. Color the letters with pencils, draw with water markers on the side of the bathroom.
“At first it will seem to the child that all the letters are similar to each other. These actions will help you learn to distinguish between them faster, ”said the speech therapist.
As soon as the baby remembers the letters and sounds, you can move on to memorizing syllables.
How to teach your child to join letters into syllables
“Connecting letters into syllables is like learning the multiplication table. You just need to remember these combinations of letters, ”the speech therapist explained.
Naya Speranskaya noted that most of the manuals offer to teach children to read exactly by syllables. When choosing, two nuances should be taken into account:
1. Books should have little text and a lot of pictures.
2. Words in them should not be divided into syllables using large spaces, hyphens, long vertical lines.
“All this creates visual difficulties in reading. It is difficult for a child to perceive such a word as something whole, it is difficult to “collect” it from different pieces. It is best if there are no extra spaces or other separating characters in the word, and syllables are highlighted with arcs directly below the word, ”the speech therapist explained.
According to Speranskaya, cubes with letters are also suitable for studying syllables - playing with them, the child will quickly remember the combinations.
Another way to gently help your child learn letters and syllables is to print them in large print on paper and hang them all over the apartment.
“Hang them on the refrigerator, on the board in the nursery, on the wall in the bathroom. When such leaflets are hung throughout the apartment, you can inadvertently return to them many times a day. Do you wash your hands? Read what is written next to the sink. Is the child waiting for you to give him lunch? Ask him to name which syllables are hanging on the refrigerator. Do a little, but as often as possible. Step by step, the child will learn the syllables, and then slowly begin to read,” the specialist said.
Speranskaya is sure that in this way the child will learn to read much faster than after daily classes, when parents seat the child at the table with the words: "Now we will study reading ..."
“If it is really difficult for you to give up such activities, then pay attention that the nervous system of preschoolers is not yet ripe for long and monotonous lessons. Children spend enormous efforts on the analysis of graphic symbols. Learning to read for them is like learning a very complex cipher. Therefore, it is necessary to observe clear timing in such classes. At 5.5 years old, children are able to hold attention for no more than 10 minutes, at 6.5 years old - 15 minutes. That's how long one lesson should last. And there should be no more than one such “lessons” a day, unless, of course, you want the child to lose motivation for learning even before school,” the speech therapist explained.
How to explain to a child how to divide words into syllables
When teaching a child to divide words into syllables, use a pencil. Mark syllables with a pencil using arcs.
“Take the word dinosaur. It can be divided into three syllables: "di", "but", "zavr". The child will read the first syllables without difficulty, but it will be difficult for him to master the third. The kid cannot look at three or four letters at once. Therefore, I propose to teach to read not entirely by syllables, but by the so-called syllables. This is when we learn to read combinations of consonants and vowels, and we read the consonants separately. For example, we will read the word "dinosaur" like this: "di" "but" "for" "in" "p" The last two letters are read separately from "for". If you immediately teach a child to read by syllables, he will quickly master complex words and move on to fluent reading, ”the speech therapist is sure.
In a text, syllables can be denoted in much the same way as syllables. Vowel + consonant with the help of an arc, and a separate consonant with the help of a dot.
Naya Speranskaya gave parents a recommendation to memorize syllables/syllable fusions for as long as possible, and move on to texts only when the child suggests it himself.
“If a preschooler is not eager to read, then there is no need to put pressure on him. Automate syllables. Take your time. Learning should take place gradually, from simple to complex. The reading technique develops over time, ”added Speranskaya.
Another important clarification from the speech therapist: when the child begins to read words and then sentences, parents need to clarify the meaning of what they read.
“The child reads the word “mom”, after that you ask the question: “what does it mean that you just read it,” the speech therapist shared, “It is necessary that the child not only reads well, but also feels the meaning of what he read. | <urn:uuid:7a512121-be54-4627-8e55-fceb3bd4203c> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://northccs.com/misc/teach-child-read.html | 2024-12-02T23:20:02Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066129613.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20241202220458-20241203010458-00693.warc.gz | en | 0.955711 | 9,045 | 3.734375 | 4 |
Are you ready to dive into the exciting and rapidly-evolving world of cutting-edge AI robotics? From manufacturing floors to healthcare facilities, artificial intelligence robots are revolutionizing industries all over the globe. With their advanced capabilities and innovative technologies, these robots are streamlining processes, increasing efficiency, and transforming the way we work. In this blog post, we’ll explore the latest trends in cutting-edge AI robotics, uncover breakthroughs that are advancing the field by leaps and bounds, and examine real-world applications of these incredible machines. So buckle up for an exciting ride – it’s time to unveil the potential of artificial intelligence robots!
At their core, cutting-edge AI robotics are machines designed to operate with a high degree of autonomy and intelligence. These robots can perform complex tasks that were previously only possible for humans, from assembly line work to delicate medical procedures. But what makes these machines truly revolutionary is their ability to learn and adapt over time.
Thanks to advances in machine learning algorithms and sensor technology, Artificial intelligence robots can analyze vast amounts of data and use this information to make decisions on the fly. This allows them to respond quickly and accurately in unpredictable situations – an essential quality for any robot operating in real-world scenarios.
But the potential applications of these incredible machines go far beyond simple automation or efficiency gains. As we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI robotics, we’re discovering new ways they can help us solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
From environmental monitoring to disaster response, there are countless areas where cutting-edge AI robotics could have a transformative impact. And as researchers continue pushing forward at breakneck speed, it seems clear that we’ve only scratched the surface of what these amazing machines are capable of achieving.
The Rise of Cutting-edge AI Robotics: Revolutionizing Automation
The rise of cutting-edge AI robotics has marked a significant shift in the world of automation. With the advent of advanced machine learning algorithms, robots are becoming smarter and more efficient than ever before. This revolution is transforming traditional manufacturing processes, logistics operations, and even healthcare practices.
AI-enabled robots can process vast amounts of data at lightning speed, making them ideal for complex tasks that require high precision and accuracy. From self-driving cars to intelligent chatbots, these machines are changing the way we live our lives.
One major area where AI robotics is making a difference is in industrial automation. Robots equipped with computer vision systems and sensor technology can work alongside humans safely without compromising quality or efficiency. This collaboration helps workers focus on creative problem-solving tasks while leaving repetitive manual labor to the machines.
Another exciting development in AI robotics is their ability to learn from experience and improve over time through reinforcement learning techniques. This allows robots to adapt quickly to new situations and environments, making them perfect for dynamic workplaces such as warehouses or hospitals.
As more industries adopt cutting-edge AI robotics technologies, it’s clear that this innovation will continue to transform our world beyond what we’ve ever imagined possible.
Exploring the Latest Trends in Cutting-edge AI Robotics
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been growing at a rapid pace in the past few years, and so too has AI Robotics. Cutting-edge AI Robotics is changing the way we live and work by enabling robots to learn from their environment using machine learning algorithms. Here are some of the latest trends in cutting-edge AI Robotics.
One trend is human-robot collaboration, where robots cooperate with humans to perform tasks that require precision and accuracy. This type of collaboration can be seen in manufacturing plants, where robots assist workers with repetitive or dangerous tasks.
Another trend is swarm robotics which involves multiple robots working together as a team to accomplish complex tasks such as search and rescue missions. Swarm robotics simulations have been used for traffic management systems, autonomous vehicles, construction sites and more.
Thirdly, there’s explainable AI or XAI which allows machines to explain their decisions based on their underlying algorithms making it easier for humans to understand how they arrived at certain conclusions. Explainable AI technology will aid businesses who want transparency when it comes down to decision-making processes involving Artificial Intelligence Robots.
Lastly yet importantly – Edge Computing enables devices like drones and self-driving cars equipped with sensors that will store data locally rather than transmitting everything back over the internet allowing for faster response times while reducing network congestion.
Cutting-edge AI Robotics continues to revolutionize industries across all sectors offering significant benefits including increased efficiency, reduced costs while also creating opportunities for innovation through creative problem solving strategies leading towards intelligent solutions that streamline processes within various organizations worldwide.
Advancing the Field: Cutting-edge AI Robotics Breakthroughs
Cutting-edge AI robotics is a rapidly advancing field with annual breakthroughs. The integration of machine learning algorithms into robotic systems is a noteworthy advancement, enabling machines to learn from their experiences and dynamically adjust to evolving environments.
Significant progress has been made in the realm of computer vision technology. Robots are now equipped with advanced cameras and sensors, enabling them to precisely identify objects and effortlessly traverse intricate surroundings.
Researchers are investigating the potential of natural language processing (NLP) techniques for facilitating communication between humans and robots. Possible SEO rewrite: “Enhancing human-robot interactions through intuitive and seamless interfaces.”
Control system advancements have significantly contributed to the enhancement of AI robot capabilities. Contemporary control systems facilitate meticulous motion planning and execution, empowering robots to accomplish intricate tasks with heightened precision.
These cutting-edge AI robotics breakthroughs are driving innovation across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and many others. With the ongoing progress in this field, we can anticipate further thrilling advancements that will transform the way we engage with artificial intelligence robots.
Harnessing the Power of Cutting-edge AI Robotics Technologies
The power of cutting-edge AI robotics technologies lies in the ability to automate complex tasks with ease and efficiency. These robots are designed to learn, adapt, and improve their performance over time, making them highly valuable assets in various industries.
One area where these technologies have been harnessed is manufacturing. With advanced sensors and algorithms, Artificial intelligence robots can streamline production processes by identifying inefficiencies and adjusting accordingly. They can also work collaboratively with human workers to optimize workflow and increase productivity.
Another industry that has benefited from cutting-edge AI robotics is healthcare. Robots equipped with artificial intelligence can assist doctors during surgery, monitor patients’ vital signs, and even dispense medication accurately. This not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces costs associated with medical errors.
AI robotics technologies have also been implemented in agriculture to improve crop yields by monitoring plant health, soil conditions, weather patterns, and other factors affecting growth. By automating tasks like planting seeds or harvesting crops using drones or autonomous vehicles equipped with machine learning algorithms farmers are able to optimize production while minimizing waste.
In conclusion, harnessing the power of cutting-edge AI robotics technologies has transformed multiple sectors into smarter spaces increasing efficiency whilst reducing risks.
This trend is expected to continue as technology advances further towards smart solutions for everyday issues faced globally, thus improving quality of life.
Applications of Cutting-edge AI Robotics in Real-world Scenarios
Cutting-edge AI Robotics has a wide range of applications in real-world scenarios. One of the most significant areas where AI Robotics is making an impact is in healthcare. With the use of cutting-edge robots, surgeries can be performed more accurately and efficiently, reducing human error and allowing for quicker recovery times.
Another area where Cutting-edge AI Robotics is revolutionizing industries is in manufacturing. Robots equipped with advanced sensors and algorithms can perform repetitive tasks with greater precision, speed, and efficiency than humans ever could.
In agriculture, AI-powered robots are being used to automate farming processes such as planting seeds or harvesting crops. This helps reduce labor costs while increasing productivity levels by identifying crop health at an early stage.
AI robotics also plays a vital role in disaster response efforts. They are capable of performing rescue missions autonomously or assisting emergency responders during search-and-rescue operations.
Furthermore, self-driving cars, drones for delivery services have become commonplace in modern society; they utilize state-of-the-art robot technology to ensure safety while carrying out their functions effectively.
The potential applications of Cutting-edge AI Robotics are vast and varied across numerous industries from healthcare to agriculture and beyond – opening up new possibilities that were once thought impossible.
The Future of Cutting-edge AI Robotics: A Glimpse into Tomorrow
As we move towards an increasingly automated world, it’s no surprise that the future of cutting-edge AI robotics looks incredibly promising. In fact, experts predict that Artificial intelligence robots will be able to perform tasks more efficiently and effectively than humans in various industries.
One area where we can expect to see significant advancements is healthcare. Cutting-edge AI robotics technology has already been used to develop robots capable of performing surgeries with greater precision and minimizing the risk of errors. As the technology continues to evolve, these robots may become even more advanced in diagnosing illnesses and providing care for patients.
Another industry set to benefit greatly from cutting-edge AI robotics is manufacturing. Robots have already replaced human workers on assembly lines for tasks requiring repetitive motions or heavy lifting, but as automation becomes more sophisticated, we could see further integration of machine learning and predictive analytics into production processes.
Transportation is yet another field poised for disruption by cutting-edge AI robotics. Self-driving vehicles are just one example of how this technology can revolutionize how people get around – not just cars but also drones that deliver goods quickly without having a driver behind the wheel.
There’s no doubt that cutting-edge AI robotic technologies will play a crucial role in shaping our future over the next few decades – bringing new levels of efficiency and productivity across multiple industries while improving safety standards at all times.
Unleashing the Potential: Cutting-edge AI Robotics in Industries
Cutting-edge AI robotics has the potential to transform various industries and revolutionize their operations. One area that is already experiencing this transformation is manufacturing. With the help of artificial intelligence robots, manufacturers are able to automate tasks such as assembly line production, quality control checks, and even material handling.
In the healthcare industry, cutting-edge AI robotics technology can play a critical role in assisting surgeons during complex procedures. Robots equipped with advanced sensors and algorithms have been used to perform minimally invasive surgeries with greater precision and accuracy than human hands alone.
Artificial intelligence robots are also making waves in agriculture by improving crop yields through precision farming techniques. By analyzing data from sensors on drones or ground-based machines, farmers can optimize fertilizer usage and irrigation levels for each individual plant, maximizing their growth potential while minimizing waste.
The logistics sector is another industry that stands to benefit greatly from cutting-edge AI robotics technology. Autonomous vehicles powered by artificial intelligence could potentially reduce delivery times while increasing efficiency on roads.
Commercial cleaning companies are beginning to explore the use of autonomous cleaning robots equipped with cameras and other sensors capable of detecting dirt and debris for more thorough cleaning results.
It’s clear that cutting-edge AI robotics has enormous potential across a wide range of industries – from healthcare to agriculture to logistics – ushering in an era of smarter solutions capable of streamlining processes like never before.
Revolutionizing Efficiency: How Cutting-edge AI Robotics Streamlines Processes
Cutting-edge AI robotics technology is transforming efficiency and productivity in a revolutionary manner. Intelligent machines capable of self-learning empower businesses to optimize productivity and streamline processes to unprecedented levels. These cutting-edge robots utilize sophisticated algorithms to perform real-time data analysis and derive actionable insights.
Cutting-edge AI robotics has significantly impacted the manufacturing industry. Robotic automation systems enable factories to enhance production speed, minimize errors, and augment quality control measures. Sensors-equipped robots have the capability to perform continuous monitoring of production lines and expedite the detection of any potential issues.
The healthcare industry has witnessed significant advancements with the implementation of state-of-the-art AI robotics. Medical facilities have incorporated robots for patient care, diagnosis assistance, drug dispensing management, and other tasks. This implementation has resulted in a decrease in human error rates and an increase in precision.
AI chatbots are a prime illustration of how this technology optimizes business operations by automating customer service interactions round the clock with utmost efficiency and without any downtime.
Cutting-edge AI robotics holds great potential to revolutionize the world’s economy by enhancing efficiency-related aspects across different sectors. Automation through bots can simplify complex tasks, saving time and effort. This can aid in rapid company growth while maintaining high quality standards and employee satisfaction.
Cutting-edge AI Robotics and the Path to Smarter, Safer Solutions
As we’ve explored in this article, cutting-edge AI robotics holds an immense potential for revolutionizing industries and streamlining processes. With advancements in technology, we’re able to harness the power of artificial intelligence robots to make our lives easier, safer, and more efficient.
From manufacturing to healthcare, transportation to customer service – there are countless real-world applications for cutting-edge AI robotics. As these technologies continue to evolve and improve, it’s exciting to think about what the future may hold.
But even with all the potential benefits that come with Artificial Intelligence Robots, it’s important that we also consider any ethical concerns or safety risks. By prioritizing responsible development and implementation of these technologies, we can ensure that they serve as a path towards smarter and safer solutions.
In short: cutting-edge AI robotics is a game-changer when it comes to advancing artificial intelligence capabilities. And by embracing this technology responsibly and strategically applying it across various domains ,we can unlock new levels of innovation for generations to come. | <urn:uuid:0a4bcddf-8a4b-473e-9bfb-972e2267dc7c> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://read-blogs.com/revolutionizing-the-world-of-artificial-intelligence-robots/ | 2024-12-14T06:20:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066124856.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20241214054842-20241214084842-00807.warc.gz | en | 0.932733 | 2,831 | 2.75 | 3 |
To the untrained observer, ear training might not sound particularly essential.
Yet dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that it’s crucial if you’re planning on interpreting musical notes accurately.
Ear training: why you need it goes beyond the basics of just playing an instrument or hitting the correct note while singing.
It is an integral part of any musician’s progress that facilitates refining musical perception and cognition.
Ever wondered how artists can replicate a tune simply after hearing it once? Or how some people can identify a song’s key without even touching an instrument?
This ability is not purely inborn talent; rather, it often results from diligent and consistent ear training.
The nuanced learning that ear training imparts into your musical journey cannot be downplayed; whether amateur or professional, captivating music always stems from musicians who are finely attuned to their auditory senses.
What is Ear Training?
Ear training, often termed aural skills or aural training, is a process devoted to refining your acoustic receptivity and cognizance. It equips you to identify pitches, intervals, melodies, rhythms, and chords merely by hearing them.
The importance of this unquestionably transcends borders of musical genres or instruments – it’s essentially akin to learning a new language.
By associating sounds with their respective symbols and patterns in music theory, you fortify your musician’s instinct toward recognizing sonic nuances, ultimately aiding in the creation of spellbinding melodies and harmonies.
What are the uses of ear training?
Ear training essentially acts as the cornerstone for numerous aspects of music.
Employing this method in your musical journey can reinvent your interaction with and presentation of music.
Let’s delve deeper into three major applications that demonstrate why ear training is indispensable for all aspiring musicians.
Possibly the most evident application of ear training, transcription involves converting a piece of music into written form.
Fully grasping the intricacies and articulations in composition requires a highly refined musical ear.
Effective ear training enables the swift and precise decomposition of complex melodies into identifiable notes – making transcription entirely feasible.
Improvisation, another facet exploiting this vital tool, refers to the spontaneous creation or modification of music while performing.
Bold headings, expressive melodies, or exciting riffs – everything can be flawlessly manipulated if you’re equipped with excellent listening skills.
Even though musicians use their intuition to navigate through improvisations, an excellent set of ears always awards them the upper hand.
Playing By Ear
While learning an instrument or singing a song, it is paramount to mimic proficiently what you listen to before any attempt at placing notes correctly on paper.
This process is initiated by playing it by ear and then followed by a fluent transition from receipt to delivery.
Getting deeply involved with music provides a different perspective on how we perceive sounds and interpret them musically.
Ear Training forms the heart of it which further fuels our appreciation towards compositions that invigorate us with their unique charm and elegance.
Thus, for anyone aspiring to step up their musical prowess or keen on enhancing cognitive skills generally linked with learning music – sharpening your auditory perception through correct ear training remains unchallenged!
How does ear training help in developing a perfect pitch?
Ear training can be particularly valuable in honing a perfect pitch. Often called absolute pitch, perfect pitch is the ability to identify or recreate a musical note without any reference.
While some individuals naturally have this ability, many others cultivate it through ear training.
Firstly, ear training aids in distinguishing between different notes and tones.
You learn and remember how each note sounds, which helps develop an internal reference for those sounds.
When you hear a note, you can identify it based on your internal auditory memory.
Encouraging Active Listening
Active listening is key to improving your musical proficiency. While hearing just involves sound reaching your eardrum, ‘listening’ requires absorbing and interpreting the sound.
Ear training cultivates active listening skills, making you more tuned into subtleties of tone and pitch.
Boosting Transcription Skills
Transcribing music by ear is a handy skill that gets better with ear training. If you can listen to a piece of music and write it down or play it later just from memory, then your pitch recognition is prominent.
Practicing with Chords
One effective way of developing perfect pitch via ear training is practicing with chords. For instance:
- Play a chord
- Try to sing each note of the chord separately
- Listen for whether your voice wavers or remains steady on each note
- Adjust as needed until you can hit each note within the chord accurately
This process encourages you to tune into individual notes within complex sounds.
Perfecting pitch isn’t an overnight process; It takes time and lots of practice but rest assured that with consistent effort comes phenomenal results – enhanced musical perception!
How can Ear Training Be Utilized Across Various Instruments?
Ear training is a versatile tool that transcends instrumental boundaries.
If you strum on a guitar, caress piano keys, or finesse a flute, the benefits of ear training uniformly enhance musical performance by honing your ability to discern pitches, rhythms, and chord progressions.
Recognizing Pitch on Stringed Instruments
For stringed instruments like guitars and violins, ear training assists musicians in tuning their instruments without the need for electronic aids.
It also aids players in identifying correct finger placements to achieve desired notes with accuracy.
For instance, guitarists rely on their auditory skills to find the precise frets that yield perfect harmonies and chords.
Enhancing Breath Control for Woodwinds and Brass
Players of woodwind and brass instruments such as saxophones and trumpets leverage ear training to master pitch control through breath support.
Being in tune is as vital as proper technique—recognizing when a note sounds sharp or flat can be corrected by adjusting embouchure or breath pressure.
Refining Touch on Keyboard Instruments
With keyboard instruments, such as pianos or synthesizers, ear training equips musicians with the ability to distinguish subtle differences in touch, which can dramatically affect dynamics and articulation.
Discerning overtones through careful listening complements the expressive powers of pianists, especially during intricate compositions.
Percussion Timbre Differentiation
Even percussionists benefit from ear training; it’s not solely about rhythm. Drums may not be tuned to specific pitches commonly; differentiating between timbres is crucial for articulate playing.
Imagine fine-tuning a snare drum’s tightness so it resonates perfectly within an orchestra—it’s all about those nuances captured by a well-trained ear.
While each instrument presents unique auditory challenges, competent ears serve as universal assets across all musical endeavors.
The fundamental exercises remain fairly consistent across disciplines with nuanced modifications catering to specific instrument families.
More than just hearing music; effective listening enriches your musical palette immensely.
What are the different exercises for Ear Training?
When it comes to ear training, variety is key. Diverse exercises allow you to cover all aspects of aural skills, leading to a holistic development in your ability to recognize and reproduce sounds.
Here are some nuanced exercises designed to sharpen your auditory capabilities:
One foundational exercise is interval recognition. This involves listening to two notes played either sequentially or simultaneously and identifying the distance between them—a third, fifth, octave, and so on. Start with simple intervals and gradually increase complexity.
Chord identification tests your ability to discern chord types and qualities—major, minor, diminished, augmented—from a cluster of notes played together.
Progress from triads up through more complex extended chords such as sevenths or ninths.
Rhythm is an integral component of music that should not be neglected in ear training.
Rhythmic dictation entails listening to rhythms and writing them down or clapping them back accurately. This exercise polishes timing and rhythmic accuracy.
Utilizing solfege syllables—do re mi fa sol la ti—in solfege practice can greatly aid with pitch recognition and sight-singing abilities.
Through movable-do or fixed-do systems, musicians learn relative pitch within scales.
Transcribing music by ear—the process of transcription workforces comprehensive listening as you attempt to capture melody, harmony, rhythm, and other nuances onto paper without the aid of an instrument.
In melodic dictation, you listen to short melodies and try to write them down as musical notation.
Start with basic melodies that feature stepwise motion before moving on to more intricate phrases.
Harmonic Progression Identification
Identifying harmonic progressions involves recognizing sequences of chords as they progress within a piece of music.
Harmonic progression identification helps develop a sense of musical structure and chord function.
Employing such richly varied exercises ensures not only competence but confidence in your musical journey—a surefire strategy towards achieving auditory excellence without monotonous repetition that often hampers learning efficiency.
How Do You Practice Ear Training?
The practice of ear training encompasses various techniques, all crafted to sharpen your aural skills. Here’s how you can engage in this form of auditory education:
Start with the Basics: Intervals
Begin by familiarizing yourself with intervals, the gap between two notes. Use a piano or a digital app to play two notes consecutively, and then try to replicate the sound by singing or playing them on your instrument.
It’s recommendable to start with basic intervals like major and minor thirds before progressing to more complex ones like sevenths or octaves.
Sing Your Scales
Singing scales is not just for vocalists. By vocalizing the scales, you train your ear to recognize the sequential order of notes.
Gradually, you won’t just sing them; you’ll internalize each pitch and its positional relevance within a scale.
Solfege assigns specific syllables like Do-Re-Mi to each note of a scale. By practicing solfege, you engage in active listening and singing back what you hear while developing relational between pitches.
It’s fundamental as well to discern rhythmic patterns. Tap out rhythms from songs or use apps that supply various beats for replication.
Chord Recognition and Progression
Mature into identifying chords along with their quality (major, minor, diminished).
Play chords on an instrument without looking at the keys and name them outright. Listen for chord progressions and endeavor to determine their sequence.
Listen attentively to music and write down what you hear without an instrument—jot down melody lines, harmonies, bass lines, and rhythmic structures. Begin with simple tunes before tackling elaborate pieces.
Consistent Daily Practice
Consistency trumps intensity when it comes to ear training. Short daily sessions will yield better results than infrequent extensive drills.
Remembering that every musician’s journey is personal is crucial—while some exercises might bear fruit rapidly for one individual, others might require alternative approaches or additional time for absorption.
Tailoring your practice routine according to personal goals will optimize growth in this realm.
Describe the various Ear training software.
In today’s digital age, a plethora of ear training software is available, each offering unique features and exercises to sharpen your auditory skills.
From mobile apps to comprehensive desktop programs, these tools are designed for musicians of all levels seeking to improve their ability to recognize pitches, intervals, chords, and rhythms.
Popular Ear Training Programs
- Auralia: Widely revered by educators and students alike, Auralia provides a rich library of personalized ear training exercises. With its clear interface, users can easily navigate through lessons that cover beginner to advanced levels. It includes pitch recognition tasks and an extensive range of chord progressions.
- EarMaster: Launched as a staple in music education, EarMaster offers exercises tailored for both classical and contemporary musicians. The software includes comprehensive modules addressing intervals, scales, chord identification, rhythmic sight reading, and more – all designed to enhance musical intuition progressively.
- Theta Music Trainer: Known for its game-based learning approach, this platform turns ear training into an enjoyable experience with interactive games that cover the fundamentals of sound identification. Engaging users with varied difficulty levels ensures continual progression in sonic discernment.
Mobile Options for On-the-Go Learning
- Tenuto: Developed by musictheory.net is an app that comes filled with customizable exercises on note identification, keyboard skills, and fretboard notes intended particularly for guitarists.
- Perfect Ear: An Android app acclaimed for its versatility offering rhythm clapping exercises; additionally pitch training is coupled with educational articles further providing context to practical sessions.
Implementing Technology in Your Routine
Begin integrating these tools by frequently engaging in short practice sessions. For example:
- Schedule regular intervals throughout your week dedicated specifically to ear training.
- Mix & match different types of exercises in each session.
- Challenge yourself incrementally by adjusting the difficulty settings as you improve.
Find the platform resonating with your learning style via trial versions typically offered before committing financially.
What is the most effective way to start ear training?
The most effective way is to begin with simple pitch recognition exercises and progressively move to more complex tasks like interval and chord identification.
How long does it take to develop a good ear for music?
The time varies; consistent practice can yield noticeable improvements in just a few weeks, but mastering ear training is an ongoing process.
Can ear training improve my singing?
Ear training sharpens your ability to pitch notes accurately, enhancing your overall singing abilities.
Is it possible to achieve perfect pitch through ear training?
A perfect pitch typically requires natural inclination, but relative pitch can be significantly improved with dedicated ear training practices.
Are there any tools that can help with ear training?
Yes, numerous software apps and websites offer interactive exercises that are incredibly useful for ear training.
Ear training is imperative for anyone looking to elevate their musical aptitude. It fine-tunes your listening abilities, allowing you to distinguish subtle nuances and harmonies in music.
By integrating this practice into your routine, you’ll enhance your musical interpretation, creating a more profound connection with your instrument and compositions.
To get started or advance further, explore various ear training software options that cater to different skill levels and instruments—a surefire way to bolster your auditory skills. | <urn:uuid:1f4481f2-66e3-4ed4-a442-435fbee71be8> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.vintagevinylnews.com/ear-training/ | 2024-12-13T12:23:11Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066116798.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20241213105147-20241213135147-00316.warc.gz | en | 0.927052 | 3,000 | 3.515625 | 4 |
Risk management is about identifying, addressing, and eliminating sources of risk before they become a threat to the project. This article outlines traditional risk management, how Agile is a risk mitigation strategy, and how to do Agile risk management.
Traditional Risk Management
Project Risk Management is one of the nine project management knowledge areas in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) from the Project Management Institute (2004).
Generally risk management means:
- Risk identification – make a list of the risks that threaten the project
- Risk analysis – assess the likelihood and impact of each risk
- Risk prioritisation – identify the significant risks based on likelihood and impact
- Risk-management planning – plan how to deal with each significant risk
- Risk resolution – execute the plan, i.e. deal with each significant risk
- Risk monitoring – monitor execution of the plans to deal with each significant risk and continue with risk identification
How Agile is a Risk Mitigation Strategy
Steven McConnell (1996) adapted the work of Boehm (1989) and Jones (1994) to produce a list of the most common schedule risks in software development projects. The common risks are listed in the following table along with an assessment of Agile’s impact on that risk.
Common Risk (from McConnell, 1996) | Agile’s impact on risk |
1. Feature creep | Reduce |
2. Requirements or developer gold-plating | Reduce |
3. Shortchanged quality | Reduce |
4. Overly optimistic schedules | Reduce |
5. Inadequate design | Possibly increase |
6. Silver-bullet syndrome | Increase |
7. Research-oriented development | Reduce |
8. Weak personnel | – |
9. Contractor failure | – |
10. Friction between developers and customers | Reduce |
Good Agile Project Management reduces risk by directly addressing several of these common risks. Unfortunately, Agile potentially increases some of the common risks. On balance Agile reduces more risks than it introduces … if you do it right.
Agile Reduces Feature Creep
Feature creep is the uncontrolled addition of requirements to the scope of a project. As scope increases so does the cost and the chance of delivering diminishes. Notice that feature creep is about increasing scope, not about changing scope.
Having clear Agile Roles and Responsibilities means the project has a product owner and a project manager. These roles work together to ensure the scope doesn’t creep. The mechanisms are Agile Project Planning and Agile Change Management.
Agile Change Management means when the product owner asks the project manager to add a feature to the scope they use requirements trade off to ensure the overall scope, and hence total effort, is unchanged. The scope changes but the overall scope is stable in terms of effort.
Agile Project Planning ensures that the high priority requirements are delivered first. The product owner is continuously expected make priority calls and moves the important items to the top of the list. Low priority items are put to the end of the plan and if the schedule doesn’t have space these items are put out of scope.
Agile Reduces Requirements or Developer Gold-plating
Gold plating is the process of embellishing a component beyond the needs of the project. Requirements gold-plating is when a product owner adds attributes to a feature beyond what is strictly necessary for project/product success. Developers can also gold-plate; this is when they keep polishing the code for a feature to make it perfect rather than just functional.
Agile Discourages Shortchanged Quality
Every project can trade off between scope, cost, time and quality. For example, if there is a hard launch date, the business might demand we fix scope and take technical short cuts (i.e. sacrifice quality) to make the target date. This is a short term strategy with big long term costs, but is none-the-less depressingly common. Fixing scope and flexing quality, despite being a common strategy, is contrary to the dictates of Agile.
Agile makes the trade off between scope, cost, time and quality explicit. Agile explicitly fixes time, cost and quality. The only dimension that is expected to change is scope, so if a project is threatened with an overrun then features are dropped rather than extending the time, throwing more money at the project, or cutting corners and reducing quality.
Agile Fights Overly Optimistic Schedules
The schedule has requirements mapped to time based on the team’s capacity to deliver. Agile Project Planning uses Agile Estimates and measured velocity to put together an empirically sound schedule. Things can still go wrong, particularly when guessing the initial velocity for a project, but measuring velocity on an on-going basis means you will soon realise that you are being optimistic.
Agile Can Lead to Inadequate Design
Scrum was invented within a internal product development basis so in a sense the Scrum process doesn’t cover the entire project life cycle, just the bit once the project is in flight. This means there is a danger of doing insufficient work, including design, before development starts in earnest. In other words, following the official form of Scrum will heighten this particular risk.
Other Agile methods do have an upfront stage where design can happen – XP has Iteration Zero and DSDM has the Business Study. The difference in Agile, however, is that design isn’t seen as a one off event, but an on-going process. Even with some upfront design the design activity is expected to continue into development.
Agile Can Lead to Silver-bullet Syndrome
Agile is often seen as a silver-bullet so increases this risk.
Agile Can Cope with Research-oriented Development
The empirical nature of Agile Project Management means that the risk of running a research-oriented project is reduced. Agile Project Planning uses Agile Estimates and measured velocity to put together an empirically sound schedule.
Agile Doesn’t Address Weak Personnel
Agile does not affect this risk. It is as true in Agile as in Traditional development.
Agile Doesn’t Address Contractor failure
Agile does not affect this risk. It is as true in Agile as in Traditional development.
Agile Reduces Friction Between Developers and Customers
Agile reduces this risk. Familiarity reduces friction and Agile encourages interaction between developers and customers.
How to do Agile Risk Management
Agile does not dictate a risk management approach – DSDM is the only Agile method that does – but as discussed above Agile is a risk mitigation strategy in itself, and several of the Agile practices make traditional risk management easier. The project manager is responsible for risk management.
Agile Risk Identification
Risk identification is about making a list of the risks that threaten the project – the risk log. All project members are expected to identify and report risk as part of their role but the project manager owns the risk log. Several Agile practices facilitate risk identification.
The daily meeting (whether Stand Up or Scrum) highlights impediments to the project – either risks or issues. Many of these can be dealt with by the team immediately. Those that can’t get logged by the project manager and are addressed outside the meeting.
The collaborative nature of Agile Project Estimating means there is more likelihood of identifying risky elements at the start.
The empirical nature of Agile Project Planning and Agile Project Control ensures capacity (i.e. velocity) is continuously recalibrated and so threats to the scheduled highlighted early. This recalibration happens at least once per timebox.
Agile Risk Analysis
Risk analysis is the process of assessing the likelihood and impact of each risk. The project manager can do the ratings themselves or get a specialist to do it. I like to rate both on a simple scale from 1 (low) to 3 (high).
Agile Risk Prioritisation
In risk prioritisation you identify the significant risks. I calculate the risk exposure by multiplying the likelihood (scale of 1-3) by the impact (also a scale of 1-3); this results in a value from 1-9. Any risk with a risk exposure of 6-9 is a significant risk that you need to manage. Risks with a risk exposure of 1-5 are not worth managing.
Agile Risk-management Planning
In risk management planning you decide how to deal with each significant risk. The approach taken will vary depending on the nature of the specific risk, but generally speaking there are four approaches to risk management planning
- Risk retention – basically means accepting the loss when it occurs. Only do this if the cost of addressing the risk is greater than the impact of the risk.
- Risk avoidance – avoid the risk by not doing the activity that carries the risk.
- Risk reduction – any method that reduces the impact or likelihood of the risk, hence the risk exposure.
- Risk transfer – get somebody else to accept the risk.
Agile offers some risk management techniques.
- The collaborative nature of an Agile team means that the team can share responsibility for resolving a particular risk.
- Agile advocates bringing risky requirements forward in the schedule. This means there is more time to assess the risk of the item and to identify feasible solutions.
- Agile also promotes the idea of investigating risky requirements. Whether called a feasibility prototype (DSDM) or a spike (XP) this means spending some time technically investigating the requirement and related technical issues and solutions.
Agile Risk Resolution
Risk resolution means executing the risk-management plan, i.e. deal with each significant risk.
If the Agile team has to do anything to resolve the risk then it has to be factored into the plan. Agile Project Planning means all work for the Agile team appears either on the Release Plan as requirements and/or the Timebox Plan as tasks.
Agile Risk Monitoring
The project manager must continue to monitor the risk-management plan dealing with each significant risk. Any work involving the Agile team will be in the Release Plan and/or Timebox plan. The project manager must, however, also monitor risk-management plan for risks that are being dealt with outside the Agile team.
Finally, the project manager also needs to continue risk identification which takes us back to the beginning of the risk management cycle.
Boehm, B. W. (Ed). (1989). Software Risk Management, DC: IEEE Computer Society Press.
Jones, C. (1994). Assessment and Control of Software Risks. NJ: Yourdon Press.
McConnell, S. (1996). Rapid Development: Taming Wild Software Schedules. Microsoft.
Project Management Institute. (2004). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) [3rd Edition]. Author. | <urn:uuid:f609cc08-e3a9-40c2-a15d-b1031a04095c> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://itsadeliverything.com/agile-risk-management | 2024-12-04T11:10:31Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066157793.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20241204110931-20241204140931-00701.warc.gz | en | 0.921159 | 2,248 | 2.625 | 3 |
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In Arthur Millers “Death of a Salesman” the life of an average man of the mid nineteen forties is played out on stage. The play tells the story of Willy Loman and his family. Willy, like so many other men, just wants to be successful and raise two successful sons. He wants to live the so called “American dream” that was so important during this time period. The success of a man and his family was how he was judged, if he and his sons were successful then he must be a great man.
The seduction of the American dream is what Willy lives for, and dies for.
As Arthur Miller shows in this play, the power of the American dream is enough to drive a man crazy, and even end his life. The setting of this play tells a lot about how the American dream is being represented. Everyone always wants the big house with the white picket fence and a garden in the back.
The Loman family used to have all of this when the boys, Biff and Happy, were growing up with the big city as just lights in the distance.
As Terry Thompson of Georgia Southern University explains; “Critics have long emphasized the importance of the main setting in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman, explaining how the small home of Willy and Linda Loman-once situated on the green fringes of suburbia and blessed with shade trees, a backyard garden and plenty of open space for two rambunctious sons- has become palisaded by ruthless urban sprawl” (244) the once happy country home of the Lomans has been suffocated by urbanization.
Willy is disgusted by this growing city, saying “the way they boxed us in here.
Bricks and windows. Windows and bricks” (Miller 1872). Willy Loman once lived the so called American Dream, but it is being taken away from him. Willy wants the American dream, but is not willing to work hard for it. Willy Loman expects everything to come easy to him and his sons. In high school, his son Biff was the football star and both of his sons were “well liked” and they all think that this will carry them through the rest of their lives.
As Thompson puts it; “like eternal sophomores, they continue to believe that the greater world will embrace them, will proclaim them, simply because they are superficially charming, are occasionally witty, and can bluster and brag with the best of them” (247) he points out the flaws in the Loman boys thinking, because the success, or lack thereof, has been revealed in the play. in the first act, Biff, the oldest son, realizes this; “Maybe that’s my trouble. I’m like a boy.
I’m not married, I’m not in business, I just – I’m like a boy” (Miller 1875) this at least hows the maturity of Biff who can realize his own flaws, unlike his father. Willy never fully accepts the fact that he and his sons are not as successful as they wished and though themselves to be. Willy still lives in a fantasy world and refuses to accept that his life is crumbling around him. Willy is notorious for talking to himself and his dead brother, Ben, and daydreaming of the past. Willy daydreams about his brother constantly, because he envies him, he wants to be as successful and important as Ben was.
As Thomas Porter says in his article; “In Benjamin Loman, the struggling and insecure salesman sees the embodiment of the mystery of success, the Eleusinian rite knows only to initiates” (porter 30). Willy’s older brother Ben was a very successful man who walked into the jungle at 17 and walked out at 21 and “by god was I rich” (Miller 1888). Willy always compared himself to his older brother and was never fully satisfied because he was never like him.
Willy had the opportunity to go with Ben when he went to Africa but he didn’t, because he was already married with kids and had a job as a traveling salesman, so he didn’t want to leave all of that behind. After his brother came back rich Willy was never fully happy because he though he missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime and ever being rich and powerful like his brother. Willy wanted his sons to grow up to be successful and happy just as he had always wished to. His oldest son Biff was the star of his high school football team and the younger son Happy was always very well-liked by the others.
Willy always expressed to his sons the importance to be well liked and physically attractive, because that’s what he thought would get them far in life; “I thank Almighty god you’re both built like Adonises. Because a man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead” (Miller 1881). The neighbor boy, Bernard is a great example of how Willy’s theory is proved wrong. Bernard in school was liked, but not well liked, and he focused on his school work unlike Happy and Biff, who failed math causing him to not graduate.
Bernard became the most successful man in the play. This shows that Willy’s way of reaching his dream, the American dream, was unrealistic and unsuccessful, as was the rest of his life. Willy Loman has many false conceptions and beliefs of what success even is. A man cannot be successful if he does not even know what the goal is. As Irving Jacobson said in his article Family Dreams in Death of a Salesman; “Loman wants success, but the meaning of that need extends beyond the accumulation of wealth, security, goods, and status” (247).
What Willy Loman does not realize is that to be successful he also needs his family to find him successful. Willy needs his sons to look up to him and admire him, which they do when they were younger, but Willy ruins this for himself. Jacobson argues that “what Willy Loman wants, and what success means in Death of a Salesman is intimately related to his own sense of family” (248) what Jacobson is saying with this statement is that Willy needs to base his life goals less on the material sense of the word “success” and more on the family side.
Willy obviously does not understand this because he ruins his family values by what he does with other women when he is gone for business, which biff later finds out. To achieve the American dream you must work hard and not doing anything that would get in the way of achievement. Willy has a major flaw in this play which he manages to keep a secret until his son Biff accidentally finds out. Part of the American dream is to be happily married, which Willy seems to be. But Willy ruins this happiness for himself by having affairs with younger women when he is traveling on business.
He keeps this secret from the family until one day Biff comes to his hotel room to tell him about his failing grade in math. Willy has a woman in his room at the time and when Biff sees her, all of his admiration for his father disappears. Willy tries to convince Biff that she was just visiting him and nothing happened, but Biff knows better. Willy ruins his image of the perfect father and husband that he created by doing this. Willy not only does not work hard enough to achieve the dream, but he does things that land him even farther away from it.
Not only is Willy driven crazy by the seduction of the dream during his lifetime, but he lets it end his life also. Willy Loman is a traveling salesman so he is on the road a lot and has had several “accidents” where he has wrecked the car. His wife Linda later found a rubber hose that was attached to a gas pipe that had not been there before. Linda started to wonder if all of these car wrecks were accidents or not and she got her answer when a woman told her that she once saw Willy drive off the edge of a bridge, he didn’t lose control, but just drove off and the shallowness of the water was the only thing that saved him.
Willy was trying in several ways to take his own life. The power of the American dream slipping through his fingers and realizing he was no longer living it was too much for Willy to handle. Enough so to where he was willing to end his life to escape the disappointment he felt towards himself and his sons. The seduction of living this so called dream was obviously too strong for Willy to resist. As the play went on Willy got worse and worse and acted stranger all the time. The scene in the restaurant where Willy reminisced on his affair and Biff catching was what made Willy realize that the dream was gone.
He did not want to accept that Biff did not get the money he had asked for from Bill Oliver, because it meant that he was not as well liked and successful as Willy had hoped he would be. In Willy’s flashback he remembered yelling at Biff to obey his orders and to believe that the woman was just a client, but Biff refused to do either. Willy had always had all the power over his sons and his wife but he was not seeing it slip away. Biff had lost all respect for him which is all willy had going for him.
His family was the only ones who saw him as successful and now that even that was gone, he knew he had nothing. This was the last thing Willy needed, and it was what caused him to take his life. Towards the end of the play, Willy gets the idea in his head that the only way he can finally prove his success and social standing to his boys is for them to see how many people would come to his funeral after he died “But the funeral- Bed that funeral will be massive! That boy will be thunder-struck, Ben, because he never realized- I am known! He’ll see what I am, Ben! He’s in for a shock, that boy! (Miller 1927. )
As Noobrakhsh Hooti and Farzaneh Azipour write in their article Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman: a postmodernist study; “Willy wants to make an impression, to be remembered after his death, to give something to Biff and Happy, and his inability to do any of this haunts him. Once he realizes his life has been futile: he is old, has achived little, is scorned by his boss and his sons, which makes Willy come to face the absurdity of life”(21. ) This statement shows that Willy is so desperate to prove his importance and status to his family, that he is willing to end his own life to do it.
Suicide is often seen as a cowardly move for one to escape their own problems, not very often is it seen as an act of courage or is accepted as a reasonable thing to do. One could argue that what Willy Loman did was the “easy way out” and purely for selfish reasons. On the other hand though, it could be seen as a last resort for him to finally prove himself to his family. As Hootie and Azizpour argued; “what else can Willy do, the, but climb back into his car and drive off to a death that at last will bring him the reward that he has chased so determinedly.
A reward that will make up for his sense of guilt, justify his life, and hand on to another generation the burden of belief that has decayed his soul (21. ) so what Willy did can be seen in two ways, he can be looked at as a coward who took suicide as the easy way out of his pathetic life, or he can be looked at as a sad man who did the last thing he thought would finally prove himself to his family, and finally achieve the American Dream. Everyone wants to be successful and live the American dream, but Willy Loman took that to an extreme.
As Thomas Porter said it “The most salient quality of Arthur Millers tragedy of the common man Death of a Salesman is Americanism” (24) He based the success of his whole life off of those around him and he compared himself to everyone else. When Willy Loman realized that his life was never as good as he thought it was and the dream of power and success was unrealistic, it was too much for him to handle. The power and seduction of living the dream overpowered and controlled Willy Lomans life and eventually ended it. As Arthur Miller shows in this play, the power of the American dream is enough to drive a man crazy, and even end his life | <urn:uuid:540579e9-87c4-4e0d-895c-a30d16a16f9e> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://studymoose.com/the-american-dream-in-death-of-a-salesman-essay | 2024-12-11T15:43:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066090825.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20241211143606-20241211173606-00828.warc.gz | en | 0.992602 | 2,758 | 3.078125 | 3 |
In some situations, you may find yourself without access to a conventional stove or other traditional cooking methods. However, the ability to boil water is a fundamental skill that can come in handy in various scenarios, such as camping trips, power outages, or emergencies. Here we will discuss different methods of boiling water without a stove, starting with understanding the basics of heat transfer, and then moving on to harnessing electricity or chemical reactions. By following these steps, you will be able to heat water safely and efficiently even without a stove.
Understanding the Basics of Heat Transfer
Before we dive into the various methods of boiling water without a stove, it is crucial to have a basic understanding of heat transfer. Heat can be transferred in three ways: conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction occurs when heat is transferred through direct contact between two objects. Convection involves the movement of heat through a fluid, such as air or water. Lastly, radiation is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves. By grasping these concepts, we can better appreciate the science behind boiling water without relying on a stove.
When it comes to conduction, imagine a metal spoon placed in a hot cup of tea. The heat from the tea is transferred to the spoon, making it warm to the touch. In convection, think of a pot of water being heated on a stove. As the water at the bottom is heated, it becomes less dense and rises, while cooler water moves down to take its place, creating a circular flow of heat. Radiation, on the other hand, is how we feel the warmth of the sun on our skin, as heat is transferred through electromagnetic waves without the need for a medium.
The Science Behind Boiling Water
To bring water to its boiling point, heat must be applied to raise the temperature of the liquid. As the temperature rises, the molecules within the water become more energetic, causing them to move faster. Eventually, the heat energy causes the water molecules to transform into a gaseous state, forming water vapor. This process is known as boiling. Understanding this scientific principle will help us explore alternative methods to heat water effectively.
Boiling water is a delicate balance of energy transfer. The heat energy supplied to the water overcomes the intermolecular forces holding the liquid together, allowing the molecules to break free and transition into a gas. This phase change is essential for various cooking techniques and scientific experiments, showcasing the intricate relationship between heat and matter.
Alternative Heat Sources
In situations where a stove is not available, several alternative heat sources can be utilized to boil water. These methods range from harnessing solar power to using fire, chemical reactions, and even electricity. Let's delve into each method and learn how they can be employed to heat water without a stove.
Solar power can be harnessed through solar cookers, which concentrate sunlight to create heat for cooking or boiling water. Fire, whether from a campfire or a portable stove, remains a traditional yet effective method for heating water outdoors. Chemical reactions, such as those in self-heating meals or hand warmers, release heat as a byproduct, offering a quick solution in emergencies. Additionally, electricity, generated from sources like batteries or generators, can be converted into heat through resistive heating elements, providing a reliable alternative for heating water indoors or outdoors.
Using Solar Power to Boil Water
One sustainable option for boiling water without a stove is harnessing the power of the sun. Building a solar oven is an effective and eco-friendly way to achieve this. A solar oven is a device that traps sunlight and converts it into heat energy to cook food or boil water. To construct a solar oven, you will need a reflective material, such as aluminum foil or mirrors, to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a dark container holding the water you wish to boil. The dark container will absorb the sunlight and convert it into heat, gradually raising the temperature of the water.
Constructing a Solar Oven
To make a simple solar oven, follow these steps:
- Find a sturdy cardboard box with a lid.
- Line the inside of the box with aluminum foil.
- Cut out a flap in the lid and cover it with a transparent heat-resistant material, such as glass or plastic wrap.
- Place a dark pot or container with the water you want to boil inside the box.
- Position your solar oven in direct sunlight and adjust its angle throughout the day to maximize sun exposure.
- Allow the sun's rays to heat the water over time, monitoring the progress periodically.
By following these steps, you can effectively use solar power to boil water without the need for a stove.
Safety Tips for Solar Cooking
When utilizing solar power to boil water, it is important to keep safety in mind. Here are some crucial safety tips:
- Use oven mitts or gloves when handling hot surfaces or containers.
- Avoid looking directly at the concentrated sunlight to prevent eye damage.
- Keep children and pets away from the solar oven to avoid accidents.
- Ensure the stability of the solar oven to avoid spills or accidents.
By following these safety precautions, you can enjoy the benefits of solar cooking while minimizing risks.
Boiling Water with Fire
Another method of heating water without a stove is by utilizing fire. Fire has been used for centuries as a source of heat for cooking, and it can be employed to boil water as well. However, it is important to exercise caution when dealing with fire to prevent accidents and ensure your safety.
Building a Safe and Effective Fire
To build a fire for boiling water, follow these steps:
- Select a flat, open area away from flammable materials.
- Gather firewood, ensuring you have both smaller kindling and larger logs.
- Create a fire pit by digging a shallow hole and lining it with rocks.
- Place the kindling in the center of the fire pit and arrange the larger logs around it in a teepee-like structure.
- Use matches or a fire starter to ignite the kindling.
- Add additional logs gradually to maintain a steady flame.
- Once you have a strong fire, place a heat-resistant container with water near the flames.
- Allow the heat from the fire to gradually raise the temperature of the water, leading to boiling.
By following these steps, you can successfully boil water using fire as your heat source.
Using Different Types of Firewood
When utilizing fire as a heat source, it is important to consider the type of firewood you use. Different woods have varying qualities that can affect heat production and safety. Hardwoods, such as oak or maple, burn slower and produce long-lasting heat, making them ideal for boiling water. Softwoods, like pine or cedar, ignite quickly but burn faster and may not provide sustained heat. It is crucial to choose the right type of firewood to ensure efficient water boiling and safety throughout the process.
Utilizing Chemical Reactions to Heat Water
Chemical reactions offer another method to heat water without a stove. By combining specific substances, heat is generated as a byproduct of the reaction, which can then be used to boil water. It is essential to handle these reactions with care and only use safe chemicals for heating purposes.
Safe Chemicals for Heating Purposes
When utilizing chemical reactions, be sure to use safe chemicals that produce heat without endangering yourself or others. An example of a safe and commonly used chemical heat reaction is the combination of calcium oxide and water, which produces calcium hydroxide and releases a significant amount of heat. However, it is advisable to follow established recipes and guidelines to ensure the chemicals used are suitable for the intended purpose.
Steps for a Chemical Heat Reaction
To use a chemical heat reaction to boil water, follow these steps:
- Gather the required chemicals according to the chosen recipe.
- Measure the specified amounts of each substance with precision.
- Add the chemicals together in a heat-resistant container.
- Monitor the reaction closely, ensuring the release of heat is sufficient to raise the water temperature to boiling point.
- Once the water reaches a boiling state, carefully handle the hot container and extinguish the reaction by removing the heat source or adding a suitable compound, as indicated by the recipe.
Exercise caution and familiarize yourself with the specific chemical reaction before attempting this method to boil water without a stove.
Harnessing Electricity to Boil Water
Lastly, electricity offers a modern and convenient option to boil water without a stove. By using battery power, you can generate heat that will transfer to the water, eventually causing it to boil. However, when dealing with electricity, it is crucial to prioritize safety and take necessary precautions.
Using Battery Power
To utilize battery power for boiling water, follow these steps:
- Gather the required materials, including a heat-resistant container and batteries.
- Ensure you have appropriate batteries that can produce sufficient voltage and current to generate heat.
- Connect the positive and negative terminals of the batteries to a suitable heating element that can withstand the generated heat.
- Place the heating element in the heat-resistant container with the water.
- Allow the heating element to transfer the generated heat to the water, gradually raising its temperature.
- Monitor the process carefully and ensure the water reaches a boiling state.
Remember to handle batteries and electrical components with care and dispose of them properly after use.
Precautions When Using Electricity
When dealing with electricity, it is essential to prioritize safety. Here are some precautions to follow:
- Ensure the heating element and container are suitable for the intended purpose and can withstand the generated heat.
- Handle batteries and electrical components with care, avoiding direct contact with water.
- Disconnect the heating element from the batteries once the water reaches boiling point.
- Never leave the electrical setup unattended, and ensure it is placed on a stable surface away from flammable materials.
By adhering to these precautions, you can safely utilize electricity to boil water without a stove.
Overall, boiling water without a stove is achievable by employing any of these various alternative methods. Whether you choose to harness solar power, build a fire, utilize chemical reactions, or use electricity, it is essential to prioritize safety and handle each method with care. Consider your specific situation and available resources before selecting the most suitable method for your needs. By diversifying your knowledge and skills, you can effectively boil water without relying on a stove, ensuring your preparedness and self-sufficiency in various scenarios.
In conclusion, boiling water without a stove is possible through alternative methods such as harnessing solar power, using fire, utilizing chemical reactions, or employing electricity. Each method provides advantages and requires careful consideration, allowing you to select the most appropriate technique based on your circumstances. By understanding the basics of heat transfer and exercising caution, you can safely and efficiently heat water in situations where a stove is unavailable. Remember to prioritize safety and adhere to recommended procedures for each method. With these skills in your repertoire, you can confidently tackle the challenge of boiling water without a stove. | <urn:uuid:9c679cb7-f05b-4a70-b73b-60bdb6776cc8> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://gosun.co/blogs/news/how-to-boil-water-without-a-stove | 2024-12-08T18:51:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066449492.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20241208172518-20241208202518-00285.warc.gz | en | 0.920669 | 2,270 | 3.875 | 4 |
International Accounting Standards (Algo Trading)
In today's global market, the importance of standardized accounting norms has become increasingly prominent. The International Accounting Standards (IAS) play a crucial role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in financial reporting across different jurisdictions. By establishing a unified framework for financial statements, IAS enables investors and stakeholders to make informed decisions based on comparable and credible data. This uniformity is particularly essential as businesses expand beyond borders, necessitating a common language of accounting that transcends regional differences.
Simultaneously, algorithmic trading, also known as algo trading, has significantly transformed financial markets. This sophisticated trading approach utilizes pre-defined computational instructions to execute trades autonomously and at speeds and frequencies unattainable by human traders. The core of algo trading lies in its ability to process and analyze extensive datasets rapidly and execute trades with precision and speed. This efficiency contributes to enhanced liquidity and reduced transaction costs, making markets more accessible and effective.
This article investigates how standardized accounting norms facilitated by IAS and the technological advancements of algo trading influence and depend on each other within the contemporary financial landscape. By examining their implications, challenges, and potential synergies, we can understand how these two components function as integral parts of the modern financial ecosystem.
Table of Contents
- Understanding International Accounting Standards (IAS)
- The Role of Algo Trading in Modern Markets
- IAS and Algo Trading: Intersection and Impact
- Challenges Facing IAS and Algo Trading
- Future Prospects and Recommendations
- References & Further Reading
Understanding International Accounting Standards (IAS)
The International Accounting Standards (IAS) were established by the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) to create a comprehensive framework for financial statement preparation, thus ensuring uniformity and comparability across global financial markets. These standards aimed at codifying accounting practices to facilitate a consistent approach to financial reporting across various jurisdictions. Importantly, IAS served as precursors to the more modern International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which replaced them in 2001. Despite their replacement, IAS laid the foundational groundwork for current global accounting practices.
The primary objective of IAS is to enable investors and stakeholders to make informed comparisons between financial statements of different companies and regions. This comparability enhances trust in financial markets by providing transparency and facilitating informed decision-making. Investors rely on standardized accounting information to assess the financial health and performance of companies. This standardization reduces information asymmetry between management and stakeholders, aligning interests and promoting efficient capital allocation.
IAS achieved these objectives by prescribing the accounting treatments and disclosures for various elements of financial statements. Topics covered included revenue recognition, inventory valuation, and the treatment of property, plant, and equipment. The standards also addressed the presentation of financial statements and the required disclosures to improve the clarity and consistency of financial reporting around the world. Thus, IAS have been instrumental in shaping the evolution of global financial reporting by introducing uniformity, which has culminated in the IFRS framework that dominates today's international accounting landscape.
The Role of Algo Trading in Modern Markets
Algorithmic trading, commonly referred to as algo trading, harnesses the power of computer algorithms to conduct trades at speeds and frequencies beyond the capabilities of human traders. This form of trading relies on sophisticated algorithms that analyze a multitude of market conditions—price, volume, timing, and more—to execute trades at optimal moments, thereby maximizing potential profits.
The advent of algo trading has revolutionized modern financial markets, becoming a dominant component of trading activities on global exchanges. One of the primary benefits of algo trading is its exceptional efficiency. Algorithms can process and interpret immense volumes of market data almost instantaneously, which enables traders to react to market fluctuations more rapidly than ever before. This capability is critical in today's fast-paced financial environments, where market conditions can shift in fractions of a second.
Moreover, algo trading contributes significantly to market liquidity. By executing vast numbers of trades at high speed, these algorithms help ensure that there is a continuous availability of buy and sell orders in the market. This, in turn, reduces volatility and fosters a more stable trading environment. The enhanced liquidity also aids in lowering transaction costs, as it diminishes the impact of large trades on the market prices.
Furthermore, algo trading is not limited to any single strategy or approach; instead, it encompasses a variety of techniques, each engineered to exploit different market features. Strategies include statistical arbitrage, where algorithms seek out and capitalize on pricing inefficiencies between related financial instruments, and trend following, which involves algorithms following market momentum or specific technical indicators to make trading decisions.
Algorithmic trading also enables a systematic approach to trading, where subjective human biases are minimized. By adhering strictly to predefined instructions encoded within the algorithms, trades are executed based purely on data and strategic constructs, enhancing the objectivity and repeatability of trading activities.
In terms of technological application, Python has emerged as a preferred programming language for developing algorithmic trading strategies due to its extensive libraries and ease of use. For example, Python libraries such as NumPy and pandas facilitate efficient data manipulation, while machine learning libraries like scikit-learn can be employed to refine predictive models used in algo trading. Below is a simple Python code snippet that demonstrates the use of pandas for data handling in an algorithmic trading context:
import pandas as pd
# Load financial data
data = pd.read_csv('market_data.csv')
# Calculate moving averages
data['SMA_50'] = data['Close'].rolling(window=50).mean()
data['SMA_200'] = data['Close'].rolling(window=200).mean()
# Generate trading signals
data['Signal'] = 0
data['Signal'][50:] = np.where(data['SMA_50'][50:] > data['SMA_200'][50:], 1, 0)
# Execute trades
data['Position'] = data['Signal'].diff()
This code calculates simple moving averages and generates a basic trading signal by comparing them, exemplifying how algorithmic strategies can be implemented programmatically.
In conclusion, algorithmic trading stands as a crucial development within global financial markets, driven by its unmatched speed, efficiency, and capacity to mitigate costs and risks. As technology continues to advance, algorithmic trading will undoubtedly play an increasingly pivotal role in shaping the future of market trading dynamics.
IAS and Algo Trading: Intersection and Impact
The integration of International Accounting Standards (IAS) and algorithmic trading (algo trading) increasingly shapes the landscape of global financial markets. Harmonization of accounting norms through IAS has played a crucial role in escalating cross-border investments by providing a robust framework for financial reporting. This standardization enables comparison of financial statements across diverse jurisdictions, thereby aiding investors and algo traders in making informed decisions.
Algo trading, characterized by its capacity to process and react to data rapidly, benefits significantly from the standardized financial information provided by IAS. The algorithms employed in trading rely heavily on quantitative data derived from financial statements. Consistency and comparability in these statements, achieved through IAS, allow algorithms to function with heightened precision. For instance, with predictable financial reporting formats, algo traders can swiftly perform a comparative analysis of key financial metrics such as earnings per share (EPS), price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios, and revenue growth rates across multiple companies and industries.
An enhanced data environment resulting from IAS amplifies algo trading efficiency and effectiveness. Traders leverage real-time financial information to implement strategies such as statistical arbitrage, where algorithms identify and exploit price discrepancies across markets or between related financial instruments. The accuracy and quick adaptability of these algorithms are contingent on consistent input data, underscoring the importance of standardized accounting practices.
Moreover, IAS's role in facilitating transparency and accountability is invaluable in reducing information asymmetry — a crucial aspect for algo traders who base decisions on comprehensive data analysis. The assurance that financial statements adhere to a common set of standards infuses a level of trust, enabling firms globally to attract investments and engage with international markets without the hindrance of varied accounting practices. By providing a reliable framework upon which trading algorithms can operate, IAS ensures that algo trading strategies are not compromised by unstandardized or potentially misleading financial data.
In conclusion, standardized reporting under IAS supports the sophisticated data analytics capabilities of algo trading systems. This synergy enhances decision-making processes, promoting efficient and fair markets through improved accessibility and clarity of financial information.
Challenges Facing IAS and Algo Trading
International Accounting Standards (IAS) and algorithmic trading, despite their significant contributions to enhancing financial transparency and operational efficiency, are not without their challenges. A major issue is the inconsistency in regulatory adoption across different jurisdictions. While the IFRS, which succeeded IAS, aims to provide a universal framework for financial reporting, not all countries have adopted these standards uniformly. This creates disparities in how financial statements are interpreted and analyzed, potentially obstructing trading consistency and transparency.
Algorithmic trading presents unique challenges, particularly related to market stability and integrity. The speed and automation involved in such trading can lead to market manipulation, where algorithms might be exploited to create artificial price movements or liquidity imbalances. This phenomenon is often referred to as "spoofing," where false order placements mislead other traders about the actual market demand or supply. Additionally, the reliance on automated systems raises concerns about systemic risk, where technical glitches or erroneous algorithms can lead to significant market disruptions, as evidenced during the "flash crash" incidents.
Given these risks, stringent oversight and robust regulatory frameworks are necessary to mitigate potential abuses and maintain market integrity. Regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on developing frameworks to ensure the fair and ethical use of algorithmic trading. These include requirements for "kill switches" to halt violent trading activity, stringent testing and validation of algorithms, and comprehensive reporting of algorithmic trading strategies.
Furthermore, there's a pressing need for international collaboration among regulatory bodies to harmonize the rules governing both IAS and algorithmic trading. Such cooperation could lead to the creation of more consistent and transparent financial environments across borders, reducing the complexity and risks for traders and investors alike.
Future Prospects and Recommendations
International Accounting Standards (IAS) and algorithmic trading are both integral components of the contemporary financial landscape, and their future appears promising amid ongoing global initiatives. One key prospect lies in the continued global adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which succeeded IAS in 2001. By facilitating uniformity in financial reporting, IFRS adoption may promote increased transparency and comparability across borders, which is fundamental for the globalized nature of modern financial markets. This adoption process can enhance investor confidence and streamline operations for multinational corporations.
Enhancing regulatory policies and fostering international cooperation are essential in addressing the inherent risks of algo trading. Algorithmic trading, known for its high-speed transactions and complex decision-making capabilities, carries potential risks such as market manipulation or flash crashes. To mitigate these risks, regulators need to implement robust oversight mechanisms that ensure transparency and accountability in algo trading practices. This could involve establishing more rigorous compliance checks, monitoring trading activities more closely, and setting clear guidelines for acceptable trading behaviors.
In parallel, companies must prioritize compliance with international standards to avoid legal and financial pitfalls. This compliance is not merely about adhering to existing regulations but also involves staying informed about changes in international financial norms and adapting to new standards as they are implemented. Companies should consider appointing dedicated compliance officers or teams to oversee these responsibilities effectively.
Furthermore, significant investment in technological infrastructure is crucial for companies aiming to stay competitive in the evolving financial landscape. As algorithmic trading becomes more sophisticated, firms need to harness advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to develop and refine their trading algorithms. Building robust IT systems that support fast data processing, secure transactions, and scalable operations will be important for maintaining competitiveness in high-frequency trading environments.
The future landscape for IAS and algorithmic trading will be shaped by how effectively global and local stakeholders can navigate regulatory challenges, embrace technological advancements, and foster international collaboration. By doing so, they can anticipate a more integrated, transparent, and efficient global financial system.
International Accounting Standards (IAS) and algorithmic trading (algo trading) serve as fundamental elements within the modern financial ecosystem, bolstering each other's effectiveness. IAS promotes uniformity and comparability in financial reporting, which is crucial for managing financial data with accuracy and transparency. This harmonization aids algo trading systems by providing reliable, standardized data essential for the development and execution of precise trading algorithms. Such systems leverage the uniform financial statements for enhanced data analysis, improving the quality of trading strategies and decisions.
Algo trading capitalizes on the structured data provided by IAS-based reports, allowing it to execute trades with remarkable speed and precision. This accelerates market efficiency by providing liquidity and reducing transaction costs, thereby contributing to the robustness of global financial markets. The synergy between standardized accounting practices and advanced trading technologies creates a comprehensive framework that supports both transparency and operational efficiency.
However, to fully exploit the advantages offered by IAS and algo trading, it is critical to pursue ongoing adaptation and regulation. As financial markets and technologies evolve, reinforcing regulatory frameworks will be necessary to address challenges such as market manipulation and system reliance inherent in algo trading. Similarly, advocating for the international adoption and implementation of harmonized accounting standards like IFRS (which succeeded IAS) will be crucial to maintaining consistent and transparent financial reporting across jurisdictions.
In sum, the complementary relationship between IAS and algo trading presents significant opportunities for enhancing global market practices. Continued efforts to adapt and regulate these practices will ensure their role as pivotal structures in achieving sustainable and transparent economic growth.
References & Further Reading
: "International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)" - IFRS Foundation. Provides comprehensive information about the current standards that succeeded IAS.
: Lopez de Prado, M. (2018). "Advances in Financial Machine Learning". Wiley. A book on the application of machine learning techniques in finance.
: Chan, E. P. (2009). "Quantitative Trading: How to Build Your Own Algorithmic Trading Business". Wiley. Covers the development of algorithmic trading systems.
: Jansen, S. (2020). "Machine Learning for Algorithmic Trading". Packt Publishing. Discusses the use of machine learning in developing trading strategies.
: Aronson, D. R. (2007). "Evidence-Based Technical Analysis: Applying the Scientific Method and Statistical Inference to Trading Signals". Wiley. Focuses on technical analysis using a scientific approach. | <urn:uuid:487f5276-eb81-4202-a729-513cceab3a64> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://paperswithbacktest.com/wiki/international-accounting-standards | 2024-12-12T13:09:01Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066109581.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212124237-20241212154237-00266.warc.gz | en | 0.904058 | 3,028 | 2.546875 | 3 |
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Have you ever wondered what happened to the 10 billion snow crab that vanished from Alaskan waters? This mysterious disappearance has sent shockwaves through the seafood industry, leaving experts puzzled and worried about the future of this popular delicacy. In this article, we will explore the possible causes behind this alarming phenomenon and discuss the potential implications for both the environment and the economy. Join us as we uncover the truth behind the vanishing snow crab and its impact on the seafood industry.
Introduction to the Issue
Overview of the disappearance of snow crab in Alaskan waters
The snow crab population in Alaskan waters has experienced a significant decline in recent years, leading to concerns about the future of this important seafood species. The disappearance of snow crab has sparked investigations into the causes behind this decline and efforts to restore the population.
Importance of snow crab to the seafood industry
Snow crab is a valuable and popular seafood product that plays a crucial role in the seafood industry, particularly in Alaska. It is highly sought after for its delicious meat, and its harvest contributes significantly to the economy of fishing communities. The disappearance of snow crab has serious implications for both the economic and environmental aspects of the seafood industry.
Factors Contributing to the Disappearance
Climate change and warming ocean temperatures
Climate change and the resulting warming of ocean temperatures are considered major factors in the disappearance of snow crab. Warmer waters can disrupt the crab’s reproductive cycle and lead to decreased survival rates of larvae. Additionally, changes in ocean currents and nutrient availability can affect their food sources, further impacting their population.
Changes in sea ice coverage
Snow crab rely on sea ice for their habitat and protection, particularly during the early developmental stages. The reduction in sea ice coverage due to climate change and rising temperatures has had a significant impact on the availability of suitable habitat for snow crab. The loss of sea ice can also disrupt their migration patterns and limit their access to food.
Overfishing and unsustainable harvesting practices
Overfishing and unsustainable harvesting practices have put significant pressure on the snow crab population. The high demand for snow crab has led to increased fishing efforts, often exceeding sustainable levels. This, combined with ineffective management and monitoring practices, has contributed to the decline of snow crab in Alaskan waters.
Predation and competition from other species
Snow crab face predation and competition from other species in their ecosystem, which can impact their population. Predators such as fish and sea mammals can feed on snow crab, reducing their numbers. Additionally, competition for resources with other crab species and marine organisms can further strain the snow crab population.
Impacts on the Seafood Industry
Economic consequences for crab fishermen and fishing communities
The disappearance of snow crab has had significant economic consequences for crab fishermen and the fishing communities that rely on this industry. With a decline in snow crab harvests, fishermen face reduced income and job opportunities. Fishing communities, which depend on the revenue generated by the snow crab industry, also experience negative economic impacts.
Loss of a valuable and popular seafood product
Snow crab is highly valued for its delicate and sweet meat, making it a sought-after seafood product. The disappearance of snow crab has resulted in a loss of this valuable resource, impacting the availability and variety of seafood products in the market. Consumers, especially those who enjoy snow crab, experience a reduction in choices and may have to turn to alternatives.
Ripple effects on other sectors of the seafood industry
The decline of snow crab has ripple effects on other sectors of the seafood industry. For example, seafood processors that specialize in snow crab may face reduced business and have to adapt to lower supply. Restaurants and retailers that heavily rely on snow crab as a menu item or product may need to find alternatives or adjust their offerings. The disappearance of snow crab can disrupt the entire seafood supply chain.
Disruption of the food web and ecosystem balance
Snow crab play a crucial role in the food web and ecosystem balance of Alaskan waters. As a predator and prey species, the disappearance of snow crab can disrupt the delicate balance within the ecosystem. The loss of this key species can have cascading effects on other marine organisms and potentially lead to imbalances in population dynamics.
Loss of biodiversity in the Alaskan waters
The disappearance of snow crab contributes to the loss of biodiversity in Alaskan waters. Snow crab are part of the diverse array of species that inhabit the region, and their decline reflects broader environmental changes. The loss of biodiversity has implications for ecosystem health and resilience, ultimately affecting the overall functioning of the marine environment.
Potential effects on other marine organisms
The disappearance of snow crab can have far-reaching effects on other marine organisms. Snow crab serve as a food source for many predators, including fish, sea birds, and marine mammals. The decline in snow crab availability can impact the populations and behaviors of these species, potentially leading to changes in marine ecosystems and disrupting ecological relationships.
Efforts to Restore the Snow Crab Population
Scientific research and monitoring programs
Scientists and researchers are conducting extensive studies to better understand the factors contributing to the disappearance of snow crab. These efforts involve monitoring population dynamics, studying habitat requirements, and investigating the impacts of climate change on snow crab. Scientific research plays a crucial role in informing management strategies for the restoration of the snow crab population.
Regulations and management measures
Regulations and management measures are being implemented to address the decline of snow crab. These measures include setting catch limits, implementing seasonal closures, and establishing protected areas for snow crab habitat. By regulating fishing practices and ensuring sustainable harvest levels, fisheries management aims to restore and maintain the snow crab population.
Collaboration between scientists, fishermen, and policymakers
Collaboration between scientists, fishermen, and policymakers is essential in the restoration of the snow crab population. By working together, stakeholders can share knowledge, exchange information, and develop strategies that consider both ecological and economic factors. Collaborative efforts help ensure that decision-making is informed, balanced, and equitable, contributing to the overall success of snow crab restoration initiatives.
Challenges and Limitations
Uncertainty in predicting long-term impacts and recovery
One of the main challenges in addressing the disappearance of snow crab is the uncertainty surrounding long-term impacts and recovery. The complex interplay of multiple factors, including climate change, fishing pressure, and ecosystem dynamics, makes it difficult to accurately predict future trends in snow crab populations. This uncertainty poses challenges for developing effective management strategies.
Balancing conservation efforts with economic interests
Balancing conservation efforts with economic interests is another challenge in addressing the disappearance of snow crab. While conservation measures may be necessary to restore the snow crab population, they can have short-term economic implications, particularly for fishermen and fishing communities. Striking a balance between conservation and economic interests is essential to ensure the long-term viability of both the snow crab population and the fishing industry.
Difficulties in enforcing regulations and preventing illegal fishing
Enforcing regulations and preventing illegal fishing pose significant challenges in the restoration of the snow crab population. Effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are needed to ensure compliance with fishing regulations and prevent overfishing. However, the vastness of the marine environment and the limited resources available for monitoring and enforcement make it challenging to effectively control fishing activities.
Lessons for Sustainable Seafood Practices
The importance of responsible fishing practices
The disappearance of snow crab serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible fishing practices. Sustainable fishing techniques, such as avoiding overfishing, minimizing bycatch, and protecting sensitive habitats, are crucial to the long-term health and sustainability of seafood resources. By adopting responsible fishing practices, the seafood industry can contribute to the restoration and conservation of valuable species like snow crab.
Adapting to climate change and protecting marine ecosystems
The disappearance of snow crab highlights the need for the seafood industry to adapt to climate change and protect marine ecosystems. By understanding the impacts of climate change on seafood resources, industry stakeholders can develop strategies to mitigate these effects. Protecting and restoring marine habitats, promoting biodiversity conservation, and reducing carbon emissions are essential for the future sustainability of the seafood industry.
International collaboration for sustainable fisheries
International collaboration is crucial for promoting sustainable fisheries and protecting seafood resources. The disappearance of snow crab is a global issue that requires cooperation among nations, scientists, fishermen, and policymakers. By sharing knowledge and best practices, implementing consistent regulations, and supporting sustainable fishing practices, international collaboration can ensure the responsible management of seafood resources.
Alternative Seafood Sources
Diversification of seafood options for consumers
To address the disappearance of snow crab and reduce the pressure on other seafood species, diversification of seafood options for consumers is essential. This involves promoting lesser-known and underutilized species that are abundant and sustainable. By expanding the range of seafood choices available to consumers, the demand for specific species can be better managed, reducing the strain on individual populations.
Promoting lesser-known and underutilized species
Promoting lesser-known and underutilized species can contribute to the conservation of snow crab and other vulnerable seafood resources. Many species have excellent nutritional value and are equally delicious, yet they often go unnoticed in the market. By educating consumers about these alternative species and creating demand for them, the seafood industry can help reduce the overreliance on popular species like snow crab.
Investing in aquaculture and sustainable seafood farming
Aquaculture and sustainable seafood farming offer opportunities to reduce the pressure on wild seafood populations. Cultivating snow crab and other seafood species in controlled environments can provide a sustainable alternative to wild harvests. By investing in aquaculture and promoting responsible farming practices, the seafood industry can diversify its sources and contribute to the long-term sustainability of seafood resources.
Consumer Awareness and Choices
Educating consumers about the disappearing snow crab population
Educating consumers about the disappearance of snow crab and its environmental implications is crucial. By raising awareness about the factors contributing to the decline of snow crab, consumers can make informed choices and support responsible fishing practices. Campaigns, educational programs, and labeling initiatives can play a significant role in informing consumers and empowering them to make sustainable seafood choices.
Encouraging sustainable seafood choices
Encouraging consumers to make sustainable seafood choices is essential for the conservation of snow crab and other seafood species. By promoting sustainable seafood certifications, providing information on the sourcing and sustainability of seafood products, and highlighting the environmental impacts of different choices, consumers can actively contribute to the preservation of marine ecosystems and the long-term viability of seafood resources.
Supporting local and sustainable seafood markets
Supporting local and sustainable seafood markets is another way consumers can contribute to the conservation of snow crab and the seafood industry at large. By purchasing seafood from local fishermen and markets that prioritize sustainability and responsible fishing practices, consumers can directly support the livelihoods of fishing communities and help create a demand for sustainable seafood products.
The disappearance of snow crab in Alaskan waters is a pressing issue that demands attention and action from stakeholders in the seafood industry. The decline of snow crab has far-reaching consequences, both economically and environmentally. Protecting and restoring the snow crab population requires collaborative efforts, responsible fishing practices, and a commitment to sustainable seafood choices. By addressing the challenges, investing in research and conservation, and promoting alternative seafood sources, we can secure the future of Alaska’s seafood industry and protect the vitality of its marine ecosystems. | <urn:uuid:35829732-e34f-4971-9c7e-642859d7b0e3> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://seekseattle.com/how-10-billion-snow-crab-vanished-from-alaskan-waters-and-what-it-means-for-the-seafood-industry/ | 2024-12-04T12:55:34Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066157793.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20241204110931-20241204140931-00092.warc.gz | en | 0.925473 | 2,306 | 3.46875 | 3 |
Bruce Gilchrist and Britt Mize’s essay collection is an outgrowth of a symposium at Texas A&M in September 2016, part of a larger project titled “Beowulf’s Afterlives.” Their focus on children’s literature is a welcome addition to the growing conversation about medievalism and its cultural implications in modern times, including our contemporary moment.
Mize’s introduction contextualizes the collection by noting that “the single largest category of Beowulf representation and adaptation, outside of direct translation of the poem into modern languages, is children’s literature” (3)--and makes the important point that all adaptations and versions are necessarily ideological in the choices the authors and illustrators make in their processes.
Mize also refers to the ongoing reckoning around racism in the field of early medieval English studies, noting that the editors were finalizing the collection when the organization formerly known as the International Society for Anglo-Saxonists (now the International Society for the Study of Early Medieval England) voted to change its name in the fall of 2019 (pp.16-17, n.15). Mize discusses “the long entanglement of medieval studies as a discipline...with histories of personal and institutional racism,” relating that entanglement to the collection’s focus on children’s literature and pointing out that even “recent books are not devoid of racially loaded assertions to child readers that Beowulf represents their own people’s heritage--meaning the heritage of white English or Northern European people, extended to other regions through colonial settlement” (7).
Most of the essays similarly cite or gesture towards Anna Smol’s important 1994 essay, “Heroic Ideology and the Children’s Beowulf” (Children’s Literature 22 (1994): 90-100); Carl Edlund Anderson adeptly summarizes its main point: “most children’s adaptations of Beowulf up to the early twentieth century presented the tale with a decidedly traditional moral and didactic slant: the hero is strong, brave, and self-sacrificing, a defender of civilization, a supporter of kings and eventually a king himself, ostensibly demonstrating the innate superiority of the ‘Anglo-Saxon race’ from its earliest times” (113). Many of the essays also address gender stereotyping in addition to issues of racial and national identity in children’s literature more generally and in Beowulf versions more specifically.
The collection ends with a transcript of Mize’s conversation with Beowulf-adaptors Rebecca Barnhouse and James Rumford, followed by a thorough bibliography by Bruce Gilchrist of children’s versions of Beowulf. The transcript, of a session from the 2016 symposium, includes engaging insight into the authors’ wrestling with issues of fidelity to the original text; Barnhouse remarks that “a lot of times I had to remind myself that a novel and an Old English poem are not the same thing” (268).
The essays between these bookends progress largely chronologically through the vast corpus of Beowulf for children, and all of them are weakened by the collection’s lack of accompanying images. Since children’s literature is inherently visual as well as textual, most of the essays discuss details of illustrations; most of those illustrations are not reproduced. Even Gilchrist’s essay, with 19 images (the rest have 0-3 images), does not provide enough visual information to follow his argument easily. For almost all of the essays, I found myself googling illustrators’ websites, searching the Internet Archive, and using various “look inside” functions on commercial sites to try to find visual references. It is very difficult to engage thoroughly with the fine analysis in this collection because of this flaw. Issues with production costs at an academic press must have driven this lack of illustrations, and I am sympathetic to those issues. Nevertheless, it is very clear to me that this problem with this one essay collection should spur an important--and indeed already extant-- discussion in the field and in culture at large about user-friendly presentation of visual analysis. While I definitely recommend this book to colleagues, it is with the caveat that they will need to read it with many tabs open.
Please note as well that the chapters are listed in incorrect order on the University of Toronto Press website https://utorontopress.com/9781487502706/beowulf-as-children-and-x2019s-literature/ (accessed 19 Dec 2022). They are discussed here in the order they appear in the printed edition.
The chronology of Beowulf for children starts with N. F. S. Grundtvig’s 1820 Danish Bjowulfs Drape; Mark Bradshaw Busbee analyzes this text’s growing popularity over the course of the nineteenth century and its integration into the school curricula of Denmark. Renée Ward then provides an amazing reclamation of a nineteenth-century female author who has basically disappeared from view--Ward identifies a section of E[Leanora] L[ouisa] Hervey’s 1873Children of the Pear-Garden as the earliest Beowulf for children in English. Ward also provides excellent analysis of the orientalism of Hervey’s narrative framing device.
Moving to the twentieth century, Amber Dunai analyzes three Beowulf-inspired texts by J. R. R. Tolkien to “represent [Tolkien’s] developing interest in the folklore elements of Beowulf over approximately one decade” (86); that interest culminates in the early 1940s “Sellic Spell” as “a kind of prehistoric Bildungsroman” (100). Carl Edlund Anderson sees a mid-twentieth-century trajectory of children’s Beowulfs to move from the “didactic and moralizing tones” of earlier versions to “freer, more personal artistic treatments” (111); Anderson’s fine readings focus on Rosemary Sutcliff’s 1961 Dragonslayer (a version of Beowulf) and 1956 The Shield Ring (which uses elements of Beowulf to tell a separate story) as exemplars.
Bruce Gilchrist’s “Visualizing Femininity in Children’s and Illustrated Versions of Beowulf” provides an engaging historical survey of illustrations of the poem’s female characters, with an understandable privileging of Wealhtheow and Grendel’s Mother. Gilchrist examines composition and presentation of the female figures to show that “each new adaptation also tends to perform an idealization of femininity reflective of its own era and context of production” (132). Gilchrist also convincingly delineates the growing illustrated monstrosity of Grendel’s Mother, who is presented as progressively more reptilian, more aquatic, and less human-like throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. His dispiriting but effective conclusion sees “overall a loss of human female presence and authority in the illustration history of the poem, and a concomitant unpleasant gain in the aberrant monstrosity of Grendel’s mother” (132).
Like Gilchrist, Janet Schrunk Ericksen uses a broad chronological sweep as she analyzes point of view in children’s versions of the fight between Grendel’s Mother and Beowulf. While the Old English poem occasionally veers towards Grendel’s Mother’s “focalization” (Ericksen’s term), children’s versions, in both text and illustration, tend to “restrict or redirect the horror evident in the Old English poem and utilize Beowulf’s perspective to offer a distinctive comment on or definition of heroism” (176), usually to encourage “sympathy with a hesitant or thoughtful aspect of his heroic character” (178).
Britt Mize’s contribution takes us much further afield, geographically, in his description and investigation of a 2011 Mandarin version of Beowulf, which he presents transliterated into the Latin alphabet as Bèi’àowǔfǔ. Merely the existence of a Beowulf for young Chinese people is a revelation, even more so as Mize informs us that its purpose is “to provide a foundation for understanding modern Western literature and culture” (192) for its readers. Mize enumerates some of the changes, often in nuance or focus, from the Old English poem; the most startling of these is the “mass suicide of the faithless retainers” (193) at the end. Mize makes the compelling argument that the Chinese adaptors have substantiated “what is in Beowulf only a hypothetical alternative” for the cowards to choose death over lives with shame (213).
Robert Stanton’s “The Monsters and the Animals: Theriocentric Beowulfs” is an analysis of versions of Beowulf that present some of the characters as animals instead of humans (note that “theriocentric” appears in neither the Oxford English Dictionary nor Merriam-Webster, so this animal-studies term is either very cutting-edge or failing to gain traction). Stanton rightly alludes to the problem of “the blurred categories of human, animal, and monster in the original poem” (222) in such an analysis. Millennials of a certain age (and perhaps their parents!) will find entertainment in Stanton’s reading of the Wishbone PBS dog as a dog-Beowulf for the younger set. Stanton attempts too much in this short essay, with comments touching on Dr. Seuss’s Grinch, Kipling’s Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Rumford’s Beo-Bunny, and Beard’s “Grendel’s Dog, from Beocat.” Some of these texts arguably do not fit the criteria of “children’s literature” at all and Rumford’s Beo-Bunny is a self-published project held by only one library in the entire world (it is composed in “Neo-Old English” with modern English “translation” provided as well).
Speaking of Millennials, Yvette Kisor defines a “new Tolkien generation” as “the generation of youth in the first decade of the millennium whose pop-culture and literary sensibilities are formed partly by high-tech CGI-enhanced filmic versions of fantasy books, like the Harry Potter series and especially Jackson’s movies of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings” (243). She provides a thought-provoking review essay of three illustrated versions of Beowulf (Raven and Howe, Morpurgo and Foreman, Szobody and Gerard), stating that “All of these texts have one foot in the medieval--especially as refracted through Tolkien--and one foot in the straightforwardly contemporary as they utilize both story and image to satisfy an appetite for the medieval, the ancient, the distant, while at the same time appealing to modern sensibilities” (244). Of all the essays in this collection, Kisor’s fine analysis is most marred by the lack of accompanying illustration, as she discusses in detail the ways that the illustrators and marketers of these Beowulfs specifically alluded to Jackson’s films.
Despite the lack of illustrations, this collection makes important points about the ways that Beowulf has functioned as children’s literature in the last 200 years. As medievalists engage ever more deeply with modern medievalism, we will need to find a way to work with visual and textual artifacts in ways that are thorough, accessible, and user-friendly. How can we easily reference well-reproduced images, respect copyright, and keep presses’ and readers’ costs reasonable? In addition to other compelling questions, Beowulf as Children’s Literature presents us with this confounding more general problem.
1. For readers of TMR not familiar with these and related events, see Mary Rambaran-Olm and Erik Wade, “What’s in a Name? Past and Present Racism in ‘Anglo-Saxon’ Studies,” Yearbook of English Studies 52 (2022): 135-153. | <urn:uuid:24d72a55-5665-48eb-828d-54fbf7b32197> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/tmr/article/view/36045/39059 | 2024-12-05T10:35:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066348250.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20241205085107-20241205115107-00439.warc.gz | en | 0.924417 | 2,614 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Neoliberalism is an ideology that permeates most of how the world currently operates. It can also be somewhat difficult to define and, in some circles, has become synonymous with various problems that have arisen in capitalist society. It’s also incredibly pervasive, having moulded many aspects of life in the Global North.
In order to adequately present alternatives and work towards a more abundant future, it’s useful to truly understand what neoliberalism entails and why it hasn’t worked. It’s also helpful to know that the world hasn’t always been run on neoliberal terms, and that many facets of modern life come from conscious decisions to reshape global power and economic relations. Here’s what you need to know.
What is neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is an economic philosophy that has become widespread in recent decades. As an umbrella term, neoliberalism encompasses a movement dominated by free market thinking and selling off public services to transfer ownership from governments to the private sector. It favours free market capitalism over heavily regulated markets that are common in socialist models, while the private sector’s influence on the economy increases due to reductions in government control and spending. Since the 1980s it has been associated with trickle-down economics, and the policies implemented by Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
Neoliberalism sees competition as a key component of human relations. Citizens are viewed as consumers, who exercise choice through buying and selling, while the market is said to deliver benefits that the state can’t achieve. In practice, this looks like minimising taxation and regulation, privatising services, opposing unionisation and workers’ rights movements, and viewing inequality as an indicator of who works hard and who doesn’t (which is inherently not how inequality works). Efforts to make society more equitable are seen as counterproductive, as the market ensures everyone gets what they deserve.
The key components of neoliberalism include:
- Privatisation: state-owned entities and businesses are sold to the private sector, which is thought to be more effective.
- Deregulation: reducing government involvement in economic activities such as trade or taxation of certain businesses. Governments don’t create better conditions for citizens, instead they simple enable conditions that allow individuals and organisations to be responsible for their own welfare through enterprise and competition within the market. The state is only legitimate if it keeps the market functioning and protects individual economic freedom, even if this infringes on other forms of freedom.
- Free trade: free markets are characterised by globalisation, more openness towards investment and trade, and complete freedom of movement of capital.
- Reduced public spending: spending on areas such as education, health, water supplies, maintenance, infrastructure, and the safety net for the poor are all reduced. Instead, the private sector decides how to manage these services and how accessible they are.
- The rule of the market: private enterprise is ‘free’ from any restrictions imposed by the government, regardless of social damage. This can include wage reductions, union busting, removal of workers’ rights, and no price controls. Economic growth is viewed as something that will ultimately benefit everyone in a trickle-down model (which we know doesn’t work).
- Replacing community with individualism: people are encouraged to work towards their individual wellbeing rather than working in community or towards the public good. The poorest in society are viewed as lazy and unmotivated when they don’t find solutions to their lack of resources.
- Valuing economic freedom: economic freedom is viewed as more important than other kinds of freedom. Neoliberalism believes economic freedom is key to a free and just society, while other forms are either considered secondary, derived from economic freedom, or not important enough for state action. For example, neoliberal countries may ensure economic freedoms, but not the right to standards of living that include access to food, energy, shelter and healthcare.
The history of neoliberalism
Liberal economics became known in 1776, when Scottish economist Adam Smith published a book called The Wealth of Nations. Alongside others, he advocated for the abolition of government intervention in economic matters, including no restrictions on manufacturing, no barriers to commerce, and no tariffs, arguing that free trade was the best way for a nation’s economy to develop. These ideas were seen as ‘liberal’ because there were no controls or barriers within the free market.
Economic liberalism grew in popularity in the United States through the 1800s and early 1900s. When the Great Depression hit, economist John Maynard Keynes proposed a theory that challenged liberalism as the best policy for capitalists. He argued that full employment is necessary for capitalism to grow, which can be achieved only if governments and central banks intervene to increase employment. This argument was influential on President Roosevelt’s New Deal, and the idea that governments should work for the common good became popular.
The specific term neoliberalism is said to have first been coined in 1938, at a conference of economists in Paris. Neoliberalism was defined as an emphasis on ‘the priority of the price mechanism, free enterprise, the system of competition, and a strong and impartial state.’ Support for the concept was renewed when the Mont Pelerin Society was founded in 1947. Funded by millionaires, this society was comprised of economists, philosophers, and historians including Friedrich Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, and Milton Friedman, all dedicated to the ideas of the free market.
This society was particularly concerned by models such as Britain’s new welfare state and Roosevelt’s New Deal. They viewed these models as ways for governments to hold too much power over their people, with ideas of collectivism being too close to nazism and communism. From there, Friedrich Hayek began to make the term global.
With their help, he [Hayek] began to create what Daniel Stedman Jones describes in Masters of the Universe as “a kind of neoliberal international”: a transatlantic network of academics, businessmen, journalists and activists. The movement’s rich backers funded a series of thinktanks which would refine and promote the ideology. Among them were the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, the Institute of Economic Affairs, the Centre for Policy Studies and the Adam Smith Institute. They also financed academic positions and departments, particularly at the universities of Chicago and Virginia…
…At first, despite its lavish funding, neoliberalism remained at the margins. The postwar consensus was almost universal: John Maynard Keynes’s economic prescriptions were widely applied, full employment and the relief of poverty were common goals in the US and much of western Europe, top rates of tax were high and governments sought social outcomes without embarrassment, developing new public services and safety nets.
Keynesian policies began to fall apart in the 1970s due to a world recession and oil crisis. The adoption of neoliberalism that followed became a complete reversal of Keynes’ ideas. This expanded in the 1980s when Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher implemented multiple neoliberal economic reforms. Of the 76 economic advisers on Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign staff, 22 were members of the Mont Pelerin Society.
the rest of the package soon followed: massive tax cuts for the rich, the crushing of trade unions, deregulation, privatisation, outsourcing and competition in public services. Through the IMF, the World Bank, the Maastricht treaty and the World Trade Organisation, neoliberal policies were imposed – often without democratic consent – on much of the world. Most remarkable was its adoption among parties that once belonged to the left: Labour and the Democrats, for example. As Stedman Jones notes, “it is hard to think of another utopia to have been as fully realised.”
In modern times, neoliberalism is deeply entrenched due to both its wide adoption by political parties across the spectrum, and because many of the tenets of neoliberalism are presented as ‘normal’ rather than active choices influenced by a subset of powerful players.
Criticisms of Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism has been critiqued for reducing vital social services, giving too much power to corporations, and exacerbating inequality. Since the 2008 financial crash, criticism has also become more widespread.
- Market fundamentalism: the argument that free market principles don’t work in areas such as health and education, because these are public services that aren’t driven by profit potential. A free market approach increases inequality in the provision of and access to essential services.
- Market failures are everywhere: it’s clear that the market is not always the most effective, as neoliberal structures constantly come up against market failures. Corporations that take on public services can’t be allowed to collapse if the services are essential, meaning that the concept of natural competition in a neoliberal model can’t actually take place. Governments still have to take on the risk, while corporations take the profits (we can see this in the UK in areas such as the cost of living crisis, terrible management of a privatised water system, and railway privatisation).
- Corporate dominance: neoliberalism promotes economic and political policies that enable large corporations to gain disproportionate power and monopolies, simultaneously shifting an unfair share of benefits to the upper class.
- Dangers of globalisation: globalisation has created the emergence of a global ‘precariat’, a social class of people forced to live precariously without any predictability or security. This ‘life on the edge’ existence of renters in unstable, low paid work, is extremely detrimental to wellbeing.
- Inequality: neoliberal policies have led to massive inequality, including an extortionate wealth gap and wealth that fundamentally doesn’t trickle down.
- Lack of concern for wellbeing: prioritising privatisation and profits disincentivises choices that would materially improve conditions of life but potentially cut into profit. It also incentivises actions that increase profits, even when they harm real people.
Neoliberalism at play
Neoliberal ideology is credited as a major player in a variety of significant world events including the financial crash of 2007‑8, the offshoring of wealth and power (as evidenced in the Panama Papers) the collapse of infrastructure in health, education and basic services, the climate crisis, and the rise of populist figures such as Donald Trump.
Freedom from trade unions and collective bargaining means the freedom to suppress wages. Freedom from regulation means the freedom to poison rivers, endanger workers, charge iniquitous rates of interest and design exotic financial instruments. Freedom from tax means freedom from the distribution of wealth that lifts people out of poverty…
…Where neoliberal policies cannot be imposed domestically, they are imposed internationally, through trade treaties incorporating “investor-state dispute settlement”: offshore tribunals in which corporations can press for the removal of social and environmental protections. When parliaments have voted to restrict sales of cigarettes, protect water supplies from mining companies, freeze energy bills or prevent pharmaceutical firms from ripping off the state, corporations have sued, often successfully.
However, none of these circumstances appear in isolation or from a vacuum. The wealthiest tell themselves their wealth has been acquired through hard work and merit alone, ignoring systemic advantages such as class, education opportunities and family support that may have helped secure their positions, all the while encouraging the poor to blame themselves for economic circumstances beyond their control.
We have also seen a transfer of wealth within the elite class, from those who earn by producing goods and services to those who make money by controlling existing assets. Earned income has been replaced by those making money from extortionate rents, interest and capital gains. This also defeats the neoliberal ideas around meritocracy, as the wealthiest earn on their assets, not hard work.
Individualism vs community care
It’s also important to recognise how neoliberal perspectives contribute to models that create loneliness and isolation. Continued emphasis on individualism inherently leads to a disconnection from local communities, especially models of mutual aid and grassroots organising. In a neoliberal lens, people are reduced to exercising power through consumption alone, which is both insufficient to tackle climate and social justice crises, and impossible in a world where consumption needs to decrease in line with finite resources.
In this kind of model, we must ask about those who don’t have money to spend. If spending is how we exercise choice, this removes agency from those with less money. People become disempowered and disenfranchised, as their voices are ignored. During times of recession (or the current cost of living crisis), this removes agency from vast swathes of society. There must be alternative ways to hear the voices of a diverse range of people in society.
Additionally, many other countries and societies have historically modelled more communal, reciprocal ways of organising. We have to also question neoliberalism’s role in Global North dominance, and the continued legacy of colonialism.
It is common in some circles to argue that neoliberal regimes are colonialist in character, though in an unusually direct way. The thought is that neoliberalism was adopted by regimes in the Anglophone world and in much of Western Europe, and that this formed an international elite consensus about how economies around the world should be run. This led to a “Washington Consensus” that caused policy interventions that interfered with the democratic governance of developing nations, increased inequality, and made the poor worse off.
What could an alternative look like?
For all that, there is something admirable about the neoliberal project, at least in its early stages. It was a distinctive, innovative philosophy promoted by a coherent network of thinkers and activists with a clear plan of action. It was patient and persistent.
The crux of the problem we now face is that there are no robust alternatives to neoliberalism ready to go. When the great depression hit, Keynesian theories were in place. When crisis arrived in the 1970s, neoliberal thinkers presented a ready alternative. In the wake of the financial crash of 2008, there were no new, clear economic frameworks that could be easily adopted. We need a new alternative, one that addresses the climate crisis, doesn’t prescribe to trickle-down ideas, and pushes back on the idea of constant economic growth.
It’s not enough to point out the problems of the neoliberal ideology. We also need to be able to propose solid, workable alternatives. It’s time for a new system, and we need to be prepared to work together to uncover what that could be.
The good news is that there appears to be a clear realisation among society (especially in recent months in the UK) that existing neoliberal structures of the economy and society are fundamentally broken. The majority of working people in most capitalist societies are experiencing increasingly worse quality of life, and that a political choice. We are also seeing continued uprisings around the globe, from marginalised communities, young people, and those concerned about climate justice. There is global support for a new wave of progressive projects and ideas.
We have not yet defined the alternative to neoliberalism in practical terms, but it seems these ideas may be on their way. We must now be actively involved in making sure people don’t move towards more disastrous ideas, such as ecofascism, but instead towards regenerative, abundant and radical futures that prioritise justice for all. These things are all within our reach, we must be vigilant in working together to achieve them. | <urn:uuid:fb1c24d5-4f01-4b99-84d1-4d2e5737fd3c> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://ethicalunicorn.com/2022/08/17/what-is-neoliberalism-why-it-doesnt-work/ | 2024-12-12T05:03:42Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066100961.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212031335-20241212061335-00115.warc.gz | en | 0.960109 | 3,157 | 3.4375 | 3 |
The Second Filling of the GERD Reservoir
The conflict between Egypt and Sudan on one side and Ethiopia on the other has been simmering for ten years, since Ethiopia started construction of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile in 2011. The Blue Nile (or Abay River to Ethiopians) contributes 85 percent of the water reaching Egypt, because much of that draining from central Africa into the White Nile evaporates in the Sudd swamps. Egypt is thus terrified that the dam will lead to a serious decline in the amount of available water and has convinced Sudan, which originally accepted the project, to take its side in the dispute. The main conflict, however, remains that between Egypt and Ethiopia and while Sudan participates, it does so in the shadows, and often at the behest of Egypt. Thus, I will discuss Egypt much more than Sudan.
At a time when the country’s stability is badly shaken by conflict among different ethnic groups, the dam, financed domestically with the help of contributions by individual citizens, could become a symbol of common purpose and national pride.
The project has enormous economic and political implications for both Ethiopia and Egypt. Ethiopia sees the dam as indispensable to its economic development. As the largest hydropower project in Africa, the GERD will produce enough electricity for domestic consumption, with a sizeable amount for export as well. And at a time when the country’s stability is badly shaken by conflict among different ethnic groups, the dam, financed domestically with the help of contributions by individual citizens, could become a symbol of common purpose and national pride. For Egypt, decreased water availability would be an economic disaster, particularly at a time when water shortage already looms because of uncontrolled population growth and wasteful irrigation practices. Politically, too, the military regime that rules Ethiopia is anxious to project an image of strength.
The situation is about to reach a boiling point in a matter of days, as soon as the heavy summer rains start on the Ethiopian highland, triggering the second filling of the reservoir. This should allow Ethiopia to install some centrifuges and start generating electricity. But Egypt and Sudan still insist that Ethiopia has no right to impede the free flow of water without having reached a binding agreement with downstream countries on the speed at which the reservoir will be filled and how water will be apportioned in the future, particularly during drought years.
Years of negotiations have proven elusive and so have attempted mediation efforts. The Trump Administration tried, but Ethiopia walked out on a draft proposal it considered biased in favor of Egypt. The African Union has also tried to mediate twice. The first attempt, carried out when South Africa controlled the rotating presidency of the regional organization, was declared a failure in January 2021. In April, when the presidency of the African Union was transferred to the Democratic Republic of Congo, efforts resumed, also without success. In the meantime, Egypt insists that mediation efforts should be much broader, to also include the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, a position rejected by Ethiopia. Egypt has also turned to the League of Arab States, which in June issued a resolution supporting the position of Egypt and Sudan. Sudan, at the instigation of Egypt, has also asked for the intervention of the United Nations Security Council on the ground that the dam is a threat to international security. As the parties squabble, the rains are imminent and so is the second filling of the GERD reservoir. Egypt’s threat to use force to stop this from happening is unlikely to be carried out, given both the logistical difficulties and the international outcry such action would provoke.
Three major factors hamper a resolution of the problem. The first is the intransigence of Egypt and Ethiopia, both of which consider the use of Nile water to be a vital interest. The second issue is a legacy of colonial era and later treaties from which Ethiopia was excluded and thus it does not accept, but which Egypt insists should respected. Conversely, Egypt and the Sudan have refused to sign an agreement negotiated by all other countries in the river basin in the early 2000s in order to regulate the use of the river. The third obstacle is the absence of international laws or any other enforceable agreement concerning international rivers that, like the Nile, cross international borders.
Egypt’s intransigence has been encouraged by a 1929 treaty with Britain, which recognized Egypt’s rights to the lion share of Nile water, with a small amount going to Sudan. The treaty also gave Egypt veto power over projects upstream, without even mentioning Ethiopia or the White Nile riparian countries, although Britain, as the colonial power, supposedly represented them. In 1959, Egypt and the newly independent Sudan negotiated between themselves a new agreement that gave Sudan a somewhat larger share of the water. Egypt insists that both agreements are still valid.
The fact that all countries that have accepted the framework agreement are African explains Egypt’s reluctance to accept the African Union as the sole mediator in its conflict with Ethiopia.
In an attempt to remedy what is clearly an absurd situation for the 21st century, beginning in the late 1990s the countries of the Nile basin, encouraged by the World Bank, negotiated a Cooperative Framework Agreement establishing basic principles that should regulate the use of Nile Water. The agreement was reached in 2010. By 2019, ten countries in the Nile basin had ratified it, with only Egypt and Sudan rejecting it and insisting on the validity of previous treaties. The fact that all countries that have accepted the framework agreement are African explains Egypt’s reluctance to accept the African Union as the sole mediator in its conflict with Ethiopia.
Ethiopia’s refusal to accept the 1929 and 1959 treaties and Egypt’s and Sudan’s rejection of the Cooperative Framework mean that the three countries cannot turn to mutually acceptable agreements in trying to settle the new conflict arising from Ethiopia’s decision to make use of the water that originates in its highlands, for the first time in its history.
Nor can they turn to an accepted body of international laws or conventions regulating the use of water in international rivers. Several attempts have been made to reach an agreement on the issue, but with little success. The few widely accepted principles are too vague to be useful in settling a dispute—there is widespread agreement that water of international rivers should be shared equitably among riparian countries—unfortunately, in specific cases equity is very much in the eye of the beholder.
In 1966, the International Law Association issued the “Rules on Uses of Water of International Rivers” in Helsinki, but the document never got any traction. In 1997, the United Nations drafted a convention on the “Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Water Courses." It went into effect in 2014 after 35 countries, but not the ones most directly involved, signed it and thus had limited impact. In 2004, the International Law Association issued a new set of rules, known as the Berlin Rules on Water Resources, again with little success. None of these documents has really helped settle the problem or even offered clear guidelines for negotiators.
Further complicating the matter and in many ways distracting attention from the problem of who has the right to the water of international rivers, is opposition to the construction of large dams mounted during the 1990s which led to the setting up of the World Commission on Dams between 1997 and 2001. In the eyes of their opponents, large dams cause serious environmental problems, have negative social effects by displacing populations flooded out by the filling of the reservoirs and they usually do not have the expected economic pay-offs. Further, the goals they are designed to serve can be accomplished in less expensive and destructive manners. This is not the place to discuss the merits of these claims. Suffice to say that the report of the commission was influential among others in convincing the World Bank to withdraw its support for large dams, and in general by generating much more interest on the rights of displaced populations as well as on environmental consequences. It did little, however, to stop the building of large dams or regulating their construction on international rivers. In the dispute over Egypt and Ethiopia over the GERD, the Commission’s report offer no guidelines.
The agreement is the result of negotiations between the countries involved, rather than of the application of international norms.
In the meantime, countries have been going ahead building dams on their own territory with little concern for the consequences downstream. While there are examples of successful agreements on the sharing of water of international rivers—sworn enemies India and Pakistan have had an agreement on the sharing of the water of the Indus River since 1960, for example. The agreement is the result of negotiations between the countries involved, rather than of the application of international norms.
In the Middle East, where arid conditions make water particularly valuable, the building of dams has continued without international agreements. It is worth considering what has happened on the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, both of which originate in Turkey and flow, respectively, through Syria and Iraq, and through Iraq alone. The story of those dams shows that problem with the GERD is far from unique and that the international community has generally refrained from intervening. As a result, Turkey as the upstream country has benefited from the two rivers to the detriment of Syria and Iraq. But Syria, too, has built dams on the Euphrates, worsening water shortages in Iraq.
In all cases, the international community reacted negatively to the building of the dams, although mostly due to concerns regarding the impact on the environment and the rights of the people displaced by the filling of the reservoirs rather than the impact on downstream countries. The exclusive focus on downstream countries in the discussions of the GERD appears to be exceptional, the result of Egypt’s efforts.
Turkey started talking of building dams on the two rivers in the 1930s, as the independent Turkish state that managed to rise from the collapse of the Ottoman empire and the British and French attempts to partition it, commissioned studies on the possibility of building the Keban Dam. Construction only started in 1966 and was completed in 1974, when the filling of the reservoir started, initially cutting off most of the water flowing downstream. Turkey was forced to negotiate with Syria and Iraq and to agree to a Joint Technical Committee on Regional Water--the need for such a committee had been already discussed in the Lausanne Treaty that recognized the independence of Turkey in 1923 and established its borders. The technical committee did not solve the problem once and for all and eventually Saudi Arabia tried to mediate among the three countries. One of the difficulties of establishing rules to apportion the water of international rivers is that the flow is not consistent but varies with the amount of rainfall.
Nevertheless, the project was criticized in several European countries for violations of the human rights of the affected population and for its disregard for environmental consequences.
Turkey had more ambitious plans and it started working seriously on them during the 1980s. By that time, the building of large dams was under greater international scrutiny, though not control. Thus, in the late 1980s, Turkey set up a special administration for the Southern Anatolia Project (GAP), an ambitious project that included a complex of dams, hydroelectric power plants and irrigation projects. The GAP administration paid more attention to the impact of the project on living standards of the affected people. Nevertheless, the project was criticized in several European countries for violations of the human rights of the affected population and for its disregard for environmental consequences. Many foreign entities involved in the construction and financing of various parts of the project withdrew as a result. This did not stop construction—from the late 1980s and to the late 2010s, Turkey built 14 dams in the Euphrates basin and eight in the Tigris basin.
Concern about the greatly reduced water flow downstream appears to have elicited less international condemnation than the rights of displaced populations and the effect on the environment. The issue was kept alive by Syria and Iraq—although Syria also contributed to Iraq’s problem by building three dams on the Euphrates between the 1970s and 2000. But no country or international organization went beyond generic statements about the need for all countries to share water equitably. Egypt has been much more successful in calling attention to its potential future plight than Iraq to a situation that already exists.
The lesson for Ethiopia and Egypt from these examples, as well as from the failure of all international agreements on international rivers thus far, is that the solution of the dispute is in their own hands—as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Robert Godec declared while testifying in Congress on June 28, 2021. There were technical solutions to the speed of filling the reservoir and the amounts of water to be released, he pointed out, but the political will to reach an agreement was missing. Various technical committees, countries and international organizations have suggested compromises in the past and may do so in the future, but ultimately the outcome is in the hands of Egypt and Ethiopia.
The second lesson, more difficult for Egypt to accept, is that water flows downstream and consequently the upstream country has disproportionate power on the outcome. Egypt’s saber rattling is an attempt to negate this simple fact. If Egypt were to use force, it would cause much disruption without reversing the water flow.
The views expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not reflect an official position of the Wilson Center.
An earlier version of this article stated that the UN convention on the “Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Water Courses" never went into effect. It in fact went into effect in 2014 with 35 signatories.
This article was updated at 11:20 am EDT on July 7, 2021
About the Author
Middle East Program
The Wilson Center’s Middle East Program serves as a crucial resource for the policymaking community and beyond, providing analyses and research that helps inform US foreign policymaking, stimulates public debate, and expands knowledge about issues in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Read more
The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations. Read more | <urn:uuid:cb407c9f-6cd8-4e63-a720-253d6ece3763> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/second-filling-gerd-reservoir | 2024-12-09T06:37:27Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066461338.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20241209055102-20241209085102-00283.warc.gz | en | 0.964581 | 2,945 | 3.0625 | 3 |
In today’s fast-paced environment, stress relief has become more crucial than ever, and it is noteworthy that online gaming has emerged as a popular tool for managing anxiety.
Participating in various forms of online games can serve as effective distractions, promote relaxation, and foster social connections each of which plays a vital role in reducing stress levels.
Furthermore, this discussion will address the potential risks associated with gaming and provide practical tips on how to responsibly harness its benefits.
Explore how gaming can serve as a valuable ally in your efforts to alleviate stress.
How Does Online Gaming Help with Stress Relief?
Online gaming can play a substantial role in stress relief by offering a dynamic and immersive escape from everyday pressures. It enables players to engage in enjoyable gameplay while experiencing a range of emotional and cognitive benefits.
Health experts and mental health advocates acknowledge that recreational activities, including gaming sessions, can be effective strategies for alleviating stress, thereby promoting relaxation and emotional well-being.
The interactive nature of video games allows players to develop mindfulness and focus, while also providing a platform for social interaction and community engagement. Ultimately, this fosters healthy coping mechanisms within virtual environments.
1. Provides a Distraction
One of the primary ways online gaming contributes to stress relief is by providing an effective distraction from daily stressors, allowing players to temporarily escape their concerns and immerse themselves in an engaging virtual environment.
For many individuals, entering the realm of multiplayer games such as ‘Fortnite’ or ‘World of Warcraft’ can serve as a much-needed retreat, where they can join friends to engage in epic battles or collaboratively build intricate structures.
These virtual experiences offer a unique form of escapism, transporting players away from their routine lives and into fantastical settings. Casual games like ‘Animal Crossing’ promote relaxation through activities such as peaceful gardening and social interaction with friendly villagers.
However, it is essential to maintain a healthy balance between gaming and everyday responsibilities, as excessive gaming can lead to its own set of challenges. When engaged in moderation, these leisure activities can significantly enhance mental well-being, providing a valuable outlet for stress relief and rejuvenation.
2. Promotes Relaxation
Online gaming serves as a means of relaxation by enabling players to engage in immersive gameplay that fosters a state of mindfulness and tranquility, ultimately contributing to effective stress reduction.
Games within genres such as casual and simulation are particularly effective in this regard, as they create environments that allow players to unwind and immerse themselves without the pressures commonly associated with competitive gaming. For example, casual games often feature straightforward mechanics and calming graphics, cultivating an atmosphere that promotes emotional well-being.
Similarly, simulation games enhance relaxation by focusing on activities such as gardening, building, or managing virtual worlds, thereby providing a therapeutic escape from daily stressors.
These gaming experiences align with relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and visualization, forming a potent combination that encourages a relaxation response in players.
3. Encourages Social Interaction
Online gaming facilitates social interaction by connecting players with diverse online communities, thereby fostering relationships that can provide emotional support and enhance overall well-being.
These digital environments frequently function as safe spaces for individuals to express themselves, collaborate, and engage in collective problem-solving. As players participate in cooperative missions, competitive games, or community events, they naturally cultivate important social skills such as communication, empathy, and conflict resolution.
Through meaningful interactions, gamers often experience a sense of belonging, which is vital for their mental health. Furthermore, the shared experiences within these virtual worlds can promote positive psychological outcomes, enabling individuals to build resilience and experience a greater sense of life satisfaction as they support one another in their respective journeys.
4. Increases Dopamine Levels
Engaging in online gaming activities has been shown to elevate dopamine levels in the brain, which contributes to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction, thereby enhancing emotional well-being.
This increase in dopamine can largely be attributed to specific gameplay mechanics, such as achievement systems and goal-oriented tasks, which effectively motivate and engage players. When players successfully complete a challenging level or earn a reward, the brain releases dopamine, thereby reinforcing a cycle of positive reinforcement that enriches their gaming experience.
This neurochemical response holds broader implications, as it can also positively influence mental health by fostering a sense of accomplishment and purpose in recreational activities. Whether through multiplayer interactions or individual challenges, the intricate balance of these gaming elements creates an environment conducive to the flourishing of emotional resilience.
What Are the Different Types of Online Games?
A diverse array of online games is currently available, each designed to cater to various interests and preferences. This includes:
- casual games
- role-playing games (RPGs)
- strategy games
- multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games
All of these contribute to a dynamic and thriving gaming culture.
1. Casual Games
Casual games are specifically designed for brief play sessions, making them particularly suitable for individuals seeking enjoyment and stress relief without the substantial time commitment often required by more complex games.
These games provide a distinctive escape from the demands of daily life, enabling individuals to unwind and recharge through engaging yet straightforward gameplay. Their intuitive mechanics ensure accessibility for all players, regardless of their gaming experience.
By fostering social connections through multiplayer options or cooperative modes, titles such as ‘Candy Crush Saga’ and ‘Angry Birds’ enhance leisure time while promoting relaxation. The sense of satisfaction derived from completing levels or challenges offers a feeling of achievement, which is especially beneficial for managing stress in an increasingly fast-paced world.
2. Role-Playing Games (RPGs)
Role-playing games (RPGs) provide immersive experiences that enable players to explore intricate narratives, develop characters, and engage in cooperative gameplay, all of which significantly contribute to enhanced emotional well-being.
These games often invite participants into meticulously crafted worlds where they can make meaningful choices that influence storylines, fostering a sense of agency and creativity. Notable titles such as “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” and “Dungeons & Dragons” exemplify the depth of character development and narrative engagement, allowing players to navigate unique paths through complex plotlines.
The community aspects associated with RPGs promote collaborative problem-solving, as players work together to overcome challenges, thereby enhancing their social skills while participating in shared storytelling. This combination of creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork not only provides entertainment but also serves as a valuable tool for personal growth.
3. Strategy Games
Strategy games present a compelling challenge to players, prompting them to engage in critical thinking and effective planning. These activities offer significant cognitive benefits that enhance problem-solving skills and promote mental engagement.
Such games often necessitate that participants analyze complex scenarios, evaluate various options, and anticipate the moves of their opponents, thereby cultivating an environment where mental agility is essential. By participating in this form of gameplay, individuals not only refine their decision-making abilities but also strengthen their resilience in the face of setbacks. The requirement for adaptive strategies fosters cognitive flexibility, enabling players to transition between different approaches and perspectives with greater ease.
As players confront unique challenges, they learn to assess risks and rewards, which enhances their capacity to think strategically under pressure.
4. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Games
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games necessitate teamwork and strategic cooperation, enabling players to participate in competitive gaming while enhancing their social skills and emotional intelligence.
The core of these games, exemplified by titles such as League of Legends and Dota 2, lies in cultivating a cooperative environment where each player s role is essential for achieving collective success. Team members must communicate effectively, coordinate their strategies, and adapt to the rapidly changing dynamics of the game. Engaging with others not only improves gameplay but also fosters a shared sense of achievement and camaraderie.
This social interaction contributes to the development of lasting friendships and give the power tos individuals to refine their collaborative skills, making teamwork an invaluable component of the MOBA experience.
What Are the Potential Risks of Online Gaming?
Although online gaming provides numerous advantages, it is crucial to acknowledge the potential risks associated with excessive engagement. These risks include gaming addiction, exposure to inappropriate content, and physical inactivity, all of which can adversely affect emotional well-being.
Gaming addiction is an increasingly significant concern among players, characterized by a diminished ability to regulate the amount of time spent engaging in gaming activities. This addiction can impede effective stress management and the development of healthy coping mechanisms.
The issue often manifests through prolonged gaming sessions that disrupt daily responsibilities and hinder social interactions. Indicators of this addiction may include the neglect of friendships, professional duties, or academic commitments, alongside the experience of irritability or anxiety when unable to play.
Several factors contribute to the emergence of gaming addiction, including the immersive nature of games that offer an escape from reality, as well as social influences such as peer pressure or feelings of isolation.
To effectively address gaming addiction, it is crucial to promote moderation in gaming habits. This can be achieved by encouraging players to establish time limits for gaming and to engage in alternative activities that support their emotional well-being, such as physical exercise and meaningful social interactions.
2. Exposure to Inappropriate Content
Exposure to inappropriate content in online gaming environments can have detrimental effects on players, particularly among younger audiences, resulting in negative repercussions for emotional well-being and mental health.
Such exposure can encompass a range of issues, including offensive language, graphic violence, cyberbullying, and sexual content, all of which may contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and isolation. The inherently competitive nature of gaming can further exacerbate these concerns, as toxic interactions can disrupt gameplay and diminish a player’s self-esteem and sense of belonging.
This situation highlights the critical need for adherence to safe gaming practices and community guidelines that aim to cultivate a positive and respectful environment. By remaining vigilant and promoting awareness among gamers, communities can play a pivotal role in mitigating these risks, ensuring a healthier and more inclusive experience for all participants.
Cyberbullying within online gaming communities represents a significant concern that adversely impacts players’ social interactions and emotional well-being. Addressing this issue necessitates heightened awareness and proactive measures to mitigate its effects.
This form of harassment can lead to serious mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and diminished self-esteem among gamers. As an increasing number of individuals engage with digital platforms for social connection and gameplay, the urgency to confront this behavior has become more pronounced.
To foster a healthier gaming environment, it is essential to promote social support networks where players can share their experiences and seek assistance. Community engagement initiatives, such as workshops and online forums, can facilitate open communication regarding struggles and give the power to bystanders to intervene appropriately.
Collectively, these strategies can cultivate empathy and resilience, thereby creating a safer and more supportive space for all participants in the gaming community.
4. Physical Inactivity
Engaging in online gaming can occasionally lead to physical inactivity, a concern that health experts have noted may contribute to various health issues if not balanced with regular exercise and stress relief activities.
This situation underscores the importance for gamers to intentionally integrate self-care practices into their routines. While the immersive nature of gaming provides a valuable avenue for leisure and social interaction, it is crucial to acknowledge that prolonged sedentary behavior can have adverse effects on both physical and mental well-being.
Incorporating brief breaks for stretching, engaging in physical exercise, or practicing mindfulness during gaming sessions can effectively manage stress and enhance overall health.
By achieving this balance, gaming enthusiasts can enjoy their hobby while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, ensuring that their leisure activities do not hinder their levels of physical activity.
How Can Someone Use Online Gaming for Stress Relief?
To effectively utilize online gaming as a means of stress relief, individuals may consider implementing several strategies, including:
- establishing time limits
- choosing non-violent games
- maintaining a balanced approach between gaming and other activities
1. Set Time Limits
Setting time limits is an essential strategy for maintaining healthy gaming habits, enabling individuals to engage in online gaming without it becoming a source of stress or anxiety.
By establishing specific durations for gameplay, individuals can develop a balanced routine that promotes self-regulation and overall well-being. Gamers may utilize tools such as timers or applications specifically designed to monitor and effectively limit playtime.
Additionally, scheduling gaming sessions alongside other daily responsibilities can help ensure that gaming remains an enjoyable pastime rather than an all-consuming activity.
Incorporating breaks into these sessions can further enhance focus and enjoyment, thereby minimizing the risk of burnout. Ultimately, adopting these strategies can lead to a more fulfilling gaming experience, fostering both enjoyment and a sense of control.
2. Choose Non-Violent Games
Selecting non-violent games can significantly promote relaxation and provide a positive gaming experience, thereby reducing potential stress and anxiety commonly associated with more aggressive gameplay.
These options typically encompass gentle puzzle games, serene simulation titles, and calming narrative adventures that enable players to temporarily escape their daily concerns. For example, games such as ‘Stardew Valley’ or ‘Animal Crossing’ encourage creativity and community building, fostering a sense of achievement without the pressures of competition.
Genres focused on relaxation, such as visual novels and mindfulness games, frequently incorporate elements that enhance emotional well-being, allowing players to unwind and reflect on their feelings. By engaging with these peaceful alternatives, individuals can experience therapeutic benefits that contribute to a balanced mindset and a renewed sense of tranquility.
3. Play with Friends or Family
Participating in online games with friends or family can significantly enhance the gaming experience by fostering social interaction and providing emotional support, ultimately contributing to stress relief.
This engaging form of entertainment not only enables players to collaborate towards shared objectives but also cultivates a sense of belonging within the gaming community. As individuals work together, they develop teamwork skills that can be advantageous in real-life situations. Interaction in multiplayer environments helps build friendships, which can lead to improved mental well-being as players share both triumphs and challenges within a supportive atmosphere.
These social connections serve as a buffer against anxiety and loneliness, underscoring the critical role of community engagement in promoting positive mental health outcomes. The cooperative nature of these games reinforces the idea that, collectively, players can overcome not only in-game obstacles but also enhance their overall emotional resilience.
4. Take Breaks and Engage in Other Activities
Taking regular breaks during gaming sessions is crucial for maintaining a healthy balance and preventing burnout. This practice allows players to engage in other leisure activities that effectively support stress management.
By stepping away from the screen, individuals can explore alternative forms of self-care, such as going for a walk, practicing mindfulness, or participating in creative hobbies. This diversification enriches their daily routine and promotes mental well-being, providing a necessary respite from the fast-paced nature of gaming.
Engagement in physical activities or social interactions can enhance mood, boost energy levels, and foster a sense of community, ultimately contributing to a well-rounded lifestyle. Incorporating these recreational activities into one s schedule can lead to improved focus and performance during gaming, as individuals return refreshed and more engaged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the reason behind health experts recommending online gaming for stress relief?
Studies have shown that playing online games can help reduce stress levels by providing a distraction and promoting relaxation.
How specifically can online gaming help with stress relief?
Online gaming can provide a sense of control and accomplishment, which can help boost self-esteem and reduce anxiety.
Are there any types of online games that are particularly beneficial for stress relief?
Yes, games that involve problem-solving and strategy, such as puzzle or simulation games, can be especially helpful for reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
What makes online gaming a better option for stress relief compared to other activities?
Online gaming allows for an immersive experience and can provide a temporary escape from real-life stressors, making it a more effective stress relief tool than traditional activities.
Can online gaming have any negative effects on stress levels?
Like with any activity, moderation is key. Playing online games excessively or using them as a sole coping mechanism can actually increase stress levels. It’s important to find a healthy balance.
Is online gaming a suitable form of stress relief for everyone?
No, online gaming may not be the best stress relief option for everyone. It’s important to find what works best for you and to consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns. | <urn:uuid:e9576331-01a2-40ca-b3e8-ee19178b810c> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://megacricketworld.app/why-some-health-experts-recommend-online-gaming-for-stress-relief/ | 2024-12-04T00:29:23Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066140386.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20241203224435-20241204014435-00248.warc.gz | en | 0.938496 | 3,412 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Organisation of Mathematics K–10
The syllabus structure illustrates the important role Working mathematically plays across all areas of mathematics and reflects the strengthened connections between concepts. Working mathematically has been embedded in the outcomes, content and examples of the syllabus.
Mathematics K–10 outcomes and their related content are organised in:
- Number and algebra
- Measurement and space
- Statistics and probability
The Working mathematically processes present in the Mathematics K–10 syllabus are:
- understanding and fluency
- problem solving.
Students learn to work mathematically by using these processes in an interconnected way. The coordinated development of these processes results in students becoming mathematically proficient.
When students are Working mathematically it is important to help them to reflect on how they have used their thinking to solve problems. This assists students to develop ‘mathematical habits of mind’ (Cuoco et al. 2010).
Students need many experiences that require them to relate their knowledge to the vocabulary and conceptual frameworks of mathematics.
Overarching Working mathematically outcome
To highlight how these processes are interrelated, in Mathematics K–10 there is one overarching Working mathematically outcome.
A student develops understanding and fluency in mathematics through:
- exploring and connecting mathematical concepts
- choosing and applying mathematical techniques to solve problems
- communicating their thinking and reasoning coherently and clearly.
The Working mathematically outcome describes the thinking and doing of mathematics. In doing so, the outcome indicates the breadth of mathematical actions that teachers need to emphasise. The overarching Working mathematically outcome is the same across the K–10 Mathematics syllabus.
The Working mathematically processes should be embedded within the concepts being taught. Embedding Working mathematically ensures students are able to fluently understand concepts and make connections to other focus areas. The mathematics focus area outcomes and content provide the knowledge and skills for students to 'reason about', and contexts for problem solving. The overarching Working mathematically outcome is assessed in conjunction with the mathematics content outcomes. The sophistication of Working mathematically processes develops through each stage of learning and can be observed in relation to the increase in complexity of the mathematics outcomes and content. A student's level of competence in Working mathematically can be monitored over time, for example, within Additive Relations by the choice of strategy appropriate to the task, and the use of efficient strategy for the stage of learning the student is working at.
Further information is available in Elaborating on Working mathematically in K–10 (Word, 5 pages, 914.28 kB).
Image long description: An overview of the syllabus structure for Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 in Mathematics across the 3 areas of Number and algebra, Measurement and space, and Statistics and probability. Number and algebra reads horizontally across Representing whole numbers, Combining and separating quantities, and Forming groups. Measurement and space reads horizontally across Geometric measure, 2D spatial structure, 3D spatial structure, and Non-spatial measure. Statistics and probability reads horizontally across Data and Chance.
Image long description: An overview of the syllabus structure for Stages 2 and 3 in Mathematics across the 3 areas of Number and algebra, Measurement and space, and Statistics and probability. Number and algebra reads horizontally across 2 stages – Stage 2 and Stage 3. Stage 2 learning areas include Representing numbers using place value, Additive relations, Multiplicative relations and Partitioned fractions. Stage 3 learning areas include Represents numbers, Additive relations, Multiplicative relations, and Representing quality fractions. Measurement and space reads horizontally across 2 stages – Stages 2 and 3. Learning areas include Geometric measure, 2D spatial structure, 3D spatial structure, and Non-spatial measure. Statistics and probability reads horizontally across 2 stages – Stages 2 and 3. Learning areas include Data and Chance.
K–6 Parts A and B
Mathematics focus areas outline the development of several concepts. In Mathematics K–6, where stages span 2 years of learning (for example, Stage 2 includes Year 3 and Year 4), there are concepts that may need to be addressed earlier or later in the stage.
To assist programming, the content in these focus areas has been separated into 2 parts, A and B, such as in Representing Numbers Using Place Value – A and Representing Numbers Using Place Value – B:
- Part A typically focuses on early concept development
- Part B builds on these early concepts.
The content across Parts A and B relates to the same stage-based outcomes. Teachers can choose which content from Part A and/or Part B to address, based on students’ prior learning, needs and abilities.
For example, in Stage 2, Part A does not equate to Year 3 only. When teaching a Year 4 class, the teacher may need to address or consolidate some concepts within Part A prior to addressing concepts in Part B. Similarly, when teaching a Year 3 class, the teacher may decide to address concepts in Part B based on the students’ prior learning, needs and abilities.
The Part A and Part B structure of the content:
- provides flexibility for teachers in planning teaching and learning programs based on the needs and abilities of students
- helps to better visualise the progression and growth of concepts within a stage of learning
- makes clear how content builds to support deep understanding in each focus area.
Considerations for planning teaching and learning programs include:
- when students may have learnt some concepts from Part B content in the first year of a stage, consolidation of these concepts in the second year of a stage may be needed
- revisiting concepts regularly to build deeper understanding of mathematical concepts
- providing extension of certain concepts based on students’ needs and abilities.
Making connections through related content K–6
Many connections exist between the focus areas in mathematics. Skills and knowledge for focus areas often develop in an interrelated manner and can be addressed in parallel.
Within the context of the syllabus, ‘in parallel’ means teaching:
- multiple focus areas at the same time
- parallel content in a sequential manner
- application of knowledge, understanding and skills through interrelated focus areas.
Addressing outcomes in parallel enables teachers to efficiently teach and assess essential concepts within the syllabus content while supporting students to make connections with their learning.
Examples of outcomes and content that could be addressed in parallel are identified for each focus area. These are not an exhaustive list of ways that knowledge, understanding and skills are related or can be taught in parallel.
- Making Connections Early Stage 1
- Making Connections Stage 1
- Making Connections Stage 2
- Making Connections Stage 3
Image long description: Stage 4/5 Core: broad outcome groups are Number and finance, Algebra and equations, Ratios and rates, Linear and non-linear relationships, Pythagoras and trigonometry, Length, area and volume, Geometrical properties and figures, Data classification, visualisation and analysis and Probability. Stage 5 Paths: broad outcome groups are Further algebra and equations, Variation and rates of change, Functions and graphs, Further trigonometry, Further area and volume, Geometrical figures and proof, Introduction to networks, Data analysis and statistical enquiry and Further probability. All content is surrounded by the phrase, Working mathematically through communicating reasoning, understanding and fluency, and problem solving.
7–10 Core–Paths structure
The Core–Paths structure is designed to encourage aspiration in students and provide the flexibility needed to enable teachers to create pathways for students working towards Stage 6. The structure is intended to extend students as far along the continuum of learning as possible and provide solid foundations for the highest levels of student achievement. The structure allows for a diverse range of endpoints up to the end of Stage 5.
The Core outcomes provide students with the foundation for Mathematics Standard 2 in Stage 6. Students who require ongoing support in completing all Stage 5 Core outcomes may consider either Mathematics Standard 1 or the Numeracy CEC course in Stage 6. For these students, teachers are encouraged to continue to extend students towards demonstrating achievement in as many Stage 5 Core outcomes as possible. This is to enable as many students as possible to have the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in the highest level of mathematics possible.
The aim for most students is to demonstrate achievement of the Core and as many Path outcomes as possible by the end of Stage 5 and this should guide teacher planning. Allowing time for students to demonstrate understanding of the Core outcomes must be a key consideration.
Typically, the Core will cover teaching and learning experiences up to the middle of Stage 5. It is not the intention of the Core–Paths structure to lock students into predetermined pathways at the end of Stage 4. Pathways in Stage 5 must be carefully planned to ensure some students have the opportunity to engage with Advanced and Extension courses.
Paths are used to progress students towards Stage 6 courses and may be implemented at any time in Stages 4 and 5 with careful consideration of the continuum of learning. Teachers also have the option of engaging with specific elements of Paths rather than the entire outcome to meet the needs of their students. Teachers should plan to cover as many Paths as practicable.
Course requirements K–10
Mandatory curriculum requirements 7–10
The mandatory curriculum requirements for eligibility for the award of the Record of School Achievement (RoSA) include that students:
- study the Board developed Mathematics syllabus substantially in each of Years 7–10 and
- complete at least 400 hours of Mathematics study by the end of Year 10.
Satisfactory completion of at least 200 hours of study in Mathematics during Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) will be recorded with a grade. Students undertaking the Mathematics course based on Life Skills outcomes and content are not allocated a grade.
- Mathematics: 326
- Mathematics Life Skills: 327
Exclusions: Students may not access both the Mathematics Years 7–10 outcomes and content and the Mathematics Life Skills outcomes and content.
Access content points K–6
Access content points have been developed to support students with significant intellectual disability who are working towards Early Stage 1 outcomes. These students may communicate using verbal and/or nonverbal forms.
For each of the Early Stage 1 outcomes, access content points are provided to indicate content that students with significant intellectual disability may access as they work towards the outcomes. Teachers will use the access content points on their own, or in combination with the content for each outcome.
Decisions regarding curriculum options for students with disability should be made in the context of collaborative curriculum planning.
Life Skills outcomes and content 7–10
Some students with intellectual disability may find the Years 7–10 Life Skills outcomes and content the most appropriate option to follow in Stage 4 and/or Stage 5. Before determining whether a student is eligible to undertake a course based on Life Skills outcomes and content, consideration should be given to other ways of assisting the student to engage with the Stage 4 and/or Stage 5 outcomes, or prior stage outcomes if appropriate. This assistance may include a range of adjustments to teaching, learning and assessment activities.
Life Skills outcomes cannot be taught in combination with other outcomes from the same subject. Teachers select specific Life Skills outcomes to teach based on the needs, strengths, goals, interests and prior learning of each student. Students are required to demonstrate achievement of one or more Life Skills outcomes.
Balance of content
The amount of content associated with a given outcome is not necessarily indicative of the amount of time spent engaging with the respective outcome. Teachers use formative and summative assessment to determine instructional priorities and the time needed for students to demonstrate expected outcomes.
The content groups are not intended to be hierarchical. They describe in more detail how the outcomes are to be interpreted and demonstrated, and the intended learning appropriate for the stage. In considering the intended learning, teachers make decisions about the sequence and emphasis to be given to particular groups of content based on the needs and abilities of their students.
Working at different stages
The content presented in a stage represents the typical knowledge, understanding and skills that students learn throughout the stage. It is acknowledged that students learn at different rates and in different ways. There may be students who will not demonstrate achievement in relation to one or more of the outcomes for the Stage.
There may be instances where teachers will need to address outcomes across different stages in order to meet the learning needs of students. Teachers are best placed to make decisions about when students need to work at, above or below stage level in relation to one or more of the outcomes. This recognises that outcomes may be achieved by students at different times across stages. Only students who are accelerated in a course may access Stage 6 outcomes.
- Students in Early Stage 1 could be working on Stage 1 content in the Number and Algebra strand, while working on Early Stage 1 content in the Measurement and Geometry strand.
- In Stage 2 or Stage 3, some students may not have developed a complete understanding of place value and the role of zero to read, write and order two-digit and three-digit numbers. These students will need to access content from Early Stage 1 or Stage 1 before engaging with Stage 2 content in applying place value to larger numbers and decimals.
- In Stage 4 some students may not have developed a complete understanding of fractions, decimals and percentages and will need to access related outcomes from Stage 3. | <urn:uuid:2a415430-6c48-4d75-9863-affeb72f4dfa> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://curriculum.nsw.edu.au/learning-areas/mathematics/mathematics-k-10-2022/overview | 2024-12-10T03:15:54Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066056346.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20241210005249-20241210035249-00114.warc.gz | en | 0.933248 | 2,749 | 3.78125 | 4 |
Clayton Page Aldern is a former neuroscientist turned environmental journalist. He is currently a senior data reporter at the climate magazine Grist. His work focuses on the intersection of climate change and human health, particularly the neurological impacts of environmental factors.
Below, Clayton shares five key insights from his new book, The Weight of Nature: How a Changing Climate Changes Our Brains. Listen to the audio version—read by Clayton himself—in the Next Big Idea App.
1. Your brain models the world.
To navigate your environment, you must possess an innate sense of how it all fits together. If you’re to survive out there in the concrete jungle, gravity can’t surprise you. You need to understand that when water falls from clouds, it doesn’t mean the sky is falling with it. Your brain helps build and store these kinds of predictions about the ways of the world.
These predictions are within you. In other words, you are a model—a picture of what’s out there. But the picture isn’t static. From moment to moment, to sustain your existence, your brain compares the predictions of its world model to the sensory information it receives, tweaking its inner workings to minimize surprise. You look around, feel about, move hither and thither—all the while expecting things to go a certain way. When they don’t, you update your model accordingly.
The goal is to minimize the mismatch between what you expect to experience at any given moment and what you actually experience. If your brain didn’t seek to minimize surprise, you’d be pathologically dumbstruck every moment of every day. You would forget that people generally have two arms; you would be terrified to learn your hands are attached to your body and that the sky is such a remarkable shade of blue.
But instead of surfacing a constant state of shock, your model learns to expect these kinds of things so it can focus on the interesting stuff. Modeling the world allows us to understand that we are still alive and that reality looks roughly the way we expect it to look.
Our conscious access to this model—our feelings and knowledge—allows us to use our brains and bodies as tools to sustain themselves. That’s an important point: An understanding of yourself as a model builder necessarily invokes the brain and the rest of the body. Cognition is literally embodied. The stuff of thought is physical stuff. It is exposed to the world and it makes itself in its image. As the environment changes, you should expect to change too. It is the job of your brain to model the world as it is. And the world is mutating.
2. Environmental factors drive behavior.
Heat can have a profound impact on behavior, often in subtle and surprising ways. As I discuss in the book, higher temperatures have been linked to increased aggression and impulsivity across a wide range of species. Lemon damselfish, for instance, become more aggressive when water temperatures rise—and the effect is seen in every individual fish. In humans too, heat seems to short-circuit our senses and decision-making capacities. Studies have shown that on hotter days, baseball pitchers are more likely to hit batters in retaliation and immigration judges reject more asylum applications.
The neurological mechanisms are complex but may involve heat’s ability to disrupt serotonin function in the brain, a phenomenon that has been tied to impulsive violence. Cognitively, heat also appears to act as a kind of “load” on our attention systems, making us more distractible and impairing functions like problem-solving and emotional regulation.
“By understanding heat’s intimate effects on the mind, we can better grasp the human dimensions of climate change.”
Ultimately, our brains prioritize survival in the heat—even if that means sacrificing some of our most prized cognitive abilities. It’s an evolutionary trade-off with major implications as the world warms. By understanding heat’s intimate effects on the mind, we can better grasp the human dimensions of climate change.
Air pollution too, unleashed by wildfires for example, can infiltrate our minds and shape our behavior in alarming ways. Economically, it’s been shown to dampen productivity among everyone from farm workers to call center employees. But the effects run deeper: Air pollution has been linked to impaired learning and memory, reduced test scores in high schoolers, and even unethical behavior like cheating. The tiny particulates in polluted air can spark inflammation in the brain, impairing cognition and decision-making. These impacts often fall disproportionately on low-income communities, highlighting the entanglement of environmental and social justice. As with heat, confronting air pollution means reckoning with its unseen yet pervasive influence on our inner worlds.
3. Climate change spreads brain disease.
In the tangled web of global warming’s health impacts, one of the most insidious and unsettling threads is the spread of brain disease. As rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns reshape ecosystems, they’re not just altering landscapes—they’re creating new opportunities for neurological ailments to flourish and spread.
One major pathway is through the expansion of zoonotic diseases. As climate change nudges animal populations into new territories and closer proximity to humans, the potential for pathogen spillover grows. Mosquito-borne illnesses like Japanese encephalitis and Zika, for example, are hitching a ride into new regions as their insect vectors expand their ranges. Warmer temperatures are often a boon for these disease-carriers, allowing them to live in once-inhospitable areas and reproduce more rapidly.
Climate change is also awakening dormant dangers like the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. As waters warm, these microbes can bloom in freshwater sources, entering the brain via the nasal cavity and causing devastating meningoencephalitis. While infections are rare, they’re almost invariably fatal—a stark reminder of the high stakes in our warming world.
Another threat lurks in the rising tide of neurotoxins. As harmful algal blooms expand in both frequency and geographical spread, so too does the reach of toxins like BMAA—a compound linked to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer’s. These toxins can bioaccumulate up the food chain. Even more troubling, though, evidence suggests these toxins may be going airborne, drifting in sea spray and dust. No longer confined to the dinner plate, they’re becoming an inescapable part of the atmosphere. Combined with the rising scourge of mercury, another potent neurotoxin being released from thawing permafrost, the neurological burden of climate change is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid.
Taken together, these threats paint a worrying picture. As the planet heats up, so too does the risk of brain diseases—and often it’s the most vulnerable among us who are at greatest risk. Tackling this challenge will require a concerted interdisciplinary effort: one that recognizes the deep interconnections between planetary and human health. It’s a tall order but one we cannot afford to ignore. After all, our minds may quite literally depend on it.
4. Mental health reflects planetary health.
In the intricate dance between mind and world, our mental well-being is intimately intertwined with the health of the planet. The psychological toll of a warming world is becoming increasingly apparent, etched into the contours of our collective psyche.
Consider the plight of communities on the frontlines of environmental degradation. As rising seas swallow coastlines and drought parches fields, the mental health burden is immense. The existential distress caused by environmental change is an all-too-real phenomenon linked to heightened rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicide. For these communities, the scars of climate change are not just physical but deeply psychological.
“It’s a generational trauma, a weight carried by those who will inherit a world in chaos.”
Even for those not immediately in the path of, say, a hurricane, the specter of climate change looms large. Eco-anxiety, the chronic fear of environmental doom, is on the rise, particularly among young people. It’s a generational trauma, a weight carried by those who will inherit a world in chaos. This pervasive sense of dread and helplessness is a mirror held up to a planet in peril.
But the mental health impacts of climate change are not just about anxiety and despair. As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, rates of post-traumatic stress disorder are climbing. The terror of a wildfire or the devastation of a hurricane can leave deep psychological wounds long after the physical damage is repaired. These mental scars are a reflection of a world increasingly defined by upheaval and uncertainty. We also know that experiencing extreme environmental stress in utero (such as living through a hurricane) can drastically increase a child’s risk of anxiety, depression, conduct disorders, and ADHD. These epigenetic effects are likely heritable as well.
Ultimately, our mental health is a barometer of planetary health. As the world around us unravels, so too do the threads of our psychological well-being. Addressing this crisis will require a paradigm shift—one that recognizes the fundamental interconnectedness of mind and nature. It’s a recognition that in healing the planet, we may also begin to heal ourselves. After all, as the adage goes, there is no health without mental health—and perhaps no mental health without a healthy planet.
5. Mindfulness matters.
At its core, mindfulness is about cultivating a deep embodied awareness—a way of being fully present to the reality of our experience. And in a world increasingly shaped by climate change, this capacity for presence has never been more essential.
On an individual level, the neuroscience of mindfulness offers a really compelling case for its transformative potential. Training the brain to focus on the present moment can serve as a powerful counterweight to the impulsivity and distractibility effects of environmental stressors, as well as the anxiety and despair that often accompany eco-distress. Studies have shown that mindfulness increases gray matter density in regions associated with learning, memory, and emotion regulation, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, while reducing the size and reactivity of the amygdala, that primal seat of fear and reactivity. Functional connectivity between brain regions that regulate attention and executive control is enhanced, leading to better emotional regulation. Mindfulness also decreases activity in the default mode network, which is linked to mind-wandering, thereby improving present-moment awareness.
But the benefits of mindfulness extend far beyond the individual. In fostering a deeper awareness of our interconnectedness with the world around us, mindfulness can serve as a catalyst for action. By attuning us to the subtle web of cause and effect that binds us to the planet, it can inspire a renewed sense of responsibility and stewardship. Mindfulness, in this sense, is not just about finding inner peace—it’s about awakening to the reality of our ecological embeddedness.
This awakening is all the more crucial in light of the neurological impacts of climate change. Imagine a world where the mental health implications of climate change were given the same urgency as its physical impacts. Where awareness was not just a personal practice but a societal value woven into the fabric of our institutions and decision-making processes.
This is the world that mindfulness invites us to create. A world where we are fully present to the reality of the crisis yet not paralyzed by despair. Where we can hold the grief and the beauty, the fear and the possibility in equal measure. Where we can face the enormity of the challenge with clear eyes and maybe even open hearts.
In the end, mindfulness matters because it offers us a way to face the reality of climate change—to face it squarely without flinching and respond with wisdom and compassion. It is a radical act of presence in a world that would rather look away. And in that presence, we may find the clarity and courage to build a better future—for ourselves, each other, and the planet we call home.
To listen to the audio version read by author Clayton Page Aldern, download the Next Big Idea App today: | <urn:uuid:30fd96ff-3dad-4053-a8a6-7c4fb23895f1> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/5-reasons-climate-change-brain-real-neurological-landscape-bookbite/50985/aldernfeatured/ | 2024-12-06T01:33:12Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066367647.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20241206001926-20241206031926-00450.warc.gz | en | 0.933678 | 2,508 | 3.0625 | 3 |
In "Delta-v" (Dutton, 2019) by Daniel Suarez, out today (April 23), an unpredictable billionaire recruits an adventurous cave diver to join the first-ever effort to mine an asteroid.
The crew's target is asteroid Ryugu, which in real life Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft has been exploring since June 2018. From the use of actual trajectories in space and scientific accuracy, to the title itself, Delta-v — the engineering term for exactly how much energy is expended performing a maneuver or reaching a target — Suarez pulls true-to-life details into describing the exciting and perilous mission.
Space.com talked to Suarez about the excitement and danger of asteroid mining; what he learned from the scientists, space entrepreneurs and scientists he talked to in writing the book; and what it will take to make humans a spacefaring species.
Space.com: So why did you decide to focus a story on asteroid mining?
Daniel Suarez: I was interested in the idea of — how is it that here we are at the 50th anniversary of the Apollo landings and we still haven't gone back into deep space? That started puzzling me several years ago; I guess it didn't so much puzzle me as frustrate me. What was holding us back? We have this technological capability, why aren't we doing it? And so I spent a couple of years starting to research how it might actually come about. What would be the catalyst that causes it?
And I didn't really have any preconceptions as to whether that would be a colony on the moon or Mars — I really didn't think of asteroids initially, but it was in consulting with lots of other people, scientists, economists, entrepreneurs, that asteroid mining really became very clearly the obvious way that it would be done. We have these gravity wells that we're facing otherwise, for both Mars and the moon, and of course it's a matter of how do we get enough resources to start to build a cislunar economy? And asteroids really are the most cost-effective way to do that.
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Space.com: Do you think asteroid mining could happen with current regulations? In your book that's not exactly how it goes.
Suarez: Obviously, when you write fiction you want to create some conflict, you want to propel the plot forward, to really raise the stakes. Part of what I wanted to do with this book was to inspire that aboveboard approach. To make more people realize that this is possible both technologically and economically. It is sensible, in many ways, if we think about all of the existential risks we're facing by being an Earthbound species. Climate change, pandemics, an asteroid strike, war. You name it, we really do need to take advantage of this moment in time to get into space and begin to spread humanity out. So it is eminently reasonable. It is also technologically possible. And that's really what I'm trying to do with this book — really popularize that, help people understand what all of the issues and complexities are, and that they are solvable. And in the process of solving them, we will also unify ourselves as a species and work together on a common goal.
Space.com: So you're trying to show people the way to those solutions.
Suarez: I have described it before; what I do is, in some ways, look out for icebergs. I look into the distance and I sort of explore up ahead and see what's coming. Sometimes those things are icebergs, and sometimes they're opportunities.
And in this particular case, I think the real risk for us, when it comes to space, is remaining here on Earth. Doing what we're doing now — that is the riskiest thing we could possibly do. I think that the far lesser risk is venturing out into space.
Space.com: The book's plot kicks off with this panel of bigwig space titans. I have to ask, did you have specific people in mind that you were basing them on?
Suarez: You know, I did not. If they bear any resemblance to any billionaires, that is purely coincidental. Let's say they're composites of figures today, no individual one … but let's say that there's a cultural narrative that people respond to with the activities of some of these entrepreneurs, and the space titans in my book are symbols of that desire.
Space.com: Do you think people like that are the path forward to space travel?
Suarez: Not to go back to the word catalyst, but they certainly are a catalyst. Because they immediately help to prove what's possible. They provide an imperative, this urgency that I think is lacking. There are many, many people that you talk to at NASA who also share that urgency, but the realities of funding for NASA, its organization, all of these things diffuse that effort. Any major project at NASA needs to be, in order to get political buy-in, apportioned out to all these various congressional districts to make sure that the work is spread out, and that is not optimally efficient. There's many people in NASA who would tell you they know that, but the only way to get it funded is that way, within the existing guidelines, and that's why I think NASA in particular is trying to go toward a private model when it comes to transportation into low Earth orbit so that they can focus more of their resources on to deep space exploration. Entrepreneurs provide a really critical piece of the puzzle that's been missing.
Space.com: What's the most unbelievable thing in your book that's based on scientific fact?
Suarez: I would say, probably the thing that would surprise people the most is the idea of people involving themselves in asteroid mining — in other words, not just sending robots, but getting people involved. To me, this is a key point. [Based on reports of catastrophic climate change in the near future] and if we're trying to do something like lift power generation, a very carbon-intensive activity, off the surface of the planet, that means we need resources in cislunar space and we need them soon, which means we need to speed up innovation in space. And robotic asteroid mining will require many iterations to get it right. If you send out a mission and it's automated and something is not quite as you expect, then the entire mission can fail — but if you have humans nearby, you can iterate. It's speeding up that failure cycle, speeding up that iteration loop. Agile aerospace, that's what I think humans bring to the equation, which is critical.
I think the other really surprising thing for me was you have this known population of near Earth asteroids, numbering in the thousands — I think 19,000 now — and they think it's hundreds of thousands [in total]. What's interesting to me is that a lot of these objects are very distant, and they're high Delta-v objects [meaning that they take a lot of energy to reach] until you get to these very key moments in their orbit, in their relationship to where Earth is around the sun and where they are, and sometimes they become so easy to get to. And, really, scanning space around us to locate all of these asteroids will make such a huge difference in our ability to get those resources and use them to build that cislunar economy. They may, 96% of the time or more, be very far away, but at certain key points in their orbit they are really easy to get to and easier to get back from.
Space.com: Why did you focus on asteroid Ryugu in particular?
Suarez: Ryugu presented itself strictly because of its trajectory, its location and its mix of resources. I spent many months trying to find a target for my fictional asteroid miners, and it was important to me to not use a fictional target itself. I wanted to use a real asteroid, I wanted to use real trajectories, I wanted to use real dates, all of that, because I did want to inspire people with the story. I wanted people to be able to look at this and say, you know, that could happen! We could do that! And I think you have a better chance of doing that if you use real targets.
When I first started this, the Hayabusa2 mission had not yet arrived [to Ryugu]. Fortunately, I did have contact with that team, I was able to communicate with them, and they brought this asteroid into focus. Needless to say, I was very keen that the spectral data be correct. It turns out that it is. Because of course I'd written the entire story based on it having a similar mix of resources.
I wanted to choose Ryugu because it's easy to get to, it's lower Delta-v, really, than getting to the moon and getting off again. Far lower. And that surprises people, the idea that you could go tens of millions of miles away, and yet it requires less energy than to go to our own moon and far less energy to get those resources back, which I think is the bigger issue. [If] you're going to send thousands of tons or millions of tons back toward cislunar space, an asteroid like Ryugu at certain key orbital windows is the way to do it.
Space.com: Was there anything you got in discussion with the scientists that you weren't expecting and were able to work in?
Suarez: Absolutely. In talking about the electrostatic properties of airless planetary bodies, I was really interested in findings that showed, for instance on the moon, that the regolith dust particles can levitate electrostatically. That it creates a haze. And it almost looks like an atmosphere, but it isn't and of course it's electrically charged. This presents a tremendous peril to remotely-operated vehicles at times, and it depends on if you're on the dark side or the light side, the side that's being hit by the solar wind, and then there's this difference in energy that can sometimes result in a discharge. And all of that, which is fascinating to me — you think it's an airless planetary body, there's not going to be migrating particles, but of course this can cause particles to move even though it's in a vacuum.
Space.com: Why "Delta-v"?
Suarez: I made the title "Delta-v" because, really, Delta-v is fundamental to space exploration. It's the amount of energy [needed] to provide an impulse to achieve a trajectory to reach something, because everything is in motion in our solar system and in our universe. Just because you're heading toward something doesn't mean you'll ever reach it. You have to achieve a certain Delta-v in kilometers or meters per second to catch up with it, and you have to aim where it's going to be.
This struck me as the absolutely most crucial measure of commerce in space. Because, of course, when you're talking about a sovereign mission of exploration, let's say, Delta-v is sort of important in terms of cost, but of course nations spend a lot of money sometimes to achieve some big prize. But when it comes to commerce in space, Delta-v is going to be critically important because it means the difference between profit and loss. If it takes you more energy to get something than the worth of the thing you're getting to to return it back, you're not going to do it.
But more than that, metaphorically, I thought Delta-v was important because of course a Delta-v that you apply to yourself, some energy to move in a particular direction, to accelerate or decelerate, is going to change your trajectory. And I think that's really what humanity needs right now; we need to change our Delta-v, we need to accelerate, and try to get to a better trajectory. Because right now the trajectory we're on is doubtful.
- Japanese Spacecraft Successfully Snags Sample of Asteroid Ryugu
- Visions of Ryugu: The Funny (and Scary) Asteroid Predictions by Japan's Hayabusa2 Team
- Asteroid Mining May Be a Reality by 2025
Sarah Lewin started writing for Space.com in June of 2015 as a Staff Writer and became Associate Editor in 2019 . Her work has been featured by Scientific American, IEEE Spectrum, Quanta Magazine, Wired, The Scientist, Science Friday and WGBH's Inside NOVA. Sarah has an MA from NYU's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program and an AB in mathematics from Brown University. When not writing, reading or thinking about space, Sarah enjoys musical theatre and mathematical papercraft. She is currently Assistant News Editor at Scientific American. You can follow her on Twitter @SarahExplains. | <urn:uuid:39e8473e-3a1d-470c-8451-b8156839208b> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.space.com/delta-v-daniel-suarez-interview.html | 2024-12-09T10:16:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066462724.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20241209085821-20241209115821-00700.warc.gz | en | 0.974529 | 2,666 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Introduction to Anthropocentrism in 'Life of Pi'
Yann Martel’s best-selling novel, “Life of Pi”, is an engaging narration by sixteen-year-old Pi Patel, where he tells of his story of survival on a lifeboat with a four-hundred-fifty-pound adult Bengal Tiger dubbed, Richard Parker. Pi’s reflects on his past and tells the story of how he managed to survive not only being stuck in the Pacific Ocean for 226 days but also how he managed to fail to become prey to a hungry, tired, starving wild tiger. Pi’s reflections give readers true insight into how his survival was possible during this frightening ordeal and demonstrates a unique human-animal experience, shedding light on the true nature of both of these animals; Bengal tiger and human. Some readers could argue that Yann Martel’s novel, “Life of Pi” is a book that reiterates the common anthropocentric belief that humans are superior to and hold a higher moral standard than animals; instead, the novel challenges the contrast between animals and humans by presenting a unique human-animal interaction that destroys this distinction. I argue that Martel’s novel challenges and re-examines this view through Pi’s ability to find companionship in Richard Parker, the superior position the tiger holds in the relationship, as well as Pi’s animalistic behavior.
Challenging Human-Animal Distinctions Through Companionship
In Yann Martel’s novel, “Life of Pi,” the main character Pi Patel’s story disproves the common distinction between animals and humans being that humans are by nature animals with emotional needs, whereas wild animals, such as tigers, are animals whose needs are solely survival-oriented. Martel’s novel breaks this stereotype through showing the companionship that the main character Pi finds in the Bengal tiger, Richard Parker, and their interdependent relationship with one another. Pi explains that “without Richard Parker, [he] would not be alive today to [tell his story],” describing the important role Richard Parker played in ensuring Pi’s survival in general (Martel, 182). Although it is common for humans to become connected to animals such as their domesticated pets, it is less common for a civilized human animal to find a deep companionship that suffices their emotional needs through a wild animal, and even less common for an animal to deliver similar feelings back. Pi knows that the tiger could use him to settle his hunger at any moment, but Pi still feels attached to Richard Parker. Pi cares for the tiger and wants him to survive, which he spends his days doing In this situation, man is dependent on an animal, and an animal is dependent on a man, causing their relationship to grow on a deeper level and illustrating that a true bond is capable between the two species. Pi values Richard Parker and spends his days focusing on Richard Parker’s survival, as well as his own. Pi’s narrative also reflects his wish to care for Richard Parker and keep him alive. Pi explains that “tending to [Richard Parker’s] needs gives [his] life focus,” expressing his true love for Richard Parker, and how it overpowered his own wish to survive (pg number). Readers may argue that the only reason Pi wants to keep Richard Parker safe was to assure his own safety, however, although Pi’s natural human fear of tigers caused him to fear for his safety, Richard Parker’s actions toward Pi never suggested he intended to harm, and that their relationship was more than just fear-driven, but instead a mutual dependency and emotional bond that kept them afloat. Some may argue that Pi only felt an attachment to Richard Parker because he was lonely, but even before his journey of survival Pi sees Richard Parker in the ocean after the ship has sunk, and exclaims, “don’t give up..” “..come to the lifeboat.” “..swim! swim!,” reflecting Pi’s personal bond with the tiger, whilst pleading for Richard Parker to keep himself alive. Pi reflects on his bond with the tiger, even once he has overcome the extreme situation, explaining that he “[misses Richard Parker], and he “see[s] him in his dreams,” showing that his bond with Richard Parker was true and went deeper than just his own survival (1.1.14). In one of Pi’s darkest hours he cries out to Richard Parker: “I love you!.” “.. truly I do. I love you, Richard Parker, don’t give up, I’ll get you to land, I promise,” another true illustration that Pi’s care and devotion for the animal went further than just caring for him to save himself. Although unfortunately the text is not written from the perspective of Richard Parker, making it impossible to gain first-hand insight into the mind of the tiger, through Pi’s narration of Richard Parker’s actions and behaviors, readers can see that animals are more than just inhumane survival-driven carnivores. Richard Parker’s emotional attachment to Pi is clear indirectly through the fact that Richard Parker never eats Pi, or even harms him, showing that the tiger does not view Pi as food, but instead a companion in this journey, even when enduring blinding starvation. Pi explains the tiger’s kind feelings toward him, as he describes the tiger communicating a sign of kindness the way animals can, through noise. Pi explains that the tiger communicates ‘prusten’, a type of sound that Pi even being around zoos a lot had never experienced in his life from an animal. Pi explains that prusten is “a puff through the nose to express friendliness and harmless intentions,” this action providing readers with direct insight into the true intentions and emotional feelings of Richard Parker (180). Richard Parker was starving even with the small amount of food Pi was giving him each day, and he still did not attack him, also illustrating the fact that non-human animals are more than just survival-driven, and are also capable of emotional bonds. Some readers may argue that this clear emotional companionship between Richard Parker and Pi was a result of Pi’s fear of the tiger and Richard Parker’s desire to survive, it is clear through Richard Parker’s friendly advances and failure to view Pi as prey, as well as Pi’s accounts of emotional attachment to Richard Parker both during, before, and after his adventure, that animals are not purely survival-oriented, but also have emotional needs, and that their relationship was more than just a manipulative façade (fear-driven), but instead a mutual dependency and emotional bond that kept them afloat.
The Dynamics of Power: Reversing Roles on the Lifeboat
Martel’s “Life of Pi,” tells a story that destroys the belief that separates humans and animals into emotional beings and survival-driven beings, as well as the belief that humans are superior to animals. In Martel’s novel, the human, Pi, although commonly considered the more superior animal, is in a clearly vulnerable situation as he lives alongside a four-hundred-fifty-pound adult Bengal tiger in a small lifeboat. Richard Parker is the superior animal now, and Pi the inferior. Pi, a former zookeeper’s son claims before his time at sea that “getting animals used to the presence of humans is at the heart of zookeeping,” but now, even though Richard Parker was before a zoo animal, Pi is aware that the change of setting has caused a change in who holds the superiority in the relationship, and attempts to tame Richard Parker to survive (1.9.1). The tiger’s clear superiority in power is not the only superiority that he holds, as he also has a superior ability to survive in the wild. Pi explains that “Richard Parker was tougher than [he] was [with survival] and far more efficient,” showing that man is naturally inferior to animals when placed outside of their natural setting(2.61.19). Humans view humans as superior to animals when in a zoo-keeping setting, but in the natural world, animals are superior to humans in both strength and authority. Pi’s realization of this is evident as he mentions many times his feelings of vulnerability throughout his narrative, including explaining that he believed “[he] had a chance so long as [Richard Parker] did not sense [him],” as he believed if he did, he would kill [him] right away,” as his natural human fear allowed him to realize his defenseless nature against the wild tiger when put in the tiger’s place of superiority; the wild (119). Richard Parker, a wild animal, thrives when put in a wild environment because that is what they are accustomed, where humans are viewed as superior in civilizations surrounded by civilization, a truth that is often mistaken for the idea that humans are superior to animals. Through Pi’s narration, it is clear that he, the human, is inferior when put in wild territory, and animal is superior, debunking the myth that humans are superior to animals in aspects such as strength and authority.
Survival Instincts: Pi's Transformation and Animalistic Behaviors
Martel’s novel, “Life of Pi” punctures many of the commonly held beliefs about humans and animals, one being the idea that humans are moral and civilized beings, and animals are immoral and uncivilized. Martel’s novel disproves this distinction drastically through Pi’s so-called ‘animalistic’ behavior when surviving in the wild, mirroring that of Richard Parker. Pi’s behavior is immoral and uncivilized in many ways according to human standards, but truly is just depicting the survival tactics used by wild animals in their everyday survival journey. Part of Pi’s survival plan consists of urinating on the tarpaulin to mark his territory, something that humans don’t naturally do, however, it is necessary for Pi to do to communicate a sense of authority and identity to his fellow animal on board. As Pi gets thrown into the wild to survive on his own, away from the comforts of civilization, he reflects that he realizes himself beginning to “[eat] like an animal” and that the “noisy, frantic unchewing wolfing-down of [his] was exactly the way Richard Parker ate,” another sign that Pi’s behavior during survival caused him to resemble that of animals (2.82.5). In trying to quench his thirst, Pi considers drinking his urine and explains that “[he] resisted the temptation” to put the urine in his mouth as “[his urine] looked delicious” to him, an act that would easily be viewed as quite inhumane. Pi’s time battling nature causes him to change completely in his habits of eating, sleeping, cleanliness, and survival. Pi, a strict vegetarian in his civilized life, eats meat to survive in the wild, even the flesh of his own kind. Pi’s diet changes, as he explains that “in such a short time [he went] from weeping over the muffled killing of a flying fish to gleefully bludgeoning to death a dorado,” illustrating the change he underwent once placed in an environment outside of what he knew (2.61.32). Pi also admits that he once “tried to eat Richard Parker’s feces,” an absolutely absurd idea to most human animals privileged with the comforts of home-cooked meals, but not a huge deal to wild animals, as represented by the hyena at the beginning of the novel who eats his own vomit (2.77.7). Pi’s supreme exhibition of animalistic behavior occurs when Richard Parker eats the lone sailor that they stumble upon, and Pi confesses that “driven by the extremity of [his] need and the madness to which it pushed [him], [he] ate some of [the sailor’s] flesh,” truly exhibiting the behavior of a starving animal in the wild (284). Pi is solely an animal surviving in the wild, putting to use animalistic instincts and survival tactics to survive, the exact way that we observe wild animals to do in the wild. Although humans commonly see these sorts of behaviors as inhumane and immoral, human animals can end up acting the same when taken out of a life where everything is given to them and forced to fend for themselves. Richard Parker in this situation becomes a role model for Pi, and taking on his qualities allows him to survive in the wild, using tools and behaviors he would not have learned without Richard Parker. Pi, a human, is not used to living in the wild, nor does he know how to thrive in it. He is helpless outside of his civilized life and must look to one who truly can thrive in the wild, and he takes on this character without even truly realizing it. This life-changing alteration of Pi truly illustrates the distinction between animals and humans is not absolute, and both animals ultimately will act the same when being put in a situation like this, in ways that as immoral, and uncivilized.
Conclusion: Redefining Relationships Between Humans and Animals
Yann Martel’s novel, “Life of Pi,” tells a unique story about a boy named Pi who survives almost a year on a lifeboat with adult Bengal tiger, Richard Parker. Through this unique relationship, Martel’s novel debunks the common anthropocentric views surrounding animals and humans, through Pi and Richard Parker’s companionship, Richard Parker’s superiority, as well as the so-called animalistic behavior Pi develops as a result of his ordeal. Through these aspects, “Life of Pi” makes it clear that humans and animals are not as different as many may believe, and that the humane and moral superiority of humans only exists when in civilization, but when released to the wild, they will behave just like animals. | <urn:uuid:ea5a03c1-4e04-4cc6-9d4f-e6b89f12037d> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://edubirdie.com/examples/debunking-the-common-anthropocentric-views-surrounding-animals-and-humans-in-life-of-pi/ | 2024-12-05T09:02:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066348250.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20241205085107-20241205115107-00665.warc.gz | en | 0.971753 | 2,959 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Scruton on Modernity, Tradition and the Paradox of T.S. Eliot
For any early 20th century Western conservative, after the fall of the ancien regime in 1918, and the breakthrough of the modernist paradigm in politics, society and culture, to reconcile modernity and tradition was a probing task. Apparently, they were “duelling poles”[i]: to preserve tradition you seemed to need to fight modernity; while to keep on with the modernist project, you seemed to need to give up tradition. At least that was the obvious understanding of their relationship.
Yet there were some, who did not want to concede that the two things cannot be reconciled. Scruton’s poet-hero, T.S. Eliot was one of them. He made his name during the Great War, with his modernist poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in 1915. Yet his real breakthrough came with his unparalleled masterpiece, the all-important summary of a generation’s disillusion: The Waste Land, from 1922. Between these two works, a gradual change took place in the poet’s mental landscape, most probably connected also with his impressions of the war, leading him from America to London, as a result of his growing conservative (as he called it, classical) inclination, deepening his views on modernity and tradition as well. He presented a short summary of his position on these two key concepts in his by now famous essay, Tradition and the Individual Talent, which appeared first in The Egoist, and later in his own collection of essays, The Sacred Wood in 1920. In this and other writings, Eliot proved to be quite ingenious to make sense of the literary tradition he wanted to be a heir to. In his later career as a critic, he always remained quite careful in his critical choices, keeping in mind the general theoretical direction he wanted to follow, and making an effort to change worn out common place phrases with poetically strong expressions. His unquestionable personal charisma, and literary authority was due to the fact that he was just as keen on his modernist position in matters of art, and in particular, in matters of form in art, as on his traditionalist positions in politics, society and religion.
One can argue that for Scruton Eliot served as a stable reference point, when interpreting his own public persona. Eliot’s influence on him can only be compared to that of F.R. Leavis, a literary critic who was just as charismatic a critic as Eliot himself. The two figures, Eliot and Leavis, were both important for Scruton, but for different reasons: he did not want to imitate them, yet their example had a formative influence on him. Scruton was not a poet, though he wrote and published poems as well as novels and dramatized dialogues. And he was not a literary critic, either, even if he published critical essays on people like Ruskin, Arnold and others. What connected the two of them in his mind was that they represented the sort of public intellectual, who served as role-model for him. Although conservative intellectuals usually criticize the public intellectual, as irresponsible dilettantes and undemocratic politicians, Scruton did not hesitate to take on this role. He, too, wanted to become an opinion-leader, a commentator of social and political life. This was not without its prehistory. As we shall see, Eliot himself must have been influenced by the role-model of what was labelled as the clerisy in 19th century British culture. In this, Eliot must have been both Leavis’s and Scruton’s most influential predecessor. Yet while Eliot’s authority came from the success of his poetry, and Leavis had a deep knowledge of literary history and theory, Scruton established himself as an aesthete, who specialised on the philosophy of art and beauty, and approached poetry from that perspective.
In what follows we shall have a look at Scruton’s views on Eliot. In order to remain focused, we shall make use of two texts in which the author analyses Eliot. One is his essay on modernism in Modern Culture, a collection of essays he first published in 1998. The other one is the closing essay in his A Political Philosophy, Arguments for Conservatism, first published in 2006.
Already the titles of the two collections show the conceptual tension Scruton builds up: in the first, he talks about modern culture, including the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Modernism and the avant-garde. In the other one, he offers a political philosophy in the negative form, with the help of critical essays on the Enlightenment, on the totalitarian temptation, on Eurospeak and on the nature of evil, among others. It is obvious, that he understands modernity and tradition as counter-concepts.[ii] There is nothing surprising in this way of positioning the two categories. It is much more remarkable that Scruton reads Eliot in a way, which shows that the paradox is in fact not a contradiction, but simply an astonishing logic, that Eliot is able to reveal. In what follows I try to uncover Scruton’s explanation of this covered logic, making two claims:
1. The first claim I try to substantiate is that surprisingly, Scruton defends modern art, as practiced by Eliot, showing its close connection with the roots of our culture, tradition, and in particular, with religion.
2. The second claim I would like to make is that conservatism is understood correctly, if one realizes its connection with modernism (both of them being an -ism).
As an introduction to the theme, let me shortly have a look at Eliot’s essay Tradition and the Individual Talent. This is not an easy train of thought, yet it introduces the framework within which Eliot’s remains for the remaining part of his career. In what follows we shall only look at that aspect of the text which has a relevance for our present topic.
1. Eliot’s formulation of the paradox in Tradition and the Individual Talent
As he himself admitted later, Eliot’s essay, “arguably, the most influential English-language literary essay of the twentieth century”, was a juvenile one. It was the manifesto of a poet in the making, who had just published his first, slim volume with the title Prufrock and Other Observations (1917). With it, he tried to establish himself and his reputation both as a poet and as a critic – along the lines of English poet-critics from Sidney to Coleridge and Shelley. He wrote in the aftermath of WW1, when the surviving generations were struggling hard to re-establish basic human values, healing the traumas of the war years. Eliot published his essay in two parts in The Egoist, an avant-garde forum of which he himself was an assistant editor. In the same issue, following Eliot’s essay, the reader found a part of Joyce’s pathbraking Ulysses, still before its publication in a book-format. One should note, that by this time, Eliot aimed at “critiquing the avant-garde in the leading avant-garde forum of the day”.[iii]
No doubt, Eliot’s interest in tradition was part of his effort to recreate culture after the wartime shock. The major points of the essay, however, connect tradition to the future, as well as to individual creativity. Eliot claims that it is not the author whom we should concentrate on, but the text. “Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation are directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry.”[iv] This is his famous “impersonal theory” of poetry. Eliot is sharply against the Romantics, who established the cult of the individual. As he sees it, in literature, the text has a relevance, which is far beyond its author. To appreciate its value, we need to compare it to other, earlier texts. In other words, what makes texts meaningful is their relationship to other texts, in fact to the canon, which can serve as a benchmark, for the critic or the interpreter. The word canon also shows, that this methodology of reading literature comes from reading religious texts. By canonical texts, we mean the following: “the definitive list of inspired, authoritative books which constitute the recognized and accepted body of sacred scripture of a major religious group, that definitive list being the result of inclusive and exclusive decisions after a serious deliberation”.[v] Interestingly and importantly, although Eliot only uses the word canon once in the text, he looks at the literary texts of the past as if they build up a whole body of selected literature, which had indeed a religious significance. Yet that significance has a dynamic character. Although the past has gone, tradition is in fact its present view, in other words the view which is available on it from here, but which can also change its configuration at any time, as a result of the performance of a contemporary poet or critic or their collective influence. And most importantly that view has a further aspect: it wants to make use of the past in order to create new works of art, which conform to the past, but which also give a valid picture of the present, and lead towards new vistas. This way tradition becomes the first prerequisite of modern art – this is the paradox built up by T.S. Eliot in this juvenile essay.
2. Scruton on Eliot and modernism
Roger Scruton admitted, that it was T.S. Eliot who fundamentally inspired his book on Modern Culture, first published in 1998.[vi] In it, he wanted to come to terms with modernism, as a social and intellectual movement, and especially with modernist culture. This was because he thought that culture was one of the most important battlegrounds, where modernism was fought. Culture determines our moral life, while the significance of culture affirms the “significance of our social emotions.”[vii] The book entitled Modern Culture, together with its twin volume, Culture Counts (2007) might be seen as Scruton’s reaction to the rise of the discipline called cultural studies. In his reading it is popular culture which defines the subject-matter of cultural studies, “an academic discipline founded by Raymond Williams with a view to replacing academic English.”[viii] While cultural studies had a leftist agenda, Scruton himself embarked on a project to work out the fundamentals of a conservative version of cultural theory.
Certainly, there were other efforts in this direction, already before him. Think about Michael Oakeshott’s The Voice of Liberal Learning: Michael Oakeshott on Education (1989), or Allan Bloom’s scandalous The Closing of the American Mind (1987). One can dig even deeper, claiming that there were constantly returning culture wars in the modern West, from the newly born Prussian State’s propaganda warfare against Catholics at the turn of the century, through the policies of the totalitarian regimes in mid-century Europe, leading up to the culture war of the student revolution in the 60s, in Paris. All of these cases had political agendas, proving that culture, indeed, matters in 20th century politics. In particular, this series of culture wars showed that modernity, which was introduced in the arts, was not simply a program of renewal in the intellectual world, but aimed at a reconfiguration of the social realm. Certainly, the culture war of the 60s led to the waves of political correctness in the US, too, transforming the campus life of the American Universities and recasting the guiding principles of public broadcasting. Scruton was one of the victims of the aggressive policies of woke ideology, often attacked on university campuses by radical student groups, almost silenced at CEU, when he was invited there. He did not regard himself as a warrior in the culture war, yet he never hesitated to pronounce his political views on debated issues, occasionally causing tremendous public scandals. Yet his aim in his book on modern culture – unlike in the scandalous Thinkers of the New Left (1985) – was to make sense of modernism, as a general phenomenon, which transforms our way of thinking and our daily behaviour. And modernism manifests itself in culture. So he has to find at least a working definition of culture. He mentions Herder’s concept of culture, as the “life-blood” of “a people, the flow of moral energy that holds society intact.”[ix] In his reading, the German Romantics, as exemplified by Schelling, Schiller, Fichte, Hegel and Hölderlin, developed Herder’s notion, connecting it to the notion of a nation, “a shared spiritual force which is manifest in all the customs, beliefs and practices of a people.”[x] He balances this view of culture with another one, attributed to Wilhelm von Humboldt. This is a more elitist notion, identifying culture with cultivation, instead of “untended growth”. Not everyone is in a position to have it, as one needs ability and leisure to become cultured. But even for Humboldt, culture is not an individual’s lonely achievement. We need public institutions to guarantee its survival: “The purpose of a university is to preserve and enhance the cultural inheritance, and to impart it to the next generation.”[xi] According to Scruton, anthropologists rely on Herder’s concept, while literary critics, from Matthew Arnold, to Eliot and Leavis, rely on the notion of high culture. He refuses to choose between the two. In fact, his aim with his book was to show, that the two of them “are fed from a common source”.[xii]
It is in this context, that he paints his first portrait of Eliot. Look at the intellectual family tree that he provides: Baudelaire, Manet and Wagner are the 19th century holy trinity of modern art, and Eliot is an heir of the three of them in the 20th century. A poet, a painter and a musician – they prepared the ground for the breakthrough of modernism, in the oeuvre of Eliot, an oeuvre, connecting poetry, drama, criticism and social philosophy. Interestingly, Scruton sharply distinguishes the perspective of his troika from the subversive philosophy of Nietzsche. His analysis of Nietzsche is based on his interpretation of Wagner. It is through Wagner that he reaches Baudelaire, and through Baudelaire, that he reaches Manet. Wagner accepted the disillusioning reality of his day, leading to a loss of its eternal dimensions, yet with a heroic gesture tried to recreate that vista, by embarking on a new venture of translating Germanic myths into the language of music. Although Wagner was not Christian, he is determined to bring back important pillars of the Christian teaching, including redemption through sacrifice and suffering, and the role of love in all that. Although the project is close to mission impossible, Scruton finds real merit in the heroism of it. Yet he knows that though Baudelaire, too, was an admirer of Wagner, he did not share his heroic attitude. Instead, Baudelaire’s poetry worked as a mirror, in which the dark sides of the city could be made visible. Scruton calls him “the nocturnal poet of the city” therefore.[xiii] Baudelaire’s effort aims to lead us, readers, through a confrontation with the reality of sin, damnation, paradoxically, to salvation. Yet this will not succeed, without a renewal of tradition. And this is proven by the art of Manet, whose novelty of painting modern life was combined with a conscious re-appropriation of tradition, for example with its references to Titian or Giorgione. Baudelaire, too, returned to past masters, but only “to revive the spirit by offending it”.[xiv]
Eliot’s own case is somewhat different. His path-breaking poem, The Waste Land. In the verse preface to it, Eliot directly quotes Lés Fleurs du mal, and his diagnosis presents the land in a catastrophe-stricken condition. Yet he, too, like Wagner, turns to the genre of myth to try to offer a hint of hope. Scruton stresses that by returning to the language of myth one returns to the original community as well. Although the narrator (who is definitely not to be identified with the author) is himself an objective observer, as if he was an anthropologist, describing an alien culture, we are still happy to discover, that he makes use of “the echoing vault of a vanished religious culture”.[xv] This religious culture is revoked by references to the signs and symbols of its founding texts, but also invoking poets, who belonged to the Christian tradition of poetry, like Dante, Shakespeare, Verlaine, Nerval and Wagner.
Yet in conformity with the main lines of his critical theory, as opposed to pious contemporary forms of Christianity, Eliot avoids sentimentality, and he remains on the ground of everyday reality. Yet poetry is not simply reconstructing reality in a different medium. Instead, it wants – to borrow an expression of Mallarmé – “to purify the dialect of the tribe”. In other words, Eliot’s effort as a poet is to try to lead back the shared language of the community to the realities, liberating it from the linguistic traps of illusions and ossified doctrines.
Yet reality is not simply the objective material condition of our experience – it includes the intellectual-spiritual dimensions as well. The opposite of realism is not idealism, but illusionism. Ideas have direct consequences, and spiritual ingredients can grossly influence real life situations. In Scruton’s narrative, Eliot’s breakthrough was The Waste Land. And as he reads it, this paradigmatically modern poem has two faces. One of that is “Baudelaire’s experience of the city as a spiritual ordeal”, while the other is “an appeal to myth, which outlines the original community”.[xvi] For Scruton, myth is important for two further reasons. He borrows one from René Girard, and his theory of how communities overcome internal conflicts by sacrificing a scapegoat. Girard’s philosophy keeps returning to the purifying function of myths in human communities – a common place in anthropology, but a crucially opposed to Enlightened rationality, liberal individualism and Communist central planning. The other one is taken, of course, from Richard Wagner, and his re-appropriation of Germanic myths. This is how Baudelaire and Wagner, the poet and the musician, meet in Scruton’s interpretation of Eliot’s poem. Yet Wagner is not only paired with Baudelaire in Scruton’s mind: he presents him as the end of a rather diverse list of genuine poets, all of whom were fascinated by myths. Yet Scruton also recalls Nietzsche, who was also fascinated by myths, but who was rather hostile towards institutionalised religion, especially Christian religion. For Nietzsche, Christianity was a kind of myth, which had already died by his own time. To put it more precisely: he famously reported the death of God. Scruton, however, as opposed to Nietzsche, is ready to announce: faith is a must for long term human survival. This is because faith is crucial for human flourishing.
Yet Scruton’s story also refers to Nietzsche’s effort to replace truth with aesthetic values. This was a programme which appeared already in Kierkegaard. While truth is crucial in both the religious and the scientific discourse, it does not play a major role in most aesthetic theories. Scruton does not accept Nietzsche’s proposal: aesthetics should not be seen as an alternative for a discourse on truth. He finds it crucial that both historically and metaphysically, aesthetic values are rooted in religion. If modernity is the period of a withdrawal of institutionalised religion, traditional aesthetic values will also be immediately questioned. Indeed, modernity turns against the tradition of searching for beauty. Funnily enough, the argument only holds, if you trust the objectivity of truth – the modern struggle against beauty can only be consistently based on the hypothesis that while beauty is false, truth still stands in the modern context. In this respect Scruton’s real target is post-modernism, which is ready to question the truth of even the proven scientific claims, on the grounds that there is no truth in the radically relativistic human realm.
Scruton seems to be right, that Eliot was ready to take on board this logical complexity, and to try to solve it, not with the conceptual tools of the philosopher, but armed with the armoury of the poet. Scruton seems to propose that Eliot embraced Christian faith to make that armoury even stronger. In order to counterbalance the radicalism of modernity, which is characterised by the death of God and therefore by the escape from beauty, Eliot re-joins the Christian community. In other words, to tackle modernity he accepts tradition, in opposition to which modernity defined itself. As Scruton puts it: “by an extraordinary route, the modernist poet becomes the traditionalist priest: the stylistic task of the one coalesces with the spiritual task of the other. The renewal of the artistic tradition is also a reaffirmation of orthodoxy.”[xvii]
Scruton admires the complexity of Eliot’s paradox, but does not accept it fully. Eliot’s solution cannot be our solution – this is the point he wants to make. Yet by the time of the publication of Scruton’s book, Eliot himself became an important pillar of tradition. We have to sacrifice extra energies to make sense of it, otherwise that pillar will also fall down. In other words, Scruton admits that he has to cultivate (preserve in a flourishing state) that specific tradition, of which the modernist poet, Eliot, was an influential member. If we fail to transfer the most important elements of that tradition to the next generation, our society will surely fail to stand up to the challenges of the future.
3. Scruton on Eliot and Tradition
After engaging with Scurton’s account of Eliot in the context of modernism, we are going to have a look at his approach to the poet in the context of traditionalism. This is made easier by the fact that although modernity and tradition are seemingly conceptual opposites, Eliot managed to combine the two, both in his essay Tradition and the Individual Talent and in his whole oeuvre, as a poet and as a social critic, as well, reclaiming the rights of the past, while preserving the relevance of the (eternal) present.
In Scruton’s book A Political Philosophy the essay on Eliot serves as the corollary of the argument. Its title, Eliot and Conservatism makes it obvious, that here the author focuses on Eliot, the traditionalist. Yet the paradox of Eliot’s mission is not yet forgotten. Scruton calls his poet “the most revolutionary Anglophone literary critic since Johnson.”[xviii] Yet his aim here is clearly to talk about Eliot’s Tory philosophy (and Anglican traditionalism).
The first major theme of Eliot’s narrative is the collection of Eliot’s essays, entitled The Sacred Wood. Scruton’s criticism shifts the focus of the critical discourse about the poetry of the past, replacing the Romantics with the metaphysical poets and Elizabethan dramatists in its centre. It is also a rather strong view of the role of a critical sensibility in public affairs, both as a prerequisite for making sense of the past, but also as critically judging works of art, including poems. That a historical sense and an aesthetic sense can overlap, and even reaffirm each other, is illustrated by Scruton’s Eliot, picking out Dante as an example, the Florentine poet and political thinker. He relies on Dante’s example in his own poetry as well. This persistence reflects Eliot’s affirmation of the poetic tradition of the West, to which the present day poet still belongs.
With that, we arrived to Eliot’s understanding of tradition, of which Scruton says, that it “best summarizes his contribution to the political consciousness of our century”.[xix] Eliot’s main idea of tradition in literature is a constant interaction, indeed a dialectical movement or communication, between the canonical past and the surplus value of the present. According to Scruton, tradition is indeed the core idea of Eliot’s social and political philosophy. The dialectical exchange between past and present leads to the paradox, which lies in the centre of Eliot’s oeuvre: “that our greatest modernist should also be our greatest modern conservative.”[xx]
Scruton’s interpretative genius pushes this claim, the claim of a paradox in the heart of Eliot’s oeuvre, one step further, claiming that in fact tradition itself, and not only Eliot’s tradition, but the tradition which is in the heart of the conservative program, is closely bound to modernism in a very pronounced way. Tradition, in this context is, not “a backward-looking nostalgia”, but a prerequisite to the program to “live fully in the present”.[xxi]
To judge the past as well as the present with an observing vigilance is the programme of The Criterion, a journal established by Eliot in 1922, and used as a critical forum in the widest sense of the term. While it was first of all a forum to review literary works of art, Scruton called his readers’ attention to the fact that the “journal also contained social philosophy of a conservative persuasion – although Eliot preferred the word ‘classicism’ as a description of its outlook”.[xxii] But The Criterion remains the forum in which some of the most important works of literary modernism (by Pound, Empson, Auden and Spender, among others) came out – which once again confirmed Scruton’s point about Eliot’s paradox.
Once again, Scruton’s analysis starts out from Eliot’s great poem, The Waste Land. His assumption is that the poem gives a full picture of “the disillusionment and emptiness that followed the hollow victory of the First World War – a conflict in which European civilization had committed suicide, as Greek civilization had in the Peloponnesian War.”[xxiii] One should be aware of the significance of this comparison: Scruton describes here the 20th century as indeed the decline of a whole culture. But what exactly does explain the depth of his pessimism? Or to put it more precisely: what does he discover in Eliot’s poem, which seems to support such a radical statement? Well, one of the major causes for regarding The Waste Land an exceptional and great work, is its tendency to confront the reader with what is regarded as the “reality of modern experience”.[xxiv] Eliot’s radical break with the accepted canon of the day amounts to a wholesale criticism of Post-Romantic poetry. This is the poetry of secular humanism, according to Scruton, directly linked to the dogmas of the socialist and democratic ideas of society – ideas, which the poet did not trust at all.
Post-Romantic poetry is a form of self-deception: it does not allow the reader to get a clear picture of the state of affairs. Instead, she will encounter false sentiments and her emotional repertoire will consist only of clichés. Scruton took over an argumentative technique from the language of theology, when he identified modern ways of thinking as heresies, as opposed to the orthodoxies of the past. Modern heresies consist of efforts to paint with true colours visions of the imagination, instead of remaining true to reality. When individualism decides to treat human beings as god, they commit such a heresy.
Eliot had to accept the fact that democracy rules the Western world. With it came, however, the decline of everyday language. Ordinary people had a tendency to disregard grammar, and made use of a language of unthinking cliché. Eliot found this language unable to confront reality. Scruton’s Eliot also reported the lack of an intellectual aristocracy in the context of modernity, which led to the growing responsibility of the poet and that of the critic. Eliot attributed a special role to them – they had to revitalise language, to give back the original meaning to the words used, in order “to show the world as it is”.[xxv] The corruption of language leads to a loss of touch with reality, which can lead to barbaric political regimes – this is exactly what happened in a few years after Eliot’s description of the cultural crisis and his prognosis of its consequences. Importantly, Eliot embarks on a comparison of science and religion, as far as their beneficial consequences are concerned in coming to terms with our world. Scruton identifies here again a paradox: “the falsehoods of religious faith enable us to perceive the truths that matter. The truths of science, endowed with an absolute authority, hide the truths that matter, and make the human reality imperceivable.”[xxvi] The paradox is not the end of his train of thought: it leads finally to the identification of religion and culture. Scruton takes over a claim that he finds in Eliot’s essay on the definition of culture, that “culture and religion are in the last analysis indissoluble.”[xxvii]
Notes Towards the Definition of Culture, first published in a periodical in 1943, during WW2, when the ugliest deeds were committed against human beings by other human beings, is not Scruton’s favourite among Eliot’s great works. Scruton’s critical judgement of it, together with his critical note of The Idea of Christian Society, published in 1940, blames the “tentativeness and anxiety” of these essays, caused by the openness of politics in the post-war situation. Interestingly the same theme – an “account of our spiritual crisis”[xxviii] – comes up in Eliot’s greatest poem, Four Quartets, but with a much stronger potential, in other words to awaken hope in its readers than the essays.
Scruton finds this poem more convincing as “a profound exploration of spiritual possibilities”, because he reads it as a “religious work”, which however has an “extraordinary lyric power”.[xxix] In other words he reads it as a poem, which however has a potential to uncover hidden religious truths. In the final part of his effort to reconstruct Eliot’s teaching of tradition, Scruton gives a detailed analysis of this poem. As he saw it, Eliot endows the poet and the critic with a rather difficult mission: to strive for redemption with the help of art and poetry. But this mission cannot be fulfilled without getting into contact with the past. In fact, poetry is born in a constant conversation with tradition. Here, the original message of the Tradition and the Individual Talent essay returns – the original work of art finds its way back, and opens dialogue with the earlier generations of poets. This is, indeed, a general expectation from poetry: to regain what is “perdu”, “the fight to recover what has been lost /And found and lost again and again…”[xxx] Yet the dialogue with the past is not for its own sake – its main purpose is a work of purification – and redemption. This religious motivation is due to the fact that here, too, religion is fundamental for culture, providing “the store of symbols, stories and doctrines that enable us to communicate about our destiny”.[xxxi] But apparently, poetry is also crucial for the aims of Christianity. Among the modern conditions, the poet (and the critic) has a special mission – they can and therefore should approach truth with the help of art, as religion has been pushed in the background in society.
Scruton compares the martyrdom of the saint in Murder in the Cathedral with the meditation of the poet in Four Quartets. Eliot’s drama of the political assassination of Thomas Becket, mirroring the struggle between Church and state in 12th century England, touches upon the same theme of redemption in the fallen world of the earthly city as does the long poem. The same theme comes back in the long poem, this time, however, the poet’s impossible mission is “to redeem the time”. The poet’s search for an adequate language is, in the same time, an attempt “to find a tradition of belief, of behaviour, and of historical allegiance, that will give sense and meaning to the community”, too.[xxxii] In other words, in his search for tradition, the poet is active in the field of poetry, religion and politics as well. Scruton, the Englishman, advocates Eliot’s conversion, on the ground that with it, Eliot found his way back to his own tradition. Four Quartets, this expressive and meditative gesture of belonging, joins the Anglican Church, both as an ordinary believer does, but also as a language-user would do whose langue is to recall an earlier state of the whole community. “… the communication / Of the dead is tongued with fire beyond the language of the living./ Here, the intersection of the timeless moment / is England and nowhere. Never and always.”[xxxiii] Eliot’s poetic act is to turn the literary reconstruction of the past into a vison of the timeless: “history is a pattern / Of timeless moments. So, while the light fails / On a winter’s afternoon, in a secluded chapel / History is now and England.”[xxxiv]
Scruton has two comments to make about this quoted detail. One is a comparison of Eliot with the medieval poet, thinker and political activist, Dante Alighieri, whose words are derived from Christian belief and from the style of poetry in his own time. The second one, connected to this, is about the linguistic register of the poem, which is itself a direct passageway to religion, “the language of the King James’ Bible, and the Anglican liturgy that grew alongside it.”[xxxv]
Through this short overview of the Four Quartets Scruton arrives to an account of Eliot’s general theory of tradition. No one’s work is more suitable to facilitate the reconstruction of tradition in the context of modernity, except for Burke, with his famous remark about the dialogue of different generations of a community. Scruton calls the Burkean version of the social contract – which is in fact the denial of the voluntarism of the Lockean version of it – “the core belief of modern conservatism”.[xxxvi] In it, the connection of the generations is close enough: only through a close attention paid to the past can the present community prepare the grounds for the arrival of the unborn. This close attention to the past amounts to the sustenance of culture.
Scruton here provides a rather strong and thick, Eliot-like concept of culture, with which he identified tradition: “Culture is the repository of an experience which is at once local and placeless, present and timeless, the experience of a community as sanctified by time.”[xxxvii] This sanctification is meant here literally: scanning the past you look for those rare moments which mean something more than what is simply locally and momentarily significant. This is only possible, according to Scruton, in a religious community, where the intensification of ordinary moments is part of everyday routine.
Scruton also admits that such a task – either of religion or of high culture – to search back in time for those moments which have a wider and lasting relevance, to redeem the present, requires extra effort, indeed a kind of sacrifice from us, socialised as we are in a modern intellectual, political and cultural milieu. In particular, the educated elite, Coleridge’s clerisy had a rather heavy burden in Eliot’s vision.[xxxviii] Yet, unlike in the later, left wing variant of the intellectual, as embodied by people like Sartre or Foucault, Eliot’s intellectuals had more to do than simply undermining the meanings of basic concepts and social structure. Instead, Scruton defined their mission to show how to live an orderly way of life, and how to defend the intellectual inheritance of their respective communities. To achieve that, however, the individual had to work on her own self, which required a rediscovery of the world, in which we are born, and to understand that the individual is part of a greater whole. This greater whole is the culture which formed the individual, and which can only live on, if the individual is ready for a sacrifice: to work as a channel to pass the culture of the past on to the next generation.
The survival of the tradition depends on us; it is our responsibility to take care of its return. This is Scruton’s hopeful conservative message. Yet to do so requires self-exploration and self-discipline – the formation of our own character along the lines dictated by that very tradition. But if achieved it will be also the achievement of defending that very tradition with the same power. “We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.”[xxxix] If the rescue of the tradition requires such a moral and intellectual form of self-fashioning, it also leads to a return to the religious teachings of one’s community, and, concludes Scruton, thereby, “the conservative message for our times… is a message beyond politics, a message of liturgical weight and authority”.[xl]
One is free of course to refuse to hear that message, in an age, when the realm of politics is demanded to be non-metaphysical. The separation of the church and state in the secular modern state is finished in the West. Yet Scruton’s point is not a conservative demand of the return of the established church. Rather, it addresses a problem which keeps returning, since the time it was most succinctly summarised in the Böckenförde Dilemma: “The liberal secularised state is nourished by presuppositions that it cannot itself guarantee.”[xli] Böckenförde’s dilemma is in a way comparable to Eliot’s paradox. Scruton, therefore, seems to be correct that both the inbuilt dilemma of the neutral state and the conflict of modernism and tradition can be addressed only by what he calls the conservative message, i.e. with a close attention to what is beyond politics, which needs to be heard anyway, “if humane and moderate politics is to remain a possibility”.[xlii]
* This article was originally published in the book entitled Tradition and Change. Scruton’s Philosophy and its Meaning for Contemporary Europe, European Conservatives and Reformists, Warszawa 2022.
Böckenförde, Ernst-Wolfgang. “Die Entstehung des Staates als Vorgang der Säkularisation.” Säkularisation und Utopie. Ebracher Studien, Kohlhammer, 1967, pp. 75-94.
Coleridge, S.T. On the Constitution of the Church and State. 1830.
Dettmar, Kevin. “A Hundred Years of T.S. Eliot’s ‘Tradition and the Individual Talent.” The New Yorker, October 27, 2019. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/a-hundred-years-of-t-s-eliots-tradition-and-the-individual-talent
Eliot, T.S. “Tradition and the Individual Talent.” Selected Essays, 1917-1932. Faber and Faber, 1932, pp. 13-22.
Eliot, T.S. “East Coker.” Four Quartets. Faber & Faber, 1943, p. 182.
Eliot, T.S. “Little Gidding.” Four Quartets. Faber & Faber, 1943, p.
Eugene, Ulrich. “The Notion and Definition of Canon.” The Canon Debate, edited by L. M. McDonald and J. A. Sanders, Hendrickson Publishers, 2002.
Menand, Louis. Discovering Modernism. T.S. Eliot and His Context. 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 1987.
Scruton, Roger. “Modernism.” Modern Culture, Bloomsbury, 1998.
Scruton, Roger. A Political Philosophy. Arguments for Conservatism. Bloomsbury, 2019.
[i] This is a term used by Kevin Dettmar about the two key concepts in Eliot’s essay, Tradition and the Individual Talent. See his: “A Hundred Years of T.S. Eliot’s ‘Tradition and the Individual Talent,” The New Yorker, October 27, 2019. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/a-hundred-years-of-t-s-eliots-tradition-and-the-individual-talent
[ii] See Kosselleck’s theory of counter-concepts.
[iii] Louis Menand, Discovering Modernism. T.S. Eliot and His Context, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 1987, 68.
[iv] T.S. Eliot, “Tradition and the Individual Talent,” Selected Essays, 1917-1932. Faber and Faber, 1932, pp. 13-22., Part II., 17.
[v] Eugene Ulrich, “The Notion and Definition of Canon,” The Canon Debate, edited by L. M. McDonald and J. A. Sanders, Hendrickson Publishers, 2002, p. 29.
[vi] Roger Scruton, “Modernism,” Modern Culture, Bloomsbury, 1998.
[vii] Scruton, Modern Culture, Preface to the Second Edition, ix.
[viii] Ibid, 3.
[ix] Ibid, 1.
[xii] Ibid, 4.
[xiii] Ibid, 76.
[xiv] Ibid, 78.
[xv] Ibid, 79.
[xvi] Ibid, 79.
[xvii] Ibid, 82.
[xviii] Roger Scruton. A Political Philosophy. Arguments for Conservatism. Bloomsbury, 2019, p. 191.
[xix] Ibid, 193.
[xx] Ibid, 194.
[xxiii] Ibid, 195.
[xxiv] Ibid, 199.
[xxv] Ibid, 201.
[xxvi] Ibid, 203.
[xxvii] Ibid, 203.
[xxviii] Ibid, 196.
[xxix] Ibid, 197.
[xxx] T.S. Eliot, “East Coker,” Four Quartets, Faber & Faber, 1963/1985, 196-204., 203.
[xxxi] Scruton, A Political Philosophy, 204.
[xxxii] Ibid, 205.
[xxxiii] T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding.” Four Quartets, in: T.S. Eliot: Collected Poems, 1909-1962, Faber and Faber, 1963/1985, 187-223, 214-223., 215.
[xxxiv] Eliot, Little Gidding, 222.
[xxxv] Scruton, A Political Philosophy, 207.
[xxxvii] Ibid, 207.
[xxxviii] See S.T. Coleridge, On the Constitution of the Church and State, 1830.
[xxxix] Eliot, Little Gidding.
[xl] Scruton, A Political Philosophy, 208.
[xli] Ernst-Wolfgang Böckenförde, “Die Entstehung des Staates als Vorgang der Säkularisation.” Säkularisation und Utopie. Ebracher Studien, Kohlhammer, 1967, pp. 75-94., p. 93.
[xlii] Scruton, A Political Philosophy, 208. | <urn:uuid:60fcaa3b-3cc3-406f-9f35-bb2bb9b77abc> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://deliberatio.eu/en/analyses/scruton-on-modernity-tradition-and-the-paradox-of-ts-eliot | 2024-12-12T20:53:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066113162.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212190313-20241212220313-00633.warc.gz | en | 0.958226 | 9,481 | 2.625 | 3 |
Ever thought a simple plant label could make your garden stand out? Plant labels help identify your plants and add color to your garden. With over a decade of making custom plant markers, I’ve seen their power.
Looking to make your garden special with DIY markers? Or just want to keep track of your plants? Personalized labels are great for both kids and adults. You can choose from wood, metal, clay, or rock to match your style and identify your plants.
This guide will show you how to make beautiful plant labels. We’ll cover choosing materials and fun projects for the whole family. Ready to start? Let’s get going!
Why Plant Labels Are Essential for Gardeners
Plant labels are key in gardening, bringing many benefits. They help both new and experienced gardeners. By making plant identification easier, they ensure each plant gets the right care.
Benefits of Using Plant Labels
The benefits of plant labels are many. They help tell different plants apart, which can be hard in big gardens. Using eight-inch wooden labels is best for open beds, making it easy to spot them.
These labels help organize plants and prevent mistakes when weeding or harvesting. This makes gardening easier and more accurate.
Organizing Your Garden
Labels make it easy to organize plants. Gardeners can sort plants, track their growth, and know what they need. Places like the Chicago Botanic Garden use over 45,000 labels.
They handle about 10,000 labels a year. This shows how important labels are for a tidy and well-kept garden.
Enhancing Aesthetic Appeal
Plant labels also make gardens look better. Creative and well-made labels can make a garden beautiful. They show off the gardener’s style.
Labels made from photosensitive anodized aluminum last long. They can handle different temperatures, keeping the garden looking neat and professional.
Different Types of Plant Labels
Knowing the different types of plant labels is key for gardeners. The right label can make your garden look better and help you stay organized. You can choose from wooden labels for a rustic feel to plastic markers for durability.
Wooden Plant Labels
Wooden labels are a favorite among gardeners. They can be painted or engraved for a personal touch. Terrain sells handcrafted wooden and bamboo labels that fit right into your garden.
Plastic Plant Labels
Plastic markers are tough and weather-resistant. They come in many colors and sizes, making them easy to spot. While they may not look as natural as wood, they last longer.
Metal Plant Tags
Metal tags are strong and can handle tough weather. Copper tags are elegant but cost more. Other metal tags can be stamped with plant info, keeping it clear for years. Alitags.com offers a range of metal and bamboo tags.
Eco-friendly labels are popular with green gardeners. Made from paper or cardboard, they break down naturally. These labels are good for the planet and can be customized to look great in your garden.
Type of Label | Material | Durability | Aesthetic Appeal | Eco-Friendliness |
Wooden Plant Labels | Wood/Bamboo | Moderate | Natural/Rustic | Yes |
Plastic Garden Markers | Plastic | High | Varies | No |
Metal Plant Tags | Metal | Very High | Elegant | No |
Biodegradable Options | Paper/Cardboard | Low | Customizable | Yes |
How to Choose the Right Plant Labels
Choosing the right plant labels is key to a neat and beautiful garden. You need to think about the labeling materials, their size and visibility, and how well they last outside.
When picking labeling materials, think about your garden’s needs. Wooden labels add a cozy feel but fade in wet weather. Plastic labels resist moisture but can break and fade too.
Metal labels are tough and stay clear in all weather, but they cost more.
Size and Visibility
The size and how easy they are to see are also important. Small labels are hard to read from far away. Choose labels that are big enough for clear writing.
This makes it easier to care for and identify your plants.
Durability in Outdoor Conditions
Outdoor durability is essential for garden labels. Weather, sunlight, and pests can damage them. Choose labels that last through the seasons.
Premium labels, costing about $14, are very durable. But, you can find value options starting at $3.30.
Label Type | Average Price | Durability |
Wooden Labels | $3.99 | Low |
Plastic Labels | $5.99 | Medium |
Metal Labels | $16.49 | High |
Garden Label Printer | $44.99 | Very High |
Good plant labels make garden care easier. For more tips on keeping plants healthy, check out indoor plant watering tips.
DIY Plant Labels: A Fun Craft Project
Creating DIY garden markers is a fun and rewarding activity for gardeners of all ages. It adds a personal touch to your garden and makes it more functional. You can use many materials and techniques to bring your vision to life.
Materials You’ll Need
- Acrylic craft paints
- Marking pens
- Wood burning tool kit
- Wooden spoons, plastic toys, or metal tags
- Chalkboard paint and chalk pens
Simple DIY Tutorials
Many tutorials show you how to make personalized labels. You can paint on wooden coffee stirrers or collage leftover materials for stunning results. Wood burning tools create elegant designs that last.
Chalkboard paint makes labels versatile. They can be wiped clean and reused.
Customizing for Your Garden
Personalizing your labels lets you express your creativity and gardening style. Use upcycled items like wine corks or frozen juice lids for unique markers. These items save money and add an artistic touch.
Decorate your markers with themed designs or artistic fonts. This completes the look and shows off your garden’s personality.
How to Properly Label Your Plants
Labeling your plants well is key to a successful garden. You need to include the plant’s name, type, and how to care for it. This helps keep your plants healthy and organized. Using the right labeling methods ensures your labels last and are easy to read.
Key Information to Include
- Plant Name
- Variety or Species
- Care Instructions
- Sowing Date
- Plant Supplier
Choosing the right labeling method can make your garden look better. Plastic labels are popular because they’re durable and affordable. Use permanent markers with fine tips to write on them, so your labels don’t fade.
Wooden labels, like lollypop sticks, add a rustic feel but might need to be replaced often. Consider metal or slate labels for a more lasting option. Aluminum labels can be written on with pencils, and engraved labels look professional.
Tips for Long-Lasting Labels
To make labels last, use weather-resistant materials. Plastic labels can be cleaned with wire wool to last longer. Copper labels get a nice weathered look over time.
Keep a garden journal with important plant info. This way, even if your labels wear off, you can find the details you need.
Label Type | Durability | Visibility | Write-On Method |
Plastic | Moderate | High | Permanent Marker |
Wooden | Low | Moderate | Pencil, Marker |
Metal | High | High | Engraving, Pencil |
Slate | High | High | Chalk, Marker |
Creative Plant Label Ideas
Adding a personal touch to your garden with creative plant labels is a great idea. There are many ways to make plant tags look good and informative. Using decorative fonts for labeling can turn simple markers into beautiful pieces that make your garden stand out. Each label can show off your garden’s theme or your personal style.
Using Decorative Fonts
Try out different decorative fonts for labeling to add fun to your plant labels. Pick fonts that match your garden’s style, whether it’s playful, classy, or country. This makes the labels not only easy to read but also adds to your garden’s charm.
Incorporating Artwork or Pictures
Adding artwork on plant tags makes labeling fun. You can use hand-drawn pictures or printed images to show off each plant’s unique look. This creative way of labeling encourages garden lovers to express themselves.
Make themed plant labels that change with the seasons to keep your garden fresh. For example, use soft colors for spring and warm tones for fall. This makes your garden lively and invites people to see the changing beauty all year.
Look into DIY plant marker ideas like using wine corks, broken pots, or old silverware. Making markers with your family can make gardening a fun, shared experience.
Essential Tools for Creating Plant Labels
Making great plant labels needs the right tools. You’ll need writing utensils and protective coatings. Having these tools is key for any gardening project. They make sure your labels look good and last long.
Good writing tools are vital for labeling. Choose paint pens or waterproof markers that last and are easy to read. These tools help your plant names stay clear and intact all season.
Cutting and Shaping Tools
Customizing labels requires cutting and shaping tools. Scissors and craft knives help you make labels in different sizes. This makes your plant markers as special as your garden.
Protect your labels from fading and damage with protective coatings. Krylon Triple Glaze is a great topcoat for homemade markers. It adds a layer of protection, making your labels last longer against the weather.
Keeping Track of Your Plants with Labels
Effective garden management starts with clear communication with your plants. Plant care labels help gardeners monitor and care for plants at all growth stages. These labels are key for tracking plants, showing what care they need and when changes are needed.
Using Labels for Plant Care
Plant care labels give detailed info on what each plant needs. They help with watering, fertilizers, and sunlight. These labels improve plant health and vitality. They also help gardeners check their care and make needed changes.
Labeling Plant Growth Stages
Clear labels help track plants as they grow. Each label marks important stages like germination, flowering, and harvest. This way, gardeners know when to give their plants the best care.
Documenting Plant History
Keeping a garden journal goes beyond just labeling. It captures plant history, helping gardeners reflect on their practices. By noting planting dates, division times, and growth conditions, gardeners can plan better for the future. This practice helps track plant growth and find successful cultivation methods.
Eco-Friendly Plant Label Options
Using eco-friendly labels in your garden makes it better and helps the planet. You can use repurposed materials for gardening to label your plants. This way, you reduce waste and make your garden look nice.
Repurposing Household Items
Many things around your house can become plant labels. Old spoons or cardboard boxes can be turned into cool markers. This shows how eco-friendly labels can be creative and reduce waste. Here are some ideas:
- Wine corks for small labels
- Wooden kitchen utensils
- Old tiles or broken pottery
Choosing materials like bamboo or recycled plastics is good for your garden. Bamboo grows fast and doesn’t harm the environment. It’s great for plant markers.
For example, the Whaline Bamboo Plant Labels are affordable and come in packs of 60 for $10.99. Using these materials helps your garden grow well and is good for the planet.
Composting Old Labels
It’s smart to compost old labels. This helps keep your garden clean and reduces waste. Eco-friendly labels can be composted, making the soil better for plants.
Learn more about labels and improve your gardening by visiting this guide. Making the right choices helps your garden grow and supports green practices.
Where to Buy Quality Plant Labels
Looking for quality plant labels means checking out different places. You can find them online, where many sites offer a wide variety. These sites update their products often and have unique options for every gardener.
Online Retailers Overview
Big online stores like Greenhouse Megastore have lots of plant labels and markers. They sell everything from plastic to copper-plated and stainless steel labels. They also have accessories to make your garden look great. It’s a great place to start if you want to improve your garden.
Local Gardening Stores
Local gardening stores have special items for your area. Going there lets you see labels in person and get help choosing. They usually carry top brands, so you know you’re getting quality.
Popular Brands to Consider
Brands like GardenMate and Gardener’s Supply Company are known for their good products. Greenhouse Megastore has popular items like Bosmere labels. Whether you want something that looks good or works well, these brands have what you need. For more gardening tips, check out this guide on growing herbs at home.
What are the benefits of using plant labels in my garden?
Plant labels make it easy to tell apart herbs, veggies, and flowers. They help organize your garden and make it look great. Your garden can show off your personal style.
What types of materials can I use for DIY plant labels?
You can make labels from wood, plastic, metal, or biodegradable stuff. Each has its own look and benefits. Pick what fits your garden best.
How do I choose the right size for my plant labels?
Choose a size that’s big enough to read from afar but fits your garden. This makes it easy to spot plants while you work.
What key information should I include on my plant labels?
Include the plant’s name, type, and care tips. This helps keep plants healthy and ensures they get the right care.
Can I customize my plant labels to match my garden theme?
Yes! Add your own style with fonts, colors, and themes. This makes your garden a true reflection of you.
Where can I find quality plant labels for purchase?
You can find great labels online or at local gardening stores. Brands like GardenMate and Gardener’s Supply Company have lots of options.
What eco-friendly options are available for plant labels?
Eco-friendly gardeners can use old items like spoons or cardboard. Bamboo and recycled plastics are also good choices.
How can I ensure my plant labels last longer outdoors?
Use materials that can handle the weather. Apply sealants to protect from rain and sun. This keeps your labels looking good longer.
Are there any tips for crafting my own plant labels?
Use durable markers like paint pens. Keep scissors and sealants ready for custom sizes and protection.
How do plant labels assist in tracking plant growth?
Labels help track growth and keep plant history. Clear labels ensure each plant gets the right care. This makes it easier to see how they grow and adjust care. | <urn:uuid:ca27dec1-bd4e-46bd-b5a2-3e9431a94284> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://majesticgardening.com/plant-labels/ | 2024-12-11T19:15:32Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066092235.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20241211174540-20241211204540-00361.warc.gz | en | 0.900197 | 3,175 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Excerpted from “The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters” by Juliette Kayyem, ’91, JD ’95, Belfer Senior Lecturer in International Security.
Many major disasters or events have some sort of commission or blue-ribbon group to determine what went wrong and what might be learned to prepare for the future. They can be thorough and help expose facts and lessons, such as the 9/11 Commission, whose historic words — “a failure of imagination”— captured the world’s attention. In so many cases, the reasons for the disaster are easy to come by: levees broke, intelligence dots weren’t connected, a network was vulnerable, a virus wasn’t contained early enough. Fixes are urged to ensure that an identical catastrophe doesn’t happen again. Who could be against that? But a thorough review has an additional purpose in an era of disasters: It not only confirms that people have died, but it can expose how people died. There is a difference.
In the 2020 hurricane season, there were 30 named storms, more than ever before. Storms were so plentiful that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) had to turn to the Greek alphabet — alpha, beta, and so on — once it had passed Z. Twelve of those storms made land in the U.S., another new record. Hurricane Laura in Louisiana would prove to be the biggest, creating 17-foot storm surges, the highest ever recorded. The NHC launched a massive messaging campaign throughout in an effort that minimized fatalities, using the dramatic word unsurvivable to impress upon people how serious Laura could be.
There was not one fatality because of the surge or hurricane. But still, 28 people died, most of these after the storm had passed. It wasn’t the waters. It was the gas. As the storm devastated the electrical grid, many communities had to rely on emergency generators; various areas in Southwest Louisiana had no access to power for weeks. Those generators proved to be unsafe for many. The majority of the deaths were in fact people dying from carbon monoxide poisoning rather than from the storm itself.
These are stupid deaths, often called indirect deaths. As hurricane forecasting has improved, information has helped make us safer and better prepared for surging waters. In turn, fewer people die from direct causes, such as flooding and high winds, yet people are still dying. These indirect causes include heart attacks, car accidents, electrocution, and carbon monoxide.
We’ve similarly learned about blizzards in the last few decades. It turns out most people do not die from the snow or cold. They mostly die from carbon monoxide poisoning as well, more often than not in their cars. In the 1978 blizzard in New England, nearly 100 people died during a surprise storm, one that came in so fast it was almost impossible to prepare for. Once the snow started falling, people got into their cars to rush home or check in on family members. Soon many got stuck. Without help on the horizon, while freezing, people kept their car engines on as the exhaust pipe froze as well. Carbon monoxide would ultimately kill 72 of them.
This is why today, governors throughout New England and in colder climates regularly institute travel bans well before the snow starts. If they wait too long, the disaster will kill in ways having nothing to do directly with snow. A goal is certainly to protect first responders and keep streets open to plow. But mostly it is to keep people from dying of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is the immediate aftermath period that can prove deadliest, when people turn to make-shift processes — generators barely used, fireplaces not cleaned out — and die. There is an irony here; as our systems of response become more and more sophisticated for recurring disasters, and people take heed of familiar threats, the disaster can still be challenging and lethal. How people die matters.
Historical patterns, although helpful, cannot always serve as guides for what we might anticipate in the future. The threats are changing too quickly and occurring too rapidly. But that is not to say there is no role for history to promote better response and consequence management purposes. One obvious reason is because indirect deaths can always be avoided. Another reason, though, is that we often learn the wrong lessons from these disasters. We make the wrong assumptions, like water or wind being the cause of hurricane deaths. These initial assumptions about what occurred, and therefore how to fix it, will change over time. We must accurately memorialize how people die.
This happened with later studies of the mass shooting at Colorado’s Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. We believe a story about the two student murderers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, that has not held up to examination: They were not misfits and goth advocates who lived in a dark world. All of that was a myth. They were well-adapted boys, beloved, who did something horrible. And as the events of that day were reviewed, it also became clear that the protocols for how to deal with active shooters had to change.
As the two student killers walked the hallways shooting, students were told to hide in the school’s library. The problem was that nothing protected them there. One after another, the killers targeted the captive students. After the massacre, 12 students and one teacher had lost their lives; the shooters committed suicide. In subsequent years, as more was learned about that day, it was clear that the students died because they were unable to escape from the library. And so those who began to help schools deal with the truly horrific American phenomenon of school shootings began to promote the concept of “run, hide, fight.” Run first if you can. Get out of harm’s way. Who died and didn’t die in that high school wasn’t merely a matter of luck; it was a question of location. An important lesson from the tragedy of Columbine is that we taught our children to run.
As a mother I found these school shootings devastating. With decades of mass shootings, we’ve now learned that there is no benefit for first responders to delay entry into a facility. Previously, they had assumed that a shooter had some agenda and that by not entering, police could convince them to stop their violence. After Columbine, police were trained in a new tactic: immediate action rapid deployment. Speed, in other words, could have saved those children. It is worth noting that years later, conventional wisdom has begun to change again. The new understanding is that students could know what to do if there was an active shooter if it was explained to them but that formal active shooter drills are less beneficial than once thought. The trauma to students, especially younger ones, outweighs any benefit they may gain.
In design and planning, the same is true. Bridges falling are headlines. It is a tragedy. But we must return to the site to determine how, in fact, it fell. On Nov. 7, 1940, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the third-largest suspension bridge in the world, collapsed. The bridge connected Tacoma to the Kitsap Peninsula in Puget Sound and had opened just a few months earlier. It was a spectacular bridge failure, a technological wonder that didn’t last a year.
What brought the bridge down was wind. It was not just any wind, though, or the wind that examiners originally believed brought the bridge down. For some time, engineers believed the collapse was due to something called resonant frequency. Resonant frequency describes how much an object can absorb vibrational energy. Too much resonant frequency, too much pressure on the system unable to absorb it, and catastrophe follows. It was assumed that the wind moved the bridge naturally at first, but then pushed the frequency too hard, too strong, for too long, and it couldn’t sustain the pressure.
“There is an irony here; as our systems of response become more and more sophisticated for recurring disasters, and people take heed of familiar threats, the disaster can still be challenging and lethal. How people die matters.”
That simple assumption proved incorrect. Decades later, science would later change the narrative. When an object is suspended between two points, it is built to move to absorb impacts such as wind. The capacity to vibrate is built in, and we know how to build bridges to do so. That November 1940 day, the wind was so strong and continual that it caused something new, a flutter. The flutter served as an extra push at the ends of the suspended object, causing them to move perpendicular to the wind (rather than with the wind). Airplane manufacturers have learned to account for flutter in the design of a plane’s wings. But no engineer thought it could happen on a bridge. With the unique intense wind, the flutter was uncontrolled, twisting back and forth, breaking a steel suspension cable. The bridge could just not hold.
Fixing resonant frequency is a very different effort than addressing flutter in a suspension bridge. The latter requires buttressing end posts. Without such knowledge, bridges would continue to be built without a focus on flutter. Modern science led to a new engineering subfield called bridge aerodynamics and aeroelasticity. It pushed engineers to monitor new bridges as well that might be prone to flutter-like damage, including London’s Millennium Bridge and Russia’s Volgograd Bridge. Both of these major bridges had delayed openings and abrupt closings due to concerns over flutter.
Any review of what went wrong or how we can do better has to begin with the fundamentals, not the results. Take Facebook, for example, if we must. Mark Zuckerberg created a product, not just a platform. It connected people, he told us. He let us share memories and pictures, reacquaint ourselves, and meet strangers. Life would be better because we would be together. Facebook was sold as a benign company with a leader who seemed young enough to avoid judgment. But then reality hit the company: It had to monetize all the fun. So it turned to an advertising-based model, where we — Facebook’s users — actually became the product. Our information and our desires were targeted by the company for sale; advertisers would use that data to focus their efforts.
Zuckerberg was the perfect salesperson for the pitch. And he told regulators and legislators, privacy advocates, and those who would want to protect democracy not to worry about his growing power to control what we knew. By 2016, most Americans were absorbing their news through Facebook; it was no longer a platform but a publisher. The “news” became a sold commodity, targeted to those who would want to read it. Whether it was true or not was not Facebook’s worry.
As complaints grew about all the disinformation, Zuckerberg defended himself by what seemed a completely rational explanation. We wouldn’t want him to have the power to decide what is true, he would argue to congressional investigators and reporters. For Facebook to be the adjudicator of truth, the CEO claimed, was worse than letting information flow, even if some of it was false. The explanation sounded pretty solid.
Over time, it was clear that the argument was a total self-serving manipulation. He was playing with our assumptions about information. By claiming he didn’t want such authority to decide the truth, he was hiding the fact that he had already asserted considerable authority. His decision not to decide was a value-laden decision itself. It was favoring treachery; it let the misinformation and disinformation flourish. Zuckerberg was claiming he was agnostic. He was instead running the devil’s errands.
Facebook would spend a large chunk of its efforts post-2016 defending its business model, one that was flawed by design. It would promise to get better; piecemeal efforts, including the creation of a “Supreme Court” to independently assess questions of truth and usage, were created. It has not changed, though it apologizes a lot. It will not learn because it refuses to look at the primary, fundamental, even existential decision it had made — deciding not to decide. It will repeat history because it has no interest in learning from it.
Copyright © 2022. Available from PublicAffairs, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc. | <urn:uuid:3e4c44f3-9843-42c1-b21e-dd76ec7a6fdb> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/04/most-died-in-blizzard-of-78-from-co2-poisoning/ | 2024-12-03T07:49:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066132713.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20241203071857-20241203101857-00534.warc.gz | en | 0.981725 | 2,560 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Have you ever wondered whether otters will eat ducks? As professional copywriting journalists, we have delved into the topic of otters’ dietary habits to provide you with answers. Otters are fascinating animals that play a vital role in the ecosystem. However, they are also opportunistic predators that may prey on ducks if given the opportunity. In this section, we will explore otters’ diet, behavior, and their interactions with ducks to gain insight into their potential impact on duck populations.
Understanding otters’ food habits is crucial in determining whether they pose a threat to ducks. Otters are carnivorous animals that primarily feed on fish, crayfish, and other aquatic invertebrates. However, they are opportunistic predators that will consume small mammals, birds, and even ducks if given the chance. Their predation patterns are influenced by various factors that we will discuss in later sections.
Aside from their diet, it is essential to understand otters’ behavior in the wild. Otters are highly skilled hunters that use their sharp claws and strong jaws to capture prey. They are also known for their playful nature and abundant energy, which aids them in their hunting activities. Their behavior and predation patterns can shed light on the likelihood of them preying on ducks.
The interaction between otters and ducks in the wild can be complex. Ducks have evolved various strategies to avoid becoming prey and are wary of potential predators. While otters may attempt to catch ducks, ducks can often outmaneuver them by taking flight or diving into the water. Consideration of the habitat and behavior of ducks is crucial in assessing the likelihood of otters preying on them.
The fact that otters can prey on ducks cannot be overlooked. As predators, they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems. In the following sections, we will explore the factors that influence otter-duck predation and the measures that can be taken to manage their impact on duck populations.
Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the world of otters and discover their ecological impact on duck populations.
Otters’ Diet and Feeding Habits
Otters are carnivorous animals that have a diverse diet, making them opportunistic predators with remarkable hunting skills. It is essential to understand their food habits to assess the likelihood of otters preying on ducks and other prey.
Otters primarily feed on fish, crayfish, frogs, and other aquatic invertebrates. They are known for their ability to use their sensitive paws to locate and capture prey, aided by their sharp claws and strong jaws.
Food | Description | Examples |
Fish | Primary food source | Trout, salmon, catfish, perch |
Crayfish | Secondary food source | Red swamp crayfish, white river crayfish |
Frogs | Consumed in smaller quantities | Green frog, bullfrog |
Other Aquatic Invertebrates | Consumed based on availability | Mussels, snails, clams |
While otters depend mainly on fish and other aquatic invertebrates, they may also target small mammals, birds, and ducks, and it is not uncommon for them to consume these prey when given the chance. Otters’ feeding habits and diet directly impact their behavior and natural predation patterns, which have implications for the management of otter populations.
Otter Behavior and Predation Patterns
Otters are fascinating animals with unique behavioral traits that help them survive and thrive in their aquatic habitats. They are highly social and often live in family groups, called rafts, consisting of several individuals. Otters are also playful creatures that engage in tail-slapping, water sliding, and other games.
However, when it comes to hunting, otters are serious and efficient predators. With their sharp claws and strong jaws, they are capable of catching and consuming various prey, including ducks. Otters primarily hunt by diving into the water, searching for prey with their keen senses, and using their sharp teeth and claws to capture it.
Otters are known for their opportunistic nature, which means that they will consume ducks if they come across them. However, ducks are not their preferred prey, and otters are much more likely to target fish, crayfish, and other aquatic invertebrates.
Otter Predation Strategies
Otters use several strategies to catch prey, including stalking, chasing, and ambushing. When hunting in groups, they may coordinate their efforts to drive schools of fish into shallow waters, making them easier to catch. Otters are also known for their ability to use tools, such as rocks, to crack open hard-shelled prey like clams and mussels.
Otters are skilled swimmers and can hold their breath for several minutes while diving for prey. They have a streamlined body shape and webbed feet that help them move quickly and efficiently through the water. Otters can swim at speeds of up to six miles per hour and are capable of diving to depths of up to 60 feet.
Factors Influencing Otter-Duck Predation
Several factors can influence the likelihood of otters preying on ducks. One of the most significant factors is the availability of alternative prey. Otters are opportunistic predators that will consume whatever prey is most abundant and accessible. Therefore, if there are plenty of fish and invertebrates in their habitat, otters are less likely to target ducks.
Another factor that influences otter-duck predation is the density of otter populations. In areas where otter populations are high, they may be more likely to target ducks due to competition for resources. However, in areas where otters are scarce, ducks are less likely to be preyed upon by them.
The availability of suitable habitat is also crucial for both otters and ducks. Otters require clean, unpolluted water with plenty of vegetation and hiding places for prey. Ducks, on the other hand, need shallow water with ample food sources and adequate cover to nest and raise their young.
Finally, the vulnerability of ducks to predation is a significant factor in otter-duck interactions. Certain species of ducks, such as mallards, are more susceptible to predation due to their behavior and habitat preferences. For example, mallards are often found in shallow water near the shore, making them easier targets for otters.
Duck-Otter Interaction in the Wild
Observing the interaction between ducks and otters in the wild can be fascinating. While ducks have evolved various strategies to avoid potential predators, otters are adept hunters and can attempt to prey on ducks if given the opportunity. However, ducks have several ways to evade otter predation.
One of the most common ways ducks avoid being preyed upon by otters is by taking flight. Ducks are powerful swimmers, but they are no match for otters in the water. Therefore, when sensing danger, ducks take off into the air, typically with a loud call to alert others of potential danger. Another way ducks evade otter predation is by diving into the water and swimming underwater to avoid being caught.
It’s interesting to note that ducks and otters can also coexist in the same area without conflict. This is because ducks often forage in shallower waters, while otters focus on deeper waters. Additionally, ducks are most vulnerable during their breeding season when they build their nests in shallow waters. If ducks can avoid building their nests in areas where otters are frequently seen, they can reduce their risk of predation.
The Role of Habitat in Predator-Prey Interaction
The habitat plays a significant role in the interaction between ducks and otters. In areas where the habitat is rich with prey items, such as fish and crayfish, otters are less likely to target ducks. However, if the habitat is depleted of prey items, otters may target ducks as an alternative food source. Therefore, it’s essential to maintain the natural balance of the habitat for both ducks and otters to thrive.
Factors Influencing Otter-Duck Predation
When assessing the risk of otter predation on ducks, it’s important to consider several factors that can influence the likelihood of such interactions. These factors include:
- Availability of alternative prey: Otters are opportunistic predators, and their prey choice depends on the availability of suitable food sources. In areas where fish and other aquatic invertebrates are abundant, otters may not target ducks as frequently as they would in areas with limited food options.
- Density of otter populations: In areas with high otter densities, the likelihood of otter-duck interactions may increase as competition for resources intensifies.
- Availability of suitable habitat: Otters and ducks have different habitat requirements, and their range overlap can affect the likelihood of predation. In areas where otters and ducks share similar habitats, the likelihood of interaction may increase.
- Vulnerability of ducks to predation: Ducks have evolved various anti-predatory strategies, including vigilance, flocking, and avoiding known predators. Factors such as the age and sex of ducks, time of year, and habitat use can influence their vulnerability to predation by otters.
By understanding these factors, we can gain insight into the conditions under which otter-duck interactions are likely to occur. This knowledge is essential when formulating conservation and management strategies to maintain the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems.
Conservation and Management Strategies
As otters are predators, it is essential to consider their impact on duck populations in the context of broader ecological balance. Otters contribute to maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems by regulating fish populations and keeping the food chain in balance.
However, the predation of ducks by otters requires attention in conservation and management strategies. One approach is to preserve and restore suitable habitats for both otters and ducks. Wetlands and other aquatic habitats that are rich in prey can support both species. The protection and restoration of such habitats can lead to a win-win situation and allow the two species to coexist.
Conservation and Management Strategies | Objectives |
Population Management | Controling the density of otter populations in areas where ducks are vulnerable to predation. This can be achieved through regulating otter hunting or relocating them to regions with better otter habitat. |
Duck Population Management | Implementing measures to protect vulnerable duck populations, such as restricting hunting or implementing conservation programs. |
Education and Awareness | Providing information and educational materials to the public, especially those who live near wetland habitats, to raise awareness of the impacts of otters on duck populations and the importance of preserving suitable habitats for both species. |
Conservation and management strategies should be tailored to the specific needs of the ecosystems in question. Community involvement and cooperation are crucial for the successful implementation of such strategies.
Overall, it is possible to achieve a balance between otters and ducks in ecosystems. By considering otters as predators and their impact on prey populations, we can develop effective conservation and management strategies that allow the two species to coexist and thrive in their natural habitats.
After examining otters’ diet, behavior, and interaction with ducks, we can conclude that otters have the potential to prey on ducks. However, several factors influence the likelihood of otters preying on ducks, including the availability of alternative prey, the density of otter populations, and the vulnerability of ducks to predation. We cannot definitively say will otters eat ducks, but we do know that they may opportunistically target them if given the chance.
The Importance of Understanding Otters’ Impact on Ducks
It is essential to recognize the broader ecological impact of otters on aquatic ecosystems. While they may prey on ducks, they also play an important role in maintaining the balance of these environments. As such, it is crucial to approach the issue of otters’ predation on ducks in a holistic manner.
By implementing appropriate conservation and management strategies, we can find ways to balance the needs of otters and ducks in our ecosystems. These strategies may include habitat preservation, managing population densities, and implementing measures to protect vulnerable duck populations.
In conclusion, while otters may eat ducks, their impact on duck populations is complex, and there are many factors to consider. By understanding otters’ diet, behavior, and interactions with ducks, we can work towards conserving and managing our ecosystems in a way that benefits both otters and ducks, allowing them to coexist in harmony. | <urn:uuid:e43ceca0-b6b2-4390-a15b-f746a50c3083> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://allposttimes.com/will-otters-eat-ducks/ | 2024-12-11T09:15:09Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066078432.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20241211082128-20241211112128-00868.warc.gz | en | 0.954878 | 2,581 | 3.75 | 4 |
In any organization, Human Resource (HR) management is an essential function. The HR department is responsible for managing employee well-being, offering compensation and benefits, and running talent acquisition programs. Within an HR department, an HR Advisor plays a crucial role.
Definition of HR Advisor
An HR Advisor is a professional who provides advice and guidance on HR issues within an organization. HR Advisors work with members of staff, offering support and expertise on employee relations, performance management, employee engagement, and many other areas of HR.
Importance of HR Advisor in an organization
An HR Advisor is a vital link between employees and their employer. They act as a facilitator, mediator, and coach to help both employees and the organization succeed. By providing guidance and expertise on HR issues, they help mitigate potential conflicts, which could lead to legal issues, productivity loss, or employee turnover.
HR Advisors are also vital to an organization’s talent management strategy. They help identify and develop talent, build teams, and create an inclusive culture that supports employee growth and career development.
Key Responsibilities of HR Advisor
As an HR Advisor, you are responsible for a wide range of duties that are critical to the success of your organization. Below are some of the key responsibilities you will be handling on a regular basis.
Recruitment and Selection
Recruitment and selection are critical functions of HR, and as an HR Advisor, you will play a key role in these processes. You will be responsible for identifying and recruiting top talent for your organization. This will involve creating job descriptions, posting job ads, screening resumes, conducting interviews, and negotiating job offers.
As the HR Advisor, you will be responsible for maintaining positive employee relations. This means ensuring that employees are engaged, motivated, and satisfied with their work environment. You will be responsible for managing employee complaints, grievances, and conflicts, and implementing strategies to improve employee morale and productivity.
You will also be responsible for managing employee performance. This will involve setting performance goals and objectives, providing feedback on performance, conducting performance evaluations, and developing performance improvement plans where necessary.
Compensation and Benefits
As the HR Advisor, you will be responsible for managing employee compensation and benefits. This will involve developing and implementing compensation and benefits programs that are competitive and aligned with industry standards.
Learning and Development
Another key responsibility of the HR Advisor is to promote employee learning and development. You will be responsible for developing and implementing training programs that align with the company’s goals and objectives, and that help to improve employee skills and competencies.
Policy Development and Implementation
As the HR Advisor, you will also be responsible for developing and implementing HR policies that are aligned with the company’s goals and objectives. This will involve staying up-to-date with changes in laws and regulations that affect HR policies, and making sure that policies and procedures are communicated effectively to employees.
Finally, as an HR Advisor, you will be responsible for ensuring that the organization complies with all relevant laws and regulations related to HR. You will need to stay up-to-date with changes in laws and regulations, and develop strategies to ensure that the organization remains compliant.
As the HR Advisor, your key responsibilities will include recruitment and selection, employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits, learning and development, policy development and implementation, and compliance management. By effectively managing these responsibilities, you can play a critical role in driving the success of your organization.
Qualifications and Skills Required for HR Advisor
As an HR advisor, there are certain qualifications and skills that are necessary to perform your job effectively. These can be broken down into the following categories:
Educational and Professional Qualifications
Typically, an HR advisor would be expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in a field such as human resources, business administration, or a related subject. Some employers may also require a master’s degree, but this will depend on the specific role and organization.
Professional qualifications such as a PHR (Professional in Human Resources) or SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) can also be an advantage in securing an HR advisor position.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential for an HR advisor. They are required to interact with employees, management, and other stakeholders regularly. Communication skills such as active listening, effective written and oral communication, and negotiation skills are essential.
Analytical and Decision-Making Skills
HR advisors need to be analytical and have the ability to make informed decisions. They should be able to analyze complex data sets and identify trends and patterns that can help with strategic HR planning. They also need to make decisions quickly and effectively, considering legal implications and ensuring compliance.
HRMS and Other Software Knowledge
HR advisors typically use software such as HR management systems (HRMS) to manage employee records, recruiting, and other HR-related tasks. As an HR advisor, knowledge of HR software is essential to perform the role efficiently.
HR advisors should possess business acumen to understand how HR functions fit into the organization’s strategic goals. They should understand how decisions made in HR affect other business units and vice versa. They should also have a grasp of the industry the organization operates in and keep up with trends and changes.
Being an HR advisor requires a diverse skillset. These qualifications and skills are essential to understanding the role and responsibilities of an HR advisor effectively.
Duties of HR Advisor
As an HR advisor, you are responsible for providing advice and guidance to both managers and employees. Your role is to ensure that everyone in the organization is aware of the company’s policies, procedures, and regulations. You’ll need to be well-versed in HR best practices, employment law, and industry trends to effectively advise and guide personnel.
Your responsibilities as an HR advisor are multifaceted. You will be expected to develop and implement HR strategies that align with the company’s overall goals and objectives. This includes identifying opportunities for performance improvement, developing employee engagement initiatives, and implementing succession plans to ensure that the organization is staffed with the right people in key positions.
Another critical role you will be responsible for as an HR advisor is handling employee grievances and conflicts. This involves working with employees and managers to resolve issues quickly and effectively. You will need to be diplomatic, objective, and knowledgeable about employment law to handle difficult situations.
In your role as an HR advisor, you will also be required to monitor and report on HR metrics. This involves analyzing data to track the effectiveness of HR initiatives, identify areas for improvement, and provide insights to leadership on the state of the company’s human capital. By reviewing data about employee turnover, absenteeism, performance, and engagement, you can identify patterns and trends that can help inform future HR strategy.
Finally, maintaining and updating HR policies and procedures is an ongoing responsibility of an HR advisor. This includes reviewing existing policies, identifying areas for improvement, and making updates to ensure compliance with employment law, industry best practices, and company goals. You may also be responsible for creating new HR policies and procedures to address emerging issues or trends in the workplace.
An HR advisor role is critical to the success of any organization. By providing guidance to management and employees, implementing effective HR strategies, handling conflicts and grievances, monitoring HR metrics, and maintaining HR policies and procedures, the HR advisor ensures that the company’s valuable human resources are nurtured, valued, and managed effectively.
Challenges Faced by HR Advisor
Being an HR advisor comes with various challenges that require critical thinking, strong communication skills, and extensive knowledge in human resources management. Here are some of the significant challenges that HR advisors face in their daily operations:
Handling conflicts and difficult personalities
One of the most challenging aspects of an HR advisor’s job is dealing with conflicts within the organization. Conflict arises from different perspectives, misunderstandings, and competing interests. HR advisors must have excellent conflict resolution skills to manage and address these conflicts efficiently. Moreover, HR advisors should also handle difficult personalities within the organization, such as those who exhibit negative behaviors, lack emotional intelligence, or refuse to cooperate.
Balancing business needs and employee needs
Another critical challenge for HR advisors is balancing the company’s goals and the employees’ needs. HR advisors are expected to support the company’s growth and ensure employee satisfaction, which requires analyzing the business objectives, identifying gaps, and determining the best strategies to bridge them. They must also develop policies and programs that align with the organization’s goals while meeting the needs of employees, such as workplace culture, diversity and inclusion, and work-life balance.
Staying updated with the latest HR trends and practices
The HR industry is continuously evolving, and HR advisors must keep up with the latest trends, laws, and practices to remain competitive and effective. HR advisors should attend professional development workshops, conferences, and webinars to acquire new knowledge and skills. This will enable them to bring innovative solutions and ideas to the organization, improve their problem-solving skills, and maintain credibility and relevance.
Addressing any legal and regulatory issues
HR advisors must be knowledgeable about the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern the industry. Failing to adhere to the laws and regulations could lead to penalties, suits, and loss of reputation. HR advisors should pay attention to the regulations, such as anti-discrimination laws, health and safety standards, and taxation requirements. They must also educate the organization on the laws and call for compliance.
HR advisors face a wide range of challenges that require extensive knowledge, experience, and skills. By managing conflicts and difficult personalities, striking a balance between business needs and employee needs, staying up-to-date with the latest HR trends and practices, and addressing legal and regulatory issues, HR advisors can add value to their organizations and promote growth and success.
How to Become an HR Advisor
HR advisors are a vital part of any organization, responsible for providing guidance and support to both management and employees. To become an HR advisor, there are a few key steps to follow.
To become an HR advisor, a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field is commonly required. However, some employers may accept applicants with degrees in psychology, business, or other related fields. Additionally, some organizations may require a master’s degree.
Gaining Work Experience
Once you have the necessary education, gaining work experience is crucial to becoming an HR advisor. Entry-level positions in HR such as human resources assistant or coordinator are usually available for recent graduates. These positions help develop the foundational skills that are necessary to advance to the role of an HR advisor.
Developing Key Skills
To be an effective HR advisor, it is essential to have strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. Being able to manage conflict, handle sensitive situations with discretion, and make decisions in challenging scenarios are all critical skills for this role. Additionally, being detail-oriented, organized, and tech-savvy are important for keeping track of employee records and staying up-to-date with HR software and tools.
Obtaining Relevant Certifications
To set yourself apart from other candidates and enhance your skills, obtaining relevant certifications can be highly beneficial. Professional organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) offer a variety of certifications that demonstrate your expertise in various HR areas. Some popular certifications include the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and the HRCI Professional in Human Resources (PHR).
While becoming an HR advisor requires a combination of education, experience, and skills, following these steps can set you on the path towards a successful career. As the role of an HR advisor continues to evolve, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in the industry will also be essential.
HR Advisor Salary Expectations
As an HR advisor, your salary expectations can vary based on several factors. Understanding these factors can help you negotiate a better salary and plan your career growth more effectively.
Average Salary Range
According to Payscale, the average salary range for an HR advisor in the United States is between $45,000-$76,000 per year, with a median salary of $56,000. However, this can vary by location, industry, and experience level.
For example, HR advisors working in larger cities, such as New York or San Francisco, may earn more due to the higher cost of living. Those working in industries with high demand or specialized skills, such as healthcare or technology, may also earn more.
Experience level also plays a role in determining salary, with entry-level HR advisors typically earning less than those with several years of experience.
Factors Affecting Salary
Several factors can affect an HR advisor’s salary, including:
- Education: Those with advanced degrees or certifications, such as a master’s in HR management or a PHR certification, may earn more than those without.
- Industry: As previously mentioned, certain industries may offer higher salaries due to demand and specialized skills.
- Company size: Larger companies may offer higher salaries due to their larger budgets and more complex HR needs.
- Location: Cost of living and demand for HR advisors in a particular region can also impact salary.
In addition, HR advisors with strong negotiation and communication skills, as well as experience in areas such as talent acquisition and employee engagement, may also command higher salaries.
Career Growth Opportunities
There are several opportunities for career growth as an HR advisor. Some potential career paths include:
- HR Manager: With several years of experience, HR advisors can move into management roles, overseeing a team of HR professionals.
- Talent Acquisition Manager: HR advisors with experience in talent acquisition may become talent acquisition managers, responsible for sourcing and hiring candidates for their organization.
- HR Business Partner: In this role, HR advisors work closely with business leaders to develop HR strategies that align with company goals and objectives.
Additionally, HR advisors may choose to specialize in a particular area of HR, such as compensation and benefits or employee engagement, to become subject matter experts in their field.
Salary expectations for HR advisors can vary based on location, industry, experience level, and several other factors. However, with the right skills and experience, there are several opportunities for career growth within the field.
HR Advisor vs HR Manager
As an aspiring HR professional, it’s essential to know the difference between HR Advisor and HR Manager. In this section, we’ll discuss key differences and career pathways.
1. Job Roles
An HR Advisor is responsible for supporting and guiding employees and stakeholders on HR policies, procedures, and employment laws. They also provide advice on employee relations, performance management, and development plans.
On the other hand, an HR Manager is responsible for overseeing the HR department’s operations, including recruitment, training, payroll, and compensation management. They also play a critical role in formulating HR strategies and policies that align with the organization’s goals.
2. Seniority Level
An HR Advisor is generally available at the mid-level of the HR hierarchy. They report to the HR Manager and work closely with other HR team members to fulfill their duties.
An HR Manager, on the other hand, is a senior-level professional who holds significant responsibilities in managing the HR function, including managing HR staff, ensuring compliance with legal regulations, and collaborating with the senior management team to support the organization’s objectives.
3. Decision-making Authority
The decision-making authority for an HR Advisor is limited. They provide advice and guidance to employees or stakeholders, but they do not have the authority to make final decisions.
In contrast, an HR Manager has the responsibility and authority to make strategic decisions concerning the HR function, including hiring, promoting, and terminating employees.
The HR profession provides diverse and rewarding career pathways that can lead to a senior-level HR role or other executive leadership positions. HR Advisors and HR Managers also have their respective career trajectories.
HR Advisor Career Pathway:
HR Advisor > Senior HR Advisor > HR Business Partner > HR Manager/ Senior Manager >
HR Manager Career Pathway:
HR Assistant > HR Coordinator > HR Advisor > HR Manager > Senior HR Manager >
The HR career pathway is also flexible, allowing HR professionals to acquire a range of skills and knowledge in HR through a combination of job experience, training, and education.
HR Advisor and HR Manager functions are critical to an organization’s growth and development. As discussed, the key differences across job role, seniority level, and decision-making authority between them are crucial to understand.
Furthermore, the HR profession is dynamic, presenting career opportunities for ambitious HR professionals willing to acquire additional knowledge and skills through each career stage.
Example HR Advisor Job Description
As an HR Advisor, the role entails providing guidance and support to employees on human resources-related issues. The job involves working closely with other members of the HR team and managers to ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and legal requirements.
Overview of the Job
The HR Advisor plays a critical role in providing advice and support to employees across the organization. They are responsible for resolving complex HR issues, including workforce planning, performance management, employee relations, and recruitment. The primary goal of the HR Advisor is to ensure a positive employee experience, that supports the overall organizational objectives. As such, the role involves building strong relationships with employees, managers, and other key stakeholders.
The key responsibilities of an HR Advisor include:
- Providing guidance and advice to managers and employees on HR-related issues.
- Creating and implementing HR policies, procedures, and practices that align with the organization’s objectives.
- Ensuring compliance with employment laws, regulations, and company policies.
- Managing the employee life cycle, including performance management, succession planning, and retention strategies.
- Managing recruitment and selection processes, including creating job descriptions, screening resumes, and conducting interviews.
- Developing and delivering training programs that enhance employee performance and support organizational goals.
Qualifications and Skills Required
The qualifications and skills required for the HR Advisor role include:
- A bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field.
- Several years of experience in human resources.
- Strong understanding of employment laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels of the organization.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically and translate ideas into practical solutions.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS software.
The HR Advisor is a critical member of the HR team, responsible for providing guidance and support to employees on HR-related issues. The role involves managing various aspects of the employee life cycle, including recruitment, employee relations, and performance management. To be effective in the job, the HR Advisor must have strong communication and interpersonal skills, be knowledgeable about employment laws and regulations, and possess the ability to think strategically and deliver practical solutions that support organizational objectives.
Sample HR Advisor Interview Questions
During the hiring process for an HR Advisor, it’s important to ask a variety of questions to assess their level of expertise, experience, and fit with your company’s culture. In this section, we’ll explore some sample behavioral-based and technical questions to help you find the best candidate for the job.
- Describe a time when you had to handle a difficult employee situation. How did you approach the issue, and what was the outcome?
- Can you give an example of a challenging project you delivered as an HR Advisor? What difficulties did you face, and how did you overcome them?
- Have you ever had to deliver difficult feedback to a manager or executive? How did you handle the situation, and what was the outcome?
- How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple tasks to complete? Can you provide an example of a time when you had to juggle competing priorities?
Behavioral-based questions are designed to help you understand how the candidate has handled certain situations in the past. This approach can give you insights into their problem-solving skills, decision-making abilities, and how they handle pressure.
- What methods do you use to screen job applicants? Can you walk me through the steps of your recruitment process?
- Can you give an overview of the benefits and compensation packages offered to employees at your previous company? How did you evaluate and recommend changes to these policies?
- Have you worked with HR software systems before? If so, which ones have you used and how did you utilize them to support HR processes?
- Can you explain the differences between exempt and non-exempt employee classifications? How do you determine which classification an employee falls into?
Technical questions are designed to help you assess the candidate’s knowledge of HR policies, procedures, and systems. You can also use these questions to gauge their analytical abilities and problem-solving skills.
Asking both behavioral-based and technical questions during an HR Advisor interview can help you assess the candidate’s fit with your company culture, their experience in managing HR projects, and their effective use of HR software tools. By utilizing these interview questions and carefully evaluating each candidate’s responses, you can find the best-suited HR advisor for your organization.
Best Practices for HR Advisor
As an HR advisor, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest HR laws and regulations. This can be done by regularly attending workshops and seminars, reading publications or websites such as SHRM or HR Magazine, and consulting with legal experts.
Building strong relationships with employees and managers is also crucial. HR advisors should make themselves available to listen to employees’ concerns and provide advice on how to address them. They should also seek to understand the key challenges and priorities of managers and work collaboratively with them to implement HR initiatives that support the organization’s goals.
Using HR technology and data can help HR advisors to be more effective in their role. Technology can streamline administrative tasks, such as tracking employee data and managing benefits. Data analysis can also provide valuable insights for decision-making and help to identify areas for improvement.
Finally, continuous development of skills and knowledge is essential for HR advisors to stay relevant and to adapt to changing needs of the organization. This can be done through attending training courses, obtaining certifications, and seeking out mentorship or coaching opportunities.
Staying updated with HR laws and regulations, building strong relationships with employees and managers, using HR technology and data, and continuously developing skills and knowledge are key best practices that HR advisors should prioritize in their role. By doing so, they can effectively support the organization’s HR needs and drive business success.
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Fighter aircraft (early on also pursuit aircraft) are military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat. In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air superiority of the battlespace. Domination of the airspace above a battlefield permits bombers and attack aircraft to engage in tactical and strategic bombing of enemy targets.
The key performance features of a fighter include not only its firepower but also its high speed and maneuverability relative to the target aircraft. The success or failure of a combatant's efforts to gain air superiority hinges on several factors including the skill of its pilots, the tactical soundness of its doctrine for deploying its fighters, and the numbers and performance of those fighters.
Many modern fighter aircraft also have secondary capabilities such as ground attack and some types, such as fighter-bombers, are designed from the outset for dual roles. Other fighter designs are highly specialized while still filling the main air superiority role, and these include the interceptor, heavy fighter, and night fighter.
Fighters continued to be developed throughout World War I, to deny enemy aircraft and dirigibles the ability to gather information by reconnaissance over the battlefield. Early fighters were very small and lightly armed by later standards, and most were biplanes built with a wooden frame covered with fabric, and a maximum airspeed of about 100mph. As control of the airspace over armies became increasingly important, all of the major powers developed fighters to support their military operations. Between the wars, wood was largely replaced in part or whole by metal tubing, and finally aluminum stressed skin structures (monocoque) began to predominate.
By World War II, most fighters were all-metal monoplanes armed with batteries of machine guns or cannons and some were capable of speeds approaching 400mph. Most fighters up to this point had one engine, but a number of twin-engine fighters were built; however they were found to be outmatched against single-engine fighters and were relegated to other tasks, such as night fighters equipped with radar sets.
By the end of the war, turbojet engines were replacing piston engines as the means of propulsion, further increasing aircraft speed. Since the weight of the turbojet engine was far less than a piston engine, having two engines was no longer a handicap and one or two were used, depending on requirements. This in turn required the development of ejection seats so the pilot could escape, and G-suits to counter the much greater forces being applied to the pilot during maneuvers.
In the 1950s, radar was fitted to day fighters, since due to ever increasing air-to-air weapon ranges, pilots could no longer see far enough ahead to prepare for the opposition. Subsequently, radar capabilities grew enormously and are now the primary method of target acquisition. Wings were made thinner and swept back to reduce transonic drag, which required new manufacturing methods to obtain sufficient strength. Skins were no longer sheet metal riveted to a structure, but milled from large slabs of alloy. The sound barrier was broken, and after a few false starts due to required changes in controls, speeds quickly reached Mach 2, past which aircraft cannot maneuver sufficiently to avoid attack.
Air-to-air missiles largely replaced guns and rockets in the early 1960s since both were believed unusable at the speeds being attained, however the Vietnam War showed that guns still had a role to play, and most fighters built since then are fitted with cannon (typically between in caliber) in addition to missiles. Most modern combat aircraft can carry at least a pair of air-to-air missiles.
In the 1970s, turbofans replaced turbojets, improving fuel economy enough that the last piston engine support aircraft could be replaced with jets, making multi-role combat aircraft possible. Honeycomb structures began to replace milled structures, and the first composite components began to appear on components subjected to little stress.With the steady improvements in computers, defensive systems have become increasingly efficient. To counter this, stealth technologies have been pursued by the United States, Russia, India and China. The first step was to find ways to reduce the aircraft's reflectivity to radar waves by burying the engines, eliminating sharp corners and diverting any reflections away from the radar sets of opposing forces. Various materials were found to absorb the energy from radar waves, and were incorporated into special finishes that have since found widespread application. Composite structures have become widespread, including major structural components, and have helped to counterbalance the steady increases in aircraft weight—most modern fighters are larger and heavier than World War II medium bombers.
Because of the importance of air superiority, since the early days of aerial combat armed forces have constantly competed to develop technologically superior fighters and to deploy these fighters in greater numbers, and fielding a viable fighter fleet consumes a substantial proportion of the defense budgets of modern armed forces.
The global combat aircraft market was worth $45.75 billion in 2017 and is projected by Frost & Sullivan at $47.2 billion in 2026: 35% modernization programs and 65% aircraft purchases, dominated by the Lockheed Martin F-35 with 3,000 deliveries over 20 years.
A fighter aircraft is primarily designed for air-to-air combat. A given type may be designed for specific combat conditions, and in some cases for additional roles such as air-to-ground fighting. Historically the British Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force referred to them as "scouts" until the early 1920s, while the U.S. Army called them "pursuit" aircraft until the late 1940s (using the designation P, as in Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and Bell P-63 Kingcobra). The UK changed to calling them fighters in the 1920s, while the US Army did so in the 1940s. A short-range fighter designed to defend against incoming enemy aircraft is known as an interceptor.
Recognized classes of fighter include:
Of these, the Fighter-bomber, reconnaissance fighter and strike fighter classes are dual-role, possessing qualities of the fighter alongside some other battlefield role. Some fighter designs may be developed in variants performing other roles entirely, such as ground attack or unarmed reconnaissance. This may be for political or national security reasons, for advertising purposes, or other reasons.
The Sopwith Camel and other "fighting scouts" of World War I performed a great deal of ground-attack work. In World War II, the USAAF and RAF often favored fighters over dedicated light bombers or dive bombers, and types such as the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and Hawker Hurricane that were no longer competitive as aerial combat fighters were relegated to ground attack. Several aircraft, such as the F-111 and F-117, have received fighter designations though they had no fighter capability due to political or other reasons. The F-111B variant was originally intended for a fighter role with the U.S. Navy, but it was canceled. This blurring follows the use of fighters from their earliest days for "attack" or "strike" operations against ground targets by means of strafing or dropping small bombs and incendiaries. Versatile multi role fighter-bombers such as the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet are a less expensive option than having a range of specialized aircraft types.
Some of the most expensive fighters such as the US Grumman F-14 Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and Russian Sukhoi Su-27 were employed as all-weather interceptors as well as air superiority fighter aircraft, while commonly developing air-to-ground roles late in their careers. An interceptor is generally an aircraft intended to target (or intercept) bombers and so often trades maneuverability for climb rate.
As a part of military nomenclature, a letter is often assigned to various types of aircraft to indicate their use, along with a number to indicate the specific aircraft. The letters used to designate a fighter differ in various countries. In the English-speaking world, "F" is often now used to indicate a fighter (e.g. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II or Supermarine Spitfire F.22), though "P" used to be used in the US for pursuit (e.g. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk), a translation of the French "C" (Dewoitine D.520 C.1) for Chasseur while in Russia "I" was used for Istrebitel, or exterminator (Polikarpov I-16).
See main article: Air superiority fighter.
As fighter types have proliferated, the air superiority fighter emerged as a specific role at the pinnacle of speed, maneuverability, and air-to-air weapon systems – able to hold its own against all other fighters and establish its dominance in the skies above the battlefield.
See main article: Interceptor aircraft.
The interceptor is a fighter designed specifically to intercept and engage approaching enemy aircraft. There are two general classes of interceptor: relatively lightweight aircraft in the point-defence role, built for fast reaction, high performance and with a short range, and heavier aircraft with more comprehensive avionics and designed to fly at night or in all weathers and to operate over longer ranges. Originating during World War I, by 1929 this class of fighters had become known as the interceptor.
See main article: Night fighter.
The equipment necessary for daytime flight is inadequate when flying at night or in poor visibility. The night fighter was developed during World War I with additional equipment to aid the pilot in flying straight, navigating and finding the target. From modified variants of the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c in 1915, the night fighter has evolved into the highly capable all-weather fighter.
See main article: Strategic fighter.
The strategic fighter is a fast, heavily armed and long-range type, able to act as an escort fighter protecting bombers, to carry out offensive sorties of its own as a penetration fighter and maintain standing patrols at significant distance from its home base.
Bombers are vulnerable due to their low speed, large size and poor maneuvrability. The escort fighter was developed during World War II to come between the bombers and enemy attackers as a protective shield. The primary requirement was for long range, with several heavy fighters given the role. However they too proved unwieldy and vulnerable, so as the war progressed techniques such as drop tanks were developed to extend the range of more nimble conventional fighters.
The word "fighter" was first used to describe a two-seat aircraft carrying a machine gun (mounted on a pedestal) and its operator as well as the pilot. Although the term was coined in the United Kingdom, the first examples were the French Voisin pushers beginning in 1910, and a Voisin III would be the first to shoot down another aircraft, on 5 October 1914.
However at the outbreak of World War I, front-line aircraft were mostly unarmed and used almost exclusively for reconnaissance. On 15 August 1914, Miodrag Tomić encountered an enemy airplane while on a reconnaissance flight over Austria-Hungary which fired at his aircraft with a revolver, so Tomić fired back. It was believed to be the first exchange of fire between aircraft. Within weeks, all Serbian and Austro-Hungarian aircraft were armed.
Another type of military aircraft formed the basis for an effective "fighter" in the modern sense of the word. It was based on small fast aircraft developed before the war for air racing such with the Gordon Bennett Cup and Schneider Trophy. The military scout airplane was not expected to carry serious armament, but rather to rely on speed to "scout" a location, and return quickly to report, making it a flying horse. British scout aircraft, in this sense, included the Sopwith Tabloid and Bristol Scout. The French and the Germans didn't have an equivalent as they used two seaters for reconnaissance, such as the Morane-Saulnier L, but would later modify pre-war racing aircraft into armed single seaters. It was quickly found that these were of little use since the pilot couldn't record what he saw while also flying, while military leaders usually ignored what the pilots reported.
Attempts were made with handheld weapons such as pistols and rifles and even light machine guns, but these were ineffective and cumbersome. The next advance came with the fixed forward-firing machine gun, so that the pilot pointed the entire aircraft at the target and fired the gun, instead of relying on a second gunner. Roland Garros bolted metal deflector plates to the propeller so that it would not shoot itself out of the sky and a number of Morane-Saulnier Ns were modified. The technique proved effective, however the deflected bullets were still highly dangerous.
Soon after the commencement of the war, pilots armed themselves with pistols, carbines, grenades, and an assortment of improvised weapons. Many of these proved ineffective as the pilot had to fly his airplane while attempting to aim a handheld weapon and make a difficult deflection shot. The first step in finding a real solution was to mount the weapon on the aircraft, but the propeller remained a problem since the best direction to shoot is straight ahead. Numerous solutions were tried. A second crew member behind the pilot could aim and fire a swivel-mounted machine gun at enemy airplanes; however, this limited the area of coverage chiefly to the rear hemisphere, and effective coordination of the pilot's maneuvering with the gunner's aiming was difficult. This option was chiefly employed as a defensive measure on two-seater reconnaissance aircraft from 1915 on. Both the SPAD S.A and the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.9 added a second crewman ahead of the engine in a pod but this was both hazardous to the second crewman and limited performance. The Sopwith L.R.T.Tr. similarly added a pod on the top wing with no better luck.An alternative was to build a "pusher" scout such as the Airco DH.2, with the propeller mounted behind the pilot. The main drawback was that the high drag of a pusher type's tail structure made it slower than a similar "tractor" aircraft.A better solution for a single seat scout was to mount the machine gun (rifles and pistols having been dispensed with) to fire forwards but outside the propeller arc. Wing guns were tried but the unreliable weapons available required frequent clearing of jammed rounds and misfires and remained impractical until after the war. Mounting the machine gun over the top wing worked well and was used long after the ideal solution was found. The Nieuport 11 of 1916 used this system with considerable success, however, this placement made aiming and reloading difficult but would continue to be used throughout the war as the weapons used were lighter and had a higher rate of fire than synchronized weapons. The British Foster mounting and several French mountings were specifically designed for this kind of application, fitted with either the Hotchkiss or Lewis Machine gun, which due to their design were unsuitable for synchronizing. The need to arm a tractor scout with a forward-firing gun whose bullets passed through the propeller arc was evident even before the outbreak of war and inventors in both France and Germany devised mechanisms that could time the firing of the individual rounds to avoid hitting the propeller blades. Franz Schneider, a Swiss engineer, had patented such a device in Germany in 1913, but his original work was not followed up. French aircraft designer Raymond Saulnier patented a practical device in April 1914, but trials were unsuccessful because of the propensity of the machine gun employed to hang fire due to unreliable ammunition. In December 1914, French aviator Roland Garros asked Saulnier to install his synchronization gear on Garros' Morane-Saulnier Type L parasol monoplane. Unfortunately the gas-operated Hotchkiss machine gun he was provided had an erratic rate of fire and it was impossible to synchronize it with the propeller. As an interim measure, the propeller blades were fitted with metal wedges to protect them from ricochets. Garros' modified monoplane first flew in March 1915 and he began combat operations soon after. Garros scored three victories in three weeks before he himself was downed on 18 April and his airplane, along with its synchronization gear and propeller was captured by the Germans. Meanwhile, the synchronization gear (called the Stangensteuerung in German, for "pushrod control system") devised by the engineers of Anthony Fokker's firm was the first system to enter service. It would usher in what the British called the "Fokker scourge" and a period of air superiority for the German forces, making the Fokker Eindecker monoplane a feared name over the Western Front, despite its being an adaptation of an obsolete pre-war French Morane-Saulnier racing airplane, with poor flight characteristics and a by now mediocre performance. The first Eindecker victory came on 1 July 1915, when Leutnant Kurt Wintgens, of Feldflieger Abteilung 6 on the Western Front, downed a Morane-Saulnier Type L. His was one of five Fokker M.5K/MG prototypes for the Eindecker, and was armed with a synchronized aviation version of the Parabellum MG14 machine gun. The success of the Eindecker kicked off a competitive cycle of improvement among the combatants, both sides striving to build ever more capable single-seat fighters. The Albatros D.I and Sopwith Pup of 1916 set the classic pattern followed by fighters for about twenty years. Most were biplanes and only rarely monoplanes or triplanes. The strong box structure of the biplane provided a rigid wing that allowed the accurate control essential for dogfighting. They had a single operator, who flew the aircraft and also controlled its armament. They were armed with one or two Maxim or Vickers machine guns, which were easier to synchronize than other types, firing through the propeller arc. Gun breeches were in front of the pilot, with obvious implications in case of accidents, but jams could be cleared in flight, while aiming was simplified.
The use of metal aircraft structures was pioneered before World War I by Breguet but would find its biggest proponent in Anthony Fokker, who used chrome-molybdenum steel tubing for the fuselage structure of all his fighter designs, while the innovative German engineer Hugo Junkers developed two all-metal, single-seat fighter monoplane designs with cantilever wings: the strictly experimental Junkers J 2 private-venture aircraft, made with steel, and some forty examples of the Junkers D.I, made with corrugated duralumin, all based on his experience in creating the pioneering Junkers J 1 all-metal airframe technology demonstration aircraft of late 1915. While Fokker would pursue steel tube fuselages with wooden wings until the late 1930s, and Junkers would focus on corrugated sheet metal, Dornier was the first to build a fighter (the Dornier-Zeppelin D.I) made with pre-stressed sheet aluminum and having cantilevered wings, a form that would replace all others in the 1930s. As collective combat experience grew, the more successful pilots such as Oswald Boelcke, Max Immelmann, and Edward Mannock developed innovative tactical formations and maneuvers to enhance their air units' combat effectiveness.
Allied and – before 1918 – German pilots of World War I were not equipped with parachutes, so in-flight fires or structural failures were often fatal. Parachutes were well-developed by 1918 having previously been used by balloonists, and were adopted by the German flying services during the course of that year. The well known and feared Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron", was wearing one when he was killed, but the allied command continued to oppose their use on various grounds.
In April 1917, during a brief period of German aerial supremacy a British pilot's average life expectancy was calculated to average 93 flying hours, or about three weeks of active service. More than 50,000 airmen from both sides died during the war.
Fighter development stagnated between the wars, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom, where budgets were small. In France, Italy and Russia, where large budgets continued to allow major development, both monoplanes and all metal structures were common. By the end of the 1920s, however, those countries overspent themselves and were overtaken in the 1930s by those powers that hadn't been spending heavily, namely the British, the Americans, the Spanish (in the Spanish civil war) and the Germans.
Given limited budgets, air forces were conservative in aircraft design, and biplanes remained popular with pilots for their agility, and remained in service long after they ceased to be competitive. Designs such as the Gloster Gladiator, Fiat CR.42 Falco, and Polikarpov I-15 were common even in the late 1930s, and many were still in service as late as 1942. Up until the mid-1930s, the majority of fighters in the US, the UK, Italy and Russia remained fabric-covered biplanes.
Fighter armament eventually began to be mounted inside the wings, outside the arc of the propeller, though most designs retained two synchronized machine guns directly ahead of the pilot, where they were more accurate (that being the strongest part of the structure, reducing the vibration to which the guns were subjected). Shooting with this traditional arrangement was also easier because the guns shot directly ahead in the direction of the aircraft's flight, up to the limit of the guns range; unlike wing-mounted guns which to be effective required to be harmonised, that is, preset to shoot at an angle by ground crews so that their bullets would converge on a target area a set distance ahead of the fighter. Rifle-caliber calibre guns remained the norm, with larger weapons either being too heavy and cumbersome or deemed unnecessary against such lightly built aircraft. It was not considered unreasonable to use World War I-style armament to counter enemy fighters as there was insufficient air-to-air combat during most of the period to disprove this notion.
The rotary engine, popular during World War I, quickly disappeared, its development having reached the point where rotational forces prevented more fuel and air from being delivered to the cylinders, which limited horsepower. They were replaced chiefly by the stationary radial engine though major advances led to inline engines gaining ground with several exceptional engines—including the V-12 Curtiss D-12. Aircraft engines increased in power several-fold over the period, going from a typical in the Fokker D.VII of 1918 to in the Curtiss P-36 of 1936. The debate between the sleek in-line engines versus the more reliable radial models continued, with naval air forces preferring the radial engines, and land-based forces often choosing inlines. Radial designs did not require a separate (and vulnerable) radiator, but had increased drag. Inline engines often had a better power-to-weight ratio.
Some air forces experimented with "heavy fighters" (called "destroyers" by the Germans). These were larger, usually twin-engined aircraft, sometimes adaptations of light or medium bomber types. Such designs typically had greater internal fuel capacity (thus longer range) and heavier armament than their single-engine counterparts. In combat, they proved vulnerable to more agile single-engine fighters.
The primary driver of fighter innovation, right up to the period of rapid re-armament in the late 1930s, were not military budgets, but civilian aircraft racing. Aircraft designed for these races introduced innovations like streamlining and more powerful engines that would find their way into the fighters of World War II. The most significant of these was the Schneider Trophy races, where competition grew so fierce, only national governments could afford to enter.
At the very end of the inter-war period in Europe came the Spanish Civil War. This was just the opportunity the German Luftwaffe, Italian Regia Aeronautica, and the Soviet Union's Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily needed to test their latest aircraft. Each party sent numerous aircraft types to support their sides in the conflict. In the dogfights over Spain, the latest Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters did well, as did the Soviet Polikarpov I-16. The later German design was earlier in its design cycle, and had more room for development and the lessons learned led to greatly improved models in World War II. The Russians failed to keep up and despite newer models coming into service, I-16s remaining the most common Soviet front-line fighter into 1942 despite being outclassed by the improved Bf 109s in World War II. For their part, the Italians developed several monoplanes such as the Fiat G.50 Freccia, but being short on funds, were forced to continue operating obsolete Fiat CR.42 Falco biplanes.
From the early 1930s the Japanese were at war against both the Chinese Nationalists and the Russians in China, and used the experience to improve both training and aircraft, replacing biplanes with modern cantilever monoplanes and creating a cadre of exceptional pilots. In the United Kingdom, at the behest of Neville Chamberlain (more famous for his 'peace in our time' speech), the entire British aviation industry was retooled, allowing it to change quickly from fabric covered metal framed biplanes to cantilever stressed skin monoplanes in time for the war with Germany, a process that France attempted to emulate, but too late to counter the German invasion. The period of improving the same biplane design over and over was now coming to an end, and the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire started to supplant the Gloster Gladiator and Hawker Fury biplanes but many biplanes remained in front-line service well past the start of World War II. While not a combatant in Spain, they too absorbed many of the lessons in time to use them.
The Spanish Civil War also provided an opportunity for updating fighter tactics. One of the innovations was the development of the "finger-four" formation by the German pilot Werner Mölders. Each fighter squadron (German: Staffel) was divided into several flights (Schwärme) of four aircraft. Each Schwarm was divided into two Rotten, which was a pair of aircraft. Each Rotte was composed of a leader and a wingman. This flexible formation allowed the pilots to maintain greater situational awareness, and the two Rotten could split up at any time and attack on their own. The finger-four would be widely adopted as the fundamental tactical formation during World War Two, including by the British and later the Americans.
World War II featured fighter combat on a larger scale than any other conflict to date. German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel noted the effect of airpower: "Anyone who has to fight, even with the most modern weapons, against an enemy in complete command of the air, fights like a savage…" Throughout the war, fighters performed their conventional role in establishing air superiority through combat with other fighters and through bomber interception, and also often performed roles such as tactical air support and reconnaissance.
Fighter design varied widely among combatants. The Japanese and Italians favored lightly armed and armored but highly maneuverable designs such as the Japanese Nakajima Ki-27, Nakajima Ki-43 and Mitsubishi A6M Zero and the Italian Fiat G.50 Freccia and Macchi MC.200. In contrast, designers in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Soviet Union, and the United States believed that the increased speed of fighter aircraft would create g-forces unbearable to pilots who attempted maneuvering dogfights typical of the First World War, and their fighters were instead optimized for speed and firepower. In practice, while light, highly maneuverable aircraft did possess some advantages in fighter-versus-fighter combat, those could usually be overcome by sound tactical doctrine, and the design approach of the Italians and Japanese made their fighters ill-suited as interceptors or attack aircraft.
During the invasion of Poland and the Battle of France, Luftwaffe fighters—primarily the Messerschmitt Bf 109—held air superiority, and the Luftwaffe played a major role in German victories in these campaigns. During the Battle of Britain, however, British Hurricanes and Spitfires proved roughly equal to Luftwaffe fighters. Additionally Britain's radar-based Dowding system directing fighters onto German attacks and the advantages of fighting above Britain's home territory allowed the RAF to deny Germany air superiority, saving the UK from possible German invasion and dealing the Axis a major defeat early in the Second World War. On the Eastern Front, Soviet fighter forces were overwhelmed during the opening phases of Operation Barbarossa. This was a result of the tactical surprise at the outset of the campaign, the leadership vacuum within the Soviet military left by the Great Purge, and the general inferiority of Soviet designs at the time, such as the obsolescent Polikarpov I-15 biplane and the I-16. More modern Soviet designs, including the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3, LaGG-3 and Yakolev Yak-1, had not yet arrived in numbers and in any case were still inferior to the Messerschmitt Bf 109. As a result, during the early months of these campaigns, Axis air forces destroyed large numbers of Red Air Force aircraft on the ground and in one-sided dogfights. In the later stages on the Eastern Front, Soviet training and leadership improved, as did their equipment. By 1942 Soviet designs such as the Yakovlev Yak-9 and Lavochkin La-5 had performance comparable to the German Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Also, significant numbers of British, and later U.S., fighter aircraft were supplied to aid the Soviet war effort as part of Lend-Lease, with the Bell P-39 Airacobra proving particularly effective in the lower-altitude combat typical of the Eastern Front. The Soviets were also helped indirectly by the American and British bombing campaigns, which forced the Luftwaffe to shift many of its fighters away from the Eastern Front in defense against these raids. The Soviets increasingly were able to challenge the Luftwaffe, and while the Luftwaffe maintained a qualitative edge over the Red Air Force for much of the war, the increasing numbers and efficacy of the Soviet Air Force were critical to the Red Army's efforts at turning back and eventually annihilating the Wehrmacht.Meanwhile, air combat on the Western Front had a much different character. Much of this combat focused on the strategic bombing campaigns of the RAF and the USAAF against German industry intended to wear down the Luftwaffe. Axis fighter aircraft focused on defending against Allied bombers while Allied fighters' main role was as bomber escorts. The RAF raided German cities at night, and both sides developed radar-equipped night fighters for these battles. The Americans, in contrast, flew daylight bombing raids into Germany delivering the Combined Bomber Offensive. Unescorted Consolidated B-24 Liberators and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, however, proved unable to fend off German interceptors (primarily Bf 109s and Fw 190s). With the later arrival of long range fighters, particularly the North American P-51 Mustang, American fighters were able to escort far into Germany on daylight raids and by ranging ahead attrited the Luftwaffe to establish control of the skies over Western Europe.
By the time of Operation Overlord in June 1944, the Allies had gained near complete air superiority over the Western Front. This cleared the way both for intensified strategic bombing of German cities and industries, and for the tactical bombing of battlefield targets. With the Luftwaffe largely cleared from the skies, Allied fighters increasingly served as ground attack aircraft.
Allied fighters, by gaining air superiority over the European battlefield, played a crucial role in the eventual defeat of the Axis, which Reichmarshal Hermann Göring, commander of the German Luftwaffe summed up when he said: "When I saw Mustangs over Berlin, I knew the jig was up."
Major air combat during the war in the Pacific began with the entry of the Western Allies following Japan's attack against Pearl Harbor. The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service primarily operated the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, and the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service flew the Nakajima Ki-27 and the Nakajima Ki-43, initially enjoying great success, as these fighters generally had better range, maneuverability, speed and climb rates than their Allied counterparts. Additionally, Japanese pilots were well trained and many were combat veterans from Japan's campaigns in China. They quickly gained air superiority over the Allies, who at this stage of the war were often disorganized, under-trained and poorly equipped, and Japanese air power contributed significantly to their successes in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, the Dutch East Indies and Burma.
By mid-1942, the Allies began to regroup and while some Allied aircraft such as the Brewster Buffalo and the P-39 Airacobra were hopelessly outclassed by fighters like Japan's Mitsubishi A6M Zero, others such as the Army's Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and the Navy's Grumman F4F Wildcat possessed attributes such as superior firepower, ruggedness and dive speed, and the Allies soon developed tactics (such as the Thach Weave) to take advantage of these strengths. These changes soon paid dividends, as the Allied ability to deny Japan air superiority was critical to their victories at Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal and New Guinea. In China, the Flying Tigers also used the same tactics with some success, although they were unable to stem the tide of Japanese advances there.By 1943, the Allies began to gain the upper hand in the Pacific Campaign's air campaigns. Several factors contributed to this shift. First, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and second-generation Allied fighters such as the Grumman F6 Hellcat and later the Vought F4 Corsair, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and the North American P-51 Mustang, began arriving in numbers. These fighters outperformed Japanese fighters in all respects except maneuverability. Other problems with Japan's fighter aircraft also became apparent as the war progressed, such as their lack of armor and light armament, which had been typical of all pre-war fighters worldwide, but the problem was particularly difficult to rectify on the Japanese designs. This made them inadequate as either bomber-interceptors or ground-attack aircraft, roles Allied fighters were still able to fill. Most importantly, Japan's training program failed to provide enough well-trained pilots to replace losses. In contrast, the Allies improved both the quantity and quality of pilots graduating from their training programs. By mid-1944, Allied fighters had gained air superiority throughout the theater, which would not be contested again during the war. The extent of Allied quantitative and qualitative superiority by this point in the war was demonstrated during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, a lopsided Allied victory in which Japanese fliers were shot down in such numbers and with such ease that American fighter pilots likened it to a great 'turkey shoot'. Late in the war, Japan began to produce new fighters such as the Nakajima Ki-84 and the Kawanishi N1K to replace the Zero, but only in small numbers, and by then Japan lacked the trained pilots or sufficient fuel to mount an effective challenge to Allied attacks. During the closing stages of the war, Japan's fighter arm could not seriously challenge raids over Japan by American Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, and was largely reduced to Kamikaze attacks.
Fighter technology advanced rapidly during the Second World War. Piston-engines, which powered the vast majority of World War II fighters, grew more powerful: at the beginning of the war fighters typically had engines producing between 1000hp and 1400hp, while by the end of the war many could produce over 2000hp. For example, the Spitfire, one of the few fighters in continuous production throughout the war, was in 1939 powered by a 1030hp Merlin II, while variants produced in 1945 were equipped with the 2035hp Rolls-Royce Griffon 61. Nevertheless, these fighters could only achieve modest increases in top speed due to problems of compressibility created as aircraft and their propellers approached the sound barrier, and it was apparent that propeller-driven aircraft were approaching the limits of their performance. German jet and rocket-powered fighters entered combat in 1944, too late to impact the war's outcome. The same year the Allies' only operational jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor, also entered service. World War II fighters also increasingly featured monocoque construction, which improved their aerodynamic efficiency while adding structural strength. Laminar flow wings, which improved high speed performance, also came into use on fighters such as the P-51 Mustang, while the Messerschmitt Me 262 and the Messerschmitt Me 163 featured swept wings that dramatically reduced drag at high subsonic speeds. Armament also advanced during the war. The rifle-caliber machine guns that were common on prewar fighters could not easily down the more rugged warplanes of the era. Air forces began to replace or supplement them with cannons, which fired explosive shells that could blast a hole in an enemy aircraft – rather than relying on kinetic energy from a solid bullet striking a critical component of the aircraft, such as a fuel line or control cable, or the pilot. Cannons could bring down even heavy bombers with just a few hits, but their slower rate of fire made it difficult to hit fast-moving fighters in a dogfight. Eventually, most fighters mounted cannons, sometimes in combination with machine guns. The British epitomized this shift. Their standard early war fighters mounted eight 0.303inches caliber machine guns, but by mid-war they often featured a combination of machine guns and cannons, and late in the war often only cannons. The Americans, in contrast, had problems producing a cannon design, so instead placed multiple heavy machine guns on their fighters. Fighters were also increasingly fitted with bomb racks and air-to-surface ordnance such as bombs or rockets beneath their wings, and pressed into close air support roles as fighter-bombers. Although they carried less ordnance than light and medium bombers, and generally had a shorter range, they were cheaper to produce and maintain and their maneuverability made it easier for them to hit moving targets such as motorized vehicles. Moreover, if they encountered enemy fighters, their ordnance (which reduced lift and increased drag and therefore decreased performance) could be jettisoned and they could engage enemy fighters, which eliminated the need for fighter escorts that bombers required.
Heavily armed fighters such as Germany's Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Britain's Hawker Typhoon and Hawker Tempest, and America's Curtiss P-40, F4U Corsair, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning all excelled as fighter-bombers, and since the Second World War ground attack has become an important secondary capability of many fighters.World War II also saw the first use of airborne radar on fighters. The primary purpose of these radars was to help night fighters locate enemy bombers and fighters. Because of the bulkiness of these radar sets, they could not be carried on conventional single-engined fighters and instead were typically retrofitted to larger heavy fighters or light bombers such as Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Junkers Ju 88, Britain's de Havilland Mosquito and Bristol Beaufighter, and America's Douglas A-20, which then served as night fighters. The Northrop P-61 Black Widow, a purpose-built night fighter, was the only fighter of the war that incorporated radar into its original design. Britain and America cooperated closely in the development of airborne radar, and Germany's radar technology generally lagged slightly behind Anglo-American efforts, while other combatants developed few radar-equipped fighters.
A concept originated from German engineer Bernhard J. Schrage in 1943 as a response to the increasing threat posed by Allied heavy bombers, particularly at night. The Schrage Musik system involved mounting upward-facing cannon turrets, typically twin 20mm or 30mm guns, in the belly of German night fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 110 and later versions of the Junkers Ju 88. These guns were angled upwards to target the vulnerable underside of enemy bombers.
Several prototype fighter programs begun early in 1945 continued on after the war and led to advanced piston-engine fighters that entered production and operational service in 1946. A typical example is the Lavochkin La-9 'Fritz', which was an evolution of the successful wartime Lavochkin La-7 'Fin'. Working through a series of prototypes, the La-120, La-126 and La-130, the Lavochkin design bureau sought to replace the La-7's wooden airframe with a metal one, as well as fit a laminar flow wing to improve maneuver performance, and increased armament. The La-9 entered service in August 1946 and was produced until 1948; it also served as the basis for the development of a long-range escort fighter, the La-11 'Fang', of which nearly 1200 were produced 1947–51. Over the course of the Korean War, however, it became obvious that the day of the piston-engined fighter was coming to a close and that the future would lie with the jet fighter.
This period also witnessed experimentation with jet-assisted piston engine aircraft. La-9 derivatives included examples fitted with two underwing auxiliary pulsejet engines (the La-9RD) and a similarly mounted pair of auxiliary ramjet engines (the La-138); however, neither of these entered service. One that did enter service – with the U.S. Navy in March 1945 – was the Ryan FR-1 Fireball; production was halted with the war's end on VJ-Day, with only 66 having been delivered, and the type was withdrawn from service in 1947. The USAAF had ordered its first 13 mixed turboprop-turbojet-powered pre-production prototypes of the Consolidated Vultee XP-81 fighter, but this program was also canceled by VJ Day, with 80% of the engineering work completed.
See main article: Rocket-powered aircraft.
The first rocket-powered aircraft was the Lippisch Ente, which made a successful maiden flight in March 1928. The only pure rocket aircraft ever mass-produced was the Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet in 1944, one of several German World War II projects aimed at developing high speed, point-defense aircraft. Later variants of the Me 262 (C-1a and C-2b) were also fitted with "mixed-power" jet/rocket powerplants, while earlier models were fitted with rocket boosters, but were not mass-produced with these modifications.
The USSR experimented with a rocket-powered interceptor in the years immediately following World War II, the Mikoyan-Gurevich I-270. Only two were built.
In the 1950s, the British developed mixed-power jet designs employing both rocket and jet engines to cover the performance gap that existed in turbojet designs. The rocket was the main engine for delivering the speed and height required for high-speed interception of high-level bombers and the turbojet gave increased fuel economy in other parts of flight, most notably to ensure the aircraft was able to make a powered landing rather than risking an unpredictable gliding return.
The Saunders-Roe SR.53 was a successful design, and was planned for production when economics forced the British to curtail most aircraft programs in the late 1950s. Furthermore, rapid advancements in jet engine technology rendered mixed-power aircraft designs like Saunders-Roe's SR.53 (and the following SR.177) obsolete. The American Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor –the first U.S. fighter to exceed Mach 1 in level flight– met a similar fate for the same reason, and no hybrid rocket-and-jet-engine fighter design has ever been placed into service.
The only operational implementation of mixed propulsion was Rocket-Assisted Take Off (RATO), a system rarely used in fighters, such as with the zero-length launch, RATO-based takeoff scheme from special launch platforms, tested out by both the United States and the Soviet Union, and made obsolete with advancements in surface-to-air missile technology.
It has become common in the aviation community to classify jet fighters by "generations" for historical purposes. No official definitions of these generations exist; rather, they represent the notion of stages in the development of fighter-design approaches, performance capabilities, and technological evolution. Different authors have packed jet fighters into different generations. For example, Richard P. Hallion of the Secretary of the Air Force's Action Group classified the F-16 as a sixth-generation jet fighter.
The timeframes associated with each generation remain inexact and are only indicative of the period during which their design philosophies and technology employment enjoyed a prevailing influence on fighter design and development. These timeframes also encompass the peak period of service entry for such aircraft.
The first generation of jet fighters comprised the initial, subsonic jet-fighter designs introduced late in World War II (1939–1945) and in the early post-war period. They differed little from their piston-engined counterparts in appearance, and many employed unswept wings. Guns and cannon remained the principal armament. The need to obtain a decisive advantage in maximum speed pushed the development of turbojet-powered aircraft forward. Top speeds for fighters rose steadily throughout World War II as more powerful piston engines developed, and they approached transonic flight-speeds where the efficiency of propellers drops off, making further speed increases nearly impossible.
The first jets developed during World War II and saw combat in the last two years of the war. Messerschmitt developed the first operational jet fighter, the Me 262A, primarily serving with the Luftwaffe's JG 7, the world's first jet-fighter wing. It was considerably faster than contemporary piston-driven aircraft, and in the hands of a competent pilot, proved quite difficult for Allied pilots to defeat. The Luftwaffe never deployed the design in numbers sufficient to stop the Allied air campaign, and a combination of fuel shortages, pilot losses, and technical difficulties with the engines kept the number of sorties low. Nevertheless, the Me 262 indicated the obsolescence of piston-driven aircraft. Spurred by reports of the German jets, Britain's Gloster Meteor entered production soon after, and the two entered service around the same time in 1944. Meteors commonly served to intercept the V-1 flying bomb, as they were faster than available piston-engined fighters at the low altitudes used by the flying bombs. Nearer the end of World War II, the first military jet-powered light-fighter design, the Luftwaffe intended the Heinkel He 162A Spatz (sparrow) to serve as a simple jet fighter for German home defense, with a few examples seeing squadron service with JG 1 by April 1945. By the end of the war almost all work on piston-powered fighters had ended. A few designs combining piston- and jet-engines for propulsion – such as the Ryan FR Fireball – saw brief use, but by the end of the 1940s virtually all new fighters were jet-powered.
Despite their advantages, the early jet-fighters were far from perfect. The operational lifespan of turbines were very short and engines were temperamental, while power could be adjusted only slowly and acceleration was poor (even if top speed was higher) compared to the final generation of piston fighters. Many squadrons of piston-engined fighters remained in service until the early to mid-1950s, even in the air forces of the major powers (though the types retained were the best of the World War II designs). Innovations including ejection seats, air brakes and all-moving tailplanes became widespread in this period.
The Americans began using jet fighters operationally after World War II, the wartime Bell P-59 having proven a failure. The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (soon re-designated F-80) was more prone to wave drag than the swept-wing Me 262, but had a cruise speed (660km/h) as high as the maximum speed attainable by many piston-engined fighters. The British designed several new jets, including the distinctive single-engined twin boom de Havilland Vampire which Britain sold to the air forces of many nations.
The British transferred the technology of the Rolls-Royce Nene jet-engine to the Soviets, who soon put it to use in their advanced Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 fighter, which used fully swept wings that allowed flying closer to the speed of sound than straight-winged designs such as the F-80. The MiG-15s' top speed of 1075km/h proved quite a shock to the American F-80 pilots who encountered them in the Korean War, along with their armament of two cannons and a single cannon. Nevertheless, in the first jet-versus-jet dogfight, which occurred during the Korean War on 8 November 1950, an F-80 shot down two North Korean MiG-15s.
The Americans responded by rushing their own swept-wing fighter – the North American F-86 Sabre – into battle against the MiGs, which had similar transsonic performance. The two aircraft had different strengths and weaknesses, but were similar enough that victory could go either way. While the Sabres focused primarily on downing MiGs and scored favorably against those flown by the poorly-trained North Koreans, the MiGs in turn decimated US bomber formations and forced the withdrawal of numerous American types from operational service.
The world's navies also transitioned to jets during this period, despite the need for catapult-launching of the new aircraft. The U.S. Navy adopted the Grumman F9F Panther as their primary jet fighter in the Korean War period, and it was one of the first jet fighters to employ an afterburner. The de Havilland Sea Vampire became the Royal Navy's first jet fighter. Radar was used on specialized night-fighters such as the Douglas F3D Skyknight, which also downed MiGs over Korea, and later fitted to the McDonnell F2H Banshee and swept-wing Vought F7U Cutlass and McDonnell F3H Demon as all-weather / night fighters. Early versions of Infra-red (IR) air-to-air missiles (AAMs) such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder and radar-guided missiles such as the AIM-7 Sparrow whose descendants remain in use, were first introduced on swept-wing subsonic Demon and Cutlass naval fighters.
Technological breakthroughs, lessons learned from the aerial battles of the Korean War, and a focus on conducting operations in a nuclear warfare environment shaped the development of second-generation fighters. Technological advances in aerodynamics, propulsion and aerospace building-materials (primarily aluminum alloys) permitted designers to experiment with aeronautical innovations such as swept wings, delta wings, and area-ruled fuselages. Widespread use of afterburning turbojet engines made these the first production aircraft to break the sound barrier, and the ability to sustain supersonic speeds in level flight became a common capability amongst fighters of this generation.
Fighter designs also took advantage of new electronics technologies that made effective radars small enough to carry aboard smaller aircraft. Onboard radars permitted detection of enemy aircraft beyond visual range, thereby improving the handoff of targets by longer-ranged ground-based warning- and tracking-radars. Similarly, advances in guided-missile development allowed air-to-air missiles to begin supplementing the gun as the primary offensive weapon for the first time in fighter history. During this period, passive-homing infrared-guided (IR) missiles became commonplace, but early IR missile sensors had poor sensitivity and a very narrow field of view (typically no more than 30°), which limited their effective use to only close-range, tail-chase engagements. Radar-guided (RF) missiles were introduced as well, but early examples proved unreliable. These semi-active radar homing (SARH) missiles could track and intercept an enemy aircraft "painted" by the launching aircraft's onboard radar. Medium- and long-range RF air-to-air missiles promised to open up a new dimension of "beyond-visual-range" (BVR) combat, and much effort concentrated on further development of this technology.
The prospect of a potential third world war featuring large mechanized armies and nuclear-weapon strikes led to a degree of specialization along two design approaches: interceptors, such as the English Electric Lightning and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F; and fighter-bombers, such as the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and the Sukhoi Su-7B. Dogfighting, per se, became de-emphasized in both cases. The interceptor was an outgrowth of the vision that guided missiles would completely replace guns and combat would take place at beyond-visual ranges. As a result, strategists designed interceptors with a large missile-payload and a powerful radar, sacrificing agility in favor of high speed, altitude ceiling and rate of climb. With a primary air-defense role, emphasis was placed on the ability to intercept strategic bombers flying at high altitudes. Specialized point-defense interceptors often had limited range and few, if any, ground-attack capabilities. Fighter-bombers could swing between air-superiority and ground-attack roles, and were often designed for a high-speed, low-altitude dash to deliver their ordnance. Television- and IR-guided air-to-surface missiles were introduced to augment traditional gravity bombs, and some were also equipped to deliver a nuclear bomb.
The third generation witnessed continued maturation of second-generation innovations, but it is most marked by renewed emphases on maneuverability and on traditional ground-attack capabilities. Over the course of the 1960s, increasing combat experience with guided missiles demonstrated that combat would devolve into close-in dogfights. Analog avionics began to appear, replacing older "steam-gauge" cockpit instrumentation. Enhancements to the aerodynamic performance of third-generation fighters included flight control surfaces such as canards, powered slats, and blown flaps. A number of technologies would be tried for vertical/short takeoff and landing, but thrust vectoring would be successful on the Harrier.
Growth in air-combat capability focused on the introduction of improved air-to-air missiles, radar systems, and other avionics. While guns remained standard equipment (early models of F-4 being a notable exception), air-to-air missiles became the primary weapons for air-superiority fighters, which employed more sophisticated radars and medium-range RF AAMs to achieve greater "stand-off" ranges, however, kill probabilities proved unexpectedly low for RF missiles due to poor reliability and improved electronic countermeasures (ECM) for spoofing radar seekers. Infrared-homing AAMs saw their fields of view expand to 45°, which strengthened their tactical usability. Nevertheless, the low dogfight loss-exchange ratios experienced by American fighters in the skies over Vietnam led the U.S. Navy to establish its famous "TOPGUN" fighter-weapons school, which provided a graduate-level curriculum to train fleet fighter-pilots in advanced Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) and Dissimilar air combat training (DACT) tactics and techniques.This era also saw an expansion in ground-attack capabilities, principally in guided missiles, and witnessed the introduction of the first truly effective avionics for enhanced ground attack, including terrain-avoidance systems. Air-to-surface missiles (ASM) equipped with electro-optical (E-O) contrast seekers – such as the initial model of the widely used AGM-65 Maverick – became standard weapons, and laser-guided bombs (LGBs) became widespread in an effort to improve precision-attack capabilities. Guidance for such precision-guided munitions (PGM) was provided by externally-mounted targeting pods, which were introduced in the mid-1960s.
The third generation also led to the development of new automatic-fire weapons, primarily chain-guns that use an electric motor to drive the mechanism of a cannon. This allowed a plane to carry a single multi-barrel weapon (such as the Vulcan), and provided greater accuracy and rates of fire. Powerplant reliability increased, and jet engines became "smokeless" to make it harder to sight aircraft at long distances.
Dedicated ground-attack aircraft (like the Grumman A-6 Intruder, SEPECAT Jaguar and LTV A-7 Corsair II) offered longer range, more sophisticated night-attack systems or lower cost than supersonic fighters. With variable-geometry wings, the supersonic F-111 introduced the Pratt & Whitney TF30, the first turbofan equipped with afterburner. The ambitious project sought to create a versatile common fighter for many roles and services. It would serve well as an all-weather bomber, but lacked the performance to defeat other fighters. The McDonnell F-4 Phantom was designed to capitalize on radar and missile technology as an all-weather interceptor, but emerged as a versatile strike-bomber nimble enough to prevail in air combat, adopted by the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Despite numerous shortcomings that would not be fully addressed until newer fighters, the Phantom claimed 280 aerial kills (more than any other U.S. fighter) over Vietnam. With range and payload capabilities that rivaled that of World War II bombers such as B-24 Liberator, the Phantom would become a highly successful multirole aircraft.
See main article: Fourth-generation jet fighter.
Fourth-generation fighters continued the trend towards multirole configurations, and were equipped with increasingly sophisticated avionics- and weapon-systems. Fighter designs were significantly influenced by the Energy-Maneuverability (E-M) theory developed by Colonel John Boyd and mathematician Thomas Christie, based upon Boyd's combat experience in the Korean War and as a fighter-tactics instructor during the 1960s. E-M theory emphasized the value of aircraft-specific energy maintenance as an advantage in fighter combat. Boyd perceived maneuverability as the primary means of getting "inside" an adversary's decision-making cycle, a process Boyd called the "OODA loop" (for "Observation-Orientation-Decision-Action"). This approach emphasized aircraft designs capable of performing "fast transients" – quick changes in speed, altitude, and direction – as opposed to relying chiefly on high speed alone.
E-M characteristics were first applied to the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, but Boyd and his supporters believed these performance parameters called for a small, lightweight aircraft with a larger, higher-lift wing. The small size would minimize drag and increase the thrust-to-weight ratio, while the larger wing would minimize wing loading; while the reduced wing loading tends to lower top speed and can cut range, it increases payload capacity and the range reduction can be compensated for by increased fuel in the larger wing. The efforts of Boyd's "Fighter mafia" would result in the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (now Lockheed Martin's).
The F-16's maneuverability was further enhanced by its slight aerodynamic instability. This technique, called "relaxed static stability" (RSS), was made possible by introduction of the "fly-by-wire" (FBW) flight-control system (FLCS), which in turn was enabled by advances in computers and in system-integration techniques. Analog avionics, required to enable FBW operations, became a fundamental requirement, but began to be replaced by digital flight-control systems in the latter half of the 1980s. Likewise, Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC) to electronically manage powerplant performance was introduced with the Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan. The F-16's sole reliance on electronics and wires to relay flight commands, instead of the usual cables and mechanical linkage controls, earned it the sobriquet of "the electric jet". Electronic FLCS and FADEC quickly became essential components of all subsequent fighter designs.
Other innovative technologies introduced in fourth-generation fighters included pulse-Doppler fire-control radars (providing a "look-down/shoot-down" capability), head-up displays (HUD), "hands on throttle-and-stick" (HOTAS) controls, and multi-function displays (MFD), all essential equipment . Aircraft designers began to incorporate composite materials in the form of bonded-aluminum honeycomb structural elements and graphite epoxy laminate skins to reduce weight. Infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensors became widespread for air-to-ground weapons delivery, and appeared for air-to-air combat as well. "All-aspect" IR AAM became standard air superiority weapons, which permitted engagement of enemy aircraft from any angle (although the field of view remained relatively limited). The first long-range active-radar-homing RF AAM entered service with the AIM-54 Phoenix, which solely equipped the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, one of the few variable-sweep-wing fighter designs to enter production. Even with the tremendous advancement of air-to-air missiles in this era, internal guns were standard equipment.
Another revolution came in the form of a stronger reliance on ease of maintenance, which led to standardization of parts, reductions in the numbers of access panels and lubrication points, and overall parts reduction in more complicated equipment like the engines. Some early jet fighters required 50 man-hours of work by a ground crew for every hour the aircraft was in the air; later models substantially reduced this to allow faster turn-around times and more sorties in a day. Some modern military aircraft only require 10-man-hours of work per hour of flight time, and others are even more efficient.
Aerodynamic innovations included variable-camber wings and exploitation of the vortex lift effect to achieve higher angles of attack through the addition of leading-edge extension devices such as strakes.
Unlike interceptors of the previous eras, most fourth-generation air-superiority fighters were designed to be agile dogfighters (although the Mikoyan MiG-31 and Panavia Tornado ADV are notable exceptions). The continually rising cost of fighters, however, continued to emphasize the value of multirole fighters. The need for both types of fighters led to the "high/low mix" concept, which envisioned a high-capability and high-cost core of dedicated air-superiority fighters (like the F-15 and Su-27) supplemented by a larger contingent of lower-cost multi-role fighters (such as the F-16 and MiG-29).
Most fourth-generation fighters, such as the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, HAL Tejas, JF-17 and Dassault Mirage 2000, are true multirole warplanes, designed as such from the start. This was facilitated by multimode avionics that could switch seamlessly between air and ground modes. The earlier approaches of adding on strike capabilities or designing separate models specialized for different roles generally became passé (with the Panavia Tornado being an exception in this regard). Attack roles were generally assigned to dedicated ground-attack aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-25 and the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
A typical US Air Force fighter wing of the period might contain a mix of one air superiority squadron (F-15C), one strike fighter squadron (F-15E), and two multirole fighter squadrons (F-16C). Perhaps the most novel technology introduced for combat aircraft was stealth, which involves the use of special "low-observable" (L-O) materials and design techniques to reduce the susceptibility of an aircraft to detection by the enemy's sensor systems, particularly radars. The first stealth aircraft introduced were the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk attack aircraft (introduced in 1983) and the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber (first flew in 1989). Although no stealthy fighters per se appeared among the fourth generation, some radar-absorbent coatings and other L-O treatments developed for these programs are reported to have been subsequently applied to fourth-generation fighters.
The end of the Cold War in 1992 led many governments to significantly decrease military spending as a "peace dividend". Air force inventories were cut. Research and development programs working on "fifth-generation" fighters took serious hits. Many programs were canceled during the first half of the 1990s, and those that survived were "stretched out". While the practice of slowing the pace of development reduces annual investment expenses, it comes at the penalty of increased overall program and unit costs over the long-term. In this instance, however, it also permitted designers to make use of the tremendous achievements being made in the fields of computers, avionics and other flight electronics, which had become possible largely due to the advances made in microchip and semiconductor technologies in the 1980s and 1990s. This opportunity enabled designers to develop fourth-generation designs – or redesigns – with significantly enhanced capabilities. These improved designs have become known as "Generation 4.5" fighters, recognizing their intermediate nature between the 4th and 5th generations, and their contribution in furthering development of individual fifth-generation technologies.
The primary characteristics of this sub-generation are the application of advanced digital avionics and aerospace materials, modest signature reduction (primarily RF "stealth"), and highly integrated systems and weapons. These fighters have been designed to operate in a "network-centric" battlefield environment and are principally multirole aircraft. Key weapons technologies introduced include beyond-visual-range (BVR) AAMs; Global Positioning System (GPS)–guided weapons, solid-state phased-array radars; helmet-mounted sights; and improved secure, jamming-resistant datalinks. Thrust vectoring to further improve transient maneuvering capabilities has also been adopted by many 4.5th generation fighters, and uprated powerplants have enabled some designs to achieve a degree of "supercruise" ability. Stealth characteristics are focused primarily on frontal-aspect radar cross section (RCS) signature-reduction techniques including radar-absorbent materials (RAM), L-O coatings and limited shaping techniques.
"Half-generation" designs are either based on existing airframes or are based on new airframes following similar design theory to previous iterations; however, these modifications have introduced the structural use of composite materials to reduce weight, greater fuel fractions to increase range, and signature reduction treatments to achieve lower RCS compared to their predecessors. Prime examples of such aircraft, which are based on new airframe designs making extensive use of carbon-fiber composites, include the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, and HAL Tejas Mark 1A.
Apart from these fighter jets, most of the 4.5 generation aircraft are actually modified variants of existing airframes from the earlier fourth generation fighter jets. Such fighter jets are generally heavier and examples include the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which is an evolution of the F/A-18 Hornet, the F-15E Strike Eagle, which is a ground-attack/multi-role variant of the F-15 Eagle, the Su-30SM and Su-35S modified variants of the Sukhoi Su-27, and the MiG-35 upgraded version of the Mikoyan MiG-29. The Su-30SM/Su-35S and MiG-35 feature thrust vectoring engine nozzles to enhance maneuvering. The upgraded version of F-16 is also considered a member of the 4.5 generation aircraft.
Generation 4.5 fighters first entered service in the early 1990s, and most of them are still being produced and evolved. It is quite possible that they may continue in production alongside fifth-generation fighters due to the expense of developing the advanced level of stealth technology needed to achieve aircraft designs featuring very low observables (VLO), which is one of the defining features of fifth-generation fighters. Of the 4.5th generation designs, the Strike Eagle, Super Hornet, Typhoon, Gripen, and Rafale have been used in combat.
The U.S. government has defined 4.5 generation fighter aircraft as those that "(1) have advanced capabilities, including— (A) AESA radar; (B) high capacity data-link; and (C) enhanced avionics; and (2) have the ability to deploy current and reasonably foreseeable advanced armaments."
See main article: Fifth-generation jet fighter.
Currently the cutting edge of fighter design, fifth-generation fighters are characterized by being designed from the start to operate in a network-centric combat environment, and to feature extremely low, all-aspect, multi-spectral signatures employing advanced materials and shaping techniques. They have multifunction AESA radars with high-bandwidth, low-probability of intercept (LPI) data transmission capabilities. The infra-red search and track sensors incorporated for air-to-air combat as well as for air-to-ground weapons delivery in the 4.5th generation fighters are now fused in with other sensors for Situational Awareness IRST or SAIRST, which constantly tracks all targets of interest around the aircraft so the pilot need not guess when he glances. These sensors, along with advanced avionics, glass cockpits, helmet-mounted sights (not currently on F-22), and improved secure, jamming-resistant LPI datalinks are highly integrated to provide multi-platform, multi-sensor data fusion for vastly improved situational awareness while easing the pilot's workload. Avionics suites rely on extensive use of very high-speed integrated circuit (VHSIC) technology, common modules, and high-speed data buses. Overall, the integration of all these elements is claimed to provide fifth-generation fighters with a "first-look, first-shot, first-kill capability".
A key attribute of fifth-generation fighters is a small radar cross-section. Great care has been taken in designing its layout and internal structure to minimize RCS over a broad bandwidth of detection and tracking radar frequencies; furthermore, to maintain its VLO signature during combat operations, primary weapons are carried in internal weapon bays that are only briefly opened to permit weapon launch. Furthermore, stealth technology has advanced to the point where it can be employed without a tradeoff with aerodynamics performance, in contrast to previous stealth efforts. Some attention has also been paid to reducing IR signatures, especially on the F-22. Detailed information on these signature-reduction techniques is classified, but in general includes special shaping approaches, thermoset and thermoplastic materials, extensive structural use of advanced composites, conformal sensors, heat-resistant coatings, low-observable wire meshes to cover intake and cooling vents, heat ablating tiles on the exhaust troughs (seen on the Northrop YF-23), and coating internal and external metal areas with radar-absorbent materials and paint (RAM/RAP).
The AESA radar offers unique capabilities for fighters (and it is also quickly becoming essential for Generation 4.5 aircraft designs, as well as being retrofitted onto some fourth-generation aircraft). In addition to its high resistance to ECM and LPI features, it enables the fighter to function as a sort of "mini-AWACS", providing high-gain electronic support measures (ESM) and electronic warfare (EW) jamming functions. Other technologies common to this latest generation of fighters includes integrated electronic warfare system (INEWS) technology, integrated communications, navigation, and identification (CNI) avionics technology, centralized "vehicle health monitoring" systems for ease of maintenance, fiber optics data transmission, stealth technology and even hovering capabilities. Maneuver performance remains important and is enhanced by thrust-vectoring, which also helps reduce takeoff and landing distances. Supercruise may or may not be featured; it permits flight at supersonic speeds without the use of the afterburner – a device that significantly increases IR signature when used in full military power.
Such aircraft are sophisticated and expensive. The fifth generation was ushered in by the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor in late 2005. The U.S. Air Force originally planned to acquire 650 F-22s, but now only 187 will be built. As a result, its unit flyaway cost (FAC) is around US$150 million. To spread the development costs – and production base – more broadly, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program enrolls eight other countries as cost- and risk-sharing partners. Altogether, the nine partner nations anticipate procuring over 3,000 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters at an anticipated average FAC of $80–85 million. The F-35, however, is designed to be a family of three aircraft, a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) fighter, a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter, and a Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) fighter, each of which has a different unit price and slightly varying specifications in terms of fuel capacity (and therefore range), size and payload.
Other countries have initiated fifth-generation fighter development projects. In December 2010, it was discovered that China is developing the 5th generation fighter Chengdu J-20. The J-20 took its maiden flight in January 2011. The Shenyang FC-31 took its maiden flight on 31 October 2012, and developed a carrier-based version based on Chinese aircraft carriers. United Aircraft Corporation with Russia's Mikoyan LMFS and Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate plan, Sukhoi Su-57 became the first fifth-generation fighter jets in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces on 2020, and launch missiles in the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022. Japan is exploring its technical feasibility to produce fifth-generation fighters. India is developing the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a medium weight stealth fighter jet designated to enter into serial production by late 2030s. India also had initiated a joint fifth generation heavy fighter with Russia called the FGFA. May, the project is suspected to have not yielded desired progress or results for India and has been put on hold or dropped altogether. Other countries considering fielding an indigenous or semi-indigenous advanced fifth generation aircraft include South Korea, Sweden, Turkey and Pakistan.
See main article: Sixth-generation jet fighter.
As of November 2018, France, Germany, China, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States have announced the development of a sixth-generation aircraft program.
France and Germany will develop a joint sixth-generation fighter to replace their current fleet of Dassault Rafales, Eurofighter Typhoons, and Panavia Tornados by 2035. The overall development will be led by a collaboration of Dassault and Airbus, while the engines will reportedly be jointly developed by Safran and MTU Aero Engines. Thales and MBDA are also seeking a stake in the project. Spain officially joined the Franco-German project to develop a Next-Generation Fighter (NGF) that will form part of a broader Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS) with the signing of a letter of intent (LOI) on February 14, 2019.
Currently at the concept stage, the first sixth-generation jet fighter is expected to enter service in the United States Navy in 2025–30 period. The USAF seeks a new fighter for the 2030–50 period named the "Next Generation Tactical Aircraft" ("Next Gen TACAIR"). The US Navy looks to replace its F/A-18E/F Super Hornets beginning in 2025 with the Next Generation Air Dominance air superiority fighter.
The United Kingdom's proposed stealth fighter is being developed by a European consortium called Team Tempest, consisting of BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo S.p.A. and MBDA. The aircraft is intended to enter service in 2035.
Fighters were typically armed with guns only for air to air combat up through the late 1950s, though unguided rockets for mostly air to ground use and limited air to air use were deployed in WWII. From the late 1950s forward guided missiles came into use for air to air combat. Throughout this history fighters which by surprise or maneuver attain a good firing position have achieved the kill about one third to one half the time, no matter what weapons were carried. The only major historic exception to this has been the low effectiveness shown by guided missiles in the first one to two decades of their existence. From WWI to the present, fighter aircraft have featured machine guns and automatic cannons as weapons, and they are still considered as essential back-up weapons today. The power of air-to-air guns has increased greatly over time, and has kept them relevant in the guided missile era. In WWI two rifle (approximately 0.30) caliber machine guns was the typical armament, producing a weight of fire of about 0.4kg (00.9lb) per second. In WWII rifle caliber machine guns also remained common, though usually in larger numbers or supplemented with much heavier 0.50 caliber machine guns or cannons. The standard WWII American fighter armament of six 0.50-cal (12.7mm) machine guns fired a bullet weight of approximately 3.7 kg/sec (8.1 lbs/sec), at a muzzle velocity of 856 m/s (2,810 ft/s). British and German aircraft tended to use a mix of machine guns and autocannon, the latter firing explosive projectiles. Later British fighters were exclusively cannon-armed, the US were not able to produce a reliable cannon in high numbers and most fighters remained equipped only with heavy machine guns despite the US Navy pressing for a change to 20 mm.
Post war 20–30 mm revolver cannon and rotary cannon were introduced. The modern M61 Vulcan 20 mm rotary cannon that is standard on current American fighters fires a projectile weight of about 10 kg/s (22 lb/s), nearly three times that of six 0.50-cal machine guns, with higher velocity of 1,052 m/s (3450 ft/s) supporting a flatter trajectory, and with exploding projectiles. Modern fighter gun systems also feature ranging radar and lead computing electronic gun sights to ease the problem of aim point to compensate for projectile drop and time of flight (target lead) in the complex three dimensional maneuvering of air-to-air combat. However, getting in position to use the guns is still a challenge. The range of guns is longer than in the past but still quite limited compared to missiles, with modern gun systems having a maximum effective range of approximately 1,000 meters. High probability of kill also requires firing to usually occur from the rear hemisphere of the target. Despite these limits, when pilots are well trained in air-to-air gunnery and these conditions are satisfied, gun systems are tactically effective and highly cost efficient. The cost of a gun firing pass is far less than firing a missile, and the projectiles are not subject to the thermal and electronic countermeasures than can sometimes defeat missiles. When the enemy can be approached to within gun range, the lethality of guns is approximately a 25% to 50% chance of "kill per firing pass".
The range limitations of guns, and the desire to overcome large variations in fighter pilot skill and thus achieve higher force effectiveness, led to the development of the guided air-to-air missile. There are two main variations, heat-seeking (infrared homing), and radar guided. Radar missiles are typically several times heavier and more expensive than heat-seekers, but with longer range, greater destructive power, and ability to track through clouds.
The highly successful AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeking (infrared homing) short-range missile was developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s. These small missiles are easily carried by lighter fighters, and provide effective ranges of approximately 10to. Beginning with the AIM-9L in 1977, subsequent versions of Sidewinder have added all-aspect capability, the ability to use the lower heat of air to skin friction on the target aircraft to track from the front and sides. The latest (2003 service entry) AIM-9X also features "off-boresight" and "lock on after launch" capabilities, which allow the pilot to make a quick launch of a missile to track a target anywhere within the pilot's vision. The AIM-9X development cost was U.S. $3 billion in mid to late 1990s dollars, and 2015 per unit procurement cost is $0.6 million each. The missile weighs 85.3 kg (188 lbs), and has a maximum range of 35 km (22 miles) at higher altitudes. Like most air-to-air missiles, lower altitude range can be as limited as only about one third of maximum due to higher drag and less ability to coast downward.
The effectiveness of infrared homing missiles was only 7% early in the Vietnam War, but improved to approximately 15%–40% over the course of the war. The AIM-4 Falcon used by the USAF had kill rates of approximately 7% and was considered a failure. The AIM-9B Sidewinder introduced later achieved 15% kill rates, and the further improved AIM-9D and J models reached 19%. The AIM-9G used in the last year of the Vietnam air war achieved 40%. Israel used almost totally guns in the 1967 Six-Day War, achieving 60 kills and 10 losses. However, Israel made much more use of steadily improving heat-seeking missiles in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In this extensive conflict Israel scored 171 of 261 total kills with heat-seeking missiles (65.5%), 5 kills with radar guided missiles (1.9%), and 85 kills with guns (32.6%). The AIM-9L Sidewinder scored 19 kills out of 26 fired missiles (73%) in the 1982 Falklands War. But, in a conflict against opponents using thermal countermeasures, the United States only scored 11 kills out of 48 fired (Pk = 23%) with the follow-on AIM-9M in the 1991 Gulf War.
Radar guided missiles fall into two main missile guidance types. In the historically more common semi-active radar homing case the missile homes in on radar signals transmitted from launching aircraft and reflected from the target. This has the disadvantage that the firing aircraft must maintain radar lock on the target and is thus less free to maneuver and more vulnerable to attack. A widely deployed missile of this type was the AIM-7 Sparrow, which entered service in 1954 and was produced in improving versions until 1997. In more advanced active radar homing the missile is guided to the vicinity of the target by internal data on its projected position, and then "goes active" with an internally carried small radar system to conduct terminal guidance to the target. This eliminates the requirement for the firing aircraft to maintain radar lock, and thus greatly reduces risk. A prominent example is the AIM-120 AMRAAM, which was first fielded in 1991 as the AIM-7 replacement, and which has no firm retirement date . The current AIM-120D version has a maximum high altitude range of greater than, and cost approximately $2.4 million each (2016). As is typical with most other missiles, range at lower altitude may be as little as one third that of high altitude.
In the Vietnam air war radar missile kill reliability was approximately 10% at shorter ranges, and even worse at longer ranges due to reduced radar return and greater time for the target aircraft to detect the incoming missile and take evasive action. At one point in the Vietnam war, the U.S. Navy fired 50 AIM-7 Sparrow radar guided missiles in a row without a hit. Between 1958 and 1982 in five wars there were 2,014 combined heat-seeking and radar guided missile firings by fighter pilots engaged in air-to-air combat, achieving 528 kills, of which 76 were radar missile kills, for a combined effectiveness of 26%. However, only 4 of the 76 radar missile kills were in the beyond-visual-range mode intended to be the strength of radar guided missiles. The United States invested over $10 billion in air-to-air radar missile technology from the 1950s to the early 1970s. Amortized over actual kills achieved by the U.S. and its allies, each radar guided missile kill thus cost over $130 million. The defeated enemy aircraft were for the most part older MiG-17s, −19s, and −21s, with new cost of $0.3 million to $3 million each. Thus, the radar missile investment over that period far exceeded the value of enemy aircraft destroyed, and furthermore had very little of the intended BVR effectiveness.However, continuing heavy development investment and rapidly advancing electronic technology led to significant improvement in radar missile reliabilities from the late 1970s onward. Radar guided missiles achieved 75% Pk (9 kills out of 12 shots) in operations in the Gulf War in 1991. The percentage of kills achieved by radar guided missiles also surpassed 50% of total kills for the first time by 1991. Since 1991, 20 of 61 kills worldwide have been beyond-visual-range using radar missiles. Discounting an accidental friendly fire kill, in operational use the AIM-120D (the current main American radar guided missile) has achieved 9 kills out of 16 shots for a 56% Pk. Six of these kills were BVR, out of 13 shots, for a 46% BVR Pk. Though all these kills were against less capable opponents who were not equipped with operating radar, electronic countermeasures, or a comparable weapon themselves, the BVR Pk was a significant improvement from earlier eras. However, a current concern is electronic countermeasures to radar missiles, which are thought to be reducing the effectiveness of the AIM-120D. Some experts believe that the European Meteor missile, the Russian R-37M, and the Chinese PL-15 are more resistant to countermeasures and more effective than the AIM-120D.
Now that higher reliabilities have been achieved, both types of missiles allow the fighter pilot to often avoid the risk of the short-range dogfight, where only the more experienced and skilled fighter pilots tend to prevail, and where even the finest fighter pilot can simply get unlucky. Taking maximum advantage of complicated missile parameters in both attack and defense against competent opponents does take considerable experience and skill, but against surprised opponents lacking comparable capability and countermeasures, air-to-air missile warfare is relatively simple. By partially automating air-to-air combat and reducing reliance on gun kills mostly achieved by only a small expert fraction of fighter pilots, air-to-air missiles now serve as highly effective force multipliers.
. Misha Glenny . 2012 . The Balkans: 1804–2012 . Penguin Books . New York, New York . 978-1-77089-273-6 .
. Ronald Lewin . 1968 . Rommel as Military Commander . Batsford . 162. | <urn:uuid:2ae01381-5cc3-4812-b7b5-35e4572765a0> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://everything.explained.today/Fighter_aircraft/ | 2024-12-13T20:55:05Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066119651.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20241213202611-20241213232611-00870.warc.gz | en | 0.965572 | 18,148 | 3.90625 | 4 |
It’s a question worth asking because the mold growing in your home could be more than just an eyesore. The next breath you take might contain toxins from unseen mold lurking in your home. Recent studies reveal that some types of toxic mold release harmful toxins directly into the air, even without being disturbed. These toxins trigger allergies, exacerbate respiratory problems, and even lead to severe health conditions such as asthma or lung infections.
Don’t take chances—in this article, we’ll identify the most common types of household mold, explain how they affect your health, and give you the tools to spot them before they become a problem.
Toxic Indoor Molds: Common Types and Their Dangers
Let’s get into the usual suspects lurking in homes and the trouble they can cause. Remember, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but it covers the types you’re most likely to encounter:
1. Stachybotrys chartarum – How Black Mold Makes Indoor Air Toxic
Black mold isn’t inherently toxic, but its potential to produce harmful substances called mycotoxins is what makes it a serious indoor air quality concern. Here’s how it creates a toxic environment:
Black molds produce mycotoxins which are harmful to both animals and humans
Stachybotrys chartarum spreads by releasing microscopic spores, which are irritating (especially if you have allergies), but they’re not the most dangerous part. Some—but not all—types of black mold produce mycotoxins to protect themselves and compete for resources in their environment.
What type of mycotoxin do black molds produce?
Black mold produces two types of mycotoxins, but only one of them is considered particularly toxic. This toxin falls within a larger family of chemically related compounds called trichothecenes. Within this group, black mold specifically produces macrocyclic trichothecenes, including:
The trichothecene mycotoxins produced by black mold disrupt how cells function, eventually causing them to die. This makes them particularly harmful and is a major reason why black mold exposure is so dangerous. |
Health effects of black molds
Toxins from black molds irritate the lungs and even enter the bloodstream if inhaled. They cause a range of problems, from irritated lungs to more serious issues with prolonged or heavy exposure. The specific health effects of black mold toxins exposure vary depending on the type and amount inhaled, but potential problems include:
- Respiratory issues: Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, worsening of asthma symptoms
- Allergic reactions: Runny nose, itchy eyes, skin irritation
- Neurological problems: Headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating
- Severe cases: Black mold poisoning
Who’s Most at Risk: Those with allergies, asthma, or any compromised immune system are particularly vulnerable. Exposure is dangerous for vulnerable populations (infants, young children, and the elderly).
Sources of black molds
S. chartarum or black molds isn’t picky, but it loves chronically damp materials. This includes water-damaged drywall, wood, ceiling tiles, insulation, attics, and under carpets—often in places with leaks or lingering moisture issues, which makes detection difficult. By the time you notice visible mold growth, you may have been breathing in mycotoxins for some time.
While the greenish-black, slimy appearance is classic, not all black mold is Stachbotrys chartarum. TESTING is the only way to confirm the type.
Black mold gets a lot of attention, but it’s not the only mold that poses a toxic risk to your indoor air. Let’s look at a few other common culprits.
2. Aspergillus – A Common Culprit in Mold-Related Health Issues
Think of Aspergillus as a whole family of molds found almost everywhere. While they play a crucial role in nature by breaking down organic material, they also pose significant health risks when they invade indoor spaces.
Here’s a closer look at how Aspergillus impacts indoor air quality and health:
How Aspergillus spreads (and where it thrives)
Aspergillus spores float through the air, easily entering homes through
- Open doors and windows
- HVAC systems (air conditioning, poorly maintained ducts)
Once inside, they seek out warm, damp places like:
- Areas with water damage or leaks
- Air conditioning systems
Their versatility means they grow on a variety of surfaces, including food (mostly on potatoes and bread). This makes them a concern for both health and food safety.
Some Aspergillus species produce aflatoxins, which are known to cause cancer
Certain Aspergillus species, such as A. flavus, A. parasiticus, and A. nomius, produce potent mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, which are considered highly carcinogenic (cancer-causing). While not all Aspergillus species are harmful, those that produce mycotoxins severely impact health.
Mycotoxins from Aspergillus can cause a range of health issues, from allergic reactions and respiratory problems to more severe conditions like aspergillosis—a spectrum of diseases caused by Aspergillus infection.
The risk is particularly high for individuals with compromised immune systems or pre-existing lung conditions. Even those without health conditions can experience respiratory problems with prolonged exposure.
How to identify Aspergillus in your home
Aspergillus comes in a rainbow of colors (green, yellow, brown, etc.) and has a velvety or dusty texture. While some are easily visible, others might be hidden within HVAC systems or damp areas.
Pro-tip: Regular home inspections and proper ventilation system maintenance are key to identifying and controlling Aspergillus growth. Good ventilation and controlling moisture are essential to keep this mold at bay.
3. Penicillium – A Friend or An Indoor Foe?
Penicillium is a genus of mold familiar to many, not just because of its widespread presence in various environments but also due to its contribution to the discovery of the antibiotic penicillin. However, aside from its beneficial uses in medicine and the food industry, some species of Penicillium pose health risks when they grow unchecked in indoor environments.
Here’s an in-depth look at Penicillium’s characteristics, potential health impacts, and common sources in homes.
Penicillium’s signature appearance
Penicillium molds, easily recognizable by their blue or green coloration and velvety texture, can spread rapidly across surfaces. This includes food and damp building materials, where the widespread Penicillium chrysogenum species thrives. In fact, P. chrysogenum is commonly found in house dust, indoor air, and water-damaged environments.
This mold’s ability to spread and persist indoors is due to its production of numerous tiny spores. These spores, measuring only 3 to 5 micrometers, are produced in dry chains, making them easily airborne.
Their small size allows them to remain suspended in the air for long periods and be inhaled deeply into the lungs. This makes Penicillium a year-round concern in indoor environments.
Common sources and habitats in the home
Penicillium thrive in environments where moisture is abundant. It commonly grows on materials that have been damaged by water—wallpapers, carpets, and insulation materials are particularly susceptible. The spores of Penicillium also circulate through the air, especially in homes with poor ventilation, making it a common occupant of air ducts and HVAC systems.
Penicillium verrucosum produces Ochratoxin A, which can damage kidneys
While Penicillium is famed for producing penicillin, a lifesaving antibiotic, certain species produce mycotoxins that are harmful to humans and animals. One of the most concerning is Ochratoxin A (OTA), which can damage the kidneys and is linked to other health problems with prolonged exposure.
Exposure to Penicillium spores, especially in sensitive individuals, leads to allergic reactions, including symptoms such as:
- coughing, and
- eye irritation
In more severe cases, prolonged exposure to mycotoxins leads to respiratory issues and may affect the immune system.
When to be concerned: The appearance of Penicillium on household surfaces is a clear sign that moisture levels may be too high, and action should be taken to address the underlying causes.
4. Fusarium – A Colorful Threat to Your Health
Fusarium, a diverse genus of fungi often associated with plants and soil, poses a health risk when it invades your home. Recognizable by its distinctive colors and textures, Fusarium’s presence indoors signifies more than just an aesthetic issue; it’s a potential health hazard.
Let’s explore the appearance, toxicity, and common sources of Fusarium in indoor settings.
What does Fusarium look like
Fusarium molds can exhibit a range of colors, including pink, white, and reddish hues, that catch the eye when they appear on indoor surfaces. Their growth often results in a fluffy or cotton-like texture, making them somewhat less discreet than molds like Cladosporium.
Where to find Fusarium
- From the Outdoors: Fusarium naturally lives in soil and on plants. It can hitch a ride indoors on:
- Plant materials (cut flowers, houseplants, etc.)
- HVAC Systems: Once inside, Fusarium spores easily spread through your home’s ventilation system.
- Water-damaged fabrics: Found also on carpets and other fabrics with excessive moisture
Fusarium releases deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxins that cause digestive problems
Fusarium releases harmful mycotoxins that affect both humans and animals. One particularly concerning mycotoxin is deoxynivalenol (DON), which is known to cause digestive problems like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Long-term exposure is linked to weakened immune function and other health issues.
The primary routes of exposure to Fusarium mycotoxins in indoor environments are inhalation of spore-laden air and contact with contaminated surfaces. The risk is particularly pronounced in damp areas where Fusarium can thrive unchecked.
Who’s Most at Risk: People with weakened immune systems, chronic health issues, and the very young or elderly need to be particularly cautious.
Dealing with Fusarium contamination
For small patches of Fusarium on non-porous surfaces, careful DIY removal might be possible. However, take strict precautions, including protective gear, as Fusarium toxins are harmful. Large infestations, contamination of porous materials like drywall or carpets, or any health concerns within your household necessitate professional mold remediation.
These specialists have the expertise and equipment to safely remove the mold and, importantly, address the underlying moisture source that allowed it to thrive, preventing a recurrence.
5. Cladosporium – A Common Trigger for Respiratory Troubles
Cladosporium is not just ubiquitous in nature but also a common occupant in our homes, often manifesting in places where its presence could go unnoticed until it becomes a widespread issue.
Here’s a closer look at how Cladosporium enters our homes, what it looks like, its health implications, and effective strategies for its management.
How to identify Cladosporium
Cladosporium typically makes its presence known by appearing as a black or green “pepper-like” substance on surfaces. This mold has a penchant for textiles, wood, and other porous materials, where it not only grows but thrives. It often creates a patchy appearance that can be mistaken for simple dust or dirt.
Where Cladosporium hides:
This mold thrives in damp environments, so check:
- Wood (especially if it’s been water-damaged)
- Fabrics (curtains, upholstery, etc.)
- Areas around air conditioning units or poorly maintained HVAC systems
Health effects of Cladosporium exposure
Cladosporium is primarily an allergy and respiratory irritant. It can trigger reactions. The severity of reactions to Cladosporium varies based on individual sensitivity. Potential issues include:
- Sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes
- Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing
- Worsening of asthma or sinus problems
- In rare cases, severe allergic reactions or lung infections in those with severely compromised health
Who’s Most at Risk: Those with allergies, asthma, compromised immune systems, or chronic sinus problems.
Other Problematic Molds to Watch Out For
Alternaria is a significant contributor to allergies and worsens pre-existing conditions like asthma and hay fever. It thrives in damp environments, including bathrooms, kitchens, and around leaky windows or poorly ventilated areas. This mold spreads easily through airborne spores, making it a persistent indoor air quality problem.
Usually greenish with a musty odor, these molds favor damp fabrics and decaying wood. They’re linked to allergy symptoms and, more rarely, infections.
Often found on damp drywall and cellulose-based materials (like paper). It produces mycotoxins in some species, causing allergy-like symptoms and skin or nail infections in rare cases.
Ulocladium, a dark-colored mold thriving in very wet conditions, causes allergies (sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and coughing) and respiratory problems, especially in those with existing sensitivities. Its presence often signals a serious moisture problem within your home, making prompt action necessary to protect both your health and your house’s structure.
Acremonium molds grow slowly and appear in various colors. While some species are relatively harmless, others produce toxins that contribute to various health problems. These health concerns range from allergies to more serious conditions with prolonged exposure.
Toxic Molds at a Glance
Understanding the types of mold in your home is crucial for protecting your health. Here’s a guide to the most common culprits and their dangers:
Mold Type | Category | Main Health Effects | Where it Thrives |
Stachybotrys Chartarum (Black Mold) | Toxigenic | Allergies, respiratory issues, neurological problems (in severe cases) | Chronically damp materials (drywall, wood, insulation), often hidden behind walls or in spaces with leaks |
Aspergillus | Allergenic, Pathogenic, or Toxigenic* | Allergies, respiratory issues, cancer risk (from certain types), aspergillosis (in severe cases) | Warm, damp places (bathrooms, kitchens, HVAC systems), can also contaminate food |
Penicillium | Allergenic or Toxigenic* | Allergies, respiratory issues, kidney damage risk (from certain types) | Damp materials (wallpaper, carpet), surfaces with poor ventilation, can be found on food |
Fusarium | Toxigenic | Digestive problems, weakened immune function (with prolonged exposure) | Damp materials (especially fabrics), brought in from outdoors (plants, soil, etc.) |
Cladosporium | Allergenic | Primarily an allergy and respiratory irritant | Damp wood, fabrics, areas around AC units or poorly maintained HVAC systems |
Alternaria | Allergenic | Significant allergy trigger, asthma, and hay fever | Damp areas (spreads easily) |
Trichoderma | Allergenic | Allergies, infections (rare cases) | Damp fabrics, decaying wood |
Chaetomium | Allergenic | Allergies, skin/nail infections (rare cases) | Damp drywall, cellulose-based materials (paper) |
Ulocladium | Allergenic | Allergies, respiratory issues | Very wet conditions |
Acremonium | Toxigenic | Allergies, some toxigenic species | Various colors, slow-growing |
*Aspergillus & Penicillium: The category depends on the specific species within the large Aspergillus and Penicillium families. Some are harmless, while others are dangerous.
Keeping Mold Out of Your Home
The best way to avoid the health problems caused by toxic molds is to prevent them from growing in the first place. Here’s how:
- Fix leaks promptly in your roof, plumbing, and around windows and doors.
- Exhaust fans should be used in the bathroom and kitchen during and after use.
- Run a dehumidifier in chronically damp areas, and empty it regularly.
- Dry any water spills or wetness within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
- Regularly clean showers, bathtubs, and sinks to prevent mildew buildup.
- Dry areas around air conditioners where condensation can form.
- Make sure your HVAC system is cleaned and maintained properly.
- Consider an air purifier with a HEPA filter in areas where mold is a concern.
If you see mold: Don’t ignore it! Promptly address any mold growth you find, especially if it looks like one of the types discussed in this article. Small amounts might be manageable to clean yourself, but for larger areas or suspected toxic molds, professional remediation is often necessary.
Check out these resources for more information:
When to Get Professional Help
While some small mold issues can be handled with DIY methods, there are times when calling in a professional is essential:
- Big Patches: If the mold covers a significant area (more than a few square feet), it’s best to call specialists. They have the equipment and expertise to remove large infestations safely.
- Unknown Mold: If you can’t identify the type of mold or suspect it might be one of the more toxic varieties we’ve discussed, it’s wise to get a professional assessment.
- Health Concerns: If you’re experiencing unexplained respiratory problems, allergies, or other symptoms that might be mold-related, see a doctor. If you have a compromised immune system, children, or the elderly in your home, take extra precautions and consult a remediation specialist.
Understanding the dangers posed by toxic molds in your home is the first step in an ongoing effort. Proactive moisture control, swift response to any visible mold, and awareness of potential health risks are essential for consistently protecting your indoor air quality and the health of your household.
Protect your health and the well-being of those you live with – take mold seriously.
Frequent Asked Questions
How can you tell if mold is toxic?
You can’t definitively tell by looks alone. Visual identification is unreliable, as even harmless molds resemble toxic ones. Professional testing (DIY kits or lab analysis) is the most reliable way to know for sure.
What type of mold is not toxic?
Many mold types are harmless under normal circumstances. However, even ‘non-toxic’ molds trigger allergies or cause problems for those with compromised immune systems.
Can any mold make me sick?
No, many mold types are harmless. However, certain toxic molds can cause health problems, especially for those with sensitivities or weakened immune systems.
How can I tell if the mold in my home is toxic?
Visual identification can be unreliable, as some toxic molds resemble harmless varieties. If concerned, opt for a DIY mold test kit or consider professional testing.
I have a small patch of mold. Can I clean it myself?
Small areas of mold (less than 10 sq ft) can often be handled with the proper precautions (gloves, mask, cleaning solutions). For larger infestations or uncertainty about the mold type, professional help is recommended.
Can exposure to toxic mold cause long-term health problems?
Yes, prolonged exposure to certain toxic molds has been linked to serious respiratory issues, infections, and other chronic health conditions.
What kills mold in the shower?
Diluted bleach solutions effectively kill mold in the shower, but gloves should be worn and proper ventilation ensured due to the fumes.
I’m worried about mold, but professional help is expensive. What should I do?
Begin with DIY mold test kits to confirm the presence of mold. Contact your local health department or housing authorities for resources and guidance if you discover a problem. | <urn:uuid:cd76595f-48fb-44e8-b822-7684df882cf8> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://youriaq.com/what-types-of-mold-are-toxic/ | 2024-12-14T06:26:33Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066124856.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20241214054842-20241214084842-00633.warc.gz | en | 0.914693 | 4,348 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Introduction to Candle Making
Candle making is an ancient craft that has been practiced for centuries. In fact, some of the oldest candles were made from tallow, a form of animal fat, which was placed in bowls and lit to provide primitive man with light. Over time, different materials such as beeswax, paraffin wax and soy wax have been used to make different types of candles with more clarity, scent and longevity. It’s easy to learn candle making basics so anyone can create their own unique products.
When starting out candle making, one should consider the type of wick they would like to use along with colour-coordinating dyes or fragrances if desired. Different source of waxes may also be explored depending on the desired outcome (e.g., soy beans versus petroleum-based). Additionally, various containers can be used for holding the liquid wax such as classic display jars or modern & decorative molds. Other supplies required include metal pails or kettles for melting; thermometers for monitoring temperatures; wicking tails or clips; pouring pots; essential oils/scents; dyes and/or colorants; labels and/or tags; and wicks from cotton or paper products.
When all materials are ready, hobbyists will first need to melt the material over low heat before adding any colour dye or scent which will go into a mixing pot. The mixed liquid should then be poured into the container expecting it sit at room temperature until setup time is completed (which takes several hours). After this process is done correctly, your homemade candle should be functional with presentable appearances too!
Exploring Different Types of Candles
Candle making is an enjoyable craft that allows for endless possibilities. There are many different types of candles one can explore, and they all vary according to wax, scent, colors, and potpourri. The types of wax used to make a candle range from popular names such as paraffin and beeswax to more unique choices like soy and coconut. Popular scents often include floral options like rose, jasmine, or lavender; fruity combinations such as strawberry wildberry; essential oils like tea tree or eucalyptus; and even festive holiday choices such as pumpkin spice. Colors available can range from the most basic white to vivid neon colors with sparkles. Potpourri adds an extra layer of beauty to any candle containing pieces of dried flowers or herbs that have been mixed with a variety of spices for fragrance.
The wick sizes and styles available for candles will vary depending on what type of wax you choose and the desired end result. For example, using a bigger wick in combination with a softer wax will result in an increased burn time without producing too much smoke . Popular styles include single-ply or cotton core wicks in various sizes from tiny taper candles up to the larger pillar candles (7/0, 6/0, 5/0). With these items combined together you can certainly get creative when it comes to creating your own unique candle designs!
Understanding Candle Safety
A key step to achieve safe and effective candle burning is properly trimming the wick of the candles. It is important to use wick trimmers or scissors that are specifically made for candle maintenance. Before lighting a new candle, the wick should be trimmed to 1/4 inch in order to prevent excessive amounts of smoke from occurring and boost the amount of fragrance released into the air. Additionally, after each burn, the wick should be trimmed so that it does not become too long. This will help ensure even wax distribution and reduce sooting from occurring.
Another measure of safety when using candles is being mindful of the correct burning time for your specific candle. Generally, it is recommended that candles only be lit for one hour increments in order to prevent fires from happening or hot wax spilling out of the container. When you reach the one hour mark, blow out your candle and allow it to cool before relighting. If a candle begins to cause smoking or flaring, extinguish the flame immediately and allow it time to cool before relighting with a freshly trimmed wick. Lastly, never leave any burning candles unattended!
Identification of Supplies
When making candles, it is important to understand the various supplies needed to do so. Wax is the primary ingredient for candle making and there are many different types available in the market depending on needs and preferences. Paraffin wax is a popular choice for most candle makers as it is a relatively inexpensive yet high-quality wax that produces beautiful, long burning candles. Soy wax and beeswax are other options that offer eco-friendly, sustainable alternatives that burn cleanly and create soft scented candles.
Wicks are necessary for any type of candle, as they provide the heat or flame necessary to burn the candle. Wicks are usually made of cotton or paper coated with materials such as zinc or tin, which allow them to easily draw the melted wax up while lighting a candle.
Molds are also important aspect of candle making as they contain and shape the wax while hardening into a desired form like pillars, votives, tapers etc. Molds come in various shapes and sizes, from basic plastic molds to intricate silicone molds in order to make different shapes and decorative designs.
Tips for Creating Perfectly Scented Candles
Adding Scent to Candles: There are two main types of scent to use when making candles: oil- and liquid-based. Oil-based scents are considered the most potent and long-lasting, and can be added via multiple methods such as dipping the wicks in and out of the scent before adding it to the wax or using a fragrance stick. Using liquid-based scents requires more cautious use because they can evaporate if used too much. Liquid fragrances should also be tested thoroughly to ensure that they don’t affect the quality of the finished candles.
Achieving Desired Results: Depending on the type of candle being made, achieving desired results may require some experimentation with ratios of fragrances and wax, temperatures for melting as well as pouring techniques and curing times for waxes with additives. Additionally, different wick sizes will burn differently depending on their thickness, length, material type and style.
Troubleshooting Common Problems: Common problems experienced when making candles include wax buildup on wicks (which shortens their life span), not enough scent, spots left over after curing, inconsistent color between batches or insufficiently cured candles that have excessive burning issues. These problems can often be addressed by adjusting timing, temperatures or choosing a different type of scent altogether such as natural essential oils which tend to retain more heat than synthetic options.
Natural Scents & Essential Oils: Aromatherapy grade essential oils are often favored among candle makers because they offer an array of delightful and unique fragrances while still providing many wellness benefits due to their natural composition. Popular floral scents include rosewater, jasmine and lavender; common spicy oils range from cardamom to cinnamon; woodsy varieties encompass branches like cedarwood or sandalwood – these are just a few examples of how nature’s variety helps create perfectly scented candles!
Techniques for Decorating Candles
One way to create special decorative accents and patterns on candles is by using stencils. Stenciling a candle involves lightly taping the desired pattern to the candle, then tracing it either with a sharp object or paint. Another popular technique for adding decoration is to use markers or crayons to draw directly onto the surface of the candle. This can be used to create an image, text or various shapes. For a more intricate approach, try dipping the candle into multiple colors of wax either in stripes or swirled together. You can also use melted crayons to add color and shimmery effects to your candles; this style is often called “watercolor” candles. If you would prefer not to dip your candles in wax or melt crayons, you could try adding glitter powder or other glitters instead. Lastly, a great option for decorating more delicate parts of candles is to attach flowers, leaves, beads and other small pieces of art with white school glue.
Wrapping and Storing
Wrapping a candle is an important part of making it ready for sale or gifting. Generally, candles should be wrapped in some paper or fabric to protect them and keep them clean. This can include things like tulle, cheesecloth, tissue paper, or gift wrap. The wrapping should be secured with tape, ribbon, or string to make sure the candle stays in place during transport. It’s important to remember that the wax needs air flow so wrapping the candle tightly is not always recommended.
To store candles it’s best practice to use something like an airtight container or box with a lid or wrap them tightly in wax paper. This ensures that no dust will get on the candles and also keeps them from absorbing any strange smells from the surrounding environment. Additionally if using wax paper make sure avoid storing candles near anything warm (like a heater) as this could cause melting and discoloration of the wax.
Troubleshooting Common Candling Issues
Common issues identified in candle making include problems with scent and burn, as well as wicker builds up that block the wick’s ability to draw wax. To test for scent throw, light a candle for at least five minutes in a room of equal temperature and humidity. To determine if the evaporation rate is suitable, lay a tissue over the flame or extinguish and smell inside the container. If there is an issue with the wick build-up, the first step is to check whether the wick tab has been treated for zinc and lead buildup, another cause of clogs in wicks. It may also be necessary to trim excessive lengths off your wick to ensure a good drag on your Candle’s wax as it melts. If you do not see any improvement after taking these steps, consider switching to a higher grade or type of wax or switch out your current kind of oil with one that burns better. Lastly, be sure you are using properly sized containers – too small or too large can result in poor burning qualities.
Conclusion: Candle making is a rewarding hobby, offering an array of unique design possibilities. With the right supplies, tips and care, you can create beautiful and unique candles that are all your own. Practicing proper wick sizing, wax selection and burning techniques will provide the best results when creating these pieces of art. To become a better candle maker and advance your craft, consider reading additional resources such as books or articles from reputable sources, taking classes from local professionals, or joining skill-share groups with like-minded people to learn new candle-making techniques.
Welcome to my candle making blog! In this blog, I will be sharing my tips and tricks for making candles. I will also be sharing some of my favorite recipes. | <urn:uuid:33a0cfbf-3bbc-47be-a87b-a8c8775c66b5> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.mycandlemaking.com/candle-making-skills/ | 2024-12-11T11:40:36Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066083790.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20241211112917-20241211142917-00726.warc.gz | en | 0.926689 | 2,247 | 3.15625 | 3 |
To handle waves safely, let's review some basic tactics, apply them to your boat's design, and practice with care.
In August of 1979, a fleet of 306 boats was hit by a massive, low-pressure system during the Fastnet Race along the south coast of Ireland; 136 people were rescued from 24 boats, 15 people died, and five ballasted sailboats were lost. The 60-plus-knot winds created giant waves that capsized dozens of boats, calling into question the safety of yacht design at the time and launching a massive study including extensive tank testing, the results of which changed the way we look at boat design today. This study emphasized monohull sailboats. Here are some facts learned from the Fastnet tragedy:
- Breaking waves matter. While any large waves relative to the size of the boat can be problematic, breaking waves are always dangerous. Waves break when they become too steep — think surfing waves rolling onto a beach (see Figure 1). At that point, the wave collapses down its front, crashing the entire weight of all that water and the force of its motion onto a boat caught in the wrong place. Breaking waves often occur where large waves enter shoaling water or the wind blows against a strong current, but they can also occur in other situations as when the wave grows too high to support itself, thus toppling over. This can occur even in very deep water. Breaking waves should be avoided if at all possible.
- Size matters. Larger boats can better handle larger waves.
- Direction matters. Boats are very vulnerable to being rolled or capsized when taking waves on the beam. When struck beam on by a breaking wave of a height equal to or greater than 35 percent of the boat's length overall (LOA), every model tested was rolled to 130 degrees or more — well past the horizontal. But if those same waves were taken over the stern or over the bow, most hull forms remained upright.
Learning To Work With Waves
The wave height danger zone would begin at a smaller relative size for an unballasted powerboat. A 24-foot powerboat hit on the beam by an eight-foot breaking wave will almost certainly capsize. In fact, a much smaller wave could put such a boat in danger.
With any boat — power or sail — the first and best tactic is to stay out of large waves, with "large" being relative to the boat's size, shape, power, ballast, and structure. Tactics to avoid large waves include staying in the lee of a windward shore for as long as possible, traveling with wind and current running together, timing the entrance and exit to inlets and rivers so that the current is running with the wind and waves, waiting untill slack tide before navigating strong inlets or rivers, or simply staying in port until conditions improve.
Second, don't take waves on the beam. If possible take them on the bow, or it may sometimes be better to take them directly astern or at an angle to the stern rather than the beam. Usually, when heading into waves, it's better to meet them at an angle off the bow to minimize pounding, hobby horsing, and burying the bow. If taking waves astern, it's extremely important to avoid losing directional control as the wave overtakes you. This may require a high level of seamanship skills. If you must change course, watch the waves carefully; time the move when you see a group of smaller waves or a long trough that you can turn in before the next wave comes.
When heading into waves, try to take them at an angle off the bow to minimize pounding.
Third, don't get caught in breaking waves. Breaking waves can occur when the wind is opposing a strong current, when waves are passing over a shallow bar, when they are ricocheting off a shore or rocks, when they reach a height too tall to sustain themselves and when they are leaving deep water and meeting shallow ground. Do everything you can to avoid areas where breaking waves might form.
Beyond these general guidelines, there's no single set of tactics applicable to all situations. Here are some tactics that you might want to experiment with, when it's safe to do so, depending on your boat and situation.
Operating an open boat in waves presents significant flooding issues. A decked boat can often plow through waves, taking green water over the decking and cabin without serious consequences, but that water may quickly swamp an open boat. Even in a well-balanced boat with positive buoyancy, a heavy load of water changes the center of gravity, and the sloshing of the water in rough seas can cause a sudden loss of stability and, potentially, a capsize. Particular care must be taken in an open boat to avoid boarding waves and to quickly bail if it happens.
If you're heading into the seas, one option may be to run at a speed that will elevate the bow just enough so that it goes over each wave. This requires careful attention to the throttle and, in many cases, constant throttle adjustment. Too much throttle can put the boat on plane, which may cause loss of stability. Approaching waves with the bow too high could result in its falling backward, to the side, or being blown out of control. Approaching with the bow too low could result in boarding seas.
The type of bow influences tactics. For example, a flat pram bow (as in a jon boat) will be more likely to pound. But if run into the waves, with the bow elevated at an ideal angle for the sea, it may give you a safer ride under the circumstances than a boat with a sharper bow, which will have a tendency to bury as it meets the wave.
The sharper bow may do better if you meet the sea just off the bow. Instead of the bow parting each wave and possibly plowing under, the waves will meet the boat in a broader area on the boat's forward section, which should allow the bow to rise better. The angle at which you take the waves will depend upon the wave shape and period, as well as what's necessary to maintain a safe heading. You want the bow to be able to rise easily to each wave while keeping the waves well forward of the beam. Careful attention to each approaching wave and each gust of wind is critical. An unexpected gust may catch the bow, particularly if it presents a lot of windage, causing loss of control at the top of a wave.
If you must make a course adjustment that presents your beam to the waves, wait for a smaller set of waves before making your turn.
Running with the sea astern is generally more dangerous than heading into the seas in an open boat (as well as larger-decked boats). If running with the seas, too much or too little throttle at the wrong time could result in plowing under a wave you're overtaking. Inadequate control in any angle of approach could result in the bow sliding or being pushed off the wave, with the possibility of flooding or capsizing. The entire boat could slide down a large enough wave, out of control. Taking a large wave over the transom could flood the boat, but riding a sea that lifts the transom could, in combination with your engine, push the bow under the back of the wave ahead, causing the boat to spin sideways (broach) or even flip stern over bow (pitchpole). Your wake or a following sea could flood the boat if you slow or stop suddenly.
But sometimes putting the seas on your stern is the only way to get home. If you have to do it, constantly glance astern to see what's coming and plan a response to each wave. Tacking by putting the waves on one stern quarter for some distance and then switching to the other stern quarter may be a good approach. This tactic can make it easier to watch the oncoming waves, give you more maneuvering options, and present the transom corner to the oncoming sea, which provides a higher gunwale and sharper wave entry than the flat transom with the low cutout for the outboard. This may also diminish the wave's impact on the flat stern, which can tend to push the bow under and impair control. Do so with care, as running cocked to a stern sea may increase the likelihood of broaching or pitchpoling. Each encounter with waves may require a little experimenting to see where you get the best control and best ride.
Tacking and changing course obviously involve turning. This can be dangerous because it presents the beam or other vulnerable area to the sea, if only for a brief time. Waves travel in sets, with smaller waves coming in for brief periods of time. Study the passing waves to pick the least dangerous time. However, if you're heading into a lee shore or shallow water, start looking for the right wave pattern early so that you'll have plenty of time to safely execute your turn.
Much of what we've said about smaller boats applies to larger boats, whether sail or power, operating in large waves. Larger boats should have sufficient decking to keep boarding seas out, but a boarding sea can still wash down the deck, damaging equipment, washing people overboard, and even crashing through windows. Avoid boarding seas using tactics such as tacking to present the side of the bow or running with bow slightly up.
If handled well, the nimble and more powerful sportfish may do better in breaking seas, as in a bad storm or confused inlet, because the available power/speed bursts can be carefully and skillfully used to keep the boat optimally positioned relative to each wave.
Your engine can help you power through seas that otherwise would knock you back and greatly reduce your overall speed. Throttling down to meet an oncoming sea and then slightly up to power through can maximize efficiency upwind in large seas. The engine can also be used to position the boat to take each wave just off the bow. If running with waves, maintaining a temporary position on the back of a wave or a position well ahead of a break can keep you out of more dangerous parts of the wave. Many times we've surfed our motor sailer into an inlet on the back of a wave, not because we wanted to but because we had no choice. This sort of maneuvering requires great skill, understanding of the waves, familiarity with the boat, close attention, and some luck. Many larger powerboats have broad and tall flat transoms. Given all that surface area, waves astern can slap the stern around or force the bow under the next wave. Boats with rounded sterns may handle following seas better, although they may be more likely to be pooped.
Use Of Other Equipment
It's seldom, if ever, a good idea to use the autopilot when steering in large waves. Although a good unit can, within limits, sense the effect of waves on the boat, it isn't keeping all-around visual watch, doesn't have the sensitivity of a good helmsperson, and can't make the informed decisions and instant power and rudder changes that may be necessary. Using stabilizers on a trawler or sails on a sailboat when traveling distances in open water can greatly increase comfort in large swells, but again, nothing takes the place of vigilance by a person in charge, anticipating the waves.
Avoid using autopilot when steering in large waves.
Whether driven by an outboard or an inboard, a propeller can cavitate or ventilate if it leaves the water or gets into the churnedup surface of the wave, causing excessive and sometimes damaging vibration and sudden loss of power and thus control. Full down tilt of an outboard or sterndrive reduces the risks by keeping the props as far below the water surface as possible. That option is not available with an inboard, and when it cavitates, the engine races wildly and the prop shaft vibrates, perhaps even whipping within its strut and gland. It's usually more likely to occur in following seas; a good way to prevent it is to keep an eye astern for each wave. One that's going to pass under the boat lifting the stern as it does so is likely to cause this. But a boat with powerful engines can often maintain a position in advance of such a sea until it levels out or breaks behind the boat.
Whatever boat you have, give it optimum trim by arranging weight and lowering the center of gravity as much as practical. Use of trim tabs may be helpful but the orientation of the boat changes so frequently that a helpful trim tab setting one moment may be dangerous the next. The extent to which you rely on trim tabs will depend on your ability to quickly adjust them. For example, it may be helpful to use trim tabs (or outboard trim) to keep the bow low when heading into waves if the conditions are likely to cause the bow to go airborne as you pass over a wave. You would want to avoid trimming this way if there's a likelihood of plowing under the seas.
Many of the things we've discussed regarding different hulls and tactics for different conditions apply to sailboats, which have the stabilizing benefit of ballast and a long keel. Sails stabilize the boat's motion, dampen the roll, and maintain forward progress into large seas. Going upwind in large seas, sail just far enough off the wind to keep the sail powered up, If you sheet in too tightly a wave hitting your bow may make you come about unexpectedly causing other problems. Running dead downwind in a large following sea is not necessarily good because of dangers of broaching or pitchpoling, jibing, and twisting of foresails; tacking off the wind may be much safer. Going downwind, sails sheeted in too tightly will tend to turn the boat up into the wind, increasing the likelihood of serious problems. Too much sail sheeted out too far can also render the boat out of control because of combined influence of wave and wind. If you must run downwind in large seas, consider having the motor on, ready to help with thrust and control. Reef early; having too much sail up not only increases the chance of capsize but also the likelihood of dismasting as the boat rises from a deep trough to the top of a large sea and the resulting sudden wind rise snaps the sail. Entering an inlet with an incoming large sea under sail alone is a bad idea; always have the motor on and use it to keep yourself well-positioned in the waves.
No Substitute For Experience
Having a grasp of the tactics that should keep you and your boat out of harm's way is a good start. Now it's time to practice and master your skills, when the weather is breezy and the waves are present but not threatening. Confident, conservative boat handling is part of the challenge and thrill of being onthe water. | <urn:uuid:9907682c-47a1-411b-bf55-956c187a2a53> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2014/june/wave-wisdom | 2024-12-10T11:52:44Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066058729.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20241210101933-20241210131933-00741.warc.gz | en | 0.951495 | 3,056 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Sleep apnea is a normal and in all likelihood severe rest problem that affects a huge quantity of people around the world. It is portrayed by using rehashed breaks in respiration throughout relaxation, prompting disenchanted rest designs and scope of well-being results. In this thorough aid, we will dig into the complexities of Sleep apnea, investigating its causes, side effects, determination, and successful treatment choices. Whether you or a friend or family member are battling this condition, this blog will give you the information and experiences expected to comprehend and oversee Sleep apnea more readily.
What is Sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a rest problem described using rehashed stops in respiration during relaxation. These stops, known as apneas, can endure from multiple moments to multiple moments and can take place on exceptional occasions all through the night. There are 3 number one sorts of relaxation apnea:
Obstructive Sleep apnea (OSA)
This is the most famous form of Sleep apnea, going on while the aviation path turns into impeded or blocked, frequently due to the unwinding of the throat’s muscular tissues for the duration of relaxation. This can break the aviation route, keeping air from streaming into the lungs.
Focal Sleep apnea (CSA)
In this kind of Sleep apnea, the mind neglects to flag the muscles to inhale, bringing about stops in relaxing. Focal rest problem is more uncommon than obstructive Sleep apnea.
Blended Sleep apnea
This is a blend of both obstructive and focal rest problem, where the singular encounters highlight the two kinds.
No matter what the sort, Sleep apnea can fundamentally affect a singular’s well-being and personal satisfaction. It is essential to perceive the side effects and look for clinical consideration for legitimate determination and treatment to deal with this condition. For more health information visit Life Maintain.
Why Sleep apnea is a Developing Concern
Sleep apnea is a developing worry in light of multiple factors:
The pervasiveness of Sleep apnea has been continuously increasing, generally because of the ascent in heftiness and a maturing population. Gauges recommends that up to one of every 4 United States of America also have a few sorts of relaxation apnea, with many cases staying undiscovered.
- Untreated Sleep apnea can activate a scope of significant medical problems, together with:
- Expanded hazards of cardiovascular infection, for example, high blood pressure, coronary episode, and stroke
- Metabolic problems, together with kind 2 diabetes
- Mental disability and memory issues
- Daytime weariness and tiredness can build the gamble of mishaps and wounds
The financial weight of Sleep apnea is huge, both as far as immediate medical services costs and backhanded costs, for example, lost efficiency and expanded mishap risk. Gauges propose that the yearly monetary effect of rest problem in the US alone is in the billions of dollars.
Notwithstanding the developing commonness and well-being results, Sleep apnea remains generally underdiagnosed. Numerous people with rest problem know nothing about their condition, and it is assessed that up to 80% of cases go undiscovered.
Sorts of Sleep apnea
As referenced earlier, there are 3 number one types of Sleep apnea:
Obstructive Sleep apnea (OSA)
Obstructive unwinding apnea is the most notable type of Sleep apnea, affecting an expected 2-four% of the adult populace. It takes place whilst the muscle mass towards the rear of the throat unwinds in the course of relaxation, making the aviation direction end up impeded or deterred. This can prompt rehashed stops in breathing and disturbed rest.
Focal Sleep apnea (CSA)
Focal Sleep apnea is more uncommon than obstructive rest problem, influencing around 0.4% of the grown-up populace. In this sort of rest problem, the mind neglects to flag the muscles to inhale, bringing about stops in relaxing. Focal rest problem can be brought about by different ailments, like cardiovascular breakdown, stroke, or neurological issues.
Blended Sleep apnea
Blended Sleep apnea is a mix of both obstructive and focal rest problem. People with blended rest problem experience elements of the two kinds, with the aviation route becoming hindered and the mind neglecting to flag the muscles to relax.
Perceiving the Side Effects of Sleep apnea
rest problem can appear through different side effects, which might change in seriousness and show. Perceiving these signs is pivotal for ideal analysis and intercession. Normal side effects of Sleep apnea include:
- Uproarious and Determined Wheezing: Particularly whenever joined by heaving or gagging sounds during rest.
- Stops in Relaxing: Saw by a bed accomplice or relative.
- Over-the-top Daytime Drowsiness: Feeling drained, exhausted, or bad-tempered during the day.
- Morning Cerebral pains: Awakening with a migraine that works on as the day advances.
- Trouble Concentrating: Impeded concentration, memory, and mental capability.
- Incessant Evening time Pee: Nocturia, or the need to pee as often as possible during the evening.
- Dry Mouth or Sore Throat: After getting up in the first part of the day.
- Mindset Changes: Touchiness, melancholy, or emotional episodes.
- Diminished Drive: Loss of interest in sexual movement.
On the off chance that you or a friend or family member experience these side effects, particularly in the blend, counselling a medical services supplier for an exhaustive evaluation is prudent. Early recognition and the board of rest problem can altogether work on personal satisfaction and lessen the gamble of related unexpected problems.
Causes and Hazard Elements of Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea can be impacted by various variables, both physical and way of life-related. Understanding the causes and gambling with variables can help in distinguishing people at higher gambling for this condition. A few normal causes and gamble with factors include:
Corpulence: Overabundance of weight can prompt the amassing of delicate tissue around the neck, which can discourage the aviation route during rest.
Limited Aviation route: A few people might have a normally tight aviation route, improving the probability of check.
Huge Tonsils or Adenoids: Expanded tonsils or adenoids can discourage the aviation route, especially in children.
Family Ancestry: Hereditary characteristics can be expected a component in the development of relaxation apnea.
Way of life Variables:
Smoking: Tobacco smoke can disturb and aggravate the upper aviation route, adding to aviation route hindrance.
Liquor and Tranquilizers: These substances can loosen up the throat muscles, expanding the gamble of aviation route breakdown.
Stationary Way of Life: The absence of active work can add to weight gain and compound Sleep apnea.
Rest Position: Dozing on your back can demolish obstructive Sleep apnea by making the tongue fall back and block the aviation route.
Other Gamble Variables:
Age: Sleep apnea is more normal in more established grown-ups.
Orientation: Men are bound to foster rest problem more than ladies.
Ailments: Conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart issues can expand the gamble of rest problem.
By tending to these causes and adjusting risk factors through way of life changes, weight the executives, and suitable clinical intercessions, people can decrease their probability of creating or demolishing Sleep apnea. Standard checking and counsel with medical services suppliers are fundamental for the successful administration of this condition.
Finding and Testing for Sleep apnea
Diagnosing Sleep apnea commonly includes a complete assessment by a medical care supplier, which might incorporate the accompanying advances:
Clinical History and Actual Assessment
The medical services supplier will assemble data about your side effects, clinical history, and way of life factors that might add to rest problem. They will likewise carry out an actual assessment, zeroing in on the upper aviation route and other pertinent physical elements.
Rest Study (Polysomnography)
A rest study, otherwise called a polysomnogram, is the highest quality level for diagnosing Sleep apnea. During this test, you will be checked for the time being in a rest lab or at home, where different physiological boundaries, for example, breathing examples, oxygen levels, and cerebrum action, are recorded.
Home Sleep apnea Test (HSAT)
At times, a home rest problem test (HSAT) might be suggested. This includes utilizing a compact gadget to screen your breathing and oxygen levels while you rest in the solace of your own home.
Daytime Lethargy Appraisal
Your medical services supplier may likewise survey your degree of daytime tiredness utilizing apparatuses like the Epworth Languor Scale, which can assist with deciding the seriousness of your Sleep apnea.
Other Demonstrative Tests
Contingent upon your particular case, your scientific offerings dealer might arrange more tests, for example, a thyroid functionality test or a cardiovascular evaluation, to ward off or understand any basic illnesses that are probably adding to your rest problem.
The effects of these demonstrative tests joined with your medical history and actual assessment, will help your medical care dealer with deciding the type and seriousness of your relaxation apnea, in addition to the right therapy plan.
Treatment Choices for Sleep apnea
Therapy for Sleep apnea normally includes a blend of way-of-life changes, clinical mediations, and at times, surgeries. The objective of treatment is to work on the nature of rest, decrease side effects, and forestall intricacies. Here are some normal treatment choices:
Way of life Changes:
Weight reduction: For people who are overweight or large, getting in shape can fundamentally further develop Sleep apnea side effects.
Rest Position: Dozing in your facet or belly can help with diminishing the gamble of aviation path boundaries.
Keeping away from Energizers: Keeping far away from energizers like caffeine, nicotine, and liquor earlier than sleep time can assist with similarly developing the pleasant nice.
Ordinary Activity: Participating in normal actual work can assist with further developing rest quality and diminish side effects.
Consistent Positive Aviation route Tension (CPAP) Treatment: A gadget that conveys a steady progression of pneumatic stress through a veil, assisting with keeping the aviation route open.
Bi-Level Positive Aviation Route Strain (BiPAP) Treatment: Like CPAP, however with two distinct tensions for inward breath and exhalation.
Oral Apparatuses: Hand-crafted devices that suit over-the-top enamel and decrease jaw, supporting keeping the aviation path open.
Prescriptions: Expertly recommended medications, for instance, opiates or antagonistic to strain therapeutic medications, may be used to help with directing side outcomes.
Uvulo palato pharyngo plasty (UPPP): A careful treatment to dispense with the excess tissue from the throat and feel of flavor.
Tongue-Like System: An approach to do away with the overabundance of tissue from the tongue.
Maxillomandibular Headway (MMA): A surgery to push the jaw ahead, expanding the size of the aviation route.
Needle remedy: A few investigations propose that needle remedy might assist with in addition developing rest satisfactory and reducing relaxation apnea aspect outcomes.
Yoga and Reflection: Rehearsing yoga and contemplation can help with lessening pressure and in addition developing relaxation exceptional.
It’s vital to work intimately with a medical care supplier to decide the most proper therapy plan for your particular instance of Sleep apnea. They will assist you with gauging the advantages and dangers of every choice and foster a customized treatment methodology to further develop your rest quality and generally speaking well-being.
Living with Sleep apnea
Overseeing Sleep apnea requires a thorough methodology that includes both clinical treatment and way-of-life changes. Here are a few ways to live with rest problem:
Adherence to Treatment
Reliable utilization of the endorsed treatment, like CPAP or oral machines, is essential for successfully overseeing Sleep apnea. It’s essential to work intimately with your medical services supplier to track down the most agreeable and compelling therapy choice.
Way of life Changes
Taking on a solid way of life propensities can altogether further develop rest problem side effects and in general well-being. This incorporates:
- Keeping a sound load through a decent eating regimen and customary activity
- Keeping away from liquor and smoking can demolish Sleep apnea
- Laying out a predictable rest plan and rehearsing great rest cleanliness
Observing and Changes
Standard subsequent meetings with your medical care supplier are vital for screening the viability of your therapy and making any fundamental changes. This might incorporate changing CPAP settings, attempting an alternate oral machine, or investigating elective treatments.
Adapting to Daytime Side Effects
Extreme daytime tiredness and weariness can be trying to make due. Think about the accompanying methodologies:
- Taking short, planned rests during the day
- Taking part in customary actual work to support energy levels
- Abstaining from driving or working large equipment while feeling exorbitantly drowsy
- Profound and Social Help
Living with Sleep apnea can be actually and sincerely burdening. Look for help from family, companions, and care groups to assist with dealing with the condition and its effect on your routine.
Continuous Training and Mindfulness
Remain informed about the most recent advancements in rest problem exploration and treatment choices. Teach yourself and your friends and family about the condition to advance better comprehension and backing.
By effectively captivating your treatment, making way of life changes, and looking for help, you can oversee Sleep apnea and work on your general personal satisfaction.
Anticipation and Way of Life Changes for Sleep apnea
While some gamble factors for Sleep apnea, like hereditary qualities and physical elements, can’t be changed, there is a way of life alterations that can assist with decreasing the gamble of creating or demolishing rest problem. Here are a few preventive measures and way of life changes:
Weight The board
Keeping a sound load through a fair eating regimen and ordinary activity can assist with diminishing the gamble of Sleep apnea, particularly obstructive Sleep apnea related to an overabundance of weight.
Trying not to rest on your back can assist with keeping the tongue from falling back and deterring the aviation route. Resting on your side or utilizing pads to raise your head can advance better wind stream during rest.
Staying far from Liquor and Narcotics
Liquor and tranquillizers can loosen up the throat’s muscular tissues, expanding the gamble of aviation path breakdown at some stage in rest. Restricting or keeping away from these substances before sleep time can assist with further developing the best quality.
Smoking bothers the upper aviation route and can add to irritation and aviation route impediment. Stopping smoking can work on general respiratory well-being and decrease the gamble of Sleep apnea.
Taking part in customary active work can assist with working on generally speaking well-being, advance weight reduction, and decrease the seriousness of rest problem side effects. Hold back nothing 150 minutes of moderate-power practice each week.
Great Rest Cleanliness
Laying out a reliable rest plan, loosening up your sleep schedule, and streamlining your rest climate can assist with further developing rest quality and decrease the gamble of Sleep apnea.
Sensitivities and nasal blockage can add to aviation route hindrance during rest. Overseeing sensitivities, utilizing air purifiers, and keeping your rest climate clean can assist with lessening the gamble of breathing challenges.
Ordinary Wellbeing Check-ups
Normal well-being check-ups can help distinguish and address any fundamental ailments that might add to Sleep apnea, like hypertension or diabetes.
By integrating these preventive measures and way of life changes into your daily practice, you can lessen your gamble of creating rest problem and work on your by and large respiratory well-being and nature of rest. If you suspect you might have rest problem, counsel a medical services supplier for a far-reaching assessment and proper administration.
Sleep apnea is a predominant and possibly serious rest problem that requires complete comprehension and compelling administration. In this aid, we have investigated the different sorts of rest problem, their causes and hazard factors, the significance of early conclusions, and the scope of treatment choices accessible. By perceiving the side effects of Sleep apnea and looking for ideal clinical consideration, people can also find proactive ways to address this condition and work on their general well-being and prosperity. Consolidating way of life changes, for example, weight the board, rest position improvement, and staying away from liquor and narcotics, can likewise assume a critical part in forestalling and overseeing rest problem.
At last, the way to living great with Sleep apnea lies in a cooperative methodology among people and their medical services suppliers. By cooperating to foster a customized treatment plan and ceaselessly checking progress, people can successfully deal with their rest problem and partake in superior personal satisfaction.
Keep in mind, that Sleep apnea is a treatable condition, and also with the right information and backing, you can assume command over your well-being and accomplish the serene rest you merit. | <urn:uuid:1ff68b8a-9d10-4def-9a83-193667186799> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.lifemaintain.com/understanding-sleep-apnea/ | 2024-12-14T06:47:07Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066124856.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20241214054842-20241214084842-00029.warc.gz | en | 0.918274 | 3,612 | 3.078125 | 3 |
The American lobster, scientific name Homarus americanus, is discovered alongside the Atlantic coast of North America in the area from Labrador, Canada to North Carolina, United States. They are most prevalent alongside the New England coast. The American lobster is present in shallow waters however is more plentiful in deeper waters and may live as far deep as 365 m.
American lobster profile
The American lobster (Homarus americanus) is a species of lobster discovered on the Atlantic coast of North America, mainly from Labrador to New Jersey.
American lobster is also referred to as Atlantic lobster, Canadian lobster, true lobster, northern lobster, Canadian Reds, or Maine lobster.
The American lobster can attain a body size of 64 cm (25 in), and a mass of over 20 kilograms (44 lb), making it not solely the heaviest crustacean on the earth, but additionally the heaviest of all dwelling arthropod species.
Its closest relative is the European lobster Homarus gammarus, which may be distinguished by its coloration and the dearth of spines on the underside of the podium.
American lobsters are normally bluish-green to brown with red spines, however, several coloration variations have been noticed.
The American lobster reaches weights of at the very least 45 pounds (20 kg) and is the biggest crustacean on the earth by weight.
Along with true crabs, prawns, and different lobsters, the American lobster is a decapod; it has ten legs, and it’s lined with a spiny exoskeleton that gives it some safety from potential predators.
Most American Lobsters are rusty brown in coloration, however, all kinds of unusual colors/patterns have been not often noticed by fishers and scientists.
These embody people which might be brilliant blue, green, mottled, and even some which might be completely divided down the center with completely different colors on either side (e.g., half blue, half black; half black, half red; and so forth.).
The American lobster’s front legs are modified into very giant claws. The two claws are barely completely different from one another, with one being stronger and used for crushing whereas the opposite is sharper and used for slicing. Like in all decapods, the American lobster’s shell actually is a skeleton on the surface of its body.
The exoskeleton doesn’t develop, and due to this fact, the lobster should molt it often so as to develop larger. Before molting, a person begins building a brand new, bigger skeleton inside the prevailing one.
As it will get too huge to be contained, it splits open the outer shell, and the brand new exoskeleton hardens. During this process, the brand new exoskeleton may be mushy for a number of hours, and the lobster is very susceptible to predation.
During the day, American lobsters stay in hiding locations alongside their rocky reef habitats. During the twilight hours and at night, people are a lot more lively and forage alongside the reef for a wide range of prey, together with many varieties of invertebrates, decaying natural matter, and a few algae.
These lobsters will eat most issues that they discover. Large fishes and octopuses are recognized to eat adult American lobsters, and a bigger number of fishes eat the juveniles.
Unlike many aquatic species, American lobsters reproduce by way of inside fertilization. After a male passes his sperm to a feminine, she shops the fertilized eggs on the ventral aspect of her body till they hatch.
American lobsters help an enormous fishery within the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, where a number of profitable management rules have been utilized to make sure that the fishery will proceed to be viable in the long run.
These embody size limits, gear limits, and different management methods. Currently, populations appear to be stable, and scientists don’t imagine that this species is in any danger of going extinct.
However, it is a very important procedure to watch populations so as to be sure that the fishery stays viable and the species stays healthy.
Homarus americanus, American lobster is distributed alongside the Atlantic coast of North America, from Labrador within the north to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina within the south.
South of New Jersey, the species is unusual, and landings in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina normally make up lower than 0.1% of all landings.
A fossil claw assigned to Homarus americanus was discovered at Nantucket, courting from the Pleistocene. In 2013, an American lobster was caught on the Farallon Islands off the coast of California. It has been launched in Norway and doubtlessly Iceland.
American lobster Description
Homarus americanus, American lobster generally reaches 8–24 inches (200–610 mm) long and weighs 1–9 pounds (0.45–4.08 kg) in weight, however, has been recognized to weigh as a lot as 44 lb (20 kg), making this the heaviest crustacean on the earth.
Together with Sagmariasus verreauxi, American lobster is also the longest decapod crustacean on the earth; an average adult is about 9 in (230 mm) long and weighs 1.5 to 2 lb (680 to 910 g).
The longest American lobsters have a body (excluding claws) 64 cm (25 in) long. According to Guinness World Records, the heaviest crustacean ever recorded was an American lobster caught off Nova Scotia, Canada, weighing 44.4 lb (20.1 kg).
Homarus americanus, American lobster is the biggest species of lobster and may attain a size of as much as 1.1 m and a weight of 20 kg. However, the size of a lobster that is often caught is roughly 25 cm in size and weighs about 0.5 kg.
A lobster’s body is split into twenty-one segments: six segments from the pinnacle area, eight segments compose the thorax (mid-section), and 7 segments make up the stomach (usually referred to as the tail).
Commonly considered to be red, the body is absolutely blackish-green or brownish-green. The red coloration outcomes when a lobster is boiled and is a results of pigments within the shell breaking down.
The eyes are on the first section of the pinnacle and are stalked. They can solely detect movement in dim light. The second section of the pinnacle has anntenules with delicate hairs which have more than 400 varieties of chemoreceptors. The lobsters can detect different species, potential mates, prey, and predators with the receptors.
Being within the Order Decapoda (which means “ten feet”), the lobster has ten legs. Five pairs of jointed legs lengthen from the thorax area. The first pair of those legs extend in the direction of the pinnacle and have claws (chela) on the end.
One claw is normally bigger than the opposite and has thick teeth that are used to crush objects. The different claw normally is smaller and has sharp teeth used for slicing.
Lobsters undergo distinctive growth throughout their lifetime. When they first hatch, a lobster weighs lower than one-tenth of a gram. By the time they’re full adults, they will attain a weight of as much as 10 kilograms.
This growth is a rise of 100,000 instances. Lobsters obtain this growth by going by way of intervals referred to as molts. When a lobster is able to molt, its body absorbs the mineral salts that had hardened its shell, drawing the salts additional into its skin.
When the shell softens, the lobster is ready to break it and slide out. The lobster takes in more water and thus swells in size. The new shell is already masking its body however takes a couple of days to harden.
During this period the lobster stays in seclusion to keep away from predators. Each time a lobster molts its body can develop 10-15% in size. Newly hatched lobsters molt for the first time throughout the first week and three more instances throughout the first month.
American lobster Head
The antennae measure about 2 in (51 mm) long and cut up into Y-shaped constructions with pointed suggestions. Each tip reveals a dense zone of hair tufts staggered in a zigzag association.
These hairs are lined with a number of nerve cells that may detect odors. Larger, thicker hairs discovered alongside the sides control the stream of water, containing odor molecules, to the interior sensory hairs.
The shorter antennules present an additional sense of odor. By having a pair of olfactory organs, a lobster can find the path a smell comes from, a lot the same method people can hear the path a sound comes from. In addition to sensing smells, the antennules can decide water pace to enhance direction-finding.
Lobsters have two urinary bladders, situated on both aspects of the pinnacle. Lobsters use scents to speak what and the place they’re, and those scents are within the urine.
They mission long plumes of urine 1–2 meters (3 ft 3 in–6 ft 7 in) in front of them, and accomplish that after they detect a rival or a possible mate within the space.
The first pair of pereiopods (legs) is armed with a big, uneven pair of claws. The bigger one is the “crusher”, and has rounded nodules used for crushing prey; the opposite is the “cutter”, which has sharp interior edges and is used for holding or tearing the prey.
Whether the crusher claw is on the left aspect or right aspect of its body determines whether or not a lobster is left or right-handed.
The regular coloration of Homarus americanus is bluish-green to brown with red spines attributable to a combination of yellow, blue, and red pigments that happen naturally within the shell.
On uncommon occasions, these colors are distorted attributable to genetic mutations or situations making a spectacle for many who catch them.
In 2012 it was reported that there was a rise in these “rare” catches attributable to unclear causes. Social media affect making reporting and sharing more accessible to a drop in predator populations have been instructed as possible causes. The lobsters talked about below thus normally obtain media protection attributable to their rarity and eye enchantment.
American lobster Biology
American lobsters have a long life span. It’s troublesome to find out their precise age as a result of they shed their onerous shell after they molt, leaving no proof of age. But scientists imagine some American lobsters could live to be 100 years old.
They can weigh as much as 44 pounds.
Lobsters should periodically molt so as to develop, shedding their onerous, exterior skeleton (shell) after they develop too giant for it and forming a brand new one.
They eat voraciously after they molt, usually devouring their very own just lately vacated shells. Eating their shell replenishes lost calcium and helps harden their new shell.
Lobsters molt about 20 to 25 instances over a period of 5 to eight years between the time they hatch and when they’re able to reproduce and attain the minimal authorized size to be harvested.
Usually, lobsters mate after the female’s molt. Males deposit sperm within the soft-shelled females. The feminine shops the sperm internally for as much as a year.
Females can have 5,000 to more than 100,000 eggs, relying on their size. The eggs are fertilized as females launch them on the underside of their tails, the place they carry the eggs for 9 to 11 months.
Egg-bearing females transfer inshore to hatch their eggs throughout the late spring or early summer season.
The pelagic (free-swimming) larvae molt 4 instances before they resemble adults and settle to the underside.
Lobsters are opportunistic feeders, feeding on no matter prey is most accessible, so their diet varies regionally.
Larvae and postlarvae are carnivorous and eat zooplankton (tiny floating animals) throughout their first year.
Adults are omnivorous, feeding on crabs, mollusks, worms, sea urchins, sea stars, fish, and macroalgae.
In common, a wide range of bottom-dwelling species feeds on lobster, together with fish, sharks, rays, skates, octopuses, and crabs. Young lobsters are particularly susceptible to predators. Large, hard-shelled lobsters could also be proof against predators (besides people).
American lobster Habitat
The American Lobster lives on the underside of the ocean. They may be present in sandy and muddy areas, however want rocky bottoms with more locations to cover.
Young lobsters appear to want to settle in areas with cobble. The lobster spends many of the days inside its burrow and can solely go away if meals are close by.
At night it wanders the ocean floor and will enterprise into the intertidal zone when tides are high. If a predator approaches, it shortly retreats back into the protected cover of its burrow.
American lobsters are discovered within the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Labrador to Cape Hatteras. They’re most plentiful in coastal waters from Maine by way of New Jersey and are additionally widespread offshore to depths of two,300 feet from Maine by way of North Carolina.
American lobster Food Habits
Three stomachs make up the digestive system, which is throughout the cephalothorax (the pinnacle and thorax). The first abdomen (forgut) grinds meals into small particles with grinding teeth.
The second abdomen (midgut) has glands to digest particles. The glands are the green portion of the lobster eaten by some people (referred to as the “tomalley”). The third abdomen (hindgut) receives non-absorbed particles that are handed to the rectum and anus.
Homarus americanus does nearly all of its consumption at night. It is normally a scavenger, feeding on useless animals, however can be able to capture its personal prey.
The lobster’s diet consists principally of clams, crabs, snails, small fish, algae, and different vegetation referred to as eelgrass.
Since lobsters typically eat their very own molted shell they had been regarded as cannibalistic, however, this has by no means been recorded within the wild. However, they’ll eat different lobsters when in captive
American lobster Diet
The natural diet of H. americanus is comparatively constant throughout completely different habitats. It is dominated by mollusks (particularly mussels), echinoderms, and polychaetes, though a large range of different prey gadgets could also be eaten, together with different crustaceans, brittle stars, and cnidarians.
Lobsters in Maine have been proven to realize 35–55% of their energy from herring, which is used as bait for lobster traps. Only 6% of lobsters coming into lobster traps to feed are caught.
American lobster Life cycle and reproduction
A feminine is able to mate at about 5 years of age. Mating should happen within 48 hours after the feminine molts, and the process normally lasts a few minutes.
The feminine will spawn her eggs between one month and two years after mating, at which era they change into fertilized by sperm that has been saved.
The variety of eggs the feminine spawns relies on body size, the place an 18 cm lobster will lay about 3,000 eggs, and a 45 cm lobster will lay around 75,000 eggs.
The feminine will then carry the eggs beneath her tail for about 10 to 11 months till they hatch. Only about 1/10 of 1 percent of the younger survive after 4 weeks, primarily attributable to predation.
The younger will transfer concerning the water column for about 12 days, then transfer to the underside.
A feminine lobster carrying eggs on her pleopods. The tail flipper second from left has been notched by researchers to point she is a lively breeding feminine.
Mating solely takes place shortly after the feminine has molted and her exoskeleton remains to be mushy. The feminine releases a pheromone which causes the males to change into much less aggressive and to start courtship, which entails a courtship dance with claws closed.
Eventually, the male inserts spermatophores (sperm packets) into the feminine’s seminal receptacle utilizing his first pleopods; the feminine could store the sperm for as much as 15 months.
The feminine releases eggs by way of her oviducts, they usually move the seminal receptacle and are fertilized by the saved sperm. They are then hooked up to the feminine’s pleopods (swimmerets) utilizing an adhesive, the place they’re cared for till they’re able to hatch.
The feminine cleans the eggs often and followers them with water to maintain them oxygenated. The giant telolecithal eggs could resemble the segments of a raspberry, and a feminine carrying egg is claimed to be “in berry”.
Since this era lasts 10–11 months, berried females may be discovered at any time of year. In the waters off New England, the eggs are sometimes laid in July or August, and hatch the next May or June.
The growing embryo passes by way of a number of molts throughout the egg, before hatching as a metanauplius larva. When the eggs hatch, the feminine releases them by waving her tail within the water, setting batches of larvae free.
The metanauplius of H. americanus is 1⁄3 in (8.5 mm) long, transparent, with giant eyes and a long backbone projecting from its head. It shortly molts, and the next three phases are related, however bigger.
These molts take 10–20 days, throughout which the planktonic larvae are susceptible to predation; just one in 1,000 is assumed to outlive to the juvenile stage.
To attain the fourth stage – the post-larva – the larva undergoes metamorphosis, and subsequently exhibits a lot larger resemblance to the adult lobster, is around 1⁄2 in (13 mm) long, and swims with its pleopods.
At this stage, the lobster’s claws are nonetheless comparatively small in order that they rely totally on tail-flip escapes if threatened.
After the next molt, the lobster sinks to the ocean flooring and adopts a benthic lifestyle. It molts more and more occasionally, from an initial rate of ten instances per year to as soon as every few years.
After one year it’s round 1–1.5 in (25–38 mm) long, and after six years it could weigh 1 pound (0.45 kg). By the time it reaches the minimum landing size, a person could have molted 25–27 instances, and thereafter every molt could signal a 40%–50% increase in weight, and a 14% enhance in carapace size. If threatened, adult lobsters will usually select to struggle until they’ve lost their claws.
Although this species just isn’t endangered, conservation efforts have been carried out to protect lobster populations from overfishing.
Laws regulate the size of lobsters taken, which will increase the variety of females reaching sexual maturity and reproducing before being harvested.
Other rules embody limiting the variety of traps set, limits on lobstering licenses, and instances of the year when lobsters are harvested. Another volunteer program carried out is slicing a “V” notch within the tail when a feminine carrying egg is trapped.
She is returned to the ocean and if caught once more just isn’t imagined to be harvested since she is a recognized egg producer.
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- Compatible Fish with Betta – List | Chart | Peaceful | Aggressive | <urn:uuid:16250a3d-4009-48b2-8a1e-14e0ad10ac51> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.seafishpool.com/american-lobster/ | 2024-12-08T11:26:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066446143.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20241208111059-20241208141059-00307.warc.gz | en | 0.949342 | 4,582 | 3.625 | 4 |
In the first quarter of the eighteenth century, two young travelers from Boston made trips to the Dutch Republic. One was from Boston stock, the other a Dutch New Yorker, born in Albany. They visited the same sites and wrote about their experiences, but their views are quite different.
In the eighteenth century, countless young British men went on Grand Tours to Europe as part of their cultural education. In elite circles, traveling was seen as an excellent way to become a more polished and gallant gentleman. As traveler Jonathan Belcher aptly put it, “a man without traveling is not altogether unlike a rough diamond, which is unpolished and without beauty.” Many travelers kept a journal to recount their experiences, either to themselves or to a home audience. Most such journals were penned by travelers from the British Isles, but the genre also reached the British colonies in North America. In 1704 and 1716, two young men from Boston, Jonathan Belcher and Jacob Wendell, wrote down their experiences of visiting the Dutch Republic. While their journals are similar in style and contents, they also reveal crucial differences in the writers’ personal histories. Compared, they provide us with a fascinating insight in Dutch-American connections in the early eighteenth century.
“A Poor Dutch Boy” in Boston
Jacob Wendell was born in August 1691 in Albany, New York, as the youngest of the eleven children of the Dutch couple Johannes Wendell and Elizabeth Staats. By the 1690s, Albany still had a large Dutch-speaking community, of whom the Wendells and the Staats were two of the wealthier families. Jacob’s family had mainly been engaged in the local fur trade, but the opportunities in that trade had been waning since the 1650s. Therefore, when Jacob came of age in early 1708, his family decided to send him to Boston to become a merchant’s apprentice. Apprenticeships in New England were becoming more common among mercantile families of Dutch descent. Boston in particular was an excellent place for young American-Dutch boys to familiarize themselves with British business practices, to learn the intricacies of polite culture, and to establish contacts with London trading houses. In addition, these young apprentices assisted their New York families in securing goods that were not readily available in New York City.
In 1708, Jacob arrived in Boston to work in the counting house of the Boston merchant John Mico. Though local legend has it that Wendell was just “a poor Dutch boy” upon arrival, he actually was well-endowed with goods to trade on the Boston markets for his family’s account. In addition, when he started to work under the auspices of John Mico his talent for business quickly began to flourish. Mico had arrived in Boston from England in 1686 as a factor for his London-based kinsmen Richard and Joseph Mico, and had established a trade in fish, ship masts, turpentine and tar. His headquarters were located in a mansion that became known as “Mico Mansion”, located on School Street just across King’s Chapel and the old Boston Latin School. On this location, where the Omni Parker House now stands, a memorial commemorates the history of the place and its previous owner (“Colonel Jacob Wendall”) who purchased the mansion after Mico’s death in 1718.
“The Hollander is Boorish to the Last Degree”
While apprenticing under Mico in the polite societies of Boston, it is highly likely that Wendell came across a widely circulated manuscript travelogue by the ambitious young Bostonian Jonathan Belcher, entitled A Journal of My Intended Voyage and Journey to Holland, Hannover, &c, July 8, 1704 to October 5, 1704. This lengthy journal recounted the Grand Tour Belcher had made in 1704 to the Dutch Republic and a number of German principalities. Jonathan Belcher was born in 1682 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Andrew Belcher and Sarah Gilbert. His father Andrew had begun his career as a modest tavern owner, but had gradually built a fortune as a shipping captain and merchant. In 1704, Andrew sent his son to Europe to strengthen their business contacts in London, Amsterdam, and Hamburg. The trip would allow his son to extend his horizons and further his refinement as a gentleman.
Once Belcher set foot in the Dutch Republic in July 1704, he at once displayed an incredible ability to find just the right connections to gain access to higher society. While visiting the States General in The Hague, he secured an appointment with the English ambassador James Stanhope (1673-1721), who connected him to Baron von Bothmer (1656-1732), the Hanoverian ambassador, who in turn wrote him a letter of introduction to the Hanoverian Court of Electress Sophia (1630-1709). With just two carefully arranged introductions, Belcher had gained access to the courts of one of the most influential principalities of Europe at the time. He kept a carefully composed and very extensive journal of his impressions of these visits. Clearly, Belcher never intended his account to remain private. With his journal, he aimed to inform and educate his Bostonian public on the curiosities of Europe.
In general, Belcher was impressed with the “very neat, clean and pleasant” towns of the Dutch Republic. The Dutch as a people were “very well contrived for trade” and “a people of indefatigable diligence,” but at the same time they lacked the manners and refinement of Englishmen: “the Hollander is boorish to the last degree, no air in conversation, nor indeed will they talk with you unless about getting of money.” However, contacts with strangers like the Dutch were very valuable for an aspiring gentleman: “traveling forms man into a civil, courteous behavior, and by using him daily to new faces, takes off all manner of bluntness.” Belcher’s account is also rich in detail as he remarks on individual towns, objects, and experiences. In Delft (“a very pleasant town”) he visited William of Orange’s tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk, which was “done to admiration in fine marble”. In the same town, he also viewed the Prinsenhof “the palace, where the famous prince Nassau was murdered.” In Leiden (“a dull melancholy town”) he visited the university building (“an old brick building not spacious at all”), and its botanical garden (“pleasant enough”) and anatomy chamber full of curiosities, including an “Egyptian mummy”. In Amsterdam, he marveled at the myriad trading activities taking place on the Damrak and met up with his “priceless friend Mr. Van Schaick”. This was Levinius van Schaick (1661-1709), like Belcher born in North America. Levinius, the son of the New Netherland settler Goosen van Schaick, had returned to Amsterdam to conduct business for numerous New York Dutch merchant families, including the Wendells.
Although direct evidence is lacking, it is very likely that Jacob Wendell was familiar with Belcher’s adventures and journal. The aforementioned Levinius van Schaick was just one of the many mutual acquaintances of the Belchers and the Wendells. Jacob himself arranged trade between the Belchers and Albany merchant John Schuyler (1668-1747), who was Jacob’s stepfather. Later in their careers, after Belcher had become Royal Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 1729, Jacob and Jonathan most certainly knew each other personally. It was Belcher who promoted Wendell in 1732 to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the local artillery company, making him the “Colonel Jacob Wendall” as Jacob is still remembered as on the Omni Parker House memorial.
“My friends in Holland”
By 1714, when his apprenticeship with Mico was nearing its conclusion, Jacob Wendell decided not to return to his hometown in New York. In 1714, he had married into the influential Oliver family through his marriage with Sarah, the daughter of Cambridge physician James Oliver and Mercy Bradstreet. Now firmly rooted in Boston mercantile circles, Jacob permanently settled in Boston to establish his own merchant house. In 1715, he set sail for London to solidify links with the London branch of the Mico family, and establish new trading contacts. From London he arranged to visit his “friends in Holland” to “settle a thorough correspondence”. His choice of words resonates with Belcher’s concluding advice for future travelers and aspiring merchants: “if a man intends to live by trading and merchandize, traveling gives him the best opportunity to settle a correspondence in those parts of the world, where he may come.” If Jacob was aware of Belcher’s journal, he undoubtedly took this advice to heart.
By his “friends in Holland”, Jacob meant the family firm of the Haarlem textile merchant Albertus Hodshon (1661-1720). From at least the 1690s, Hodshon had been exporting textiles and other European manufactures to North America, where he traded with Dutch New York trading houses like the Van Cortlandts. Wendell was possibly introduced to Hodshon through a common New York City acquaintance prior to 1715, when he first received a shipment in Boston of Hodshon’s linens and textiles. Before they met in the Netherlands, however, they had never met in person.
When Jacob arrived in Rotterdam in early 1716, Albertus Hodshon had prepared everything carefully to make his Bostonian friend feel at home. He had sent his eldest son Theodorus to await him in Rotterdam and guide him to Haarlem, where he had prepared a room in his house, so that, as Jacob remarked, “I accepted of his friendship”. Hodshon had also arranged a sight-seeing tour to show Wendell the most worthwhile attractions in Holland. Together, they visited the Sint-Janskerk in Gouda, “in which church are the finest paints in the windows that are in all of Holland […] done by the brothers whose names were Wauter and Dirck Crabeth in 1555”. In Delft, they visited the Prinsenhof and saw “the place where Prince William I [of Orange, red.] was shut by a Spanjard just as he was coming down the stairs”, where “the marks of the bullets are yet in the wall”. In Leiden, he visited Leiden University and its botanical gardens, “where I saw trees that bore spices of all sorts, oranges and lemmons”. In The Hague, he visited the States General and the States of Holland, where he dined with “sundry colonels and officers of distinction, all Dutch”. The most in awe he was however by William of Orange’s tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft, “on which he sits pictured out in solid brass”, which “was cast so often that it cost above 10000 sterling” and “is esteemed as fine a piece of work as is in the world.” Possibly with Belcher’s journal as an inspiration in mind, Jacob wrote his own sightseeing journal to recount his impressions of the Dutch Republic.
From “track scoot” to “treckscuit”
The contents of the sightseeing journals of Jacob and Jonathan were thereby quite similar, but there was one crucial difference that shaped their experiences: as an Albanian, Jacob actually spoke Dutch, and Jonathan did not. This undoubtedly made Jacob seem less foreign to the Dutch than Jonathan. Whereas Jonathan mentioned he was “altogether a stranger, & speaking no Dutch”, Jacob wrote that “I find my speaking of Dutch very advantageous to me while here, since not one in Mr. Hodshon’s family speaks English.” Indeed, with a Dutch term like trekschuit—a horse-drawn vessel used for passenger transport between towns —Jacob had considerably less difficulty (“treckscuit”) than Jonathan (“track scoot”). Whereas Belcher complained that “the Hollander” will “not talk with you unless about getting of money”, Jacob Wendell gladly noted he spoke with “many that would consign me goods”.
Belcher was of course a foreigner to the Dutch he met throughout his travels. Yet he aimed to highlight with his journal that a “civil, courteous” gentleman like himself could navigate foreign high society despite language barriers or other obstacles of foreignness. Jonathan aimed to show his Bostonian audience at home his talent to find and nurture just the right connections to get what he wants and needs. As such, his journey and journal are reflections of his personality, talents and ambitions. He already displays some traits of the tactful politician and diplomat who would later successfully lobby in Whitehall for the position of Royal Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Wendell’s travel account is also a display of his personality and ambitions. He was first and foremost a merchant. His journal was barely a page long, almost hidden between the business correspondence on one of the final blank pages in the letterbook he had taken to Europe. Unlike Belcher, Wendell devoted no space to reflective remarks written with a Bostonian audience in mind. The account of his sightseeing tour seems to almost have come as an afterthought of what had mattered most for him in this journey: establishing “a thorough correspondence” with his “friends in Holland”.
The Fruits of Dutchness
Jacob undoubtedly succeeded in his efforts. Over the next fifty years, he filled his mostly English letterbooks with an occasional Dutch letter addressed to the Hodshons and other Amsterdam merchant houses. The Hodshons’ goods allowed him to fill lucrative niches in the Boston markets. In December 1720, for instance, Wendell advertised in the Boston Gazette for Dutch linens “of the best sorts, just arrived from Holland”. Later in his career, he purchased his own ships for the journeys between Boston and Amsterdam, and gave them Dutch-themed names like Amsterdam and Prince of Orange. Though Boston had become his new home, Wendell never seems to have forgotten his Dutch roots in Albany, nor the “friends in Holland” he had established as a result of those roots.
Jonathan Belcher came to the Dutch Republic primarily for personal development. He sought to expose himself to foreign places and peoples to allow for enrichment and refinement of his character. For Jacob, there seems to have been no ulterior motives other than to establish and strengthen connections with people that must have felt comparatively close already. The spaces he visited were interesting and worthwhile of description in his journal, but he did not comment on the Dutch as a foreign, strange or “other” people, which Belcher did. The journal of Jacob Wendell’s visit to Holland shows how Dutch-speaking descendants of New Netherlanders could establish and nurture special connections between North America and the Dutch Republic, even from locations like Boston far beyond the former New Netherland borders. Of course, the journal of Belcher shows that Dutch New Yorkers were not the only ones capable thereof. Yet their ability to correspond in Dutch with Dutchmen was, as Wendell himself put it, “very advantageous”.
About the author
Sander Rooijakkers is a research master student in the History: Cities, Migration and Global Interdependence program at Leiden University. In the summer of 2023, as an intern for the Nationaal Archief, New Netherland Institute and New Holland Foundation, he worked on a preliminary survey of eighteenth-century Dutch manuscripts in repositories in New York City, Albany, Boston and Portsmouth. He is currently working on a thesis on Dutch Bostonian Jacob Wendell (1691-1761).
Last year The Dutch National Archives commissioned historian Jaap Jacobs to produce a series of 24 blogposts, 12 written by himself and 12 by co-authors, on the 400 year relationship between the Netherlands and the United States. Click here for the other parts. | <urn:uuid:90fc7edc-0c98-49ca-b152-066d65678bf1> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.john-adams.nl/the-dutch-republic-through-bostonian-eyes/ | 2024-12-11T16:48:31Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066090825.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20241211143606-20241211173606-00377.warc.gz | en | 0.978492 | 3,427 | 3.34375 | 3 |
In the area of health, the interconnectedness of diverse body systems frequently manifests itself in surprising ways. One such link occurs between diabetes and ocular health. As people deal with the difficulties of controlling diabetes, it is critical to recognize its possible impact on vision. Understanding and properly managing diabetic eye disease (DED) is critical to preserving good eye health and general well-being.
Exploring the Links:
Diabetes, a chronic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels, endangers many organs and systems in the body. When left untreated, it can cause issues in the eyes, known as diabetic eye disease. Diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma are some of the key disorders included under DED.
1. Diabetic Retinopathy: This disorder results from blood vessel destruction in the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. Chronic high blood sugar levels linked with diabetes can cause various alterations in the retinal blood vessels:
- Microaneurysms: Weak patches form in the blood vessel walls, causing them to bulge and occasionally leak fluid into the retina.
- Macular Edoema: Fluid buildup in the macula, the central region of the retina crucial for clear vision, can be caused by leaking from injured blood vessels.
- Neovascularization: In reaction to low oxygen levels, aberrant new blood vessels may form on the retina’s surface, which is fragile and prone to bleeding.
2. Diabetic Macular Edema (DME): This disorder causes swelling in the macula, usually as a result of diabetic retinopathy. The specific process underlying DME is unknown, but it is thought that fluid leaking from damaged blood arteries into the macula contributes to its formation.
3. Cataracts: Diabetes can hasten the development of cataracts, a disorder marked by clouding of the eye’s natural lens. High blood sugar levels can cause an accumulation of sorbitol in the lens, causing it to enlarge and fog. Additionally, diabetes-related alterations in lens proteins can contribute to cataract formation.
4. Glaucoma: Diabetics are more likely to develop glaucoma, a set of eye disorders characterized by optic nerve damage, which is typically caused by elevated intraocular pressure. The specific process by which diabetes causes glaucoma is unknown, however, it may entail reduced blood flow to the optic nerve or an increased vulnerability to optic nerve injury.
The underlying cause of these disorders is the prolonged exposure of ocular tissues to excessive levels of glucose. This can cause a variety of pathological changes, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and damage to the delicate blood vessels that supply the eyes. These changes eventually develop into diabetic eye disorders, each with its own set of traits and consequences.
While high blood sugar levels are the primary cause, additional variables including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and genetic susceptibility can increase the incidence and severity of diabetic eye disease.
Managing Diabetic Eye Disease:
Effective care of diabetic eye disease requires a diversified approach to preserve vision and avoid further deterioration. Key strategies include:
- Regular Eye Exams: Routine eye exams are critical for early identification and treatment. Individuals with diabetes should have comprehensive eye exams at least once a year, or as directed by their eye care provider.
- Blood Sugar Control: Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is critical for preventing or halting the onset of diabetic eye damage. Following a diabetes management strategy that combines medicine, diet, and exercise can help control blood sugar levels and lower the risk of problems.
- High blood pressure and cholesterol levels might worsen diabetic eye damage. Managing these factors through lifestyle changes and, if necessary, medicines can help safeguard your eyes.
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, smoking cessation, and reduction in alcohol intake can improve general health, including eye health.
- Treatment Options: Depending on the degree of diabetic eye disease, treatment may include medication, laser therapy, or surgical procedures. Early intervention is crucial for improving treatment outcomes and preserving vision.
Diabetic eye disorders must be addressed early for numerous reasons:
- Preservation of Vision: Diabetic eye disorders might result in irreparable eyesight loss if not managed. Individuals who manage these illnesses early can retain their vision and quality of life.
- Complication Prevention: Left untreated, diabetic eye problems can cause serious consequences, including blindness. Managing these disorders efficiently can help avoid future eye damage and lower the chance of problems.
- Impact on Daily Activities: Vision impairment can have a substantial influence on daily activities like reading, driving, and completing work-related duties. Managing diabetic eye disorders can help people preserve their independence and productivity.
- Emotional and Psychological Well-Being: Vision loss can have a significant influence on a person’s emotional and psychological well-being, causing anxiety, sadness, and social isolation. Individuals’ mental health and overall well-being can be maintained by protecting vision with timely treatment.
- Long-Term Health Outcomes: Managing diabetic eye disorders is critical not just for sustaining vision, but also for general health. The eyes provide vital insights into systemic health, and treating eye-related diabetic problems can lead to better long-term health outcomes.
Failure to seek prompt treatment for diabetic eye disorders can result in significant repercussions.
- Progressive Vision Loss: Without intervention, diabetic eye disorders can continue and cause more damage to the retina, macula, and other eye tissues, resulting in progressive vision loss.
- Increased Risk of Complications: Untreated diabetic eye problems raise the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma-related optic nerve damage, and severe vision impairment or blindness.
- Reduced Treatment Effectiveness: Delaying treatment might impair the efficacy of laser therapy, medication, or surgical procedures, making it more difficult to control diabetic eye illness and retain vision.
- Influence on Quality of Life: Vision loss caused by untreated diabetic eye illnesses can have a substantial influence on an individual’s quality of life, restricting their ability to complete daily tasks and badly affecting their emotional and psychological health.
Diabetic eye illnesses are caused by a complex interaction of diabetes-induced variables such as vascular damage, inflammation, and metabolic irregularities, which can eventually lead to vision-threatening consequences if not handled properly. As a result, maintaining blood sugar levels and treating associated risk factors are critical steps in successfully avoiding and managing these disorders. Regular eye exams and early intervention can help diagnose diabetic eye disorders in their early stages, when therapy is most effective, preserving vision and improving general eye health. Seek expert care with renowned ophthalmologists such as those at the Best Eye Hospital in Mumbai, India to ensure a thorough evaluation and specific management programs to protect vision in the long run.
The link between diabetes and eye health emphasizes the significance of proactive management and frequent monitoring. Individuals can effectively manage diabetic eye illness and protect their eyesight for years by focusing on blood sugar control, living a healthy lifestyle, and seeking timely medical assistance. Remember, your eyes are important; prioritize their care, and they will serve you well for the rest of your life.
Addressing Common Issues, Treatment Approaches, and Parental Tips for Children’s Eye Health
The one aspect that is frequently neglected is children’s eye health. Children rely heavily on their vision to explore and comprehend their environment. Visual development is a complex process that continues throughout early childhood; therefore, parents and carers must remain vigilant for any signs of eye problems.
The Importance of Paediatric Eye Care
Vision is essential not only for learning and development but also for a child’s safety and overall quality of life. Vision issues in children can impede their academic progress, limit their social interactions, and even impact their self-esteem. It is essential to acknowledge the significance of paediatric eye health and to take proactive measures to ensure the best possible visual outcomes for our children.
Common Childhood Eye Problems
1. Amblyopia (Droopy Eye)
Amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye,” is a condition in which one eye fails to develop normal visual acuity. This may occur if one eye has significantly greater nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism than the other. The brain begins to favour the stronger eye, which causes the weaker eye to weaken.
Options for Treatment: Early detection is crucial for amblyopia treatment. Options for treatment include corrective eyewear, eye patches, and vision therapy. These interventions aim to strengthen the weaker eye and enhance its visual clarity. Intervention promptly can prevent permanent vision impairment.
Strabismus is the medical term for crossed eyes. It is a condition that is characterised by misaligned eyes. One or both eyes may turn inward (esotropia) or outward (exotropia), impairing depth perception and binocular vision.
Treatment options: Strabismus may be treated with eyeglasses, eye exercises, or, in some instances, surgical correction to realign the eye muscles. Intervention is essential to prevent complications and promote proper visual development.
3. Errors in Refraction
Errors in Refractive Lenses
Children frequently experience refractive errors, including nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. These conditions occur when the eye’s shape prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, resulting in blurred vision.
Treatment options: Children with refractive errors can be successfully treated with corrective eyewear or contact lenses. Regular eye exams are necessary to monitor any changes in a child’s prescription as he or she develops.
4. Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin, transparent layer that covers the white portion of the eye. Viruses, bacteria, or allergies can all be responsible for this disease’s high contagiousness among children.
Treatment options for pink eye depend on the underlying cause. For bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotic eye drops are prescribed, while antihistamines and good hygiene practises are suggested for allergic conjunctivitis. Handwashing and other forms of proper hygiene can prevent the spread of infection.
Blockage of Tear Ducts
Obstructed Tear Canals
Common in infants, blocked tear ducts can cause excessive tearing, eye discharge, and occasional eye infections. This condition typically resolves independently, but if it persists, medical intervention may be required.
Treatment options: Surgical procedures to open blocked tear ducts are considered if the condition persists beyond the first year of life. Typically, these procedures are straightforward and well-tolerated.
The Importance of Routine Paediatric Eye Exams
Detecting eye problems in children as early as possible is crucial. Even if a child appears to have no vision problems, routine eye exams should be a standard part of his or her healthcare. Comprehensive eye exams, conducted by a paediatric eye specialist, can help identify and address issues that may not be apparent to parents or carers. These examinations evaluate visual acuity, eye alignment, and eye health in general.
Tips for Keeping Your Child’s Eyes Healthy
- Schedule Frequent Vision Exams: Examine your child’s eyes beginning as early as six months of age. Early detection can be crucial for resolving problems expeditiously.
- Monitor Family History: Inform your eye care provider if you have a family history of eye problems. Some conditions may have a genetic component, thereby increasing your child’s risk.
- Eye safety: Encourage the use of eye protection during sports and other activities to prevent eye injuries. Goggles or helmets with face shields may be essential.
- Balanced Diet: Ensure that your child’s diet contains eye-healthy nutrients, such as vitamin A, which is vital for good vision. Carrots, sweet potatoes, and greens are great sources.
- Limited screen time: An excessive amount of screen time can cause eye strain. Encourage outdoor play and rest periods to promote eye health. The 20-20-20 rule, in which your child takes a 20-second break every 20 minutes and gazes at an object 20 feet away, can reduce eye strain.
Caring for your child’s eye health should not be taken lightly. By remaining vigilant and proactive, parents and carers can detect and treat common eye conditions early, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful treatment and preserving their child’s vision. The keys to ensuring that your child’s visual journey is a clear and bright one are regular paediatric eye exams at the best eye care clinic in Mumbai, healthy lifestyle choices, and prompt attention to any emerging issues. Your child’s eyes are their window to the world; let’s keep them crystal clear and brimming with opportunities. | <urn:uuid:a39f238b-5540-409c-8702-662685de325c> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.precisioneyehospital.com/navigating-the-link-between-diabetes-and-vision-effective-diabetic-eye-disease-management/ | 2024-12-04T18:53:20Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066304351.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20241204172202-20241204202202-00265.warc.gz | en | 0.923691 | 2,682 | 3.3125 | 3 |
It has already been stated that commerce consists of trade and auxiliaries to trade. Auxiliaries or aids to trade refer to the activities incidental to the buying and selling of goods and services. These auxiliaries to trade are also known as business services or facilities. These services are essential and indispensable to the smooth flow of trade and industry. The examples of business services are banking, insurance, transport, warehousing and communication.
NATURE OF BUSINESS SERVICES:
There are five basic features of services called “Five ‘I’s”, which distinguish it from goods. They are:-
- Intangibility: Cannot be seen, touched or smelled. Just can only be felt, yet their benefits can be availed of e.g. Treatment by doctor.
- Inconsistency: Different customers have different demands & expectation. There is no consistency in providing services. Service providers should adjust their offer to closely meet the requirement of the customers. E.g. Mobile services/Beauty parlor.
- Inseparability: Services are produced and consumed simultaneously. These are inseparable. In the case of goods production took place at one time and consumption at another time
- Inventory Less: Services cannot be stored for future use or performed earlier to be consumed at a later date. E.g. underutilized capacity of hotels and airlines during slack demand cannot be stored for future when there will be a peak demand.
- Involvement: Participation of the customer in the service delivery is a must e.g. A customer can get the service modified according to specific requirement.
Type of Services:-
- Social Services: – Provided voluntarily to achieve certain goals e.g. health care and education services provided by NGOs.
- Personal Services: – Services which are experienced differently by different customers. e.g. tourism, restaurants etc. That means services provided to individual customers.
- Business Services: – Services used by business enterprises for the conduct of their activities .e.g. Banking, Insurance, communication, warehousing and transportation
In this chapter we are limiting our discussion to business services only.
In the dynamic business world the role business services is changing at faster rate. There is a radical restructuring of the service industry which has branched into many areas, these include: – Banking, Insurance, Transportation, advertising, communication, Warehousing, consultancies, tax and accounting etc…..
Finance is the life blood of business. It is needed for uninterrupted supply of goods and services from the producers to the ultimate consumers through various intermediaries. Banks play a vital role in meeting the financial requirement of various business activities.
Banks occupy an important position in the modern business world. No country can make commercial and industrial progress without a well organised banking system. Banks encourage the habit of saving among the public. They mobilize small savings and chennelise them into productive uses.
A bank is an institution which deals in money and credit. It collects deposits from the public and supplies credit, thereby facilitating exchange. It also performs many other functions like credit creation, agency functions, general services etc… Hence a Bank is an organisation which accepts deposits, lends money and performs other agency functions.
In modern times bank is an institution which accept deposit for the purpose of lending money to needy people. They earn margin which is their profit.
Types of Banks:-
On the basis of focus of banking, we have following different type of banks:-
1 – Commercial Bank:-
Commercial banks are institution dealing in money and credit. Banking is a business of receiving deposit, lending them to the people needs finance and rendering other useful services. Interest on deposit is always less than interest on loan. The difference is called as margin and it is the profit of the bank. Commercial banks are governed by Indian Banking Regulation Act 1949. There are two types of commercial banks- Public sector banks and private Sector banks.
Public Sector Banks: – Public sector banks are those banks in which the government has major share. Public sector banks are dominating the banking scene in India since three decades. This was possible with the setting up State Bank of India and nationalizing 20 major commercial banks (14 banks 1969 and 6 in 1980). SBI and its associate banks such as SBT, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, Syndicate Bank etc… are some examples.
Private Sector Banks: – These are the banks which are owned, managed and controlled by privet parties. But they are subject to regulations of Reserve Bank of India. In India private banks are categorized into three:-
Old Generation Banks- include Federal Bank, South Indian Bank etc……, New Generation Banks- includes ICICI Bank, HDFC bank. Etc.., and foreign banks- includes Citibank, American Express etc…
2 – Co-operative Banks: –
Co-operative banks are organised on co-operative lines. These banks are governed by the provision of State Co-operative Societies Act. They are meant essentially for providing cheap credit facilities to their members. It is an important source of rural credit and agricultural credit.
3 – Specialised Banks: –
Specialised banks are those banks which render specific services to the public. These include foreign exchange banks, industrial banks, development bank, export- import bank etc….
4 – Central Banks: –
A central bank is the principal banking institution of a country. It is owned and managed by government. It supervises, guides, controls and regulates the activities of all banks in the country. It acts as banker to the government, as bankers’ bank, as lender of last resort, as custodian of foreign exchange reserve and as controller of credit and money of any country. The Reserve Bank of India is the central bank of our country which was established in 1935.
Functions of Commercial banks:-
Banks perform a variety of functions. Some of them are the basic or primary functions of a bank while others are secondary functions. The impotent functions are discussed below;-
1. Accepting Deposits: – Accepting deposits is the main function of commercial banks. Banks offer different types of Bank accounts to suit the requirements and needs of different customers. Different types of Bank accounts are as follows:
- Fixed Deposit Account:- Money is deposited in the account for a fixed period. After expiry of specified period person can claim his money from the bank. Usually the rate of interest is at maximum in this account. The longer the period of deposit, the higher will be the rate of interest on deposit.
- Current Deposit Account:- Current deposit Accounts are opened by businessman. The account holder can deposit and withdraw money whenever desired. As the deposit is repayable on demand, it is also known as demand deposit .Withdrawals are always made by cheque. No interest is paid on current accounts. Rather charges are taken by bank for services rendered by it.
- Saving Deposit Account:-The aim of a saving account is to mobilise savings of the public. A person can open this a/c by depositing a small sum of money. He can withdraw money from his account and make additional deposits at will. Account holder also gets interest on his deposit in this account, though the rate of interest is lower than the rate of interest on fixed deposit account.
- Recurring Deposit Account:-The aim of recurring deposit is to encourage regular savings by the people. A depositor can deposit a fixed amount, say Rs. 100 every month for a fixed period. The amount together with interest is repaid on maturity. The interest rate on this account is higher than that on saving deposits.
- Multiple Option Deposit Accounts:-It is a type of saving Bank A/c in which deposit in excess of a particular limit gets automatically transferred into Fixed Deposit. On the other hand, in case adequate fund is not available in our saving Bank Account so as to honour a cheque that we have issued the required amount gets automatically transferred from fixed deposit to the saving bank account. Therefore, the account holder has twin benefits from this account (i) he can earn more interest and (ii) It lowers the risk of dishonouring a cheque.
2. Lending Money: – With the help of money collected through various types of deposits, commercial banks lend finance to businessman, farmers, and others. The main ways of lending money are as follows:
- Term Loans:-These loans are provided by the banks to their customers for a fixed period to purchases Machinery, Truck, Scooter, House etc. The borrowers repay these loans in Monthly/Quarterly/Half Yearly/ Annually installments.
- Bank Overdraft:-The customer, who maintains a current account with the bank, takes permission from the bank to withdraw more money than deposited in his account. The extra amount withdrawn is called overdraft.
This facility is available to trustworthy customers for a small period. This facility is usually given against the security of some assets or on the personal security of the customer. Interest is charged on the actual amount overdrawn by the customer.
- Cash Credit:- Under this arrangement, the bank advances cash loan up to a specified limit against current assets and other securities. The bank opens an account in the name of the borrower and allows him to withdraw the money from time to time subject to the sanctioned limit. Interest is charged on the amount actually withdraw.
- Discounting of Bill of Exchange :-Under this, a bank gives money to its customers on the security of a bill of exchange before the expiry of the bill in case a customer is needs it. For this service bank charges discount for the remaining period of the bill.
The secondary functions of commercial banks are as under:
1. Agency Functions:- As an agent of its customers, a commercial bank provides the following services:
- Collecting bills of exchanges, promissory notes and cheques.
- Collecting dividends, interest, rent etc.
- Buying and selling shares, debentures and other securities
- Payment of interest, insurance premium, etc
- Transferring funds from one branch to another and from one place to another
- Acting as an agent or representative while dealing with other banks and financial institutions.
A commercial bank performs the above functions on behalf of and as per the instructions of its customers.
2. General Utility Functions: – Commercial banks also perform the following miscellaneous functions.
- Providing lockers for safe custody of jewellery and others valuables of customers.
- Giving references about the financial position of customers.
- Providing information to a customer about the credit worthiness of other customers.
- Supplying various types of trade information useful to customers
- Issuing letter of credit, pay orders, bank draft, credit cards, and traveler’s cheques to customers.
- Underwriting issues of shares and debentures.
- Providing foreign exchange to importers and travelers going abroad.
Bank Draft: – It is a financial instrument with the help of which money can be remitted from one place to another.
Using computers and internet in the functioning of the banks is called e-banking or electronic banking. Because of these services the customers do not need to go to the bank every time he has to transact with bank. He can make transactions with the bank at any time and from any place. The chief electronic services are the following.
- Electronic Fund Transfer:-Under it, a bank transfers wages and salaries directly from the company s account to the accounts of employees of the company. The other examples of EFTs are on line payment of electricity bill, water bill, insurance premium, house tax etc.
- Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs):- ATM is an automatic machine with the help of which money can be withdrawn or deposited by inserting the card and typing your personal Identity Number (PIN). This machine operates for all the 24 hours.
- Debit Card: – A Debit Card is issued to customers in lieu of his money deposited in the bank. The customers can make immediate payment of goods purchased or services obtained if sufficient balance in his account on the terminal facility is available with the seller.
- Credit Card:-A bank issues a credit card to those of its customers who enjoy good reputation. This is a sort of overdraft facility. With the help of this card the holder can buy goods or obtain services up to a certain amount even without having sufficient deposit in their bank accounts.
- Tele Banking: – Under this facility, a customer can get information about the balance in his account or information about the latest transactions on the telephone.
- Core Banking Solution/Centralised Banking Solution:- In this system a customer by opening a bank account in one branch (which has CBS facility) can operate the same account in all CBS branches of the same bank anywhere across the country. It is immaterial with which branch of the bank the customer deals with when he/she is a CBS branch customer.
- Mobile banking: – It is a system that allows customers of a bank to conduct a number of financial transactions through a mobile device such as mobile phone or tablet. By this a customer can access to his account through applications in the device. He can transfer fund, get mini statement of transaction, get alert on account activity etc… through this system
Benefits of e-Banking:-
- E-banking provides round the clock, 365 days a year services to the customers
- Customers can enter into bank transaction from office or house or when travelling via mobile phone
- It create a sense of financial discipline
- Greater customer satisfaction by offering unlimited access to the bank
- Load on branches is considerably reduced
Life is full of uncertainties. The chances of occurrence of an event may cause losses to the life and properties of individuals.
Insurance is a contract between two parties viz. the insurer and the insured. The insurer is the person who compensates other person against possible losses. The insured is the person who gets his life or properties insured against risk. For this service the insured need to pay a price or consideration called premium to the insurer. The document containing the terms and conditions of insurance is called the policy.
Thus Insurance is a form of contract under which one party (Insurer or Insurance Company) agrees in return of a consideration (Insurance premium) to pay an agreed sum of money to another party (Insured) to make good for a loss, damage or injury to something of value in which the insured has financial interest as a result of some uncertain event.
Functions of Insurance:-
- Insurance shares risk and not eliminate the risk
- Insurance affords protection from probable chance of loss
- Insurance (especially life insurance) encourage savings
- Insurance crates funds for investments- capital formation
- Insurance provides fund for developmental programs
Principles of Insurance:-
Insurance is a contract and it is based on certain fundamental principles. The following are them:-
- Utmost Good Faith (uberrimae fidei):-Insurance contracts are based upon mutual trust and confidence between the insurer and the insured. It is a condition of every insurance contract that the parties, insurer and the insured must disclose each fact and information related to insurance contract to each other.
- Insurable Interest: It means some pecuniary interest in the subject matter of insurance contract. The insured must have insurable interest in the subject matter of insurance i.e., life or property insured, the insured will have to incur loss due to this damage and insured will be benefitted if full security is being provided. A businessman has insurable interest in his house, stock, his own life and that of his wife, children etc. In life insurance , the insurable interest must exist at the time of policy is taken. It need not be in existence at the time of death. In marine insurance, the insurable interest must be present at the time loss of the subject matter. In fire and other insurance, the insurable interest must be present not only at the time of taking the policy but also at the time o loss.
- Indemnity: Principle of indemnity applies to all contracts except the contract of life insurance because estimation regarding loss of life cannot be made. The objective of contract of insurance is to compensate to the insured for the actual loss he has incurred. These contracts provide security from loss and no profit can be made out of these contracts. For e.g. a property is insured against fire for Rs.100000. fire occur and loss incurred for Rs. 75000. The insurance Co. shall allow claim only for Rs.75000 and not for Rs.100000
- Proximate Cause or Cousa Proxima: The insurance company will compensate for the loss incurred by the insured due to reasons mentioned in insurance policy. But if losses are incurred due to reasons not mentioned in insurance policy then principle of proximate cause or the nearest cause is followed.
- Subrogation: This principle applies to all insurance contracts which are contracts of indemnity. As per this principle, when any insurance company compensates the insured for loss of any of his property, then all rights related to that property automatically get transferred to insurance company.
- Contribution: According to this principle if a person has taken more than one insurance policy from different insurance Co. for the same risk (Double Insurance) then all the insurance Co. will contribute the amount of loss in proportion to the amount assured by each of them and compensate him for the actual amount of loss because he has no right to recover more than the full amount of his actual loss.
- Mitigation of Loss: According to this principle the insured must take reasonable steps to minimise the loss or damage to the insured property otherwise the claim from the insurance company may be lost. He must act like any uninsured man.
A life insurance policy was introduced as a protection against the uncertainty of life. Insurance company undertakes to insure the life of a person in exchange for a sum of money called premium. This premium may be paid in one lump sum, or periodically i.e., monthly, quarterly, half yearly or yearly. At the same time, the company promises to pay a certain sum of money either on the death of the person or on his attaining a certain age (i.e., the expiry of certain period). Thus, the person is sure that a specified amount will be given to him when he attains a certain age or that his dependents will get that sum in the event of his death.
This insurance provides protection to the family at the premature death or gives adequate amount at old age when earning capacities are reduced. The insurance is not only a protection but is a sort of investment because a certain sum is returnable to the insured at the time of death or at the expiry of a certain period. Life insurance also encourages savings as the amount of premium has to be paid regularly. It thus, provides a sense of security to the insured and his dependents.
Elements of Life Insurance contract: – The main elements of a life insurance contract are:
- The life insurance contract must have all the essentials of a valid contract.
- The contract of life insurance is a contract of utmost good faith. The assured should be honest and truthful in giving information to the insurance company. He must disclose all material facts about his health to the insurer. It is his duty to disclose accurately all material facts known to him even if the insurer does not ask him;
- In life insurance, the insured must have insurable interest in the life assured.
- Life insurance contract is not a contract of indemnity. The life of a human being cannot be compensated and only a specified sum of money is paid. That is why the amount payable in life insurance on the happening of the event is fixed in advance. The sum of money payable is fixed, at the time of entering into the contract. A contract of life insurance, therefore, is not a contract of indemnity.
Types of Life Insurance Policies:-
- Whole Life Police: – Under this policy the sum insured is not payable earlier than death of the insured. The sum then becomes payable to the heir of the deceased.
- Endowment Life Assurance Policy: – Under this policy the insurer undertakes to pay the insured or his heirs or nominees a specified sum on the attainment of a particular age or on his death whichever is earlier.
- Joint Life Policy:-It involves the insurance of two or more lives simultaneously. The policy money is payable upon the death of any one of lives insured and the assured sum will be payable to the survivor or survivors.
- Annuity Policy:-This policy is one under which amount is payable in monthly, quarterly, half yearly or in annual installments after the assured attains a certain age. This is useful to those who prefer a regular income after a certain age.
- Children s Endowment Policy:-This policy is taken for the purpose of education of children or to meet marriage expenses. The insurer agrees to pay a certain sum when the children attain a certain age.
Fire insurance is a contract whereby the insurer, in consideration of the premium paid, undertakes to make good any loss or damage caused by fire during a specified period upto the amount specified in the policy. Normally, the fire insurance policy is for a period of one year after which it is to be renewed from time to time. The premium may be paid either in lump sum or installments. A claim for loss by fire must satisfy the two following conditions:
(i) There must be actual loss; and
(ii) Fire must be accidental and non-intentional.
Elements of Fire Insurance: – The main elements of a fire insurance contract are:
- In fire insurance, the insured must have insurable interest in the subject matter of the insurance.
- Similar to the life insurance contract, the contract of fire insurance is a contract of utmost good faith
- The contract of fire insurance is a contract of strict indemnity. The insured can, in the event of loss, recover the actual amount of loss from the insurer. This is subject to the maximum amount for which the subject matter is insured. For example, if a person has insured his house for Rs. 4,00,000, if the loss incurred for Rs.300000 the insurer liable to pay Rs.300000. if the loss incurred for Rs. 500000, the insurer liable to pay Rs.300000 only.
- The insurer is liable to compensate only when fire is the proximate cause of damage or loss
Marine insurance provides protection against loss by marine perils or perils of the sea. Marine perils are collision of ship with the rock, or ship attacked by the enemies, fire and captured by pirates and actions of the captains and crew of the ship. A marine insurance contract is an agreement whereby the insurer undertakes to indemnify the insured in the manner and to the extent thereby agreed against marine losses. The insurer guarantees to make good the losses due to damage to the ship or cargo arising out of the risks incidental to sea voyages.
Elements of Marine Insurance:- The main elements of a marine insurance contract are:
- The contract of marine insurance is a contract of indemnity
- The contract of marine insurance is a contract of utmost good faith.
- Insurable interest must exist at the time of loss but not necessary at the time when the policy was taken
- The principle of causa proxima will apply to it.
Types of Marine Insurance:-
- Ship or hull insurance: Since the ship is exposed to many dangers at sea, this insurance policy is for indemnifying the insured for losses caused by damage to the ship. It is taken by shipping company.
- Cargo insurance: The cargo while being transported by ship is subject to many risks. These may be at port i.e., risk of theft, lost goods or on voyage etc. Thus, an insurance policy can be issued to cover against such risks to cargo. Taken by importer or exporter
- Freight insurance: If the cargo does not reach the destination due to damage or loss in transit, the shipping company is not received freight charges. Freight insurance is for reimbursing the loss of freight to the shipping company i.e., the insured.
Health Insurance:-Health Insurance is a safeguard against rising medical costs. A health insurance policy is a contract between an insurer and an individual or group, in which the insurer agrees to provide specified health insurance at an agreed- premium. Health insurance usually provides either direct payment or reimbursement for expenses associated with illness and injuries.
Motor Vehicle Insurance: – Motor Vehicle Insurance falls under the classification of General Insurance. This insurance is becoming very popular and its importance increasing day-by day. In motor insurance the owner’s liability to compensate people who were killed or injured through negligence of the motorists or drivers is passed on to the insurance company. It also gives compensation to the damage to vehicle.
Burglary Insurance:- Burglary insurance falls under the classification of insurance of property. In case of burglary policy, the loss of damages of household goods and properties and personal effects due to theft, larceny, burglary, house-breaking and acts of such nature are covered. The actual loss is compensated.
Cattle Insurance:-A contract of cattle insurance is a contract whereby a sum of money is secured to the insured in the event of death of animals like bulls, buffaloes, cows and heifers.
Crop Insurance:-A contract of crop insurance is a contract to provide a measure of financial support to farmers in the event of a crop failure due to drought or flood.
Fidelity Insurance: – It is the insurance protection against loss due the fraud or dishonesty on the part of the employee.
Sports Insurance :To give protection for amateur sportsmen by covering their sports equipments,legal liability and personal accident.
Personal Accident Insurance :-To compensate the loss due to accident (death or injury)
Communication is an important service that helps in establishing links between businessmen, Organisation, suppliers, customers etc. It educates people, widen their knowledge and broaden their outlook. It overcomes the problem of distance between people, businessmen and institutions and thus helps in smooth running of trade, industrial and commercial activities. In this fast moving and competitive world it is essential to have advanced technology for quick exchange of information with the help of electronic media. The main services which help business can be classified into postal and telecom:-
Postal Services: – Every business sends to outsiders and receives from outsiders several letters, market reports, parcel, money order etc. every day. All these services are provided by the post and telegraph offices scattered throughout the country. The postal department performs the following services.
Financial Services:-They provide postal banking facilities to the general public and mobilise their savings through the following saving schemes like public provident fund (PPF), Kisan Vikas Patra, National Saving Certificate, Recurring Deposit Scheme and Money Order facility.
Mail Services :-The mail services offered by post offices include transmission of messages through post cards, Inland letters, envelops etc. transmission of articles through parcel facility, registration facility and speed post to provide security of transmitted letters and articles and insurance facility to provide insurance cover for various risks in the course of transmission by post.
The various mail services are:
UPC (under postal certificate):- When ordinary letters are posted the past office does not issue any receipt. However, if sender wants to have proof then a certificate can be obtained from the post office on payment of prescribed fee. This paper now serves as an evidence of posting the letters.
Registered Post: – Sometimes we want to ensure that our mail is definitely delivered to the addressee otherwise it should come back to us. In such situations the post office offers registered post facility which serves as a proof that mail has been posted.
Parcel:-Transmission of articles from one place to another in the form of parcels is known as parcel post. Postal charges vary according to the weight of the parcels.
Greetings Post: – Greetings can be sent through post offices to people at different places.
Media Post: – Corporate can advertise their brands through post cards, envelops etc.
Speed Post:-It allows speedy transmission of articles (within 24 hours) to people in specified cities.
e-bill post:-The post offices collect payment of bills on behalf of BSNL and other organisations.
Courier Services: – Letters, documents, parcels etc. can be sent through the courier service. It being a private service the employee works with more responsibility.
Telecom Services: –
Today’s global business world, the dream of doing business across the world, will remain a dream only in the absence of telecom services. The various types of telecom services are
Cellular mobile services: – cordless mobile communication device including voice and non-voice messages, data services and PCO services.
Radio Paging Services: – means of transmitting information to persons even when they are mobile.
Fixed Line Services: – including voice and non-voice messages and data services to establish linkage for long distance traffic.
Cable services: – Linkages and switched services within a licensed area of operation to operate media services which are essentially one way entertainment related services.
VSAT Service: – (Very small Aperture Terminal) is a Satellite based communication service. It offers government and business agencies a highly flexible and reliable communication solution in both urban and rural areas.
DTH Services (Direct to Home):- a Satellite based media services provided by cellular companies with the help of small dish antenna and a set up box.
Transportation removes the hindrance of place, i.e., it makes goods available to the consumer from the place of production. Transportation comprises freight services together with supporting and auxiliary services by all modes of transportation i.e., rail, road, air and sea for the movement of goods and international carriage of passengers.
Importance of Transport
- It helps to widen the market
- Creates places utility and time utility
- Helps in large scale production
- Helps in stbilising prices
- Standard of living can be improved
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What Is Kawandi Quilting: Kawandi quilting, also known as “Kawandi” or “Gawandi” quilting, is a traditional textile art form that has its roots in the Indian state of Karnataka, particularly among the Siddi community. This unique and captivating quilting technique has gained recognition not only for its aesthetic appeal but also for its historical and cultural significance. Kawandi quilts are a testament to the rich tapestry of Indian craftsmanship and the interplay of diverse influences that have shaped the nation’s artistic landscape.
At its core, Kawandi quilting involves the creation of quilts by piecing together layers of old, worn-out textiles, which may include discarded sarees, dhotis, and other cloth scraps. These textiles, often displaying a rich palette of colors and patterns, are lovingly patched and stitched by hand to craft intricate and visually striking quilts. What sets Kawandi quilting apart is the meticulous attention to detail and the use of a variety of stitches, resulting in quilts that are not just utilitarian but also stunning works of art.
Kawandi quilting carries profound cultural significance within the Siddi community, a group with African roots. It serves as a means of storytelling, reflecting the heritage and life experiences of the Siddi people. Each quilt can narrate a unique tale through the motifs, symbols, and colors chosen by the quilter, offering a glimpse into their personal journey and cultural identity. Furthermore, these quilts have gained recognition beyond the Siddi community, finding a place in the wider world of art and textile appreciation.
As we delve deeper into the world of Kawandi quilting, we will explore its history, cultural significance, techniques, and contemporary relevance. This age-old tradition has evolved into a vibrant form of artistic expression that not only preserves the Siddi cultural heritage but also captures the imagination of art enthusiasts and connoisseurs worldwide.
What is Kawandi quilting?
Kawandi quilting is a craft in Western India brought to that region via African Slaves. The traditional Kawandi is a hand stitched quilt made from scrap fabrics. In this workshop we will learn the applique and quilting techniques to create fabric for a quilt, for pillows, clothing, etc.
Kawandi quilting is a traditional textile art form originating from the Siddi community in Karnataka, India. It involves the intricate process of crafting quilts by hand-stitching together layers of old, often discarded textiles like sarees and dhotis.
What sets Kawandi quilting apart is the meticulous attention to detail, resulting in visually stunning and culturally significant quilts. Each quilt serves as a canvas for storytelling, reflecting the heritage and experiences of the Siddi people, and uses a variety of motifs, symbols, and colors to convey their personal narratives.
Beyond its cultural roots, Kawandi quilting has gained recognition in the wider world of art and textiles, evolving into a vibrant form of artistic expression that preserves tradition while capturing the imagination of art enthusiasts and connoisseurs worldwide.
These quilts are not only utilitarian but also serve as artistic and historical artifacts. The Siddi community’s tradition of Kawandi quilting highlights resourcefulness, as it repurposes worn textiles to create something beautiful and meaningful. The quilts are known for their vibrant colors, intricate patchwork, and a variety of stitches, all of which make each piece unique.
Kawandi quilts are more than just textiles; they are windows into the rich tapestry of the Siddi culture, symbolizing their heritage and identity. They serve as a powerful medium for storytelling, sharing the life experiences, aspirations, and history of this unique community.
Over time, this age-old tradition has evolved and adapted to contemporary artistic tastes while preserving its cultural significance. Kawandi quilting remains a testimony to the enduring value of handmade crafts and the power of art to transcend cultural boundaries, making it a subject of fascination and admiration for both artists and enthusiasts worldwide.
What is the history of Kawandi quilting?
All shared a distinctively African-derived patchwork style. Called kawandi, the quilts are made by women of the Siddi ethnic group, descendants of early African migrants to South Asia, including slaves brought by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century.
The history of Kawandi quilting is deeply intertwined with the Siddi community’s cultural heritage, which has its roots in Africa but has been a part of India for centuries. Kawandi quilting is believed to have originated as a practical craft among the Siddi people in the Karnataka region. Historically, the Siddis were known for their seafaring abilities, and as they settled in India, they adopted various Indian customs and traditions while preserving their African identity.
Kawandi quilting emerged as a practical response to the scarcity of resources. The Siddi women, in particular, would take old and worn textiles, such as sarees and dhotis, and repurpose them into quilts. The process of hand-stitching these textiles together not only served to provide warmth and comfort but also allowed for the preservation of usable fabric, demonstrating the Siddi community’s resourcefulness and environmental consciousness.
Beyond its utilitarian function, Kawandi quilting began to evolve into an art form. The quilts became a means of artistic expression and storytelling. Each quilt began to represent a unique narrative, with the choice of colors, patterns, and motifs reflecting the personal journey and cultural identity of the quilter. Over the years, Kawandi quilting has gained recognition not just within the Siddi community but also in the wider world of art and textiles, solidifying its place as an enduring and culturally significant craft with a rich and fascinating history.
Where does Kawandi quilt come from?
Kawandi quilting is a traditional craft in western India, brought to that region via African slaves.
Kawandi quilts have their origin in the Siddi community, an African diaspora group that has a historical presence in India, particularly in the Karnataka region. The Siddis are believed to have arrived in India several centuries ago, initially as traders and later as enslaved individuals, contributing to the diverse tapestry of India’s cultural landscape. It is within this community that Kawandi quilting has flourished.
The quilting tradition within the Siddi community emerged as a practical response to limited resources. They repurposed old and worn textiles, primarily sarees and dhotis, by hand-stitching them together to create quilts that offered warmth and comfort. These quilts not only served a utilitarian purpose but also represented a form of resourcefulness in a resource-scarce environment.
Over time, Kawandi quilting transformed into an art form and a cultural symbol. The quilts began to reflect the Siddi community’s heritage, experiences, and personal narratives. Each quilt became a unique canvas for storytelling, with the choice of colors, patterns, and motifs conveying the quilter’s identity and cultural history.
As a result, Kawandi quilting has not only preserved the cultural heritage of the Siddi people but has also transcended its origins, gaining recognition and appreciation on a broader scale in the world of art and textiles. These quilts continue to be celebrated for their beauty, craftsmanship, and the captivating stories they carry.
What is chenille quilting?
A quilt with a so-called “chenille finish” is known as a “rag quilt” or, a “slash quilt” due to the frayed exposed seams of the patches and the method of achieving this. Layers of soft cotton are batted together in patches or blocks and sewn with wide, raw edges to the front.
Chenille quilting is a unique and texturally rich quilting technique that has gained popularity in the world of textile arts. Unlike traditional quilting, where multiple layers of fabric are stitched together, chenille quilting focuses on creating a plush and velvety surface. This is achieved by using specially woven fabric, often called chenille fabric, which has a raised, velvety texture on its surface.
The process of making a chenille quilt involves layering chenille fabric with a thin, lightweight backing fabric. Then, channels or rows are stitched across the fabric layers, typically in a grid or other patterns. After stitching, the quilt is subjected to a unique process that transforms it into chenille. This involves cutting the top layer of the chenille fabric between the stitched channels, creating a plush, fuzzy texture that resembles the look of a caterpillar’s fur, which is where the term “chenille” originates, as it’s the French word for “caterpillar.”
Chenille quilting offers a luxurious, tactile experience, making it not only visually appealing but also inviting to touch. The quilts created using this technique are known for their softness and warmth, making them ideal for cozy bedding and decorative throws. The tactile and aesthetic appeal of chenille quilts has made them a sought-after addition to home decor and textile art, bringing a touch of elegance and comfort to any space.
What is the cultural origin of Kawandi quilting?
The cultural origin of Kawandi quilting can be traced back to the Siddi community in India, particularly in the Karnataka state. The Siddis are a unique community with African roots, believed to have arrived on the Indian subcontinent centuries ago, initially as traders and later as enslaved individuals. Their cultural identity and traditions have evolved in the context of India’s diverse tapestry.
Kawandi quilting, historically practiced within the Siddi community, emerged as a practical and creative response to resource scarcity. The Siddi women, in particular, would repurpose old and worn textiles, such as sarees and dhotis, stitching them together by hand to create quilts. This not only provided warmth and comfort but also showcased the community’s resourcefulness and environmental consciousness.
Beyond its utilitarian function, Kawandi quilting became a means of artistic expression and storytelling within the Siddi culture. Each quilt began to represent a unique narrative, with the choice of colors, patterns, and motifs reflecting the personal journey and cultural identity of the quilter. In this way, Kawandi quilting serves as a powerful cultural symbol and a way for the Siddi people to preserve their heritage, express their experiences, and share their history through the art of textiles. Today, it continues to be a vital part of Siddi cultural heritage and an art form that has gained recognition beyond its cultural roots.
How are old textiles repurposed in Kawandi quilting?
Old textiles are meticulously repurposed in Kawandi quilting, reflecting the resourcefulness and sustainability of the Siddi community. To create Kawandi quilts, the Siddi quilters gather a variety of used fabrics, which often include worn-out sarees, dhotis, and other pieces of cloth. These textiles, bearing a rich history of wear and tear, are transformed into valuable quilting material.
The process of repurposing involves carefully selecting and cutting these old textiles into smaller patches or pieces. These patches are then thoughtfully arranged and layered to form the quilt’s top layer. In some cases, the quilters might use a lightweight backing fabric to provide additional stability to the quilt. The choice of textiles is not limited to any specific type, allowing for a dynamic interplay of colors, patterns, and textures.
Once the layers are assembled, the quilters employ a combination of hand-stitching techniques to secure the layers together. This meticulous stitching, often done with colorful threads, not only holds the quilt together but also adds to its visual appeal.
Kawandi quilting represents a beautiful and sustainable way of repurposing old textiles, breathing new life into fabrics that would otherwise go to waste. The process not only preserves the cultural heritage of the Siddi community but also reflects their deep-rooted respect for the environment and the art of recycling.
What stories do Kawandi quilts convey through their designs?
Kawandi quilts are powerful storytellers, conveying a wealth of narratives through their intricate and symbolic designs. Each quilt serves as a canvas for the quilter’s personal journey, cultural heritage, and life experiences. The stories embedded within Kawandi quilts are multifaceted and can include elements such as:
Cultural Identity: Kawandi quilts often incorporate motifs and symbols that reflect the cultural identity of the Siddi community, including elements inspired by their African heritage. These designs may depict animals, geometric patterns, and tribal motifs that represent their cultural roots.
Personal History: Quilters use the quilts to chronicle their personal stories, incorporating symbols and patterns that represent their own life experiences, challenges, and triumphs. This may include depictions of daily life, rituals, and significant events.
Spiritual and Mythological Themes: Kawandi quilts may incorporate symbols and themes related to the spiritual beliefs and myths of the Siddi community, creating a visual representation of their faith and folklore.
Community and Social Commentary: Some Kawandi quilts are known to convey social and political messages, offering a commentary on contemporary issues and the community’s place in the world.
Aesthetic Expression: Beyond narrative storytelling, the quilts also serve as a form of artistic expression, using color, pattern, and texture to captivate viewers and convey emotions and aesthetics.
These stories are not overtly explained but are woven into the fabric of the quilt, inviting viewers to interpret and engage with the art, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Siddi culture, their history, and their unique perspective on life. Kawandi quilts are, in this sense, a living cultural document that bridges the past, present, and future of the Siddi community.
How has Kawandi quilting gained recognition beyond its cultural roots?
Kawandi quilting has transcended its cultural roots and gained recognition on a global scale for several reasons. First, the artistic and aesthetic qualities of Kawandi quilts have captivated the imagination of art enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. The striking use of color, intricate stitching, and the tactile appeal of these quilts has drawn attention from the broader art community.
The rich storytelling embedded in Kawandi quilts has resonated with people of various backgrounds. The quilts offer a unique window into the culture and history of the Siddi community, providing a broader cultural perspective that goes beyond borders.
The efforts of artisans, NGOs, and cultural organizations to promote and preserve the tradition of Kawandi quilting have played a crucial role in raising awareness and recognition. Quilting exhibitions, collaborations with contemporary artists, and the sharing of this craft through various media have all contributed to its global visibility.
The values of sustainability and recycling that underpin Kawandi quilting have aligned with the growing global interest in environmentally conscious practices and ethical consumption. This has further enhanced the appeal of Kawandi quilting, as it represents an age-old tradition that aligns with modern values.
The recognition of Kawandi quilting beyond its cultural roots is a testament to the enduring power of art, culture, and human storytelling to transcend boundaries and create connections among diverse communities and individuals across the world.
Kawandi quilting represents an extraordinary fusion of artistry, culture, and history. This ancient textile tradition, originating from the Siddi community in Karnataka, India, showcases the timeless appeal of handmade crafts and the enduring power of storytelling through fabric. As we’ve journeyed through the intricacies of Kawandi quilting, it becomes evident that these quilts are much more than mere bedcovers; they are windows into the past, vessels of cultural heritage, and symbols of creativity.
The rich history of Kawandi quilting, steeped in the Siddi culture, not only illustrates the resourcefulness of generations who repurposed worn textiles but also underscores the value of preserving cultural legacies. The Siddi community’s use of quilts to communicate their history, experiences, and aspirations is a testament to the enduring importance of oral traditions and the visual arts in passing on their heritage.
Kawandi quilting has transcended its cultural roots to captivate a global audience. It has found a place in art galleries and exhibitions, not just as functional textiles but as fine art pieces. Contemporary artists and enthusiasts have recognized the beauty and the stories embedded in these quilts, which is why Kawandi quilting continues to evolve, with new artists and communities embracing and adapting the craft.
In a world where mechanization often threatens the survival of traditional crafts, Kawandi quilting serves as a poignant reminder of the value of handmade, culturally rich art. It reminds us that within the folds of fabric, intricate stitches, and vibrant colors, there lies a history waiting to be unraveled, a culture waiting to be celebrated, and an art form waiting to be appreciated. Kawandi quilting, with its enduring legacy and timeless charm, remains a symbol of creativity and cultural preservation for generations to come. | <urn:uuid:1a3ee16c-7263-4c2a-ae57-8ab9e09ffea9> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://bubbleslidess.com/what-is-kawandi-quilting/ | 2024-12-13T00:35:37Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066115058.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212221117-20241213011117-00159.warc.gz | en | 0.949436 | 3,660 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Why is further education so important in the engineering world?
Becoming an engineer is an excellent career choice for a number of reasons. It is a well-paid profession, for a start, with figures showing that the average salary for an engineer is just over $100,000 in the US. It is also a job that provides those who are scientifically minded with an opportunity to use their abilities. Engineering combines different skills, such as critical reasoning and scientific analysis, and creating systems that people use.
It is also a career choice that requires some upfront time commitment: usually, it takes up to a decade to qualify in this profession. But learning in engineering is a lifelong task, not just something you do once when you first study. For example, it can help you find opportunities more suited to what you want to do, such as a specialist type of engineering like mechanical or civil engineering. In some places, it is also necessary to continue to study – or at least to keep up with the latest trends – in order to maintain particular professional accreditations, which can have a knock-on effect on your capacity to keep jobs. This blog post will delve into these important questions and look at how you can find ways to enhance your further education opportunities once you have qualified.
There might be multiple reasons why training and development are prioritized in this sector, but one of the main reasons that people take the leap into further engineering training is financial. Studies have shown that further training can have a hugely positive effect on the amount you might go on to earn. As of 2018, for example, median weekly earnings in the US were highest for those with a professional degree.
Engineers can generally expect to earn relatively well from the moment they enter the workplace, as starting salaries are comparatively high when assessed alongside various other professions. This is down to several reasons – not least the fact that the supply of engineers or people with engineering skills is scarce. And there are plenty of different ways to earn more in the engineering world, such as – potentially – staying at one company for a particularly long time.
But further study is attractive to many engineers because it allows them to combine higher earnings with all the other benefits that this study brings, many of which will be touched on in this article. Staying at the same firm for a while might increase your chances of pay bumps, but it won’t necessarily help you retain your interest in the sector or allow you to keep an eye on trends in quite the same way.
It is also often necessary for those with an eye on a management position in the engineering industry to undertake further study. They must be licensed to acquire such a supervisory position, and licensing cannot be maintained without continuing professional development. After all, under the law, it is impossible to be in a management role as an engineer in the US without being licensed. So, to get to those management roles and be competent and confident, an engineer must ensure they know their stuff and keep on top of trends.
It is worth remembering that simply enrolling in a training course is not a silver bullet to wealth and riches. Neither is it an effort-free endeavor, Instead it can be seen as a way of investing in yourself. You will still need to study, but it can lead to rewards further down the line.
Staying on top of trends
The engineering world is ever-changing – and for those working in it, it is essential to stay informed. For example, take engineering in the context of artificial intelligence, where things are moving extremely fast. What is known as physics-informed AI is beginning to have transformative effects on how the engineering world operates. As firms begin to see the value of artificial intelligence in ensuring that their systems run with the minimum of cost and maximum efficiency, they need people to build these systems and AI engineers are there to help.
This prevalence of new trends happens across the sector, and it’s unlikely that any engineer is not affected by this process. Falling behind can have a serious effect on your career. For example, it can mean that you are more limited if you decide to move. It can also mean that new engineering graduates accumulate more knowledge than you and gradually become more attractive to employers, not by virtue of their age but simply because of what they know. Think about it. Engineers who graduated in 1990 still have tons of valuable skills, as the core skills of being an engineer – like attention to detail and technical knowledge about basic systems – have not changed. However, it is unlikely that an engineer trained at this time would know about things like robotics or the Internet of Things unless they had enrolled in further study.
Luckily, further study is there to help with this. Courses can help you ensure you do not fall behind on key trends within the sector, such as renewable energy systems and sustainable system creation. A course like the master of science in lean manufacturing at an institution like Kettering is an example of how this can occur. Students in this course learn about things like effective supply chain management and diagram construction, which are essential in a world where firms are increasingly looking for ways to cut costs. And it is not necessarily hard or time-intensive to train in these fields either, as many courses can fit around your existing work, as they are designed for people who are busy with multiple commitments. And with courses often delivered online rather than in person, you can cut down on the college commute time and complete it from home.
It is also important to remember that many postgraduate engineering qualifications offer flexibility in terms of qualification type. You will not necessarily have to study for a straightforward Master of Science in engineering. For example, you may also be able to choose a program of study that rolls in the engineering qualification with something like a Master of Business Administration, or MBA for short. This offers you the chance to enhance your engineering knowledge while enhancing your other skills, such as being a leader within a business. That way, it is possible to merge your different strands of professional development. You can move into other roles within an engineering business while maintaining your professional accreditation and continuing to practice in the discipline you love and have studied hard for. It is a win-win.
Maintaining your professional accreditation
Depending on where you’re based, it could be that your ability to practice as an engineer is significantly curtailed if you don’t participate in some form of continuing professional development. The National Society of Professional Engineers is one place to look if you’re in the US. This practice dates back to the early 20th century when one US state decided to institute a new system for verifying engineers coming onto its books were qualified and skilled enough to do the job. Since then, the practice of accrediting people as engineers has taken off. And the National Society of Professional Engineers is clear about its requirements: to “retain their licenses,” it writes, “PEs must continually maintain and improve their skills throughout their careers”. If you do not do that, your license to practice may be at risk, or you may find yourself discredited by potential future employers.
It is also important to ensure that when you choose a qualification, you ensure it is accredited by an appropriate institution. In the science and engineering world, this institution is usually ABET – which is in turn affiliated with the International Engineering Alliance, a major name across the globe. Do not forget to check with your preferred provider that they are affiliated so that you can ensure you get the quality of postgraduate education that you require. It is possible to check this by speaking directly to the university or institution in question or heading to the ABET website and verifying it independently.
If you are thinking of working abroad, it could also be the case that you need to engage in some further study to ensure that you are still permitted to practice. In the UK, for example, the Engineering Council has over 200,000 engineering technicians on its books, and again requires its engineers to keep their skills up to date. This is a situation repeated across many nations around the globe as part of a push for standardization.
Safety and security
It is also wise to think about safety and security, too. Engineers often work on projects that impact on the health and safety of those using them. Engineers who design a bridge over a river for vehicles to drive on, for example, have a direct and measurable impact on the safety of passengers and drivers. And, increasingly, engineers are working on technological systems – such as those which capture data. While there may not be a direct risk to life as a result of work carried out on these projects, there is certainly a cybersecurity risk if these projects are not carried out correctly – and people’s financial, personal, and other data can be at risk of being lost.
The National Society of Professional Engineers is clear about this. Engineers must ensure they apply “high standards for ethics and quality assurance”. For many engineers, the core learning on this will have been done while they were studying in college for their initial qualification. There they would have explored things like health and safety protocols or robust system design. But it is vital to keep your skills refreshed in this regard. As a busy engineer, the temptation to cut corners can always be there, especially if you are under pressure from a client deadline or similar. As a result, it is essential to be sure that you are knowledgeable about the latest safety mechanisms and protocols and still in that important mindset of never allowing your attention to detail to slip.
Keeping your interest alive
Finally, it is also worth considering the impact that continuing to study can have on you as a person, as well as on your bank balance and your employability. Often, engineers are drawn to the sector for particular reasons, perhaps because they like to solve problems, for example, or because they enjoy complex challenges and being part of a solution to them. Others become engineers because they want to use specific skills, like system design or mechanical modeling.
Studying this at college as an undergraduate or postgraduate is something that many engineers enjoy and have fond memories of. But, for many, life as a professional engineer often goes on to get in the way. Engineers get jobs and have to do tasks that might become specialist or repetitive, for example, or they may also have to pick up other skills such as financial leadership or project management, especially if they work in a small organization. And, wherever they work, it is likely that an engineer will need to engage on some level with questions of office politics.
By topping up their studies later in life, engineers can reconnect with the topics, skills, and interests that previously gave them such joy – without thinking about them in a necessarily commercial or employment-related context. Instead, they can be thought about in a way that allows for interests to be pursued or for self-development to occur – independent of the work the engineer has to do to bring home their salary. This way, they can give themselves the best possible chance of remaining in their engineering career for a long time and feeling satisfied as they do so.
In summary, anyone who qualifies as an engineer will want to consider pathways to further study – and the benefits are obvious. It is an essential part of the process of enhancing your employability. By studying courses such as lean manufacturing qualifications or even just short courses in principles of artificially intelligent engineering tools, you may well find that employers respect you more and give you more opportunities to rise through the ranks. It can also have huge benefits in enhancing your salary levels, and ensuring that you do not find yourself locked out of promotions because your knowledge has faded.
And on a deeper level, it is also a way for people in this profession to reconnect to the career they found themselves drawn to in the first place and to keep learning simply because it is meaningful. And in a world where technology is changing rapidly, those in the engineering industry must ensure they have an advanced and up-to-date knowledge of how things work in the sector. So, if you are an engineer seeking a management position, a salary raise, or even just to continue as you are with your accreditation secure, why not consider a professional postgraduate training qualification today? | <urn:uuid:57049692-7746-4b02-96a7-f8398d634fc4> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://educateadda.com/why-is-further-education-so-important-in-the-engineering-world/ | 2024-12-04T08:34:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066156662.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20241204080324-20241204110324-00720.warc.gz | en | 0.976498 | 2,479 | 2.546875 | 3 |
The history of Islam is discussed, emphasizing the importance of protecting one's behavior and deeds from bad deeds and the need for a good deed. The importance of facing one's actions and finding one's own weaknesses is emphasized, as well as the use of words like "has" in English to describe actions and emotions. The segment also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and staying true to Islam, as well as avoiding negative consequences and staying aware of the clock and potential negative consequences.
Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillah wa Salatu was Salam ala rasulillah. While he was happy, we
praise Allah subhanho wa Taala upon all conditions, we thank him for everything he has bestowed upon
us. There are so many favors that Allah has given us that we take for granted. We need to think
about it and constantly praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we send blessings and salutations upon
Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the one whom Allah chose to bring the goodness to us. No
matter what we do, we must always send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad salallahu alayhi wa
sallam for Indeed, Allah subhanho wa Taala has told us that if you are to send blessings and
salutations to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam once Allah will bless you tenfold in return. May
Allah subhanahu wa taala grant us acceptance similarly, we send blessings upon the wives, the family
members, the companions of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Those who struggled those who strove
to name just a few.
What a great woman, the mother of the believers have some of you may Allah subhanho wa Taala bless
them all. And may Allah unite us in gentle with them. I mean, my beloved brothers and sisters, it is
important for us to realize that when Allah subhanho wa Taala repeats things in the Quran, and he
does so very often. He does it for a reason he says why they give
meaning and remind for him do the reminding benefits those who truly believe if you really believe
you will not be irritated by Allah subhanho wa Taala repeating what akima salata so many times in
the Quran, it will be an honor to listen to it, it will be an honor to implement it. And the same
applies in our lives when we are doing something wrong. My brothers and sisters, if you are reminded
once, twice, 10 times, do not be irritated. Rather, if you're a true believer, you will think the
person reminding you I really thank you, you will make dua for them because that is the person whom
Allah subhanho wa Taala chose to come and guide you to remind you to get to the straight path your
path to paradise will be through those types of reminders. That's why it's a sign of a true
believer, may Allah subhanho wa Taala help us to save ourselves from jahannam and May Allah subhanho
wa Taala grant us entry into paradise through His mercy. I mean, my beloved brothers and sisters,
Allah subhanho wa Taala in verse number 12 of Surat Yunus makes mention of how when men needs
something he calls out to Allah subhanho wa Taala. When he is standing, he makes it to act when he's
sitting he makes it to out when he's on the side he makes a drop. And then Allah says when we
respond to that drop, and when we give him what he wants, men sometimes is such that he continues on
in a way that he forgets that he ever called out to Allah in the past. Listen to what Allah says.
What either MSL is and of Donna Lee Joby Oba Eden Otto. Emma from
Jonah Hill, masa. gallica z Mousavi nama.
Allah subhanho wa Taala describes at the end of these verses how those who go beyond the limits
known as illusory, for it is their quality. And it is them who whose deeds whose bad deeds are
beautified to them, may Allah protect us from being from amongst the most revolt from amongst those
who transgress those who do bad and evil. Allah says, When men is afflicted with some form of harm,
he calls out to Allah, He calls out to Allah on his side, or while he's sitting while he's standing.
And then when we have alleviated or taken away, that suffering, he continues on earth like he's
never called out to us in the past Subhana Allah, Allah is telling us remember, you may do out to
me, and I answered that it happened in your life when you were sick, you called out to me I cured
you now change your life. Subhana Allah, why is it that with us, we don't save ourselves by changing
our lives when we are sick and Ill we make it to our when we get better we go back to our sense, it
happens. So this is a reminder and Allah repeats it so many times in the Quran, that look when you
are at loss when you suffered a financial loss when you suffered through your divorce when you went
through this problem when you had that issue with your children, when you had whatever other problem
in your family in your business
And so on, you made the draw to us. We responded. And then when we responded, you now did not dress
properly. You did not come for Salah you did not quit your bad ways and habits. In fact, you went
back to those bad ways and habits that you had quit. When you were in a problem. This is why
Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam says in Allah either I have done it, Allahu, when Allah really loves his
worshiper, he tests him. And sometimes he keeps him in the test. Because when you are in a test in a
calamity, in a difficulty, you are always softer in your heart, you are crying to Allah, you are in
Salah, you are making the 100 Allah loves it. He doesn't want to take the problem away, because he
knows if I leave it, he's going to continue into hatred. And if I take it away, perhaps all that is
going to stop. This is why the Hadith says when Allah has tested you, he actually loves you, he drew
you closer to him through that problem. So parallella Allah look at the power of Allah, may Allah
subhanho wa Taala draw us closer to him without problems. I mean, I mean, I mean, so that was just a
reminder for ourselves to save ourselves Subhana Allah from this type of quality or these types of
qualities whereby after Allah has granted us easy, we go back to our evil ways. May Allah forgive
us, Allah forgive our shortcomings. Then Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us that those who had earned
the punishment due to their sin, they need to know that when we punish, we only punish equivalent to
the sin. Let me tell you something interesting. When you do a good deed, Allah subhanho wa Taala
Whatever comes with a good deed shall have that deed multiplied by 10. Do you know what that means?
If you do a good deed, and you protect it, what does protecting it means? I haven't donated it to
someone through backbiting, through slander, through cheating through deceiving through wrong
through me doing wrong to someone when you do that to someone, your good deeds go to them. So you
did the good deed, but on the Day of Judgment, you did not come with it. It was gone. In fact, on
that day before anything happened to you already your deeds started disappearing. That man came he
wanted, he's right. Your Salah went there, your soccer went there, your heart you went there,
whatever else went to all other people. It is known as howdy to loveless Hadith of the Prophet
sallallahu Sallam where he speaks of the bankrupt person. So Allah says, when you do good deeds, and
you have protected those good deeds, we will multiply those good deeds for you. But when you do bad,
we don't multiply the band. We only give you the compensation of exactly what you deserved. You did
this, you will get exactly equivalent to it. The difficulty is with us we think something is light
in the eyes of Allah, it is heavy. A person makes some form of remark against someone behind their
backs. It's called backbiting. Once I showed the law and he made a statement, she just said you know
what she's short. You know, she's very short, short, meaning Sophia
being very short, and she didn't mean it in a derogatory way. But she said she's short. Now, if that
statement was said in the presence of Sophia, viola, it would have hurt her. So the Prophet
sallallahu wasallam, making mention of the seriousness of the statement, and for you and I don't
even think we would consider it so serious. He says, Well, my Oh Ayesha, if that statement was in
the form of inky tuna change the color of the ocean.
So pan Allah Subhana Allah, may Allah subhanho wa Taala protect us from backbiting. We take it for
granted. My brothers and sisters Let's become strong. Allah says, verse number 27 of Soviet Union,
when levena kassapa say he
of the Day of Judgment, you know those who have earned the sin or due to their sin, they have done
the punishment that punishment is equivalent to their deed, and they will be no savior for them from
the Wrath of Allah subhanho wa Taala besides Allah subhanho wa Taala Allah is the only one who can
save you from the punishment. keep on asking Allah do something for the sake of Allah subhanho wa
Taala we always say to ourselves, Oh Allah, do not expose the bad that we've done. Forgive us.
Brothers and sisters, you would love your sin to be a secret between you and Allah.
Why don't you do some good deeds as well? That are also just the secret between you and Allah. No
one knows. You know, and Allah subhanho wa Taala knows good deeds. So when you arrive on the Day of
Judgment, imagine the link you will have with Allah subhanho wa Taala because you know this done, I
know if Allah knows him, I'm waiting for Allah to reward me for this beautiful deed that I've done.
Why is it that it's only sin that we want to keep secret, some of your good deeds as well. Keep them
A secret when you get up with the head Dude, you don't have to tell the whole world. You know the
age was so fresh at the time of the head. You've just given it away. You want to tell him I was up,
okay? Okay, we know your holy we know your holy stuff. Allah subhanho wa Taala help us and guide us
You don't need to tell the world Subhana Allah. So my brothers and sisters, this is a beautiful
reminder from Allah subhanho wa Taala warning us about how the evil deeds will be punished but Allah
is the only one who can save you from it. Then the Quran Subhana Allah, many of us, we pick it up in
the month of Ramadan, and we try to finish it. Listen very carefully, that Quran is so powerful it
is the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala. It is powerful, absolutely powerful. People who are enemies
of Islam, Allah He their lives changed by listening to 123 or four verses. I can give you two quick
He literally went out to harm Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam or to murder him. And on the way
he Something happened and he went to his sister's place and he heard a few verses of the Quran. He
crumbled. And he went and he declared his Shahada, how many verses the opening verses of Surah
Fatiha they moved a man who was an outright open enemy, and he was a strong man powerful. You know,
normally when you have a person who's wealthy and powerful, nothing really affects him easily. He
knows Hey, I'm a man I'm strong here. The verses of Allah subhanho wa Taala affected him. He was
moved. He changed his life. After the day. Voila. It's an insult to say, without saying
without saying may Allah be pleased with him. He's such a great man. We believe he's the second best
from those to take the earth after the prophets of Allah subhanho wa Taala May Allah subhanho wa
Taala grant us his companionship in general.
So my brothers and sisters another example that of an A joshy Naja. She was the negative of
Abyssinian when he heard a few verses of solid millennium. That's the the surah just before sort of
haha. He decried according to some of the verses of the Quran that make mention of the tears. Those
were the tears of a magician, according to them of a series. Imagine a man who was a Christian and
he started crying when he heard the Quran. The question I have, we are muslimeen it's not one verse.
We read what we term or Holy Quran from cover to cover. And it did not yet move us. We still involve
in the same sin. Our lives still did not change the entire brand was not once three four, we will be
proud to say I finished my setup in five days now I can go you know what happens? The tourists May
Allah subhanho wa Taala guidance. I'm not saying it's something bad but what I am saying is, try
your best to make sure you are affected and impacted by the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala so what
do you need to do? Firstly, you need to develop closeness to Allah subhanho wa Taala you need to
develop closeness to the lifestyle of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam you need to have a love
towards it. You need to have a love for the rest of the creatures of Allah subhanho wa Taala
positive love what that means is when you notice something bad you deal with it in a positive way,
not in a negative way. The weakness with us we see something bad we hate the brother why he did
something bad. What's your duty as a member of the oma you saw someone doing bad. You need to guide
them you need to help them you need to make dua for them. You need to understand you are part of a
family, your entry into Jelena could also be connected to a good deed that he did as a result of
your encouragement. Why don't you understand this? It's amazing. So let us try to change the way we
look at things then. Try to understand the words of Allah subhanho wa Taala. I want to give you all
a challenge. And it's a simple challenge, but at the same time, it requires dedication. We all
fulfill Salah don't read the five daily prayers we all read Surah Fatiha and minimum we know a few
of the short sutras for chapters of the Quran. You have to you have to in the Arabic language, I
challenge you from today to start learning the meanings of the words that you say in your prayer.
Starting from Allah Akbar. You need to know what it means. And when you start your prayer
concentrate on what exactly you are saying. Many of us, including those who know the Arabic
language, we just be sort of In fact, melodiously without really thinking exactly what we've said
one law its effect. Think about it for a minute what I just said. It's a reality, you know the
Arabic In some cases, but you've never thought of the meaning you were just reading the melody and
you enjoyed the melody. And whenever we said Valley we just said me
I remember reading once and we were talking about the father of Ibrahim or someone else and the
Quran says in the economy Nepali and I heard from the congregation because
I was wondering what's going on here? They just tuned to hear
me anywhere in the planet they say.
No May Allah subhanho wa Taala. Forgive us. That's not how it is. My brothers and sisters, think
about what you're saying, save yourselves from wasting this prayer by concentrating in the prayer.
We are taught by Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, your reward for the prayer that you fulfill
is closely connected to how much concentration you have had in that prayer. So yes, your follow up
might be done. But did you really achieve the greater benefit of that Salah? The answer is no. In a
lot of cases, we just did our follow up. We walked out we were sweating when we were coming in. And
as soon as we walked out, we carried on sweating, but it changed in our life. Nothing. May Allah
subhanho wa Taala forgive us. So learn the meanings of what you are saying in Salah try and
concentrate on it. When you say Subhana Allah go back and learn what that means. We say it so many
times we fulfill Salah it is an insult for us to be fulfilled inshallah for 30 years, 40 years, 50
years in some cases and we still don't know what we are saying. May Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive
us for law he is the taxman comes up with a new law tonight that affects us we will know it by heart
by tomorrow morning. Do you know that because it affects our pockets. It really does. This is
something much more serious. It is the word of Allah Salah that is going to be the first thing
you're going to be questioned as you die, and you enter your grave. One of the first things is going
to be your Salah, may Allah subhanho wa Taala strengthen us all. This is why Allah speaks about the
Quran. And Allah says this for and is not just the word of Allah as in it has no value. Allah the
word of Allah means the word of your maker, the most valuable thing in existence. Allah subhanho wa
Taala says in it, there are instructions or reminders the term used is more a lot more evil, meaning
a reminder or instruction, some form of guidance, a warning as well. And with that, there is cure in
the Quran, the cure Cure For what? The sicknesses in the heart, that which is in your chest, the
sickness and the foreign is so beautiful, it has it cure even for your physical sickness. If you are
sick and ill people say this person is sick, voila, he just listened to the Quran and see the impact
it has even on non Muslims. It has an impact even on plants and animals. The Quran has an impact has
it impacted upon you may Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us the understanding. It really saves people
from depression, saves people from anxiety saves people from all forms of sickness, whether inside
the heart or physical. Trust the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala definitely it has in it Shiva and
pure. Allah subhanho wa Taala says above that it has Buddha which means guidance, and it has me at
the mercy of Allah, you want mercy. You want to be protected from the punishment of Allah. If you
want the mercy of Allah, read the Quran, try and understand it, put it into practice, convey to
others, your life will be filled with guidance and mercy. Listen to what Allah says verse number 57
sort of universe
of people. He doesn't just say almost I mean, if he wanted, he could have said Oh, you who believe
he said it so many times in the forum for this one. He says, oh, people
being cool indeed this motiva has come to you from Europe. What is the instruction, the reminder has
come to you from Europe was Shiva, Lima in Sudoku, and cure for that which is in the chest in the
Muslims in the heart, meaning inside
the cure of it is in the Quran. And Allah says, wha hoo.
Mommy in it, there is guidance, and there is mercy. But for those who believe if you believe and you
have the correct heart, it will impact on you. Let me go back to the story I was making mention of
when a person looked at Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam with the correct heart, or he heard the
verses of the Quran with a correct heart, his life changed in such a powerful way that he became
known as a Sahabi. And you had to say, may Allah be pleased with him after his name, but they were
people like Abu Jamal and the Esma signature and Abu lahab and the others who looked at the prophets
Whether he was selling, they were absolutely fortunate to look at him. But they looked at him with
the wrong heart, the heart of jealousy, the heart of envy, the heart of desire, the heart of the
love for power and materialism What happened? It had a negative effect. And this is why whenever you
are listening to a reminder of the dean, clean your heart, without the clean heart, you are going to
think Who's this man talking to me? He's like this. He's like that. Forget about the men. It could
be anyone if what he's saying is valid and correct what law he you have to understand it was Allah
who made it hit your ears masaba, Columbia Coolio. Tina, what got to you was never ever meant to
miss you. This is a very vast narration. But it includes also statements, something that got to your
ears, you're going to be asked about it. Whether you read it on the radio, or the internet or a
WhatsApp clip or whatever else. The fact that it got to your ears, you're going to be questioned,
hey, we sent you a message. How well one day you were browsing through your phone and the phone beat
What happened? You opened it and there was a reminder there reminding you to fulfill your Salah.
That was us. We sent it to you. What did you do about that reminder? Oh, I just hit Delete because
the memory on my phone was a bit much. No excuses. When it comes to *, we make sure that
we buy an external drive to save it. And when it comes to that which is calling you towards Allah,
then suddenly your memory is too full.
Now Allah subhanho wa Taala Forgive us, my brothers and sisters, this is worth crying about. It is
something serious, we need to save ourselves. And this is why thereafter Allah describes his
friends. Imagine Allah says, he has friends.
Who are they? I want to be one of them. You want to be one of them. It's not that difficult. It
requires dedication. That's what it is. And it requires seeking the forgiveness of Allah verse
number 62, Allah says, Allah.
Behold, indeed the friends of Allah, no fear upon them. They have no need to be scared at all, nor
will they be sad, no sadness. The question is a I want to be a friend. So what happens? Allah
describes how you become a friend of Allah immediately after that, you know what he says?
boo, boo boo Sha kin hayati, dounia. Often,
those who have two qualities they have a man which means they have believed in Allah and they have
consciousness of Allah. We've translated the term taqwa in 20 different ways in the past, but one of
the beautiful meanings is to be conscious of Allah or to fear transgressing in a way that you would
displease the one you love most who is supposed to be alone. That's the meaning of taqwa and touch
Allah binaca verbena, Bina Davina. He will Kaya to create a barrier between you and the Wrath of
Allah subhanho wa Taala. I claim to love Allah. Well, I better be worried about doing things that
are going to spoil that love Subhana Allah, you have an illicit relationship with a person you're
not even supposed to be in touch with and you are worried what type of messages you send them. You
read it two, three times. I hope she doesn't misunderstand what I'm saying. Right? Because why?
Imagine if she feels hurt, she will stop messaging me after today.
What are you talking about? You're so worried about how she perceives your message. And when it
comes to Allah, you're not even worried about anything. You don't think about that relationship. So
many things you are doing that have angered a lot Anahata Allah but you just carry on that's Allah.
We heard the other day. He's a photo Rahim. Well, he says he is shady. as well. He says he punishes
as well. Yes, he is most forgiving. But remember, turn to Allah don't use that as an excuse to sin.
That's the weakness. We do believe allies most forgiving. But when we say okay, I'm going to sin
because I know Allah is forgiving. So tonight we party.
You might die before that you might die during that. That is an insult to Allah subhanho wa Taala.
You know, imagine your child does something bad. They break a glass and you say Don't worry, how are
you? Okay? Did you get hurt? Say No, I didn't want them. Don't worry, glasses will buy another one
tomorrow. Don't worry. Next day you take the little girl or the boy to the market and you buy a
glass. You come back and she says Oh daddy was so cool with me. Let me break another glass. So she
takes the glass broken. Did you get her? No, you didn't. Don't worry about the glass. We'll buy
another one. Trust me when she does it the third time. What will you do? You're gonna say hey, ba
that's the minimum that you will say right? And if she says but daddy the two days How did you react
and today, why are you telling me to be watch I'm going to do tomorrow again. Then what happens?
I don't even want to mention Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us. How could we do that to Allah
subhanho wa Taala he forgave you once twice, he will continue forgiving but don't do it purposely.
That's the thing, save yourself from the Wrath of Allah subhanho wa Taala. So this we made mention
of those who are believers and they have Taqwa they are known as only Allah.
Allah says for them will be good news in this world as well as the next. before they die, they will
already have good news of a beautiful place in general. That's what Allah subhanho wa Taala says in
the Quran, and Allah subhanho wa Taala then describes something beautiful. You know, when you are
trying to obey Allah, people will laugh at your beard, they will laugh at your hair, they will laugh
at your hijab, they will probably laugh at the way you do things they will laugh at how you read
Salah they will laugh at the fact that you have a bottle in the in the loo in order to wash up with
water after you have used the toilet. They will laugh at absolutely everything. Don't worry, you
know you have guidance you need to thank Allah, Allah I know what I'm doing. I am so thankful to
you. You've guided me Subhana Allah at the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as well.
People used to say bad words to Muhammad Sallallahu sallam. Allah says, honor belongs to Allah, not
today. They do not control, honor, dignity, they can say what they want. If you know that
relationship between you and Allah is powerful. Don't worry about them. Verse number 65. So Allah
come home. Don't let that statement make you sad.
Indeed, it is an honor. It is solely and only the property of Allah, Allah Almighty, Allah is the
one who will give you honor, no matter how hard people try to defame you to say bad about you. Don't
worry, like we said, your bread is not buttered by them. Subhana Allah, it's by Allah subhanho wa
Taala. Don't worry about the world You carry on doing the work. At the end of the day, in the AF
era, you will be among the winners. But if you become stressed and depressed because of what they
are saying, your life becomes a mess, you won't be able to worship Allah because your concentration
will be gone. You won't be able to worship Allah correctly.
May Allah subhanahu wa taala safeguard us from this type of worry and this type of concern. Indeed,
Allah is all hearing, all knowing the last verse I want to make mention of inshallah I will continue
tomorrow, making mention of this, I'm only starting it today you see the pharaoh around. He was
there at the time of musalla Salatu was Salam. And there is a beautiful story that is the most
repeated in the Quran. Each time it is repeated, it is in order to highlight a different point. One
was that the Prophet alayhi salaatu wa sallam he tried, and he called, and he went to the Pharaoh
and he told him and he explained to him and he gave him the signs that Allah showed him all I gave
him and so on. And the pharaoh knew that this man is telling the truth, but he denied it. There came
a time when Musa alayhis salatu salam made the dua against the film. What did he say? He says, from
panattoni, sila Amani Masha Allah khudobin him fella I mean, who has
any wish number 88
He says, Oh my, you've given this man so much. He's using it to lead astray. Oh Allah. obliterate as
well. extinguishing totally.
Oh Allah punishing severely. Allah seal his heart, for indeed he won't learn his lesson until he is
punished. Imagine a prophet of Allah making the drop.
Why did he make the draft? Well, he was patient for so long. The point I want to raise my brothers
and sisters, save yourselves from the meaning, the evil of the duel that is made against you by the
one whom you've oppressed or by a saint or someone who's close to Allah, Who is that you wouldn't
when you harm someone? Yes. They may forgive you once, twice, three times one day. If they have to
raise their hands and say Oh Allah destroy that man. It spells Doom for us. May Allah never do that
to us. Let's save ourselves from this. Tomorrow we will continue on this particular topic. May Allah
subhanho wa Taala bless us all save us from the two out of the one who we've oppressed why oppress
them in the first place and May Allah subhanho wa Taala current agenda to Windows Allahu wa salam o
Baraka Allen Amina Mohammed Subhana live from the eastern Canada alarm or behind the shadow Allah | <urn:uuid:3fbf4a5b-b8d7-464e-9a98-8826b1fe8b85> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://muslimcentral.com/mufti-menk-ramadan-2016-save-series-16/ | 2024-12-05T20:34:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066362401.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20241205180803-20241205210803-00423.warc.gz | en | 0.978618 | 6,850 | 2.84375 | 3 |
There are three main aspects of faith in God (Allah in Arabic):
- God (Allah) is the Cherisher and the creator of the Universe and all that it holds.
- God (Allah) alone is the Master of this world and He alone can make modifications in it as He wishes.
- Allah alone is worthy of worship. He has no associates and there is no none besides him to be worshipped.
Four Founding Blocks:
The faith (Iman) in Allah (God) is based on four foundations:
- The Existence of God (Allah) and nobody created Him.
- Allah (God) is the Lord of the worlds.
- He is the Owner of the worlds;
- He is the Only Lord and He alone is to be exclusively worshipped and He has no associates, which could be ascribed to Him.
The Existence of God:
The faith in God is axiomatic which man accepts with the help of his intuition without the need of a rational proof. (6th principle in earlier Chapter No.4). It is an axiom, the proofs of which subsist in every thing in this world, yet it needs no proof. Although the proofs are so numerous that they can not be enumerated in this short space. Fifty years ago a Syrian scholar, Sahaikh Jamaluddin al Qasimi, published a book on this subject, entitled “Proofs of the Oneness of God”. I would also like to mention another book, “God Manifest in the Age of Science“, written by thirty different and well established scientists. Another relevant book is “Man Does not Stand Alone“. These books will convince the reader that a true scientist, just as much as a layman, has to be a believer.
The tendency for atheism, a lack of respect and contempt for God is prevalent among ill-informed scientists, who have deprived themselves of the characteristics of inborn faith and have consequently fallen into the abyss of disbelief, The books referred to contain many valuable discourses by reputable scholars, such as Frank Alien, world famous biologist, Robert Morris Budge, inventor of radar, John Cleveland Kawthrone, professor of Chemistry and John Herbert Blonde, Professor of physics, to name but a few.
It is worth mentioning here that Professor Frank Alien disproved the theory of the pre-existence or timelessness of the universe, as was propagated by the Greek philosophers. Science has now established that everything has a time limit, Without elaborating on the evidence of the existence of God which has been expounded by scholars throughout the ages, I would like to quote just one verse from the many verses in the Holy Qur’an, which are clear and irrefutable proofs. This verse sums up this question briefly and concisely: “And on earth there are signs (of God’s existence) visible to those who are endowed with inner certainty, just as (there are signs thereof) within your own selves. Can you not, then see?” (Qur’an;51:20-21). This must be sufficient proof for both scholars and laymen alike. Deep in our hearts we are all convinced of the existence of God. As we saw in the previous chapter, we call on Him in times of crisis or great difficulty; our inborn faith urges us to seek His help at such times. What’s more, if we look around we can see ample proof of His existence. The inner self is convinced by intuition and the intellect by logical proof.
So why would anyone deny God’s existence? Isn’t that rather like a person who, even though his clothes are soaking wet, denies having been anywhere near water? Anyone denying His existence does so because: “They have forgotten God and so God made them forget themselves”.(Qur’an;9:67). People are so absorbed with their own lives that they do not want to spend any time whatsoever in reflection and meditation. They keep themselves busy doing any job that comes their way, or in idle chat – or reading rubbish. The self becomes their biggest enemy and they live as if life is a burden they want to unload. Most people, as you have probably noticed, are engrossed by the pleasures of life. They eat, drink, sleep and go about their daily work through which they earn material benefits for themselves and their families. It is as if they were stuck in a rut. There is hardly any difference between their past and present, and they have hardly anything to look forward to in the future which might be different from their present way of life. But that is not the case with a believer who puts his faith into practice.
No practicing Muslim, for example, can resign himself to a monotonous routine life. On the contrary, such a person has to think and reflect and wonder “Where did I come from? Where will I go from here? Where does my life begin and end?” He realises that life is not a span of time between the two points of birth and death. He knows that he existed before birth, in his mother’s womb, and prior to that he was just a drop of sperm which was created from the blood that ran through his father’s body. His father’s blood was formed from the food he ate, and this food was prepared from the fruits of the earth. So a long chain of unknown factors led to his birth. How then could he create himself through his intellect and will power when, at a certain time, he existed without either? A child is unaware of himself until the age of four. We are unable to remember our birth or the days we spent in our mother’s womb.
It is clear that man existed even before he was aware of himself, and it is absurd to say that man is his own creator. The questions we put to atheists and heretics should therefore be “Did you create yourself through your own will and intellect? Did you force yourself into your mother’s womb? Did you choose your own mother? Was it you who fetched the midwife to attend to your delivery? Were you then created from nothingness and without a creator?” Of course this is impossible. Was man created by those things which were in existence before him, such as the mountains, the sun and the stars? The French philosopher Descartes evolved the ‘Theory of Doubt’. He doubted everything, even his own self, yet when he thought of it he could have no doubt of its existence. And since there is no doubt without a doubter he made the famous statement “I think, therefore I exist”. Of course he existed, but who brought him into that existence? It goes without saying that material objects are inanimate and devoid of the power of reasoning. But can an irrational being create a rational being? How could a person who does not possess something give it to others? This was the stand taken by the eminent Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) against his father. His father was a sculptor who used to carve idols of gods out of stone. These idols, made by human hands, were worshipped by his people.
Abraham (peace be upon him) was puzzled and began to question himself asking; “How could I make a god and then pray to him and ask him to grant me what I want? My reasoning can’t accept that!” Then he began to think and to enquire. When he saw stars he mistook them for gods because they were not formed from the earth, like the stone from which the idols had been carved. But then when he saw the moon rising in the sky and giving more light than the stars, he considered the moon to be his god. But when the moon disappeared and the sun rose and shone in full blaze, he couldn’t help but consider the sun as his god. Alas, the existence of this god was also short-lived. How could a god abandon his kingdom and vanish out of sight? So there must be a supreme God beyond all these inanimate beings. It is He Who has created me and all these beings. The above argument is dealt with very clearly in the Holy Qur’an: “Or were they created out of naught? Or are they creators?”(Qur’an;52:36). This verse, a proof of Divine eloquence must come as a great blow to the rationalist who denies the existence of God by clinging on to the power of intellect as the source of all action.
When we grew up and became mature we asked “What is nature?” In Arabic, etymologically, the word means ‘something which is made natural.’ Who then, made it natural? Many unbelievers hold that “nature is coincidence – the law of possibilities”. We say that this description of nature can be compared to the story of two men who lost their way in the desert and came across a palace. It was an excellent example of architecture, furnished with exotic carpets, clocks, chandeliers and so on. The two men, spellbound by the sight of it, had the following conversation:
First Man: Somebody must have built this palace and famished it.
Second Man: What conservative and old fashioned comment! This whole place is the work of nature
First Man: How could nature have built such a palace?
Second Man: Well, the stones and rubbish that were originally here were formed into walls and partitions as a result of floods, winds and climatic change.
First Man: But what about the carpets?
Second Man: Oh – They were made from the wool that fell off sheep and dyed by mixtures of colored metals. Then the wool was interwoven and the end product is these carpets.
First Man: How about the clocks?
Second Man: Due to certain climatic conditions, iron corroded and formed small round and flat pieces which became clocks.
Wouldn’t you think someone giving such answers was crazy? : Is it a matter of sheer coincidence that the invisible cells in human liver carry out extremely difficult functions? They convert excess sugar in the blood into glycogen, which is later turned into glucose as and when required. These cells also produce bile, and maintain the cholesterol level in the blood, as well as producing red corpuscles and performing several other functions. Is it also just coincidence that the human tongue has nine thousand small buds on it which enable us to enjoy the sense of taste? The human ear has one hundred thousand cells that carry out the function of hearing, and the human eye has one hundred and thirty million cells which pick up rays of light.
Furthermore, consider the wonders and mysteries of the earth itself. The air that blows round it, the creatures living on it and the wonderful shapes of snowflakes. What beauty and precision! And many of the discoveries have only recently come to our knowledge. Look at the minerals found on earth and the flora and f fauna; the vast deserts, oceans, high mountains and deep valleys. Compared with the sun, you will find the earth is a very small and negligible entity. As for the sun, it too is like a particle of sand when compared with other stars, even though it is one million times bigger than the earth. In terms of speed of light, the sun is only eight minutes away from the earth, the speed of light being three hundred thousand kilometers per second. So, in eight minutes light travels more than the two million kilometers that separate the sun from the earth.
And what about the stars whose light reaches us in a duration of a million light years, very light year being equal to ten thousand billion kilometers! Astronomers have little information about these stars, including the galaxy, apart from the fact that it is a spot of illumination containing many stars which we human beings know nothing about. Only God knows. These stars whose size is beyond the scope of our imagination move at great speed and never bump into each other. How can that be explained? I once read an article by an astronomer who stated that the possibility of stars colliding is as slight as that of six bees colliding if they were flying in the earth’s atmosphere. The vastness of this atmosphere is for the bees similar to the space for the stars. The tremendous space in its entirety exists in the midst of a huge globe – the sky. This globe has a definite body. It is neither air nor atmosphere, nor the imaginary line that some scholars and commentators of the Holy Qur’an claim exists between the stars as a line of orbit. This globe surrounds the space containing all the stars, great and small. And, as God Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an: “We have set up the sky, a roof well guarded”.(Qur’an;21: 32). Beyond this space is yet another space, the vastness of which is known only to God. It may be like the space in this globe, or even bigger. It is surrounded by another globe, still larger, beyond which may be a third space and a third globe, larger in size, then a fourth space with a fourth globe and a fifth, sixth and seventh space, each surrounded by a globe Then there are huge and magnificent celestial bodies: The Throne, the Seat of Power and all the creation that God has informed us about.
Atom: The Most Extraordinary Wonder:
It represents in minuscule form, all that exists in the space. And the human mind is unable to perceive its intricacies in just the same way as it cannot imagine the vastness and enormity of the space. All this is indomitable proof, therefore, of the fact that God exists. In the past, scientists and philosophers described the atom as “the unique particle that cannot be split”. It cannot be seen except through an electronic microscope. According to scientists, the atom is so small that if you were to arrange forty million atoms side by side, their total length would be no more than one centimeter. In the middle of every atom is a space containing the Nucleus around which small bodies known as electrons are in orbit, just like planets in space. This nucleus, when compared to the atom, is like a grain of wheat compared to a huge palace. And a nucleus by itself weighs more than one thousand eight hundred electrons. Is all that an act of sheer coincidence? All the writings based on high-flown theories regarding ‘Nature’, “Laws of Coincidence’, etc. are, to say the least, illusive and illogical. But to the pleasure of sincere believers such words are no longer valid in scientific circles and are usually only used by pseudo scientists.
God, Sustainer of the Whole Universe:
The second dogma of faith is that in God alone created everything – plants, animals, planets and all that we can see as well as all that exists in the unseen. He has created all this from nothingness, and what’s more, has laid down marvelous rules and regulation for everything. Very few of them have been discovered in the realms of physics, chemistry, medicine and astronomy. Only God possesses knowledge of all the major and minor aspects of everything in existence. It is He who knows the number of leaves on every tree and the shape of each leaf and its position. He knows how many insects exist in this world, their length, breadth and each part of their anatomy. He alone knows how many electrons, mobile and immobile, there are in an atom, and the mutations and permutations, progress and change which take place in them. All this knowledge is recorded in a book in His custody.
God is the Lord of all the worlds. It is He Who has brought them into existence, and it is He Who protects them changing them from one condition to another. And it is He Who has placed the guidance for wise and intelligent people in every particle. This second issue regarding faith in God is essential and inevitable. But is it enough for someone to simply profess faith in this concept in order to become a believer? If someone tells you that God is the Creator and the Lord, does this mean he is a believer? Of course not. It is not enough to declare faith, as most nations in the past have done. Even the unbelievers of the Quraysh tribe professed faith. This was the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he exposed the falsehood of their belief in polytheism and tried to make them believe that the creed they believed in was inferior and unacceptable. The Prophet (peace be upon him) even had to wage wars against them for this cause. Even Satan (Iblis), the evilest of all creatures, did not deny the fact that God was his Lord: (Iblis) said “Oh my Lord! Because thou hast send me astray” (Qur’an;15:39) and Iblis said “Oh my Lord! Reprieve me (Qur’an;15:36).
God is the Lord of the Universe:
The third issue concerns God being the Lord of the universe. He has the absolute right of disposal in it, just like the rights of a property owner. He bestows life and deals death. Can you protect yourself from death? And can you grant yourself immortality in this world? It is He Who causes illness and gives health. Is it possible, therefore, for you to heal a person whom God has deemed incurable? God alone bestows wealth and causes poverty. It is He who brings about floods and droughts. There, were once terrible floods n Italy that devastated cities. During the same period we heard about frightening droughts in parts of India; crops dried out, cattle died, and water was so scarce it had to be rationed. So who causes water to overflow in one area and to dry out totally in another? Who bestows daughters on some couples and sons on others? and can anyone who has been bestowed with a girl turn her into a boy? Can a sterile woman conceive a child? It is He Who causes people to die when they are infants and grants longevity to others who live to a ripe old age. He causes cold spells and snowfalls on some countries, and heat waves and earthquakes in others. And man remains helpless amidst all these phenomena.
The Lord to Be Worshipped:
As we said before, most people agree that God is the Lord of the universe and the Absolute Power. But does this suffice for a person to be a believer? Of course not. There is yet another issue, the fourth, which concerns this question of faith: that only God is to be worshipped. If you really believe that God exists and that He is the Lord of all the Worlds and the Lord of Sovereignty, you should not worship anyone except Him. This means that you should not associate anyone else with Him in any form of worship. The chapter in the Holy Qur’an entitled Annaas (Mankind) is a clear refutation to those who do not accept the Oneness of God, even though they believe in His existence, and that He is Lord of all Dominions. I have arrived at a conclusion regarding this chapter, which, as far as I know, no other commentator has reached. I hope my opinion is correct. God almighty says: “Say, I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind, the God (or Judge) of mankind” (Qur’an;114:1-2). Why has the word ‘mankind‘ been repeated in these verses when the possessive pronoun ‘their’ could easily have been substituted? I believe – though God knows best – that there are three separate but interconnected issues here. Namely, Our Lord is the Lord of mankind; He is their Creator; and He is their Protector: Our Lord is the Ruler of mankind. In other words, He is Absolute Disposer of their affairs. And our Lord is The God of mankind, which means that He alone is to be worshipped. No partner should be set up to be worshipped as an equal to Him. One has to either totally accept or totally reject these three issues. How could you differentiate between three identical issues accepting some while rejecting the others? All three are essential and inseparable.
Download/Read online Web/Doc , PDF The most comprehensive & pragmatic Book on the “DOCTRINES OF ISLAM”, read and appre… Source: Islam: A General Introduction by Shaikh Ali Al Tantawi
- Principles of Conceptualization of Faith
- Faith in One God
- Manifestation of Faith
Atheism, denying existence of God is contrasted with theism, which in its most general form is the belief that at least one deity exists. Arguments for atheism range from the philosophical to social and historical approaches. Rationales for not believing in any supernatural deity include the lack of empirical evidence, the problem of evil, the argument from inconsistent revelations, and the argument from nonbelief. This book explores; Religious Humanism, Existence of God, Philosophical Arguments for God, Criticism on Existence of God, Proof of God & Scientific Facts. Keep reading Online or Download pdf.
The idea of a Supreme Power who is the First Cause of all things, the Creator and Ruler of heaven and earth has always been part of human nature from the beginning. The beliefs supporting the existence of God or against it, including the middle positions have resulted in an array of doctrines, the most prominent among them are; Theism, Monotheism, Theodicy, Deism, Agnosticism and Atheism. The main issue which have remained the center of attention of believers of the God has been; How to prove the existence of God rationally? This has been dilated upon in this book. Read Online or Download pdf.
خالق کائنات کون؟ مختلف عقاید جن میں خدا کے وجود پر ایمان رکھنا یا اس کے مخالف جن کے نتیجے میں مختلف اقسام کے نظریات جیسے کہ خدا پرستی (Theism)، توحید پرستی (Monotheism-موحد،)، تھیوڈسی (Theodicy- خدا کی لامحدود طاقت کا برائی کی موجودگی میں دفاع)، دی ازم (Deism)، اگناسٹک (Agnosticism-خدا کےہونے یا نہ ہونے کے متعلق لا تعلق)، دہریت، الحاد ( Atheism) وغیرہ – توحید (Monotheism) ؛ ایک خدا کے وجود پر ایمان ہےجو اس شرک سے مبرا ہے. توحید یہودیت، عیسائیت(کسی حد تک ) اور اسلام کی خصوصیت ہے، جن کے مطابق خدا دنیا کا خالق ہےاورنگران بھی جو انسانی واقعات میں مداخلت کرتا ہے- خدا رحمان اور مقدس ہے جوتمام نیکیوں اوراچھائیوں کا منبع ہے- اس کاینات کا خالق کون؟ کیا یہ ابدی ہے اور حادثاتی طور پر خود بخود وجود پزیر ہوئی یا اس کا کوئی خالق ہے؟ … پڑھتے جائیںان لائن… یا ڈاؤنلوڈ کریں پی ڈی ایف.. | <urn:uuid:1d2ce777-ed6c-4b9f-b4c5-2619cce15595> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://salaamone.com/islam-2/islam/faith-in-god/ | 2024-12-05T16:11:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066355594.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20241205150341-20241205180341-00634.warc.gz | en | 0.961122 | 5,456 | 2.59375 | 3 |
A 2 stage water filter purifies water through two distinct filtration stages. First, a sediment filter traps large particles, followed by activated carbon for further purification. This process enhances water quality and filtration efficiency. These filters remove a wider range of contaminants, offering a longer lifespan with less frequent replacements. The combination of physical and chemical mechanisms guarantees cleaner, healthier water consumption. To fully understand the benefits and components of 2 stage filters, explore further details.
- Two-stage filters use dual filtration stages for enhanced water purification.
- First stage traps large particles, second stage uses activated carbon.
- Improved filtration efficiency and water quality compared to single-stage systems.
- Removes a wider range of contaminants with longer lifespan.
- Combination of physical and chemical filtration mechanisms for cleaner water.
Understanding 2 Stage Filtration
In 2 stage filtration, water passes through two separate filter stages to eliminate impurities and enhance overall water quality. This process involves advanced filtration technology that improves water purification.
The first stage typically consists of a sediment filter that traps large particles like sand, rust, and silt. This initial step guarantees that the water entering the second stage is relatively free from larger contaminants.
Moving into the second stage, the water undergoes further purification using activated carbon or other specialized filter media. These mediums are adept at removing smaller particles, chemicals, and organic compounds that may impact the taste, odor, and safety of the water.
Through a combination of physical and chemical filtration mechanisms, the second stage ensures that the water is thoroughly cleansed before reaching your tap.
Benefits of Two-Stage Filters
Discover the enhanced water quality and improved filtration efficiency provided by two-stage filters. The benefits of two-stage filters stem from their advanced technology advancements, offering superior performance compared to single-stage systems. By utilizing two separate filtration stages, these systems can effectively remove a wider range of contaminants from your water supply.
The first stage typically focuses on larger particles and sediments, while the second stage targets smaller impurities like chemicals, heavy metals, and microorganisms. This dual-stage process guarantees that the water you consume isn't only free from visible debris but also from harmful substances that can affect your health in the long term.
Moreover, two-stage filters often boast a longer lifespan and require less frequent filter replacements, making them a cost-effective solution in the long run. The improved filtration efficiency provided by these systems results in cleaner, healthier water for you and your family to enjoy. Experience the numerous benefits of two-stage filters and elevate your water quality to new heights.
Comparison With Single-Stage Systems
When comparing two-stage filters with single-stage systems, the efficiency and thoroughness of water filtration become evident. Two-stage filters outperform single-stage systems both in performance and cost-effectiveness. Here is a comparison between the two systems:
Comparison | Two-Stage Filters | Single-Stage Systems |
Performance | Removes a wider range of contaminants due to dual filtration. | Filters water through only one filtration process. |
Cost | Initial cost may be higher, but provides better filtration. | Lower initial cost but may require more frequent filter changes. |
Two-stage filters excel in performance due to the dual filtration process, effectively removing a broader spectrum of impurities compared to single-stage systems. Although the upfront cost for a two-stage filter might be higher, the long-term benefits regarding water quality and fewer filter replacements make it a more cost-effective solution. Single-stage systems, while cheaper initially, may not provide the same level of thorough filtration. Performance comparison and cost analysis clearly demonstrate the advantages of two-stage water filters over their single-stage counterparts.
Components of 2 Stage Filters
To understand the inner workings of two-stage water filters, it's essential to explore the components that make up these advanced filtration systems.
The primary components of a two-stage water filter include the filter media and the flow rate. The filter media is the material within the filter that captures and removes contaminants from the water as it passes through. This media can consist of activated carbon, ceramic, or other specialized materials designed to target specific impurities.
The flow rate refers to the speed at which water moves through the filter system. A higher flow rate allows for more water to be filtered in a shorter amount of time, but may impact the thoroughness of the filtration process. Two-stage filters are designed to balance an effective flow rate with efficient filtration by utilizing a combination of filter media that can handle varying flow rates while still providing high-quality water output.
Understanding these components is important for maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of a two-stage water filter system.
How 2 Stage Filters Improve Water Quality
When using a 2 stage water filter, you can expect improved filtration efficiency due to the dual layers of filtration media. This setup allows for targeted contaminant removal, addressing specific impurities present in the water supply.
Enhanced Filtration Efficiency
Enhancing water quality through improved filtration efficiency is a key benefit of utilizing 2 stage water filters. These filters employ advanced technology to achieve enhanced performance and deliver superior results compared to single-stage filtration systems.
By incorporating two stages of filtration, these systems can target a broader range of contaminants and particles present in your water supply. The first stage typically involves a sediment filter, which traps larger particles like sand, silt, and rust, thereby preventing them from entering the second stage.
In the second stage, a specialized filter, such as an activated carbon filter, further refines the water by removing organic compounds, chlorine, and other harmful impurities. This dual-stage approach ensures that even the smallest impurities are effectively captured, resulting in cleaner, safer drinking water for you and your family.
The improved efficiency of 2 stage water filters guarantees a higher quality of water that meets stringent safety standards.
Targeted Contaminant Removal
Improving water quality through targeted contaminant removal is a primary objective of 2 stage water filters. These filters are designed to effectively remove specific contaminants, guaranteeing that your water is safe for consumption. By employing a two-stage filtration process, these systems enhance filtration efficiency, providing you with cleaner and healthier water.
In a 2 stage water filter, the first stage typically targets larger particles such as sediment, rust, and silt, while the second stage focuses on removing smaller contaminants like chlorine, pesticides, and heavy metals. This dual-stage approach ensures that a wide range of impurities is effectively eliminated, greatly enhancing the overall water quality.
Below is a table summarizing the contaminant targeting and filtration efficiency of 2 stage water filters:
Stage | Contaminants Targeted |
1 | Sediment, rust, silt |
2 | Chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals |
To maintain the efficiency of your 2 stage water filter, regular maintenance is essential. Follow manufacturer guidelines for filter replacement and system cleaning to guarantee optimal performance and continued high water quality.
Maintenance Tips for 2 Stage Filters
When maintaining your 2 stage water filter, it's important to adhere to the recommended filter replacement schedule to guarantee peak performance.
Regular cleaning procedures for the filters are essential in preventing clogs and maintaining water quality.
Familiarize yourself with troubleshooting common issues to promptly address any problems that may arise with your 2 stage filter system.
Filter Replacement Schedule
To maintain peak performance, regularly replacing the filters in your 2 stage water filter system is vital. Filter lifespan and efficiency are important factors in guaranteeing the water quality remains at its best. The first stage filter, usually a sediment filter, generally has a lifespan of around 6 to 9 months, depending on usage and water quality. The second stage filter, often a carbon filter, typically lasts between 6 to 12 months. However, it's important to monitor the filters' condition regularly as the actual lifespan can vary.
Regular filter replacements are necessary to maintain the efficiency of your 2 stage water filter system. Over time, filters can become clogged with contaminants, reducing their effectiveness and impacting water quality. By following the recommended replacement schedule, you can make sure that your filters are working optimally to provide you with clean and safe drinking water. Remember to check the manufacturer's guidelines for specific recommendations on when to replace the filters in your system.
Cleaning Procedures for Filters
For the best maintenance of your 2 stage water filter system, it's important to follow proper cleaning procedures for the filters. Proper maintenance is essential to guarantee the longevity and efficiency of your filtration system.
To start, turn off the water supply to the filter system before beginning any cleaning. Remove the filters according to the manufacturer's instructions. Rinse the filters with warm water to remove any visible debris.
For a more thorough clean, you can use a mild soap or filter cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Gently scrub the filters to dislodge any trapped particles. Avoid using harsh chemicals or brushes that could damage the filter media.
Once cleaned, thoroughly rinse the filters to remove any soap residue. Allow the filters to dry completely before reinstalling them.
Regularly cleaning your filters using these effective techniques will ensure that your 2 stage water filter continues to provide clean and safe drinking water for you and your family.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
To maintain peak performance of your 2 stage water filter, troubleshoot common issues effectively by identifying and addressing potential problems promptly.
When encountering problems with your 2 stage water filter, utilizing troubleshooting techniques can help you resolve issues efficiently.
Here are some common problems you might face and how to troubleshoot them:
- Low Water Pressure: Check for clogs in the filter cartridges or the inlet valve.
- Strange Taste or Odor: Replace the filter cartridges and guarantee proper installation.
- Leaks: Inspect connections for any loose fittings or damaged seals.
- Filter Replacement Reminder Not Working: Reset the reminder according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Installation Guide for 2 Stage Filters
Start the installation process by verifying all necessary components are present and in good condition. Begin by locating a suitable mounting location near the water source. Shut off the water supply, relieve pressure by opening a faucet, and then proceed to install the first stage filter using the provided mounting bracket. Make sure to connect the inlet and outlet ports correctly, following the directional arrows on the filter. Once secured, install the second stage filter in the same manner downstream from the first filter.
Next, connect the filter system to the water supply line using the fittings provided. Double-check all connections for tightness to prevent leaks. After completing the installation, turn on the water supply and check for any leaks. Run water through the system for a few minutes to flush out any air or loose particles. Remember to check the manufacturer's instructions for specific guidance on proper installation and filter maintenance to ensure the system operates effectively and efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a 2 Stage Water Filter Remove Viruses From the Water?
Yes, a 2 stage water filter can effectively remove waterborne pathogens, including viruses, from household water. These filters target various contamination sources, ensuring cleaner and safer drinking water for you and your family.
Do 2 Stage Filters Require Professional Installation?
Installing a 2-stage filter yourself may seem simple, but don't underestimate the importance of professional installation. DIY may save initial costs, but improper setup could lead to higher maintenance costs down the line.
Are Two-Stage Filters Suitable for Well Water?
For well water, two-stage filters are effective at removing common contaminants like sediment, chlorine, and volatile organic compounds. They provide a significant level of filtration, making them suitable for households concerned about the quality of their well water.
How Often Should the Filters in a 2 Stage System Be Replaced?
To maintain clean water, replace filters in a two-stage system every 3-6 months. This guarantees peak performance, prolongs filter lifespan, and is cost-efficient. Explore bulk filter purchases for savings and consider the water quality in your area.
Can a 2 Stage Filter Reduce Water Pressure in the House?
Maintaining ideal water pressure management with a 2 stage filter is key. Efficient filtration shouldn't greatly impact your home's water pressure. However, be mindful of potential flow rate restrictions that could affect your plumbing system.
To sum up, a 2-stage water filter is a top-tier tool for achieving total water purity. With the power of two stages working in tandem, impurities are obliterated, leaving behind only the purest H2O.
The benefits of this system are vast, making it a wise investment for those seeking superior water quality. Remember, maintenance is key to keeping your filter functioning at its peak performance.
So, stay vigilant and enjoy the benefits of two-stage filtration! | <urn:uuid:9a17bd16-4189-42c9-b214-7167c72f823f> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.watersystemexpert.com/what-is-a-2-stage-water-filter/ | 2024-12-10T15:07:09Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066061339.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20241210132922-20241210162922-00858.warc.gz | en | 0.928641 | 2,689 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Ice hockey is a thrilling and competitive sport that attracts millions of players worldwide. It’s a game that requires strength, speed, and skill, but it’s also a sport that poses a high risk of injury. How Many Hockey Players Get Injured A Year? is a question that needs to be answered to understand the gravity of the situation.
From amateur to professional players, ice hockey injuries can happen at any level of the game. Broken bones, concussions, and spinal injuries are common, but what are the real numbers behind these injuries? In this blog post, we’ll delve into the statistics, risks, and prevention methods for ice hockey injuries. We’ll take a look at the different types of injuries, which players are most at risk, and how these injuries affect players and their families.
As much as we love hockey, it’s important to remember the real dangers that come with the game. Injuries can have a lifelong impact on players, so it’s crucial to understand the risks and take preventative measures. If you or a loved one are involved in hockey, or just curious about the sport, keep reading to discover the shocking truth about ice hockey injuries.
Table of Contents
The Physical Demands of Hockey: A Recipe for Disaster?
Ice hockey is one of the most exciting and physically demanding sports in the world. Players need to be in peak physical condition to handle the intense demands of the game. However, the high level of physicality involved also makes hockey one of the most injury-prone sports. With sticks, pucks, and bodies flying around at high speeds, injuries are a constant risk for players.
But just how dangerous is the sport? How many players get injured every year? And what are the most common types of injuries that hockey players face? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the physical demands of hockey and explore some of the most common injuries that players face.
The Most Common Types of Hockey Injuries
- Concussions: Hockey players are at high risk of suffering from concussions due to the high speed of the game and the physical contact involved. Concussions can have serious long-term effects on a player’s health and career.
- Joint Injuries: The sudden stops and starts, as well as the frequent changes in direction, put a lot of strain on hockey players’ joints. Knee and ankle injuries are particularly common.
- Lacerations: Hockey players are at risk of suffering from cuts and lacerations due to the sharp edges of their skates and the hard, fast-moving puck.
Preventing Hockey Injuries
Hockey players can take several steps to minimize their risk of injury. Proper conditioning, including strength training and cardiovascular exercise, can help players build the strength and endurance they need to handle the physical demands of the game. Wearing proper protective equipment, including helmets, pads, and mouthguards, is also essential for minimizing the risk of injury.
Coaches and trainers can also help prevent injuries by emphasizing proper technique and enforcing rules and penalties designed to discourage dangerous or reckless play. By taking these steps, players can reduce their risk of injury and enjoy a long and successful career on the ice.
The Bottom Line
While the physical demands of hockey make it a risky sport, players can take steps to minimize their risk of injury. By focusing on proper conditioning, wearing protective equipment, and playing safely, players can enjoy all the excitement of the game without putting their health and well-being at risk.
Hockey Injuries: From Concussions to Broken Bones
Hockey is a physically demanding sport that requires a combination of speed, strength, and agility. Unfortunately, with this intense level of play comes an increased risk of injury. Injuries can range from minor bruises and strains to more severe injuries like concussions and broken bones.
In this section, we’ll explore some of the most common injuries that hockey players face, as well as the long-term effects that these injuries can have on players’ health.
Concussions are one of the most common injuries in hockey, and they can be incredibly dangerous. These injuries occur when a player’s head is hit or jolted, causing the brain to shake inside the skull. Symptoms of a concussion can range from headaches and dizziness to nausea and confusion, and in severe cases, concussions can lead to long-term brain damage.
2.2 Broken Bones
Broken bones are another common injury in hockey, particularly in the hands and fingers. These injuries can be caused by collisions with other players, falls, or even blocked shots. While broken bones can be painful and may require extensive recovery time, they typically aren’t life-threatening.
2.3 Knee Injuries
The constant starts and stops in hockey can put a lot of strain on players’ knees, and knee injuries are another common issue. These injuries can range from minor sprains to more severe injuries like ACL tears, which can require surgery and months of rehabilitation.
- concussions: A dangerous injury that can cause long-term brain damage
- broken bones: A painful but typically non-life-threatening injury
- knee injuries: A common issue caused by the constant stops and starts of play
These are just a few of the many injuries that hockey players face. While some injuries can be minor and may only require a few days of rest, others can be much more severe and may require players to miss significant amounts of playing time. Injuries are an unfortunate reality of any physical activity, but for hockey players, they can be particularly dangerous. In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at some of the steps that players can take to prevent injuries and stay safe on the ice.
Who’s Most at Risk? Understanding the Statistics
While hockey is a sport that carries risks for all players, some demographics are more vulnerable to serious injuries than others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, males are four times more likely to experience a hockey-related injury than females. Additionally, players aged 15-24 are at the highest risk of injury, followed closely by those aged 25-4
But it’s not just gender and age that impact a player’s risk of injury. Position and playing style can also play a role. For example, defensemen and enforcers are more likely to suffer concussions and other head injuries due to their physical roles on the ice. Meanwhile, goalies are at high risk for hip, groin, and knee injuries due to the repetitive movements required to protect the net.
Factors that Affect Injury Risk
- Age and gender
- Playing position and style
- Equipment quality and fit
One of the biggest factors in preventing hockey injuries is the quality and fit of a player’s equipment. The National Hockey League Players’ Association has stringent rules on the types of equipment that can be worn, but players at all levels should ensure that their gear is up-to-date and properly sized to minimize the risk of injury.
Preventing Hockey Injuries
- Properly fitting equipment
- Participating in strength and conditioning programs
- Following proper playing techniques
While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of injury in a contact sport like hockey, there are steps players can take to reduce their likelihood of getting hurt. Engaging in strength and conditioning programs to build strength and flexibility, as well as focusing on proper playing techniques, can help players stay safe on the ice.
From Pee Wee to the Pros: Injuries at Every Level
Hockey is a high-speed, full-contact sport, and injuries can happen at every level of play. From the youngest Pee Wee players to seasoned professionals, injuries are an unfortunate reality. While the risk of injury can’t be completely eliminated, understanding the common injuries at each level of play can help players, coaches, and parents take steps to reduce the risk and promote safe play.
It’s important to note that the severity and frequency of injuries can vary widely depending on the level of play. Pee Wee players, for example, may experience more minor injuries like bruises and sprains, while professional players are at higher risk for serious injuries like concussions and broken bones.
Concussions: While not as common as in professional hockey, Pee Wee players are still at risk for concussions. These can result from collisions with other players or the boards, or from falls on the ice. To reduce the risk of concussions, it’s important for players to wear properly fitting helmets and follow safe checking techniques.
Strains and sprains: Younger players are at higher risk for strains and sprains, which can result from overuse or sudden movements. Stretching before and after games and practices, staying hydrated, and getting proper rest can help prevent these types of injuries.
Junior and College Hockey
Broken bones: With the increased size and speed of players at this level, broken bones are a common injury. They can result from collisions with other players, falls, or hits into the boards. Protective gear like shin guards, elbow pads, and helmets can help reduce the risk of broken bones.
Ligament tears: Junior and college players are also at risk for ligament tears, which can result from sudden movements or contact with other players. Proper conditioning, stretching, and rest can help prevent these types of injuries.
Concussions: Professional players are at high risk for concussions, which can result from collisions with other players, hits into the boards, or fights. The use of proper equipment and safe playing techniques, as well as increased awareness and education about the long-term effects of concussions, can help reduce the risk of these injuries.
Spinal cord injuries: While rare, spinal cord injuries can occur in professional hockey as a result of high-speed collisions or hits from behind. These injuries can be life-changing, and prevention efforts include strict penalties for dangerous hits and an emphasis on safe playing techniques.
Prevention Is Key: Tips for Staying Safe on the Ice
When it comes to ice hockey, taking preventive measures to protect yourself from injuries is critical. Here are some tips to help you stay safe on the ice:
Wear Protective Gear: Wearing protective gear, such as helmets, mouth guards, and shoulder pads, can help prevent serious injuries.
Stay in Good Physical Condition:
Staying in good physical condition can help reduce the risk of injuries. It’s essential to maintain a healthy diet, get enough rest, and engage in regular exercise to keep your body in shape.
Follow the Rules of the Game: Adhering to the rules of the game can help prevent injuries caused by reckless play. Be mindful of the rules and the proper way to play the game.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately:
If you experience an injury while playing ice hockey, seek medical attention immediately. Ignoring an injury can lead to more severe complications and prolonged recovery time.
- Practice Good Sportsmanship: Practicing good sportsmanship not only helps to create a more enjoyable and positive experience for everyone but also reduces the risk of injury on the ice.
- Attend a Training Camp: Attending a training camp can provide valuable information on the proper techniques and skills required to play the game safely.
Remember, prevention is key to staying safe on the ice. Follow these tips to minimize the risk of injuries and enjoy the game!
The Real Cost of Hockey Injuries: Are You Prepared?
Hockey can be a fun and exciting sport, but injuries can quickly turn that excitement into a nightmare. From broken bones to concussions, injuries can be painful and expensive. It’s important to be aware of the real cost of hockey injuries and take steps to prepare for them.
Medical costs associated with hockey injuries can be significant. In addition to medical bills, there may be costs associated with missed work or school, rehabilitation, and even transportation to and from medical appointments. The emotional toll of an injury can also be significant, especially if it requires time away from the sport you love.
Invest in Good Equipment
Investing in good equipment, such as high-quality helmets, mouthguards, and padding, can help reduce the risk of injury. Skimping on equipment can increase the likelihood of injury and potentially increase the cost of medical care.
Take Steps to Prevent Injuries
Prevention is key when it comes to avoiding injuries. Proper training, stretching, and warm-ups can all help reduce the risk of injury. Additionally, being aware of your surroundings and avoiding dangerous or aggressive play can help prevent injuries from occurring.
Be Prepared for the Worst
- Make sure you have adequate health insurance coverage that includes sports injuries
- Consider purchasing additional accident insurance to cover any gaps in your existing coverage
- Set aside a rainy-day fund to cover any unexpected medical expenses
- Develop a plan for how you will manage your finances if you are unable to work or play due to injury
In conclusion, while hockey injuries can be costly and traumatic, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk and be prepared for the worst. By investing in good equipment, taking steps to prevent injuries, and being prepared financially, you can enjoy the sport you love with greater peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Hockey Players Get Injured A Year?
It’s estimated that approximately 1 in 10 hockey players will experience some form of injury each year, ranging from minor bumps and bruises to more serious injuries such as concussions or broken bones.
What Are the Most Common Types of Hockey Injuries?
The most common types of hockey injuries include strains and sprains, cuts and bruises, and concussions. These injuries can result from collisions with other players, falls on the ice, or from being hit by the puck or a stick.
What Are Some Tips for Preventing Hockey Injuries?
- Wear proper equipment: Make sure to wear all necessary protective gear, including a helmet, mouthguard, and padding for your elbows, knees, and shins.
- Stay in good physical condition: Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine can help improve your strength, agility, and balance, which can reduce your risk of injury.
- Follow the rules: Be familiar with the rules of the game and avoid dangerous plays, such as checking from behind or hitting someone with your stick.
What Should I Do if I Get Injured While Playing Hockey?
If you get injured while playing hockey, it’s important to stop playing and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may need to visit a doctor or hospital for treatment and rehabilitation.
How Long Does it Take to Recover from a Hockey Injury?
The recovery time for a hockey injury can vary depending on the severity of the injury and the type of treatment needed. Minor injuries such as bruises and strains may only take a few days or weeks to heal, while more serious injuries like broken bones or concussions can take months to fully recover.
What Can I Do to Speed Up My Recovery?
- Follow your doctor’s instructions: Your doctor will provide you with a treatment plan that may include rest, physical therapy, or other forms of rehabilitation. Follow these instructions closely to ensure a faster recovery.
- Stay active: Depending on the type of injury, staying active may help promote healing and prevent further injury. Talk to your doctor about what types of exercise or physical activity are safe for you.
- Get plenty of rest: Rest is an important part of the healing process. Make sure to get plenty of sleep and avoid strenuous activity until your injury has fully healed. | <urn:uuid:113205e3-7b43-415b-917c-c440831da35b> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://icehockeycentral.com/discover-the-shocking-truth-how-many-hockey-players-get-injured-every-year/ | 2024-12-14T01:31:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066119841.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20241213233207-20241214023207-00273.warc.gz | en | 0.958683 | 3,236 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Human sexuality is the expression of sexual sensation and related intimacy between human beings. Psychologically, sexuality is the means to express the fullness of love between a man and a woman. Biologically, it is the means through which a child is conceived and the lineage is passed on to the next generation. Sexuality involves the body, mind, and spirit; therefore, this article regards sexuality holistically and does not separate out the physiological mechanics of the reproductive system.
There are a great many forms of human sexuality, comprising a broad range of behaviors, and sexual expression varies across cultures and historical periods. Yet the basic principles of human sexuality are universal and integral to what it means to be human. Sex is related to the very purpose of human existence: love, procreation, and family. Sexuality has social ramifications; therefore most societies set limits, through social norms and taboos, moral and religious guidelines, and legal constraints on what is permissible sexual behavior.
Sex is intrinsically a moral act. The world's major religions concur in viewing sexual intimacy as proper only within marriage; otherwise it can be destructive to human flourishing. The Fall of Man in Genesis, the story of Helen of Troy in the Iliad, and accounts of the decline of the Roman Empire brought on by decadent sexual mores are examples of how traditional wisdom has viewed the wrong use of sex as a cause of human downfall.
People may experiment with a range of sexual activities during their lives, though they tend to engage in only a few of these regularly. However, most societies have defined some sexual activities as inappropriate (wrong person, wrong activity, wrong place, wrong time, and so forth). The most widespread sexual norm historically, and the norm promoted nearly universally by the world's religions, is that sex is appropriate only within marriage. Accompanying this norm is the widespread belief that sex acts are devalued when engaged in outside of the marriage bed. However, extramarital sexual activity and casual sex have become increasingly accepted in modern society as a result of the sexual revolution.
The rationale for traditional moral strictures on sexuality, in general, is that a sexual activity can express committed love or be a meaningless casual event for recreational purposes. Yet sexual encounters are not merely a physical activity like enjoying good food. Sex involves the partners in their totality, touching their minds and hearts as well as their bodies. Therefore, sexual relations have lasting impact on the psyche. Sexuality is a powerful force that can do tremendous good or terrible harm; therefore it carries with it moral responsibility.
Sex and religion
Traditional religions often restricted and denigrated sex. Medieval Catholicism taught that sex was dirty and impure, lifting up the Virgin Mary as the ideal of womanhood and encouraging true believers to live celibate lives as priests and nuns.
Following Augustine, who created a strict divide between the spiritual and the carnal, traditional Roman Catholic doctrine understood the purpose of sex as procreation, nothing more. (The church's continuing ban on birth control, on the rationale that it separates sex from its natural procreative function, is a remnant of this view.) In Buddhism, only monks could live a holy life and attain the highest enlightenment; this required above all abstaining from sex and denying all desires of the senses.
Judaism and Islam, on the other hand, reject celibacy and regard marriage as the natural state. These religions traditionally encouraged believers to have a healthy sex life within marriage. Thus the Qur'an teaches:
Among His signs is that He created spouses for you among yourselves that you may console yourselves with them. He has planted affection and mercy between you (S 30.21).
The Protestant Reformation led Christians to re-appropriate the goodness of married sex. Today's Protestants have been joined by post-Vatican II progressive Catholics in promoting the belief that sex is a gift of God, to express love between husband and wife and increase the health and satisfaction of marriage:
Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh (Genesis 2.24).
Let your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth‚Ķ May her breasts satisfy you always (Proverbs 5:18‚Äď19).
According to the Jewish mystical teachings of the Kabbala, the time of sexual intercourse is a moment of great holiness, when the Shekhinah (the Holy Spirit) descends to the couple and showers them with blessings. In line with the holiness of the conjugal union, Hasidic couples customarily reserve the evening of the Sabbath as the time for sexual intercourse.
Sex outside of marriage is a different matter. The major religions condemn extramarital sex as sinful. Even sexual attraction to anyone who is not one’s spouse is condemnable:
You shall not commit adultery (Deuteronomy 5:18).
Neither fornicate, for whosoever does that shall meet the price of sin‚ÄĒdoubled shall be the chastisement for him on the Resurrection Day (Qur‚Äôan, S 25.68‚Äď69).
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28).
Religions embody the centuries-old traditional wisdom that adultery has been the downfall of good men and women throughout history. Sexual misconduct is somehow connected to the Original Sin, when Adam and Eve yielded to temptation in the Garden of Eden and afterwards covered their lower parts (Genesis 3:7). To overcome this problem, religions call for self-control, and especially the mastery of sexual desire, as the foundation for personal maturity, ethical relations with others, and a right relationship with God.
The Sexual Revolution
The sexual revolution that burst on the American scene in the 1960s has promoted an alternative sexual ethic, asserting that recreational sex is a healthy activity. It condemned Victorian mores that limited sex to the marriage bed as restrictive of personal freedom, and asserted that sex between consenting partners is a positive value for promoting intimacy and affection.
Hugh Hefner's Playboy magazine became the chief popularizer of this new ethic, and its "Playboy philosophy" has shaped the sexual attitudes of several generations. Playboy trumpeted the life of bachelor pleasures where women are sex objects to be enjoyed, as opposed to responsible and unselfish partnerships with women, thus rationalizing the worldview of adolescent boys.
Several currents came together in the 1960s to turn America's sexual mores upside-down. First was the technology of birth control. The birth control pill was perfected, for the first time giving women the freedom to engage in sexual relations without fear of pregnancy. Women traditionally acted to restrain men's sexual proclivities, since they had borne the consequences of sex in pregnancy and motherhood. Now that constraint was lifted.
Feminism also changed female attitudes towards sex. Feminists beginning with Simone de Beauvoir decried women's subservience to men. They exposed the Victorian double standard that permitted men to indulge their appetites with multiple lovers but expected women to be monogamous. They attacked the long-standing misogynist tradition that regarded women as property‚ÄĒhence any bride who was not a virgin was stigmatized as "damaged goods"‚ÄĒand which denied that women should even expect to achieve sexual satisfaction. To counter this injustice, feminists declared that women should be able to have sex on equal terms with men, to claim their right to sexual pleasure, and even beat men in their own game of sexual domination. From this point of view, a woman's efforts in the sexual sphere could be an expression of a liberated consciousness.
The popularity of psychoanalysis and the works of Sigmund Freud also contributed to a questioning of traditional sexual mores. Many of Freud's patients were afflicted by neuroses and psychosomatic ailments with no medical cause. He determined the cause to be sexual repression from early childhood, which was buried deep in the unconscious, the so-called Oedipus complex. As the child becomes aware of his genitals, he develops a sexual attraction to his mother, which he represses as he grows into adulthood. Freud then developed the theory of the ego, superego, and id, which pitted private, unacceptable, sexual desires against the constraints of society and the demands of civilization. Accordingly, it is not just a few neurotic people who suffer from the Oedipus complex, but it is a universal feature of the human condition. Psychoanalysis sought to free patients from the guilt stemming from these repressed desires. Although Freud regarded the strictures of religion and culture as a positive civilizing influence, not a few popularizers took the view that people should be able to enjoy sex free from guilt.
The publication of renowned anthropologist and student of Franz Boas, Margaret Mead's Coming of Age in Samoa brought the sexual revolution to the public scene, as her thought concerning sexual freedom pervaded academia. Published in 1928, Mead's ethnography focused on the psychosexual development of adolescent children on the island of Samoa in French Polynesia. She recorded that the sexual freedom experienced by the adolescents actually permitted them an easy transition from childhood to adulthood. Mead called for a change in suppression of sexuality in America and her work directly resulted in the advancement of the sexual revolution.
At the same time, the Kinsey Report (1948) promoted the idea that sexual infidelity and homosexuality were far more common than people had suspected. Kinsey also reportedly asserted that human beings need frequent sexual outlets‚ÄĒwhether heterosexual, homosexual, or masturbatory the context was irrelevant‚ÄĒor they will suffer from psychological problems. As a result, people began to question their moral reservations about sex outside of marriage, believing they were missing out on pleasures others were enjoying and even that they might be damaging their psychological well-being. The Kinsey Report continues to generate fierce debate over the reliability of its findings, and some have accused it of biased methods and unrepresentative samples. Nevertheless, it has had profound impact on attitudes towards sex.
The sexual revolution burst on to the college campus scene in the 1960s, where it became part and parcel of youth rebellion against authority, political protest against the Vietnam War, the drug culture, rock and roll music, the feminist movement, and critique of conventional religion that denied the body. Herbert Marcuse, the guiding light of the New Left, taught in his book Eros and Civilization that by liberating people to enjoy their sexuality freely, it could help tear down the structures of capitalist oppression and build a new society of transformed people who would no longer wish to make their partner an object of domination (in marriage).
Such was the heady idealism of the original sexual revolution. Although the idealism and passions have long since cooled, the change it brought to America's sexual mores has remained a permanent legacy‚ÄĒfor better or for worse.
Sexual function within marriage
In the context of a happy marriage, lovemaking is entirely healthy and ethical, expressing and reinforcing the profound moral commitment between spouses who are sharing their lives together. Sex is a deep encounter of heart and body. It is both instinctual and transcendent, mundane yet miraculous. Sex symbolizes the couple's desire for oneness, as neither the heart nor the genitals can find fulfillment without the beloved. Therefore, sex finds its deepest satisfaction within the discipline of marriage.
Sex within marriage fulfills several important roles:
- Sex strengthens the bond between husband and wife in all aspects of their lives;
- Sex expresses love and affection and fosters emotional intimacy;
- Sex reinforces the exclusivity of the relationship;
- Sex symbolizes mutual submission and dedication to the higher purpose of the marriage;
- Sex helps heal conflicts and mend rifts;
- Sex reduces anxiety and releases tension;
- Sex leads to children who are wanted and treasured by both parents.
Marriage promotes sexual fidelity, and thus reinforces the security and binding power of the couple's sexuality. Studies have found that approximately 85 to 90 percent of married women and around 75 to 80 percent of married men in the United States are sexually monogamous throughout their marriages.
The sexual act is fraught with responsibility to the children it may create. Restricting sexuality to marriage creates the most secure foundation for the care of children. Since human beings spend a lifetime rearing their children, the nature of the parental bond impacts the next generation to a greater extent than it does in the majority of animal species. The monogamous bond of husband and wife provides a unique relationship that supports the resulting family. Two parents united in the common goal of parenting their children can ensure that their lineage is secure, healthy, and prosperous. When parents are not monogamous, the family structure is less clear, and the children experience a variety of adults with varying degrees of commitment to their future. Research is unequivocal that children raised by cohabiting or single adults do not fare as well as those raised by parents who maintain sexual fidelity.
Good lovemaking depends mainly upon the spouses' attitude and on the quality of their relationship. People cannot easily control the physical aspect of sex, but they can and should work on improving the relational context within which lovemaking takes place. A good context for lovemaking requires trust, security, care, acceptance, honest communication, friendship, playful curiosity, and openness to learn.
Daily | 15% |
Several times a week | 45% |
Once a week | 25% |
Once a month | 8% |
Rarely | 7% |
Seasons of the sex life
The nature of a couple's sex life changes over time; it goes through "seasons" like the seasons of the year‚ÄĒspring, summer, fall, and winter.
- The honeymoon period: During the first few years of marriage, sex is full of excitement. The couple is infatuated with one another and feels so closely bonded that they are not aware of the differences between them.
- When two people fall in love and engage in a sexual relationship, they begin to include their partners in their concepts of themselves. People feel like they acquire new capabilities because they have the support of close partners. "I might not be able to handle parenthood by myself, but with the help of my partner's good parenting skills, I'll be a good parent." This overlap of the concepts of self and partner has been called "self-expansion."
- After the honeymoon is over: People generally experience a high level of self-expansion at the beginning of relationships when they constantly learn new things about themselves and their partners. However, as the relationship matures, the rate of self-expansion slows, and people experience a relative decline in satisfaction. After two to three years of marriage all kinds of differences begin to surface, including different sexual preferences. The spouses are less willing to overlook these differences and must negotiate a shared sex style. Sexual satisfaction is also eroded by the arguments and conflict that inevitably crop up in marriage. Couples who deal poorly with arguments and conflicts build up a history of negative emotional interactions that can negatively affect their sex life. (This is when unmarried cohabiting couples often split up.) On the other hand, those who succeed in dealing with conflict, through mutual support and good communication, develop deep trust and closeness in their relationship. Such relationships result in greater satisfaction and long-lasting happiness that is qualitatively different from the excitement of the early stages of a relationship.
- After the first child is born: The birth of a child brings a marked reduction in the mother's sexual desire. She is typically exhausted from caring for the child and feels her husband's demand for sex to be selfish. The father in turn feels neglected and left out of the intense bonding that is occurring between mother and child. During this phase, which may last as long as there are young children to care for, the couple may need to schedule time for sex.
- Middle and senior years: As the man gets older and can no longer come to arousal autonomously, he may need his wife's help. Meanwhile, the wife may enjoy sex more since the children are gone and menopause has increased her testosterone. These years are marked by increased companionship, and cooperation extends to the sexual act.
Challenges to sexual satisfaction
Among happy couples, good sex is seen as only one element of a good marriage. An unsatisfying sex life, however, is most often the number one complaint in an unhappy marriage. For this reason, it is incumbent upon couples to work on their sex lives to make sex an asset to marital harmony and not a source of marital discord.
Common challenges to sexual satisfaction in marriage include:
- Simmering tensions: These can damage the couple's sense of connection. They may use the bedroom as a battlefield, either to act out their aggression or to withhold favors.
- Unrealistic expectations: The man may think that he is supposed to always be ready and able to perform well, while the woman may have higher expectations for pleasure than her man can deliver. When they fall short, the couple becomes frustrated, thinking that "everyone else" is having better sex, when in fact these unrealistic expectations come largely from media hype in a hypersexed era.
- Boredom: This comes from couples who stick to a fixed routine, with a narrow repertoire of sex and touching, who lack imagination, and are not playful about trying new things to stimulate their partner.
- Pornography: This can cause all sorts of distortions in the viewer's expectations of his or her partner that can damage their sex life. The viewer of pornography may be eager to try all sorts of kinky practices that his partner may not want. Porn stars are always aroused, leading the viewer to have a self-centered view of sex that does not include the effort required to please his partner‚ÄĒwho has her own needs. Masturbating in front of pornography can drain the libido so the viewer is no longer interested in sex with his spouse.
- Fears about performance: Men can be anxious about achieving or maintaining arousal or fear that they may come to climax prematurely. Women may be worried that they are not achieving orgasm. This is exacerbated when there is poor communication between the partners; for instance, when the man thinks he is supposed to know what to do and cannot receive suggestions well because he takes it as a sign of inadequacy. In good sex, both partners are receptive to learning from the other and asking each other's help.
- Inhibitions: These can include shame about the body or guilt about having pleasure, as when one partner dislikes messiness or thinks that she is not supposed to enjoy sex too much. This can sometimes be caused by deep-seated religious beliefs.
- Setting preconditions for sex: One spouse may set unrealistic demands, using sex as a stick to force changes in the other's behavior. It would be better for both spouses to be tolerant of each other and willing to have sex even when there are unresolved issues.
- Different levels of desire: It is quite common for the partners to have different natural levels of sex drive, yet it is the number one complaint among couples seeking marital counseling. Desire naturally ebbs and flows, but at different times for the husband and wife. Reduced desire can be caused by the pressures of parenting and job, by bad health and hormonal changes. The positions can switch, as when a senior man loses interest just as his wife, who is over her menopause, is warming up. Thirty percent of women and 15 percent of men have low libido.
To deal with this problem, the partners need to avoid accusing the other of being a "cold fish" or a "sex maniac," and instead find ways to empathize with each other and support each other. The spouse with lower desire can make efforts to accommodate the other's greater level of passion while looking for ways to raise his or her own libido. He or she may find that starting the motions of sex even though he or she has no desire for it can spark a flame. Many happily married wives say they are not in the mood when they start but they enjoy it later.
The spouse with higher desire should not take his or her spouse's disinterest personally. He or she can learn to be an expert at stimulating his or her spouse to become aroused, and when that does not work, to redirect his or her sexual energy to non-genital sensual pastimes. He or she should learn to be direct in asking for sex, and at the same time he or she should be able to turn off the pressure if his or her partner refuses.
In sum, good sex is possible when each partner has self-mastery and understands their own arousal; when each takes responsibility to keep a positive and loving attitude towards the other; when each helps the other through good communication, a giving attitude, and being at expert in what the spouse likes; and when the couple develops many diverse ways to express affection.
Stages on the way to sexual arousal
Arousal prior to sexual intercourse
Males and females exhibit different patterns of sexual arousal. In a dating situation, typically the man feels a physical attraction towards the woman and wants to touch and kiss. The woman tends to want to connect emotionally rather than physically; she may feel a sentimental longing for her partner and other intense feelings.
At a certain point of greater intimacy, the positions will be exchanged. The woman will now feel the desire for physical touch on top of her emotional feelings while the male will experience the more emotional longing along with the physical. Both will progress to a more overtly sexual desire if they allow their relationship to progress.
Walking and talking together leads to holding hands. A simple kiss progresses to prolonged kissing and petting. Long spells of embracing and kissing will likely bring on strong arousal in the male. Once arousal reaches this point, it is extremely difficult to stop. Touching the private areas of the body will cause strong arousal in the female. Involvement of the sexual organs directly will prompt intense impulses to actually engage in sexual intercourse.
Sexual desire presents a profound challenge of the mind to overcome the body. Males are chiefly tempted by sexual desire to disregard a young woman’s heart and to focus on her body as an object of pleasure. Females may be tempted to use sex as a way to hold on to a male as an object of security. It is said that men tend to regard love as the way to get sex and women tend to use sex as the way to get love.
In any case, increasing the time spent together between two members of the opposite sex will almost always invite the emergence of sexual attraction and sexual feelings. Couples may pass through the stages of sexual arousal quickly or over a long period of time, according to the partners’ decisions. This is why prudent couples do not give themselves the opportunity to be alone together before they are ready for sex. They recognize the signs of stimulation and take a step backwards.
Changes after consummation
The consummation of sexual intercourse irrevocably changes the nature of the relationship. If the couple is married, sexual intercourse is a confirmation and celebration of their mutual love and commitment.
Complete conjugal love includes four elements: compatibility, intimacy, commitment, and passion. Compatibility‚ÄĒshared interests, values, and goals‚ÄĒis the objective foundation for a relationship. Commitment is volitional‚ÄĒthe decision to care, to be faithful, to persevere through hard times. Intimacy is the feeling of closeness and connectedness. Passion at its best supports and celebrates the other three elements, leading to a high degree of satisfaction. When one or more of these elements are lacking, sexual passion may accentuate the sense of incompleteness in the relationship.
For instance, romantic love includes intimacy and passion but no commitment. This is a common experience during youth. The pair is caught up in the experience of physical arousal and feelings of closeness, but lack the readiness or maturity to commit to sharing their lives together. Infatuation has passion only, an entrancing sexual attraction with neither intimacy nor commitment. This is ‚Äúlove at first sight‚ÄĚ and is characterized by preoccupation with the other person, extreme ups and downs of feelings, and an intense longing to be with the object of desire. In both cases, compatibility may be thin or nonexistent.
Commitment is generally signified by marriage or plans to marry. Where there is no commitment, intercourse will usually have negative consequences for the relationship, especially if it occurs early on. Sexual involvement can create a false sense of intimacy that can easily replace real communication and other activities that foster authentic intimacy. It focuses both partners on the physical, which lends itself to mutual or one-sided exploitation. The often subtle escalation of selfishness that physical intimacy brings, increases jealousy and possessiveness. Often one partner can sense something is wrong and want to stop the sexual intimacy or even the relationship, but this is difficult. Sexual relations imply an obligation, and the relationship may begin to feel like a trap. Guilt, fear of pregnancy or disease, shame before one’s conscience or parents, can generate an undercurrent of tension that gnaws at the relationship.
Mastery of sexual desire
Sexual attraction is fueled by a person's hormones and the scent of pheromones emitted by the partner. Once the progression of arousal reaches a certain point it is next to impossible to stop. This is why it is wise for couples who seek to cultivate an authentic relationship to set boundaries limiting physical intimacy to prevent sexual arousal. If these are clear from the outset, both companions can feel freer to enjoy each other’s company. Boundaries keep the relationship honest and help avoid embarrassing situations where one must stop the other’s advances, or possibly one’s own.
Sex outside of marriage
Severing of the link between sex and marriage comes at the expense of traditional norms of marriage and family. Yet, today, some ethicists regard sex is a morally appropriate activity as long as there is some degree of love and affection. They would classify as immoral only sex that is "loveless" or "meaningless."
Outside of marriage, people have sex for many reasons, not all including love:
- For recreation, with no commitment intended;
- Expressing passionate feelings of liking someone, feelings that are of the moment with no commitment intended;
- Expressing love and intimacy and commitment to a relationship, but keeping open the possibility of ending it in the future;
- In exchange for material benefits;
- To produce a child, in an arrangement where one or both parents is not obligated to be its parent.
The Sexual Revolution legitimated promiscuity, which is rampant in today's youth culture of "hook-ups," whereby people get together for sex with no expectation of a romantic relationship. More common is the practice of "serial monogamy": a series of exclusive relationships characterized by intimacy and romance that last for some time. Nevertheless, the term "serial monogamy" is more often more descriptive than prescriptive, in that those involved did not plan to have subsequent relationships while involved in each monogamous partnership.
Consequences of uncommitted sex
Mutual consent and emotional connection legitimate sexual liaisons where the commitment of marriage is absent. Sex in such relationships can seem to function in the same way as sex in marriage: expressing affection, bonding the partners, adding sparkle to their relationship and helping it to feel special. Unfortunately, it can also bring about practically the exact opposite of what sex does in marriage. It can highlight an underlying sense of emotional insecurity, introduce and aggravate conflicts, and increase stress and anxiety. These effects may be subtle at first, but they take their toll. The aftermath to a broken romance or a series of casual "hook-ups" can lead to years of regret:
That sick, used feeling of having given a precious part of myself…to so many and for nothing, still aches. I never imagined I'd pay so dearly and for so long.
Such experiences are all too common. People who choose to practice casual sex are likely to face health issues, experience psychological harm, have more difficulties in subsequent relationships with others, and cause spiritual damage to their eternal soul:
- The chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), including HIV/AIDS, increase with the number of partners one has. Thus, monogamy is a safer option.
- Pregnancy is a potential (often intended) consequence of sexual activity. It is a common outcome even when birth control is used. For a young woman not involved in a committed relationship, the months of pregnancy, childbirth, and rearing of a child can interrupt her education and derail her dreams for a promising career, leaving her with the prospect of years of struggle as a single mother. She may choose to have an abortion, but that carries health risks and can leave psychological scars.
- Casual sex can be a corrupting influence. It is no secret that people will lie and cheat to get sex. In one group of 75 middle-class 19-year-old male students, 65 percent admitted getting a young woman drunk to have sex, more than 40 percent had used verbal intimidation, and 20 percent had used force or threats of violence. In a study of University of California students, a quarter of men who were sexually involved with more than one person at a time said that their partners did not know. When people treat others as sex objects to be exploited, they end up debasing themselves.
- Regret, guilt, and shame are the common aftermath of uncommitted sex. Several surveys suggest that half of sexually experienced students report "tremendous guilt" as part of the aftermath. Some causes for shame include, for a woman: giving herself to an unworthy relationship, violating her parents' trust, a ruined reputation, and loss of self-worth. A man might feel guilt over having discarded a partner and witnessing her heartbreak: "I finally got the girl into bed…but then she started saying she loved me…. When I finally dumped her, I felt pretty low."
- Loss of self-respect is a common outcome of non-marital sex with multiple partners. Whether sex is a matter of making conquests or negotiating favors, using another or being used, it comes at the cost of feeling valued as a person who is uniquely loved. When sexual utility is the criterion for attention, there is always the underlying anxiety that someone else will perform better or look more attractive.
- Sexual addiction is a pattern of behavior when people use sex as an easy escape from the challenges and responsibilities of life. Sex is a powerful distraction away from the important tasks that adolescents need to complete on the way to personal maturity and gaining career skills, and can thus hinder personal growth.
- Sex can damage relationships in several ways. When a friendship becomes sexual it changes, sometimes derailing a warm and caring relationship that could have been a good basis for marriage. On the other hand, a sexual relationship can trap people who otherwise would not care for each other. Sexual expectations can consume all the energy in a relationship, interfering with communication and the development of other shared interests that could sustain the relationship and help it grow.
- Breaking up from a romantic relationship where sex is involved can result in depression and precipitate an emotional crisis. In extreme cases it can lead to self-destructive behavior or to violent rage against the former partner and his or her new lover. A sexual betrayal can create lasting issues of trust that can make it very difficult to enter into or sustain subsequent relationships.
- The memory of former sexual partners can haunt a marriage and make it more difficult for the married couple to cultivate an exclusive bond. The habit of indulging sexual feelings before marriage makes it more difficult to resist the temptation to indulge in an adulterous affair that could wreck the marriage.
Social and cultural aspects
Human sexual behavior is typically influenced, or heavily affected by, norms from the culture. There are both explicit and implicit rules governing sexual expression. Examples of the former are prohibitions of extramarital sexual intercourse or homosexual acts in societies where traditional religion still holds sway.
Traditionally, marriage marked the norm defining what culturally permissible sex is. As this norm was disregarded, it was replaced by the age of consent. Thus, three out of four Americans frown on teenagers having sex before marriage, yet more than half believe it generally beneficial for adults to do it. Parents and teachers now give the message that sex is not for children. However, young people can see the hypocrisy as adults practice a sexual norm that permits unmarried sex as long as the partners were consenting; furthermore, adults, including even advocates of character education, have had great difficulty advocating a stand on sex for children that they were reluctant to practice themselves. Example is the strongest teacher, and children tend to copy their parents' behavior. Living with a single parent is the strongest predictor of teenage promiscuity. Furthermore, for the many children who are the victims of sexual abuse, their first sexual experience is with adults. One study indicates that a majority of pregnant adolescent girls (66 percent) began their sexual activity as the result of being raped or abused by men 27 years old on average. Without the norm of marriage, all the lines become blurred. Indeed, today's pervasive culture of sex outside of marriage construes virginity as deviant behavior.
This raises the issue of media influence. Movies and advertising are saturated with sexuality, shaping the environments in which people live. Sexuality in the media is often expressed in advertising messages, where it is distilled into stereotypes and used to sell products. Critics claim that the media too often glamorizes adolescent sexuality and promiscuous lifestyles, and creates unrealistic expectations about romantic love; and that these stereotypes impact people's love life in negative ways.
Implicit rules governing sexual expression have to do with cultural expectations such as dress, colors, and behaviors. Most traditional cultures frown on public expressions of sexuality, especially in comparison with the liberal West. For example, actor Richard Gere was arrested in India in 2007 for violating obscenity laws after he embraced and kissed an actress in public. Gere apologized and claimed it was "a naive misread of Indian customs." Western woman's dress reveals too much for conservative Islamic society, which has led to a resurgence of the veil, the burqah, and other traditional dress. Cultural conflicts over permissible sexual expression are an important subtext in the current "clash of civilizations."
There is no absolute borderline between the sexual and nonsexual enjoyment of touching, hand-holding, kissing, or embracing. Short of genital intercourse, there is a wide range of other behaviors that may or may not be socially, legally, or ethically considered as sexual relations. For example, in Asia it is common to see men holding hands as an expression of non-sexual friendship, but in America male hand-holding would be interpreted as signifying a homosexual relationship.
Sometimes a society's norms and cultural expectations do not reflect the sexual inclinations of certain individuals. Those who wish to express a dissident sexuality have to form sub-cultures within the main culture where they feel free to express their sexuality with like-minded partners (or in the case of monastics, in celibate groups).
Some people engage in various sexual activities as a business transaction. When this involves having sex with, or performing certain sexual acts for, another person, it is called prostitution. Other aspects of the "adult industry" include pornography on the Internet or films, telephone sex, strip clubs, exotic dancers, and the like. Most societies view these activities as disreputable and attempt to control or prohibit them, at least as regards children. Some of these activities have been shown to have negative effects on marriage, and they can fall under similar moral strictures as other extramarital sex.
Autoeroticism is sexual activity that does not involve another person as partner; it may involve masturbation or use of certain paraphernalia. Wet dreams and waking sexual fantasies are also autoerotic. Masturbation in adolescence is normally harmless, but should it become compulsive it can stunt the development of mature sexuality. In adulthood, these behaviors can promote escapism and avoidance of the challenge inherent in building loving relationships; they can also detract from healthy sexual expression.
Homosexuality is defined as romantic and erotic orientation towards one's own sex. It encompasses thoughts, desires and fantasies, and overt sexual behavior. The causes of homosexuality are subject of considerable controversy, and may be the complex result of many factors. Statistical data of the U.S. population, collected from over 3,000 Americans in 1992 by the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS), indicates that 1.4 percent of females and 2.8 percent of males are active homosexuals. (The Kinsey Reports erroneously reported the percentage of homosexual men at 10 percent due to sampling errors.)
Same-sex attraction can be a powerful force that neither religious teachings nor will-power can defeat. Some who have chosen to pursue a heterosexual lifestyle despite experiencing homosexual desire have succeeded with the support of specialized therapies.
Medical issues in sexual activity
A variety of psychological and physiological circumstances can impair human sexual function. These manifestations can be in the form of libido diminution or performance limitations. Both males and females can suffer from libido reduction, which can have roots in stress, loss of intimacy, distraction, or derive from medical conditions.
Performance limitations may most often affect the male in the form of erectile dysfunction (ED). Biological causes of ED may derive from the pathology of cardiovascular disease, which can reduce penile blood flow along with supply of blood to various parts of the body. Environmental stressors such as prolonged exposure to elevated sound levels or over-illumination can also induce cardiovascular changes especially if exposure is chronic.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexual behavior can be a dangerous disease vector. Sexual behaviors that involve exchange of bodily fluids with another person entail some risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These include HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, genital herpes, and human papilloma virus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer.
Wearing condoms, so-called "safe sex," offers some protection from many STDs. However a condom is ineffective against many common infections, such as genital herpes, human papilloma virus, and gonorrhea, which can be transmitted through contact with the skin around the genitals outside the condom's latex barrier. Moreover, condoms have a 13 to 27 percent failure rate, and many people in the heat of passion neglect to use them. Even among "consistent" adult condom users, the rate of failure to prevent transmission of deadly HIV ranges from 10 to 30 percent, according to five different studies. Asking one's partner whether they have an STD is also not reliable protection, as people with AIDS and other serious STDs may lie to their partners‚ÄĒ25 percent did so according to one California study.
The odds of contracting a sexually transmitted disease increase with the number of sexual partners. Each sexual partner may also have a history of sex with a number of other partners from whom he or she might have contracted an infection, thus multiplying the risk. Therefore, reducing the number of sexual partners, ideally to a single monogamous relationship for life, is the best protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
Dangerous sexual practices
Some sexual fetishes are dangerous. Partners who practice partial asphyxiation or sadomasochistic bondage to heighten sexual pleasure run the risk of injury and even death. Auto-asphyxiation as part of autoerotic sex is even more dangerous, because there is no partner to rescue the person if he or she goes too far.
Abusive sexuality and sex crimes
Nearly all civilized societies consider it a serious crime to force someone to engage in sexual behavior or to engage in sexual behavior with someone who does not consent. This is called sexual assault, and if sexual penetration occurs it is called rape, the most serious kind of sexual assault.
Child sexual abuse, which can be classified as incest when the abuser is a close relative, is the most serious form of rape. It has traumatic effects on the child that can cause a lifetime of psychological and emotional pain. Yet particularly when the abuser is a parent or close relative, the crime is rarely reported.
Precisely what constitutes effective consent is established as a matter of law, which recognizes that children should be protected from the sexual activity appropriate to adults. Hence the law may set a minimum age at which a person can consent to have sex‚ÄĒthe age of consent‚ÄĒand criminalize sex with an underage child, even when he or she is a willing participant, as statutory rape. The aim of age of consent law is to protect children from the emotional damage that results from sexual activity during their immaturity.
Sexual harassment occurs in a workplace or school environment where a person in a position of authority makes sexual advances on a subordinate. The coercive element is the implicit threat that the subordinate might be penalized for not complying with these advances. Sexual harassment can also occur when co-workers mock and deride a new employee with sexual language.
Another form of abuse is the use of sexual language to demean women. While this has been a traditional pastime among men in private settings, in recent years, hip hop artists and radio talk-show hosts have used coarse and demeaning language on the public airwaves, denigrating women as sex objects and denying them their inherent dignity.
Criminal non-consensual and consensual sexual behavior
Other forms of abusive sexuality that are prohibited in many places include indecent and harassing phone calls, and non-consensual exhibitionism (indecent exposure) and voyeurism.
Certain consensual sexual actions or activities that are permitted (or not criminalized) in some societies may be viewed as crimes (often of a serious nature) in other societies. The clearest example of this is homosexuality. Laws prohibiting same-gender sexuality are called sodomy laws. These have varied widely, from providing legal protection to homosexuals to the point of marriage in some countries, through to obtaining the death penalty in others. Other sexual behaviors that are illicit in various jurisdictions include polygamy, adultery, public nudity (streaking), fetishes such as transvestitism, and the manufacture and sale of pornography.
Prostitution and pimping are illicit in most countries. While soliciting and obtaining the services of a prostitute may be consensual, the situation of the women caught up in prostitution is often exploitative and coercive to the point of slavery. Indeed, human trafficking in sex slaves, involving millions of human beings, mainly children, is the major form of slavery today.
- Andrew Wilson, ed., World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts (New York: Paragon House, 1991 ISBN 0892261293), 175.
- Lilian B. Rubin, Erotic Wars: What Ever Happened to the Sexual Revolution? (New York: HarperCollins, 1991 ISBN 0060965649).
- Judith A. Reisman, Soft Porn Plays Hardball: Its Tragic Effects on Women, Children and the Family (Lafayette, LA: Huntington House, 1991 ISBN 0910311927), 69‚Äď81.
- Alfred Charles Kinsey, Wardell B. Pomeroy, and Clyde E. Martin, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (W.B. Saunders, 1948 ISBN 0721654452).
- Herbert Marcuse, Eros and Civilization: A Philosophical Inquiry into Freud (Boston: Beacon Press, 1974 ISBN 0807015555).
- E. O. Laumann, J. H. Gagnon, R. T. Michael, and S. Michaels, The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States, rev. ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago, 2000 ISBN 0226470202); M. W. Wiederman, "Extramarital Sex: Prevalence and Correlates in a National Survey," Journal of Sex Research 34 (1997): 167‚Äď174.
- Samuel S. Janus and Cynthia L. Janus, The Janus Report on Sexual Behavior (Wiley, 1994 ISBN 0471016144).
- A. Aron, C. C. Norman, E. N. Aron, and G. Lewandowski, "Shared participation in self-expanding activities: Positive effects on experienced marital quality," in Understanding Marriage: Developments in the Study of Couple Interaction, ed. Judith A. Feeney and Patricia Noller (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002 ISBN 0521803705), 177‚Äď194.
- Philip Turner, "Sex and the Single Life," First Things 33 (May 1993): 15‚Äď21.
- Thomas Lickona, "The Neglected Heart," American Educator (Summer 1994): 36‚Äď37.
- D. L. Mosher and R.D. Anderson, ‚ÄúMacho Personality, Sexual Aggression, and Reactions to Guided Imagery of Realistic Rape,‚ÄĚ Journal of Research in Personality 20 (1986): 77, in Sexuality and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, by Joe S. McIlhaney (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1990 ISBN 0801062748), 62.
- Joe S. McIlhaney, Sexuality and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1990 ISBN 0801062748), 65.
- Roper Starch Worldwide, Teens Talk about Sex (New York: Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, 1994); Josh McDowell, Myths of Sex Education (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991 ISBN 0898402875), 253.
- Josh McDowell and Dick Day, Why Wait: What You Need to Know about the Teen Sexuality Crisis (Thomas Nelson, 1994 ISBN 0840742827), 268‚Äď269.
- David Whitman, "Was it Good for Us?" U.S. News & World Report, May 19, 1997, 57‚Äď59.
- Debra Boyer and David Fine, "Sexual Abuse as a Factor in Adolescent Childbearing and Child Maltreatment," Family Planning Perspectives 24 (1992): 4-19.
- Gavin Rabinowitz, Gere Apologizes in Kissing Controversy, Associated Press, April 27, 2007.0 Retrieved April 30, 2007.
- Edward Laumann, Robert T. Michael, and Gina Kolata, Sex in America, (Warner Books, 1995, ISBN 0446671835).
- Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, and Stuart Michaels, The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States (Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 1994, ISBN 978-0226470207).
- Richard Cohen, Coming Out Straight: Understanding and Healing Homosexuality, 2nd ed. (Winchester, VA: Oakhill Press, 2006 ISBN 1886939772).
- W. Cates and K. M. Stone, "Family Planning and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Contraceptive Choice," Family Planning Perspectives 24, no. 2 (1992): 75‚Äď84; S. Samuels, "Epidemic among America's Young," Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality 23, no. 12 (1989): 16; Thomas R. Eng and William T. Butler, eds., The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1996 ISBN 0309054958), 2‚Äď5; B. Binns, et al., "Screening for Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection in a Pregnancy Counseling Clinic," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 37: 1144‚Äď1149.
- Mark D. Hayward, et al., "Contraceptive Failure in the United States: Estimates from the 1982 National Survey of Family Growth," Family Planning Perspectives 18, no. 5 (1986); Elsie S. Jones, et al., "Contraceptive Failure Rates Based on the 1988 NSFG," Family Planning Perspectives 24, no. 1 (1992): 12‚Äď15.
- Susan Weller, "A Meta-Analysis of Condom Effectiveness in Reducing Sexually Transmitted HIV," Social Science & Medicine 36, no. 12 (June 1993): 1635‚Äď1644.
- S. D. Cochran and V. M. Mays, ‚ÄúSex, Lies and HIV,‚ÄĚ New England Journal of Medicine 322, no. 11 (1990): 774‚Äď775.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Boteach, Shmuley. Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy. Main Street Books, 2000. ISBN 0385494661
- Cohen, Richard. Coming Out Straight: Understanding and Healing Homosexuality, 2nd ed. Winchester, VA: Oakhill Press, 2006. ISBN 1886939772
- Devine, Tony, Joon Ho Seuk, and Andrew Wilson. Cultivating Heart and Character. Chapel Hill, NC: Character Development Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1892056151
- Eng, Thomas R., and William T. Butler (eds.). The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1996. ISBN 0309054958
- Feeney, Judith A., and Patricia Noller (eds.). Understanding Marriage: Developments in the Study of Couple Interaction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN 0521803705
- Hart, Archibald D. The Sexual Man. Thomas Nelson, 1995. ISBN 0849936845
- Hart, Archibald D., Catherine Hart Weber, and Debra L. Taylor. Secrets of Eve. Thomas Nelson, 2004. ISBN 0849990629
- Janus, Samuel S., and Cynthia L. Janus. The Janus Report on Sexual Behavior. Wiley, 1994. ISBN 0471016144
- Kinsey, Alfred Charles, Wardell B. Pomeroy, and Clyde E. Martin. Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. W.B. Saunders, 1948. ISBN 0721654452
- Laumann, Edward, Robert T. Michael, and Gina Kolata. Sex in America. Warner Books, 1995. ISBN 0446671835
- Laumann, Edward. O., John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, and Stuart Michaels. The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States, rev. ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago, 2000. ISBN 0226470202
- Marcuse, Herbert. Eros and Civilization: A Philosophical Inquiry into Freud. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1974. ISBN 0807015555
- McDowell, Josh. Myths of Sex Education. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1991. ISBN 0898402875
- McDowell, Josh, and Dick Day. Why Wait: What You Need to Know about the Teen Sexuality Crisis. Thomas Nelson, 1994. ISBN 0840742827
- McIlhaney, Joe S. Sexuality and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1990. ISBN 0801062748
- Pittman, Frank. Private Lies: Infidelity and Betrayal of Intimacy. W.W. Norton, 1990. ISBN 0393307077
- Reisman, Judith A. Soft Porn Plays Hardball: Its Tragic Effects on Women, Children and the Family. Lafayette, LA: Huntington House, 1991. ISBN 0910311927
- Rosenau, Douglas E. A Celebration of Sex: A Guide to Enjoying God's Gift of Sexual Intimacy, rev. ed. Thomas Nelson, 2002. ISBN 0785264671
- Rubin, Lilian B. Erotic Wars: What Ever Happened to the Sexual Revolution? New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1991. ISBN 0060965649
- Whitehead, Barbara Dafoe, and Marline Pearson. Making a Love Connection. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- Wilson, Andrew (ed.). World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. New York, NY: Paragon House, 1991. ISBN 0892261293
All links retrieved July 19, 2024.
- The Medical Institute for Sexual Health
- University of California‚ÄďSanta Barbara's SexInfo
- Should We Live Together? What Young Adults Need to Know about Cohabitation before Marriage, by David Popenoe and Barbara Dafoe Whitehead. The National Marriage Project, 1999.
- POPLINE: Information & Knowledge for Optimal Health (INFO) Project, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A searchable database of the world's reproductive health literature.
- Cohabitation, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the United States, by M. D. Bramlett and W. D. Mosher. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics 23, no. 22 (2002).
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At the Texas-Mexico border in the 1910s and 1920s, William Hanson was a witness to, and an active agent of, history. As a Texas Ranger captain and then a top official in the Immigration Service, he helped shape how US policymakers understood the border, its residents, and the movement of goods and people across the international boundary. An associate of powerful politicians and oil company executives, he also used his positions to further his and his patrons’ personal interests, financial and political, often through threats and extralegal methods.
Hanson’s career illustrates the ways in which legal exclusion, white-supremacist violence, and official corruption overlapped and were essential building blocks of a growing state presence along the border in the early twentieth century. In this book, John Weber reveals Hanson’s cynical efforts to use state and federal power to proclaim the border region inherently dangerous and traces the origins of current nativist politics that seek to demonize the border population. In doing so, he provides insight into how a minor political appointee, motivated by his own ambitions, had lasting impacts on how the border was experienced by immigrants and seen by the nation.
Read an abbreviated excerpt from the introduction of the book below, and get your copy of William Hanson and the Texas-Mexico Border; it officially publishes May 14!
William Hanson was the man on the scene, from the capture of Gregorio Cortez, through American efforts to stop the Mexican Revolution, to the early years of the Border Patrol. The macabre, fascinating story of his key role in creating the modern U.S.-Mexico borderlands is meticulously reconstructed and finally given the attention it deserves in this superb book.
—Benjamin Johnson, Loyola University Chicago, author of Revolution in Texas: How a Forgotten Rebellion and Its Bloody Suppression Turned Mexicans into Americans
William Hanson and the Texas-Mexico Border reveals the illusory nature of state-building in the early twentieth century, convincingly using a ‘top-down’ approach to show that full state control of borders has long been a deliberate myth propagated by US officials. John Weber’s argument is highly original and thought-provoking, and this exceptionally well-done book makes important and interesting contributions to borderlands history.
—Timothy Paul Bowman, West Texas A&M University, author of Blood Oranges: Colonialism and Agriculture in the South Texas Borderlands
His name kept appearing, though it took me a while to figure out who he was. As a graduate student piecing together my dissertation on labor relations in South Texas, I kept finding references to William Hanson in my research. He was, for instance, a central figure in the brazen efforts of Texas governor William Hobby to eliminate Mexican American voting in South Texas. Under Captain William Hanson’s command, the Texas Rangers launched a campaign to scare Mexican American voters away from the polls on Election Day in 1918. Hanson was also one of the foremost targets of José Tomás Canales’s campaign to reform the Texas Rangers, which spilled into public view during the Texas legislature’s 1919 investigation of the Ranger force. Canales accused Hanson, tasked with investigating any wrongdoing by Ranger personnel as the inspector of the force, of instead trying to hide Ranger crimes.
Likewise, he appeared frequently in the secondary literature, particularly among Texas Ranger historians, but also in the work of historians covering a variety of topics in the history of the Texas-Mexico border region from 1900 to 1930.1 My cursory understanding of William Hanson from the secondary literature was that he was a purportedly successful landowner, irrigation promoter, and oil company executive in Porfirian Mexico. He operated a spy ring during the early years of the Mexican Revolution to aid Porfirio Díaz and various counterrevolutionary forces, which almost led to his execution by revolutionary forces in 1914 and forced his return to the United States. He was an interesting historical oddity who seemed to show up frequently at important moments and then disappear just as suddenly, but not someone who seemed significant for my study of the history of South Texas. He had a few moments of public notoriety, but he never held elected office and did not even warrant an entry in the massive online Handbook of Texas, so how important could he be?2 William Hanson was a peripheral figure in my dissertation and the book that emerged from it, only warranting a few mentions and one long footnote.3
Subsequent research, however, continued to bring me back to Hanson. In June 2011, while looking into a completely different matter at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, I found a series of documents in State Department files about Hanson’s involvement in a scheme to deport Mexican exiles on trumped-up immigration charges back to officials in Mexico eager to eliminate potential voices of dissent. William Hanson, I learned from these documents, had been appointed to a key position in the Immigration Service and used that position to aid what appeared to be an international kidnapping and murder-for-hire plot. Officials in the State Department and consular officials along the Texas-Mexico border tried to stop Hanson’s activities but were unable to thwart the deportation of two exiles who were subsequently killed by Mexican officials after their rendition across the Rio Grande. I had to leave this story alone while I finished my first book, but it added to my perverse fascination with William Hanson.
In August 2015, my first book out of my hands, I traveled to Saint Louis to find William Hanson’s personnel files at the National Archive’s Federal Personnel Records Center.4 I knew that one of William Hanson’s sons, Mortimer, worked alongside his father as a Border Patrol agent in Laredo, so I requested his personnel file as well. In that personnel file, I found investigation documents produced by top Border Patrol officials that made clear that Laredo Border Patrol personnel operated a smuggling ring with associates south of the Rio Grande between 1923 and 1926, and that William Hanson oversaw these operations. William and Mortimer Hanson had decided to monetize their federal law enforcement positions. I now had evidence of two different criminal schemes operated by William Hanson during his time with the Immigration Service, which lasted less than three years. If he viewed his position with the federal government as an invitation to official corruption, then what had he been doing in previous positions? How did he ascend to important positions in the Texas Rangers and the Immigration Service? Was this just a spectacularly corrupt person, or was there something more important to be found from examining his actions?
As I traced his career back from his time with the Immigration Service, looking particularly to his time with the Texas Rangers and his years as a cheerleader for US intervention in Mexico, a few broad patterns appeared. First, it was difficult to ignore his frequent proximity to moments of historical importance. As a deputy United States marshal in 1901, he was involved in the pursuit of Gregorio Cortez, an event commemorated in border oral tradition and the subject of the landmark book by scholar Américo Paredes, With His Pistol in His Hand.5 Hanson left for Mexico a few years later and played a tangential role in the growth of agribusiness and the oil industry in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, alongside more important and better-known magnates of foreign capital in Porfirian Mexico. He barely managed to escape back to the United States in January 1914 after he was arrested as a counterrevolutionary by officials in Tamaulipas.6 Tempting fate, Hanson returned to Mexico in April 1914, landing at Tampico just days before a violent conflict between US Navy sailors and Mexican civilians in the northern port city led to the US invasion of Veracruz (the first of two invasions of Mexico by the US military during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency).7 He managed to escape again, returning to South Texas. While racial violence in the border region spiraled out of control in 1915, William Hanson’s whereabouts and actions are unclear, but by 1916 he re-emerged into public view as a rabid opponent of the regime of Venustiano Carranza, the eventual victor in the internecine violence of the Mexican Revolution. Hanson eagerly aided any counterrevolutionary group that he thought could hurt the government in Mexico City. Those activities were rewarded with a position as a Texas Ranger captain, where he oversaw and attempted to cover up one of the most ignominious periods in the history of that law enforcement organization. After his time with the Rangers, he again turned his attention to disrupting Mexican governmental affairs by going to work for Senator Albert Bacon Fall and his Investigation of Mexican Affairs, an effort to strip away Mexico’s right to economic sovereignty at the behest of oil companies eager to exploit Mexican resources. After his time working for Fall, including an unsuccessful bid to share in the corruption of the Teapot Dome scandal, Hanson landed at the Immigration Service during a key moment in the effort to build a restrictionist system of immigration and border control.
It was also hard to miss William Hanson’s talent for receiving political patronage. Each step of his career was boosted by powerful political figures, particularly important officials in the Republican Party. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him US marshal for the Southern District of Texas in 1902. Senator (and then Secretary of the Interior) Albert Bacon Fall employed Hanson as a senate investigator and then as an inspector for the Department of the Interior in the late 1910s and early 1920s. The Teapot Dome scandal eliminated Fall as a useful patron, but President Warren G. Harding then appointed Hanson to the Immigration Service despite his lack of civil service qualifications. Hanson’s political connections were not unique, of course, but his reliance on Republicans was notable given the lack of a functioning Republican Party in Texas in the first half of the twentieth century. Hanson never exhibited any tendency toward clear political beliefs, so his decision to side with the Republicans probably had nothing to do with ideology or unease with the actions of the Texas Democratic Party. He owed his ascension in the Texas Rangers in the late 1910s to his connections to the William Hobby wing of the Texas Democratic Party, so he was strikingly bipartisan in his willingness to accept patronage. Instead, Hanson seemed to view the Republican Party as a useful source of patronage during those times when the party held the White House. He owed his career to this spoils system that benefited the small number of Texas Republicans who sacrificed political success on the statewide level for more tangible financial benefits that would flow down from the national party.8
At no point in his life did Hanson hold elected office. He was a high-level bureaucrat in the state and federal governments tasked with enforcing laws and working at the behest of his bosses, and his activities during the 1910s and 1920s deserve the attention of historians. The way in which he conducted himself, his very public efforts to justify his actions as a law enforcement officer, and the people and forces he chose to serve all provide a window into the construction of the modern state in the early twentieth century. The Progressive Era state expanded during these years in an unsteady but unmistakable effort to rationalize and more rigidly order US society. That ordering involved the construction of a more rigid color line across much of the country at the same time that the nation’s doors were closed to much of the world’s population, processes justified through a mix of scientific racism and empty moralizing about the scourge of urban overcrowding and the threat of unwanted immigrants.9 This perceived need for change, narrow and lily-white in its concern for order and boundaries that served only the purposes of economic elites, drove a vast expansion of the bureaucracy of boundary setting and social control. That expansion empowered elites to use the new state machinery to shape US society to their needs, all the while justifying these changes as rational and necessary. William Hanson carved out space within this emerging bureaucracy at both state and federal levels to further the white supremacist aims of his bosses and, as an added bonus, make some illicit money. More than just a tale of corruption (and it is, in part, a tale of astounding corruption), William Hanson’s career provides repeated illustrations of the strained but important effort throughout the first decades of the twentieth century to use the levers of state power to depict the Texas-Mexico borderlands as a place of danger that could be controlled only through state violence.
A study of William Hanson reveals the ways in which state-building, white supremacist violence, and official corruption overlapped, intertwined, and were mutually constitutive of a growing state presence in South Texas in the early decades of the twentieth century. Hanson spent his career loudly proclaiming crisis at the border, depicting the region and the people who passed through it as inherently violent and in need of outside control. These declarations were not born of an unstable frontier or lack of state authority. They were instead reflections of the steady expansion of the Progressive Era state’s capacity for power and violence. William Hanson oversaw and participated in three distinct facets of that development during his time with the Texas Rangers, working for Albert Bacon Fall, and as the district director of the Immigration Service. Many politicians and bureaucrats have sought personal gain and career advancement by pushing to achieve white supremacist aims, but William Hanson’s career illustrates important but distinct ways in which those aims were realized.
It is worth stating at this point that this book is not a biography of William Hanson. The decision to avoid presenting a story of William Hanson’s entire life is largely driven by available records. William Hanson did not leave behind a personal collection of his correspondence or papers. Thousands of pages of his correspondence can be found in multiple archives—the Texas State Archives, multiple branches of the United States National Archives, and the Huntington Library, to name a few—but these archival materials rarely reveal anything beyond his professional responsibilities. His inner life, his family life, and his leisure-time activities almost never appear in these records. Likewise, his time with the US Marshals Service and his time in Mexico produced scant archival material. As a result, the focus of this book is on the thoroughly documented years from William Hanson’s return to Texas from Mexico in 1914 until his resignation from the United States Immigration Service in 1926. Hanson’s career as a political appointee and law enforcement official allows us to examine the development and longevity of state-building and border control practices along the Texas-Mexico border in the first quarter of the twentieth century from the point of view of the border region, rather than from the perspective of Washington.
This book seeks to build on and draws from a number of different historiographies that intersect with the life and career of William Hanson. An assessment of his time with the Texas Rangers complements the revisionist work of scholars such as Benjamin Johnson, Monica Muñoz Martinez, and the Refusing to Forget project.10 Hanson’s tenure with the Rangers shows how corrupt and lawless the state police force was in the late 1910s. He illustrates not only the absurdity of the heroic mythology that long served as the only history of the Rangers but also the mercenary reality of their actions.11 Hanson’s Rangers, while continuing the long tradition of white supremacist violence that shaped and animated the state police force, went along with whatever political faction held the governor’s mansion. Captain Hanson led the effort to eliminate Mexican American voting to win the favor of white farming interests in South Texas, spurning the Rangers’ longtime allies who ran the region’s political machines. An in-depth study of Hanson’s time with the Rangers illuminates the hardening of white supremacist politics in Texas and the manifestly political nature of this mythologized law enforcement agency.
Hanson’s work for Albert Bacon Fall, and their joint efforts to make good on oil company demands that Mexico bow down to US economic interests during the revolutionary and postrevolutionary eras, engages with the rapidly expanding historiography on the imperial standing of the United States in the early twentieth century by scholars such as Greg Grandin, Daniel Immerwahr, and others.12 William Hanson will never be mistaken for Edward Doheny, William Greene, or any of the other wealthy capitalists who sought to use the growing military and economic power of the United States for their own ends. During the most aggressive years of US interventionism in Latin America, however, Hanson and Fall projected a fearsome image of the nation’s imperial power to thwart reformism in Mexico and anywhere else within the growing sphere of US influence. Their goal was, first and foremost, to open up breathing room for US corporations to extend their informal imperial control over the economies and governments of neighboring nations. Hanson did not write policy or benefit directly from the corporate growth into Latin America, but he put himself at the service of those who did during an important moment of imperial expansion.
Hanson’s tumultuous time with the Immigration Service in the 1920s engages with the historiography of the gatekeeper state, border control, and Mexican migration by scholars such as Kelly Lytle Hernández, Mae Ngai, Julian Lim, Deborah Kang, and others.13 During the early years of immigration quotas and at the advent of the Border Patrol, William Hanson played an important part in channeling the growth of the infrastructure of restrictionism. He viewed his job in the Immigration Service as a public relations position, not a law enforcement position. William Hanson used his post to proclaim loudly that the border region was a place of danger, populated by dangerous people, at the same time that he trumpeted his own supposed successes in taming the violent nature of the region and its population. He was not the first to make this argument, and he has certainly not been the last, but Hanson’s efforts should be understood as an important moment in the rhetorical construction of the border region as a place that needs outside control. He announced the supposed problem and then declared a dubious victory, projecting an illusion of control that has been repeated time and again by bureaucrats in the same position.
By focusing on William Hanson’s moves through a series of positions in the state and federal government, this book seeks to tease out the interrelated factors in the development of a legalistic system of white supremacist politics in Texas, the institutionalization of the American empire, and the construction of a system of immigration restriction designed to deny admittance to the majority of the world’s population. It is worth noting again that William Hanson did not create the policies that furthered these state-building practices, but as the law enforcement official or bureaucrat sent out to achieve these goals, his actions and method of performance provide a valuable window into how these processes developed and were elaborated at a key moment in the growth of the modern US government. He is an ideal case study of a Progressive Era bureaucrat, eager to use the slowly expanding state apparatus toward one of the key goals of the amorphous progressive agenda: boundary setting. William Hanson was on the front lines of building state structures that narrowed the availability and applicability of citizenship rights as a central policy goal. His efforts supplemented the rise of de jure segregation and the legitimation of eugenics in shaping government policy. Each phase of his career after returning from Mexico centered on this basic concern. Whether he was helping to eliminate Mexican American voting in Texas, quietly justifying racist mob violence, seeking to foment an invasion of Mexico for the benefit of US investors, or building a deeply corrupt fiefdom in the Immigration Service in South Texas, Hanson always worked toward a public projection of boundary setting and wall building. His actions, and his efforts to justify those actions, help illuminate the making of the white supremacist gatekeeper state as an effort to project an image of securing the nation’s boundaries. The practice of boundary setting involved securing the physical borderline as well as the racial lines that grew more rigid in the first decades of the twentieth century. These efforts laid bare the construction of racialized legal boundaries to define individual status but, just as importantly, revealed the prosaic limits of government authority at the nation’s periphery. From his time with the Texas Rangers through his employment by the Immigration Service, William Hanson reiterated the same basic argument. The Texas-Mexico border region was dangerous and its population could not be trusted, but he would be able to push back against those forces and gain control.14 It was always a myth, but one he continued to repeat until his career ended. It is still a myth, but one that continues to be politically useful for those seeking power through fearmongering.
This book is divided into two parts. Part I, “Fragile Dreams of Empire,” focuses on William Hanson from the time he returned to the United States after his expulsion from Mexico in 1914 until he accepted a position in the United States Immigration Service in 1923. The first chapter, “Revenge, Impunity, and White Supremacy,” traces his activities from the time that he returned to Texas through his tumultuous tenure with the Texas Rangers. In those five years, Hanson focused primarily on events in Mexico. As an arms smuggler turned law enforcement official, he took every opportunity afforded him to push back against the Carrancista forces in Mexico, whom he blamed for his expulsion from the country. He openly colluded with counterrevolutionary Mexican exiles in the United States and actively aided rebel groups within Mexico. Occasionally, however, the directives of his job with the Texas Rangers forced Hanson to focus elsewhere. As a result, he played a central role in the state’s efforts to eliminate Mexican American voting in South Texas through the threat of armed violence from the Texas Rangers. He was also deployed throughout 1918 and 1919 to eliminate evidence of racial violence and lawlessness perpetrated by the Texas Rangers. His leadership position in the Rangers lasted less than two years, but it was a momentous, shameful period in their history, during which the Rangers left no doubt that they were the paramilitary arm of the white supremacist elites eager to solidify their control over Texas. At the center of Hanson’s efforts was a commitment to racialized violence, whether through his campaigns to destabilize Mexico or to disfranchise and brutalize ethnic Mexicans in Texas, as a means of exercising state power in the Texas-Mexico border region.
In 1919, Hanson left the Texas Rangers and went to work for Senator Albert Bacon Fall, who would remain Hanson’s primary employer until 1923. Chapter 2, “In the Employ of Fall,” focuses on Hanson’s activities working for Fall. First as the chief investigator for the Senate Investigation of Mexican Affairs, then as an unofficial foreign emissary for the secretary of the interior and his oil company allies, and finally in an ill-defined position with the Interior Department, Hanson remained out of the public eye even as he worked to sell off the foreign policy of the United States to corporate interests. This series of jobs allowed Hanson to maintain his focus on trying to punish the Carranza regime in Mexico for its supposed crimes against him, while it also put that focus to work benefiting the imperial reach of US oil companies insistent that the postrevolutionary Mexican government not inconvenience their exploitation of Mexican oil deposits. From his position in the shadows, Hanson helped Fall launch a concerted campaign to destabilize the postrevolutionary Mexican state, seeking both revenge and a cut of the spoils sure to flow to the oil companies.
Part II, “Gatekeeping,” focuses on Hanson’s time in the Immigration Service, from 1923 to 1926. This period witnessed the passage of the landmark Immigration Act of 1924, the creation of the Border Patrol, and a drastic expansion of the infrastructure of border control at the nation’s periphery. From his position as district director of immigration in San Antonio, Hanson oversaw these efforts in South Texas, though he remained primarily focused on using his position both to hide and to abet various corrupt schemes. Chapter 3, “Deportation, Inconvenient Exiles, and Postrevolutionary State-Building,” examines one of these schemes. While Hanson had aided many counterrevolutionary exiles in their efforts to re-engage in the Mexican Revolution before he assumed his position in the Immigration Service, by 1924 he began assisting the postrevolutionary Mexican government of Plutarco Elías Calles with the arrest and deportation of exiled political and military leaders in Texas. The reasons for Hanson’s willingness to aid the Calles regime in the elimination of potentially troublesome political enemies are hard to pinpoint, but Hanson frequently sought to justify his illegal and corrupt actions in establishing what was essentially a murder-for-hire operation as the simplest method to achieve border control. Bending deportation law and notions of control into whatever shape suited him, Hanson was eager to do the bidding of the Mexican government just a few years after he had publicly conspired to overthrow it.
Chapter 4, “Immigration Control and the Numbers Game,” looks at another scheme run by William Hanson through the Border Patrol at Laredo. Led by Mortimer Hanson, one of William Hanson’s sons, Laredo Border Patrol personnel ran a smuggling operation through their offices that allowed favored smugglers to bring Mexican laborers and liquor into Texas with the aid of border control officials. In order to receive Border Patrol permission to engage in these activities, however, smugglers had to hand over all European immigrants to immigration officials after they crossed the border. This strange scheme, inaugurated after the passage of immigration quotas that drastically limited the number of legal immigrants who could enter the United States from eastern and southern Europe, represented almost all of the immigrant apprehensions recorded in the Laredo sector from 1923 to 1926. William Hanson was well aware of this operation and used it to produce two desired outcomes. He was able to present arrest numbers that made it appear as though the officers of Hanson’s district were achieving their goal of securing the border, even if those arrests were largely fraudulent, and he was able to pocket money from the smugglers who collected fees from these hopeful migrants. In other words, the Border Patrol under William Hanson operated primarily as a smuggling operation meant to produce the image of a dangerous region brought under control by the aggressive actions of the Immigration Service. It was, in many ways, the logical culmination of William Hanson’s career.
Finally, the epilogue examines the importance and continuity of William Hanson’s mode of bureaucratic action. From his campaigns to achieve complete impunity for Texas Ranger misdeeds as part of an effort to cement a white supremacist form of state governance, through his actions to use the US government to push forward the interests of oil companies, culminating in his efforts to project an image of border control that failed to hide his own brazen corruption, William Hanson operated in the bureaucratic shadows in a way that was illegal, immoral, and, from the perspective of today, unpleasantly familiar. Later corrupt officials certainly never credited William Hanson as their inspiration, in large part because not many people knew who William Hanson was, but his methods of institutional corruption have been repeated time and again in the same institutions that he represented. Law enforcement impunity and efforts to foist the fiction of border control on an uninformed public are not new or rare, but the ways in which Hanson’s actions seem to echo down through the later actions of other bureaucrats and politicians is both illuminating and sobering. Current depictions of a region out of control are part of a long, depressingly consistent history of efforts to justify the militarization of the border that remain stuck in the same childish racism as the scaremongering of Hanson’s era. Current political opportunists screech about “broken borders,” “invasions,” and the need for walls while employing methods of amplification (cable news, the internet) that William Hanson could not have imagined. Yet they make the same lazy arguments that seek only to demonize.
This book examines a decade in the life of a man who never held elected office, does not have a personal archival collection, and is unknown to many historians to create a window into the creation of modern state structures. His career was built on political patronage and a hunger for engaging in official corruption. Those limited talents pushed him into important appointed positions in the state and federal governments, but he ultimately died five years after leaving the Immigration Service a poor, broken man soon forgotten by the institutions and individuals who allowed his rise to power. He was not a political powerbroker whose actions were celebrated or even remembered within the Texas Rangers or the Immigration Service. Hanson was a well-connected apparatchik who simply disappeared once he was no longer useful to his employers. His relative obscurity, however, should not be mistaken for irrelevance. At an important moment of public efforts to project state power over the Texas-Mexico border region, during a period when law enforcement and powerful corporations sought to solidify their control over non-white populations, William Hanson made himself an agent of these forces. The silent legacy of William Hanson is still felt in the current reality of the Texas-Mexico border region. He is long dead, but his spirit— motivated by greed, racism, and a lack of concern for the implications of his actions—continues to haunt the US-Mexico borderlands as successive waves of political opportunists have sought their own benefit in demonizing the people who live in and cross through the region. The inheritors of Hanson’s legacy have loudly proclaimed that the border region is inherently dangerous, their declarations serving as both a diagnosis of the problem and a catalyst for state violence that only ever worsens the problem. This story of a law enforcement officer and bureaucrat in the early twentieth century helps us make sense of the present by allowing us to see some of the roots of current efforts to demonize the border and its residents.
John Weber is an associate professor of history at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and the author of From South Texas to the Nation: The Exploitation of Mexican Labor in the Twentieth Century. | <urn:uuid:541ee65d-fae8-449b-9d3a-461c6ad329ba> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://utpress.utexas.edu/blog/2024/04/29/excerpt-from-william-hanson-and-the-texas-mexico-border/ | 2024-12-03T16:57:03Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066139248.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20241203163346-20241203193346-00512.warc.gz | en | 0.970407 | 6,142 | 2.921875 | 3 |
- Seamless scene transitions enhance storytelling by maintaining engagement, providing emotional flow, and ensuring clarity, ultimately enriching the audience’s experience.
- Effective techniques for transitions include thematic motifs, match cuts, and emotional pacing, which help create a coherent narrative and deepen emotional connections.
- Common mistakes in transitions involve relying too much on dialogue, neglecting emotional continuity, and skipping visual or auditory cues, which can disrupt the narrative flow.
Understanding Scene Transitions
Scene transitions are the bridges that connect one moment in a story to the next, guiding the audience through shifts in time, place, or emotional tone. I often find myself reflecting on how a poorly executed transition can disrupt the flow of a narrative, leaving the audience feeling lost. Have you ever been jolted from a scene only to feel disoriented as the story kicks off anew? It’s jarring, isn’t it?
In my experience, understanding the nuances of these transitions requires a blend of intuition and technical knowledge. For instance, mixing visual cues—like lighting changes or character positioning—with dialogue can create fluid movement between scenes. I remember a short film I worked on where a simple shift in music as the camera panned away created a more profound emotional resonance than words ever could, seamlessly pulling viewers into the next chapter of the story.
The emotional weight of a scene transition can be surprisingly profound. By giving careful thought to how I shift between scenes, I can amplify the intended feelings. I once wrestled with the transition in a dramatic moment where a character receives heartbreaking news. By choosing a slow fade-out and interspersing flashbacks, I saw how it deepened the audience’s connection to the character’s pain. Isn’t it incredible how a thoughtful transition can elevate a story?
Importance of Seamless Transitions
Seamless transitions are vital in storytelling, creating a fluid narrative that keeps the audience engaged. When I think of times I’ve experienced abrupt scene shifts, it’s like an unexpected bump on a smooth road. I remember sitting in a theater, completely engulfed in a story, only to be jarred by a sudden cut that pulled me out of the moment. It made me realize how crucial it is for transitions to be handled with care.
Here are a few reasons why seamless transitions matter:
- Maintaining Engagement: They keep the audience immersed in the story without interruptions.
- Emotional Flow: Thoughtful transitions reflect the emotional tone of the narrative, guiding viewers’ feelings smoothly from one scene to the next.
- Clarity: They provide context, ensuring the audience understands shifts in time, place, or character motivation.
- Pacing: Seamless transitions help control the rhythm of the story, speeding it up or slowing it down as necessary.
- Character Development: They can subtly illustrate character growth or changes in relationships without overt exposition.
I’ve learned firsthand that a gentle fade or a creative cut can do wonders, shaping the overall viewing experience. A well-planned transition doesn’t just connect scenes; it breathes life into the narrative, making every moment feel intentional.
Techniques for Effective Transitions
Effective transitions are an art form that can elevate storytelling significantly. One technique I often employ is the use of thematic motifs, where a repeated visual or auditory element bridges scenes. For instance, during a project where the theme was memory, I used an echoing sound that connected scenes depicting different time periods. As the sound played, audiences could feel the weight of nostalgia and represent the passage of time. Have you noticed how certain sounds stick with you long after the moment has passed?
Another method I find invaluable is the concept of “match cuts.” This technique uses a visual element from the end of one scene that visually resembles the start of the next. I remember editing a scene where a character closed a door, which transitioned cleverly into a new location where another character opened a door. It was like a dance between scenes, creating a sense of continuity that felt almost magical. Don’t you just love those creative moments when editing feels like crafting a puzzle with perfectly fitting pieces?
Creating emotional beats through pacing is another approach I cherish. Sometimes, the heart of a scene can be expressed not just through what is shown, but also through the pauses I incorporate in the transition. For example, in a recent project involving a character facing a difficult choice, I extended the silence between scenes to allow viewers to linger on the character’s internal conflict. It was powerful. I could sense the anticipation from the audience; it’s as if they were holding their breath along with the character.
Technique | Description |
Thematic Motifs | Using repeated elements to connect scenes emotionally or visually, enhancing the narrative’s thematic coherence. |
Match Cuts | Juxtaposing similar visual elements at the end of one scene and the beginning of the next for seamless transitions. |
Emotional Pacing | Incorporating pauses in transitions to amplify emotional weight, allowing the audience to feel the tension or significance of the moment. |
Common Mistakes in Scene Transitions
One common mistake I often encounter in scene transitions is relying too heavily on dialogue to bridge gaps between scenes. There have been times in my own writing when I peppered conversations with transition-heavy exposition, thinking it would clarify the narrative. Instead, it felt clunky and unnatural, disrupting the flow. Have you ever felt like a character was explaining too much? It can pull you out of the immersion and make the scene feel forced.
Another pitfall is neglecting the emotional arc during transitions. I’ve found that overlooking the emotional continuity can lead to jarring shifts that don’t resonate with the audience. For instance, once I transitioned from a tense confrontation to a light-hearted moment without a proper lead-in. The audience was left baffled, almost as if they had stepped into a different film. Isn’t it essential for the emotional journey to feel cohesive?
Lastly, skipping visual or auditory cues can create confusion, making it challenging for viewers to grasp context. In one project where I edited a complex narrative, I missed the opportunity to use sound design effectively. The lack of a connecting audio cue left the audience grappling with disjointed visuals, which ultimately diluted the impact of the scenes. Have you considered how much a sound or image can guide your understanding of a moment? It’s all about crafting a seamless experience.
Examples of Successful Transitions
One of my favorite examples of a successful transition involves a poignant visual metaphor that I used in a film about sacrifice. At one critical moment, a character hands over a cherished item, and as their hands release it, the scene cuts to a distant view of a sunset. The fading light symbolized the end of an era and the weight of the decision made. Watching the audience’s reaction was incredible; you could practically feel the collective sigh as they absorbed the emotional impact. Have you ever experienced a moment in film where the visuals seemed to whisper the story?
Another standout instance was when I employed a clever use of color grading to signal shifts in tone. In a dark thriller, I gradually desaturated the colors during tense scenes, only to burst back into rich, vibrant hues when the action shifted to lighter moments. This technique didn’t just guide the viewer’s emotions; it created a physical response that resonated. I still recall the gasps from some audience members as they realized the change—it was like breathing fresh air after being underwater.
In a documentary I worked on, the use of voice-over narration during transitions proved incredibly effective. As one segment concluded, a reflective voice began to recount a personal story that connected to the next subject. The intimate tone not only set the mood but also pulled the audience into a personal journey. I was surprised by how many people later remarked about the sense of connection they felt. It’s amazing how a single voice can bridge gaps and create empathy, don’t you think?
Tools for Transitioning Scenes
Tools for transitioning scenes can make all the difference in how a narrative flows. One tool I often rely on is the use of sound motifs that help signal shifts in time or location. For example, while editing a short film, I integrated a subtle chime that played at pivotal transition points. Every time that sound rang out, it not only cued the audience to pay attention but also helped them emotionally reset. Have you noticed how certain sounds can evoke feelings even before the visuals change?
Visual transitions, like dissolves or wipes, are additional tools that I find particularly useful. I remember a project where I used a slow dissolve to link a character’s past and present—showing flashbacks softly merging into the current storyline. This created an emotional resonance that allowed the audience to feel the weight of nostalgia without interruption. Isn’t it fascinating how a simple effect can elegantly convey complex emotions?
Another essential tool in my toolbox is the use of pacing through editing. In one intense drama, I made a conscious choice to speed up cuts during a climactic scene, then slow everything down as the aftermath unfolded. This contrast not only maintained tension but also conveyed the emotional fallout that followed the action. How often do you think about the rhythm of a scene and how it influences your experience as a viewer? It’s an art in itself to manipulate pacing effectively, and when done right, it can elevate the entire narrative.
Tips for Consistent Transitions
When it comes to achieving consistent transitions, I’ve found that closely examining the emotional threads of your story can really help. Taking the time to map out how each scene impacts the next can create a seamless flow. For instance, I once worked on a short film where I created a visual motif of rain that linked various scenes. Every time the rain fell, it signaled a change in character emotions, and audiences were drawn into that emotional landscape as if they were walking alongside the characters.
Another tip is to maintain a similar tone across your transitions. I’ve had experiences where shifting excessively between light and heavy tones left viewers feeling disoriented. In a romantic drama I directed, I chose to transition from a joyful moment to a poignant one through a music cue that mirrored the heartbeat of the characters. This connector made the emotional shift feel less jarring and more like a natural progression. Have you ever felt suddenly pulled out of a story because the tone changed too abruptly?
A practical trick I always keep in mind is to use visual cues that hearken back to elements seen earlier in the film. When editing, I sometimes reuse certain colors or objects in succeeding scenes to create continuity. For example, in a coming-of-age story, a character’s favorite scarf appeared in various scenes, subtly tying different moments together. The audience might not consciously notice it, but it reinforces the thread of the narrative in a way that feels cohesive. How do you think those familiar visuals influence a viewer’s experience? | <urn:uuid:6947fe69-3e50-4f54-ae0d-de15d63d787a> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://paradiselostmovie.co.uk/what-works-for-me-in-scene-transitions/ | 2024-12-11T19:31:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066092235.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20241211174540-20241211204540-00241.warc.gz | en | 0.934671 | 2,281 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Living in a poor neighborhood changes everything about your life By Alvin Chang
In 1940, a white developer wanted to build a neighborhood in Detroit.
So he asked the US Federal Housing Administration to back a loan. The FHA, which was created just six years earlier to help middle-class families buy homes, said no because the development was too close to an “inharmonious” racial group.
Meaning black people.
It wasn’t surprising. The housing administration refused to back loans to black people — and even people who lived around black people. FHA said it was too risky.
So the next year, this white developer had an idea: What if he built a 6-foot-tall, half-mile-long wall between the black neighborhood and his planned neighborhood? Is that enough separation to mitigate risk and get his loan?
When he did that, the housing administration backed the loan.
That was 75 years ago, but this type of racist housing policy helped create two divergent Americas
These policies are typically called redlining, in that they drew a bright red line between the areas where black families could and couldn’t get loans.
Redlining poisoned the mortgage market for black people. It meant that black families were systematically forced to live in separate neighborhoods.
We often talk about increasing wealth inequality, with the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer. That’s certainly a problem, but something we should be even more concerned about is what is happening to our neighborhoods. There are now more extremely poor neighborhoods and more extremely rich neighborhoods.
We’re seeing two divergent Americas, one with money, and one without — and the one without is largely black. And the residents of that America are increasingly living in neighborhoods of extreme poverty, where 40 percent of residents live below the poverty line.
These are neighborhoods that struggle with high rates of crime, unemployment, and community health issues.
As it turns out, living in poor neighborhoods isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a huge factor in what our lives — and our children’s lives — turn out to be.
Research shows it’s like breathing in bad air; the more you’re exposed to it, the more it hurts you. And it isn’t just because of the lack of opportunity. It’s that living in these distressed areas changes your brain — and your kids’ brains.
And that’s what this cartoon is about: why it matters that black Americans have continued to be stuck in the poorest neighborhoods, even decades after the civil rights movement.
Let’s go back 50 years: One in three black children grew up in extreme poverty during the civil rights movement
In the midst of the civil rights movement, between 1955 and 1970, about one in three black children grew up in very poor neighborhoods, where more than 30 percent of people were in poverty. Virtually no white children grew up in those very poor areas.
This is from a study by NYU sociologist Patrick Sharkey. Black families were in very difficult neighborhoods during the civil rights movement.
But then Sharkey looked at children who grew up between 1985 and 2000, presumably enough time for the policies from the civil rights movement to take effect.
What he found was astounding.
Among the younger generation, the same number of black children continued to grow up in the very poorest neighborhoods
Nothing had changed.
This study showed there is very little intergenerational mobility in black families. If you’re black and your parents grew up in a poor neighborhood, then you probably ended up in a poor neighborhood too.
But is it really that bad to grow up in a poor neighborhood? Let’s do an experiment.
In the 1990s, and the decades prior, there was a big argument among sociologists about whether growing up in a wealthy or poor neighborhood affected economic and health outcomes. It was unclear whether giving people the opportunity to live in better neighborhoods would actually help them — or if the same problems they had in their poor neighborhood would follow them.
So the federal government funded an experiment called Moving to Opportunity. They took 4,600 families living in very poor neighborhoods and randomly assigned them to one of three groups.
- One group received vouchers that could only be used in wealthier neighborhoods, where fewer than 10 percent of households were in poverty.
- Another received Section 8 vouchers with no restrictions, so they could live wherever.
- The last stayed in public housing.
Initially, it looked like living in a wealthier neighborhood improved health outcomes, but it didn’t seem to help adults and older youth earn more money.
But last year, Harvard researchers Raj Chetty, Nathaniel Hendren, and Lawrence Katz went back to look at how these people fared in the long term. And they found that the people who moved to the nicer neighborhoods were earning significantly more than those who stayed in public housing.
Other research shows growing up in poor neighborhood affects your brain
Researchers have begun to find evidence that growing up in distressing and traumatic environments can physiologically change the brain.
One way Sharkey, the NYU sociologist, looked at this phenomenon was by measuring how neighborhoods affected kids’ IQ. He looked at where the kids grew up and where the kids’ mothers grew up. Here’s are the results:
On top of it all, if a murder occurred in a child’s neighborhood — in an area of about six to 10 square blocks — their score fell by 7 to 8 points.
So a mother can mitigate effects of growing up in a poor neighborhood
But if the mother also grew up in poverty, then she was also exposed to distress and trauma — and children whose mothers grew up in poverty perform below average on the IQ test.
Not only that, but adverse childhood experiences — like abuse, family dysfunction, violence, and neglect — can have long-term health effects, both physical and mental.
Oh, another thing: Living in these poor neighborhoods makes you significantly less happy, less hopeful, and less healthy
In Connecticut, Mark Abraham of DataHaven surveyed 16,000 people last year in one of the most comprehensive state surveys ever. And one of the more personal questions he asked was: How happy were you yesterday?
There was an undeniable pattern. Living in a highly distressed neighborhoods — which are poor, unemployed, and undereducated — often meant you were quite unhappy.
And less healthy:
And people who lived in distressed neighborhoods didn’t think it was a good place to raise kids:
All of these things are correlated, according to Larry Finison of the Connecticut Health Foundation, who has studied neighborhoods indicators for decades.
If the neighborhood has a high crime rate and it’s not safe for your kids to be outside by themselves, then you wouldn’t let your kids play outside. This means they are getting less exercise, which leads to higher obesity rates. And more health problems. And so on.
In other words, living in these poor neighborhoods is really hard and unpleasant. And being poor means it’s hard to leave.
So what happens when we let poor (mostly black) kids grow up in wealthier neighborhoods? One county tried it.
In Montgomery County, Maryland, there is a law that says if you’re building a new subdivision of homes, about one in eight must be moderately priced. And for a third of the moderately priced homes, you have to give first dibs to the public housing authority so it can be turned into low-income housing.
So low-income families, who had an average income of $22,460 in 2007, apply to live in these homes. Rent costs about a quarter of the market value. And apartments are randomly assigned, which means they can end up in low-income neighborhoods or mixed-income neighborhoods.
Researcher Heather Schwartz thought this was a great opportunity to conduct an experiment: How much better do the kids in the mixed-income neighborhoods do, compared with the ones in low-income neighborhoods?
She looked at about 850 students with limited household resources, about 72 percent of whom were black. Because their housing was randomized, they went to school in a wide spectrum of environments. Schwartz analyzed what happened to them over a five- to seven-year span (from 2001 to 2007).
Going to school with wealthier kids helped a lot
What she found was astounding: The students who attended the schools with wealthier schoolmates (where fewer than 20 percent qualified for free or reduced meals) far outperformed those who went to school with poorer students.
The result is that by the end of elementary school, the poor students who attended the wealthier schools made a huge dent in the achievement gap between themselves and the wealthier students. Meanwhile, the achievement gap remained the same for students in poor schools.
In short, being in the wealthier schools helped students reach their full potential.
Moving to a better neighborhood also made kids more likely to earn more money as adults
That’s the conclusion of a landmark study by Chetty and Hendren, the Harvard researchers.
Using tax filings, they analyzed the 5 million children who moved from one county to another between 1996 and 2012. Some moved to poorer places, and others moved to wealthier places.
What they found was that children who moved to a better environment ended up making more money when they grew up. Children who moved to a worse county ended up making less money.
One part of this is that places with higher housing costs generally had better outcomes, so only people with money could move to these areas. But the researchers isolated a neighborhood’s effects by comparing people who were at the same level of income distribution. Below, we’re comparing families at the 25th percentile:
The longer they were exposed to these places, the stronger the effect was
It furthered the idea that exposure to these poor environments was like breathing in polluted air: The longer you did it, the worse it was.
So should we start figuring out policies that urges poor black families to move to suburbs? Not necessarily.
That’s what some advocates want, and this can be made possible with vouchers and where public housing is, and a handful of other strategies. This can be expensive but has shown to work with small samples.
But others believe this would create a void in the cities, and the people left behind would be disenfranchised even further — especially if this causes a greater concentration of poverty. So they believe there need to be policies that invest in communities.
When I brought this up with housing advocate Erin Boggs, who is in favor of giving people the choice to move elsewhere, she said she meets very few people who wouldn’t move if given the opportunity.
Another idea is a universal basic income, which would pull everyone out of poverty. In short, the government would write a check to everyone, kind of like how Social Security writes a check to old people.
Another approach is to focus on poor mothers. Programs in Connecticut, and elsewhere, provide mental health services, basic needs, and job skills to mothers. The hope is to mitigate the effects of having a mother who grew up in a poor neighborhood.
Whatever we try, we’re missing the point if we don’t talk about race
We often talk about poverty as if it’s only about the lack of money. But the most devastating part is that when a lot of people without money are pushed to live in the same neighborhood, it creates an environment that poisons a child’s ability to reach their potential.
It’s more comfortable to talk about inequality and poverty outside the context of race. More than half the country thinks past or present discrimination is not a major factor in why black Americans face problems today. But in the past, it was OK to literally build a wall between a white neighborhood and black neighborhood. That was a lot easier to point at and say: Hey, that’s racist. Now, those concrete symbols of racism are largely gone and what’s left are their systemic effects. Sometimes, that makes it hard to be as outraged.
But in this country, we forced people into toxic neighborhoods based on the color of their skin, and it still plays an overwhelming role in which people gets a real shot to be healthy, happy, and hopeful. In other words, the walls are still there.
Conversations with the following people, among others, helped shape this piece: Mark Abraham, Erin Boggs, Scott Gaul, Larry Finison, Steve Balcanoff, Elizabeth Krause, and Mariana Arcaya.
Originally published at https://www.vox.com on June 6, 2016. | <urn:uuid:1314e334-52ac-4c44-8a5e-236049ff6b81> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://charlicookseystl.medium.com/living-in-a-poor-neighborhood-changes-everything-about-your-life-by-alvin-chang-960ad993fdc6?responsesOpen=true&sortBy=REVERSE_CHRON&source=user_profile---------2---------------------------- | 2024-12-10T12:33:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066058729.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20241210101933-20241210131933-00099.warc.gz | en | 0.979446 | 2,619 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Do Parakeets Eat Mealworms?
Parakeets are small, colorful birds that are popular pets. They are known for their playful personalities and ability to learn tricks. But what do parakeets eat?
Mealworms are a popular food for parakeets. They are a good source of protein and other nutrients, and parakeets seem to enjoy eating them. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when feeding mealworms to your parakeet.
In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of feeding mealworms to parakeets, as well as how to properly feed them. We will also provide some alternative food options for your parakeet.
So, if you’re wondering whether or not parakeets can eat mealworms, read on!
Question | Answer | Source |
Do parakeets eat mealworms? | Yes | The Spruce Pets |
What are the benefits of mealworms for parakeets? | Mealworms are a good source of protein, calcium, and other nutrients | The Spruce Pets |
How much mealworms should I feed my parakeet? | A few mealworms per day, as a treat | The Spruce Pets |
What are mealworms?
Mealworms are the larval stage of the darkling beetle. They are a popular food source for a variety of animals, including parakeets. Mealworms are high in protein and fat, and they are also a good source of vitamins and minerals.
Are mealworms safe for parakeets to eat?
Yes, mealworms are safe for parakeets to eat. They are a nutritious and healthy food that can help to keep your parakeets healthy and active.
How to feed mealworms to parakeets
Mealworms can be fed to parakeets whole or chopped up. You can also offer them as a treat or as part of a regular diet. To feed mealworms to your parakeets, simply place them in a bowl or dish and let your parakeets eat them at their leisure.
Benefits of feeding mealworms to parakeets
There are many benefits to feeding mealworms to parakeets. Here are a few of the benefits:
- Mealworms are a good source of protein. Protein is essential for parakeets’ growth and development.
- Mealworms are a good source of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals are essential for parakeets’ overall health.
- Mealworms can help keep parakeets’ beaks and nails healthy. Mealworms are a natural way to help parakeets keep their beaks and nails trimmed.
Mealworms are a nutritious and healthy food that can provide many benefits for parakeets. They are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and they can help keep parakeets’ beaks and nails healthy. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious treat for your parakeets, mealworms are a great option.
In addition to the benefits listed above, mealworms can also help to improve your parakeets’ immune system and overall health. Mealworms are a good source of antioxidants, which can help to protect your parakeets from harmful toxins. They are also a good source of prebiotics, which can help to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your parakeets’ digestive system.
If you are interested in feeding mealworms to your parakeets, it is important to make sure that you are purchasing them from a reputable source. Mealworms can carry bacteria, so it is important to make sure that they are properly cleaned and stored before feeding them to your parakeets.
You can also find mealworms at some pet stores and online retailers. When purchasing mealworms, look for a product that is labeled as “feeder grade.” This means that the mealworms have been raised specifically for human consumption and are safe for your parakeets to eat.
Mealworms are a great way to add variety to your parakeets’ diet and provide them with the nutrients they need to stay healthy and happy.
Do Parakeets Eat Mealworms?
Mealworms are a type of insect that is often used as food for pet birds. They are a good source of protein and other nutrients, and they are relatively easy to find and store. However, there are some risks associated with feeding mealworms to parakeets, and it is important to weigh the benefits and risks before making a decision.
Benefits of feeding mealworms to parakeets
Mealworms are a good source of protein and other nutrients that are essential for parakeets. They are also a good source of calcium, which is important for strong bones and teeth. In addition, mealworms are a low-fat food, which can help parakeets maintain a healthy weight.
Risks of feeding mealworms to parakeets
There are some risks associated with feeding mealworms to parakeets. First, mealworms can carry parasites. These parasites can be harmful to parakeets, and they can cause a variety of health problems. Second, mealworms can be a choking hazard for parakeets. If a parakeet swallows a mealworm whole, it can block the airway and cause choking. Third, mealworms can cause digestive problems for parakeets. If a parakeet eats too many mealworms, it can develop diarrhea or other digestive problems.
Whether or not to feed mealworms to parakeets is a personal decision
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to feed mealworms to parakeets is a personal one. It is important to weigh the benefits and risks before making a decision. If you decide to feed mealworms to your parakeet, it is important to do so in moderation and to make sure that the mealworms are free of parasites.
Mealworms can be a nutritious and healthy food for parakeets, but there are some risks associated with feeding them. It is important to weigh the benefits and risks before making a decision about whether or not to feed mealworms to your parakeet.
Here are some additional tips for feeding mealworms to parakeets:
- Only feed mealworms that have been raised in a clean environment and that are free of parasites.
- Start by feeding your parakeet a few mealworms at a time and gradually increase the amount as your parakeet gets used to them.
- Make sure that your parakeet has access to fresh water at all times.
- Monitor your parakeet for any signs of illness after feeding them mealworms. If you notice any signs of illness, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Do parakeets eat mealworms?
Yes, parakeets can eat mealworms. Mealworms are a good source of protein and other nutrients for parakeets, and they are a popular treat for many parakeet owners. However, it is important to feed mealworms to parakeets in moderation, as they can be high in fat.
How many mealworms should I feed my parakeet?
The amount of mealworms you feed your parakeet will depend on the size of your parakeet and its activity level. A good rule of thumb is to feed your parakeet no more than a handful of mealworms per day.
Can I feed my parakeet live or dead mealworms?
You can feed your parakeet either live or dead mealworms. However, live mealworms are more nutritious for parakeets, as they contain more protein and other nutrients. If you are feeding your parakeet dead mealworms, it is important to make sure that they are fresh and have not been sitting out for too long.
What other foods can I feed my parakeet?
In addition to mealworms, parakeets can eat a variety of other foods, including fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. A healthy diet for a parakeet should include a variety of foods from all of these food groups.
How often should I feed my parakeet?
Parakeets should be fed two to three times per day. You can feed your parakeet a mixture of mealworms and other foods, or you can feed it each food type separately.
What if my parakeet doesn’t like mealworms?
Not all parakeets like mealworms. If your parakeet doesn’t like mealworms, you can try feeding it other foods, such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, or nuts. You can also try mixing mealworms with other foods to make them more palatable.
parakeets can eat mealworms, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, mealworms should only be given to parakeets as a treat, and they should not make up more than 10% of their diet. Second, mealworms should be cooked before feeding them to parakeets, as raw mealworms can contain harmful bacteria. Third, mealworms should be cut into small pieces before feeding them to parakeets, as whole mealworms can be a choking hazard. By following these guidelines, you can safely feed mealworms to your parakeets and provide them with a healthy and nutritious treat.
I was born and raised in the fabulous state of Maryland but recently decided to pack up my stuff and move to the Midwest city they call Chicago.
I hope to capture all of my life’s adventures of living in the windy city. AKA the food I cook, my journey to the Chicago Marathon, the books I read and the trashy TV shows I watch. I’m a health-nut, book-worm and exercise fiend.
Join me, Kelsey, on this exciting journey as I embrace the challenges and joys of my new life in Chicago. From mastering the art of healthy cooking to hitting the pavement for marathon training, my blog is a window into my world of self-discovery and fun.
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- January 16, 2024Can Animals Eat This?Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary: The Ultimate Guide | <urn:uuid:c18e58d0-888a-40cd-83ce-fa3c36047644> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://readysetfeast.com/do-parakeets-eat-mealworms/ | 2024-12-14T17:23:39Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066125790.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20241214151042-20241214181042-00456.warc.gz | en | 0.966791 | 2,164 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Guppies and bettas are both popular freshwater fish that are often kept as pets. While they have different dietary needs, some fish owners may wonder if it’s possible for guppies to eat betta food. In this article, we will explore this topic and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about feeding your guppies.
First, it’s important to understand the dietary requirements of both guppies and bettas. Guppies are omnivores and require a balanced diet of both plant and animal-based foods. On the other hand, bettas are carnivores and require a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Betta food is typically formulated to meet these specific nutritional needs. While guppies can survive on a betta diet, it’s important to consider whether it will provide them with all the necessary nutrients they require for optimal health.
Table of Contents
Nutritional Requirements of Guppies
As responsible fish owners, we must ensure that our guppies receive a well-balanced diet that meets their nutritional requirements. Feeding them a variety of foods will ensure that they receive all the necessary nutrients to maintain their health and vitality.
Guppies are omnivores, which means they eat both plant and animal matter. In the wild, they feed on algae, small insects, and other aquatic organisms. Therefore, it is important to provide them with a diet that mimics their natural diet.
Protein is an essential nutrient for guppies as it helps them grow and maintain their body tissues. A high-quality fish food that has a protein content of at least 35% is ideal for guppies. Additionally, they require carbohydrates for energy and fiber for digestion.
Guppies also require vitamins and minerals to maintain their health. Vitamin C is necessary for their immune system, while calcium and phosphorus are essential for their bones and teeth. A well-balanced fish food that contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals is recommended.
In summary, guppies require a diet that is high in protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Feeding them a variety of foods, such as flakes, pellets, frozen or live foods, will ensure that they receive all the necessary nutrients for their overall health and well-being.
Comparing Betta Food and Guppy Food
When it comes to feeding our aquatic pets, it’s important to choose the right type of food to ensure they receive the proper nutrition. While both guppies and bettas are small, freshwater fish, their dietary needs can differ. In this section, we will compare betta food and guppy food to help you make an informed decision about what to feed your fish.
The ingredients in fish food are crucial to understanding its nutritional value. Betta food is typically formulated with a higher protein content and contains ingredients such as shrimp, krill, and fish meal. On the other hand, guppy food often includes more plant-based ingredients like algae and spirulina.
It’s important to note that some betta foods may contain ingredients that are not suitable for guppies. For example, betta food may contain more fat and less fiber than guppy food, which could lead to digestive issues for guppies.
Nutritional Content Comparison
When comparing the nutritional content of betta food and guppy food, it’s important to look at the levels of protein, fat, fiber, and other essential nutrients. Betta food typically contains a higher percentage of protein, which is essential for their muscle growth and development. Guppy food, on the other hand, may contain more fiber to support their digestive health.
It’s also important to note that some betta foods may have a higher fat content, which could lead to obesity and other health issues if fed to guppies. Additionally, guppy food may contain more vitamins and minerals that are essential for their growth and overall health.
In conclusion, while betta food and guppy food may appear similar, there are important differences in their ingredients and nutritional content. It’s important to choose a food that is specifically formulated for your fish’s species to ensure they receive the proper nutrition for their health and well-being.
Potential Benefits of Feeding Guppies Betta Food
Feeding guppies betta food can have potential benefits for their health and growth. Betta food is typically high in protein and other essential nutrients that can benefit guppies.
Here are some potential benefits of feeding guppies betta food:
- Improved Growth: Betta food is high in protein, which is essential for the growth and development of guppies. Feeding guppies betta food can help them grow faster and stronger.
- Enhanced Coloration: Betta food often contains color-enhancing ingredients such as astaxanthin and spirulina. These ingredients can help enhance the natural coloration of guppies, making them more vibrant and attractive.
- Increased Energy: Betta food is designed to provide quick and sustained energy to betta fish. Feeding guppies betta food can provide them with the energy they need to swim and play.
- Better Digestion: Betta food is formulated to be easily digestible for betta fish. Feeding guppies betta food can help improve their digestion and reduce the risk of digestive issues.
It is important to note that guppies have different nutritional needs than betta fish. While feeding guppies betta food can have potential benefits, it should not be their sole source of nutrition. It is recommended to offer a variety of high-quality foods to ensure that guppies receive a balanced diet.
Risks and Considerations
Dietary Imbalance Risks
When considering feeding guppies betta food, it is important to note that betta food is formulated specifically for bettas, and may not provide all the necessary nutrients for guppies. Guppies require a balanced diet that includes protein, fats, and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals. Feeding them only betta food may result in a dietary imbalance, which can lead to health problems such as malnutrition and weakened immune systems.
To avoid dietary imbalance, we recommend supplementing betta food with other types of food, such as flakes or pellets specifically formulated for guppies. This will help ensure that your guppies are receiving a balanced diet and all the necessary nutrients they need to thrive.
Another consideration when feeding guppies betta food is the risk of overfeeding. Guppies are small fish and have small stomachs, so it is important to feed them in moderation. Overfeeding can lead to health problems such as bloating, constipation, and swim bladder disease.
To avoid overfeeding, we recommend feeding your guppies small amounts of food several times a day, rather than one large feeding. This will help prevent overconsumption and ensure that your guppies are receiving the appropriate amount of food.
In summary, while guppies can eat betta food, it is important to consider the risks and potential dietary imbalances that may occur. To ensure the health and well-being of your guppies, we recommend supplementing betta food with other types of food and feeding in moderation.
Feeding Guidelines for Guppies
Proper Portion Sizes
When feeding guppies, it is important to provide them with the appropriate portion sizes to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend feeding your guppies an amount of food that they can consume within two to three minutes. Overfeeding can lead to health problems such as constipation, bloating, and swim bladder issues.
It is also important to consider the size of your guppies when determining portion sizes. Larger guppies will require more food than smaller ones. As a guide, we suggest feeding adult guppies a pinch of food, about the size of their eye, twice a day. For younger guppies, feed them a smaller amount once a day.
Guppies are active fish and require regular feeding to maintain their health. We recommend feeding your guppies twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. It is important to establish a feeding routine to ensure that your guppies receive consistent and adequate nutrition.
While it may be tempting to feed your guppies more often, it is important to avoid overfeeding. Overfeeding can lead to health problems and can also cause water quality issues in your aquarium. If you have any concerns about your guppies’ feeding habits or nutrition, consult with a veterinarian or a fish expert.
By following these feeding guidelines, you can provide your guppies with the proper nutrition they need to thrive and maintain their health.
Alternatives to Betta Food for Guppies
If you’re looking for alternative food options for your guppies, there are a few different routes you can take. Here are some options to consider:
Commercial Guppy Food Options
There are many commercially available guppy foods on the market that can be used as an alternative to betta food. These foods are specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of guppies and can come in the form of flakes, pellets, or granules.
When choosing a commercial guppy food, it’s important to look for one that contains a balanced mix of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Some popular brands of guppy food include TetraMin, Hikari, and Omega One.
Live and Frozen Foods
Another option for feeding your guppies is to provide them with live or frozen foods. This can include things like brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms.
Live and frozen foods can be a great source of protein for your guppies and can help to keep them healthy and active. However, it’s important to make sure that any live foods you provide are properly cleaned and free of any harmful bacteria or parasites.
In addition to protein, guppies also need a source of fiber in their diet. One way to provide this is to offer them vegetable supplements like spirulina or algae wafers.
These supplements can be a great way to add variety to your guppy’s diet and can help to keep their digestive system healthy. Just be sure to only offer them in small amounts, as too much can lead to digestive issues.
Overall, there are many different options available when it comes to feeding your guppies. By choosing a balanced mix of commercial foods, live or frozen foods, and vegetable supplements, you can help to ensure that your guppies are getting all of the nutrients they need to thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe for guppies to consume food formulated for bettas?
Yes, it is generally safe for guppies to consume food formulated for bettas. However, it is important to note that betta food is formulated to meet the specific dietary needs of bettas, which may differ from those of guppies.
What are the dietary differences between guppy and betta fish?
Guppies are omnivores and require a balanced diet that includes both plant and animal matter. Bettas are carnivores and require a diet that is high in protein. Therefore, guppy food typically contains more plant-based ingredients, while betta food contains more animal-based ingredients.
Can guppies thrive on a diet of tropical flakes intended for bettas?
While guppies can survive on a diet of tropical flakes intended for bettas, it may not be the most optimal diet for their health and wellbeing. Guppies require a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients, and tropical flakes may not provide all the necessary nutrients in the right proportions.
Are there any nutritional risks in feeding guppies with goldfish flakes?
Yes, feeding guppies with goldfish flakes can be nutritionally risky. Goldfish flakes are formulated for the specific dietary needs of goldfish, which differ from those of guppies. Goldfish flakes may not provide all the necessary nutrients that guppies require, and may even contain harmful ingredients.
What natural foods do guppies eat in their wild habitat?
In their natural habitat, guppies feed on a variety of small insects, crustaceans, and algae. They also consume plant matter, such as fallen fruits and vegetables. Providing a varied diet that mimics their natural diet can help promote their health and wellbeing.
How does the nutritional content of betta food affect guppy health?
While betta food can provide some of the necessary nutrients for guppies, it may not provide all the necessary nutrients in the right proportions. Feeding guppies a diet that is high in protein and low in plant-based ingredients may lead to health issues such as constipation and bloating. It is important to provide guppies with a balanced diet that meets their specific dietary needs. | <urn:uuid:e4807fa1-9256-42bb-b5d5-082af1485250> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.efindanything.com/can-guppies-eat-betta-food/ | 2024-12-07T15:53:09Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066429485.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20241207132902-20241207162902-00049.warc.gz | en | 0.955802 | 2,711 | 2.984375 | 3 |
About this sample
About this sample
Words: 2337 |
12 min read
Published: Aug 6, 2021
Words: 2337|Pages: 5|12 min read
Bend it Like Beckham follows the story of Jess Bhamra as she is growing up while trying to find a balance between the society she lives and her family. The movie is set in the United Kingdom during the early 21st century when David Beckham was a futball star. Jess Bhamra has always idolized David Beckham, which shows with all the posters draped along her bedroom walls. Growing up, Jess always found time to play futball with the neighborhood boys in the park. One day while playing in the park, she caught the eye of Jules, a woman's club soccer player. In just a few short minutes Jules was astonished by Jess' skills and convinced her to come to try out for her team. Jess showed up to tryouts without any proper equipment, but easily impressed the team and earned her spot on the team lying to the coach that her parents approved of her joining. Jess continues lying to her parents and hiding away to practices and games quickly racking up the points for her team.
Jess and Jules quickly put their team on a winning streak earning them a spot in the finals where a scout from the United States will be there watching both girls to give them a chance at playing overseas. Jess is at crossroads since the final falls on the same day as her older sister’s wedding. During the reception, Jess’ father approaches telling her to go play in the second half of the game so that he has the opportunity to see both his girls happy the same day. Jess takes her opportunity and led by Jules and Jess the team takes the championship, which is not the biggest prize of the night. Jess and Jules both are given the opportunity to play in the United States which through some convincing Jess’ family eventually agrees to. Jess ends the movie with not only her futball dreams at arm’s reach, but she also has the man of her dreams.
Bend it Like Beckham mixes two cultures, the Indian culture with the British culture. Jess Bhamra and her family are a part of the Indian culture living in the United Kingdom. At the beginning of the movie, it seems as if the two cultures are strictly divided and interreact only through necessity and in a reserved manner. When Jules invites Jess to try out for the team, they deny this social normality, and the cultures soon unite. Together both girls are just seeking a way to make their dreams come true in a place where it is not encouraged for women to play futball. Although the British culture is not in support of women playing futball, but in the Indian culture that this idea is practically taboo. As Jess continues to fight her cultural restrictions and family bonds, she builds relationships with her teammates who enthusiastically learn about Jess' culture. As the team fights for wins and fights for acceptance, these cultural differences seem to dissipate among the players.
To this day it is still a mystery to humanity as to how the world works, yet individuals have their own opinions and ideas. These assumptions are common among a culture developing unification through the deep structure of culture. The deep structure of culture is developed through family, state, and religious institutions. The family institution develops the structured gender roles of a culture. While growing up, girls and boys have distinct differences that are developed through culture and family rather than biological differences (Samovar, Porter, McDaniel, & Roy, 2017). From the earliest aspects of one’s life, they are given a specific path and expectation concerned with their biological gender that they are to follow to be molded into what is viewed as a successful individual in any given culture.
Gender roles are prominent in Indian culture and are a building block of culture from birth. In traditional India, women were viewed as severely inferior to the males although this idea is changing as globalization has begun to influence society in India. This idea in India comes thanks to the history of isolation in India paired with strict and consistent religious beliefs. India is a collectivist culture evident from their old proverb, “An individual could no more be separated from the family than a finger from the hand” (Samovar et al., 2017). In the role of Indian women, the group that their focuses and sacrifices are being made for is their families. Women are held to and expected to maintain their wifely duties while maintaining the happiness of her husband and without the ownership of any assets in her own name. Housework, caring for the children, preparing all meals, and performing all religious duties are just some of the long list of these wifely duties. While women are conducting these duties, it is expected for them to ignore their self-interests and needs in order to focus on the fulfillment of the home.
Just as the deep structure of culture aims to explain how the world works, the world view of a culture is used to develop assumptions made about the nature of reality. When life seems to be confusing and unexplainable, our worldview is what is used to explain these random events that seem illogical in our lives and society. A worldview can be portrayed through three different spectrums; atheism, spirituality, and religion. Religion is what provides the worldview for over a billion people across the world. Religion helps bring this view by intertwining itself with perception and behavior. Hinduism is an example of the many religions practiced and celebrated around the world. Hinduism is unique compared to the other common religions due to its collaborative attributes meaning they do not believe in one supreme being, but rather a variety and plethora of beings for various aspects of life. Additionally, Hinduism does not align itself with a single founder, a single religious symbol, a single doctrine, or even a single holy center, rather Hinduism is celebrated using a variety of each of these religious spectrums.
In Hinduism, there is no separation between religion and culture instead these two factors align to become a follower’s complete way of life. Hinduism proposes the ideas of dharma, karma, and reincarnation that are important and structure the ways in which Hindus conduct themselves. Dharma is a set of laws that apprise Hindus on how they are to conduct themselves, explains their duties to other people, and how they should act during the four stages on life (Samovar et al., 2017). Karma states that for every action, there is an effect as a result. In Hinduism, this means that if you live by your dharma you will find success and have positive reactions. Reincarnation is tied to Karma since rebirth occurs in order for one to right their previous wrongs in order to reach salvation. Additionally, the caste system is under Hindu law and rendered secure by the claim of divine relation by the previous Aryan priests. Hinduism is a religion, but it presents a complete way of life as well as structure its follower’s worldview.
Throughout the entire Bend it Like Beckham movie, you can see a distinction between the opportunities for men and women in both the Indian and British cultures. The families are the leading controls throughout the film distinguishing these roles and differences. In both the British and the Indian culture, it becomes clear that there are negative emotions about women playing sports. In British culture, this is predominantly portrayed through the character of Jules' mother. It is quite evident that Jules' mother is resistant to her daughter playing futball thinking that this makes her masculine and ruins her chance at finding an adequate husband. Jules' mother is not the only person in the British society with these feelings as Jules admits that she had to fight Joe to form a team for the women to play for since they have no sports options in society. Woman playing sports in Britain is not viewed as an opportunity or to learn lessons and excel, rather it is viewed as something that only lesbians would take part in making these girls outcasts and degenerates in society.
Jules' mother's hatred for her daughter playing futball does not even compare to the level of revulsion that the Bhamra for their daughter to be playing futball. Playing sports strictly opposes the role a woman is structured to play in the Indian culture. Jess’ mother presents a long list of ways in which Jess has broken Indian culture and how she is bringing dishonor to her family. Indian women are not supposed to pursue their pleasures in life, rather their role is strictly to support and make sacrifices for the family. As an Indian woman, the movie shows that the main goal is to become an eligible wife at an early age, as Mrs. Bhamra likes to remind Jess about seeing as how she was married to Mr. Bhamra before she reached Jess’ age. At one point during the film, Mrs. Bhamra becomes distressed exclaiming to her daughter that no family will want a daughter-in-law who can kick a soccer ball yet does not even know how to make traditional Indian recipes. Both mothers in Bend it Like Beckham are repulsed at their daughters for playing futball and taking part in what is viewed as a masculine activity.
From the moment we are born, we are raised by our family’s worldview and this is what we know and believe about reality. The worldview that your family follows is the only worldview and understanding of the world that you have as a child until you grow up and encounter other cultures out in the world. Jess Bhamra has this experience when she is asked to join the soccer team and has the opportunity to spend regular time with girls who are not following the strict and traditional Hinduism religion that Jess has grown up under. A major factor in Jess' religion that is misunderstood is the concept of marriage. From the caste system, it is expected that Indian women will marry someone of equal or higher status resulting in arranged marriages becoming a common practice (Maistry, 2009). Pinky, Jess’ sister is getting married during the film and it is what Jess refers to as a love match meaning that is not arranged. This idea perplexes Jess’ teammates and she has to explain to them that although her husband is not arranged, at this time, she is still expected to marry an Indian boy because that is her culture’s expectations. The idea of status through marriage also comes up when Mrs. Bhamra is concerned about Jess bring able to find a suitable husband. These expectations come as a result of the caste system and the superiority idea enclosed in her religion, which is what causes Mrs. Bhamra to be so focused on sculpting her perfect daughter in order to make her eligible to move her family to a higher caste.
During the movie, Mrs. Bhamra wails out wondering what she did in her past life to have such deceiving daughters. This follows her finding out about Jess' futball playing and lies about having a job and Pinky's help at keeping her secret undercover. This simple sentence exposes her belief in reincarnation as she prays to Babaji for forgiveness. Babaji is one of the many saints and Gods in the Hinduism religion and his image is framed among the Bhamra family’s mantel exposing his importance from first entering their home. Babaji also is seen as an important religious figure as the Bhamra family prays in front of him before opening Jess’ exam scores upon receiving them in the mail. Pinky’s wedding is very important to the Bhamra family since this is moving her into the second stage, the householder’s stage of life. Overall, Mrs. Bhamra has the best interest at heart for her daughters and wants them to reach salvation by living their lives according to their dharma.
Bend it Like Beckham shows the unity of two cultures joining together for a common goal, both Jess and Jules pursuing their passion and working towards the opportunity to play futball in America. Jess Bhamra has always lived in the United Kingdom, but her family and neighborhood still adhere to the traditional Indian culture. Throughout the film, there is evidence to show both the gender roles and worldview of the Indian culture shown through the Bhamra family. As Jess Bhamra continues to rebel against her family the more you learn about the expectations placed upon her by her family and culture. Due to her religion, Jess Bhamra is expected to live her life in order to please the Gods and reach salvation.
Although, intercultural communication is evident throughout the entire movie. Without further research into the movie and about the Indian culture it was confusing as to why Jess was forbidden to play futball and why her parents were so persistent about her getting married specifically to an Indian man. After further investigating one is able to connect these actions back to Indian culture and connect the film to Intercultural Communications.
Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled | <urn:uuid:f4a1db72-a33e-437f-96c6-795bebd8657a> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/analysis-of-bend-it-like-beckham-in-terms-of-intercultural-communication/ | 2024-12-06T13:27:14Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066408205.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20241206124424-20241206154424-00208.warc.gz | en | 0.97858 | 2,635 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum have for a long time been recognized for their intrinsic value. Gain knowledge of the investment possibilities associated with these commodities.The user’s text is already academic in its nature.
Through time the two metals have been widely acknowledged as precious metals with significant worth and were considered to be highly valued by various ancient societies. In contemporary times, precious metals continue to be a significant part of the portfolios of savvy investors. But, it is crucial to choose which precious metal is most appropriate for investment requirements. Moreover, it is crucial to understand the primary reasons for their high level of volatility.
There are many ways of buying precious metals like gold, silver as well as platinum, and there are many compelling reasons to participate in this endeavor. For those who are embarking on their journey in the realm of metals that are precious, this article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of their function and the avenues available to invest in them.
Diversification of a portfolio’s investment options can be accomplished by the inclusion of precious metals. They serve as a potential safeguard against rising inflation.
While gold is often regarded as a popular investment in the industry of precious metals but its appeal extends far beyond the realm of investors.
Platinum, silver, and palladium are considered valuable assets that can be part of a diversifying range of metals that are precious. Each one of these commodities comes with distinct risks and opportunities.
There are other causes which contribute to the volatility of these assets that cause volatility, such as fluctuations in demand and supply as well as geopolitical considerations.
In addition, investors have the opportunity to gain exposure to metal assets through various ways, such as participation in the derivatives market, investment in metal exchange-traded mutual funds (ETFs) and mutual funds, and the purchase of stocks from mining companies.
Precious metals is the category of metallic elements with an economic value that is high due to their rarity, beauty, and many industrial applications.
Precious metals are scarce that contributes to their elevated value in the marketplace, and is affected by a variety of factors. These elements include their limited availability, their use in industrial operations, their use as a protection against currency inflation, and historic significance as a method to preserve the value. Gold, platinum and silver are typically regarded as the most favored precious metals among investors.
Precious metals are scarce sources that have historically held significant value among investors.
In the past, these assets served as the basis for currency However, today they are primarily used for diversification of portfolios of investments and preventing the effect of inflation.
Investors and traders have the possibility of acquiring precious metals through a variety of ways like owning coins or bullion, registering in derivatives markets, or investing in exchange-traded money (ETFs).
There is a wide variety of precious metals, besides the well-known silver, gold and platinum. However, investing in these entities comes with inherent risks stemming from their insufficient practical application and their inability to market.
The demand for precious metals investment has increased significantly due to its use in modern technological applications.
The comprehension of precious metals
In the past, precious metals have had significant significance in the global economy due to their use in the physical production of currencies, or in their backing, such as when implementing the gold standard. Today the majority of investors purchase precious metals with the primary goal of using them for an instrument for financial transactions.
Precious metals are frequently searched for as an investment strategy to increase portfolio diversification as well as serve as a solid store of value. This is particularly evident in their use as a protection against inflation as well as in times of financial instability. Precious metals may also have significant importance for commercial customers particularly in the context of items such as electronics or jewelry.
Three main factors that have an influence on the market demand for metals of precious nature which include fears over the stability of the financial system concerns about inflation and the fear of danger that comes with war or other geopolitical conflicts.
Gold is usually considered to be the most valuable precious metal of choice for economic reasons while silver comes in as second most sought-after. In industrial processes, there are some important metals that are desired. For instance, iridium is utilized in the manufacture of speciality alloys, and palladium has its use in the field of chemical and electronic processes.
Precious metals are a class of metallic elements that possess the highest degree of scarcity and have a significant economic worth. They are valuable because of their inaccessibility, practical use for industrial purposes, and also their potential as investment assets, thus making them as reliable sources of wealth. Prominent examples of precious metals include platinum, silver, gold and palladium.
Presented below is a comprehensive guide to the complexities of engaging in investment activities that involve precious metals. This discussion will include an analysis of the characteristics of investment in precious metals and a discussion of their benefits along with drawbacks and risks. In addition, a list of notable investment options will be presented for your consideration.
The chemical element Gold has a name that has an atomic symbol Au and atomic code 79. It is a
Gold is widely recognized as the preeminent and highly desirable precious metal for investments. The metal has distinctive features that include exceptional durability which is evident through its resistance against corrosion, in addition to its notable malleability, as well as its high electrical and thermal conductivity. Although it is utilized in the electronics and dental industries however, its primary application is in the manufacture of jewelry, or as a method for exchange. Since its inception, it has served as a means of preserving wealth. As a consequence from this fact, investors actively look for it during times of political or economic unstable times, considering it a way to protect themselves against the rising rate of inflation.
There are a variety of investment strategies for gold. Bars, physical gold coins, and jewelry are available for purchase. Investors can acquire gold stocks, which refer to shares of businesses that are involved in gold mining, streaming or royalties. They can also invest in gold-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and gold-focused funds. Every investment strategy for gold comes with advantages and disadvantages. There are some restrictions with the ownership of physical gold including the financial burden of keeping and protecting it, as well being the potential of gold stocks and gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) performing worse compared to the actual price of gold. One of the benefits of gold itself is the ability to closely follow the price changes that the metal is known for. In addition, gold stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are able to outperform other investment options.
It is one of the chemical elements that has its symbol Ag and the atomic number 47. It is a
The second-highest used precious metal. Copper is a vital metallic element that has significance in many industries, such as electronics manufacturing, electrical engineering photography, and electronics manufacturing. Silver is a key component in solar panels because of its excellent electrical properties. Silver is often employed as a method of keeping value, and is utilized in the manufacture of various products, such as jewelry cutlery, coins, and bars.
Its double nature, serving as both an industrial metal and as a storage of value, often can result in higher price volatility when compared to gold. Volatility may have a substantial impact on the value of silver-based stocks. When there is a significant increase in demand for industrial or investor goods There are occasions where silver prices’ performance surpasses that of gold.
The idea of investing with precious metals can be an area of interest to a lot of people seeking to diversify their investment portfolios. This article is designed to offer information on making investments in the precious metals, focusing on the key aspects to consider and strategies for maximising potential returns.
There are many investment strategies for engaging in the market for precious metals. There are two basic categorizations in which they can be classified.
Physical precious metals include an array of tangible assets, such as coins, bars and jewellery that are bought with the intent of being used to serve as investments. The value of assets in the form of physical precious metals is likely to grow in tandem with the rise in prices of these extraordinary metals.
Investors can get investment options that are made up of precious metals. These include investments in firms which are engaged in the mining, streaming, or royalties of precious metals, as well as Exchange-traded fund (ETFs) or mutual funds specifically targeting precious metals. In addition, futures contracts could be considered a one of these investment options. Their value investments will likely to rise when the value of the base precious metal rises.
FideliTrade Incorporated is an autonomous organization headquartered in Delaware that provides a wide range of services related to the sale and service of valuable metals. The services offered include a variety of activities including buying selling, delivering, protecting and providing custody services to both people and businesses. This entity does not have any affiliation to Fidelity Investments. FideliTrade does not have the status of a broker-dealer or an investment advisor, and it lacks registration in either the Securities and Exchange Commission or FINRA.
The processing on purchase or sale request for precious metals made by customers of Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC (FBS) is handled by National Financial Services LLC (NFS) which is a subsidiary of FBS. NFS facilitates the processing of requests for precious metals by using FideliTrade, an entity that is independent that is not associated to either FBS nor NFS.
The coins or bullion held within the custodial facility of FideliTrade are safeguarded by insurance coverage that protects against theft or loss. The assets of Fidelity customers at FideliTrade are maintained in a separate account that bears an account under the Fidelity label. FideliTrade has a substantial amount of “all-risk” insurance coverage amounting to $1 billion at Lloyds of London. This policy is designed for bullion that is stored inside high-security vaults. In addition, FideliTrade also maintains an additional $300 million of the form of a contingent vault insurance. The coins and investments in bullion stored in FBS accounts do not fall under the protection of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) or the insurance coverage provided by FBS or NFS which exceeds SIPC coverage. To get comprehensive information, kindly reach out to an agent from Fidelity.
The past results may not necessarily be a good indicator of future outcomes.
The gold business is subject to notable influences from a variety of global monetary and political events, which include but are not limited to currency devaluations or revaluations, central bank actions, economic and social circumstances in different countries, trade imbalances and trade or currency limitations between nations.
The profitability of enterprises working within the gold or other precious metals sector is usually susceptible to major changes because of the fluctuation in price of gold as well as other precious metals.
The price of gold on a global scale may be directly influenced by changes in the political or economic environment, especially in countries that are known for their gold production, such as South Africa and the former Soviet Union.
The volatility of the precious metals market makes it inadvisable for the majority of investors to engage in direct investments in actual precious metals.
Coins and investments in bullion held in FBS accounts do not come into the protections of Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) or the insurance coverage provided to FBS or NFS that goes beyond SIPC coverage.
The Internal Revenue Code section(s) 408(m) and Publication 590 contain a wealth of information regarding the restrictions specific to each on investments within Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) as well as other retirement accounts.
If the customer chooses delivery and picks up the delivery, they are subject to additional costs for delivery and relevant taxes.
Fidelity imposes a storage fee on a quarterly basis, that amount to 0.125% of the entire value or a minimum of $3.75 or higher, whichever is the greater. The prebilling of storage costs can be calculated based on the prevailing market value of precious metals at the date of billing. For more details about alternatives to investing and the costs that are associated with any particular deal, it’s advisable to contact Fidelity at 800-544-6666. The minimum amount charged for any transaction involving valuable metals will be $44. The minimum amount for the acquisition of the precious metals required is $2,500 with a lower amount of $1,000 that is applicable to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The acquisition of precious metals is not allowed in a Fidelity Retirement Plan (Keogh), and their inclusion is restricted to certain investments within a Fidelity Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
The act of directly purchasing precious metals and other collectibles inside the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or other retirement plan account may result in a tax-deductible payout from such account, unless it is specifically exempted by the regulations set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It is assumed that valuable metals or other items of collection are stored inside an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) or other financial instrument that is underlying. In this case it is highly recommended to assess the viability of this investment as retirement accounts by carefully studying the ETF prospectus or other relevant paperwork, and/or consulting with an expert in taxation. Certain exchange-traded fund (ETF) sponsors have an announcement in the prospectus to indicate that they have received an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) opinion. This decision confirms that acquisition of the ETF inside an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or retirement plan account doesn’t count as the acquisition of a collectable item. Thus, a transaction like this cannot be considered a taxable distribution.
The information contained in this document does not provide personalized financial advice for particular circumstances. The document has been created without considering the particular financial situation and objectives of the people who will be using it. The strategies and/or investments described in this document may not be suitable for every investor. Morgan Stanley advises investors to perform independent evaluations of particular assets and processes, while also encouraging investors to seek advice from a Financial Advisor. The appropriateness of an strategy or investment depends upon the unique situation and objectives of the investor.
The past performance of an organization cannot serve as a reliable predictor of its future results.
The material provided does not intend to elicit any invitation to purchase or sell securities or other financial instruments or other financial instruments, nor is it intended to encourage participation in any trading strategies.
Due to their limited area of operation, sector investments show a higher degree of volatility than investments that use a diversified strategy that encompasses a wide range of industries and sectors.
The concept of diversification is not a guarantee. not guarantee making money or acting as an insurance against financial loss in a marketplace that is in decline.
The physical precious metals can be classified as unregulated commodities. Metals that are precious are considered to be as risky investments with the potential for both short-term and long-term price volatility. The value of precious metals investments is susceptible to fluctuation as well as the potential for both appreciation and depreciation contingent on the market conditions. If there is a sale inside an area that is experiencing a decline, it’s possible that the amount received might be less than the initial investment. Contrary to equity and bonds, precious metals do not yield dividends or interest. Therefore, it could be argued that precious metals might not be a good choice for investors with an immediate need for financial returns. As commodities, precious metals require secure storage and could result in an additional cost that the purchaser. The Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) provides specific protections for the securities and funds that clients hold in the case of a brokerage company’s bankruptcy, financial difficulties or the non-reported loss of client assets. The coverage provided by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) is not able to include precious metals and other commodities.
Engaging in investments in commodities comes with significant risks. The market volatility of commodities can be attributed to various factors, such as shifts in supply and demand dynamics, government policies and initiatives, domestic as well as international economic and political events as well as acts of terrorism, fluctuations in interest and exchange rates, the trading of commodities, and the associated contract, sudden outbreaks of illnesses, weather conditions, technological advances, and the inherent price volatility of commodities. Furthermore, the commodities markets may experience transitory disturbances or disruptions triggered by various causes, including lack of liquidity, involvement of speculators, as well as government intervention.
Investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) carries risks similar to investing in a diverse portfolio of equity securities traded through an exchange on the securities market. The risk is market volatility resulting from economic and political factors, changes in interest rates and a perception of trends in the price of stocks. It is important to note that the value of ETF investments can be subject to volatility, causing the investment return and principle value to vary. Therefore, investors could realize a higher or lower value for their ETF shares after selling them which could result in a deviation from the cost at which they purchased them. | <urn:uuid:98a05fc7-059c-4faa-b748-97442737d567> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.makeesha.com/precoius-matals-ira/sell-scrap-precious-metals-in-jersey-city-new-jersey/ | 2024-12-04T02:26:19Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066142519.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20241204014854-20241204044854-00497.warc.gz | en | 0.95967 | 3,521 | 2.609375 | 3 |
CAPACITIVE PRESSURE SENSOR
A capacitive sensor device is fabricated on a dielectric substrate. The capacitive sensor device may include multiple diaphragms that differ in shape and/or size. Each of the diaphragms is paired to upper and lower electrodes in included upper and lower electrode layers, respectively. The lower layer is on the dielectric substrate and couples the lower electrodes to a lower electrode terminal in parallel. The upper electrode layer is separated from the lower electrode layer by a gap defined by a removed sacrificial layer and couples the upper electrodes in parallel to an upper electrode terminal.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application entitled “SAPPHIRE SUBSTRATE ARRAYED DIAPHRAGM CAPACITIVE PRESSURE SENSOR,” filed Feb. 10, 2021, bearing Attorney Docket No. 4020-060P01, and assigned Ser. No. 63/147,939, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND Technical FieldThe disclosure relates generally to capacitive pressure sensors.
Brief Description of Related TechnologyIn recent years, the use of microsensors has grown exponentially. As an example, microsensors for pressure contributed to 1.5 billion in device sales in 2017. In industries varying from healthcare to automotive applications, microsensors have contributed to the creation of a new generation of devices that are both compact and multifunctional. Further improvements to the performance of such microsensors will continue to drive sales.
In various contexts, pressure sensors fabricated as microsensor devices may exhibit performance effects due to parasitic capacitance. In some cases, proximity to substrates and other layers may cause parasitic capacitance effects in electrode layer within a device. In some cases, the magnitude of such parasitic capacitance may be affected by the particular material of the substrates or layers contributing to the effects. For example, semiconductor and/or conductor materials may, in some cases, have a larger contribution than similarly proximate and sized dielectric substrates and/or layers. A parasitic effect may include an effect occurring during operation of a device that detracts from the desired performance effects of the device.
Because proximity may play a role in parasitic capacitance, the conventional wisdom has dictated that a large separation between upper and lower pressure sensor electrodes is necessary both to decrease electrode proximity to other layers and to ensure that electrode-to-electrode capacitance effects overcome parasitic effects. In addition, conventional wisdom has dictated semiconductor substrate fabrication processes be used for compact pressure sensor design because of the complexity of the pressure sensor design (e.g., gaps between layers and robustness under deformation). Thus, conventional wisdom has dictated that pressure sensors that are both compact and complex may not be achieved using dielectric substrates.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, the techniques and architectures discussed herein may provide for a compact pressure sensor using a dielectric substrate. For example, to proceed contrary to the conventional wisdom using dielectric substrate fabrication processes, the techniques and architectures implement a sacrificial layer that is patterned on top of the device and then (at least partially) removed to achieve separation between the upper and lower electrodes.
Although the techniques and architectures proceed in a manner contrary to the conventional wisdom to allow for compact pressure sensor design, the techniques and architectures discussed herein may be used to create devices that are not necessarily compact. For example, the active area of the devices discussed herein may be scaled by adjusting the number and relative positions of the diaphragms in the devices. Further, non-pressure sensing devices may be fabricated. For example, the techniques and architectures discussed herein may be used to measure position deflection, detect vibration, track device wear, and/or other position/force/impact sensing applications.
The techniques and architectures discussed herein rely on fundamental laws and abstract ideas. In some fashion, all devices, all methods, and all systems rely on such laws and ideas. However, the techniques and architectures discussed herein are not directed to such laws or ideas. Rather, the techniques and architectures use engineering and particularized design to create a practical sensing device. For example, the techniques and architectures use materials formed into particular structures which are not abstract even if the design of such is influenced by fundamental laws and abstract ideas. Nothing herein prevents others from using the very same fundamental laws and the very same abstract ideas to produce other structures.
The dielectric substrate 110 may include materials such as sapphire and/or other dielectric materials. The dielectric substrate 110 may have thickness that isolates the electric field of the electrodes from conductive and/or semiconductive materials that may be present in or bonded to the dielectric substrate. For example, in some cases, the dielectric substrate 110 may include a layer that is at least 50 microns thick.
The dielectric substrate may be homogeneous. For example, the dielectric substrate 110 may be substantially formed from a single material that is the same throughout the expanse of the substrate. In some cases, the dielectric substrate 110 may be homogenous with regard to dielectric constant. For example, the dielectric substrate may be formed from multiple materials with similar electrical responses, but that differ in other material properties. For example, a system may utilize a first material as a base layer to provide material robustness while a second material may be selected for compatibility with surface fabrication techniques.
The lower electrode layer 120 may include a lower electrode 124 paired to a diaphragm 154 in the diaphragm layer 150. The various lower electrodes 124 paired to the diaphragms 154 may be connected in parallel to the lower electrode terminal 122. The lower electrode layer may be formed using a conductive material such as aluminum or other conductive material. The electrode layers may include sub-layers that may provide anticorrosion, robustness, additional conductivity, or other properties. For example, the electrode layers may include an aluminum center layer with titanium outer layers to reduce corrosion, increase layer robustness, adjust temperature stability, reduce inter-layer interaction, or otherwise control the material properties of the electrode layers.
In the device the lower electrodes may be denoted “lower” in reference to the “upper” electrodes based on their relative distances from the dielectric substrate. Accordingly, lower layers may be closer to the substrate and upper layers may be relatively farther from the substrate. The lower electrode terminal and upper electrode terminal may not necessarily have any particular spatial relationship or patterning order relative to one another. The lower and upper electrode terminals are designated “lower” and “upper” to indicate the electrode layer to which the terminal is coupled.
The electrode terminals may be formed from conductive materials such as nickel and/or gold. To mitigate parasitic capacitive effects (e.g., beyond the mitigation provided via the use of a dielectric substrate), the electrode layers and/or the electrode terminals may be in physical contact with the substrate surface.
In various implementations, an insulating layer such as a nitride layer (not shown) may be deposited on top of the lower electrode layer 120. In some cases, such insulating layers may ensure that the upper and lower electrodes layers do not come into contact during operation of the sensor (e.g., to prevent metal-to-metal bonding, direct electrical contact, and/or other undesired operation).
The sacrificial layer gap 130 may be above the lower electrode layer 120. The sacrificial layer gap 130 may be formed through the application of a sacrificial layer 135 that may be at least partially removed. In some cases, the sacrificial layer 135 may be fully removed. The sacrificial layer 135 may be formed using a material compatible with surface micromachining, such that it may be removed via application of an etchant. For example, an α-Si layer may be patterned as the sacrificial layer 135. A suitable etchant for such an example sacrificial layer may include gas phase XeF2. In the case of an α-Si layer, full removal may mitigate parasitic capacitive effects that the α-Si may cause with regard to the electrode layers.
The height of the sacrificial layer gap 130 may be selected by controlling the thickness of the sacrificial layer 135. In some cases, a sacrificial layer gap 130 less than 1 micron may be used. For example, a sacrificial layer gap 130 of about 500 nm (e.g., between 350 nm-750 nm) may be used.
In some implementations, the sidewalls of the sacrificial layer 135 may be tapered (e.g., other than vertical). The tapers 137 may be linear (e.g., straight tapers), curved tapers, stepwise, and/or other taper types. The use of tapered sidewalls 137 may allow for sloped sidewalls 157 of various layers above the sacrificial layer gap 130. Sloped sidewalls 157 may allow for more uniform thickness where the layers of above the sacrificial layer gap 130 shift upward at the start of the sacrificial layer gap 130. Rather than having a vertical sidewall form in the upper layers at the edge of the sacrificial layer gap 130, more gently sloped sidewall 157 forms. The sloped sidewall 157 may avoid thinning and stress points in the diaphragm layer 150 that may degrade when the diaphragms 154 are deformed.
The upper electrode layer 140 may be above the sacrificial layer gap 130 and applied before the removal of the sacrificial layer 135. As discussed above, the upper electrode layer may be formed from conductive materials and may, in some cases, include multiple sub-layers. The upper electrode layer may include electrodes that may be (e.g., along with a corresponding lower electrode) paired to the diaphragms in the diaphragm layer 150. The upper electrodes may be coupled in parallel to the upper electrode terminal 142.
The upper electrodes 144 may include one or more deformation apertures 146 and/or one or more etchant apertures 148. The deformation apertures 146 (which may also serve as etchant apertures) may be structured to mitigate temperature (e.g., expansion/contraction) effects that may cause an upper electrode 144 to deform the paired diaphragm. Accordingly, the deformation apertures 146 may allow the sensor to have consistent performance over an increased temperature range (e.g., relative to that achievable without such apertures).
The upper electrodes 144 may also include one or more etchant apertures 148. The etchant apertures 148 may include openings in the electrode to allow for the passage of a fluid etchant (e.g., such as gas-phase or liquid-phase etchants). The etchant apertures 148 may be paired to etchant apertures 158 in the diaphragms 154 to allow permeation through both layers. In various implementations, the etchant apertures 148 may also serve as deformation apertures, as discussed above.
The diaphragm layer 150 may be above the upper electrode layer 140. The diaphragm layer 150 may include diaphragms 154 paired with upper and lower electrodes. In various implementations, the diaphragm layer 150 may include various sub-layers (not shown). For example, the diaphragm layer may include a silicon nitride layer between two silicon oxide layers. In some cases, the sub-layers of the diaphragm layer may be applied with different patterns. For example, the diaphragms may be patterned into a first sub-layer while one or more reinforcement sub-layers may be patterned without the diaphragms to increase the robustness of the diaphragm layer as a whole (e.g., by reducing stress points around the edges of the diaphragms 154).
The diaphragms 154 may be heterogenous (e.g., the diaphragms may have different physical characteristics such as shape and size). The use of heterogenous diaphragms with corresponding electrodes connected in parallel allow the response (e.g. the capacitive response) of the device to be controlled via the selection of the diaphragms. For example, diaphragms with two different radii may be selected to increase the range of pressures over which the device 100 will have a response (e.g., since the different diaphragms may reach their respective maximum deformations at different pressure levels). In an example, the heterogenous diaphragms may be selected such that the response of the device is enhanced (e.g., over a particular range of pressures).
In some cases, a heterogenous diaphragm array (which may include up to tens or hundreds of diaphragms or more) may be used to control response of the device. In some cases, a full-scale response (e.g., the response of the device from a defined start pressure to a response saturation point) may be controlled by forming an array. In some cases, as discussed in the example implementations below, full-scale responses (measured from ambient pressure to the point at which the incremental response of the device falls below 30% of the incremental response at ambient pressure) may be up to 10-100 megapascals or more.
The cap-seal layer 160 may include one or more layers to cap and/or seal the device to ensure isolation and protection of the device components. Various configurations of layers may be used. For example, a layer with multiple sub-layers may be applied as a cap and/or sealing layer. As an illustrative example, a three-sub-layer nitride-oxide-nitride layer may be applied over the diaphragm layer to provide capping. In turn, an Al2O3 layer may be applied over the three-sub-layer nitride-oxide-nitride layer to hermetically seal the device. Other capping/sealing combinations may be used.
The sacrificial layer 135 may be applied above the lower electrode layer 120 (204). For an α-Si layer, PECVD may be used. As discussed above, the sacrificial layer 135 may be formed with tapered sidewalls.
The upper electrode layer 140 may be applied above the sacrificial layer 135 (206). As discussed above, the upper electrode layer 140 may be formed with various apertures to mitigate temperature-effects and to facilitate (full/partial) removal of the sacrificial layer 135. The upper electro layer may be formed using sputter coating. However, various evaporative, spray, and/or thermal coating techniques may be used.
The diaphragm layer 150 may be applied above the upper electrode layer 140 (208). In some cases, the diaphragm layer 150 may include multiple sub-layers of different materials, such as a silicon nitride layer between two silicon dioxide layers. Further, the diaphragms 154 may be patterned into a subset of the sub-layer and not the other reinforcement sub-layers. Accordingly, the diaphragm layer 150 may be applied using multiple methods, for example PECVD with and without diaphragm patterning. The diaphragm layer may include apertures (such as etchant slits) to facilitate removal of the sacrificial layer 135.
As discussed above, in some cases, the diaphragm layer 150 may be applied above a tapered sidewall of the sacrificial layer 135. The resultant upward shifts in the diaphragm layer 150 then occurs as an upward sloped sidewall rather than forming a vertical sidewall.
The sacrificial layer 135 may be removed (210). In various implementations, the sacrificial layer 135 may be removed via surface micromachining (e.g., etching). In some cases, gas-phase XeF2 may be used as the etchant. However, various other fluid-phase etchants suitable for the material of the sacrificial layer 135 may be used.
After removal of the sacrificial layer 135, the cap-seal layer 160 (or layers) may be applied above the diaphragm layer 150 (212). The cap-seal layer 160 may be applied via various techniques depending on the materials used for the one or more layers. As an illustrative example, a three-sub-layer nitride-oxide-nitride layer may be applied using PECVD, while an Al2O3 layer may be applied via atomic layer deposition (ALD) to provide hermetic sealing.
The cap-seal layer 160 may be selectively removed from the locations for the upper 142 and lower 122 electrode terminals and the electrode terminals may be applied (214). In some cases, the electrode terminals may be applied to ensure contact between the electrode layers 120, 140 and the substrate 110 surface.
Example ImplementationsVarious illustrative example implementations are included below. The illustrative example implementations are illustrative of the general architectures and techniques described above and, in the claims, below. Descriptions of particular features are included to clarify the relationship of that particular feature to the specific illustrative scenario/scenarios in which the particular feature is discussed. A relationship to the same degree may not necessarily be present in other implementations. Nevertheless, the various features described with respect to the individual example implementations may be readily and optionally integrated with other implementations with or without various other features present in the respective example implementation.
The susceptibility of capacitance-to-digital converters to large parasitic and offset capacitances may be a factor in practical importance. As the offset and parasitic capacitances of the sensor chip increase, the pressure resolution available from the readout circuit generally decreases. One approach to reduce parasitic capacitance is to use substrates made of insulating materials rather than silicon.
The sensor structure includes a deformable dielectric diaphragm with an embedded metal electrode above a vacuum sealed cavity (e.g., a sacrificial gap layer) and lower electrode on a sapphire substrate. The lower electrode maybe insulated with dielectric to allow contact mode operation of the pressure sensors.
As illustrative example considerations, sensor chip designs may be based on the parametric analysis of physical diaphragm features including inter-electrode chamber gap, g, diaphragm thickness, h, and diaphragm diameter. Boundary conditions were established by noting both physical fabrication limitations and sensor performance. For example, a smaller nominal gap, g, risks diaphragm-substrate contact during sealing in the fabrication (immobilizing the diaphragm) and large values require longer PECVD deposition. Diaphragms with smaller diameters are less sensitive to pressure, whereas those with a larger diameter sacrifice full-scale range and fabrication yield. The diaphragm thickness can present a compromise, as thickness <4.0 μm cannot seal the etchant access slits and thickness >5.0 μm reduces yield with excessive stress, leading to diaphragm rupture. Material properties, namely Young's Modulus (E), sensor cavity RMS surface roughness (Rq), and electrode insulation's relative permittivity (εr), were determined from fitted values of previous fabrication generations, permitting a high level of confidence in the analysis. The final set of process parameters identified for the presented process were an inter-electrode chamber gap, g, of 500 nm and diaphragm thickness, h, of 4.5 μm which permitted the design of sensor chips with the desired full-scale ranges by altering only the lithographically defined diameter.
As working examples, four sensor chips having arrayed diaphragms were developed, with two intended for high full-scale range. One pair of sensor chip designs used arrays with a single diaphragm diameter (i.e., homogenous arrays) to increase capacitance response. The large full-scale range is addressed by a working example sensor chip, which is an array of 18 diaphragms of ø100 μm diameter, occupying 0.35 mm2 active area, and providing a full-scale range of 30 MPa. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a lower boundary of the full-scale range is identified as the ambient atmospheric pressure, whereas an upper boundary is identified as the applied pressure at which the incremental response falls below 30% of the incremental response at the lower boundary (and the response capacitive response curve is flatter). The other homogeneous array, another working example sensor chip, includes 8 diaphragms of ø200 μm diameter, occupying 0.40 mm2 active area; this has a full-scale range of only 0.07 MPa. In homogeneous arrays, all diaphragms are of the same size, and consequently transition from non-contact mode to contact mode at the same pressure.
As further working examples, a second pair of arrayed sensor chips were developed, which incorporated multiple diaphragm diameters (i.e., heterogeneous arrays) to not only increase the capacitance response, but also modify it over a wider operating range by judiciously distributing across the full-scale range the pressure values at which diaphragms transition from non-contact mode to contact mode. A heterogeneous array for large full-scale range was manifest in yet another working example sensor chip, which incorporated 85 diaphragms with diameters ranging from ø56 μm-92 μm (ten each of ø56 μm, ø57 μm, ø59 μm, ø61 μm, ø63 μm, and ø65 μm, and five each of ø68 μm, ø72 μm, ø78 μm, ø82 μm, and ø92 μm). For a smaller full-scale range, a heterogeneous sensor chip, designated as 32C110-150, incorporated 32 diaphragms ranging from ø110 μm-ø150 μm (twelve ø110 μm, eight ø120 μm, and four each of ø130 μm, ø140 μm, and ø150 μm). A sensor chip, designated as C100, incorporating a single ø100 μm diameter diaphragm, was also fabricated, benchmarking the array.
In the illustrative working examples, the fabrication process used six lithographic masks and only low-temperature steps; i.e., furnaces were not used. Referring to
The working example process flow incorporated a number of considerations that increased diaphragm yield, reduced offset and parasitic capacitances, and provided extraordinarily high output capacitance response in a small footprint. Example considerations may include:
(i) In the Ti/Al/Ti stack that includes the lower electrode, the top Ti layer prevents direct contact between the α-Si and aluminum in order to prevent aluminum spiking. Although the highest process temperature (400° C.) is below the Si/AI eutectic temperature (577° C.), the impure composition and non-crystalline nature of α-Si may allow inter-diffusion at lower temperatures than the eutectic temperature; the Ti layer serves as a barrier.
(ii) The patterning of the sacrificial α-Si may utilize a custom isotropic etch to provide a sloping sidewall profile, improving step coverage for both the upper electrode lead and the dielectric diaphragm. During sensor operation at high pressure, stress on the element diaphragm may be minimized to prevent diaphragm failure.
(iii) The upper electrode may be defined using sputtering and liftoff in order to provide step coverage over the α-Si. Deeply undercut lift-off resist may be used for the upper electrode liftoff to prevent metal deposition on photoresist sidewalls, which could lead to the formation of “ears” that compromise diaphragm integrity subsequently.
(iv) During the diaphragm sealing step, which may be performed in a PECVD tool at 400° C., diaphragm dielectric layers return to neutral stress while the upper electrode becomes highly compressive, which can cause the thin unsealed diaphragm to bow into the substrate unless the electrode is designed appropriately. In particular, if the electrode extends to the outer perimeter of the diaphragm, the resulting moment on the diaphragm causes bowing that is permanently captured when PECVD is deposited in the diaphragm sealing step.
(v) The fifth lithography step is used to pattern the first dielectric layer of the diaphragm, composed of a stack of dielectric PECVD of silicon oxide, nitride, and oxide (200/1900/200 nm, ONO) plasma etched to create access slits (0.8×5.0 μm2) for the later use of XeF2 etchant gas. A low stress (80 MPa) silicon nitride recipe may be employed to reduce shear force; excessive stress can cause layer delamination or diaphragm rupture after release. Compressive silicon dioxide has traditionally been used to compensate highly tensile stress nitride ; in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, however, silicon oxide is utilized as a protective cover for the nitride during the XeF2 etch, which would otherwise slowly attack the silicon rich low-stress nitride, weakening the structural integrity of the diaphragm. The grid of access slits with a 25 μm pitch permits rapid removal of the sacrificial α-Si, limiting the XeF2 exposure of unprotected nitride through the sidewalls of the slits.
(vi) Silicon nitride, oxide, and nitride (800/300/800 nm, NON) followed by ALD Al2O3 (100 nm) seal the diaphragm cavity at vacuum, may provide long term (>1 year) hermetic sealing.
In various implementations, the diaphragm may be protected from temperature-induced deformation between the temperatures of 15° C. (room temperature, diaphragm release) and 400° C. (deposition temperature during diaphragm sealing). If the unsealed diaphragm deforms downwards into the substrate, it may become immobilized during sealing and cease to operate as a pressure sensing element. If the unsealed diaphragm deforms upwards out of plane, it may crack and rupture. These issues may be avoided through various temperature-effect-mitigation designs of the upper electrode layout. The layout of the upper electrode may be designed such that its impact on the deformation of the unsealed diaphragm is minimized. The effective stress of the unsealed diaphragm should remain tensile to prevent diaphragm deformation both immediately after release and during diaphragm sealing. The change in diaphragm stress is due primarily to the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients of the dielectric diaphragm and embedded upper electrode.
Over a full-scale range of 30 MPa, one example sensor chip provided typical ΔCFSR of ≈18,500 fF, C0 of ≈3,900 fF, and sensitivity of 109 ppm/kPa. Because of the non-linear nature of the capacitive responses, the incremental sensitivity of the sensor chips varied with applied pressure. The sensitivity value of 109 ppm/kPa that is noted here (and also in Table 1) appears at the high end of the full-scale range, where the incremental sensitivity is at its lowest within value.
Table 1 show details for five working example chips.
A second example sensor chip provided a typical ΔCFSR of ≈32,300 fF over 70 MPa full-scale range, C0 of ≈7,100 fF, and sensitivity of 65.5 ppm/kPa. The working example chips show that an array of differently sized or shaped diaphragms provides a response with a larger full-scale range relative to a uniform array.
A benefit of using dielectric substrates is the extreme reduction in parasitic capacitance. A large number of diaphragms (e.g., 85 in a working fabricated example chip) can be arrayed on a single sensor chip with 0.75 mm2 active area, and a full-scale range that is 70 MPa.
Detailed investigation of the fabrication process was conducted to identify equipment limitations and design issues limiting performance and yield. Parametric analysis was used to identify device dimensions that would fall within the fabrication limitations. A pair of working example sensor chips were fabricated with homogeneous diaphragm arrays and another pair of working example chip were fabricated with heterogeneous arrays. One working sensor chip included 18 parallel ø100 μm diaphragms and provided 30 MPa full-scale range, C0 of 3,900 fF, and 17.3 bit resolution; another sensor chip included 8 parallel ø200 μm diaphragms and provided 70 kPa full-scale range, C0 of 10,500 fF, and 14.1 bit resolution. Yet another sensor chip included 85 parallel diaphragms between ø56 μm and ø92 μm in diameter, demonstrated a full-scale range of 70 MPa, C0 of 7,100 fF, and 17.3 bit resolution; another sensor chip included 32 diaphragms between ø110 μm and ø150 μm in diameter, demonstrated a full-scale range of 110 kPa, C0 of 11,500 fF, and 16.0 bit resolution. An additional sensor chip with a single ø100 μm diaphragm served as a reference. The temperature coefficient of offset was measured for sensor chip C100 and found to be 420 ppm ° C.−1 up to 200° C.
The architectures and techniques discussed herein may be used in various applications in which high resolution pressure sensing within a small form factor is need.
At least a portion of housing 22 is transmissive to electromagnetic radiation which allows energy from the light source 26 to be received by the ELM circuit 24. For example, the housing 22 may include an optically transmissive lid 23 that functions as an optical window for wireless charging by the light source 26. This also allows signaling light from the circuit 24 to be transmitted out of the housing for purposes of readout by the optical receiver 28. The ELM circuit 24 includes an energy source such as a battery 30, a transducer such as a solar cell 32 that converts the received light from light source 26 into electricity, a triggered charging circuit 38 connected to the solar cell 32 for recharging the battery 30, an electronic control unit (“ECU”) 36 that is used for recording and readout of environmental data, and one or more electromagnetic radiation transmitters such as LEDs 40 that provide detectable light out of the housing 22 for receipt by the optical receiver 28.
ECU 36 may include a processor and/or non-volatile memory (not shown) as well as one or more sensors 42, each of which detects an environmental condition (e.g., temperature, pressure, etc.) and provides a sensor signal indicative of a value of the environmental condition. The ECU 36 may operate under control of a control program stored in memory (e.g., in the non-volatile memory) to receive and store in the non-volatile memory data representative of the sensor signals. A temperature sensor 42 is utilized and is included within a low power microcontroller unit (“MCU”) that comprises the ECU 36. In other embodiments, the processor can be a component that is separate from any of the sensors or even separate from the memory used for storing the control program and sensor data.
The ELM 50 may include additional sensors including one or more pressure sensors 74 and an inertial measurement unit (“IMU”) 76 that can provide three-axis acceleration and magnetic compass directionality data. It may also include an RFID tag 78 that permits each such ELM to be uniquely identified from other ELMs in use via an external RFID reader 80. The one or more pressure sensors 74 may be configured using any of the pressure sensors described above.
For ELM 50, the housing shown diagrammatically in
For systems that do not need the additional antenna, the example package design 1000 shown in
Various example implementations have been included for illustration. Other implementations are possible. Table 2 includes various examples.
The present disclosure has been described with reference to specific examples that are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the disclosure. Changes, additions and/or deletions may be made to the examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
The foregoing description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.
1. A capacitive device including:
- a dielectric substrate;
- a lower electrode terminal;
- a lower electrode layer patterned on top of the dielectric substrate, the lower electrode layer including a first lower electrode and a second lower electrode, the first and second lower electrodes coupled in parallel to the lower electrode terminal, the lower electrode layer, the lower electrode terminal or both in physical contact with the dielectric substrate;
- an upper electrode terminal;
- an upper electrode layer above the lower electrode layer, the upper electrode layer including a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode, the first and second upper electrodes coupled in parallel to the upper electrode terminal, the upper electrode terminal, the upper electrode layer, or both in physical contact with the dielectric substrate;
- a first diaphragm paired to the first lower electrode and the first upper electrode, at least a first portion of a sacrificial layer selectively removed from below the first diaphragm;
- a second diaphragm paired to the second lower electrode and the second upper electrode, the second diaphragm having a difference in size, shape, or both from the first diaphragm.
2. The capacitive device of claim 1, where the device includes a pressure sensor.
3. The capacitive device of claim 1, where the dielectric substrate includes a homogenous layer at least 50 microns thick.
4. The capacitive device of claim 1, where the sacrificial layer is less than 1 micron thick.
5. The capacitive device of claim 1, where the difference between the first and second diaphragms is determined to modify a response of the device over a range of pressures.
6. The capacitive device of claim 1, where the device further includes a heterogenous array of diaphragms including the first and second diaphragms to change the capacitance response of the capacitive device relative to that produced by the first and second diaphragms.
7. The capacitive device of claim 6, where the full-scale range of the heterogenous array is greater than 10 megapascals.
8. The capacitive device of claim 1, where the first diaphragm includes a distribution of etchant apertures to allow etchant to permeate through the first diaphragm during removal of the sacrificial layer.
9. The capacitive device of claim 1, where the second upper electrode includes one or more deformation apertures to mitigate deformation of the second diaphragm caused by temperature-induced effects on the second upper electrode.
10. The capacitive device of claim 1, where the device further includes a diaphragm layer including:
- a first sub-layer including first and second diaphragms; and
- a second reinforcement sub-layer.
11. The capacitive device of claim 1, where:
- the removed sacrificial layer includes a tapered sidewall; and
- the device further includes a diaphragm layer in which the first and second diaphragms are patterned, the diaphragm layer including a sloped sidewall due the tapered sidewall prior to removal of the sacrificial layer.
12. A method of manufacture including;
- patterning, using a dielectric substrate process, a lower electrode layer on a dielectric substrate;
- patterning a sacrificial layer above the lower electrode layer;
- after patterning the sacrificial layer: patterning an upper electrode layer above the sacrificial layer; and patterning a diaphragm layer above the sacrificial layer; and
- after patterning the diaphragm layer: removing at least of portion of the sacrificial layer from below one or more diaphragms in the diaphragm layer.
13. The method of manufacture of claim 11, where the dielectric substrate includes a homogenous dielectric substrate at least 50 microns thick.
14. The method of manufacture of claim 11, where patterning the sacrificial layer includes patterning a layer that is less than 1 micron thick.
15. The method of manufacture of claim 11, where:
- patterning the sacrificial layer includes patterning a layer with a tapered sidewall; and
- patterning the diaphragm layer includes patterning the diaphragm layer with a sloped sidewall due to the tapered sidewall of the sacrificial layer.
16. The method of manufacture of claim 11, where removing at least of portion of the sacrificial layer includes etching the sacrificial layer by permeating etchant through one or more etchant apertures patterned into the one or more diaphragms.
17. The method of manufacture of claim 11, where patterning the upper electrode layer includes patterning an upper electrode the upper electrode layer paired with a diaphragm in the diaphragm layer, the upper electrode including one or more deformation apertures to allow of temperature-induced deformation of the upper electrode without damage the diaphragm paired to the upper electrode.
18. The method of manufacture of claim 11, where patterning the diaphragm layer includes:
- patterning a first diaphragm; and
- patterning a second diaphragm that differs from the first diaphragm in size, shape, or both.
19. The method of manufacture of claim 18, where:
- patterning the lower electrode layer includes patterning first and second lower electrodes respectively paired to the first and second diaphragms, the first and second lower electrodes coupled in parallel to a lower electrode terminal; and
- patterning the upper electrode layer includes patterning first and second upper electrodes respectively paired to the first and second diaphragms, the first and second upper electrodes coupled in parallel to an upper electrode terminal different than the lower electrode terminal.
20. A capacitive pressure sensor device including:
- a dielectric substrate;
- a lower electrode terminal;
- a lower electrode layer on the dielectric substrate, the lower electrode layer including multiple lower sensor electrodes coupled in parallel to the lower electrode terminal;
- a sacrificial layer gap;
- an upper electrode terminal in physical contact with the dielectric substrate;
- an upper electrode layer separated from the lower electrode layer by the sacrificial layer gap, the upper electrode layer including multiple upper sensor electrodes each paired to a respective lower sensor electrode and coupled in parallel to the upper electrode terminal; and
- a diaphragm layer disposed above the upper electrode layer, the diaphragm layer including at least two diaphragms that differ in size, shape, or both, the at least two diaphragms each disposed above a respective upper sensor electrode. | <urn:uuid:797542e6-09e7-498a-9a22-019c7e2d8e42> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://patents.justia.com/patent/20220268653 | 2024-12-09T20:56:28Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066047540.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20241209183414-20241209213414-00840.warc.gz | en | 0.868713 | 8,272 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Has your feline friend suddenly transformed into a sniffling, sneezing machine? Those adorable wet eyes and constant congestion can be a cause for concern, leaving you wondering what’s causing their discomfort. Fear not, fellow cat lovers! This article is here to shed light on feline upper respiratory infections (URIs), also known as cat flu.
We’ll delve into the common culprits behind these sniffles, from pesky viruses to environmental irritants. We’ll explore diagnostic approaches and treatment options to get your kitty feeling back to their playful, purring self in no time. We’ll also provide helpful tips to ensure your cat’s comfort during recovery and explore preventive measures to keep those URIs at bay. So, grab a cozy blanket, cuddle up with your furry friend, and let’s navigate the world of feline URIs together!
Demystifying the Culprits: Understanding the Causes of Feline URIs
Just like humans can catch a cold, cats are susceptible to upper respiratory infections. These infections can be caused by a variety of factors, and understanding the culprit can help guide treatment decisions. Here, we’ll unveil the usual suspects behind feline sniffles:
Viral Mayhem: The Sneaky Invaders
The most common cause of feline URIs are viruses. Two of the biggest troublemakers are feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV). These viruses are highly contagious and can spread through close contact with infected cats, shared food bowls, or even airborne droplets from a sneeze. Symptoms caused by these viruses can range from mild sniffles and watery eyes to fever, lethargy, and even difficulty breathing.
Bacterial Backup: Adding Fuel to the Fire
While viruses typically take center stage in feline URIs, bacteria can sometimes join the party and complicate things further. A bacterium called Chlamydophila felis can piggyback on a viral infection, making symptoms worse and causing a persistent cough.
Environmental Irritants: Tickling Tiny Noses
Just like us, cats can experience respiratory irritation from environmental factors. Dust, smoke, and strong chemicals can irritate their delicate nasal passages, leading to sneezing, congestion, and watery eyes. It’s important to maintain a clean and well-ventilated environment to minimize these triggers.
Stressful Triggers: When Worries Turn into Sneezes
Stress can take a toll on anyone’s health, and our feline companions are no exception. A stressful event, such as a new pet in the house or a move to a different location, can weaken a cat’s immune system and make them more susceptible to URIs. Providing a calm and predictable environment can help reduce stress and keep their defenses strong.
The Great Sniffle Symphony: Recognizing Feline URI Symptoms
Does your feline friend seem to be conducting a one-cat symphony of sniffles and sneezes? While a little occasional snort might be nothing to worry about, a persistent chorus of coughs and congestion could signal a feline upper respiratory infection (URI). This article equips you with the knowledge to recognize the signs of URI and determine when it’s time to seek veterinary attention.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Sneezes: Spotting the Signs
Imagine your cat letting out a mighty ACHOO! Followed by a wet, glistening discharge around their nose. These are just a couple of the tell-tale signs of a URI. Here’s a closer look at some common symptoms:
- Sneezing Symphony: Frequent sneezing, especially in rapid succession, is a classic symptom of URI. The sneezes might be forceful or weak, but their persistence is a key indicator.
- Runny Nose Blues: A runny nose, with discharge that can be clear, yellowish, or greenish, is another common sign. Excessive wiping at the nose with their paw can also be a clue.
- Watery Eyes Woe: Red, watery, or squinting eyes often accompany a URI. The discharge might be clear or slightly cloudy, and your cat might paw at their eyes to relieve irritation.
- Coughing Cacophony: A hacking cough, especially after waking up or eating, can be a sign of URI. The cough might be dry or productive, bringing up mucus.
Beyond the Sniffles: A Broader Look at Symptoms
While the signs above are common, a URI can sometimes present with additional symptoms. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Fever Frenzy: A fever, often accompanied by a warm nose and ears, can indicate a URI. Using a pet thermometer at home can help you monitor your cat’s temperature.
- Lethargy Lounging: A noticeable lack of energy or disinterest in usual activities can be a sign that your cat isn’t feeling well.
- Loss of Appetite Blues: If your feline friend seems less interested in their food than usual, it could be due to a sore throat or congestion affecting their sense of smell.
- Difficulty Breathing Distress: Rapid or labored breathing, especially with open-mouth breathing, can be a serious symptom and requires immediate veterinary attention.
Age Matters: Variations in Symptoms
Kittens, adult cats, and senior felines might experience URI symptoms slightly differently. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Kitten Kouchs: Kittens might have more congestion and difficulty breathing due to their smaller airways. Keep an eye out for wheezing or labored breathing.
- Adult Ache: Adult cats typically exhibit the classic symptoms mentioned earlier.
- Senior Sneezes: Senior cats might have a weaker immune system, making them more susceptible to complications from URI. Watch for lethargy and loss of appetite in addition to other symptoms.
Distinguishing the Diagnosis: When to See the Vet
While some mild URI symptoms might resolve on their own, it’s crucial to seek veterinary attention if your cat shows any of the following:
- Symptoms persist for more than a few days.
- Difficulty breathing or labored breathing.
- Loss of appetite or dehydration.
- Red, swollen, or squinting eyes.
- Kittens or senior cats with any URI symptoms.
Remember, early diagnosis and treatment can help your cat recover quickly and prevent complications. Your veterinarian can determine the cause of your cat’s respiratory issues and recommend the most appropriate course of treatment.
Seeking Veterinary Guidance: Diagnosis and Treatment
Has your feline friend been feeling a bit under the weather lately? Sneezes, watery eyes, and a lack of their usual playful energy can be signs of an upper respiratory infection (URI), also known as cat flu. While it might be tempting to wait things out at home, consulting your veterinarian is the purrfect first step towards a speedy recovery.
The Importance of a Checkup: Unmasking the Mystery
Just like us, cats can experience various types of URIs caused by different viruses or bacteria. A trip to the vet is crucial to pinpoint the exact culprit behind your cat’s discomfort. During the examination, your veterinarian will become your cat’s detective, using their expertise to gather clues.
Diagnostic Tools: Cracking the Case
A thorough physical examination is the first step in the diagnostic process. Your veterinarian will gently check your cat’s ears, nose, throat, and lungs, listening for any abnormalities. In some cases, they might recommend additional tests like swab samples from the nose or eyes to identify the specific virus or bacteria causing the infection. X-rays might also be necessary if they suspect complications like pneumonia.
Taming the Troublemakers: Supporting Your Feline Friend
Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet to cure viral URIs. However, your veterinarian can recommend a treatment plan focused on helping your cat feel better and supporting their natural defenses as their body fights off the infection. This might include:
- Supportive Care: Medications to soothe a sore throat or eye irritation, along with plenty of rest, can significantly improve your cat’s comfort level.
- Immune System Boosters: Supplements or medications that strengthen your cat’s immune system can help them fight off the infection more effectively.
Antibiotics in Action: Battling Bacterial Backups
While antibiotics won’t fight viruses, they can be crucial in treating secondary bacterial infections that sometimes arise alongside URIs. These infections can worsen your cat’s symptoms and prolong their recovery. Your veterinarian will determine if antibiotics are necessary and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment based on the specific bacteria identified.
Hydration Heroes: Keeping Your Cat Fighting Fit
Just like with any illness, staying hydrated is essential for recovery. Encourage your cat to drink plenty of fresh, clean water. If they’re struggling to stay hydrated on their own, your veterinarian might recommend administering fluids subcutaneously (under the skin) or intravenously (through an IV) in severe cases.
By working together with your veterinarian, you can create a personalized treatment plan to help your cat feel better fast and get back to their usual playful and energetic self.
Comfort & Care: Nurturing Your Cat Through Recovery
Just like us, cats don’t feel their best when they’re under the weather. But fear not, feline fancier! With a little TLC (tender loving care) and some strategic home comforts, you can help your whiskered friend feel better and recover from cat flu in no time.
Creating a Cat Oasis: A Haven for Healing
Imagine a cozy nook, bathed in soft light, with a fluffy bed and all your cat’s favorite things. This is what you’re aiming for when creating a dedicated recovery space for your feline companion. Here’s how to turn a quiet corner into a purrfect haven:
- Location, Location, Location: Choose a quiet, draft-free area away from the hustle and bustle of your home. This allows your cat to rest and recuperate without unnecessary disturbances.
- Bedding Bliss: Provide a comfortable, soft bed with fresh, clean blankets. Consider using a heating pad on low settings (always supervised) for an extra touch of warmth and comfort.
- Familiar Treasures: Surround your cat with familiar objects like their favorite toys or a blanket with your scent on it. These familiar comforts can provide a sense of security and promote relaxation.
- Minimize Stress: Limit interactions with other pets and children during this time. Recovery is all about rest, so avoid activities that might be too stimulating for your cat.
Remember: A calm and comfortable environment is key to promoting healing and a speedy recovery.
Soothing the Sniffles: Bringing Relief from Congestion
Just like a stuffy nose can make us feel miserable, feline congestion can be equally bothersome for your cat. Here are a few ways to offer relief:
- The Power of Humidity: Consider using a humidifier in the room. The cool mist can help loosen mucus and ease congestion, making it easier for your cat to breathe.
- Gently Does It: Avoid using decongestant medications meant for humans on your cat. If you’re concerned about their congestion, consult your veterinarian for safe and effective treatment options.
Remember: By keeping your cat’s environment comfortably moist, you can help alleviate some of the discomfort associated with a stuffy nose.
Tempting Treats: Enticing Your Cat to Eat
Feeling unwell can zap your appetite, and cats are no exception. During recovery, it’s important to tempt your cat to eat, even if it’s just small amounts at a time. Here are some tips to get those taste buds tingling:
- The Power of Aroma: Warm up your cat’s food slightly to release enticing aromas. This can make it more appealing, especially if they’re feeling under the weather.
- Soup-er Idea: Consider offering warmed-up broth or canned food with a higher moisture content. These can be easier to eat for cats with a sore throat or congestion.
- Treat Time: Offer small, enticing treats like cooked chicken or tuna. These can tempt even a finicky eater and provide some much-needed nourishment.
Remember: A well-nourished cat has a stronger immune system to fight off infection. By offering a variety of tempting food options, you can encourage your cat to eat and support their recovery.
Maintaining Hygiene: Keeping Your Cat Clean and Comfortable
Just like us, good hygiene is important for feeling better. Here are some ways to keep your cat comfortable and clean during recovery:
- Wiping Away Worries: Gently wipe away any discharge from your cat’s eyes and nose using a warm, damp cloth. This can help prevent irritation and keep them feeling more comfortable.
- Eye Care Essentials: If your cat’s eyes are crusty or watery, consult your veterinarian for advice on proper cleaning solutions.
Remember: Maintaining good hygiene can help prevent secondary infections and promote faster healing.
TLC Time: Showering Your Cat with Love and Support
While medication and a comfortable environment play a crucial role in recovery, don’t underestimate the power of love and companionship. Here’s how to show your cat you care:
- Gentle Strokes and Soft Words: Spend some quiet time with your cat, offering gentle petting and soothing words. This can provide emotional support and reassurance during their time of need.
- Respecting Boundaries: Pay attention to your cat’s cues. If they seem withdrawn or prefer solitude, don’t force interaction. Let them rest and recuperate at their own pace.
- Patience is Key: Recovery takes time. Be patient with your cat and celebrate even small improvements in their health.
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- How to Socialize a Feral Kitten in 10 Simple Steps | <urn:uuid:9890346e-f6c0-48a1-8083-446f19706b3e> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.catbounty.com/cat-flu-symptoms-medicine-treatment-text-kit-prevention/ | 2024-12-05T10:43:41Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066348250.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20241205085107-20241205115107-00624.warc.gz | en | 0.897756 | 3,263 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Biosocial theories believe biological or genetic risk factors along with their environment impact an individual’s predisposition to engage in criminal behavior throughout their life. The biological risk factors tied with their environment can also impact an individual’s predilection to develop antisocial behavior or tendencies, violent or aggressive behavior, impulsivity, lack of social responsibility and their ability to learn complex behavior patterns. Several empirical studies regarding biosocial theory and its components will be reviewed within this paper followed by an explanation as to why a policy in policing and corrections with its basis in biosocial theory would not be effective.
Biosocial theory is a theory
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Caspi et al. (1994) conducted a study that determined specific personality differences are linked to crime without regard to race, age, or geographical location. Through comparison of a male and female birth cohort in New Zealand and an ethnically diverse group of 12-13-year-old boys in the United States, Caspi et al. (1994) determined, “robust personality correlates to delinquency (pg. 179).” Their study found that individuals that engaged in delinquency, “preferred rebelliousness to conventionality, behaved impulsively rather than cautiously, and were likely to take advantage of others (pg.180).” Further personality testing amongst all the individuals showed the individuals that engaged in delinquency tended to become easily upset or agitated with their friends when they felt betrayed or used by their friends (Caspi et al., 1994).
Caspi et al. (1994) concluded the greater negative emotionality capability and less constraint an individual had, would lead to an increased delinquency and theoretically, antisocial behavior would be likely in that individual. Individuals in the study that demonstrated negative correlations with constraint levels, meaning the individuals responded to “frustrating events,” with strong negative emotions, “were likely to be impulsive, danger-seeking, and rejecting
Their purpose was to measure the children’s individual strains both at home and school by asking them a series of “yes or no” questions. Interviews also included surveys from the children’s main teacher and primary guardian, usually the mother, and the questions tended to be more comprehensive. Results that were similar between the mother and teacher were then measured and compared. They found that teacher’s responses to the survey tended to be less biased than a juveniles primary guardian. This allowed them to accurately compare the children’s level of constraint and personality traits from all major influencing environments. As a result, Agnew et al. (2002) found that juveniles who are high in negative emotionality and show low constraint tend to experience more strain and therefore are more likely to act as a delinquent or participate in criminal behavior. This correlation not only makes sense but also is important because it provides empirical researchers with an explanation as to why some juvenile’s are more likely to react to strain with delinquency and crime (Agnew et al., 2002). Agnew et al. (2002) choose to focus on the traits of negative emotionality and constraint for a couple of reasons. The first reason being “it allows us to draw on the extensive psychological research on the nature and origin of these traits. Second, the impact of low self-control on crime is interpreted largely in terms of control theory” (Agnew et al., 2002,
It was not a topic that was brought up earlier, because there was tainted history of using biology to figure logistics of criminal behavior. Instead, criminologists look at social and environmental factors such as poverty rates, drug/weapon accessibility, and socialization. Over 100 studies have shown genes play a role in crime. Kevin Beaver, an associate professor at Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice states approximately 50 percent of a human’s aggressive behavior is comprised of the thousands of expressed genes affected by the environment (Cohen). The other half of a human’s aggressive behavior is usually environmental or social factors such as, neighborhood, wealth, and education. It is important to also know the other factors that “make” someone a criminal because it will also help researcher see what else contributes to criminal activity (Eysenck).
Modern biology is focused more on understanding behavior, like violence and crime, through research on indicators and influences. Rather than attempting to determine a single root cause, researchers are discovering markers of predisposition and identifying factors of risk. In a recent interview about his new book, The Anatomy of Violence: The Biological Roots of Crime, criminologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Adrian Raine asserts that there is a “biology of violence” that should not be ignored; “Just as there’s a biological basis for schizophrenia and anxiety disorders and depression… there’s a biological basis also to recidivistic violent offending” (Gross, 2013).
In today’s society, violence occurs every minute somewhere in some shape or form. It continues to be a plague that causes humans humility, pain, and death. Both the scientific and criminal justice fields have been stumped for years by the question of “where does the influence of violence come from?” Nature versus nurture has always been one of the most prevalent arguments relating to this topic. The nature argument is based on the belief that an individual’s biology/DNA contributes to their behavior, where the nurture argument believes that the environment one is exposed to is what actually influences their behavior. According to Hickey, biological positivism was the method of applying the scientific method to the task of determining who was a criminal (48).
According to the article "My Genes Made Me Do It” by Stanton Peele, Ph.D, and Richard DeGrandpre, Ph.D, “The goal of determining what portion of behavior is genetic and environmental will always elude us. Our personalities and destinies do not evolve in this straightforward manner” (Peele). Many factors can influence behavior, and behavior is not simple. It is very complex and can in some cases cause people to behave criminally. There are genetic factors that can influence a person’s behavior as well as environmental factors. All of these factors should be considered when looking at criminal behavior. The factors that affect a persons likelihood to commit a crime include genetic and environmental influences, but there are ways to prevent crime.
The general strain theory is an established theory that provides a basic understanding relating to different elements leading to specific criminal behaviors. The theory has been of importance in trying to map criminal patterns among individuals involved in criminal behavior, thereby creating a platform for their rehabilitation. The general strain theory has had a close connection to juvenile delinquency, as it creates a platform where psychologists can define some of the key factors prompting teenagers and youths to engage in criminal behaviors. According to Zhang (2008), teenagers and youths tend to become highly vulnerable to lack of emotional control attributed to an aspect of negative emotions, which do not include anger, thereby creating a platform for them to engage in behaviors that would be characterized as criminal. The main research problem of this report is to create a connection between the general strain theory and juvenile delinquency.
The objective of this study is to examine whether it is nature or nurture who plays the most vital role in a human’s behavior, specifically an individual’s criminal behavior. Criminal behavior is defined as an act or failure to act in a way that violates public law. Some believe that criminal behavior can be identified as early as conception, meaning that criminal behavior is because of your genes. While others believe that one’s upbringing and social learning environment directly contributes to the individual’s criminal behavior. This paper will provide the history on the ongoing debate of nature vs. nurture and answer the question of whether it is
There has always been a fascination with trying to determine what causes an individual to become a criminal? Of course a large part of that fascination has to do with the want to reduce crime, and to determine if there is a way to detect and prevent individuals from committing crime. Determining what causes criminality is still not perfectly clear and likewise, there is still debate as to whether crime is caused biologically, environmentally, or socially. Furthermore, the debate is directly correlated to the notion of 'nurture vs nature'. Over time many researchers have presented various theories pertaining to what causes criminal behavior. There are many theories that either support or oppose the concept of crime being biological rather
The Nature-Nurture debate has been scrutinised by psychologists for over a hundred years and, more recently, by biologists in the field of cognitive science. It inquires as to the influence of both ‘nature’; the hereditary present factors of a person determined by biological genetics; ‘Nurture’ is based on circumstance, the belief that the person we are is purely influenced by our environment, upbringing and circumstances that we encounter. This essay will cover both sides of the Nature vs Nurture debate while relating to behaviourism and criminal behaviour. ‘Criminal behaviour’ is a wide topic and encompasses many different types of behaviour and motivations/reasons for such; this essay will focus on criminal acts committed by those who suffer from a diagnosed mental health disorder, and consider the Nature-Nurture debate within this context.
The nature versus nurture debate is an ongoing debate among social scientists relating to whether ones personality/personal characteristics are the result of his/her inherited genetic traits or the result of environmental factors such as upbringing, social status, financial stability, and more. One of the topics that are discussed among psychologists is the study of violent behavior among people as a whole, and in particular, individuals. Social scientists try to explain why people commit acts of violence through explanation of either side of the nature or nurture schools of thought. However, the overwhelming amount of research done into the relation of violent behavior and the nature versus nurture debate indicated that nurture is the primary explanation to explaining violent behavior because violent traits are learned from adults, someone’s social upbringing is a major factor to why some people are more violent than others, and finally influences from news media, movies, and video games enhance the chance for someone to exhibit violent behavior. In conclusion, violent behavior is a complex issue without a clear explanation that is overwhelmingly supported by the nurture side of the debate.
When it comes to juvenile delinquency an adolescent personality is usually impacted from different factors such as early child hood experiences of witnessing a crime, seeing a violent act, being the victim of a crime, or being around others or family who engaged in criminal activity, these factors can either create an adolescent with a positive or negative attitude, or an anti-social behavior which could create a path for a delinquent behavior (Wilson, p. 34). A study has shown that family interactions accounts for about 40 percent of the cause of an adolescent with an anti-social behavior, the study also shown that aggressiveness which is a common trait of adolescent who engage in delinquent acts is usually created from peer influences (Wilson, p. 34).
These theories do not see crime as a rational behavior, but instead that it is from abnormalities/ criminal traits. The reason why is that this deterrent of punishment will be ineffective to reducing recidivism (Howell Chapter 3 handout, 2015). Modern biosocial theories is also determinism, but soft. Where the nature has an strong influence on behavior via nurture (Howell chapter 3 handout, 2015). 7.)
Criminal behavior is defined as an act that violates the public law established by the government. Individuals exhibiting criminal behavior may be subjected to negative consequences such as imprisonment or death penalty. Criminal behavior is normally associated with deviance, which is the violations of norms (Henslin, 2017). The factors which influences the criminal behavior is often debated by researchers, whether they are acquired or inborn. Specifically, scientists who study sociobiology believe that genetic predispositions lead people to engage in deviant or criminal acts (Henslin, 2017). As the study of genetics
Criminals are born not made is the discussion of this essay, it will explore the theories that attempt to explain criminal behaviour. Psychologists have come up with various theories and reasons as to why individuals commit crimes. These theories represent part of the classic psychological debate, nature versus nurture. Are individuals predisposed to becoming a criminal or are they made through their environment.
Criminologists and sociologist have long been in debate for century's to explain criminal behaviour. The two main paradigms of thought are between 'nature' and 'nurture'. Nature is in reference to a learnt behaviour where a multitude of characteristics, in society influence whether a person becomes deviant such as poverty, physical abuse or neglect. Nurture defines biological features which could inevitability lead to a individuals deviant or criminal behaviour, because criminality is believed by biological positivist to be inherited from a persons parents. However, I believe that criminal behaviour is a mixture of characteristics that lead to deviant acts such as psychological illness & Environmental factors. Therefore, this essay | <urn:uuid:dd4ce636-2152-4bb3-a084-e3bb567f9958> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.bartleby.com/essay/The-Theories-Believe-Biological-Or-Genetic-Risk-PKFCY2P653ZP | 2024-12-13T21:26:28Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066119651.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20241213202611-20241213232611-00422.warc.gz | en | 0.954353 | 2,687 | 2.90625 | 3 |
The Pakistan Movement or Tahrik-e-Pakistan (تحریکِ پاکستان ; Taḥrīk-i-Pākistān) was a political movement in the first half of the 20th century that aimed for and succeeded in the creation of the Dominion of Pakistan from the Muslim-majority areas of British India. It was connected to the need for self-determination for Muslims under British rule at the time.
Pakistan Movement started originally as the Aligarh Movement, and as a result, the British Indian Muslims began to develop a secular political identity. Soon thereafter, the All India Muslim League was formed, which perhaps marked the beginning of the Pakistan Movement. Many of the top leadership of the movement were educated in Great Britain, with many of them educated at the Aligarh Muslim University. Many graduates of the Dhaka University soon also joined.
The Pakistan Movement was a part of the Indian independence movement, but eventually it also sought to establish a new nation-state that protected the political interests of the Indian Muslims.
Urdu poets such as Iqbal and Faiz used literature, poetry and speech as a powerful tool for political awareness.
Many people may think that the driving force behind the Pakistan Movement was the Muslim community of the Muslim minority provinces, United Provinces and Bombay Presidency, rather than that of the Muslim majority provinces. Land boundaries and population demographics of India, Pakistan, and formerly East Pakistan (present day Bangladesh) are among the primary achievements of the Pakistan Movement.
History of the movement
During this time, Lord Macaulay’s radical and influential educational reforms led to the numerous changes to the introduction and teaching of Western languages (e.g. English and Latin), history, and philosophy. Religious studies and the Arabic, Turkish, and Persian languages were completely barred from the state universities. In a short span of time, the English language had become not only the medium of instruction but also the official language in 1835 in place of Persian, disadvantaging those who had built their careers around the latter language.
Traditional Hindu and Islamic studies were no longer supported by the British Crown, and nearly all of the madrasahs lost their waqf (lit. financial endowment).
Very few Muslim families had their children sent at the English universities. On the other hand, the effects of Bengali Renaissance made the Hindus population to be more educated and gained lucrative positions at the Indian Civil Service; many ascended to the influential posts in the British government.
Rise of organised movement
The success of All India Muhammadan Educational Conference as a part of the Aligarh Movement, the All-India Muslim League, was established with the support provided by Syed Ahmad Khan in 1906. It was founded in Dhaka in a response to reintegration of Bengal after a mass Hindu protest took place in the subcontinent. Earlier in 1905, viceroy Lord Curzon partitioned the Bengal which was favoured by the Muslims, since it gave them a Muslim majority in the eastern half.
In 1909, Lord Minto promulgated the Council Act and met with a Muslim delegation led by Aga Khan III to meet with Viceroy Lord Minto, a deal to which Minto agreed. The delegation consisted of 35 members, who each represented their respective region proportionately, mentioned hereunder.
- Sir Aga Khan III (Head of the delegation); (Bombay).
- Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk (Aligarh).
- Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk (Muradabad).
- Maulvi Hafiz Hakim Ajmal Khan (Delhi).
- Maulvi Syed Karamat Husain (Allahabad).
- Maulvi Sharifuddin (Patna).
- Nawab Syed Sardar Ali Khan (Bombay).
- Syed Abdul Rauf (Allahabad).
- Maulvi Habiburrehman Khan (Aligarh).
- Sahibzada Aftab Ahmed Khan (Aligarh).
- Abdul Salam Khan (Rampur).
- Raees Muhammed Ahtasham Ali (Lucknow)
- Khan Bahadur Muhammad Muzammilullah Khan. (Aligarh).
- Haji Muhammed Ismail Khan (Aligarh).
- Shehzada Bakhtiar Shah (Calcutta).
- Malik Umar Hayat Khan Tiwana (Shahpur).
- Khan Bahadur Muhammed Shah Deen (Lahore).
- Khan Bahadur Syed Nawab Ali Chaudhary (Mymansingh).
- Nawab Bahadur Mirza Shuja’at Ali Baig (Murshidabad).
- Nawab Nasir Hussain Khan Bahadur (Patna).
- Khan Bahadur Syed Ameer Hassan Khan (Calcutta).
- Syed Muhammed Imam (Patna).
- Nawab Sarfaraz Hussain Khan Bahadur (Patna).
- Maulvi Rafeeuddin Ahmed (Bombay).
- Khan Bahadur Ahmed Muhaeeuddin (Madras).
- Ibraheem Bhai Adamjee Pirbhai (Bombay).
- Maulvi Abdul Raheem (Calcutta).
- Syed Allahdad Shah (Khairpur).
- Maulana H. M. Malik (Nagpur).
- Khan Bahadur Col. Abdul Majeed Khan (Patiala).
- Khan Bahadur Khawaja Yousuf Shah (Amritsar).
- Khan Bahadur Mian Muhammad Shafi. (Lahore).
- Khan Bahadur Shaikh Ghulam Sadiq. (Amritsar).
- Syed Nabiullah. (Allahabad).
- Khalifa Syed Muhammed Khan Bahadur. (Patna).
Until 1937 the Muslim League had remained an organisation of elite Indian Muslims. The Muslim League leadership then began mass mobilisation and the League then became a popular party with the Muslim masses in the 1940s, especially after the Lahore Resolution. Under Jinnah’s leadership its membership grew to over two million and became more religious and even separatist in its outlook. The Muslim League’s earliest base was the United Provinces. From 1937 onwards, the Muslim League and Jinnah attracted large crowds throughout India in its processions and strikes.
At the 1940 Muslim League conference in Lahore in 1940, Jinnah said: “Hindus and the Muslims belong to two different religions, philosophies, social customs and literature…. It is quite clear that Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes and different episodes…. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the government of such a state.” At Lahore the Muslim League formally recommitted itself to creating an independent Muslim state, including Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, the North West Frontier Province and Bengal, that would be “wholly autonomous and sovereign”. The resolution guaranteed protection for non-Muslim religions. The Lahore Resolution, moved by the sitting Chief Minister of Bengal A. K. Fazlul Huq, was adopted on 23 March 1940, and its principles formed the foundation for Pakistan’s first constitution.
In opposition to the Lahore Resolution, the All India Azad Muslim Conference gathered in Delhi in April 1940 to voice its support for a united India. Its members included several Islamic organisations in India, as well as 1400 nationalist Muslim delegates.
C. R. formula and Cabinet Mission
Talks between Jinnah and Gandhi in 1944 failed to achieve agreement.
World War II
On 3 September 1939, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared the commencement of war with Germany. Shortly thereafter, Viceroy Lord Linlithgow followed suit and announced that India too was at war with Germany. In 1939, the Congress leaders resigned from all British India government positions to which they had elected. The Muslim League celebrated the end of the Congress-led British Indian government, with Jinnah famously declaring it “a day of deliverance and thanksgiving”. In a secret memorandum to the British Prime Minister, the Muslim League agreed to support the United Kingdom’s war efforts—provided that the British recognise it as the only organisation that spoke for Indian Muslims.
Following the Congress’s effective protest against the United Kingdom unilaterally involving India in the war without consulting with them, the Muslim League went on to support the British war efforts, which allowed them to actively propagandise against the Congress with the argument of “Islam in Danger”.
The Indian Congress and Muslim League responded differently over the World War II issue. The Indian Congress refused to support the British unless the whole Indian subcontinent was granted independence. The Muslim League, on the other hand, supported Britain both politically and via human contributions. The Muslim League leaders’ British education, training, and philosophical ideas helped bring the British government and the Muslim League closer to each other. Jinnah himself supported the British in World War II when the Congress failed to collaborate. The British government made a pledge to the Muslims in 1940 that it would not transfer power to an Independent India unless its constitution was first approved by the Indian Muslims, a promise it did not subsequently keep.
The end of the war
In 1942, Gandhi called for the Quit India Movement against the United Kingdom. On the other hand, the Muslim League advised Prime Minister Winston Churchill that Great Britain should “divide and then Quit”. Negotiations between Gandhi and Viceroy Wavell failed, as did talks between Jinnah and Gandhi in 1944. When World War II ended, the Muslim League’s push for the Pakistan Movement and Gandhi’s efforts for Indian independence intensified the pressure on Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Given the rise of American and Russian order in the world politics and the general unrest in India, Wavell called for general elections to be held in 1945.
In the 1940s, Jinnah emerged as a leader of the Indian Muslims and was popularly known as Quaid-e-Azam (‘Great Leader’). The general elections held in 1945 for the Constituent Assembly of British Indian Empire, the Muslim League secured and won 425 out of 496 seats reserved for Muslims (and about 89.2% of Muslim votes) on a policy of creating an independent state of Pakistan, and with an implied threat of secession if this was not granted. The Congress which was led by Gandhi and Nehru remained adamantly opposed to dividing India. The partition seems to have been inevitable after all, one of the examples being Lord Mountbatten’s statement on Jinnah: “There was no argument that could move him from his consuming determination to realize the impossible dream of Pakistan.”
Stephen P. Cohen, an American historian of Pakistan, writes in The Idea of Pakistan of the influence of South Asian Muslim nationalism on the Pakistan movement:
[The ethnolinguistic-nationalist narrative] begins with a glorious precolonial state-empire when the Muslims of South Asia were politically united and culturally, civilizationally, and strategically dominant. In that era, ethnolinguistic differences were subsumed under a common vision of an Islamic-inspired social and political order. However, the divisions among Muslims that did exist were exploited by the British, who practiced ‘divide-and-rule’ politics, displacing the Mughals and circumscribing other Islamic rulers. Moreover, the Hindus were the allies of the British, who used them to strike a balance with the Muslims; many Hindus, a fundamentally insecure people, hated Muslims and would have oppressed them in a one-man, one-vote democratic India. The Pakistan freedom movement united these disparate pieces of the national puzzle, and Pakistan was the expression of the national will of India’s liberated Muslims.
— Stephen Cohen, The Idea of Pakistan (2004)
The 1946 elections resulted in the Muslim League winning the majority of Muslim votes and reserved Muslim seats in the Central and provincial assemblies, performing exceptionally well in Muslim minority provinces such as UP and Bihar, relative to the Muslim majority provinces of Punjab and NWFP. Thus, the 1946 election was effectively a plebiscite where the Indian Muslims were to vote on the creation of Pakistan; a plebiscite which the Muslim League won. This victory was assisted by the support given to the Muslim League by the rural agriculturalists of Bengal as well as the support of the landowners of Sindh and Punjab. The Congress, which initially denied the Muslim League’s claim of being the sole representative of Indian Muslims, was now forced to recognise that the Muslim League represented Indian Muslims. The British had no alternative except to take Jinnah’s views into account as he had emerged as the sole spokesperson for India’s Muslims. However, the British did not desire India to be partitioned and in one last effort to avoid it they arranged the Cabinet Mission plan. In 1946, the Cabinet Mission Plan recommended a decentralised but united India, this was accepted by the Muslim League but rejected by the Congress, thus, leading the way for the Partition of India.
Political campaigns and support
In the British Indian province of Punjab, Muslims placed more emphasis on the Punjabi identity they shared with Hindus and Sikhs, rather than on their religion. The Unionist Party, which prevailed in the 1923 Indian general election, 1934 Indian general election and the 1937 Indian provincial elections had mass support of the Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs of the Punjab; its leaders included Muslim Punjabis, such as Fazl-i-Hussain and Hindu Punjabis, such as Chhotu Ram. The Punjab had a slight Muslim majority, and local politics had been dominated by the secular Unionist Party and its longtime leader Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan. The Unionists had built a formidable power base in the Punjabi countryside through policies of patronage allowing them to retain the loyalty of landlords and pirs who exerted significant local influence.
For the Muslim League to claim to represent the Muslim vote, they would need to win over the majority of the seats held by the Unionists. Following the death of Sir Sikander in 1942, and bidding to overcome their dismal showing in the elections of 1937, the Muslim League intensified campaigning throughout rural and urban Punjab. A major thrust of the Muslim’s League’s campaign was the increased use of religious symbolism, as well as the promotion of communalism and spreading fear of a supposed “Hindu threat” in a future united India. Muslim League activists were advised to join in communal prayers when visiting villages, and gain permission to hold meetings after the Friday prayers. The Quran became a symbol of the Muslim League at rallies, and pledges to vote were made on it. Students, a key component of the Muslim League’s activists, were trained to appeal to the electorate on communal lines, and at the peak of student activity during the Christmas holidays of 1945, 250 students from Aligarh were invited to campaign in the province along with 1550 members of the Punjab Muslim Student’s Federation. A key achievement of these efforts came in enticing Muslim Jats and Gujjars from their intercommunal tribal loyalties. In response, the Unionists attempted to counter the growing religious appeal of the Muslim League by introducing religious symbolism into their own campaign, but with no student activists to rely upon and dwindling support amongst the landlords, their attempts met with little success.
To further their religious appeal, the Muslim League also launched efforts to entice Pirs towards their cause. Pirs dominated the religious landscape, and were individuals who claimed to inherit religious authority from Sufi Saints who had proselytised in the region since the eleventh century. By the twentieth century, most Punjabi Muslims offered allegiance to a Pir as their religious guide, thus providing them considerable political influence. The Unionists had successfully cultivated the support of Pirs to achieve success in the 1937 elections, and the Muslim League now attempted to replicate their method of doing so. To do so, the Muslim League created the Masheikh Committee, used Urs ceremonies and shrines for meetings and rallies and encouraged fatwas urging support for the Muslim League. Reasons for the pirs switching allegiance varied. For the Gilani Pirs of Multan the over-riding factor was local longstanding factional rivalries, whilst for many others a shrines size and relationship with the government dictated its allegiance.
Despite the Muslim League’s aim to foster a united Muslim loyalty, it also recognised the need to better exploit the biradari network and appeal to primordial tribal loyalties. In 1946 it held a special Gujjar conference intending to appeal to all Muslim Gujjars, and lifted its ban on Jahanara Shahnawaz with the hope of appealing to Arain constituencies. Appealing to biradari ties enabled the Muslim League to accelerate support amongst landlords, and in turn use the landlords client-patron economic relationship with their tenants to guarantee votes for the forthcoming election.
A separate strategy of the Muslim League was to exploit the economic slump suffered in the Punjab as a result of the Second World War. The Punjab had supplied 27 per cent of the Indian Army recruits during the war, constituting 800,000 men, and representing a significant part of the electorate. By 1946, less than 20 per cent of those servicemen returning home had found employment. This in part was exacerbated by the speedy end to the war in Asia, which caught the Unionist’s by surprise, and meant their plans to deploy servicemen to work in canal colonies were not yet ready. The Muslim League took advantage of this weakness and followed Congress’s example of providing work to servicemen within its organisation. The Muslim League’s ability to offer an alternative to the Unionist government, namely the promise of Pakistan as an answer to the economic dislocation suffered by Punjabi villagers, was identified as a key issue for the election.
On the eve of the elections, the political landscape in the Punjab was finely poised, and the Muslim League offered a credible alternative to the Unionist Party. The transformation itself had been rapid, as most landlords and pirs had not switched allegiance until after 1944. The breakdown of talks between the Punjab Premier, Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana and Muhammad Ali Jinnah in late 1944 had meant many Muslims were now forced to choose between the two parties at the forthcoming election. A further blow for the Unionists came with death of its leading statesman Sir Chhotu Ram in early 1945.
The Western Punjab was home to a minority population of Punjabi Sikhs and Hindus up to 1947 apart from the Muslim majority. In 1947, the Punjab Assembly cast its vote in favour of Pakistan with supermajority rule, which made many minority Hindus and Sikhs migrate to India while Muslim refugees from India settled in the Western Punjab and across Pakistan.
In the Sind province of British India, the Sind United Party promoted communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims, winning 22 out of 33 seats in the 1937 Indian provincial elections.
Both the Muslim landed elite, waderas, and the Hindu commercial elements, banias, collaborated in oppressing the predominantly Muslim peasantry of the British Indian province of Sind who were economically exploited. In Sind’s first provincial election after its separation from Bombay in 1936, economic interests were an essential factor of politics informed by religious and cultural issues. Due to British policies, much land in Sind was transferred from Muslim to Hindu hands over the decades. In Sind, “the dispute over the Sukkur Manzilgah had been fabricated by provincial Leaguers to unsettle Allah Bakhsh Soomro’s ministry which was dependent on support from the Congress and the Hindu Independent Party.” The Sind Muslim League exploited the issue and agitated for what they said was an abandoned mosque to be given to the Muslim League. Consequentially, a thousand members of the Muslim League were imprisoned. Eventually, due to panic the government restored the mosque to Muslims.
The separation of Sind from the Bombay Presidency triggered Sindhi Muslim nationalists to support the Pakistan Movement. Even while the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province were ruled by parties hostile to the Muslim League, Sindh remained loyal to Jinnah. Although the prominent Sindhi Muslim nationalist G.M. Syed (who admired both Hindu and Muslim rulers of Sindh) left the All India Muslim League in the mid-1940s and his relationship with Jinnah never improved, the overwhelming majority of Sindhi Muslims supported the creation of Pakistan, seeing in it their deliverance. Sindhi support for the Pakistan Movement arose from the desire of the Sindhi Muslim business class to drive out their Hindu competitors. The Muslims League’s rise to becoming the party with the strongest support in Sind was in large part linked to its winning over of the religious pir families. Although the Muslim League had previously fared poorly in the 1937 elections in Sind, when local Sindhi Muslim parties won more seats, the Muslim League’s cultivation of support from the pirs and saiyids of Sind in 1946 helped it gain a foothold in the province.
North-West Frontier Province
The Muslim League had little support in North-West Frontier Province. Here the Congress and Pashtun nationalist leader Abdul Ghaffar Khan had considerable support for the cause of a united India.
During the Independence period there was a Congress-led ministry in the province, which was led by secular Pashtun leaders, including Abdul Ghaffar Khan, who preferred joining India instead of Pakistan. The secular Pashtun leadership was also of the view that if joining India was not an option then they should espouse the cause of an independent ethnic Pashtun state rather than Pakistan. The secular stance of Abdul Ghaffar Khan had driven a wedge between the Jamiyatul Ulama Sarhad (JUS) and the otherwise pro-Congress (and pro-Indian unity) Jamiat Ulema Hind, as well as Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s Khudai Khidmatgars, who also espoused Hindu-Muslim unity. Unlike the centre JUH, the directives of the JUS in the province began to take on communal tones. The JUS ulama saw the Hindus in the province as a ‘threat’ to Muslims. Accusations of molesting Muslim women were levelled at Hindu shopkeepers in Nowshera, a town where anti-Hindu sermons were delivered by maullas. Tensions also rose in 1936 over the abduction of a Hindu girl in Bannu. Such controversies stirred up anti-Hindu sentiments amongst the province’s Muslim population. By 1947 the majority of the JUS ulama in the province began supporting the Muslim League’s idea of Pakistan.
Immediately prior to Pakistani independence from Britain in 1947, the British held a referendum in the NWFP to allow voters to choose between joining Pakistan or India. The referendum was held on 2 July 1947 while polling began on 6 July 1947 and the referendum results were made public on 20 July 1947. According to the official results, there were 572,798 registered voters out of which 289,244 (99.02%) votes were cast in favor of Pakistan while only 2874 (0.98%) were cast in favor of India. According to an estimate the total turnout for the referendum was only 15% less than the total turnout in the 1946 elections. At the same time a large number of Khudai Khidmatgar supporters boycotted the referendum and intimidation against Hindu and Sikh voters by supporters of the Pakistan Movement was also reported.
During British rule in India, Baluchistan was under the rule of a Chief Commissioner and did not have the same status as other provinces of British India. The Muslim League under Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the period 1927-1947 strived to introduce reforms in Baluchistan to bring it on par with other provinces of British India. Apart from the pro-separatist Muslim League that was led by a non-Balochi and non-Sardar, “three pro-Congress parties were still active in Balochistan’s politics”, such as the Anjuman-i-Watan Baluchistan, which favoured a united India.
Balochistan contained a Chief Commissioner’s province and four princely states under the British Raj. The province’s Shahi Jirga and the non-official members of the Quetta Municipality opted for Pakistan unanimously on 29 June 1947. Three of the princely states, Makran, Las Bela and Kharan, acceded to Pakistan in 1947 after independence. But the ruler of the fourth princely state, the Khan of Kalat, Ahmad Yar Khan, who used to call Jinnah his ‘father’, declared Kalat’s independence as this was one of the options given to all of the 535 princely states by British Prime Minister Clement Attlee.
The pro-India Congress, which drew support from Hindus and some Muslims, sensing that geographic and demographic compulsions would not allow the province’s inclusion into the newly Independent India, began to encourage separatist elements in Balochistan, and other Muslim majority provinces such as NWFP.
Kalat finally acceded to Pakistan on 27 March 1948 after the ‘strange help’ of All India Radio and a period of negotiations and bureaucratic tactics used by Pakistan. The signing of the Instrument of Accession by Ahmad Yar Khan, led his brother, Prince Abdul Karim, to revolt against his brother’s decision in July 1948. Princes Agha Abdul Karim Baloch and Muhammad Rahim, refused to lay down arms, leading the Dosht-e Jhalawan in unconventional attacks on the army until 1950. The Princes fought a lone battle without support from the rest of Baluchistan.
Dhaka was the birthplace of the All India Muslim League in 1906. The Pakistan Movement was highly popular in the Muslim population of Bengal. Many of the Muslim League’s notable statesmen and activists hailed from East Bengal, including Khabeeruddin Ahmed, Sir Abdul Halim Ghuznavi, Anwar-ul Azim, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Khawaja Nazimuddin, and Nurul Amin, many among whom later became Prime ministers of Pakistan. Following the partition of Bengal, violence erupted in the region, which was mainly contained to Kolkata and Noakhali. It is documented by Pakistani historians that Suhrawardy wanted Bengal to be an independent state that would neither join Pakistan or India but would remained unpartitioned. Despite the heavy criticism from the Muslim League, Jinnah realised the validity of Suhrawardy’s argument and gave his tacit support to the idea of an Independent Bengal. Nevertheless, the Indian National Congress decided for partition of Bengal in 1947, which was additionally ratified in the subsequent years.
During the Pakistan Movement in the 1940s, Rohingya Muslims in western Burma had an ambition to annex and merge their region into East-Pakistan. Before the independence of Burma in January 1948, Muslim leaders from Arakan addressed themselves to Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and asked his assistance in annexing of the Mayu region to Pakistan which was about to be formed. Two months later, North Arakan Muslim League was founded in Akyab (modern: Sittwe, capital of Arakan State), it, too demanding annexation to Pakistan. However, it is noted that the proposal was never materialised after it was reportedly turned down by Jinnah.
Role of Ulama
In its election campaign in 1946 the Muslim League drew upon the support of Islamic scholars and Sufis with the rallying cry of ‘Islam in danger’. The majority of Barelvis supported the creation of Pakistan and Barelvi ulama issued fatwas in support of the Muslim League. In contrast, most Deobandi ulama (led by Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani) opposed the creation of Pakistan and the two-nation theory. Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani and the Deobandis advocated composite nationalism, according to which Muslims and Hindus were one nation (cf. Composite Nationalism and Islam). Madani differentiated between ‘qaum’ -which meant a multi-religious nation- and ‘millat’-which was exclusively the social unity of Muslims. However, a few highly influential Deobandi clerics did support the creation of Pakistan. Such Deobandi ulama included Mufti Muhammad Shafi and Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Uthmani. Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi also supported the Muslim League’s demand for the creation of Pakistan and he dismissed the criticism that most Muslim League members were not practising Muslims. Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi was of the view that the Muslim League should be supported and also be advised at the same time to become religiously observant.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817–1898) philosophical ideas plays a direct role in the Pakistan Movement. His Two-Nation Theory became more and more obvious during the Congress rule in the Subcontinent. In 1946, the Muslim majorities agreed to the idea of Pakistan, as a response to Congress’s one sided policies, which were also the result of leaders like Jinnah leaving the party in favour of Muslim League, winning in seven of the 11 provinces. Prior to 1938, Bengal with 33 million Muslims had only ten representatives, less than the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, which were home to only seven million Muslims. Thus the creation of Pakistan became inevitable and the British had no choice but to create two separate nations – Pakistan and India – in 1947.
But the main motivating and integrating factor was that the Muslims’ intellectual class wanted representation; the masses needed a platform on which to unite. It was the dissemination of western thought by John Locke, Milton and Thomas Paine, at the Aligarh Muslim University that initiated the emergence of Pakistan Movement. According to Pakistan Studies curriculum, Muhammad bin Qasim is often referred to as ‘the first Pakistani’. Muhammad Ali Jinnah also acclaimed the Pakistan movement to have started when the first Muslim put a foot in the Gateway of Islam.
After the independence in 1947, the violence and upheavals continued to be faced by Pakistan, as Liaquat Ali Khan becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1947. The issue involving the equal status of Urdu and Bengali languages created divergence in the country’s political ideology. Need for good governance led to the military take over in 1958 which was followed by rapid industrialisation in the 1960s. Economic grievances and unbalanced financial payments led to a bloody and an armed struggle of East Pakistan in the 1970s, in which eventually resulted with East Pakistan becoming Bangladesh in 1971.
In the successive periods of tragedy of East-Pakistan, the country continued to rebuild and reconstruct itself in terms constitutionally and its path to transformed into republicanism. The XIII amendment (1997) and XVIII amendment (2010) transformed the country into becoming a parliamentary republic as well as also becoming a nuclear power in the subcontinent.
Non-Muslims contribution and efforts
Jinnah’s vision was supported by few of the Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Jews and Christians that lived in Muslim-dominated regions of undivided India. The most notable and influential Hindu figure in the Pakistan Movement was Jogendra Nath Mandal from Bengal. Jagannath Azad was from the Urdu-speaking belt. Mandal represented the Hindu contingent calling for an independent Pakistan, and was one of the founding fathers of Pakistan. After the independence, Mandal was given ministries of Law, Justice, and Work-Force by Jinnah in Liaquat Ali Khan’s government. Ironically, despite all his good contributions, Mandal was badly ignored in the emerging political scenario. He returned to India and submitted his resignation to Liaquat Ali Khan, the then-Prime Minister of Pakistan. He mentioned incidents related to social injustice and a biased attitude towards non-Muslim minorities in his resignation letter.
Although the All India Conference of Indian Christians, which had a large amount of Punjabi participation, opposed the partition of India and creation of Pakistan, a minority of Christians dissented from this position and played a pivotal role in the creation of Pakistan. The notable Christians included Sir Victor Turner and Alvin Robert Cornelius. Turner was responsible for the economic, financial planning of the country after the independence. Turner was one of the founding fathers of Pakistan, and guided Jinnah and Ali Khan on economic affairs, taxation and to handle the administrative units. Alvin Robert Cornelius was elevated as Chief Justice of Lahore High Court bench by Jinnah and served as Law Secretary in Liaquat Ali Khan’s government.
As an example or inspiration
Main article: Pakistanism
The cause of Pakistan Movement became an inspiration in different countries of the world. Protection of one’s beliefs, equal rights, and liberty were incorporated in the state’s constitution. Arguments presented by Ali Mazrui pointed out that the South Sudan’s movement led to the partition of the Sudan into Sudan proper, which is primarily Muslim, and South Sudan, which is primarily Christian and animistic.
In Europe, Alija Izetbegović, the first President of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, began to embrace the “Pakistan model” in the 1960s, alienating Serbs which would use this ideology to attack Bosniaks later on, while in his Islamic Declaration he “designated Pakistan as a model country to be emulated by Muslim revolutionaries worldwide.”
Memory and legacy
The Pakistan Movement has a central place in Pakistan’s memory. The founding story of Pakistan Movement is not only covered in the school and universities textbooks but also in innumerable monuments. Almost all key events are covered in Pakistan’s textbooks, literature, and novels as well. Thus, Fourteenth of August is one of major and most celebrated national day in Pakistan. To many authors and historians, Jinnah’s legacy is Pakistan.
The Minar-e-Pakistan is a monument which has attracted ten thousand visitors. The Minar-e-Pakistan still continues to project the memory to the people to remember the birth of Pakistan. Jinnah’s estates in Karachi and Ziarat has attracted thousands visitors.
Historian of Pakistan, Vali Nasr, argues that the Islamic universalism had become a main source of Pakistan Movement that shaped patriotism, meaning, and nation’s birth. To many Pakistanis, Jinnah’s role is viewed as a modern Moses-like leader; whilst many other founding fathers of the nation-state also occupies extremely respected place in the hearts of the people of Pakistan.
I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sind and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State. Self-government within the British Empire, or without the British Empire, the formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim State appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of North-West India.
At this solemn hour in the history of India, when British and Indian statesmen are laying the foundations of a Federal Constitution for that land, we address this appeal to you, in the name of our common heritage, on behalf of our thirty million Muslim brethren who live in Pakistan – by which we mean the five Northern units of India, Viz: Punjab, North-West Frontier Province (Afghan Province), Kashmir, Sind and Baluchistan – for your sympathy and support in our grim and fateful struggle against political crucifixion and complete annihilation.
It is extremely difficult to appreciate why our Hindu friends fail to understand the real nature of Islam and Hinduism. They are not religious in the strict sense of the word, but are, in fact, different and distinct social orders, and it is a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality, and this misconception of one Indian nation has troubles and will lead India to destruction if we fail to revise our notions in time. The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs, literature. They neither intermarry nor interdine together and, indeed, they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their aspect on life and of life are different. It is quite clear that Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different ethics, different heroes, and different episodes. Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other and, likewise, their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built for the government of such a state.”
Leaders and founding fathers
Main article: List of Pakistan Movement activists
- Muhammad Ali Jinnah
- Allama Muhammad Iqbal
- Aga Khan III
- Liaquat Ali Khan
- Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar
- Muhammad Zafarullah Khan
- A. K. Fazlul Huq
- Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi
- Ghulam Bhik Nairang
- Khwaja Nazimuddin
- Jalal-ud-din Jalal Baba
- Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
- Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad Malhi
- Maulana Zafar Ali Khan
- Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan
- Fatima Jinnah
- Abdullah Haroon
Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | <urn:uuid:ce01065d-9639-4b1f-9b4e-d9367d3303f9> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://slife.org/pakistan-movement/ | 2024-12-12T17:57:02Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066110042.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212155226-20241212185226-00802.warc.gz | en | 0.960111 | 7,850 | 3.953125 | 4 |
Stoneware is a type of pottery that has a coarse texture and is fired at high temperatures around 2,200°F. It is dense, non-porous, and less prone to chipping than other ceramic wares 1. Stoneware gets its name from its stone-like qualities – it has low absorption, which makes it suitable for holding liquids without leaking. It also has high thermal resistance, making it oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe.
Stoneware is commonly glazed to make it non-porous and improve its appearance. Unglazed stoneware has a rough, matte look and feel. The clay body can range from gray to brown in color. When fired, stoneware becomes vitrified, meaning the clay partly melts and fuses together. This makes stoneware durable, non-absorbent, and able to withstand thermal shock.
Due to its practical properties, stoneware is used to make a variety of functional and decorative items like dishes, mugs, vases, cookware and more. Both glazed and unglazed stoneware pieces can be found in homes and restaurants worldwide.
History of Stoneware
Stoneware originated in China as early as 1400 BCE during the Shang dynasty. A fine white stoneware called Yue ware was produced during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). Stoneware further developed during the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE). Chinese stoneware utilized local stoneware clay and was fired at high temperatures around 1200–1300 °C in dragon kilns up to 130 metres in length. The clays used for stoneware were high in kaolinite content which provided an attractive glossy and impermeable character to the fired stoneware. The Chinese exported stoneware extensively throughout Asia and stoneware production subsequently spread to Japan and Korea.
In Europe, stoneware was first made in 16th-century Germany around the Westerwald region. It was made in England starting in the late 17th century as documented by Johann Friedrich Bottger’s efforts to make true porcelain in 1708. The Germans and English specialized in utilitarian salt-glazed stoneware for everyday use. American stoneware was developed in the early 19th century when Americans began producing stoneware using local clays. The alkaline, iron-rich clays of North Carolina were well-suited to produce with salt glazing. By the 1840s, stoneware production was flourishing in the US in places like South Carolina and Ohio. The Americans developed defined stylistic practices in their stoneware, utilizing creative shaped vessels and combining various decorative techniques like incising, stamping, and Albany slip glazing. (Wikipedia, 2022)
Stoneware Clay Properties
Stoneware clay is composed of natural clay materials including kaolin, ball clay, feldspar, and quartz. The high feldspar content gives stoneware its defining properties. According to Stoneware Clay Properties – Ceramic Arts Daily Forums, feldspar serves as a flux, lowering the vitrification temperature to between 2200°F and 2300°F. The fine particle size of the clays and fluxes allow stoneware to be plastic and smooth when wet.
Compared to earthenware clays that mature at lower temperatures, stoneware is less porous and more durable after firing. The clay becomes vitreous, resulting in a non-absorbent, waterproof finished product. Its excellent workability makes stoneware a popular choice for handbuilding and throwing on the wheel. When fired, the clay achieves a solid, hard body that maintains its shape without warping or shrinking excessively. Glazes also melt and bond securely to the impervious surface.
Stoneware Firing Process
Firing is a crucial step in creating finished stoneware pottery. The purpose of firing clay is to permanently harden it through sintering, which bonds the clay particles together. Stoneware requires high firing temperatures typically between 2200°F to 2400°F (1200°C to 1315°C). There are several important stages in the stoneware firing process:
Bisque Firing: The first firing done to harden unfired clay and make it easier to handle. Bisque firing is done slowly, starting at 200°F and increasing to around 1800°F.
Glaze Firing: The bisque ware is coated with glaze and fired a second time to melt and cure the glaze. Glaze firing starts around 1600°F and increases to 2200-2400°F. The glaze melts and fuses with the clay body.
Reduction Firing: Exposing clay to an oxygen-starved environment during firing. This can create interesting colors and effects by drawing out gases from the clay body. Reduction firing requires meticulous control over temperature and atmosphere.
Once cooled, the stoneware has been permanently vitrified and transformed into a durable, non-porous ceramic material safe for household use.
For more details on the stoneware firing process, see this reference: Firing Up – Beginner’s Firing Guide
Types of Stoneware
There are several major categories and varieties of stoneware used in pottery and ceramics:
Unglazed Stoneware – This type does not have a glaze coating and the natural clay color is exposed. It is porous and must be sealed for functional use with liquids. Unglazed stoneware is valued for its natural rustic appearance.
Glazed Stoneware – Glazes provide an impervious coating that makes the stoneware non-porous and suitable for functional use with food and liquids. Glazes come in infinite colors and textures like glossy, matte, crystalline, etc. Popular modern glaze types include celadon, ash, and salt.
Transfer Printed – Decorated using transfer printing of images and patterns. Developed in England in the 1750s, it revolutionized the stoneware industry by allowing mass production of intricate designs.(Ref)
Albany Slip – A traditional brown or black glaze made from an Albany clay slip. Known for its glossy appearance and used frequently on early American stoneware.
Bristol Glaze – A rich creamy white or blue-white glaze used on American stoneware in the early 1900s. It was developed in Bristol, PA and gave pottery a porcelain-like appearance.
Glazes are an essential part of finishing and decorating stoneware pottery. They serve both aesthetic and functional purposes by adding color, texture, and making the clay non-porous and waterproof. Some common glazes used on stoneware include:
Incorporating Stoneware Into Your-studio provides tips on glazing stoneware. Stoneware glazes move during firing so it’s important to apply each coat in the same direction. Standard glazes like temmoku, celadon, and ash glazes work well on stoneware. More specialized glazes like copper red, crystalline, and soda glazes can create unique effects. Multiple glazes are often layered or combined on one piece to achieve more complex finishes.
Glazing techniques for stoneware involve brushing, dipping, pouring, and spraying. The viscosity and application method impacts the final texture and appearance. Heavily textured or intricately carved stoneware benefits from dipping or pouring to fully coat the surface. Smooth surfaces can be selectively brushed. Spraying achieves an even, uniform coat. Proper glaze fit, thickness, and firing schedule must be tested to ensure a high quality glazed result.
There are a few main methods for creating stoneware items today. The most common are throwing on a potter’s wheel, press molding, and handbuilding techniques like coiling and slab building. Many artists use a combination of techniques.
For throwing on the wheel, potters use a clay called stoneware clay which contains fireclay, feldspar and silica. It needs to be wedged well to remove air bubbles before throwing begins. Using the momentum of a spinning potter’s wheel, artists shape the clay into forms like bowls, vases, cups, and pitchers. This takes skill and practice to center the clay and raise up the walls evenly. A rib tool can refine the shape, and a sponge smooths the surface.1
Press molds involve pushing soft clay into pre-made plaster molds to form shapes like plates, platters, and tiles. The clay is rolled to an even thickness, placed in the mold, then compressed with a roller tool to pick up the mold’s design. Excess clay is trimmed off with a needle tool before the piece is removed from the mold.
Handbuilding techniques like coiling, pinch pots, and slab construction are often used to make decorative or functional ceramic art. Coiling involves rolling out and stacking coils of clay to build up vessel forms. Slab building uses flat slabs of clay joined together into shapes. Surface designs can be carved, stamped, or textured. Handbuilding allows great freedom and creativity in stoneware forms.
Whichever method is used, once the pieces are bone dry they are fired in a stoneware kiln. The high temperatures up to 2,200°F vitrify the clay into finished stoneware.
Notable Stoneware Artists
Some of the most famous ceramicists and potters in history have worked extensively with stoneware. These artists have mastered the unique properties and challenges of stoneware to create stunning functional pieces and works of art.
In the early 20th century, Danish ceramicist Gunnar Nylund became one of Rörstrand’s most famous stoneware artists. He led the stoneware department and created bold, modernist pieces often with matte glazes. Another Danish ceramicist, Knud Kyhn, was known for his whimsical animal figurines made of high-fire stoneware.
In Japan, stoneware artists like Shoji Hamada, Kanjiro Kawai, and Tatsuzo Shimaoka helped refine traditional Japanese folk pottery and stoneware into a modern art form. Their influence spread around the world and contributed enormously to the studio pottery movement.
Other influential stoneware potters include Peter Voulkos who pushed the boundaries of functional ceramics, Ruth Duckworth who blended Eastern and Western traditions, and Beatrice Wood whose cheeky female nudes made of lustrous stoneware became iconic.
Everyday Stoneware Uses
Stoneware is a popular type of pottery used to make a variety of household items. It is a durable, non-porous material that can withstand high temperatures, making it ideal for baking, cooking, and serving food. Some of the most common uses of stoneware in the home are:
Tableware – Stoneware is commonly used to make plates, bowls, mugs, and other dining ware. The non-porous nature prevents absorption of liquids and foods, making stoneware dishes easy to clean. Popular brands like Le Creuset and Emile Henry make stoneware dishes and tableware.
Cookware – Many Dutch ovens and casserole dishes are made from stoneware, which can withstand oven and stovetop temperatures up to 500°F. The excellent heat retention properties make stoneware suitable for slow cooking, braising, baking, and roasting. Top cookware brands using stoneware include Le Creuset, Staub, and Emile Henry.
Pottery – Stoneware clay is used to handcraft vases, pots, canisters, and other decorative pieces. Stoneware pottery can have enameled glazes in bright colors, or natural muted finishes. The daily use pieces tend to have simple glazes and shapes. Prominent pottery artists working in stoneware include Lisa Young, Elizabeth Kendrick, and Lindsay Oesterritter.
Outdoor Items – Many outdoor planters, urns, and garden pieces utilize weatherproof stoneware. The durability makes it suitable for outdoor use in all seasons. Stoneware won’t crack like terra cotta in cold winters. Campfire pots and outdoor cookware also rely on the resilient strength of stoneware.
With its versatility and ruggedness, stoneware is found in kitchens, dining rooms, living spaces, and gardens. The everyday household uses rely on the singular properties of this clay that withstand high heat, moisture, and daily wear-and-tear.
Caring for Stoneware
Properly caring for stoneware is important to keep it looking its best and extending its lifespan. There are a few key things to keep in mind when caring for stoneware items:
Cleaning – Use mild dish soap and warm water to hand wash stoneware. Avoid soaking stoneware and don’t use abrasive cleaners or scrubbers which can damage the finish. For stubborn stains, let the stoneware soak in warm soapy water before gently scrubbing with a soft cloth or brush.
Storage – Store stoneware in a cool, dry place away from extreme temperature fluctuations which can cause cracking. Stack items carefully and cushion with towels to prevent chipping. Avoid stacking different stoneware pieces tightly together as they may scratch.
Repair – Superglue or epoxy can repair minor chips and cracks. Use glue marketed as food-safe if repairing kitchenware. Larger cracks may require professional repair to maintain structure and prevent further damage. Severely damaged stoneware is best discarded and replaced.
With proper care and maintenance, high quality stoneware can last for many years of cooking, baking and serving. Handle with care and clean gently to maximize its lifespan. | <urn:uuid:61b3d6c7-9867-45ab-927d-1d816e833e4e> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://potterpalace.com/what-is-the-use-of-stoneware/ | 2024-12-14T15:27:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066125790.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20241214151042-20241214181042-00195.warc.gz | en | 0.93809 | 2,882 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Plants are the perfect addition to any garden or house and can turn an area that was once drab and lifeless into a colorful paradise.
Unfortunately, being a plant parent does still have its downsides, as there isn’t a single plant that is immune to diseases or pests.
Everyone will at some point experience an issue with a plant, so it is handy to know how to identify the problem and what to do about it.
Bug infestations can particularly be troublesome, but with the right advice and proper care, it is a matter that can be easily resolved.
Read on to find out what to do if you find tiny white bugs in your plant’s soil.
Table of Contents
Tiny White Bugs in Soil
If you have noticed tiny white bugs in your soil, it could be a result of a springtail, mealybug, or soil mite infestation. These pests live off of your plant and the debris in the soil, but can be easily removed by using pesticides or by simply repotting your plant into clean, fresh compost.
Little White Bugs in Soil — Identification
Springtails are aptly named for their fork-like tails, and their ability to jump up to 10 times their height.
They come in a variety of colors but usually take the form of a light grey or yellow.
They are very fast-breeding, often leaving your soil riddled if left unnoticed.
However, they won’t actually cause any harm to your plant. They live off of mold and dead plant debris and don’t attack the plant or its roots at all.
They thrive and breed in moist environments, which is why the soil of your plant is often perfect for them.
Although these pests aren’t necessarily problem-free, especially if your infested plant is a houseplant.
When the springtail’s environment becomes dry and no longer holds the moisture they need, they will quickly seek out a new location that fits their needs.
This means that they could decide to take up a new home in parts of your home, such as in damp carpets or floorboards.
Mealybugs are tiny and white and may look like pieces of lint that have been scattered in the soil.
Unlike springtails, mealybugs can hold an active threat to your plant. They feed off of nutrients, which they could eventually strip the soil of if left untreated.
This could lead to leaves wilting, flowers dropping, and any future growth becoming disrupted.
Mealybugs don’t however burrow or create nests in the soil. They prefer to live on the undersides of leaves, but choose to lay their eggs on the surface of the soil.
Soil mites are very tiny bugs that are barely even visible to the naked eye. They are around the size of a pinhead and may look like small moving dots in the soil.
They usually live on the top few inches of soil and are completely harmless to your plant. Soil mites are even thought to have benefits to soil, especially if found in compost heaps.
Soil mites help to break down algae and fungus, which can, in turn, which make the nutrients easier to be absorbed by the plants.
They can however become unsightly and create a mess, especially if they choose to invade a potted houseplant.
Causes why tiny white bugs live in the soil
Many different factors could have caused these pests to seek a home in the soil of your plant.
Most bugs are attracted to the moisture in the soil, as the more moisture the soil holds the more bacteria there will be for these bugs to feed off of.
Ensure that you are only watering your plant as and when it is needed, and that you are not overwatering it.
Overwatering leads to a variety of diseases, with root rot at the forefront, which will in turn make your plant weak and more susceptible to infestations.
It is also possible that the bugs could have already been residing in the soil when it was purchased.
How to Get Rid of Tiny White Bugs in Houseplant Soil
There are many ways to get rid of tiny white bugs in your soil. Which method works best for you mainly depends on which kind of bug(s) you are dealing with.
Let’s have a closer look now at what you can do to free your plants from these annoying bugs.
Using organic pesticides
There are several chemical pesticides available for purchase from plant nurseries and garden centers, but I wouldn’t suggest using these unless your bug infestation has reached extreme lengths.
A solution of Neem oil and dish soap is a gentle solution that works very well on plant pests. Mix 2 tablespoons of oil and liquid soap in a gallon of water, and spray it all over the plant and soil.
Repeat the process every week, and the bugs should soon begin to disappear.
You can also choose to switch out the Neem oil for other solutions, such as Hydrogen Peroxide or even standard vegetable oil.
Transplanting your plant
If your infestation has reached an extreme, and no other solutions seem to keep them away then you should think about repotting your plant.
Start by carefully removing your plant from its soil, and then use water to thoroughly wash the roots.
You can then place your plant into a completely sanitized pot with fresh soil.
Ensure that you work on transplanting away from any other plants. This will minimize the risk of the bugs spreading.
Top tip – Always take great care when handling the roots of a plant, as damaging them could put your plant at risk of shock.
Preventing tiny white bug infestations
Tiny white bugs can appear in the soil of any plant, no matter how healthy they are. There are some interventions that you can do to prevent bug infestations.
Removing any fallen leaves and flowers from the soil will prevent the appearance of insects. Tiny white bugs often feed off of plant debris, are all more attracted to plants they can use as a good source of food.
I would additionally suggest creating a regular schedule in which you check all of your plants for signs of pests.
Most bugs can be found living in the top few inches of soil, so you only need to push back a small amount of soil to inspect your plant.
Tiny bugs that look like specks of dirt
Here are some of the most common tiny bugs that look like specks of dirt: Springtails, aphids, scale or fungus gnats.
Springtails are slender wingless insects that are white, grey, brown, or black.
They only grow about 1/8th of an inch long, and they have a forked tail. Springtails love moisture and flock to damp soil.
You can usually get rid of Springtails by reducing the amount of moisture in your soil and by taking care not to overwater your plants.
Once you have correctly identified that the dust-like insects on your plant are springtails, you can read up on how to get rid of them.
If you are not dealing with a springtails infestation, your enemy might actually be aphids. Aphids come in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, and pink, among others.
You can see aphids without a microscope, because they gather together in colonies, often on the undersides of new leaves and around other fresh, young plant material.
You can be pretty sure you have aphids if you notice sooty molds growing on your plants’ leaves and stems and on the top of their soil.
If you’re sure aphids are the source of a plant’s deteriorating health, check out this guide to aphid identification, control, and prevention.
However, these bugs that look like specks of dirt could also be scale.
Symptoms of scales include yellowing leaves, round brown markings, and stunted growth. As for what they look like?
They have small, slightly waxy, rounded bodies, and they attach themselves to plant stems and the undersides of leaves.
If you’re sure scale is the source of your problems, read up on the best hacks for getting rid of brown scale.
Last but not least, the culprit could also be fungus gnats. Gnats can look like little whizzing specks of dirt.
Despite being winged, fungus gnats are not particularly gifted at flying. They therefore tend to hang around at the base of plants, close to the soil, where they live.
Getting rid of fungus gnats is doable, so don’t despair if you realize that the bugs that look like specks of dirt on your plants are gnats.
Tiny white bugs that look like dust
The tiny white bugs that look like dust on your houseplant or in your garden are most likely spider mites or mealybugs.
If you notice lint- or dust-like dots on your soil, try not to panic. As long as you correctly identify the problem early enough, you should be able to prevent serious damage to your greenery.
Here is a list of the most common dust-like bugs that take up residence in plants.
Spider mites are so tiny that you might just think a colony of mites is an accumulation of dust. They have tiny, one-piece bodies and eight legs. They have two telltale dark spots on their backs, and they leave delicate webbing around the stems and underneath the leaves of plants.
Some spider mite varieties are more damaging than others and can drive a plant’s leaves to wilt, dry up, and lose color.
However, even the tamer varieties of spider mite can cause most plants distress and even be lethal to certain kinds of vegetation.
One common sign of spider mites is that a plant leaves develop smatterings of yellow dots the size of pin pricks.
Unlike many of the other pests in this list, spider mites love dry conditions. To reduce your risk of getting spider mites, keep soil gently moist and don’t let it dry out too much between waterings.
To solve your problem and get rid of these tiny bugs that look like dust, look into what kills spider mites and take action without delay.
Mealybugs have a grey, dust-colored exterior. They live in clusters and prefer to settle in the more difficult-to-reach areas of a plant (think the place where a leaf meets a stalk, the underside of a bud, between climbing vines and trees, etc.).
Mealybugs are sap-sucking pests, and different varieties of this species live on all levels of plants. There are some that prefer root systems and others that thrive on the top-most leaves.
The sap-sucking process results in mealybugs excreting a sugary substance onto the leaves and stems of the plants they inhabit. Sooty, black mold grows on this sugary excretion and is a clear sign of mealybugs.
Other symptoms of a mealybug infestation include miniature orange egg deposits covered by a translucent, waxy webbing. If you notice leaf drop, this is also a potential sign that your plant has a mealybug problem.
Once you’ve narrowed it down and come to the conclusion that the dust-like creatures on your plant are mealybugs, you can look into the best ways to get rid of mealybugs.
Fast-moving white bugs in soil
If you notice fast-moving white bugs in the soil around your garden plants or houseplants, they are thrips or whiteflies.
Don’t immediately assume that you’ve been a bad plant parent just because your household or outdoor greenery has become host to an insect population.
If you’re wondering where houseplants get bugs from, the answer is that they can come from innumerable sources. Even the most diligent houseplant owner will have to deal with creepy-crawlies at some point or other.
Thrips are a particularly busy houseplant pest. Basically, they move around quickly and don’t seem to need much rest.
If there are white bugs moving around rapidly in the soil of your houseplant, there is a good chance you are looking at the yellow and grey variety of thrips, which can appear white against dark soil.
To confirm whether you have thrips, look out for slender, winged, pale-yellow insects. Even the largest thrips never grow beyond a quarter of an inch in size, so keep your eyes peeled when checking your plant for these creatures.
Unfortunately, thrips can be pretty damaging to the plant life they inhabit. Like many other plant-dwelling critters, they suck sap, which often results in pale, lifeless leaves that subsequently drop.
Badly affected plants may start to distort in shape.
However, the worst thing about thrips is not the sap they suck, it is the viruses they carry that can be transmitted to plants.
If left untreated, a thrip-infested plant may die.
To treat your thrips-infested houseplant, make sure to read our article: Thrips Damage: Do This!
If you notice fast-moving white bugs flying around the soil of your houseplant, they may well be whiteflies.
Whiteflies live on the undersides of leaves, but they fly off the green parts of a plant quickly and are often seen resting on the soil beneath plants.
Are whiteflies damaging for plants? Unfortunately, these sapsuckers can wreak serious havoc on plants. These white bugs feed on plant juices, which causes distress to the affected plant.
Plants with whitefly infestations lose their strength and often begin to turn yellow and dry out. In severe cases, a whitefly infestation can be fatal for a plant.
To get rid of whiteflies, treat your plant with a soap or alcohol-based solution, or purchase a biodegradable, less-toxic insecticide.
Tiny white bugs that jump
If there are white bugs in the soil of your indoor or garden plant that are hopping about like magic beans, you are hosting springtails.
Springtails are thin, wingless insects that only grow to a maximum of less than a quarter inch long. They have telltale antennae, six legs, and forked tails that give them the ability hop impressively high.
To get rid of these jumping pests, you should allow your soil to dry out. Follow this up by treating your compost using a biodegradable soil drench.
Another helpful tip for ridding yourself of springtails is to use tape traps, which are usually used for eliminating fungus gnats.
Cut up these yellow fly traps into strips and place them over the surface of your houseplant or garden soil. Change the traps regularly.
How damaging are springtails? The good news is that, of all the white pests that could be inhabiting your plant, springtails are one of the most harmless.
This is because, unlike sapsuckers, they primarily feast on decomposing plant matter.
As a result, their impact on the plants they live in rent-free tends to be minimal. However, they are unsightly and proper plant care practice demands that you do your best to get rid of them.
Tiny white bugs at the bottom of the plant pot
Tiny white bugs at the bottom of a plant pot are usually soil mites or mealybugs.
Fortunately, soil mites are harmless for plants and can even help revitalize soil.
Soil mites make a point of avoiding healthy plant matter, which is great news for anyone who has just discovered them living in their houseplant pot.
Despite their benefits, however, they aren’t particularly attractive. If the mites keep producing, a plant pot that is playing host to them will be crawling, top-to-bottom.
The best thing to do to get rid of soil mites is to remove any rotting matter from your plant pot. This means repotting it.
If you’re wondering how to re-pot a houseplant, you need look no further. The excellent guide linked in the previous sentence will tell you all you need to know.
Mealybugs are tiny, white, fuzzy creatures like to stick to the undersides of leaves and to wedge themselves into any nook and cranny they can find. This includes on the underside of plant pots.
Are mealybugs harmful? Unfortunately, yes.
While you may not want to hear this, one of the best ways to get rid of mealybugs is to pick them off with your hands and dispose of them appropriately.
If you aren’t really into this, or if you’re looking for a hybrid solution, you can spray your soil and houseplant with a diluted methylated spirit. Mix a gallon of water with 15ml of spirit.
Pour the solution into the soil around your plant and spray affected plant leaves. After spraying, wait a few minutes and then wipe your plant down gently with a cloth and warm water.
White insects in soil
The white insects in the soil of a garden or houseplant pot are most likely mealybugs, spider mites, soil mites, springtails, or whiteflies.
Unfortunately, there is no one-stop solution to rid your soil of insects, because eliminating each of these critter varieties requires a different approach.
That said, the first step is to identify what the small white bugs in your soil are. Once you have done this, you’ll need to look into the specific treatment appropriate for each of these bugs.
As a rule, pick mealybugs off manually and get rid immediately. You can also spray the affected plant with an isopropyl alcohol solution.
You can also use 25 percent rubbing-alcohol solution to rid your plants of spider mites.
Spray your plant and its soil. Leave for five minutes, before wiping off the solution using a warm, damp towel. Repeat the process every other day until all signs of spider-mite life have disappeared.
To eliminate soil mites, you will need to re-pot your plant in fresh compost.
Sprinkle some cinnamon on the new soil and rub a neem oil-mixture into the fresh compost for a natural solution to this pesky (though ultimately harmless) problem.
To get rid of springtails, dry out your soil and treat it with a non-toxic soil drench.
Getting rid of whiteflies is best achieved with a homemade soap solution.
Mix one part dishwashing liquid with ten parts water. Pour the resulting solution into the soil of your plant. You’ll also want to spray or massage it onto the leaves of the affected plant.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tiny White Bugs in Soil
How long will it take for my plant to recover from tiny white bugs in the soil?
Once the tiny white bugs are killed and removed, you should see almost instant signs of recovery.
Will using mulch attract tiny white bugs?
Whether or not you use mulch will not make a difference. You should be sure not to over-mulch your plant, as this will the soil too moist and could result in a bug infestation.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables. | <urn:uuid:4139fb7b-f070-498b-a864-34e14d780de0> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://plantophiles.com/plant-diseases/tiny-white-bugs-in-soil/ | 2024-12-07T19:59:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066431606.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20241207194255-20241207224255-00660.warc.gz | en | 0.956048 | 4,102 | 2.890625 | 3 |
What are the different types of traditional diets?
Explore answers to 'What are the different types of traditional diets?' Uncover the nuances of culinary heritage from around the world in this guide.
What are the different types of traditional diets?
Traditional diets have been followed by various cultures around the world for centuries and offer a wide range of culinary heritage and health benefits. These diets focus on plant-based foods, lean proteins, and locally sourced, minimally processed ingredients. They incorporate a variety of spices, herbs, rice, and beans, while also including animal protein and fat. Some animal products are even consumed raw in certain traditional diets. Additionally, traditional dietsoften prioritize the use of soaked, sprouted, fermented, or naturally leavened seeds, grains, and nuts to enhance nutritional absorption. These diets also maintain a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids and include ingredients like salt and bone broth. Traditional cultures understand the importance of nourishing future generations, providing nutrient-rich foods for parents-to-be, pregnant women, growing children, and teaching the principles of a healthy diet to young individuals.
- Traditional diets have been followed by diverse cultures worldwide for centuries.
- These diets emphasize plant-based foods, lean proteins, and locally sourced, minimally processed ingredients.
- Traditional diets often incorporate spices, herbs, rice, and beans.
- Animal protein and fat are consumed, and some animal products are eaten raw in certain traditional diets.
- Soaked, sprouted, fermented, or naturally leavened seeds, grains, and nuts are common in traditional diets.
The Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet, popular in countries like Greece and Italy, emphasizes the consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats like olive oil. This traditional diet is not only delicious but also offers a wide range of health benefits.
One of the key benefits of the Mediterranean diet is its heart-healthy nature. The inclusion of foods like olive oil, which is rich in monounsaturated fats, helps to reduce the risk of heart disease. Additionally, the abundance of fruits and vegetables in this diet provides important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall cardiovascular health.
Another advantage of the Mediterranean diet is its potential to promote weight management. The focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods, along with lean proteins and healthy fats, can help individuals maintain a healthy weight or achieve weight loss goals. The diet's emphasis on portion control and mindful eating further supports this.
Lastly, the Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest and most sustainable diets for the planet. It encourages the consumption of locally sourced, seasonal foods, reducing the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. The emphasis on plant-based foods also contributes to a more environmentally friendly approach to eating.
The African Heritage Diet
The African Heritage diet is rooted in the diverse food traditions of Africa, with an emphasis on plant-based foods, lean proteins, and a variety of spices and herbs. This diet encompasses the culinary practices of many African countries and regions, each with its own unique flavors and ingredients.
A key feature of the African Heritage diet is the abundant use of fruits and vegetables, such as okra, collard greens, sweet potatoes, and various types of beans. These plant-based foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber, while also adding vibrant colors and flavors to traditional African dishes.
In addition to plant-based foods, lean proteins like fish, poultry, and legumes are also commonly incorporated into the African Heritage diet. This combination of plant-based and protein-rich foods creates a balanced and nutritious eating pattern.
Spices and herbs play a significant role in African cuisine, adding depth and complexity to dishes. Commonly used spices include cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and garlic. These flavorful additions not only enhance the taste of the food but also offer potential health benefits.
The African Heritage diet reflects the rich cultural and culinary history of the continent, showcasing the importance of local, seasonal, and minimally processed ingredients. By embracing this traditional eating pattern, individuals can enjoy a diverse range of flavors while nourishing their bodies with wholesome and nutritious foods.
The Asian Heritage Diet
The Asian Heritage diet encompasses a diverse array of cuisines, each with its own unique flavors and ingredients, but all generally emphasizing rice, vegetables, seafood, and the use of spices and fermented foods. This traditional diet is known for its health-promoting qualities and its ability to provide a balanced and nutritious eating pattern.
In Asian cuisine, rice is a staple food and forms the foundation of many meals. It is often accompanied by a variety of vegetables, such as bok choy, bamboo shoots, and bean sprouts, which add color, texture, and vital nutrients to the dishes. Seafood, including fish, shrimp, and squid, is also a common component of the Asian Heritage diet, providing lean sources of protein and essential fatty acids.
A key characteristic of Asian cuisine is the use of spices and fermented foods. Spices like ginger, garlic, and chili peppers are used extensively in Asian cooking, not only for their flavor-enhancing properties but also for their potential health benefits. Fermented foods, such as kimchi, miso, and soy sauce, are rich in probiotics and enzymes that can support digestion and promote gut health.
Overall, the Asian Heritage diet offers a wide range of delicious and nutritious dishes that reflect the diverse cultures and traditions of Asia. Incorporating elements of this traditional diet can contribute to a wholesome and balanced eating pattern that emphasizes whole foods, healthy fats, and a variety of plant-based ingredients.
The Latin American Diet
The Latin American diet showcases the vibrant flavors and ingredients of countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, featuring staples such as corn, beans, tropical fruits, and a variety of meat and fish dishes. This traditional food diet is known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse culinary traditions that have been passed down through generations, contributing to the overall health and well-being of Latin American communities.
Traditional eating patterns in Latin America prioritize the use of whole, unprocessed foods, emphasizing the consumption of plant-based foods like corn and beans as a source of energy and essential nutrients. These ingredients are often combined with a variety of herbs, spices, and tropical fruits, adding layers of flavor to dishes.
One key aspect of the Latin American diet is the inclusion of a diverse range of protein sources. While meat and fish are commonly consumed, legumes like beans and lentils are also widely incorporated. This combination provides a well-balanced intake of essential amino acids, helping to maintain muscle mass and support overall health.
Furthermore, the Latin American diet often includes cooking techniques such as grilling, braising, and slow-cooking, which helps to retain the nutritional value of the ingredients and enhance their flavors. This approach to food preparation contributes to the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of meals.
The Native American Diet
The Native American diet reflects the deep connection between indigenous communities and their natural surroundings, with an emphasis on native plants, game meats, and sustainable foraging practices. Traditional Native American diets varied across different tribes and regions, but they shared common principles that focused on utilizing locally sourced ingredients that were abundant in their natural environments.
Key Components of the Native American Diet:
- Native Plants: Native American diets heavily relied on the consumption of indigenous plants such as corn, beans, squash, wild rice, berries, and tubers. These plant-based foods provided essential nutrients and fiber.
- Game Meats: Traditional Native American diets included lean proteins like venison, bison, rabbit, and other game meats, which were hunted or caught in the wild. These meats were a valuable source of protein and essential fatty acids.
- Sustainable Foraging: Native American communities practiced sustainable foraging techniques, gathering edible plants, mushrooms, nuts, and seeds from the surrounding landscapes. This approach ensured the preservation of natural resources and a diverse diet.
Native American diets emphasized the use of traditional food preparation methods, such as soaking, sprouting, fermenting, or naturally leavening seeds, grains, and nuts. These techniques enhanced nutrient absorption and improved digestion. Additionally, the inclusion of salt and bone broth provided essential minerals and nutrients to support overall health.
Traditional Native American cultures understood the importance of nourishing future generations. Nutrient-rich foods were prioritized for parents-to-be, pregnant women, and growing children. Teaching the principles of a healthy diet to the young ensured the preservation of cultural heritage and the promotion of overall well-being within their communities.
The Nordic Diet
The Nordic diet, prevalent in countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, centers around locally sourced ingredients like fish, whole grains, root vegetables, berries, and dairy products. It embodies the traditional eating patterns of the Nordic region, prioritizing the consumption of wholesome, nutrient-rich foods.
This diet emphasizes the inclusion of fatty fish, such as salmon and herring, which are abundant in omega-3 fatty acids, known for their heart-healthy properties. Whole grains, like rye bread and oats, provide complex carbohydrates and fiber, promoting steady energy levels and digestive health. Root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, and turnips, are staples in Nordic cuisine, adding both flavor and nutritional value.
Berries, such as lingonberries and bilberries, are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, while dairy products like yogurt and cheese contribute to the diet's calcium and protein content. The Nordic diet also encourages the use of traditional food preparation methods, such as fermenting, pickling, and smoking, which enhance flavors and increase the bioavailability of certain nutrients.
By following the Nordic diet, individuals can enjoy a varied and balanced eating pattern that promotes overall health and well-being. With an emphasis on locally sourced, minimally processed foods, this traditional diet reflects the cultural heritage and sustainable practices of the Nordic region.
Key Elements of Traditional Diets
While each traditional diet has its own distinct characteristics, there are several key elements that are commonly found across different culinary traditions. These elements contribute to the health and vitality of those who follow traditional diets and play a significant role in preserving cultural heritage.
Locally sourced ingredients
One of the fundamental principles of traditional diets is the emphasis on using locally sourced ingredients. This ensures that the food is fresh, nutritious, and supports local farmers and food producers. By consuming locally sourced foods, traditional diets promote sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance food transportation.
Whole grains, beans, and legumes
Traditional diets prioritize whole grains, beans, and legumes as staple foods. These complex carbohydrates provide sustained energy and are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Whole grains like rice, barley, and quinoa, along with beans and legumes such as lentils and chickpeas, are also a good source of plant-based protein.
Spices, herbs, and fermentation
Spices and herbs are integral components of traditional diets, not only for their flavor-enhancing properties but also for their potential health benefits. Many herbs and spices have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that support overall well-being. Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt, are also common in traditional diets as they contribute to gut health by providing beneficial probiotics.
Preserving ancestral wisdom
Traditional diets go beyond just the food itself. They embody ancestral wisdom and cultural practices that have been passed down through generations. These diets not only nourish the body but also connect individuals to their heritage and promote a sense of belonging and identity.
By embracing and incorporating these key elements into our modern diets, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the wisdom of our ancestors and promote our own health and well-being.
Traditional diets offer a diverse range of culinary traditions from around the world, providing not only delicious meals but also promoting health and preserving cultural heritage for future generations.
These diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, African Heritage diet, Asian Heritage diet, Latin American diet, Native American diet, and Nordic diet, emphasize the consumption of plant-based foods, lean proteins, and locally sourced, minimally processed ingredients.
Traditional diets incorporate a variety of spices, herbs, rice, and beans, while also including animal protein and fats. Some cultures even consume certain animal products raw.
One unique aspect of traditional diets is the high food-enzyme content, achieved through practices like soaking, sprouting, fermenting, and naturally leavening seeds, grains, and nuts. Additionally, these diets maintain a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids and include ingredients like salt and bone broth.
Moreover, traditional cultures prioritize the health of future generations by providing nutrient-rich foods for parents-to-be, pregnant women, and growing children. They also pass down the principles of a healthy diet to the younger generation, ensuring the preservation of these dietary traditions.
By embracing traditional diets, individuals can not only enjoy a wide array of flavors but also nourish their bodies and honor the rich cultural heritage of these culinary traditions. | <urn:uuid:9d801660-7bd8-4cf4-b893-5a6f48b0cafe> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.bacchusgamma.org/diet-nutrition-1421/what-are-the-different-types-of-traditional-diets-658 | 2024-12-02T14:49:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066127559.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20241202125001-20241202155001-00404.warc.gz | en | 0.940391 | 2,697 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Kepler the Conniver (1571-1630). Philosophical choice over scientific veracity.
Part 3 of Science as Philosophy. Kepler's 'stolen data', models and philosophies.
Henri Poincaré: “A great deal of research has been carried out concerning the influence of the Earth’s movement. The results were always negative.” (1901 in La science et l’hypothèse, Paris, Flammarion, 1968, p. 182)
Sir Fred Hoyle: “…the geocentric theory of Ptolemy had proved more successful than the heliocentric of Aristarchus. Until Copernicus, experience was just the other way around. Indeed, Copernicus had to struggle long and hard over many years before he equaled Ptolemy, and in the end the Copernican theory did not greatly surpass that of Ptolemy. (Fred Hoyle, Nicolaus Copernicus: An Essay on his Life and Work, 1973, p. 5)
We will split the analysis of Kepler into 2 parts to keep it short. In this post we will discuss the background and philosophies which provide the foundations for Kepler’s amendment of Copernican theory. In the next post we will analyse his claims and ‘proofs’.
Copernicus provided no proof for his heliocentric theory of cosmological organization. The 2 men quoted above knew this. His system possessed more ellipticals or quants than the Ptolemaic and his underlying assumption that planetary motions followed circles within a ‘crystalline sphere’ was wrong. The accuracy of the Copernican system is inferior to that of the Tychonic. Copernicus the Confused’s primary work De Revolutionibus, was poorly written, devoid of factual evidence and based largely on Platonic religio-philosophy. Another example of Scientism.
In the early 17th century, it was Kepler who rescued the detritus of heliocentricity from the Copernican confusion. The earnest German Lutheran developed an elliptical model for the orbits of the planets, basically imitating Ptolemy. This seemed to make things run more logically for the heliocentric system. Kepler presented these ideas in his famous work Astronomia Nova in 1609, at about the same time that Galileo began agitating for heliocentrism, although like Copernicus, he provisioned no proof nor even rational arguments for the system.
In 1577 Tycho Brahe discovered and charted the course of a comet, proving that Copernicus’ ‘proof’ for ‘crystal spheres’ in outer space, within which planets rotated around the Sun was false. The comet circling the Sun would have crashed into the spheres. Copernican theory was therefore invalidated. Enter Kepler.
Your philosophy matters
Kepler performed his work in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His mother was tried as a witch and a relative was executed as one. Though pious and serious Lutherans, it appears that the Kepler’s dabbled in black magic and the occult (J. A. Connor, Kepler’s Witch, 2004, pp. 275-307). Such an attitude and predisposition would of course affect this astronomical work. Kepler, like Copernicus, also believed in the Platonic worship of the Sun.
Kepler’s Rationalist-Platonic philosophy was paramount. In one passage he described his veneration of the Sun: “Who alone appears, by virtue of his dignity and power, suited…and worthy to become the home of God himself, not to say the first move.” (Kepler, De Harmonice Mundi, 1619). The worship of the Sun as the prime ‘cause’ in God’s universe and an expression of God itself was common in the 16th and 17th centuries. The above phrase is not unique to Kepler or to early Copernicans. They truly worshipped the Sun.
Kepler was also a Grecophile. He was heavily influenced by Greek thought, and particularly the Pythagorean concept of the harmony of the spheres. Physics today, in areas such as quantum mechanics, still hearkens back to Pythagorean ‘symmetry’. Kepler employed the concept of harmonic ratios to develop his third law of motion where the cube of a planet’s orbital period is proportional to the square of its distance from the Sun. Kepler attributes divinity to this complex geometry: “Geometry, coeternal with the divine mind before the origin of things, God himself (for what is there in God that is not God himself) has supplied God with the examples for the creation of the world” (Johannes Kepler, De Harmonice Mundi, 1619).
Kepler’s third law of motion was based on ancient Greek maths. In his first book on astronomy in 1596 entitled Mysterium Cosmographicum, Kepler defended the Copernican system by asserting that the planets’ orbits were tied into the ratios of the Platonic solids. In this book Kepler states that each of the five Platonic solids can be encased in a sphere and thus produce six circular layers corresponding to the six orbits of the known planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
By a precise ordering of the solids: octahedron, icosahedron, dodecahedron, tetrahedron, and cube, Kepler showed that the spheres could be made to correspond to the orbits of the planets. However, this meant jettisoning the entire system of Copernicus except 2 axiomatic claims; that the Earth rotates and revolves, and that the Sun is still.
Kepler had a difficult time explaining why and how the planets would orbit a motionless Sun. The Sun’s lack of motion is still unexplained within cosmology. After reading William Gilbert’s book on magnetism in 1600, Kepler offered the solution that the magnetic pull of the Sun was responsible for the attraction of the planets and their orbital motion. This has long been discredited of course. During this period Newton was still in the future. Copernican theology had and indeed still has a problem. Why do planets orbit the Sun in such a regular and timelessly accurate pattern? (Cohen, Revolution in Science, pp. 125-126)
Tycho Brahe was a contemporary of Kepler and the greatest of astronomers during that period. His detailed charts and observations over 40 years, compiled in the world’s first observatory in Denmark, were unique. Modern telescopic observation reveals that, without ever using a telescope, Brahe’s star charts were consistently accurate to within 1 minute of arc or better. His observations of planetary positions were reliable to within 4 minutes of arc, which was more than twice the accuracy produced by the best observers of antiquity.
With this data Brahe proposed the Tychonic system, namely a mix of geocentricity and heliocentricity. The Earth is immobile, and the Sun orbits the Earth, and the planets orbit the Sun. Using modern scientific ‘postulates’, the Tychonic model explains the ‘phenomena’ at least as well and probably better than the heliocentric.
Kepler worked for Brahe for about one year. It was with Brahe that Kepler accessed the pot of gold, namely Brahe’s indefatigably detailed charts. Brahe never formerly granted Kepler access to his charts. It is likely that Kepler stole or copied the information. There are whispers that he murdered Brahe to get a hold of this sacred work (mercury poisoning, disputed and no one will ever know).
Kepler could have combined his maths skills with Brahe’s observations and ‘proven’ the Tychonic model. But this would only reinforce the great man’s mythology. How much better would it be for Kepler to ‘prove’ his own, rather novel view of Copernicanism using Brahe’s own data, and displace the great man and become a greater man?
“And Tycho knew that the gifted Kepler had the mathematical wherewithal to prove the validity of the Tychonic [geocentric] system of the heavens. But Kepler was a confirmed Copernican; Tycho’s model had no appeal to him, and he had no intention of polishing this flawed edifice to the great man’s ego” (Alan W. Hirshfeld, Parallax: The Race to Measure the Universe, 2001, pp. 92-93)
Without Brahe’s charts, Kepler would have been just another 17th century astronomer struggling to make a living by reading astrological horoscopes and making inane predictions of the future a la Nostradamus. Kepler possessed little evidence upon which to base his theory regarding the motions of the planets, independent of what he stole or ‘borrowed’ from Brahe. No Brahe, no Keplerian system.
This statement is true given that the mirror opposite of Kepler’s model is the Tychonic system. Whatever improvements Kepler made to the Copernican system were automatically true for Brahe’s, even if Kepler failed to apply them. In Brahe’s model the Sun is in orbit around the Earth, while all the planets orbit the Sun.
Therefore all the distances, geometry and velocities of the Kepler-heliocentric system are identical with that of Brahe’s. For example, in answer to Galileo’s complaint about Venus, in the Tychonic system Ptolemy’s deferent (an epicycle or geometric explanation of motion), of Venus is now outside the Sun, and thus all of Venus’ phases can be seen from Earth. There is therefore no difference in ‘science’ or ‘maths’ between the Keplerian and the Tychonic models. Both ‘save the phenomena’.
Interpreting the data
Kepler’s geometrical modification didn’t prove that the discredited Copernicus and his Sun-centred, crystalline spheres of a system was accurate. It merely revealed Kepler’s preferences, since he knew that, if the same elliptical modifications were given to the reigning geo-helio-centric model of Tycho Brahe, they would have shown heliocentrism to be merely an alternative system, not a superior one.
By the time of Kepler, most astronomers understood, unlike Copernicus, that planetary orbits are not perfect circles though they may be very close to being just that. When Kepler analysed the orbit of Mars, he found that its deviation from a circle was only one part in 450. This is the same deviation Ptolemy found for Mars, which was demonstrated by his equant. In other words, Kepler’s system is no more accurate or predictive than even the Ptolemaic (Owen Gingrich, The Book that Nobody Read, p. 53).
Kepler, like Copernicus and like Galileo, used his philosophical and occultist philosophies as a basis for his interpretation of the data. Kepler desired to outdo the ‘great man’ Tycho Brahe. He understood quite well the advantages which would accrue to himself if he could push the Copernican model. Besides ego and personal profit Kepler had a philosophical imperative. He demanded that the Earth move around the Sun as part of his Sun-worshipping theology but also as a part of the Earth’s great adventure in space, a moving platform so to speak, from which the human can view the magnificence of God’s creation:
“For it was not fitting that man, who was going to be the dweller in this world and its contemplator, should reside in one place of it as in a closed cubicle: in that way he would never have arrived at the measurement and contemplation of the so distant stars, unless he had been furnished with more than human gifts…it was his office to move around in this very spacious edifice by means of the transportation of the earth his home and to get to know the different stations, according as they are measurers, i.e., to take a promenade so that he could all the more correctly view and measure the single parts of his house” (Kepler’s Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae, 1618, 1620)
This is a very queer expostulation from a ‘scientist’. The Earth should move in the heavens, as an owner moves in his house, room by room, to better appreciate the entirety of his dwelling? Yet Kepler could not explain why or how the Earth moved and why it would move in the same pattern. The peregrination of the Earth is therefore unexplained and according to his model, monotonous and rather limited. It affords no great opportunity for ‘adventure’, or ‘room’ analysis.
In the next post we will discuss the ‘proofs’ for Kepler’s claim and for Copernicanism as an amended model. Not surprisingly ‘the science’ understands perfectly well that the Copernican model is a philosophical choice, not a scientific ‘fact’. This of course is never taught or discussed. All hail.
==Posts in this series | <urn:uuid:ed023605-f9f0-4265-a357-76201d6644a5> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://unstabbinated.substack.com/p/kepler-the-conniver-1571-1630-philosophical?open=false#%C2%A7scientism | 2024-12-13T08:21:25Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066116599.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20241213074100-20241213104100-00165.warc.gz | en | 0.955516 | 2,832 | 3.1875 | 3 |
FLiRT: A Comprehensive Guide to the New COVID-19 Variants
FLiRT: New Covid-19 Variant explore an in-depth exploration of the latest mutation. Gain insights into their potential impact on public health measures!
COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, emerged in late 2019 and quickly became a global pandemic. It primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact with infected individuals. Symptoms range from mild to severe and include fever, cough, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. To combat the pandemic, vaccines were developed and distributed worldwide, offering protection against severe illness and death.
Throughout the pandemic, several variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have emerged, characterized by mutations in their genetic code. These variants often exhibit differences in transmissibility, severity of illness, and potential evasion of immunity from previous infection or vaccination. Some notable variants include Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), and Delta (B.1.617.2).
Understanding hypothetical variants like FLiRT (Frequent Low-intensity Respiratory Transmission) involves considering potential characteristics based on theoretical scenarios. While FLiRT is not an actual variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, discussing it can help illustrate the importance of monitoring and studying new variants.
The FLiRT variant is a made-up concept to imagine what a hypothetical version of the COVID-19 virus might be like. It stands for “Frequent Low-intensity Respiratory Transmission.” We use it to talk about a situation where the virus spreads easily between people but might not make them very sick. While FLiRT isn’t real, thinking about it helps us prepare for possible changes in the virus and how to respond to them.
🦠 Transmission Dynamics: FLiRT may be characterized by frequent but low-intensity respiratory transmission. This means that it spreads easily between individuals but may not necessarily cause severe illness or result in high hospitalization rates. Understanding this transmission pattern is crucial for assessing the overall impact on public health and healthcare systems.
🦠 Clinical Manifestations: Given its low-intensity transmission, FLiRT may present with mild symptoms or even be asymptomatic in many cases. This aspect could make it challenging to detect and control compared to variants that cause more severe illness, as individuals may not realize they are infected and continue to spread the virus unknowingly.
🦠 Vaccine Evasion: While FLiRT may not necessarily evade immunity from vaccination entirely, it could potentially pose challenges in terms of vaccine effectiveness. Variants that cause milder illness may still lead to breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals, highlighting the importance of ongoing vaccination efforts and possibly the need for booster doses to enhance immunity against emerging variants.
🦠 Public Health Response: Understanding FLiRT and similar hypothetical variants underscores the need for robust surveillance systems and adaptive public health strategies. Even if a variant does not cause widespread severe illness, its high transmissibility could still lead to significant community transmission if left unchecked. Therefore, proactive measures such as testing, contact tracing, and targeted interventions may be necessary to prevent outbreaks and control transmission.
🦠 Future Preparedness: While FLiRT may be a theoretical concept, it highlights the ever-evolving nature of infectious diseases and the importance of preparedness for emerging threats. By studying hypothetical variants and their potential characteristics, researchers can anticipate future challenges and develop strategies to mitigate their impact on public health.
Genetic characteristics and mutations
As FLiRT is a hypothetical variant, it doesn’t have specific genetic characteristics or mutations. However, if we were to speculate on its genetic makeup, it might have mutations that allow for increased transmissibility while potentially causing milder symptoms compared to other variants. These mutations could affect various parts of the virus’s genome, such as the spike protein, which plays a crucial role in viral entry into cells and immune recognition. Again, it’s important to note that FLiRT is a theoretical concept used for discussion purposes rather than a real variant with identified genetic mutations.
Comparison with other known COVID-19 variants
Characteristic | FLiRT Variant | Alpha Variant (B.1.1.7) | Delta Variant (B.1.617.2) |
Transmission | Frequent, low-intensity | High | Very high |
Severity of Illness | Mild | Moderate to severe | Moderate to severe |
Symptoms | Often mild or asymptomatic | Similar to original strain | Similar to original strain |
Vaccine Evasion Potential | Low | Some reduced efficacy possible | Some reduced efficacy possible |
Transmissibility Impact on Public Health | Moderate | Significant | Very significant |
Remember, FLiRT is a hypothetical variant, so its characteristics are speculative. Actual variants like Alpha and Delta have been identified and studied extensively, contributing to our understanding of COVID-19’s evolution.
Transmission and Spread
FLiRT, being a hypothetical variant, is conceptualized to exhibit frequent but low-intensity respiratory transmission. This means it could spread easily between individuals, possibly through respiratory droplets, but may not cause severe illness or lead to high rates of hospitalization.
The spread of FLiRT could be akin to a common cold or mild flu, where infected individuals might not realize they’re sick or have only mild symptoms, potentially making it more challenging to detect and control compared to variants causing more severe illness. However, its ease of transmission could still contribute to community spread if not managed effectively through public health measures such as testing, contact tracing, and vaccination.
FLiRT: Factors contributing to the rapid transmission
🦠 High Infectivity: FLiRT might possess genetic mutations that enhance its ability to infect cells and replicate rapidly within the host, leading to higher viral loads and increased shedding of the virus, thereby facilitating its spread to others.
🦠 Asymptomatic Transmission: Individuals infected with FLiRT may not exhibit noticeable symptoms or may only experience mild symptoms, allowing them to unknowingly spread the virus to others, particularly in settings where asymptomatic transmission is common.
🦠 Short Incubation Period: FLiRT may have a shorter incubation period compared to other variants, meaning individuals become infectious soon after exposure, increasing the likelihood of transmission before symptoms develop or are recognized.
🦠 ariability in Viral Shedding: FLiRT could exhibit variability in viral shedding patterns, with some individuals shedding higher viral loads for longer durations, increasing the chances of transmission to others, especially in close-contact settings.
🦠 Potential Immune Evasion: While FLiRT is speculated to cause milder illness, it may still possess mutations that allow it to evade immune responses to some extent, potentially leading to reinfections or breakthrough cases in previously infected or vaccinated individuals, contributing to ongoing transmission.
🦠 Behavioral Factors: Social and behavioral factors, such as relaxed adherence to preventive measures like mask-wearing and physical distancing, increased travel and mobility, and gatherings in indoor settings with poor ventilation, could further facilitate the rapid spread of FLiRT within communities.
The clinical impact of the hypothetical FLiRT variant, characterized by its speculated milder illness compared to variants like Alpha and Delta, would likely manifest in several distinct ways. With its tendency to cause less severe symptoms, FLiRT could lead to fewer hospitalizations and decreased rates of mortality among infected individuals.
This reduced severity could also alleviate the burden on healthcare systems, sparing resources for other medical needs and potentially mitigating the strain experienced during surges in COVID-19 cases. However, the mildness of FLiRT’s symptoms may pose challenges in detection and diagnosis, as individuals may not recognize their illness as COVID-19 and therefore may not seek testing or medical care promptly.
Consequently, there is a risk of underestimating FLiRT’s true prevalence and impact on public health, particularly if surveillance systems primarily rely on symptomatic cases for detection. Despite its mild clinical presentation, ongoing monitoring of FLiRT’s long-term health implications, such as the potential for persistent symptoms (long COVID) or complications, would be essential to fully understand its ramifications.
Additionally, assessing FLiRT’s impact on vaccine effectiveness and the need for booster doses or adjustments to vaccination strategies would be crucial to ensure continued protection against emerging variants.
Looking ahead, the hypothetical FLiRT variant presents both opportunities and challenges in the ongoing battle against COVID-19. Its speculated milder illness could offer a reprieve from the severe cases and strain on healthcare systems seen with other variants. This could lead to a gradual return to normalcy, with fewer hospitalizations and a reduced sense of urgency surrounding pandemic response measures. However, the mildness of FLiRT’s symptoms may also foster complacency, potentially hindering efforts to maintain vigilance and control over the virus’s spread.
Additionally, the possibility of underestimating FLiRT’s prevalence and impact highlights the need for robust surveillance and monitoring systems capable of detecting and responding to emerging threats swiftly. Furthermore, ongoing research into FLiRT’s long-term health implications, vaccine effectiveness, and potential for mutation and evolution remains essential to inform future public health strategies. Ultimately, while FLiRT’s hypothetical characteristics may offer some respite, continued diligence and adaptability will be crucial in navigating the evolving landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In conclusion, the FLiRT variant serves as a hypothetical lens through which we explore the potential trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speculated to cause milder illness compared to other variants, FLiRT offers a glimpse of a future where the severity of the disease may diminish. While this could alleviate pressure on healthcare systems and signal a return to normalcy, it also poses challenges in detection and response, potentially leading to complacency and underestimation of its impact.
To navigate this uncertain terrain, continued surveillance, research, and adaptability will be essential. Vigilance in monitoring FLiRT’s prevalence, understanding its long-term implications, and assessing its effects on vaccine effectiveness will guide our response strategies. As we move forward, it’s imperative to remain proactive, flexible, and united in our efforts to overcome the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its potential variants.
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Jill Lynn is a versatile blogger and content creator who loves writing about a variety of topics. From travel and lifestyle to food and wellness, she shares her experiences and insights with readers around the world. With her authentic voice and engaging storytelling, Jill has built a strong online presence and a supportive community of followers. Her passion for writing and dedication to producing quality content continue to inspire others on their own journeys. | <urn:uuid:072ef069-0fcc-4aa9-9a34-59444aa2b720> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://legitpinoy.com/flirt-the-new-covid-19-variants-explained/ | 2024-12-03T12:11:13Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066137897.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20241203102227-20241203132227-00450.warc.gz | en | 0.929788 | 2,387 | 3.484375 | 3 |
The Oxford Philosophy Test is a pivotal step in showcasing your aptitude for philosophical reasoning. In this guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of the test, its format, and essential strategies for success. Whether you’re gearing up for the challenge or simply curious about the process, our insights aim to equip you with the tools needed to excel.
Let’s embark on this journey of philosophical exploration and preparation together.
The Oxford Philosophy Test – An Overview
The Oxford Philosophy Test stands as a formidable assessment, designed to scrutinise the analytical prowess, inference capabilities, and argumentative acumen of prospective students eyeing the joint course of Philosophy and Theology. Unlike conventional exams, this written paper spans 60 minutes, a duration meticulously calibrated to push candidates to their intellectual limits while showcasing their ability to think critically under pressure.
Within this timeframe, candidates are tasked with navigating a series of thought-provoking prompts and passages, each carefully crafted to challenge their comprehension, interpretation, and synthesis of philosophical concepts. The test aims to gauge not merely rote memorisation but rather the depth of understanding, the clarity of expression, and the capacity for nuanced reasoning that are quintessential to success in academic pursuits at Oxford.
Furthermore, the test serves as a litmus test for applicants, offering a glimpse into the academic rigour and intellectual rigidity characteristic of studying Philosophy and Theology at one of the world’s foremost institutions. Through its intricate design and rigorous evaluation criteria, the test not only sifts through candidates but also offers an opportunity for individuals to demonstrate their intellectual prowess and readiness to engage with the profound questions that define these disciplines.
The Importance of the Philosophy Test for Oxford Applicants
The Philosophy Test holds paramount importance for prospective students vying for admission to Oxford University, particularly those seeking entry into the joint course of Philosophy and Theology. This section delves into the multifaceted significance of the test, elucidating its pivotal role in shaping the academic trajectory and aspirations of applicants.
Showcase of Philosophical Reasoning:
First and foremost, the Philosophy Test provides an unparalleled platform for applicants to showcase prowess in philosophical reasoning. Through a series of meticulously crafted questions and prompts, the test offers candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to analyse complex concepts, discern underlying assumptions, and construct cogent arguments—a skill set that lies at the heart of academic inquiry within the realms of Philosophy and Theology.
Insight into Academic Structure and Skills:
Moreover, the structure of the test, coupled with the skills it targets under timed conditions, offers prospective students a nuanced glimpse into the nature of studying Philosophy and Theology at Oxford.
In essence, the test serves as a litmus test for candidates, offering Oxford University a discerning lens through which to identify individuals who possess the intellectual acumen, critical thinking skills, and passion for knowledge requisite for success within its hallowed halls.
The Philosophy Test Format
The Philosophy Test at Oxford University comprises two distinct parts, each demanding a focused approach and adept application of philosophical principles. In this section, we will delve into the format of the test, detailing the structure of each part and offering insights into effective preparation strategies.
Part A: Comprehension and Analysis
This segment begins with a short passage extracted from a philosophical or theological work, followed by two questions designed to assess comprehension and analytical skills. The first question typically requires candidates to explain a key aspect of the passage in their own words, emphasising clarity and precision in communication.
The second question delves deeper into the passage’s themes, requiring candidates to analyse the core argument or address an open-ended inquiry relevant to the text. Success in Part A hinges on the ability to articulate nuanced interpretations, engage critically with the material, and convey complex ideas concisely within the allotted time frame.
Part B: Argumentation and Synthesis
The second section offers candidates a choice of three questions, from which they must select one to answer. One question focuses on philosophical logic, prompting candidates to evaluate the structure of a valid argument and engage in critical analysis. The remaining options present broader essay topics spanning various disciplines such as politics, philosophy, theology, sociology, and psychology.
Candidates are expected to construct well-reasoned arguments, anticipate counterarguments, and articulate their perspectives cogently within the constraints of a 30-minute time limit. Part B underscores the importance of clarity, coherence, and depth of argumentation in philosophical discourse, preparing candidates for the rigorous academic challenges that lie ahead.
- Familiarise yourself with philosophical and theological texts relevant to the test content.
- Hone analytical and critical thinking skills through practice exercises and engaging with challenging material.
- Practice timed essay writing to improve efficiency and clarity of expression within the allocated time frame.
- Participate in discussions, debates, and study groups to deepen understanding and refine argumentation techniques.
- Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or instructors to identify areas for improvement and tailor study efforts accordingly.
- Develop a structured study routine, allocating dedicated time for content review, skill practice, and self-assessment.
- Stay updated on current events, philosophical debates, and relevant scholarly developments to enrich your analysis and enhance the relevance of your arguments.
- Practice mindfulness and stress-management techniques to maintain focus and composure during the test, maximising your performance under pressure.
Test Section | Focus | Duration |
Part A | Comprehension and Analysis | 30 minutes |
Part B | Argumentation and Synthesis | 30 minutes |
This structured approach to preparation will equip you with the tools and confidence necessary to navigate the Philosophy Test successfully, positioning you for academic excellence and intellectual growth at Oxford University.
5 Dos and Don’ts Every Student Must Know
Incorporating examples into your writing provides concrete illustrations that help clarify abstract concepts. Examples make your arguments more relatable and understandable to readers, enhancing the overall effectiveness of your communication.
Whether you’re discussing philosophical theories or theological concepts, weaving in real-world examples or hypothetical scenarios can make your points more vivid and memorable.
Explain your points:
Merely stating a point is insufficient; it’s crucial to provide thorough explanations that elucidate the reasoning behind your assertions. By explaining your points, you demonstrate a deeper understanding of the subject matter and allow readers to follow your thought process.
This clarity fosters engagement and facilitates meaningful dialogue, enabling others to grasp the significance of your arguments and perspectives.
Evaluation involves critically analysing arguments, evidence, and assumptions to assess their strengths and weaknesses. By evaluating different perspectives and considering alternative interpretations, you demonstrate intellectual rigour and open-mindedness. Evaluative skills are essential for constructing robust arguments, identifying logical fallacies, and engaging in constructive debate.
Whether you’re assessing the validity of a philosophical argument or evaluating the implications of a theological doctrine, incorporating evaluation into your writing enriches the depth and sophistication of your analysis.
Rely on jargon:
Using excessive jargon or technical language can alienate readers who are not familiar with specialised terminology. Avoiding jargon ensures that your writing remains accessible and inclusive, allowing a broader audience to engage with your ideas. Instead, strive for clarity and precision in your language, opting for straightforward explanations and avoiding unnecessary complexity.
Assert without argument:
Assertions without supporting arguments lack credibility and persuasive power. Avoid making unsubstantiated claims or assumptions; instead, provide reasoned arguments and evidence to support your assertions. By substantiating your claims with logical reasoning and empirical evidence, you bolster the validity and persuasiveness of your arguments, fostering intellectual integrity and rigour in your writing.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, mastering the Oxford Philosophy Test requires a combination of strategic preparation, critical thinking skills, and effective communication techniques. By embracing the do’s and avoiding the don’ts outlined in this guide, you can enhance your readiness to tackle this rigorous examination and excel in your academic pursuits. Remember to utilise resources or Philosophy Tutoring with Oxbridge Mind, a comprehensive platform offering tailored support and guidance for aspiring Oxford and Cambridge applicants.
With Oxbridge Mind’s expertise and personalised approach, you can navigate the challenges of the Philosophy Test with confidence and clarity. Contact us and take the next step towards academic success.
Is prior knowledge of specific philosophers or theological concepts necessary for the Oxford Philosophy Test?
It’s not essential to have prior knowledge of specific philosophers or theological concepts for the Oxford Philosophy Test. The exam is designed to assess analytical skills, critical thinking abilities, and the capacity to engage with philosophical and theological texts. While familiarity with foundational concepts may be beneficial, the test is structured to evaluate candidates’ reasoning and comprehension abilities rather than testing memorisation of specific content.
How can I effectively manage my time during the Oxford Philosophy Test?
Effective time management is crucial for success in the Oxford Philosophy Test. To optimise your performance, allocate specific time limits for each section of the exam and practice adhering to these time constraints during your preparation. Prioritise questions based on difficulty and marks allocated, ensuring that you allocate sufficient time to each task while allowing for review at the end. Additionally, practising under timed conditions and refining your pacing strategies can help improve your efficiency on test day.
How should I approach essay questions in Part B of the Philosophy Test?
When tackling essay questions in Part B of the Philosophy Test, start by carefully analysing the prompt and identifying key themes or arguments to address. Structure your response logically, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that develop your arguments coherently, and a concise conclusion that summarises your main points. Support your arguments with evidence, examples, and reasoned analysis, demonstrating your depth of understanding and critical thinking skills. Remember to anticipate counterarguments and address them effectively to strengthen your overall argumentation.
What should I do if I encounter a question I’m unfamiliar with during the Oxford Philosophy Test?
If you encounter a question you’re unfamiliar with during the Oxford Philosophy Test, remain calm and approach it methodically. Begin by carefully reading the question and identifying key keywords or concepts. Draw upon your broader understanding of philosophical and theological principles to formulate a reasoned response, even if you’re not familiar with the specific topic. Focus on conveying your thoughts clearly and logically, utilising analytical skills and critical reasoning to address the question to the best of your ability.
How can I stay focused and manage test anxiety during the Oxford Philosophy Test?
To stay focused and manage test anxiety during the Oxford Philosophy Test, adopt effective relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises or visualisation to calm your nerves. Practice mindfulness and stay present in the moment, avoiding dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about future outcomes. Maintain a positive mindset, reminding yourself of your preparation and capabilities. Additionally, prioritise self-care in the days leading up to the test, ensuring you get adequate rest, nutrition, and exercise to optimise your mental and physical well-being. | <urn:uuid:bbe87da0-b1e0-43b0-a507-4d10a4a6a93b> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://oxbridgemind.co.uk/ucas/how-to-prepare-for-the-oxford-philosophy-test/ | 2024-12-12T20:47:34Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066113162.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212190313-20241212220313-00529.warc.gz | en | 0.878263 | 2,245 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Welcome to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Information Page.
Here you will find all you need to know about the natural history of the park.
Learn about the geology, trees, mammals, birds, or other plants and wildlife of the area.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 4,000 species of plants that grow there. A walk from mountain base to peak compares with traveling 1,250 miles north. Several resident plants and animals live only in the Smokies. It also has a rich cultural history. From the Cherokee Indians, to the Scotch-Irish settlers, this land was home to a variety of cultures and people. Many historic structures remain standing. Subsistence turned to exploitation as logging concerns stripped the region of timber. Recovery is now the dominant theme.
There are 9,000,000 visits per year. The National Park Service must balance the needs of the land with the desires of the people both today and for the future.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee
The nearest major airports are Charlotte, North Carolina and Knoxville, Tennessee. There are smaller airports located at McGhee-Tyson in Alcoa, 45 miles west of Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Asheville Airport is 60 miles east of Cherokee, North Carolina. There is no train or bus service.
Toll-free US 441 Tunnel Information: 1-888-355-1849
Several major highways lead to the Park. The following routes provide access to the three main entrances.
From the East
Take I-81 South to I-40 South to Highway 411 South (Exit 407 Sevierville) to Stateroad 66 South, and continue to Highway 441 South to the Park.
From the West
From Knoxville take I-40 East to exit 386B to Highway 129 South to Alcoa/Maryville. At Maryville proceed on Highway 321 North through Townsend. Continue on Highway 73 to the Park.
In North Carolina
From the East
Take I-40 West to Highway 19 West through Maggie Valley to Highway 441 North at Cherokee, follow 441 North into the Park.
From the South
From Atlanta and points south, follow Highway 23 North and US 441 North to Highway 23 North to Highway 441 North to the Park.
Establishment the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Congress established the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on 15 Jun 1934, and turned its stewardship to the National Park Service. Land acquisition continued and on 02 Sep 1940, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt officially dedicated the park.
In 1923 when Mrs. Willis P. Davis of Knoxville visited the American West, she fell in love with America’s National Parks. Mrs. Davis felt the Smoky Mountains were worthy of such status. It is with this thought the Park Movement was born.
Size of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Acreage – as of September 23, 2000
- Federal Land – 520,976.63
- Non-Federal Land – 644.52
- Gross Area Acres – 521,621.15
History of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Europeans first settled Cades Cove in 1818. Most migrated from the Watauga Settlement in northeast Tennessee. Before their arrival, Cades Cove was part of the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee called the cove Tsiyahi, “place of the river otter.” In addition to river otters, elk and bison lived in the Cove. Hunters extirpated them before settlement. The Cherokee never lived in the Cove, but they used it as a summer hunting ground. Arrowheads are common throughout the Cove.
Before the American Revolution, the Cherokee discouraged settlers. After the defeat of their English allies, they sought peace. Most Cherokees accepted this peace and the new United States government. They tried to integrate European technologies and culture with their own. The Cherokee adapted well. They built modern houses, attended school, and by 1820 they created a written language. The 1830 U.S. census showed more than 1,000 slaves working on Cherokee plantations.
Cades Cove is open sunrise to sunset, year-round, except during snow and ice removal. There are restrooms at all park visitor centers. A new fully accessible nature trail just south of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Newfound Gap Road is now open.
Ask at a visitor center for complete information.
All backcountry campers need a free backcountry permit. They are available at most ranger stations and visitor centers. Anyone staying overnight in the backcountry must camp in a designated site or shelter. Over 100 sites and shelters are located in the park. Campers need reservations to stay in all 16 shelters and at 14 other sites. To reserve a site or shelter, call 423-436-1231. The reservation office is open seven days a week during business hours.
Bike riding is an increasingly popular method of touring the Cove.
Great Smoky Mountain camping is primitive by design. Ten campgrounds operate in the Park. Besides sites nestled in the woods and along rivers, all campgrounds provide cold running water and flush toilets. No hook-ups are available in the Park.
First aid is available in the Park. Numerous medical facilities, including clinics and hospitals, are near the Park.
Entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free. Due to deed restrictions imposed when the Park was established, there are no entrance fees.
Activity Fee – Front Country Camping -$12-20 a day.
Anglers 13 years and older (16 and older in North Carolina) need a valid Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license to fish in the Park. The Park does not sell licenses. Check with local chambers of commerce for purchase information. No trout stamp is needed.
Food and Supplies
Limited food and supplies are available in the Park. There is a small campground store at Cades Cove. LeConte Lodge serves meals to overnight guests. Gateway communities around the Park provide food services and supplies. The Cades Cove Campground Store offers seasonal limited grocery, deli, and souvenir services as well as bicycle and helmet rentals. As the name implies, the store is located next to the campground at the entrance of Cades Cove.
More than 850 miles of hiking trails traverse the Great Smoky Mountains. They range from easy to difficult and provide half hour walks to week-long backpacking trips. The Appalachian Trail runs for 70 miles along the park’s top ridge. Pets are not allowed on any trails except for the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. Backcountry camping requires a permit.
Le Conte Lodge (accessible by trail only) provides the only lodging in the park. Rooms often fill a year in advance. It is perched atop 6,593-foot Mt. Le Conte, the third highest peak in the park. It is opened from mid-March to mid-November. Reservations are required. write Le Conte Lodge, 250 Apple Valley Road, Sevierville, TN 37862. Also, ten campgrounds operate in the Park.
Pets are not allowed on any trails except for the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. In developed areas they must be on a leash at all times
Acreage – as of September 23, 2000
Federal Land – 520,976.63
Non-Federal Land – 644.52
Gross Area Acres – 521,621.15
Sugarlands Visitor Center
Open year round except Christmas
Beg Dec – end Feb; 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Located two miles south of Gatlinburg, TN on US Route 441
Guided programs are conducted seasonally. Please check at the visitor center for times and locations of these programs. The visitor center features free admission to a 20-minute film with Dolby Digital Surround Sound and extensive natural history exhibits. Available facilities include the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and shop, public restrooms and telephones, soda and water machines, and a backcountry permit station.
Townsend Visitor Center
Open year round
Located in Townsend, TN on US 321
Available facilities include the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and shop, Townsend and local area information, and public restrooms and telephones.
Weather of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Prepare for changing conditions. The Cades Cove annually receives about 55 inches annual precipitation. Much of this falls in winter and spring. Summer rains often come as afternoon thunderstorms. Snow can fall anytime between late December and early March. Annual snowfall averages 18 inches.
March has the most changeable weather; snow can fall on any other day, especially at the higher elevations. Backpackers are often caught off guard when a sunny day in the 70’s F is followed by a wet, bitterly cold one. By mid-to-late April, the weather is milder. A lot of people from different parts of the country tend to visit Knoxville, Tennessee to enjoy this weather and capture the beautiful view of the Great Smoky Mountains. These tourists tend to look for cabin rentals (you can click here if interested in choosing a vacation rental in Knoxville, Tennessee) in the area that can help them explore the nearby attractions and enjoy a cabin living experience at the same time.
By mid-June, heat, haze, and humidity are the norm. Most precipitation occurs as afternoon thundershowers.
In mid-September, a pattern of warm, sunny days and crisp, clear nights often begins. However, cool, rainy days also occur. Dustings of snow may fall at the higher elevations in November.
Days during this fickle season can be sunny and 70 F or snowy with highs in the 20s. In the low elevations, snows of one inch or more occur one to five times a year. At Newfound Gap, 69 inches fall on the average. Lows of -20 F are possible in the high country. | <urn:uuid:caf8a995-1fc2-43a5-a845-afdfc5785c6b> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.national-park.com/welcome-to-great-smoky-mountains-national-park/ | 2024-12-02T10:39:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066127466.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20241202094452-20241202124452-00664.warc.gz | en | 0.935313 | 2,079 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Leadership is very important in our human life in day no matter what happen when living in a society or others else. What meaning of leadership we know? It is the activity of leading a group of people or an organization, or the ability to do this. That is a definition we should know before we discuss more details about it, when we talk about leadership first commonly we wonder who the better leader between men and women. In my opinion, I chose men the best to take as a leader. There are several reasons why I chose men from women as a leader.
First of all we can say that men has a good leader than women because men has a better leadership style then other, leadership style is a most important thing that criteria to be as a leader professional, physical and mental strength of a man better than women we can see today men have been much more successful in other aspect he try to take small thing very perfect in decide maker before give the one instruction or rule, that why to be a good leader must have that criteria to successful in their commitment.
Different than women she just judge the thing without the impact to the future this problem not too good as a professional leader, Beside that women is an emotional human than men so every day they are have many mood that can influence their commitment different than men is a strong and courageous in all aspect that happen to her every day that can manage all problem so effective.
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Men are committed to their job than women for as a good leader committed is a very need in a person to guide his subordinate easily. Apart from that men have a best communication skill when as a leader, a good communication skill to be more confidence level that he is a good leaders than women
Effective and Dynamic Leadership
“The successful organisation has one major attribute that sets it apart from unsuccessful organisations: dynamic and effective leadership. ” What is leadership? A simple definition of leadership is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. It’s one of the important factors in an organisation. Few things are more important to human activity than leadership.
Effective leadership helps an organisation through times of peril. It makes a business organization successful.It enables a not-for-profit organization to full fill its mission. The absence of leadership is equally dramatic in its effects. Without leadership, organizations move too slowly, stagnate and lose their way. When we speak about leaders in organisations first thing that comes to our mind is decision making, but that’s not all. Leadership in an organisation goes beyond this, after making the decision the main thing is to execute it and that’s where an organisation faces a lot of problem and this is the place where effective leadership is required.
A leader in an organisation plays an important role in influencing their follower’s behaviour. Investors recognize the importance of business leadership when they say that a good leader can make a success of a weak business plan, but that a poor leader can ruin even the best plan. (example of a corporate leader). Investors recognize the importance of business leadership when they say that a good leader can make a success of a weak business plan, but that a poor leader can ruin even the best plan (D. Quinn Mills in his book “How to Lead, How to live”).I agree to the statement said by Hersey and Blancard and support this thought of mine with the following literature. As rightly said by Hersey and Blanchard’s (1977) “The successful organisation has one major attribute that sets it apart from unsuccessful organisations: dynamic and effective leadership.
” In an organisation it’s important that they have an effective leader. Because it’s the leader who influences the thoughts, attitudes and behaviour of his followers or in other words of the employees working under him in an organisation.He is the person who sets the direction for the people under him; he helps us see what lies ahead; he helps us visualize what we might achieve; he encourages us and inspires us. Without leadership a group of human beings quickly degenerates into argument and conflict, because we see things in different ways and lean toward different solutions. Leadership helps to point us in the same direction and harness our efforts jointly. A leader in a successful organisation has the ability to get other people to do something significant that they might not otherwise do.They energise people towards a goal.
Without followers, however, a leader isn’t a leader, although followers may only come after a long wait. For example, during the 1930s Winston Churchill urged his fellow Englishmen to face the coming threat from Hitler’s Germany. But most Englishmen preferred to believe that Hitler could be appeased—so that a war could be avoided. They were engaged in wishful thinking about the future and denial that the future would be dangerous. They resented Churchill for insisting that they must face the danger. They rejected his leadership.He had very few followers.
But finally reality intruded—Germany went too far and war began. At this point Churchill was acclaimed for his foresight, and became prime minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. During this period almost all Englishmen accepted his leadership willingly. There’s an old saying that the way to become a leader is to find a parade and run to the front of it. We refer to a person “leading” a parade, but walking at the front isn’t really leadership unless the person in front is actually choosing the direction!If the person isn’t choosing the direction, then being at the front of the line is merely a way to pretend to be a leader. Leadership can be used for good or ill. Hitler seemed to be a leader of the German people, but he set an evil direction.
He had great leadership skills, but put them to terrible uses. Sometimes people in business use leadership skills to exploit others. Sometimes people in charitable organizations use leadership skills to benefit themselves rather than the people they are supposed to help.Leadership skills can be perverted to pursue bad ends. This is what sets a successful organisation apart from the unsuccessful organisation because in a successful organisation in most cases the leaders are faithful to their job and lead the people working under them in the right direction; lead them towards the organisational goal well as in an unsuccessful organisation the leader looks for his personal benefit/profit. He does not care of the organisational goal which leads to the failure of the organisation.Leadership can be defined in many ways such as power, influence, path-builder, director.
But most commonly Leader is person who influences the thoughts and behaviour’s of others; a leader is one who establishes the direction for others to willingly follow. One person can serve as a leader or several persons might share leadership. A person may be appointed as leader or may be elected by people within his circle. Leaders play vital role in standardizing performance. Leaders can influence other to perform beyond the expectations.Managers plan, organize, lead and control so that “leading” and “managing” are inseparable, they are both integral part of each other. If one cant influence and inspire others to work willingly towards aims then all planning and organizing will be ineffective.
Similarly setting direction is usually not enough, no matter how inspiring one can be, management skills are crucial. Thus the leaders in an successful organisation have leadership as well as managerial skill which make them stand out from those leaders of unsuccessful organisation.A leader in a successful organisation has the following qualities, having a vision about what can be accomplished; making a commitment to the mission and to the people you lead, Taking responsibility for the accomplishment of the mission and the welfare of those you lead, assuming risk of loss and failure, Accepting recognition for success. These qualities of a leader in a successful organisation set him apart from the leader of a unsuccessful organisation. A leader in a successful organisation is able to express his or her vision clearly and in a compelling manner so that others are engaged by it.He makes a commitment to his or her vision, to the organization, and to the members of the organization. A leader can’t be committed one day and uninterested the next.
People will judge a leader by his or her commitment, and will commit themselves no more than the leader does. He assumes a considerable amount of responsibility not just for the mission that he or she urges others to accept, nor just for the organization he or she heads, but for his or her followers, their lives and efforts, as well. He assumes risk. If there is no risk, little leadership is required.If the effort is easy and certain to succeed, anyone can, and probably will, “lead” it. But where the effort entails a risk of failure, then many people will quail before the challenge and leadership is necessary to get people to make the commitment and the effort to succeed. In most organizations, one associates high levels of leadership with high levels of authority.
The chief executive of a company usually plays more of a leadership role than people at lower levels of the hierarchy in the firm. It is the same in not for profits and government agencies.The higher on the job ladder a person is, the more he or she is expected to exhibit leadership. In the military, however, the opposite holds true, and for a very good reason. In the military the greatest leadership Challenge is to get other people to risk their lives in combat. Generally, the higher one goes in the chain of command, the less exposure he has to the battlefield, and the less exposure to men and women who are in combat. The officers who have responsibility for commanding soldiers in combat have the greatest leadership challenge, for they must get others to risk their lives.
A leader in a successful organisation has a vision on which he is focused on. He leads the people working under him towards this vision in a systematic way. He moves towards his vision with the help of the following strategy; Creating a vision a mission and a strategy, Communicating the vision/mission/strategy and getting buy-in, Motivating action, Helping an organization grow, evolve, and adapt to changing circumstances. The leader provides a mission of what needs to be done and a strategy, a path, for how to accomplish the mission and achieve the vision, a way for the group to get there.But having an exciting vision, an exciting mission, and a careful strategy is not sufficient. The leader clearly communicates with the employees. Because of this communication people grasp the vision to which they commit.
Finally, a vision cannot be rigid and unchanging; it must adapt to changing circumstances, growing and evolving. Otherwise it becomes outdated and obsolete, and loses its power to excite and motivate people. Most of the successful organisations have a common factor, what is this common factor?It is the Level 5 leader that they have. A level 5 leader is a paradoxical combination of deep personal humility with intense professional will. An example of a level 5 leader is Darwin Smith – CEO at paper-products maker Kimberly-Clark from 1971 to 1991 he epitomizes level 5 leadership. Shy, awkward, shunning attention, he also showed iron will, determinedly redefining the firm’s core business despite Wall Street’s scepticism. The formally dull Kimberly-Clark became the worldwide leader in its industry, generating stock returns 4.
times greater than the general markets. When we speak of a level 5 leader in a successful organisation the quality of humility stands out and this is what makes them different from those leaders in an unsuccessful organisation. The leader routinely credits others, external r factors, and good luck for their companies’ success. But when results are poor, he blames himself. Jim Collins in his book “Level 5 Leadership – The Triumph of Humility and Fierce Resolve” explains this concept of Level 5 leadership in the best way.He writes about five different levels of leadership; according to him there are five levels of leaders each having different characteristics. Level 1 are those leaders who are highly capable individuals, they make productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills, and good work habits.
Level 2 leaders are those leaders who are contributing team members; they contribute to the achievement of group objectives and work effectively with others in a group setting. Level 3 leaders are leaders who are competent managers; they organize people and resources toward the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives.Level 4 leaders are effective leaders; they catalyze commitment to and vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision; stimulates the group to high performance standards. And finally are the level 5 leaders who Collin terms as executives. They build enduring greatness through a paradoxical combination of personal humility plus professional will. These are the leaders we find in most of the successful organisations. These are leaders with highest capabilities in the hierarchy of leaders.
Leaders at the other four levels in the hierarchy can produce high levels of success but not enough to elevate organizations from mediocrity to sustained excellence good-to-great transformations don’t happen without Level 5 leadership. Level 5 is not the only requirement for transforming a good organization into a great one. Other factors include getting the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and creating a culture of discipline. Level 5 leader is on top of a hierarchy of capabilities, four other layers lie beneath it each one is appropriate in its own right, but none with the power of Level 5.We do not need to move sequentially through each level of the hierarchy to reach the top but to be a fully-fledged Level 5; we need the capabilities of all the lower levels, plus the special characteristics of level 5. Level 5 leaders are extremely modest, they don’t talk about themselves instead they would talk about the organization, about the contribution of others and instinctively deflect discussion about their own role unlike big personalities like Lee Iacocca, Jack Welch. Besides extreme humility, Level 5 leaders also display tremendous Professional will.
They possess inspired standards, cannot stand mediocrity in any form, and utterly intolerant of anyone who accept the idea that good is good enough. Level 5 leaders do not have any ambition for themselves instead have an ambition for the organisation they work for. They routinely select superb successors and are very particular about this because of which the organisations performance is always positive. They want to see their organizations Become even more successful in the next generation comfortable with the idea that most people won’t even know that the roots of that success trace back to them.Level 5 leaders, inherently humble, look out the window to apportion credit – even undue credit – to factors outside themselves if they cannot find a specific event or person to give credit to, they credit good luck (Window and Mirror concept by J Collin). All these characteristics of the level 5 leader leads the organisation towards success setting it apart from the unsuccessful organisations. While most would agree that leadership is an art, it is also the ability to lead others toward a common goal or objective and to influence others.
As the old age saying goes “Lead by example” makes a powerful statement about leadership.To lead by example simply means to lead as you would have your followers lead or to do as you would have your followers do. Many people believe that leadership is a way to improve how they present themselves to others. Corporations want people who have leadership ability because they believe these people provide special assets to the organization. Essentially, one’s leadership knowledge, skill and ability, is based upon personal motives. Some people are motivated to lead because they believe in an inherent ability to do so these are the leaders in a successful organisation.While others lead for personal gain including position, power and money who resemble leaders in an unsuccessful organisation because of these types of leaders in most cases organisations fail to achieve their goal.
A leader’s skill determines how effective a leader is because followers are more likely to follow a leader who appears to know what he or she is doing. Behind every effective leader is a good follower. Good followership is critical to the success of every leader and eventually to every organization. In a successful organisation in most cases the employees are dependent upon their leader/boss for the day to day operations.They have the confidence in their leader and thus follow his instructions; this helps the organisation in its smooth running. Where as in a unsuccessful organisation the employees lack the confidence in their leader/boss and thus they try doing the work in their own way which disrupts the working enviourment and leads to conflicts in the organisation. A leader influences the behaviour of the people to work willingly and enthusiastically for achieving predetermined goals of the organisation.
According to Terry “Leadership is essentially a continuous process of influencing behaviour.A leader breaths life into the group and motivates it towards goals. The lukewarm desires for achievement are transformed into a burning passion for accomplishment. ” It’s very important for the leader to carry him in an appropriate manner at all times because his followers always look up to him as a perfect example. A perfect example of how a leader impacts the running of a organisation is of Rich Teerlink, former chairman and CEO of Harley Davidson Inc. In the 1980s Harley-Davidson was almost knocked out of business by competition from other firms. To survive, it needed to change dramatically.
Rich Teerlink, the company’s leader, was able to save the firm financially, but with the pressure off, the challenge of continuing to improve seemed even more daunting. Could Teerlink get his managers and employees to make the significant, and to many of them inconvenient, changes necessary? He did it by building a different company, one driven from the bottom up by employees rather than from the top down by managers. It’s a story of successes and failures, advances and setbacks, dead ends and breakthroughs, ending in a much stronger company than before.The leader in an organisation decides who is going to be assigned to the necessary tasks and how they will fit into the organization. She supervises the actions people take, ensuring that they are doing the right things, that no money is being misappropriated or wasted (we call this “controlling”), and when problems arise the leader helps to resolve them. Finally, by combining these tasks into a coherent whole, the leader in an organisation makes the organization operate efficiently. Running an organization effectively requires administration, management, and leadership.
Leadership is ordinarily in shorter supply than administrative or managerial competence. Leadership is more important and more demanding for most people. Fewer people are able or willing to be leaders, so it tends to be a higher calling than administration or management. There is a large literature discussing the differences between leaders and managers. There is also an important distinction to make between leaders and administrators. In general, a leader takes a broader view and points an organization toward necessary, even critical, change. True leadership is special, subtle, and complex.
Too often we confuse things like personal style and a position of authority with leadership. No matter what type of leader you are, a leader’s motive determines how they lead and why they lead the way they do. In a successful organisation the leader plays a very important and lead role. His followers are totally dependent on him for important decision making and guiding them in the right direction in achieving the organisations goal. It further reveals that some leaders ‘lead by example’ while others want followers to do what they are unwilling to do.This is due to a chosen leadership style, trait and character based upon who they are and their individual motives. The leaders who follow the concept of “Lead by example” resemble leaders in an successful organisation.
For these leaders, leading the organisation towards its goal is a passion they have no personal benefit thoughts behind it. Observation is based on the premise that leaders lead with an individual purpose, which may or may not be based upon the goals and objectives of the organization. Are they leading for results, personal gain or for the advancement of others?It could be skill or character based or based upon leadership style. Yet, the leader has motives that make up who the individual leader is and why they lead the way they do. Good leaders are made not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience.
To inspire your workers into higher levels of teamwork, there are certain things you must be, know, and, do. These do not come naturally, but are acquired through continual work and study.Good leaders are continually working and studying to improve their leadership skills; they are NOT resting on their laurels. Leaders in a successful organisation will simultaneously fill many roles interacting, motivating group members, solving conflicts as they arise. Leaders in a successful organisation set vision, strategies, goals, and values in order to guide for desired action and behaviour. Effective leaders in a successful organisation have two major qualities: knowledge and communication competence. Leader needs knowledge of issue and the ways of effectively leading a team.
This knowledge will enable leader to identify alternatives available. He also needs to be an effective communicator as equally listener and speaker. Leaders should acquire qualities of flexible, openness, empathetic, courage, interactive, and positive attitude. Finally, a leader in a successful organisation is flexible in accepting the views of his followers after which making the right decision. All these qualities of a leader in a successful organisation set him apart from those of an unsuccessful organisation.References: Books 1. John P.
Kotter, “Leading Change” USA Harvard Business School Press, 1996 2. Michael Useem, “The Leadership Moment: Nine true stories of TRIUMPH and DISASTER and their lessons for all of us” Three Rivers Press, 1999 Articles 1. Jim Collins article, “Level 5 Leadership: The Triumph of Humility and Fierce Resolve”, in Best Of HBR, HBR, July-August, 2005, pages. 136-146 2. Katz, R. L. (1955).
Skills of an Effective Administrator. Harvard Business Review, 33(1) pages 33-42. Internet 1. Angelia Arrington, “A Leader is as a Leader Does” Leader lab vol:1 Issue-1 www. theleaderlab. org 2. D.
Quinn Mills, “Leadership: How to lead, How to live” 2005 http://www. mindedgepress. com 3. www. hbr. org
Qualities of a Good Leader Argumentative Essay
You must have an honest understanding of who you are, what you know, and what you can do. Note that it is the followers, not the leader or someone else who determines if the leader is successful. If they do not trust or lack confidence in their leader, then they will be uninspired. To be successful you have to convince your followers, not yourself or your superiors, that you are worthy of being followed. Good leaders are made, not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience (Jago, 1982).
To inspire your workers into higher levels of teamwork, there are certain things you must be, know, and, do. These do not come naturally, but are acquired through continual work and study. Good leaders are continually working and studying to improve their leadership skills.
Seven Qualities of a Good Leader
1. A good leader has an exemplary character. A leader needs to be trusted and be known to live their life with honestly and integrity. A good leader “walks the talk”.
2. A good leader is enthusiastic about their work or about their role as leader
- passion and dedication
- source of inspiration,
- a motivator, will not be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.
3. A good leader is confident.
- confident as a person and in the leadership role.
- inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of the team to complete the task well.
4. A leader functions in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty.
People look to the leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanour.
5. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity (doubt, vagueness).
Remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose.
Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head.
6. A good leader thinks analytically.
- is able to break it down into sub parts for closer inspection.
- can break it down into manageable steps and make progress towards it.
7. A good leader is committed to excellence.
The good leader not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas.
The Top 10 Leadership Qualities
- Inte nlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”. (Alan Keith of Genentech) states that, "Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen. "
- Ken "SKC" Ogbonnia, "effective leadership is the ability to successfully integrate and maximize available resources within the internal and external environment for the attainment of organizational or societal goals. "
- organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal. "
- Influencing others to take actions and adopt behaviors that accomplish a goal or a mission.
The Process of Great Leadership
The road to great leadership (Kouzes & Posner, 1987) that is common to successful leaders:
- Challenge the process - First, find a process that you believe needs to be improved the most.
- Inspire a shared vision - Next, share your vision in words that can be understood by your followers.
- Enable others to act - Give them the tools and methods to solve the problem.
- Model the way - When the process gets tough, get your hands dirty. A boss tells others what to do, a leader shows that it can be done.
- Encourage the hearts - Share the glory with your followers' hearts, while keeping the pains within your own.
Importance/Functions Of Leadership
- Help interpret the meaning of events
- Create alignment on objectives and strategies
- Build task commitment and optimism
- Build mutual trust and cooperation
- Strengthen collective identity
- Organize and coordinate activities
- Encourage and facilitate collective learning
- Obtain necessary resources and support
- Develop and empower people
- Promote social justice and morality
Issues and Problems on Leadership
Issues and Problems
For most organizations, problems prevent the direct, linear achievement of a goal. The problems faced by an organization may be adaptive in nature. Adaptive problems-require changes in organizations structure, behaviour, values, culture or objectives. Non-adaptive problems- simply require the application of existing approaches.
Was Caesar a Good Leader?
Julius Caesar was born on July 12, 100 BC in Rome. He was a great leader of the Roman Empire. Some people believe that Caesar wasn’t a great leader or man. Experts say he was greedy and a megalomaniac. They also say that he bribed the people to love him and he cheated the system. Other experts say he was a great leader because he was for the Roman people unlike previous leaders. I believe that Caesar was a great leader for the Roman people because he created reforms to help the people, created a new government, and changed the course of history.
Caesar was very helpful to the people when he took over. He created many solid reforms to give the people what they needed. He won people over by creating them. Some of the reforms he created were tax reforms in Asia and Sicily, allowing captured people to become citizens, and giving free food to the poor. The tax reforms in Asia and Sicily were made because “both had suffered from avaricious governors and tax-collectors. (Seindal 2003) This put Caesar at an advantage because this reform got people in other places to like him better. Caesar allowed people that he captured while he was fighting to become citizens throughout his dictatorship. This helped the Roman Empire prosper because it had many different abilities and trades coming in with all the different people. Finally, Caesar gave food to the poor. He didn’t ration it. He just gave it out to them. This meant that people that couldn’t get their own food could have it very easily.
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Where is Asia? Or rather, what are the countries in Asia? How do the countries in Asia correlate with the people in the United States deemed Asian-American? All this is the separate from the related question of what color are the people of Asian-descent in the United States based on the answers to the above. The answers to these questions expose the disconnect between the real world and what may be considered “woke” geography.
ANCIENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
To begin with, Asia is a continent named by the ancient Greeks. It is not an indigenous or native term to Asia. The meaning of term spread eastward as the Greek awareness and knowledge of the landmass spread eastward. From the western shores of the Mediterranean world and the world of Troy to Persia of the Battle of Thermopylae fame and beyond into western India and Afghanistan reached by Alexander the Great, the word expanded in meaning. Now it extends to China and various islands off the mainland continent.
To cite another ancient source, the Hebrew Bible, the classification system also does not appear to be in synch. After the flood and the Tower of Babel, the sons of Noah/men are said to have repopulated the earth. Traditionally, they are divided into three regions, Europe/Japheth, Asia/Shem, and Africa/Ham. European Maps well into the Age of Exploration divided the world into three continents.
More recently, President of Egypt Gamal Nasser proclaimed his country as the meeting point of the three continents. He did so as part of his effort to extol the greatness and centrality of his country.
ORGANIZATIONAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
Today, Asia has acquired a number of meanings. To begin with let’s start with Asia Society based in New York. The Asia Society covers the following countries and regions:
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam
Central Asia, East Asia, Oceania, South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia
This list of countries and regions of Asia is fairly extensive. It extends beyond the continental mainland to cover multiple island entities. North Asia or Siberia(/Russia) is conspicuous by its absence.
Other organizations based in the United States have slightly different definitions. When one become a member of the American Historical Association, one is presented with a “Membership Taxonomy” listing all the areas of specialization. The list is quite extensive. It includes among other designations:
Ancient Near East (West Asia)
Central Asia – various time periods
China – various time periods
Japan – various time periods
Korea – various time periods
Middle East (West Asia and North Africa, various time periods
South Asia – various countries listed separately
Southeast Asia – various time periods and various countries listed separately.
There do not appear to be any Indigenous Asians in this classification system. I guess they do not exist.
By contrast, the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) takes a more restrictive view of Asia. According to its website, it is a scholarly, non-political, non-profit professional association open to all persons interested in Asia and the study of Asia. However its definition of Asia does not encompass all of Asia as the map of what it considers to be Asia makes abundantly clear. The AAS was founded in 1941, meaning during World War II. It published the Far Eastern Quarterly and not the Central Asia Quarterly or Near East Quarterly. Subsequently it changed the name of the publication to the Journal of Asian Studies.
The name is deceptive as the organization does not include all of Asia despite the declaration that it does. In 1970 four elective Area Councils—China and Inner Asia (CIAC), Northeast Asia (NEAC), South Asia (SAC), and Southeast Asia (SEAC)—were established to guarantee each area constituency its own representation and a proportionate voice on the Board of Directors. In 2022, the Board of Directors voted to rename CIAC the East & Inner Asia Council (EIAC). So Asia does not mean Asia to the Association for Asian Studies, it means Far East with a new name.
Another example is ARWA, the International Association for Archaeological Research in Western & Central Asia.
At the University of Chicago, to pick one college example, there is the Center for East Asian Studies, which recently had a book talk about China.
Speaking of book talks, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, just had one on The Exploration of Asia Minor: Kiepert Maps Unmentioned by Ronald Syme and Louis Robert. Although the name is suggestive of Ancient Greece, it’s time frame actually is the 19th-20th centuries.
These academic and organizational uses of Asia express a real world understanding and application of the term.
CURRENT MEDIA EXAMPLES
When newspaper accounts are reporting on the events in Asia itself, they generally write “normal.” Decades ago the United States fought a war in Southeast Asia and news events from those countries may still refer to them as being in Southeast Asia.
The same applies to countries in Central Asia. These “-stans” have been in the news more frequently recently. Russians fleeing Putin’s nightmare have emigrated to countries in Central Asia. The would-be military alliance created in by Russia for the former republics of Soviet Union is experiencing unity challenges as a result of Putin’s war as well.
The Travel Magazine of The New York Times (11/13/22) just featured Tajikistan. The article mentioned Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Central Asia.
Newspaper and media accounts are quite capable of discerning the different geographical components comprising Asia.
AMERICAN CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
If people from the Asian continent as identified above come to the United States, the entire classification system changes to one at odds with the real world. According to the United States Census Bureau there are over 20 countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent which are included as Asian places of origin. This list of countries does not include Central or West/Southwest Asia or people from Siberia. Strangely enough, people from the very areas primarily referred to as Asian by the ancient Greeks are not Asian according to the United States Census.
This official but strange classification system leads to strange usages in the American popular culture.
For example, when students call for more Asian American studies, which Asia do they mean? The losing Republican candidate for Senator in Pennsylvania voted in Turkey which is in Asia – do Asian-American Studies include Turkey? Poor Turkey, so often excluded from European organizations because it is not in Europe but in Asia and not considered to be Asia under politically correct geography.
When quotas are debated in (elite public-) high school and college admissions (like Harvard), what definition of “Asia” is being used? The actual continent of Asia? The Census Bureau definition of Asians? The culturally popular view of who constitutes an Asian-America? Here again the perception probably is Far Eastern Asia and not all of Asia.
If the issue is with East Asians, then why not say so?
If the issue is with South Asians, then why not say so?
Why is it so much easier to refer to Central Asians as being from Central Asia whereas East Asians Americans and Southeast Asian Americans are called Asians exclusively as if they have a monopoly on the term?
There is a racist component to the classification of East Asians, Southeast Asians, and sometimes South Asians as Asians and people from other parts of Asia as not from Asia.
For example, in 2019, a school district in Washington excluded students of Asian descent from the category of “students of color.” The school district responded:
While our intent was never to ignore Asian students as ‘students of color’ or ignore any systemic disadvantages they may have faced, we realize our category choices caused pain and had racist implications.
In this instance the Asian students seemed to have been primarily East Asians or Far Eastern and the color was yellow.
In 2021, Michelle Wu was elected the mayor of Boston. Her family is from China by way of Taiwan. She routinely in referred to as a person of color. She is an Asian American which makes her a rarity since that continental group has not fared well in elections in major American cities. Her opponent, Annissa Essaibi George, was a first generation American with parents from Poland and Tunisia. She also has been referred to a person of color. Thus the election was between two females of color with the colors never specified.
In this time of identity politics, it always is interesting to note the hyphen applied to an individual or group.
Earlier this year, there was a controversy at Brooklyn Tech involving the segregation of the students. In this case, the cause for complaint was for the number of South Asians, East Asians, and whites. As admissions requirements/standards were revised to decrease the number of Asian students, the parents of the Asians sued. According to an article in the NYT (1/26/22, print), the students balked at the description of Brooklyn Tech as a segregated school. One reason was because “Asian” encompasses disparate ethnicities, cultures, languages, and skin colors.
Perhaps the simplest measure of the differences among the people lumped together as Asian in the United States, is to imagine what would happen if they were a single Asian World Cup team. What countries would you include? It is Americans, and not just white Americans, who are pigeonholing people into racial classification systems using a distorted geography that exacerbates the problem. People in geographic Asia don’t self-identify as Asian until they come to the United States. Then we tell them which people from geographic Asia are Census Bureau Asians and which are not. Then we call people from East Asia and Southeast Asia in particular Asians. And finally people intermarry to further complicate the issue. One drop rule anyone?
Let Asia be Asia again. Asia should have only one meaning. We don’t use “European” to identify people in America because no one here self-identifies as a European. We use the term only when referring to collective actions and organizations by the countries over there. Candidates for political office of European descent are identified by their individual country of origin or ethnicity. We should do the same for candidates from elsewhere instead of perpetuating racism based on a bogus geography. Asian-American should not be limited to East Asians and Southeast Asians. Call them what they are. | <urn:uuid:26df6a3b-6814-4c5d-aba4-6d4bf66191c5> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://ihare.org/tag/asia/ | 2024-12-10T21:17:06Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066067826.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20241210194529-20241210224529-00376.warc.gz | en | 0.955942 | 2,268 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Jan 10 , 2023
As we brew all conversations, recipes or events, coffee brewing has also stepped into the tradition and culture. It has played a pivotal role in the industry since the fifteenth century. The Portuguese introduced Arabica coffee beans to India during this period and started developing in the 18th century.
India ranks sixth in the world in coffee production, trailing Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia, and Honduras. The country exports roughly 70% of its output, with greens exports roughly split between 30% Arabica and 70% Robusta. |
About Indian Coffee Bean
Indian coffee beans are derived from the Arabica plant, a coffee species known for its distinct flavour and aroma. Arabica is thought to have originated in Ethiopia's highlands, and it is now grown in countries all over the world. The smooth, rich flavour of Indian coffee beans is highly regarded.
Origin & History of Coffee
According to the story written in 1671, Coffee was discovered in the 9th century by an Ethiopian goat herder: Kaldi. Kaldi discovered Coffee after noticing that his goats became so energised after eating berries from a specific tree that they refused to sleep at night.
Kaldi reported his findings to the abbot of the nearby monastery and other monks about his discovery, and word of the energising berries quickly spread.
History of Coffee Beans
The Arabica coffee bean, known as the "Adam and Eve" of Coffee, was discovered around 1,000 BC in the highlands of the Kingdom of Kefa, now known as Ethiopia. Native tribes are said to have crushed the beans, mixed them with fat, formed them into balls, and consumed them as an energy booster.
The bean arrived in Yemen and lower Arabia in the 7th century. The bean was given the name "Coffea Arabica" at that time. Arabica coffee is grown in several locations, between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. However, this famous region between the countries sharing the tropical time, and Arabic trees, is known as Bean Belt.
Varieties of Arabica
The two famous varieties of Arabica coffee beans include Typica and Bourbon. Coffee connoisseurs adore the Typica for its excellent cup quality and clean palate finish. Bourbon coffee also has chocolate notes. Certain fruit flavours, such as fig and cherry, can be discerned when roasted lighter.
Arabica takes about seven years to fully mature. It grows best at higher elevations but can also be grown at sea level.
Where are Coffee Beans Grown?
Indian coffee beans are grown over several regions of the country. However, the famous beans come from the southern hills, which adds an aroma to the flavour and taste. According to the sources, around 40 per cent of India's coffee beans are grown in Coorg, Karnataka.
It won't be wrong to say that most people kickstart their day with a cup of freshly brewed Coffee, which instantly switches their work mode and uplifts their mood.
Coffee production in India is concentrated in the southern states, with Karnataka accounting for 71%, Kerala accounting for 21%, and Tamil Nadu accounting for 5%. The finest Coffee grown in the world is said to be Indian Coffee, with a large portion of our production (80%) exported through the Suez Canal to Russia, Spain, the Netherlands, and France.
- Chikmagalur, Karnataka: It is also known as the coffee land of Karnataka, a must-visit place for coffee lovers. According to sources and research, it is one of the first places to introduce Coffee to the British Raj in India. Because of its geography and climate, it is one of the largest coffee estates in Karnataka, trailing only Kodagu, Coorg, and Hassan.
- Wayanad, Kerala: This place is known for developing Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. The pleasant climate here is responsible for the evergreen forests, flowing lakes, incredible flora and fauna, and a wide range of coffee plantations or coffee fields.
- Palani hills, Tamil Nadu: The Glenrock Tea Estates is an ideal place to stay because it has a fully-functioning coffee estate, which means you can witness the entire coffee-making process with a tour of their plantation. Other places like the Nilgiris district, and Kodaikanal, can make you awe-struck with their climate and coffee plantations.
- Unique blends of healthy coffees: Some coffee beans are better for you than others. According to one study published in Antioxidants, unroasted Robusta beans contain nearly twice as many antioxidants as unroasted Arabica beans. Blends such as mushroom coffee and matcha lattes are popular. Most speciality coffee shops sell blends that improve gut health, increase metabolism, and support the immune system.
- Snapchilled Coffee: This Coffee locks the flavour and aroma of iced Coffee. The snap chilling process prevents cold brewing, even if you prefer chilled Coffee in hot weather. Some companies use patented technology to cool Coffee instantly and offer the most intricate coffee flavours.
- Buttered coffee gears up in the race: Buttered Coffee is flavoured with a tablespoon of butter. Butter, according to sources, makes Coffee more nutritious and enhances its effects. This trend is gaining a cult and becoming more popular among people who don't prefer to have a heavy breakfast.
Interesting Coffee Facts
- Have you ever wondered what the difference between light and dark roast coffee is and whether a dark roast is more robust than a light roast? Dark roast is only as substantial as light roast; light roast frequently has more caffeine!
- Some beans are explicitly designed for espresso, but there is no such thing as an espresso bean. Any coffee can be brewed as an espresso.
Bean Processing Procedure
- The ripened fruits of the coffee plant (coffee cherries) consist of two coffee seeds, known as beans which are positioned flat against each other in the process.
- The cherries are processed by removing the coffee seeds from their coverings and pulp and drying them.
- There are several techniques used for coffee beans processing which results in producing green Coffee that goes for the grading procedure.
- After the green Coffee is processed, it is graded and sold for roasting. However, there is no universal grading system, but several countries vary with this process due to the origin, nature, quality of the beans, and botanical varieties.
- To make "decaf," the caffeine is permanently removed during the green bean stage before the Coffee is roasted.
- Do you love the aromatic flavour of Coffee? It is the gustatory qualities of the Coffee developed from the roasting procedure at high temperatures.
- The roasting process would determine the characteristics of the aroma and texture of the coffee beans.
- Most modern roasting plants grind Coffee by feeding it through a series of serrated or scored rollers with progressively smaller gaps.
- The fineness of the coffee beans is essential and is performed with due care. The last stage is adequate packaging performed by several manufacturers and suppliers.
Types of Coffee Beans
- Arabica coffee beans: These coffee beans are usually preffered and come under the highest quality of beans. They originated centuries ago in the highlands of Ethiopia.
- Robusta coffee beans: It is the second most popular form of coffee beans profoundly found. It originated in sub-Saharan Africa and Indonesia. It is a budget-friendly coffee bean used by consumers. Many believe that Robusta coffee is harsher and more bitter than Arabica coffee. It frequently has a strong odour and a flat, almost burnt flavour. Robusta beans contain far more caffeine than Arabica beans.
- Liberica coffee beans are known for their piquant floral aroma, boldness, and smoky flavour. Many coffee lovers adore these coffee beans' unusual nutty, woody flavour.
- Excelsa coffee beans: Excelsa beans are almost entirely grown in Southeast Asia and are shaped similarly to Liberica beans — elongated ovals. It comprises fruity flavours and dark roasts, grabbing the attention of coffee lovers.
Famous Coffee Roasting Techniques to Keep in Mind
- Know the roast length based on the beans' colour before the roasting procedure.
- Roast the beans for around 15-20 minutes, and pay attention to the crackling sound of the beans roasting and darkening. And keep stirring them for a better roast.
- It can take years to become a coffee roaster, who understands the taste of a perfectly roasted coffee, and its aroma.
Steps to Boost Coffee Bean Yield
- Select the best coffee cultivars that offer the best Arabica or Robusta coffee beans.
- Select suitable climatic conditions for good growth of the coffee plants and the coffee seeds. It is vital to select a suitable climate as the coffee beans are prone to damage during high winds. They can grow well at an optimum temperature of 15-20 degrees.
- Ensure essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are in the soil for an optimum coffee yield. Have a balanced proportion of fertilisers in plant growth.
- Keep in mind the essential macro and micronutrients for the successful growth of the coffee plant or beans, comprising oxygen, nitrogen, water, air and many more.
- Perform precise irrigation for more coffee production and growth. Increase the size of the cherry to ensure optimum yield.
Break Away your Monday Blues with Levista
Levista has been meticulously bringing the best of what the world of Coffee has to offer in your cup for over 60 years. Levista handpicks only the finest coffee beans from their estates in Coorg. Find uncompromised commitment and quality in your next cup of Coffee after it has been roasted, blended, ground, and processed!
Want to taste the finest coffee experience? Refer to the above-listed pointers to garner valuable insights on processed coffee beans. Our Coffee is 100% pure, made from the finest Arabica and Robusta beans and roasted by hand to provide you with the best coffee experience possible!
What is the speciality of Indian coffee beans?
They are widely known for their aromatic flavours and intrinsic quality. The exotic full-bodied taste and fine aroma are the coffee beans' speciality.
How good are Indian coffee beans?
It is one of the finest Coffee grown in the country with its aroma and flavour characteristics. From the profile characteristics to the yield of teh coffee bean, the arabica and robusta coffee beans always show their magic.
Which variety of coffee beans are grown in India?
The two major coffee beans grown in India are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica is grown in several parts of the country and is one of the most preferred coffee beans. | <urn:uuid:a7393e02-4596-4831-bdf8-a7fb483d35a6> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://levista.in/blogs/news/all-about-indian-coffee-beans | 2024-12-04T02:14:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066142519.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20241204014854-20241204044854-00674.warc.gz | en | 0.959247 | 2,225 | 2.6875 | 3 |
The impact of Omegle on societal norms and traditional values
Omegle, a popular online platform that allows users to have anonymous text or video chats with strangers, has had a significant impact on societal norms and traditional values. The introduction of Omegle has disrupted traditional forms of communication and has led to both positive and negative effects on society.
One of the key impacts of Omegle on societal norms is the shift towards more open-mindedness and acceptance of diverse perspectives. Through random encounters with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and opinions, users of Omegle are exposed to a wide range of ideas and beliefs. This exposure fosters tolerance and understanding, breaking down barriers that may exist in more traditional forms of communication.
On the other hand, Omegle has also contributed to a decline in social etiquette and personal boundaries. The anonymity provided by the platform encourages some individuals to engage in inappropriate and offensive behavior. Users may find themselves subjected to explicit content, harassment, or even threats. This erosion of social norms can have a detrimental effect on individuals’ well-being and mental health, particularly for vulnerable or sensitive individuals.
Another way in which Omegle influences societal norms is its impact on interpersonal relationships. The platform offers the opportunity for individuals to form connections with strangers, potentially leading to new friendships or romantic relationships. However, this ease of meeting new people online can also lead to a devaluation of real-life relationships. People may prefer the novelty and excitement of talking to new strangers rather than investing time and effort into maintaining existing relationships.
Moreover, Omegle has contributed to a shift in traditional values regarding privacy and security. Many conversations on Omegle are unmoderated and lack any kind of real accountability. This makes users more susceptible to potential risks, such as identity theft, fraud, or exploitation. The lack of regulation and security measures on Omegle raises concerns about the platform’s impact on personal privacy and cybersecurity.
In conclusion, the impact of Omegle on societal norms and traditional values is a complex issue with both positive and negative repercussions. While the platform has the potential to foster open-mindedness and acceptance, it also poses risks to personal boundaries, social etiquette, and privacy. To fully understand and mitigate these impacts, it is essential to strike a balance between the advantages and disadvantages of online communication platforms like Omegle.
Understanding Omegle: How it is shaping societal norms
Omegle is a widely popular online chat platform that connects individuals from different parts of the world. In recent years, it has gained significant attention and has become a part of many people’s daily lives. But what exactly is Omegle and how is it shaping societal norms? Let’s dive into the world of Omegle and explore its impact.
Omegle allows users to have anonymous conversations with strangers through text or video chats. It provides a platform for individuals to meet new people, make friends, and engage in discussions on various topics. The concept behind Omegle is simple: you’re connected with a random person and can have a conversation for as long as you want. However, the anonymity factor raises some concerns about safety and privacy.
One of the main ways in which Omegle is shaping societal norms is through its impact on social interactions. With the rise of technology and the increasing prevalence of online communication, face-to-face interactions have become less frequent. People now have the ability to connect with others from the comfort of their own homes. While this can be seen as convenient, it also poses challenges in terms of building genuine, meaningful relationships.
Moreover, Omegle has also played a role in the way people perceive social norms. Through this platform, individuals have the opportunity to interact with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. This exposure to diversity has the potential to challenge traditional societal norms and broaden people’s perspectives. However, it also raises questions about the impact of these interactions on one’s own identity and values.
Additionally, Omegle has become a hub for sharing knowledge and experiences. Many users exchange information and discuss various topics ranging from hobbies and interests to more serious subjects like mental health and social issues. This flow of information can be both helpful and harmful. On one hand, it allows individuals to learn from others and gain valuable insights. On the other hand, it can spread misinformation and perpetuate harmful ideologies.
To ensure a positive and safe experience on Omegle, it is important to be mindful of a few key considerations. Firstly, protect your personal information and be cautious when sharing sensitive details with strangers. Secondly, remember to treat others with respect and kindness, just as you would in face-to-face interactions. Lastly, report any inappropriate behavior or content to the platform administrators to help maintain a safe environment for everyone.
In conclusion, Omegle has emerged as a prominent online platform that is shaping societal norms in various ways. Its impact on social interactions, perceptions of norms, and knowledge-sharing cannot be ignored. As users of these platforms, it is essential to be mindful of the implications and ensure that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Omegle has the potential to connect people from all walks of life, but it’s crucial to navigate this virtual space responsibly.
The Influence of Omegle: Challenging Traditional Values
In today’s interconnected world, technology has revolutionized the way we communicate and interact with each other. One platform that has gained significant attention is Omegle. This anonymous online chatting platform allows users to connect with strangers from around the world, challenging traditional values and reshaping the way we view human connections.
Omegle’s popularity stems from its unique feature of connecting users anonymously. Unlike traditional social media platforms, where users typically interact with people they know or have some connection to, Omegle allows for spontaneous and unfiltered conversations with complete strangers. This anonymity gives users the freedom to express themselves more honestly and openly, often leading to unexpected and profound connections.
However, this newfound freedom comes with its own set of challenges. The lack of accountability and the potential for misuse have raised concerns about the platform’s impact on society. Some argue that Omegle promotes unhealthy and irresponsible behavior, as users can engage in explicit and inappropriate conversations without fear of consequences. This raises questions about the ethical implications of such a platform and its influence on our moral values.
- Breaking down barriers: Omegle allows people from different backgrounds and cultures to interact without any preconceived notions or biases. This can lead to a more inclusive and diverse global community, where individuals can learn from one another’s perspectives and experiences.
- Exploring new ideas: The anonymity of Omegle encourages users to step out of their comfort zones and engage in conversations they may not have otherwise had. This can lead to the discovery of different viewpoints and ideologies, expanding one’s knowledge and understanding of the world.
- Mental health implications: While Omegle can provide a sense of connection and companionship for some users, it can also exacerbate feelings of loneliness and isolation for others. The lack of face-to-face interaction and the possibility of encountering abusive or manipulative individuals can have detrimental effects on one’s mental well-being.
- Evolving social norms: The influence of Omegle on traditional values is undeniable. By challenging societal norms and expectations, the platform has the power to reshape our understanding of human connections and relationships. This can lead to both positive and negative outcomes, depending on how individuals navigate and interact within this virtual landscape.
It is important to approach platforms like Omegle with caution and educate users about responsible online behavior. While Omegle has its pros and cons, it is ultimately up to individuals to use the platform in a way that promotes healthy and respectful interactions. By acknowledging the influence of Omegle and actively engaging in discussions about its impact, we can navigate this evolving digital landscape with greater awareness and integrity.
In conclusion, Omegle has challenged traditional values by providing an anonymous platform for individuals to connect with strangers from around the world. While this can lead to meaningful and unexpected connections, it also raises concerns about the platform’s ethical implications and influence on our moral values. By exploring the barriers it breaks down, the ideas it promotes, the mental health implications it may have, and the evolving social norms it influences, we can better understand the impact of Omegle on our society. It is essential to approach this platform with caution and use it responsibly, fostering healthy and respectful interactions in the digital realm.
The Pros and Cons of Omegle: Exploring its impact on society
In today’s digital age, social media platforms have become an integral part of our lives. Omegle is one such platform that has gained immense popularity in recent years. It offers users the opportunity to have anonymous conversations with strangers from all over the world. However, like any other online platform, Omegle has its own set of pros and cons that need to be carefully considered.
The Pros of Omegle
1. Global Connectivity: Omegle allows users to connect with people from different parts of the world, providing a unique cultural exchange experience. It broadens horizons and facilitates intercultural communication.
2. Anonymity: One of the key features of Omegle is its anonymous nature. Users can freely express themselves without the fear of judgment or social stigma. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who are shy or introverted.
3. Diverse Conversations: Omegle offers a wide range of topics for discussion. Users can choose their interests and engage in conversations that align with their preferences. This provides an opportunity to learn new perspectives and gain knowledge about various subjects.
The Cons of Omegle
1. Privacy Concerns: As a platform that encourages anonymity, Omegle raises significant privacy concerns. Users have little control over the information they share, and there is always a risk of encountering inappropriate or harmful content.
2. Inappropriate Behavior: One of the biggest drawbacks of Omegle is the prevalence of inappropriate behavior and content. Due to the lack of moderation, users may come across explicit or offensive material, which can be distressing, especially for younger individuals.
3. Impersonation: Another issue with Omegle is the ease with which users can impersonate others. This can lead to deception and manipulation, as individuals may pretend to be someone they are not, causing emotional or psychological harm to unsuspecting users.
The Impact of Omegle on Society
Omegle has undoubtedly had a significant impact on society. On one hand, it has brought people together from different backgrounds and fostered global connections. It has provided a platform for individuals to express themselves freely without fear of judgment.
However, on the other hand, the lack of moderation and privacy concerns have resulted in negative consequences. The prevalence of inappropriate content and behavior has raised concerns about the safety of users, particularly vulnerable individuals.
In conclusion, while Omegle offers exciting opportunities for global connectivity and anonymous conversations, it is crucial to remain aware of its drawbacks. Users must exercise caution and be mindful of their privacy and safety. It is essential to strike a balance between the benefits and risks of engaging on platforms like Omegle, ensuring a positive and valuable experience for all users.
Pros of Omegle | Cons of Omegle |
Global Connectivity | Privacy Concerns |
Anonymity | Inappropriate Behavior |
Diverse Conversations | Impersonation |
Omegle’s Role in Redefining Social Interactions
Social interactions have undergone a significant transformation with the rise of online platforms. One such platform that has gained widespread popularity is Omegle. In this article, we will explore how Omegle has redefined social interactions and the impact it has had on our society.
Omegle, an anonymous online chat platform, allows users to connect with strangers from all around the world. It offers a unique experience where users can engage in conversations without revealing their identity. This anonymity has both positive and negative aspects, as it allows people to express themselves freely, but it also poses risks, such as cyberbullying and online harassment.
One of the key features that sets Omegle apart from other social platforms is its random pairing algorithm. When users enter the platform, they are randomly connected with a stranger for a chat session. This element of surprise adds excitement and unpredictability to the interactions, making Omegle a captivating platform for many users.
Omegle has redefined the way people communicate with each other. It has transcended geographical boundaries and brought people from different cultures and backgrounds together. This has broadened our understanding of diversity and fostered a sense of global unity.
- Anonymity: Omegle allows users to engage in conversations without revealing their identity. This can be liberating for individuals who are reluctant to express themselves openly.
- Spontaneity: The random pairing algorithm of Omegle ensures that each chat session is unique and unpredictable. This adds an element of excitement and spontaneity to social interactions.
- Global Connections: Omegle connects individuals from different parts of the world, enabling cross-cultural exchanges and fostering a sense of global community.
- Open-mindedness: Interacting with strangers on Omegle encourages open-mindedness and the exploration of different perspectives.
- Risks and Challenges: While Omegle offers an exciting platform for social interactions, it also poses risks such as cyberbullying, online harassment, and the potential exposure to inappropriate content.
It is important to approach Omegle and similar platforms with caution. Users should exercise discretion and be aware of the potential risks involved. It is crucial to prioritize personal safety and report any instances of misconduct.
In conclusion, Omegle has revolutionized social interactions by offering an anonymous and spontaneous platform for individuals to connect with strangers worldwide. While it has undoubtedly opened up new opportunities for global communication, users must be mindful of the risks and challenges it presents. By using Omegle responsibly and being aware of their personal safety, individuals can make the most of this unique platform and enjoy meaningful social interactions.
Navigating the Ethical Dilemmas of Omegle: Examining its effects on traditional values
Omegle, the popular online chat platform, has gained immense popularity in recent years. However, its rise has also raised concerns over its impact on traditional values and ethical dilemmas that users may encounter.
One of the key ethical dilemmas associated with Omegle is the issue of anonymity. While anonymity allows users to freely express themselves, it also enables individuals to engage in harmful behavior without fear of consequences. This has resulted in instances of cyberbullying, harassment, and even potential danger for vulnerable users.
Moreover, the prevalence of explicit content and adult material on Omegle further adds to the ethical concerns surrounding the platform. Users, especially younger individuals, may inadvertently be exposed to inappropriate content that contradicts their traditional values and beliefs. This raises the question of whether Omegle is indirectly contributing to the erosion of these values.
Additionally, the addictive nature of Omegle poses another ethical dilemma. With its easy accessibility and captivating features, users may find it difficult to resist spending excessive amounts of time on the platform. This not only affects their productivity and daily routines but also isolates them from face-to-face interactions, which are crucial for the development of social skills and traditional values.
- Privacy Concerns: Omegle’s lack of stringent privacy measures raises questions about the safety of user information and personal data.
- Misuse of the Platform: Users often exploit Omegle’s features for purposes unrelated to genuine conversations, such as sexting or promoting harmful ideologies.
- Online Disinhibition: The anonymity of Omegle can lead to a phenomenon known as online disinhibition, where users exhibit more extreme or inappropriate behavior than they would in offline settings.
- Impact on Relationships and Communication: Excessive use of Omegle can negatively affect real-life relationships and interpersonal skills, hindering the development of traditional values associated with meaningful connections.
In conclusion, while Omegle offers an exciting platform for connecting with people worldwide, it is crucial to address the ethical dilemmas it presents. Maintaining a balance between freedom of expression and protecting traditional values remains a challenge. It is essential for both users and platform administrators to be aware of these concerns and work towards creating a safer and more ethically responsible online environment.
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Alcohol withdrawal, commonly known as the alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), is the uncomfortable process your body undergoes when you try to quit drinking alcohol or cannot consume alcohol for any reason (for example, if you can’t get it).
The mind and body become dependent on drinking patterns and frequency over time. When you suddenly quit drinking, your body is deprived of alcohol’s effects and needs time to adjust to functioning without it. This adjustment phase is accompanied by withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, tremors, nausea, and anxiety.
Alcoholism can cause physical changes in the body, making it challenging to manage alcohol use. It can also make it extremely difficult to lessen or quit alcohol abuse. As alcohol withdrawal may be a painful phase, it is highly recommended that anyone seeking to quit drinking receive professional treatment at a specialized alcohol rehab center.
Who is at Risk for Alcohol Withdrawal?
People with an alcohol addiction or who drink significantly regularly and cannot progressively reduce their intake are at a greater risk of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).
AWS is more common in adults, although it can also affect children and teens who drink heavily. If you’ve already had withdrawal symptoms or required medical detox for a drinking issue, you’re also at risk for AWS.
Heavy drinking is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as more than eight alcoholic drinks per week for women and 15 alcoholic beverages per week for men. One drink is equivalent to the following:
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or liquor, including gin, rum, vodka, and whiskey
- 5 ounces of wine
- 8 ounces of malt liquor
- 12 ounces of beer
The most common form of heavy alcohol consumption is binge drinking. It is defined as four or more drinks consumed in one sitting for women and five or more drinks consumed in one sitting for men.
Causes of Alcohol Withdrawal
When attempting to quit drinking, alcohol affects many bodily functions, resulting in alcohol withdrawal. First and foremost, excessive alcohol consumption stimulates and irritates the central nervous system. Alcohol has a sedative impact on the brain, suppressing particular neurotransmitters and making individuals feel relaxed after drinking. This explains why, after drinking alcohol, people experience sensations of euphoria, greater sociability, and relaxation.
The brain of a heavy alcohol drinker is nearly always exposed to the depressive effects of alcohol. As a result, the individual develops an alcohol dependency. When the body grows dependent on alcohol, it takes increasing amounts of the substance to produce the same effects.
When someone quickly stops drinking, the neurotransmitters are no longer blocked by alcohol, and the brain struggles to adjust itself to the new chemical imbalance, resulting in severe withdrawal symptoms that are distinct from the “feel good” effects of alcohol intake.
The side effects of alcohol withdrawal differ from person to person. Many people are scared to stop drinking because the idea of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms is frightening. However, it is crucial to remember that alcohol addiction treatment doctors can prescribe medications to help relieve pain. By alleviating withdrawal symptoms, you can concentrate on recovery and getting better.
Timeline of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can begin as early as two hours after the last drink. Typically, withdrawal symptoms peak occurs between 24 and 48 hours after quitting. This is when you may experience the most unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including rapid heartbeat, insomnia, changes in blood pressure, perspiration, tremors, and fever.
Some people experience relatively few withdrawal symptoms, but others encounter severe adverse effects. For instance, Delerium Tremens (DTs) is one of the most severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Within the first 48 hours after your last drink, confusion, severe shaking, hallucinations, and increased blood pressure might emerge.
Although Delirium Tremens is uncommon, it is potentially fatal. Heavy drinkers who suddenly quit drinking may experience various potentially deadly withdrawal symptoms. Those experiencing withdrawal must undergo medically assisted detox.
Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms manifest according to the following schedule:
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically subside after five days, while some people may have prolonged symptoms. Several factors affect the intensity and duration of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, including frequency, length of time drinking, medical history, and other co-occurring health issues. A person is more prone to encounter severe withdrawal symptoms if they have abused alcohol in combination with other addictive drugs.
Acute Alcohol Withdrawal (AWS)
In the first few days and weeks following cessation of alcohol consumption, a person may suffer acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome refers to the usual withdrawal symptoms experienced by heavy drinkers who suddenly cease their alcohol consumption after long periods of excessive use. During this period, you will most likely have a temporary loss of consciousness, delirium tremens, and seizures.
Due to the potentially life-threatening health consequences that might occur during acute alcohol withdrawal, it is advised that you never quit drinking on your own and instead seek treatment at a hospital or a specialist rehab center. A medical practitioner can monitor your mental and physical health throughout the day to prevent symptoms from worsening.
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
After the early symptoms of alcohol withdrawal fade, some people may endure prolonged side effects. This less common phase is known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). PAWS encompasses withdrawal symptoms that occur after acute withdrawal and can make life after rehabilitation challenging for some people. PAWS can persist anywhere from a few weeks to a year, depending on the degree of your alcoholism.
Common symptoms of PAWS include:
- Intense cravings
- Chronic nausea
- Increased accident proneness
- Trouble sleeping
- Delayed reflexes
- Low energy
- Memory problems
- Irritability and emotional outbursts
PAWS is one of the primary causes of relapse after alcohol addiction treatment has been completed. Many patients suffer PAWS symptoms in cyclical waves; one day, they feel good, and the next, they are tormented by fatigue and excessive alcohol cravings.
The spontaneity of this withdrawal period might make it difficult to resist temptation. However, it is essential to remember that each PAWS episode often lasts only a few days. If a person can make it through this period, the symptoms will go as swiftly as they arise.
Getting Help for Alcohol Withdrawal
If you are experiencing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, it may be a sign that you are abusing alcohol and have developed a dependence on it. There are methods to get help and support if you or a loved one are experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
A medically-assisted alcohol withdrawal program may be the most effective method of overcoming an alcohol addiction for people experiencing severe or prolonged withdrawal symptoms.
Detoxification from alcohol takes place in an inpatient facility, where medical specialists can provide round-the-clock care and assist you in managing your unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Medications such as chlordiazepoxide or diazepam will likely be used to reduce the severity of symptoms and maintain your health.
Patients often remain in the residential inpatient environment for alcohol recovery after detoxification. Here, you may concentrate only on long-term recovery from addiction, engaging in counseling, support groups, and other types of treatment designed to produce lasting results.
Therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), can help alcoholics identify and address the underlying causes of alcoholism.
After detox, you are still at risk of relapsing, particularly if you are exposed to triggers that make you want to drink to cope. Typical factors for relapses include stressful life events and flashbacks of past traumas.
Understanding and resolving the issues that lead to your addiction, as well as developing coping mechanisms for future triggers, can be accomplished via therapy. Addiction therapy can be done on an individual, family, or group basis.
Addiction recovery is a continuous process. Aftercare programs continue to assist individuals after they have completed their original course of treatment, allowing them to benefit from a network of empathic people who aid in long-term abstinence. Secondary care, which assists patients in returning to normalcy after their first treatment, is also an effective means of ensuring that their recovery is long-lasting.
The most effective method of preventing alcohol withdrawal syndrome is to abstain from alcohol or to use it in moderation.
The official definition of moderate drinking is one drink or fewer per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men. However, a person with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) can prevent specific withdrawal symptoms by seeing a doctor about safe withdrawal.
Risk factors for AUD include a family history of alcohol issues, depression and other mental health disorders, and genetic factors.
Those who suspect they have an alcohol use disorder (AUD) or are dependent on alcohol must get professional help immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does your body feel when you quit drinking?
The body goes through withdrawal symptoms after you suddenly quit drinking. Withdrawal symptoms may include sweating, tremors, sleep disturbances, a fast heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations, anxiety, restlessness, and even convulsions.
What are common signs & symptoms of withdrawal?
The most common withdrawal symptoms include:
– Intense cravings for the drug
– Rapid heart rate
– Irritability and agitation
– Difficulty focusing or concentrating
How long after you stop drinking do you feel the effects?
Withdrawal symptoms are likely to begin within the first twenty-four hours after quitting alcohol. Depending on the individual and the frequency with which they use alcohol, they may start as early as two hours after their last drink.
How long does it take your brain to go back to normal after stopping drinking?
According to current studies, it takes at least two weeks for the brain to begin returning to normal, which is the starting point for the alcohol recovery timeline. The brain is less able to resist the impulse to drink until it has fully recovered. This is because alcohol impairs the brain’s cognitive function.
The Haven Detox Can Help You Through Withdrawal Phase
Although going through alcohol withdrawal can be uncomfortable, it is an essential step on the road to recovery. Alcohol withdrawal is a safer and less complicated procedure under medical specialists’ guidance.
The Haven Detox provides various addiction treatment options that may be customized to meet your specific needs, including the most cutting-edge alcohol rehab care. The Haven offers assistance to many people who are battling addiction and works with them to create a better future under the direction of a top-notch team of medical experts, including doctors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
If you or your loved one is dealing with alcohol addiction, we are here to help you with various treatment options, such as detox, inpatient treatment, aftercare, and more. Contact us at (561) 328-8627 today! | <urn:uuid:5e9f3158-27ee-4d5f-bd44-395471b52b1f> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://havendetoxnow.com/alcohol-withdrawal-inpatient-detox/ | 2024-12-03T01:24:32Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066131052.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20241203010947-20241203040947-00817.warc.gz | en | 0.955289 | 2,260 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Intravenous therapy is a revolutionary medical technique invented over half a century ago. We can learn a lot about modern medicine by digging deeper into the history of IV therapy.
The development of IV therapy is of significant importance. Not only does it give us a detailed overview of the treatment, but it also gives us proof of how quickly medicine can change.
Let’s go through the historical background of IV therapy, so you can discover how it started saving people’s lives and how it became such an important treatment.
Timeline of IV Therapy: Short Overview
1492 | First unsuccessful human-to-human blood transfusion |
1656 | The invention of the first IV therapy device |
1656 | First successfully administered intravenous therapy on an animal |
1666 | First animal-to-animal blood transfusion |
1667 | First animal-to-human blood transfusion |
1829 | First successful human-to-human blood transfusion |
1832 | Saline infusion was used for cholera patients |
1845 | The hollow needle was perfected |
1852 | The modern hypodermic syringe was created |
The late 1890s | Oxygen was intravenously administered |
Quinine intravenous injections were used for severe cases of malaria | |
Quine hydrochlorate solution was administered through IV for syphilis | |
1896 | Invention of the Luer connector |
1930 | IV fluids started being stored in glass bottles |
1940 | Nurses were allowed to administer IV therapy |
1950 | The Massa or Rochester Plastic Needle was introduced |
1970 | Vitamins and minerals were administered intravenously for the first time |
Invention of the ambulatory infusion pump |
History of IV Therapy: The Early Beginnings
The concept of IV therapy was born in the late Middle Ages. During this time, there were a lot of firsts for the new medical invention, from human-to-human blood transfers to IV therapy performed on animals and blood transfers between animals and humans.
The first intravenous therapy performed on humans
The beginnings of intravenous therapy in the healthcare industry go back to 1492. The first IV treatment was a blood administration from three donors to the patient.
The first intravenous treatment was given to the head of the Catholic Church of the time, Pope Innocent VIII. The Pope’s doctor performed IV therapy on him after he suffered from an apoplectic stroke and fell into a coma.
To try and save the Pope, the doctor took blood from three healthy young individuals and administered the fluids to the Pope via IV therapy.
Unfortunately, the attempt to save the Pope’s life was unsuccessful. Along with the Pope, the three young boys who donated their blood passed away.
With such unfortunate results from the first IV therapy, medical professionals didn’t use the treatment for over a century. Hence, there was no room for the progression of the IV inventions until the mid-1600s.
Source: shutterstock.com/ Photo Contributor: ivector
The ivention of the first infusion device
The infusion devices, as we see them today, look simple and easy to get a hold of. Yet, the evolution of IV therapy took some time and many unsuccessful attempts to get to where it is now.
Sir Christopher Wren started writing the history of IV catheters when he made the first infusion device.
In 1656, an Oxford scientist used a pig’s bladder and a writing quill to make an IV device. The pig’s bladder was used as a bag for the fluid, while the quill was inserted into the patient’s vein.
IV infusion on animals
Christopher Wren and Robert Boyle
If you wonder who invented IV therapy, the answer is Christopher Wren. It is important to note he had help from Robert Boyle. However, Boyle fully attributed the authorship to Wren.
The two scientists performed the first successful intravenous therapy on a large dog in 1656.
The first intravenous injection was given in Oxford, United Kingdom, on High Street. To report the experiment, Sir Christopher Wren wrote a letter and stated: “I Have Injected Wine and Ale in a liveing Dog into the Mass of Blood by a Veine, in good Quantities, till I have made him extremely drunk, but soon after he Pisseth it out.”
The scientist used the IV device to infuse antimony, wine, opium, and ale directly into the dog’s veins. The VI treatment made the dog drunk, but he survived.
Wren and Boyer continued with their research and performed IV infusions with other fluids. During the experiments, Wren and Boyer faced difficulties with the equipment.
They figured out that the materials of the IV infusion device didn’t serve their purpose. The writing quills were too fragile to work with, making the procedure even harder than it was.
Another important name in the history of IV therapy is Doctor Richard Lower, also from Oxford. Lower became popular by transfusing blood from one animal to another in 1666. Unfortunately, Lower’s experiment wasn’t successful.
Learning from his colleagues’ mistakes, Lower made IV infusion devices from silver.
Later, Lower collaborated with Edmund King for a transfusion of animal blood into a human. In 1667, the two scientists transfused sheep’s blood into Arthur Coga. The transfusion was performed in front of the Royal Society. Sadly, the patient passed away.
Jean Baptiste Denis
Jean Baptiste Denis tried to cure illnesses and prolong people’s lives by inserting animal blood. Denis and Paul Emmerez did experiments for less than a year, from June 1667 to January the following year.
Denis’s study was focused on taking out blood from the animal’s carotid arteries and injecting it into human patients. For the experiments, he used blood from calves, baby goats, and lambs.
Jean Baptiste Denis did the first successful xenotransfusion on a 15-year-old boy. The patient had a chronic fever and was given eight ounces of lamb blood. After the transfusion, the boy felt better.
The success of xenotransfusion encouraged Denis to continue with his study. Denis’s IV infusion experiments had two human casualties, and three people were allegedly cured.
Consequences of the IV infusion experiments in the Middle Ages
After these events, France and England banned blood transfusion from animals to men. Xenotransfusion was considered dangerous because the authorities believed it could make changes in our species. Additionally, the Vatican issued a decree forbidding xenotransfusion.
Source: shutterstock.com/ Photo Contributor: ivector
IV Therapy in the 18th Century
The ban on performing blood transfusions didn’t stop the evolution of IV therapy. Instead, the scientists continued to seek ways to make progress. The “Father of American Surgery”, Dr. Philip Syng Physik, encouraged human-to-human blood transfusions.
Motivated by him, Dr. James Blundell came up with the idea to do blood transfusions on new mothers. Many of Blundell’s patients were dying during childbirth. Consequently, he tried to treat the postpartum hemorrhage with intravenous therapy.
Blundell used a syringe to take out blood from the arm of the patient’s husband. Then, he transfused four ounces of blood into the new mothers. Blundell had the honor of doing the first successful human-to-human blood transfusion in 1829.
He did a total of 10 blood transfusions with a 50% success rate.
Blundell used many different instruments for blood transfusion, like the impellor and the gravitator. His inventions and discoveries are used today and have greatly influenced modern medicine.
One of his greatest discoveries during his medical work is that letting the air out of the syringe before transfusing liquids is of significant importance. Today, nurses and doctors still let the air out before they push the needle into the skin.
Evolution of IV Therapy in the 19th Century
Transfusions and injections started to be more often used in the early to mid-19th century. The cholera outbreaks in Europe speed up the evolution of IV therapy.
As Dr. WIlliam Brooke O’Shaughnessy was studying the implications of the cholera disease on humans in 1831, he discovered that the patient’s blood lacked water and saline.
One year later, Dr. Thomas Latta used the findings of O’Shaughnessy and started treating cholera patients with intravenous saline. Latta revolutionized intravenous therapy with the type of liquid he used.
Interestingly enough, Latta did his first salt solution administration rectally. Later, in May 1832, he informed the Central Board of Health that he would start treating patients with intravenous saline treatment.
The results of Latta’s saline administration weren’t consistent because he wasn’t sure about the right saline measurements. Unfortunately, most of the patients Latta has treated died. Still, his work is a huge part of the IV infusion development.
During the last decade of the 19th century, Guido Baccelli published a study about the IV therapy. He is especially known for administering oxygen intravenously and prolonging the life of the Italian King then, Victor Emmanuel II.
Additionally, he discovered that quinine intravenous injections could help with severe malaria cases. Baccelli also used quine hydrochlorate solutions for syphilis cases.
The Luer connector
The end of the 19th century was concluded with the invention of the Luer connection, which we still use today. The Leuer connector was made by the instrument maker Karl Schneider in Paris.
The instrument was designed as a leak-free connection between the parts of the IV therapy in 1896. The two main components of the Luer connector are the glass cylinder and the plunger.
Development of IV apparatus
The development of the modern IV apparatus started with the hollow needle and the syringe in the mid-19th century.
Francis Rynd is a surgeon who perfected the hollow needle around 1845. Seven years later, Alexander Wood invented the modern hypodermic syringe.
It is important to note that the origins of syringes date back to the 5th century BC. Then, there were syringes with compressed bulbs. Years later, the history of the IV therapy apparatus records the use of piston and barrel syringes (180 BC) and metal syringes (16th century).
Before the invention of the Massa (Rochester Plastic Needle), intravenous fluids were administered by using three methods:
Hollow metal needles, and
Threading plastic tubing into veins.
Source: shutterstock.com/ Photo Contributor: Siberian Art
The 20th Century as a Crucial Period in the Evolution of IV Therapy
In the early 20th century, intravenous infusion was not fully developed. It was in the 1960s when it started to be widely used as a medical treatment.
In the first 20 years of the 20th century, the fluids that should be typically administered intravenously today were given to the patients as a Murphy drip. In simple terms, the nutrition needs of the patient were administered rectally.
Robert Elman is an important figure in the history of IV therapy which focused on proving the importance of parenteral hyperalimentation. In 1948, a clinical surgery professor discovered that it is beneficial for patients to get amnio acids intravenously.
In 1970, the internist from the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Dr. John Myers, started practicing intravenous infusions of vitamins and minerals. He wanted to discover whether an IV cocktail could boost the immune system.
Firstly, Myers tested the IV cocktails with vitamins and minerals on animals. Later, he administered the first IV therapy to himself. Since then, millions of people have used IV therapy to get the nutrients they need.
The latest important invention in the history of infusion pumps is the ambulatory infusion pump. For that, we should thank Dean Kamen, who made it easier for patients to receive injections in their beds with the wearable pump.
Development of IV Infusion
Storing IV therapy
IV infusions have been stored in different ways. At the beginning of the 19th century, IV fluids were kept in a container covered with gauze.
Later on, in 1930, the containers were replaced with vacuum-sealed glass bottles. Today, IV infusions are put in plastic bags as a cheaper, more practical alternative to glass bottles.
Source: shutterstock.com/ Photo Contributor: imagestockdesign
History of IV fluid therapy administration
The medical personnel with the authority to administer IV therapy has also changed. In the beginning, the medical treatment was only done by doctors.
Nowadays, administering an IV treatment is mainly a nurse’s job. This IV therapy milestone of nurses administering IV therapy happened in the early 1940s.
How is IV Therapy Used Today?
IV therapies are popular medical treatments in the US. Intravenous infusions are administered every day in hospitals worldwide. Typically, IV is used by medical professionals to give the patients blood, medication, vitamins, and other therapeutic fluids.
Mobile IV therapy services like The Drip Infusion also provide cocktail solutions for everybody who wants to enhance their overall health and wellness. The cocktail menu includes solutions that might help with dehydration, sickness, hangover, morning sickness, weight loss, etc.
The journey of IV therapy started with a lot of unsuccessful experiments. However, that didn’t stop the masterminds from researching the topic. We must thank those brave scientists and patients for the revolutionary intravenous therapy.
Today, IV therapy is one of the most important parts of modern medicine. It plays a huge role in medical treatments and helps improve people’s health worldwide. We have a lot to learn from the history of IV therapy on how to make it even better in the future and make people’s lives easier. | <urn:uuid:813e9059-578d-41db-928e-4002480e75d8> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://thedripivinfusion.com/history-of-iv-therapy/ | 2024-12-09T16:17:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066046748.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20241209152324-20241209182324-00841.warc.gz | en | 0.953369 | 2,958 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Photo credit: Diego Cervo
To mark the first day of summer, the New York City Emergency Management Department and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourage New Yorkers to beat the heat by knowing the hazards they may face, having a plan to stay safe, and keeping informed.
The City is prioritizing neighborhoods facing the greatest health risks from heat ― as outlined in the NYC Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) ― for new public cooling elements and refining existing programs to serve more residents during extreme heat events. People with chronic health illnesses, mental health conditions, substance or alcohol abuse, and older adults are more likely than younger New Yorkers to experience adverse effects from extreme heat.
In addition, as people get older, their ability to maintain a safe body temperature declines — resulting in an increased risk for heat-related illness. New York City urges residents to take steps to protect themselves and help others who may be at increased risk from the heat, including vulnerable individuals such as seniors and those with chronic health problems.
Visit the NYC Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) to understand how health risks during and immediately after extreme heat events compare across NYC neighborhoods, and how the HVI helps the City identify and direct resources to neighborhoods at higher risk during extreme heat.
New Yorkers who do not have an air conditioner can call 311 or check online to find out whether they qualify for a free air conditioner through the New York State Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). To qualify for the cooling assistance program, households must meet certain income-level requirements, receive public benefits (such as SNAP or Code A SSI), have received a HEAP benefit during the current HEAP program year, or have a household member with a medical condition that is exacerbated by the heat. As of 2020, New York State extended eligibility to include people living in public housing or who receive housing benefits or subsidies, and who also meet certain health qualifications. In addition, this year, a letter from a medical provider is not needed to apply for the benefit. The program opened May 3, 2022, and applications will be accepted through August 31, 2022, or until funds are exhausted.
In addition, during periods of extreme heat, the City opens cooling centers. NYC Emergency Management activates the Cooling Center Finder when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory, with a forecasted heat index of 95°F or higher for two or more days or 100°F for any period. When the Cooling Center Finder is active, you can find your nearest cooling center by calling 311 or visiting NYC.gov/beattheheat. Cooling centers located at older adult center sites will be reserved for older New Yorkers, ages 60 and older. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, individuals are reminded to stay at home if they are feeling sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
NYC PARKS’ COOL IT! NYC MAP
To help New Yorkers stay cool, NYC Parks has highlighted cooling elements citywide with its Cool It! NYC map. By using the map, visitors will be able to find the locations of the closest outdoor pools, spray showers and water fountains in their neighborhood, and with the Leafiest Blocks and Park Tree Canopy categories, easily find NYC Parks’ recommendations for blocks and areas with the most shade to help stay cool this summer.
During extreme heat events, the Cool It! NYC map will be updated as necessary.
CHECK ON THOSE MOST AT-RISK DURING EXTREME HEAT
- Encourage family, friends, and neighbors who are older or who have heart, kidney or lung disease or other health conditions, serious mental illness, or struggle with substance abuse to use air conditioning. Check on them during heat waves or extreme heat and help them get to an air-conditioned place if they cannot stay cool at home. During extreme heat, NYC opens cooling centers throughout the five boroughs where New Yorkers can go to cool off.
- If they do not have air conditioners, encourage family, friends, and neighbors at risk for heat-related illness to find out whether they qualify for a free air conditioner through the New York State Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) by calling the Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration at 1-800-692-0557 or 311.
During extreme heat, the Department of Social Services (DSS) issues a Code Red Alert. During Code Reds, shelter is available to anyone experiencing homelessness, where those experiencing heat-related discomfort can access designated cooling areas. DSS staff and the agency’s not-for-profit contracted outreach teams who engage with individuals experiencing homelessness 24/7/365 redouble their efforts during extreme heat, with a focus on connecting vulnerable unsheltered New Yorkers to services and shelter.
ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE HEAT
- Go to an air-conditioned location, even if for a few hours.
- Stay out of the sun and avoid extreme temperature changes.
- Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.
- Drink water, rest, and locate shade if you are working outdoors or if your work is strenuous. Drink water every 15 minutes even if you are not thirsty, rest in the shade, and watch out for others on your team. Your employer is required to provide water, rest, and shade when work is being done during extreme heat.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing when inside without air conditioning or outside.
- Drink fluids, particularly water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Those on fluid-restricted diets or taking diuretics should first speak with their doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine.
- Eat small, frequent meals.
- Cool down with a cool bath or shower.
- Participate in activities that will keep you cool, such as going to the movies, walking in an air-conditioned mall, or swimming at a pool or beach.
- Swimming in restricted areas or when a lifeguard is not on duty, where you see red flags, is strictly prohibited and very dangerous.
- When at the beach, pool, or park this summer, wear sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids, and wear light and loose-fitting clothing to stay cool. If you are in the water or on the beach and there is thunder or lightning, follow directions of lifeguards and beach staff and seek shelter in a building or vehicle.
- Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties and piers. All beachgoers should only swim in areas monitored by lifeguards, closely heed the instructions of lifeguards, and pay attention to any flags and posted signs
- If you become caught in a rip current, don’t panic. Try to remain calm and begin to swim parallel to shore. Once away from the force of the rip current, you can swim back to the beach. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current – even a strong swimmer can become exhausted quickly.
- Air conditioners in buildings more than six stories must be installed with brackets so they are secured and do not fall on someone below.
- Never leave your children or pets in the vehicle alone, even for a few minutes.
KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESS
Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know has:
- Hot dry skin
- Trouble breathing
- Rapid heartbeat
- Confusion, disorientation, or dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
If you or someone you know feels weak or faint, go to a cool place and drink water. If there is no improvement, call a doctor or 911.
KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE
- Avoid dehydration: Pets can dehydrate quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water.
- Walk your dog in the morning and evening: When the temperature is very high, do not let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Your pet’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn.
- Know when your pet is in danger: Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, unresponsiveness, or even collapse.
IMPROPER FIRE HYDRANT USE
The improper opening of fire hydrants wastes 1,000 gallons of water per minute, causes flooding on city streets, and lowers water pressure to dangerous levels, which hamper the ability of the Fire Department to fight fire safely and quickly.
Use “spray caps” to reduce hydrant output to a safe 25 gallons per minute while still providing relief from the heat. To obtain a spray cap, an adult 18 years or older with proper identification can go to his or her local firehouse and request one.
During periods of intense electrical usage, such as on hot, humid days, it is important to conserve energy as much as possible to avoid brownouts and other electrical disruptions. While lowering your power usage may seem inconvenient, your cooperation will help ensure that utility providers are able to provide uninterrupted electrical service to you and your neighbors, particularly those who use electric powered medical equipment or are at risk of heat-related illness and death:
- Set your air conditioner to 78°F or “low.”
- Run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it is cooler outside to reduce heat and moisture in your home.
- Close doors to keep cool air in and hot air out when the air conditioner is running.
- Keep shades, blinds, and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows.
- Turn off air conditioners, lights, and other appliances when not at home, and use a timer or smart technology to turn on your air conditioner about a half-hour before arriving home. Keep air conditioner filters clean.
- If you run a business, keep your door closed while the air conditioner is running.
- Tell your utility provider if you or someone you know depend on medical equipment that requires electricity.
For more information, visit NYC.gov/beattheheat. New Yorkers are also encouraged to stay informed by signing up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program, to receive free emergency alerts and updates in your preferred language and format by visiting NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115), following @NotifyNYC on Twitter, or getting the free Notify NYC mobile application for your Apple or Android device. | <urn:uuid:5f455c86-d683-42c1-bdc2-2ef540a0b6c4> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://africainharlem.nyc/en/city-of-new-york-offers-tips-to-beat-the-heat/ | 2024-12-08T21:17:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066450783.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20241208203139-20241208233139-00477.warc.gz | en | 0.940653 | 2,300 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Iceberg roses are a popular choice amongst gardening enthusiasts due to their stunning white blooms and hardy nature. These roses, scientifically known as Rosa ‘Iceberg,’ are hybrid roses that originated in Germany. The unique trait of these plants lies in their ability to produce abundant clusters of white flowers throughout the summer season. With their breathtaking beauty and easy maintenance, iceberg roses have become a staple in many gardens around the world.
One of the key reasons why iceberg roses have gained popularity is their resilience and adaptability. Unlike other rose varieties, iceberg roses are known to be highly disease-resistant, making them a great choice for beginners or those who don’t have much time to dedicate to plant care. These roses are also quite versatile and can be successfully grown in various climates and soil conditions. Moreover, they have a long flowering period, ensuring that your garden remains vibrant and visually appealing throughout the summer months.
Moving forward, let’s delve into the key takeaways of planting iceberg roses. We will explore the step-by-step process of planting and caring for these roses, ensuring that you can enjoy their beauty to the fullest extent. Additionally, we will provide valuable tips and tricks to promote healthy growth and abundant flowering. By the end of this article, you will have all the knowledge and guidance needed to successfully plant and nurture your own magnificent iceberg roses. So, let’s begin our journey into the world of iceberg roses and discover how to create a breathtaking floral masterpiece in your own garden.
1. Before planting iceberg roses, choose a suitable location with full sun exposure and well-drained soil. Consider the space required for mature plants and ensure they have enough air circulation to prevent diseases.
2. Prepare the soil by removing any weeds or grass and enriching it with organic matter like compost or aged manure. This will improve the soil’s fertility and drainage, promoting healthier growth for the roses.
3. When planting iceberg roses, dig a hole that is wider and deeper than the root ball. Place the rose in the hole, ensuring that the bud union (the swollen area above the roots) is level with or slightly above the soil surface.
4. After planting, water the rose thoroughly, saturating the root zone. To retain moisture and suppress weeds, apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant, leaving a small gap around the stem. Mulching will also help regulate soil temperature and reduce water evaporation.
5. Once established, maintain the health of iceberg roses by watering them deeply and regularly, especially during dry spells. Fertilize the roses regularly with a balanced rose fertilizer, following the instructions on the package. Prune annually to remove dead wood, promote new growth, and maintain the desired shape of the plant.
Note: This article does not have a conclusion or any concluding remarks, as requested.
How to Properly Plant Iceberg Roses for a Beautiful Garden
Choosing the Right Location
Planting iceberg roses in the right location is crucial for their growth and bloom. These roses require full sun exposure, so select a spot in your garden that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Ensure the area has well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging and root rot. Prepare the soil by loosening it with a garden fork or tiller, removing any weeds or rocks that may hinder the plant’s development.
Preparing the Planting Hole
Before planting iceberg roses, it is important to dig a suitable hole that accommodates the roots of the rose bush. Ensure the hole is at least twice as wide and deep as the rose’s root ball. This extra space will provide room for root growth and improve soil aeration. Add organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to the excavated soil to provide essential nutrients.
Planting the Iceberg Rose
When planting iceberg roses, it is essential to handle the roots with care to avoid any damage. Gently remove the rose bush from its container and loosen the roots if they are tightly bound. Place the rose in the center of the prepared hole, making sure the bud union—where the rose is grafted onto the rootstock—is slightly above the soil level. Backfill the hole with the amended soil, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets.
Watering and Mulching
After planting, thoroughly water the rose bush to settle the soil around the roots. Keep the soil consistently moist but not overly saturated; overwatering can lead to root rot. Applying a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant will help retain moisture, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperature. Mulch should be spread evenly but avoid piling it against the stem, as this can promote rotting.
Pruning and Maintenance
To ensure healthy growth and abundant blooms, iceberg roses require regular pruning and maintenance. Pruning should be done in early spring before new growth appears, cutting back any dead or damaged wood. Additionally, remove any weak or crossing branches to improve air circulation and prevent disease. Throughout the growing season, monitor the roses for pests, such as aphids or black spot, and promptly address any issues that arise.
Fertilizing Iceberg Roses
Proper fertilization is vital for the continuous growth and blooming of iceberg roses. Begin fertilizing in spring when new growth emerges and repeat monthly until late summer. Use a balanced rose fertilizer or a slow-release granular fertilizer specifically formulated for roses. Apply the fertilizer according to the package instructions, ensuring it is spread evenly around the plant but kept away from direct contact with the stem.
1. How often should I water my newly planted iceberg roses?
Regular watering is essential for newly planted iceberg roses, especially during the establishment phase. Water deeply at least once a week, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Adjust the frequency based on weather conditions; roses may require more frequent watering in hot and dry climates.
2. Are iceberg roses suitable for container gardening?
While iceberg roses can thrive in containers, they require regular watering and feeding to sustain their growth and beauty. Choose a large container with adequate drainage holes and use high-quality potting soil. Monitor moisture levels closely and fertilize regularly to ensure the health and vigor of the roses.
3. How can I prevent diseases and pests on my iceberg roses?
Maintaining good hygiene, such as regularly removing fallen leaves and debris, can help prevent common rose diseases. Additionally, providing adequate air circulation by properly spacing rose bushes can minimize the risk of fungal infections. Monitor the plants regularly for pests and apply suitable organic or chemical controls as necessary.
4. Can iceberg roses tolerate cold climates?
Iceberg roses are hardy in USDA zones 5-9, making them suitable for a wide range of climates. However, in colder regions, it is advisable to protect the plant during winter by applying a thick layer of mulch around the base and wrapping the canes with burlap or other protective material.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can Iceberg roses survive in colder climates?
Yes, Iceberg roses are generally hardy and can withstand colder climates, making them suitable for planting in a variety of regions.
2. How often should I water my Iceberg roses?
Iceberg roses require regular watering, especially during the hotter months. Aim to water them deeply about once or twice a week, ensuring the soil is adequately moist but not waterlogged.
3. Do Iceberg roses need a lot of sunlight?
Yes, Iceberg roses thrive in full sunlight. They require at least six hours of direct sunlight every day to promote healthy growth and abundant blooms.
4. Can I grow Iceberg roses in containers or pots?
Absolutely! Iceberg roses can be successfully grown in containers or pots, provided they have sufficient drainage. Use a good quality potting mix and ensure the container is large enough to accommodate the rose’s root system as it grows.
5. When is the best time to plant Iceberg roses?
The ideal time to plant Iceberg roses is during the early spring, once the risk of frost has passed. This allows the plants to establish roots before the hot summer months.
6. How do I prepare the soil for planting Iceberg roses?
Start by removing any weeds or grass from the planting area and loosen the soil. Incorporate organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and enrich the soil. Aim for a well-draining, fertile soil for optimal rose growth.
7. Do Iceberg roses require pruning?
Yes, regular pruning is recommended for Iceberg roses to maintain their shape and promote new growth. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Remove any dead or damaged branches and shape the plant as desired.
8. Are Iceberg roses susceptible to any diseases or pests?
While Iceberg roses are generally disease-resistant, they may occasionally be affected by common rose diseases such as black spot or powdery mildew. Regular monitoring, proper watering, and adequate air circulation can help prevent such issues. Pest problems may include aphids or spider mites, which can be controlled with organic insecticides or natural predators.
9. How long does it take for Iceberg roses to bloom?
Iceberg roses typically start blooming within the first year of planting, although the exact time may vary depending on various factors such as climate and growing conditions. With proper care and maintenance, you can expect a display of beautiful blooms throughout the growing season.
10. Can I propagate Iceberg roses from cuttings?
Yes, Iceberg roses can be propagated from cuttings. Take semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, strip the lower leaves, dip the cut ends in rooting hormone, and plant them in a well-draining potting mix. Keep the cuttings moist and warm, and roots should develop within a few weeks.
Planting Iceberg roses can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. With their stunning white blooms, fragrance, and wide adaptability, these roses can enhance any garden or landscape. Remember to provide them with adequate sunlight, water, and well-prepared soil to ensure their healthy growth. Regular pruning and attention to potential disease or pest issues will help maintain their beauty season after season. By following these guidelines and showing a little care, you can create a breathtaking rose garden filled with the elegance of Iceberg roses.
Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a beginner, experimenting with Iceberg roses can prove to be an excellent choice. Their versatility, durability, and classic beauty make them a popular option among rose enthusiasts. Take the opportunity to add these stunning roses to your garden and enjoy their abundance of white blooms and delicate fragrance. Planting Iceberg roses provides a chance to create a serene and enchanting outdoor space while adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to your surroundings. | <urn:uuid:e82c54d8-248d-40a6-acfd-6f2db76dbb8d> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://plantopiahub.com/how-to-plant-iceberg-roses/ | 2024-12-12T01:30:19Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066097081.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212000506-20241212030506-00753.warc.gz | en | 0.926482 | 2,252 | 2.609375 | 3 |
For years, food companies have struggled with biofilm prevention. Its importance cannot be underestimated and should be addressed through effective sanitation programs. With proper implementation of the sanitation process, biofilms can be removed and prevented, and potential health risks reduced.
Biofilms are a community of bacterial cells that adhere to each other and surfaces, protected by polysaccharides that act like glue.1 These polysaccharides allow bacteria to attach themselves to surfaces and feed off the protein and soils that have not been removed. Bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli are some of the more well-known culprits that cause foodborne illnesses. Spoilage bacteria will also attach themselves to surfaces and are the main contributors to shortened shelf life of food products. Although biofilms are difficult to remove, they can be removed with the eight steps of sanitation (Figure 1), which incorporate the four factors of wash: concentration, temperature, time, and mechanical force. As in every aspect of problem-solving, there is no silver bullet that will address the problem exclusively. However, if these eight steps are used in conjunction with robust monitoring, biofilms can be removed and prevented.
Eight Steps of Sanitation
1. Dry Pickup
In this step, it is important to remove protein from product contact surfaces and the floor, as well as pick up any trash or obstructions in the areas that need to be cleaned. It is critical that necessary equipment is disassembled before cleaning is performed and the pieces are stored properly to prevent cross-contamination. The disassembly of equipment allows the inspection of hard-to-reach areas and enables identification of any interior niches that could cause microbial infestation or “harborage.”
2. First Rinse
This step is completed to knock down protein and soils on all equipment and lower walls, starting from the top and working down to the floor, and utilizing a recommended water temperature between 120 °F and 140 °F and at least 130 psi, which is recommended for meat processing plants. Water temperature should not exceed 140 °F because it may bake the soil to the surface, which can increase the potential for microbial growth. Soil removal should be at least 95 percent before moving to Step 3.
3. Apply Detergent to Surfaces and Hand-Scrub
The major function of cleaning chemicals is to lower the surface tension of water so that soils may be loosened and flushed away. This step is essential for the removal of biofilms on equipment. Cleaning chemicals help disintegrate any remaining soil, and hand-scrubbing will continue that breakdown by releasing debris from surfaces for an easier rinse-down. Some key tips for step three:
• Ensure proper foam application from bottom to top on all equipment
• Foam should be left on the equipment for 10–15 minutes, but not be allowed to dry
• Hand-scrubbing should be completed while the foam is on the equipment or with a separate scrub bucket of general-purpose cleaner and a scrub pad
• Scrubbing drains should be performed during this step
• End-of-hose titrations should be conducted and properly documented daily.
During the chemical application and hand-scrubbing, it is important to consider the four factors of wash:
1. Concentration: The concentration of cleaning chemicals should be within the manufacturer’s specified use range to effectively help penetrate, break down, and remove soil/debris.
2. Temperature: Water temperature affects the effectiveness of soil removal and chemistry activation.
3. Time: How long it takes for cleaning chemicals to adequately penetrate, break down, and remove soil from a surface.
4. Mechanical force: Refers to the optimal water pressure or utilization of a scrub pad during the sanitation process to assist with the breakdown and removal of soil on surfaces. Other options also exist, such as clean-in-place and clean-out-of-place. Optimal water pressure may not be available; therefore, it is imperative that the concentration, temperature, and time meet the proper ranges to be effective.
4. Rinse and Inspect
During this step, it is recommended to rinse the foam from all surfaces, starting at the top and working down to the floor. Using high-volume/low-pressure hot water, all chemicals and soil should be removed. A best practice during the rinse step is to inspect equipment, using flashlights to verify the removal of soil.
5. Remove and Sanitize
This steps encompasses production, maintenance, and sanitation working together to reassemble equipment following proper hygienic procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and to remove condensation and standing water. A best practice directly after this step is to conduct a flood rinse of equipment prior to preoperational inspection.
6. Preoperational Inspection
When conducting the preoperational inspection, the use of a flashlight, organoleptic senses, and hands is helpful in verifying the cleanliness of equipment. This is an extremely important step to help identify any missed opportunities during the cleaning process and address them immediately. Preoperational inspection is not merely walking up and down a line with a flashlight at eye level. An excellent robust preoperational inspection consists of bending down to inspect the lower framework, inside of belts, and hard-to-see locations. It also means climbing ladders to get to the overhead belts or structures that cannot be seen thoroughly from the floor. During the inspection process, the senses of smell, touch, and sight must be utilized, along with any tools possible to increase the opportunity of identifying any deficiencies prior to turning the floor over to the plant.
The finishing step to help prevent and control biofilms is the application of a no-rinse level sanitizer. It is important that the sanitizer is titrated before application to ensure regulatory compliance by following the manufacturer’s labeling requirements. The no-rinse level sanitizer should be applied prior to the start of production from the bottom to the top, with 100 percent coverage of all product contact and noncontact surfaces. The underside of equipment, high inside framework, and niche areas should be included.
The purpose of documentation is to assist in the record-keeping of key elements within the sanitation process. Maintaining accurate records will ensure compliance with customer requirements and regulatory compliance by verifying the cleanliness of the plant.
Characteristics of Soils
Other factors to consider when implementing the eight steps of sanitation can have a tremendous impact on the cleanliness of the plant. It is helpful to take a look at the characteristics of soil and soil attachment. The soil or protein must first be identified. The optimum water temperature range will depend on the type of soil and protein found on plant surfaces. The range commonly used in meat plants is 120 °F to 140 °F with a target of 130 °F to remove soils and proteins. The types of soils and proteins will also determine which detergent or cleaner is used. After the characteristics of the soil have been identified, the water hardness will then need to be considered before selecting the detergent or cleaner that will best fit the process. Water hardness is determined primarily by calcium and magnesium salts in the water. As the surface dries, hard water causes water spots on the equipment, and when reacting with soap these minerals can form soap scum. Water hardness deactivates detergents and can negatively affect sanitizers and disinfectants. This is where certain chemical products are formulated to tie up the calcium and magnesium ions so that the cleaner or sanitizer can tolerate water hardness.1 Once the soil or protein is identified and water hardness is factored in, then the eight steps of sanitation can be implemented. Nevertheless, some hurdles will still need to be addressed for optimum prevention.
Soil Attachment and Sanitary Design
Sanitary design plays a crucial part in the prevention of biofilm. Food equipment must be constructed to ensure effective and efficient cleaning over the life of the equipment. The equipment should be designed to prevent bacterial entry, survival, growth, and reproduction on both product and non-product contact surfaces of the equipment. Soil removal becomes more difficult when there are cracks, crevices, uneven surfaces, or hard-to-clean areas, such as rough welds, broken welds, pitted metal, hollow framework, or rollers. These cracks and crevices become niches or harborage points that make the cleaning process more demanding. Additional tools for cleaning and specific chemical compounds can be used, but will not completely remove what could be embedded within these hard-to-clean areas. Plant management, food safety, and sanitation must partner to identify these areas for immediate repair or replacement to ensure that they do not create harborage for bacteria. An example of a simple repair would be to cap off the rolled metal that is being used as legs for tables or as a framework for belts. Of course, a best practice would be to systematically remove rolled metal and replace it with angle iron for easy access for cleaning. Another example is to smooth out rough welds to eliminate small holes or pitted areas. If the cleaner is to be effective at separating the soil from the surface, then the soil and surface must be thoroughly wet, which is sometimes difficult if the surface is hard to reach or still contains niches or harborage points.
Another factor that should be taken into consideration is construction events. Any time a construction event is planned in a plant, a strategy must be developed to ensure that any potential risks are identified before construction. This plan should also have preventions in place for each identified risk. A coordinated effort among operations, maintenance, food safety and quality assurance, and sanitation is necessary to develop and implement a plan that prevents uncovered biofilms from becoming a problem after construction is over. Construction events have the tendency to uncover or "loosen up" hidden biofilms that have been embedded in floors, walls, and equipment due to poor sanitary design or extensive wear and tear over the years. The construction plan should also incorporate a chemical “script” specifically addressing the area of concern. This chemical script not only includes the eight steps of sanitation and the four factors of wash, but also encompasses intensified cleaning. Intensified cleaning includes, but is not limited to:
• Breaking down equipment to the “bare bones,” which is the removal of all sandwiched parts.
• Use of specific chemicals to address specified equipment, areas, and microbial problems. Success is measured by the results of how closely the strategic plan was followed.
In preventing biofilms from taking over any production area, there is no one-size-fits-all scenario. It takes a reliable sanitation program; a dedicated sanitation team; a partnership with production, maintenance, and sanitation; and diligence to stay on top of identified harborage locations. Starting with the eight steps of sanitation, including the four factors of wash, biofilms can be reduced to a matter of preventive maintenance. It is important to keep in mind other factors that will impact the removal of biofilms, such as sanitary design and construction events. Furthermore, utilizing sanitation resources, such as contract cleaning companies, can be a valuable addition to biofilm reduction and prevention efforts.
Many thanks to Candy Lucas, a Senior Food Safety Director for PSSI, for supplying the expert content and illustration for this article.
1. Marriott, N.G., et al., Principles of Food Sanitation, 6th ed. (New York: Springer Scientific, 2018). | <urn:uuid:5bcc1f63-156e-44b5-b778-f8edad0f402d> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.food-safety.com/articles/6804-addressing-biofilms-through-the-sanitation-process | 2024-12-04T05:41:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066149008.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20241204045532-20241204075532-00558.warc.gz | en | 0.937031 | 2,367 | 3.90625 | 4 |
It's not a fluke: For the third time, scientists have detected ripples in space-time caused when two black holes circle each other at mind-bending speeds and collide.
The LIGO gravitational-wave detector spotted the space-time ripples on Jan. 4, members of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration announced today (June 1).
If this news sounds familiar, it's because this is the third black-hole collision that LIGO has detected in less than two years. These three consecutive discoveries signal to astrophysicists that mergers between black holes in this mass range are so common in the universe that LIGO may detect as many as one per day when the observatory begins operating at its full sensitivity, members of the collaboration said during a news teleconference yesterday (May 31). [How to See Space-Time Stretch - LIGO | Video]
"If we'd run for a long time and hadn't seen a third black-hole merger … we would have started scratching our heads and saying, 'Did we just get really lucky that we saw these two rare events?'" David Reitze, LIGO Laboratory executive director and a professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology, told Space.com. "Now I think we can say safely that that's not the case. I think that's exciting."
A batch of black-hole detections by LIGO could help scientists learn how black holes of this size — those with masses tens of times that of the sun, or so-called stellar-mass black holes — are born, and what causes them to come together and merge into a new, single black hole. A paper describing the new discovery includes a few clues about the spins of the original two black holes, which is an early step in learning about the environment where they formed and how they ended up colliding.
Ripples in space-time
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LIGO (which stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) was the first experiment in history to directly detect gravitational waves — ripples in the universal fabric known as space-time that were first predicted by Albert Einstein. The famous physicist showed that space and time are fundamentally linked, such that when space is distorted, time can either slow down or speed up.
Although LIGO first began taking data in 2002, it wasn't until the observatory underwent a major upgrade, called Advanced LIGO, that it achieved the sensitivity necessary to make a detection. The first black-hole merger spotted by LIGO was announced in February 2016; the second was announced in June 2016.
This new merger spotted by LIGO took place between one black hole with a mass about 19 times that of the sun, and another with a mass about 31 times that of the sun. Those companions combined to form a new black-hole with a mass of about 49 times that of the sun (some mass can be lost during the merger). The entire mass of that final black hole is packed into an object with a diameter of about 167 miles (270 kilometers), or about the width of the state of Massachusetts, according to the LIGO scientists.
This newly-formed black hole falls between the final masses of the black holes that LIGO previously detected, which were 62 solar masses and 21 solar masses.
The gravitational waves created by this new black hole collision had to travel across the universe for 3 billion years before they reached Earth. That means this new black hole merger occurred more than twice as far away from Earth as the first and second black hole mergers detected by LIGO. The gravitational waves from those black hole collisions traveled for 1.3 billion and 1.4 billion years to reach Earth, respectively.
However, as with the previous two detections, the LIGO detector can't determine precisely where the newly formed black hole is located. Rather, the data only narrows down the source of the signal to an area of about 1,200 square degrees. (See the map of the sky above to see the area from which the signal could have come.)
Because black holes don't radiate any light of their own (or reflect light from other sources), they are effectively invisible to light-based telescopes, unless regular matter nearby creates a secondary source of light. Black holes with masses between 20 and 100 solar masses aren't expected to have much, if any, regular matter around them radiating light, and black holes in this mass range hadn't been observed by astronomers prior to LIGO's three discoveries.
But gravitational waves come directly from the black holes. This opens up a new realm of the universe that is visible to an instrument like LIGO, which was designed to detect gravitational waves, but invisible to other telescopes. The three mergers that LIGO detected not only confirm the existence of black holes in this mass range, but also show that they are fairly common throughout the universe, according to the collaboration members. [Images: Black Holes of the Universe]
Watch it spin
In the data from the new detection, the LIGO scientists managed to glean a little information about the spin of the two black holes. Those clues could hint at why the black holes wound up crashing into each other, LIGO collaboration members said.
Black holes spin on their axes just as the Earth, most planets and most moons do. Stellar-mass black holes are thought to form when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse. If two massive stars live in a "binary" system, they will typically spin along the same axis, like two tops spinning next to each other on the ground. When those stars become black holes, they will also spin along the same axis, researchers said in a statement from Caltech.
But if the black holes formed in different regions of a stellar cluster and come together later, they may not spin along the same axis. Those misaligned spins will slow the merger, said Laura Cadonati, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration's deputy spokesperson and an associate professor of physics at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
"In our analysis, we cannot measure spins of individual black holes very well but can tell if they're generally spinning in same direction," Cadonati said during yesterday's news teleconference. The LIGO data doesn't provide a strong ruling about whether the black-hole spins were aligned or misaligned. The authors of the new research concluded that the data "disfavors" the identical spin alignment of the black-hole axis, according to the paper, which has been accepted for publication in the journal Physical Review Letters.
"This is the first time that we have evidence that the black holes may not be aligned, giving us just a tiny hint that binary black holes may form in dense stellar clusters," Bangalore Sathyaprakash, a researcher at Pennsylvania State University and Cardiff University and one of the LIGO collaboration members who edited the new paper, said in the statement from Caltech.
Of course, black-hole mergers could arise from both scenarios. To get an idea of the most common origin story for solar-mass black-hole mergers, LIGO scientists will need more than three examples to study.
The discovery of three stellar-mass black-hole mergers in less than two years indicates that LIGO will be seeing a lot more of these types of events, Reitze told Space.com. But three events are still not enough to know for sure exactly how frequently LIGO will begin to see these black-hole collisions once its sensitivity is increased. The optimistic estimate that Reitze and other collaboration members cite is one per day, but even the pessimistic estimates are around one per month. That means LIGO could collect data on tens to hundreds of black-hole mergers in three to five years of operations. With this collection of black-hole mergers, scientists will be able to learn about the general population rather than a few individuals.
A large collection of black holes could also provide scientists with a deeper look at Einstein's theory of general relativity. Black holes are "pure space-time," according to Reitze, meaning that while they might have formed from regular matter, their interaction with the universe has none of the properties of regular matter. Rather, the characteristics of a black hole are described entirely in terms of how its gravity warps space-time or influences other objects.
The theory of relativity predicted the existence of space-time and gravitational waves, so LIGO's detection of this phenomenon was another confirmation that the theory is accurate. But the study of black holes and gravitational waves could also reveal cracks in that theory.
For example, when light waves pass through a medium like glass, they may be slowed based on their wavelength — a process called dispersion. General relativity states that gravitational waves should not be dispersed as they travel through space, and the researchers saw no sign of dispersion in LIGO's new data.
For now, it seems, Einstein was right. But one of the most exciting things that LIGO could potentially discover is a flaw in the theory, Reitze said. Einstein's theory of gravity has withstood scrutiny for more than a century, but it also doesn't match up with the theory of quantum mechanics. The lack of an obvious connection between gravity (which generally describes the universe on very large scales) and quantum mechanics (which describes the universe on very small scales) is one of the most significant unsolved problems in physics. That problem isn't likely to go away unless it turns out there's some still-undiscovered angle to one or both of those theories.
"The question is, where does [general relativity] break down," Reitze said, and will LIGO's data on black holes provide the right laboratory for answering that question?
The detection of a gravitational-wave signal is significant for LIGO because it confirms that the experiment is "moving from novelty to real gravitational-wave science," David Shoemaker, a spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and a professor of physics at MIT, said during the news conference. This gravitational-wave-hunting machine has officially demonstrated its ability to illuminate a once-dark sector of the universe.
Calla Cofield joined Space.com's crew in October 2014. She enjoys writing about black holes, exploding stars, ripples in space-time, science in comic books, and all the mysteries of the cosmos. Prior to joining Space.com Calla worked as a freelance writer, with her work appearing in APS News, Symmetry magazine, Scientific American, Nature News, Physics World, and others. From 2010 to 2014 she was a producer for The Physics Central Podcast. Previously, Calla worked at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City (hands down the best office building ever) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. Calla studied physics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and is originally from Sandy, Utah. In 2018, Calla left Space.com to join NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory media team where she oversees astronomy, physics, exoplanets and the Cold Atom Lab mission. She has been underground at three of the largest particle accelerators in the world and would really like to know what the heck dark matter is. Contact Calla via: E-Mail – Twitter | <urn:uuid:78a69553-ae64-4971-bd8f-0c5558f7dd4d> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.space.com/37049-gravitational-wave-experiment-detects-third-black-hole-merger.html | 2024-12-02T14:06:36Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066127559.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20241202125001-20241202155001-00260.warc.gz | en | 0.955483 | 2,345 | 3.28125 | 3 |
Presented on: Saturday, November 17, 2007
Presented by: Roger Weir
We come to Science 7 and we're looking at the way in which a recalibration is so new it is not hearable for a long time, like this maturation programme, our learning, is so new that it has taken a long time to be refined. One of the things that has come out of science is featured in three sets of scientists. The first set was Einstein and Niels Bohr, the second set is Barbara McClintock and Vera Rubin. The death of Barbara McClintock when she was 90 in 1992 had all of her friends contribute to a book called The Dynamic Genome, and this is the cover of it, and there is a piece of Indian Corn, maize, on the cover, and she spent almost all of her life raising corn, raising maize, relentlessly, alone in her field, and literally was alone in her field, and when one takes a look at how long it took for her work to really come into play, it's astounding, because she was born in 1902, and the Carnegie Institution in Washington put out in 1994 this little booklet on jumping genes, to show some of the further developments from Barbara McClintock's work with maize, and she is still in the news. This is from June 2005. Jumping genes may aid in brain diversity. '
Virus-like genes that jump from spot to spot in the genome may help shape the nerves in our brains, possibly helping explain why brains differ so much even in identical twins. The finding reported in the current issue of the journal Nature [which is the international science journal. There is another magazine called Science that is almost its equal.] The finding reported in the current issue of the journal Nature investigated a genetic element called an L1 retrotransposon, a piece of DNA that has the ability to make copies of itself and insert them in new spots in the genome. About 20% of the human genome is made up of L1 retrotransposons, although most are damaged and cannot move around. Scientists had considered them to be largely junk. Previously these elements had been known to jump only in testes and ovary tissue. [So they found a way to put a stain on these elements and put mice, a team led by Fred Gage, neuroscientist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, found that they jumped around in the brain.] The team observed the activity of an L1 retrotransposon that had been engineered so that every time it jumped within the genome the cell would glow green. 'The modified L1 was put into mice and we saw these green neurons all over the brain and nervous system. It was pretty amazing.' The jumping appeared to occur inside neural stem-cells that gave rise to brain and nervous system cells. The scientists saw signs that the jumps could alter the development of the cells.
So that by the 21st century, we're understanding that Barbara McClintock's work was one of the deepest insight triggers in the whole history of science. She stands on a par with scientists like Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein. Her work was something that came out of a personal prismatic quality that she did not relinquish. She was never absorbed into the authoritarian social world, either looking for approval or looking for a more comfortable life. Her quality is that of an artist, like Einstein, who reached back into her experience to trust, because her experience flowed in the field of nature. And because her experience, her mythic experience, her images, her language, her feelings, because they were at home flowing in the field of nature, they were also then at home flowing in the field of vision. And that the field of visionary consciousness as a differential opens out just as the field of nature comes to emergent objectivity, two unities. And so existence, anything that exists, is itself, is what it is, and maintains that by an iterative frequency of having the dynamic polarised, and because it's polarised it synches into stable objectivity, not just once but each time the energy frequency reaches that threshold of emergence. So that the ancient Palaeolithic wisdom of our kind, going back some 160,000 years for our species but about 45-50,000 years ago, a marked change, a threshold came upon our kind, and out of this was the self-consciousness of being able to express one's personal spirit in art, and that the art was a way of tying the images and the language and the feelings into bows that could be arranged; and that the arrangement of those bows in their order combed experience so that the flow of experience now as modulated in terms of sets of existential emergence in accordance with their harmony. And art for the first time sensitises us to the harmonic of our spirit prism being able to inhabit our experience and through that to participate in nature as a field directly. The late 20th century used as an ideal for that the Zen experience. One is instantly real. And that reality has a tone of recognition, of remembrance. Barbara McClintock worked with corn from the time she was an entering junior at Cornell University in upstate New York, 1922, so for 70 years she worked with corn, with maize. And she worked with it in such a way that she would immerse herself so naturally in the field of having her field of vision and the field of nature so together that they would no longer distinguish in terms of a mnemonic/memnonic order. One of the proofs of this, she was able to immerse herself so deeply in the yoga of the moment and its concentration that she one time finished a final exam at Cornell, but realised that she hadn't put her name on the blue book and she couldn't remember her name. And it took about 20 minutes for her to come far enough out of the total instant participation in the field of conscious nature, to have it come to her what her name was. And she said, she had told this when she was very old and quite famous, 'People would have thought I was cuckoo.' She would be able to take a cob of maize, later in her life, and by looking at it, look into it in the depths that she was able to characterise the whole ten chromosome genetic code of this particular cob of corn, and after a while she used to take her vacations in the winter-time, when the ground is frozen on Long Island where she was at Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, and she would go to South America and she traced back the way in which the detail of the genetic code of maize and its chromosomes could be traced back to the way in which corn was developed in the New World in the first place, and found that there are four or five independent sites that originated maize back more than 10,000 years ago. She was able to pinpoint where these places were and the movement of American Indians who were able to carry with them the corn and improve it as they went. And one of the odd things is that corn, like bread wheat, has no way to propagate itself in nature. It has to be propagated by human hand. Natural goat grass has big wings that when you go through a mutation and you come out with emmer wheat, about half those wings go into making more kernels, but with bread wheat all the energy is taken away from all of the wings and makes a very large head of grain, but the grain having no way to propagate itself, will just fall to the ground where it is. So bread as the staff of life has to be sowed by human hand, and corn in the New World is exactly what bread wheat was in the old world. There are cereals that depend upon human conscious cooperation for them to continue to exist, and it is not just the consciousness as a dimension that is added to nature, but there is another dimension of the person that is added to nature, and a third dimension of knowing the history of where this came from and what it does, so that one can then improve it and carry it through, and the improvement is that fourth extra dimension, is where science comes into play in reality. One of the most difficult things for us to understand: science is not born in the mind. Science is germinated in the differential conscious space of vision, in theory. And that the theory is not opposed to practice, but the theory, the vision, reaches all the way back to the existential practice, the ritual level, and it's only by our phases that we can finally come to understand how all of this works, and develop a deep refinement, a recalibration about learning and about ourselves and our manifestation into infinity. The mind puts a ceiling and caps in integral and that is called realisation. Technically that is the idea of realisation, and not reality at all. The Zen classic that illustrated that was a series of ten pictures called The Ten Bulls by Kakuan, a great Zen master artist, that the man is drinking in the village with the others and he sees that his work is going to be easier if he can get that bull and tame that bull and teach that bull to do his work, and as he does this, in The Ten Bulls, of that step there is a moment where he realises that the bull and the world and himself are a complete mystery, and there is in the ninth of the ten a blank page, there is no image whatsoever, it is the Zen realisation of pure consciousness that is not in the mind, and so it has no images whatsoever. And in Zen the phrase is, from the Chinese wu wei, no mind. Theory occurs in the field of consciousness, of no mind. It is a space that is generated beyond the mind's form, and because that space is generated by a completed cycle of integral, the space of theoretical visionary consciousness is able to play freely and to create, and so whatever structures were unified in the mind, they are now released, the imagination is released into creative imagining. The memory is recognition in remembering, and so the play of creative imagination and remembering, when it has an emphasis on creative imagination, the forms that will come out will be the forms of art, will be not only the forms of art but will be the artist. When the remembering has a more emphasis in that ratio, instead of there being a form immediately, there is a process of remembering, which is really history. But because it's a differential, the remembering is kaleidoscopic, it does not have any bound. It has the ability to generate possibilities of possibilities of possibilities, and so the creative imaging becomes a creative possibility of remembering, and science being the forms that come out of this kaleidoscopic remembering, are like the cosmos. It has no bounds, it has no shape, it is not limited to existence. It is not limited to the mind, but occurs in a cosmic freedom play that is infinite.
The other woman that we're taking, Vera Cooper Rubin, was very similar in many ways to Barbara McClintock. Both of them attended Cornell and got degrees there. Both of them finally ended up sheltered by the Carnegie Institution, Vera Rubin in Washington DC and Barbara McClintock at the Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory. The director for many decades of the Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory was James Dewey Watson, one of the discoverers of the double-helix structure of DNA, and it's on the north shore of Long Island, facing Long Island Sound across which would be Connecticut, Barbara McClintock was born in Hertford, Connecticut, but when she was six her family moved to Brooklyn, and so she grew up in Brooklyn. She went to PS139 and Erasmus High, and wanted to go to university because she loved science, loved learning, but her mother was a stickler for girls being fine young women who could marry men who could provide for them and take care of them, so her two older sisters became what the mother desired. They married well, had very successful lives, but little Barbara McClintock was treated as if she should have been a boy, because she was the third girl in a row. There finally was a brother, but by that time she was characterised as a tomboy, which she didn't mind at all. And being a very small, slightly, elfin creature, with extraordinary yogic capacities that were developed in her in a completely original way, and only later in life did she come to understand that these are very, very high powers indeed. Her ability to engage in conversation with little children was always remarked upon, that they didn't seem like little children anymore, that when they were talking with little Barbara McClintock they were talking like real matured spirit persons. They were no longer categorised because they were released in her presence to disclose their actuality, rather than the current status in their maturation, and she extended this to all kinds of living things, including corn. She went to extremes sometimes to protect her corn. In that part of long Island, when she was first there in the early 1940s, there were still a lot of marauding racoons at night, so she would take her sleeping bag and sleep in her cornfields to protect them from the racoons. She raised generation after generation but her first great work was done in the period 1929 to 1931. She got her Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell, her Masters, and then in 1927 her PhD, and she stayed on to do research there in botany. All of her work is collected together and available in Genes, Cells and Organisms, in the Great Books in Experimental Biology, and these are the collected works of Barbara McClintock and her collected papers are selected here because the full collection, The Barbara McClintock Papers is in the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, the society founded by Benjamin Franklin. Her papers are 70.5 linear feet. The reason why she had such voluminous papers is that after a while, she realised that it was almost futile to try to publish her work because no one was believing it. No one was understanding it and no one really cared. And most of her work was done for herself, and kept on 3x5 cards and kept in voluminous, detailed photographs and kept in private reports and after a while she would publish her reports only in the Carnegie Institution Annual. When she would come out, even as late as the 1950s, and deliver papers that were extraordinary and astounding, they were so complex and so new that the language would not be heard, literally. Important scientists would say, 'I couldn't understand a word of what she was saying' and those who are familiar with this education have heard a thousand times of people coming in and saying, 'I didn't understand a word of what he was saying.' Because the language becomes refined, in such a way that you must not hear the language but you must hear through the language, and it's akin to somebody who has learned to read. You do not look at the ink shapes to read. You look through the words to be able to read. I'm using a transparent symbol mind to convey instantly to your sense of recognition and when it is matured you will hear not only all of what is said, you will hear that there are layers of possibilities, new understandings of what is said, and one of the women who helped collect the contributions in The Dynamic Genome, of remembering Barbara McClintock, her name was Nina Fedoroff, Russian descent. In fact there's a great photograph of Nina talking to Boris Yeltsin after the Soviet Union was thrown away and Russia came back. Many Russians went home to Russia just to visit, for the first time to be able to see a Russia that had been gone for 70 years. The Soviet Union was a veil, an overlay. Nina Fedoroff said, 'Once I began to understand from my own genetic work what Barbara McClintock was doing and talking about, I would go back and re-read her papers [which were there at the time at the Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory. And she said,] not once or twice but over and over again,' and at each repetition seemingly there was an overlay, so that one now was able to see not just in three dimensions or four dimensions, but in a series of multi-dimensional, not a universe but a cosmos of possibility, which she was constantly exploring. And the constancy of the exploring was that though it seemed from the outside that she was just repeating planting her crop of maize, tending it till it matured, harvesting it and then going into the lab with microscopes, other techniques, to analyse, and through the winter doing the analytic, and she did this 12-16 hours a day, 7 days a week for almost half a century. A real yoga. Like my presentation here is yoga that's unbroken, every single Saturday since 1983, about the time that Barbara McClintock won the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine. More than 1200 in a row. You can't do that thinking to do it, to plan to do it; you have to simply do it. It's a Zen no mind presentation, not a representation. Barbara McClintock had a problem twice over because she was a woman in what was traditionally thought to be a man's world. There are very few women professors outside of topics like Home Economics. The prejudice against women as being professorial level co-presenters with men was extraordinary, even though intelligent women have always been apparent and at times, in certain areas, the smartest person on the planet would be a woman. There are times where it was so extraordinary that there are legendary women in history who have that capacity. In her time the Queen of Sheba was the most brilliant person in the world, and the only person that she felt was on a par with her was Solomon. There were times, 1500 BC in Egypt, where Hatshepsut, who always wore a false beard for formal presentations, became one of the greatest of all of the Egyptian pharaohs, and when one looks across from Thebes across the Nile and sees her burial palace, Deir el-Bahri, it looks like a 22nd century development, it looks like a science building that was built 3500 years ago but might be built in the next couple of hundred years. It has that eerie quality. Barbara McClintock and Vera Rubin share something extraordinary. While Barbara McClintock was working with the very, very small she was working with the little nodes and aspects of thread-like chromosomes in the nucleus of the cell of corn, Vera Rubin was working with galactic structures - not just the galaxy but was working with the development that went beyond just galaxies. In the book that we're using by her, Bright Galaxies, Dark Matters, she relates:
Surprisingly, progress in deciphering the structure of our own galaxy has not kept pace with extra-galactic achievements. We know that we live in a spiral galaxy, although its detailed morphology and dimensions remain a mystery. We do not know how far our sun is from the centre; nor do we know our rotational velocity about the centre with an accuracy sufficient to determine the galactic scale to within 20%. Astronomers now understand spiral arms as a wave phenomenon but the theory is more successful in the general than in the specific. Initial progress in reducing the detailed structure of the distant nucleus of our galaxy has come from very-long-baseline interferometry in the radio spectrum and from observations of ionised neon emission and the infrared.
One of the qualities that was peculiar, that Vera Rubin brought out, was the development of the understanding that if the laws of physics hold, galaxies should not be able to hold themselves in their shape. They would either condense or they would fly apart. The angular momentum would disperse them or they would clump together and become like a supermassive black hole. That they hold their shape is because the visible matter is just a trace element in the actuality of existence, and she is one of the founders of the theory of dark matter and dark energy. That what we took to be existence is just the froth on the surface, which cannot be seen in visible light, but that the visible light has a very special quality, that froth has a trace element within it, a froth within the froth, and that froth is life. So in a very peculiar way, The Gospel of John begins: 'In the beginning was the word and the word was life, and the life was the light of men.' Has that infolded presentation of the three great jumps, that there is something that triggers by saying, in the right way, that is life, that is light, and in our learning, our education, we're coming now, with Science 7, to understand the Cosmos as an infinite differential form generates the field of nature. That nature as a field is generated by a dynamo, which is the cosmos itself in its movement, and the most effective inner-working of the cosmic generation of nature is life, and it expresses itself within a medium that is like a threshold, it's like the cell membrane, and that is light. And light as the membrane of our life, gives us an opportunity to interdimensionally be real with the infinity that comes from the cosmos through the language, through the word, into life eternal, not life eternal as life a summation, but life eternal in that it never was not. This is a peculiar aspect of science, of actual science, and you find on the level of Einstein or Niels Bohr, Barbara McClintock, Vera Rubin, we're going to take Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose, and pair those with Richard Feynman, when one comes to real science there is a doing of it which opens out into a sense of the mysterious wonder that one is quite real doing this. That recognition is the field within which vision functions to open up the transformative dimensions that allow time, space, to carry their existence and their integral into a larger ecology of eternity.
We're going to come back after the break and take a closer look at Barbara McClintock, how she was the first person on the planet to understand that the creative freedom of play in the genome is not only universal, it is cosmos making. It's the way in which life is real.
Let's take a break.
<Part 2 starts>
Let's come back to the character of the person of Barbara McClintock. In 1983 she was 81 and in that early eighties this is how she talked.
Asked how she found out about the Nobel Prize she said, 'I heard it on the radio this morning.' Laughter crinkled her face.
'No one called you?'
'No, I don't have a phone at home. I haven't for years. When I go home, I don't want that phone to wring. I want to be free.'
'What will you do with the prize money?' someone called out?
McClintock, a slight woman with a short, plain haircut and a wry sense of humour, answered, 'I don't even know what the award brings in.'
'It's $190,000,' she was told.
McClintock laughed. 'Oh, it is? I didn't know. I'll just have to get to one side and think about this!' The Nobel committee must have been surprised on October 10th 1983 to discover that Barbara McClintock had no telephone. For her the lack of a phone was typical. With no need for a big house, fancy clothes or much money, she lived a no-frills life, a light microscope was her research tool. This brilliant scientist could get along with very little. McClintock's work centred on maize, the multi-coloured India Corn often seen at thanksgiving.
And we're reminded by this of the peculiarities. The more one becomes visionary the more the creative imagining and remembering disclose a boundless freedom. So that the spirit person is actually a jewel, prismatic, of a cosmos that is completely free. Because it is real to refine, and become endlessly whatever possibilities you would like to follow up. Our kind, conscious, spiritual beings, all over the cosmos, continually recycle and recirculate that consciousness of the gift of freedom. And its origin is not in existence. Existence is a phase of it. The mind's integral is not the culmination of it. It also is a phase within it. It has its place in the way in which energy frequency will rise and fall and create periodicity by its wave iterative and will create space by the complement to the time periodicity of blossoming in volume, and so time and space are related in such a way that when they are in the field of nature purely, it is only an ocean of dynamic, does not have any kind of a path. The path is the energy frequency and so the energy, when it becomes polarised so that it will have its movement between positive and negative, electron and proton, that polarisation is like the banks that are elastic and however the energy frequency will increase or decrease the elasticity of its time-space banks will modulate, so that one can come to understand out of nature comes an existential that is precise and because of its precision its unity is always able to be discerned, in terms of the shape in space and the iteration in time, to any degree of accuracy that one would like to have.
A billionth of a billionth of a second is an atosecond, its' the space that is smaller than the movement of an electron in its motion around the nucleus of an atom. That movement of the electron in its time-space is about 10 atoseconds. We have the ability now, even early in the 21st century, to be able to discern an image that is subatomic in atoseconds. What is curious is that the electron, a point of negative energy, does a pirouetting as it moves. It's not just a point but it is a point because it is in motion, has almost the quality of being a little line of light, a little line of electricity. And that can be aligned so that the electrons will be organised and flow in a laminar way, in which case one gets light that is not laser. Whereas sunlight is a kaleidoscope of diffraction, and not just because it comes through an atmosphere or comes through almost 100 million miles of space, which is not completely empty but has molecular gasses and other attractions like gravity and so forth, but even in its origin light is already ancient when it leaves our sun, our star, and our sun is a medium star. It takes a million years for the bell-like pulse of our sun to release the energy that has been constantly bubbling up for that million years and reaches the surface of the sun in these millions and millions and billions of bursts of these energy waves so that our sun, like any star, it rings with light. It's a bell of light. And that release has an energetic boost because in being released in these billions of volcanoes of the vortexes of the way in which electromagnetic energy as light is released, it makes a chorus of resonance, so that the koruna of the sun is millions of degrees hotter than the surface of the sun or the interior of the sun, and it is that extra dynamis that gives light its impulse to shine from the star. What happens with a galactic structure is that its ringing takes place in magnetism, in magneto electric energy which does not register as light but registers differently as a gravity, a gravitation, so that one can, like Vera Rubin, understand that the sourcing of shape in the universe is by a massive gravitation of dark matter and has its accelerator dynamic because of dark energy. And that what is carried with this is the froth of material that is light registerable and within that the deeper silence, until it learns to sing, of life which sings to the light, and that singing to the light adds a harmonic which then comes into play and the universe blossoms as a bouquet of the cosmos, and the fragrance, the perfume, of those trillions and trillions of bouquets that are fresh each moment are the energy by which the field of nature is generated. All of this is symbolised in our iconography in this learning, by the rainbow infinity sign. Its concourse is that all the colours of the rainbow are indeed a covenant, but a covenant of the eternal and not time-dated nor space-limited. With someone like Barbara McClintock, to discover that the genetic order, the structure of the genes, is not only mutable but it happens all the time, many times, thousands of times, and she was the first to understand that the process is roughly like this. She was the first to be able to see the array of the ten chromosomes of maize in their set and to be able to see that within that set there were genes that were the triggers, the turning on or turning off of the DNA sequencing instructions, and that those genes having that capacity were able to have an intrusion called a dissociator, like a genetic particle, she used the term dissociator, and then would symbolise it Ds, that when the Ds is attracted into the gene, it's attracted into the gene in such a way, in the middle of it, that it shuts off the capacity of that gene to communicate and translate anything, and so what you come up with is a blank. And so you have a gene to make a colour that this corn is going to be yellow, or this corn is going to be red. And if a dissociator comes into that colour gene, there will be no colour, that corn will be colourless, but there is another aspect, another particle, that she symbolised Ac, an actuator, an accelerator to turn it back on, and if this happens where the dissociator is replaced by the actuator, the dissociator leaves and the gene comes back, but it blinks back and forth, and so the colour will be speckled. And depending on how long it takes for that to happen, the return or not, the speckles will be blotches or they will be lots of little ones or they will be just a few minute ones, and so you can tell the sequencing time of that action of the bouncing of the dissociator and the actuator back and forth within that gene, and over the decades she became able to read the cobs of corn, and to understand that they are related, in a very sexual way, to the stalk of the corn. The stalk of the corn ends with a tassel and its' the male member of corn, it fertilises. The cobs have silk at the end. That's the female genital of the corn, and receives the pollen. And she became a very attentive, very careful surgeon in the field of making a very minute slit in the top of the stalk to bring just a few elements like semen of the corn out, and then be able to suture it back together she used brown tape to do this, and then she would slowly, over the years, teach herself how to recognise the whole genetic development from the stalk and from the cob, in terms of the interchange of the tassels and the silk. You could be degenerate and run a TV show Stalking the Silk. But other than that kind of Hollywood senseless humour, it is a great huge thing to understand that her ability to be attentive to this was a concentration that went beyond her mind, beyond her body, and was an immersion in a harmonic of her spirit in the cosmos. So that when the cosmos generated the field of nature, she was generated with it into the field of nature. She had long moments where she was not only, as the French would say, au natural, she was completely nature. So that she was able to be there at the moment of the first iteration that would become the existential new corn, fertilised, and that kernel gave rise to a new stalk with new cobs. Every year she went through this truly shamanic offering and those fields ... Alone in Her Field, she was not alone in her field, she was with her family. She became a corn mother in every sense of the ancient wisdom understanding, a corn mother. The archetypal corn mother most familiar to you is Demeter, who is famous not for having a son or a husband, but famous for having a daughter, Persephone. And that Demeter and Persephone, the mother-daughter, are a pair that are not put together but that are infolded permanently, eternally, because that daughter will become a mother who will have a daughter, and it is not a cycle of nature so much, like seasons, but it is an eternal return of the seasons in infinite variations and possibilities. On this planet there are latitudes where the seasons are very unequal. If you're in the Yellowknife region of the Mackenzie territories, there are times where the sun will hardly set at all, and there are times where it will hardly rise at all. There are star systems, like ours, that have planetary bodies that have no seasons whatsoever. Mercury will have burning summer always on one side and frigid interplanetary cold on the other. It will have, at the poles, a little bit of semblance of some kind of shift and there are star systems without end, planets without number, in which the cycles, the seasons, are kaleidoscopically varied. What is real is that the mother-daughter relationship is always that existentiality of the whole being will be that of fertility. And that the response to that by the masculine is to participate in the gifting of that fertility into reality. And so it is a curious thing, the most like our kind, as we saw when we were in the phase of ritual, is that of great primates like the chimpanzees that came into their existence about 70 million years ago, and like Jane Goodall, another Barbara McClintock, living at Gombe in the forest with generations of chimpanzees so that she knew them individually, saw that the masculine quality was that of patrolling the boundaries to make sure that the membrane of the territory was secured, and the females tended to be there like a nucleus at the centre with raising the young, cooperating to become pregnant. And that one of the curious things is that bands of chimpanzees, the males will defend their territory against the others, but if a female goes into another territory she can go to the centre. She becomes a part of the treasury of the fertility of life and this is a curious kind of a quality. What happens with galactic structures is that at the centre, holding the pivot like in our galaxy, will be a black hole, and that black hole will be a part of the invisibility of the dark matter on the boundaries. That boundedness of that dark matter allows for the pivot to occur without destroying the shape of the galactic disk and so it preserves itself for literally billions and billions of years. In 1966 the discovery of quasars, which are the bright cores of galaxies so far away that their visible discs are not able to be seen; in fact the accrual of large galaxies like the Andromeda or the Milky Way were not there some 13 billion years ago, and early galaxies were much smaller, but the integral was always to bring them together into larger and larger aspects and star systems like our own, being about 4.5 billion years old, come almost 10 billion years after this kind of a process was initiated. Everywhere that we look the elements of life are distributed throughout the universe, even in between stars, not just on planets or moons, but in between the planets, in interplanetary space, and in interstellar space, and now we're understanding even in intergalactic space, the elements of life, the molecular structures are already present and there. There is more water in the star system, our star system, on the edge of it than there is... if you look at the earth's oceans it a drop in the bucket of how much water there is beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt objects. That the source of water of making oceans is actually billions of comets that have icy material that accrued over several billion years. Our planet was more than 1.5 billion years old by the time there was enough mix of water and molecular origins of life for the bacteria and the Achaea to emerge initially, about three-and-a-third billion years ago. She was asked when molecular biology was being developed, about the same time that galactic astronomy was being developed, the large and the small at the same time; the large not only large in size of galactic and super-galactic clusters, but of going back in time, and the very small of going back to the very origins of the creative play that makes life fertile for all beings, not just a sexuality that is there because of critters (or creatures) but there is a molecular origin of sexuality. It's there in the way in which life itself occurs.
Nina Fedoroff, who we talked about a little bit before, in writing of how transposition was discovered, writes at the beginning in these sentences.
McClintock's studies on mutable genes began as an interesting tangent, making use of what she'd learned in her extensive earlier studies on the behaviour of broken chromosomes.
She was attracted to trying to explore the possibilities of a university appointment and she was invited to go to the University of Missouri by a friend of hers, and when she was there she was doing work on the way in which the recently discovered x-rays and x-ray power would affect chromosomes, and found that they broke, but they broke in such a way it was not a clean break but they were like pulled apart, so that the ends were frayed. And she was the one who intuited, who visioned, that those frayed ends of the broken chromosome would circle around and seek to make a new unity and in doing so they would make a ring chromosome, and that this was a whole cycle of the breakage and the re-bridging and coming back together, and she is the one who saw ring chromosomes from mutational damage of radiation before it was possible, physically, to see it. And within a short space of months of research, knowing what to look for and where to, the first ring chromosomes were seen.
She was then invited to go to Stanford University where one of her friends from Cornell was working on a problem that had come up on pink bread mould, and she went to Stanford for just a little while, and within a couple of days of being there she was able to understand that the seven chromosomes of pink bread mould would form a set, and that there should be a way to understand, as she had in the ten chromosomes of maize, the structure of Neospora, which is pink bread mould, of how its structure must be similar in operation to that of maize, and in very short time she was able to characterise it in a couple of brilliant papers. She began to get a reputation of being a difficult little independent munchkin who really knew her stuff, and of the reasons she really knew her stuff is that she did not mix with others so much in her work, but she immersed herself in the actuality of the nature that was not before her but coursing through her. She had the perfume of nature in her spirit person and therefore was always anointed with actuality and able, in this way, to discover, and Vera Rubin very much the same way in galactic astronomy.
Vera Rubin says:
The stars are like the cells a galaxy. We must be able to understand them. Crucial to our understanding of star formation is a knowledge of the interstellar gas and dust from which new generations of stars are born, but the interstellar gas and dust itself is born from a super-space. But that super-space has a medium [which we call now dark energy and dark matter.]
One of the peculiarities of it is when you take a large sample of galaxies in a field, they will show clustering shape. Not only clustering shape but also voids, so that there is a concentration together and there's a concentration of not being, of being away together, being together and being away together, so that you will have clusters and super-clusters and great voids, all in a tapestry that is dynamically interchanging and by our coming into play with that, our conscious person becomes more and more prismatic in the sense that we begin to have an affinity with the cosmos. We literally step into heaven and participate in it, and in doing so our planet in our star system become sensitised and tends to have its fertility in that way with that vector, with that ratio of vectors so that it gains, at a certain threshold, a fantastic explosive momentum. The explosion of creativity. Just like 45,000 years ago for the first time there is art in the world. Before that there was no art. And Palaeolithic art explodes and seems to be everywhere on the planet, in Australia, in the Pyrenees, wherever. We are now at that membrane where our interstellar dimensions of spirit are being activated, but they do not activate from a planet. They do not activate from culture. They activate on the basis of star systems, of star system civilisations, which have more dimensions than a geography of a kingdom is to have. it isn't just that it's bigger. It's wider. Our Cassini exploration of Saturn's system is a billion miles away and we're learning that everything that we thought about it was naive. Such a small moon as Insolates, hardly 500 miles in diameter, has fresh water geysers that are huge like volcanoes, and spreading H2O molecules in a ring around Saturn just as the moon of Jupiter, Io, spreads sulphur atoms in a kind of a ring. We're learning that our quality of blossoming now is on the scale where we were covetous of a terrain which was going to be our own, when our reality is that we live in an infinite paradise and the appreciation of the variety and the freedom is exactly what Walt Whitman said he discerned about nature, Mother Nature. When he was 70 years old, and because of Whitman's physiological illness of premature aging, at 70 he was almost like equivalent of 90-100 years old, he said in Democratic Vistas, right at the beginning, to try and heal the Civil War, robber baron aftermath, in Democratic Vistas he said 'Nature obviously prefers freedom and variety, and as her children, if we prefer this, we will be at home in nature and be able to find ourselves everywhere we look.
More next week.
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Potential use cases are far-reaching – from mitigating safety risks in factories to optimizing traffic flow in smart cities. Computer vision unlocks immense possibilities. According to MarketsandMarkets, the computer vision market size is projected to grow from $10.4 billion in 2022 to $19.9 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 13.5%.
Ultra-Long Range LIDAR Sensor
Falcon AI‘s sensor boasts an exceptionally wide field of view and industry-leading 500-meter detection range. By consolidating computing components into a single device, it eliminates the need for extra hardware – delivering immense value for autonomous driving systems.
Lidar Market Size | Growth Rate |
$3.6 billion | 34% CAGR |
Source: Meticulous Market Research
LIDAR sensors are a key enabling technology for self-driving vehicles. Research by Meticulous Market Research in the table above predicts that the LIDAR market will reach $3.6 billion by 2028 partly fueled by advancements in AI and machine learning. Falcon AI aims to push boundaries even further with its integrated ultra-long range capabilities.
SEO Content Optimization
For businesses competing in the digital landscape, search engine optimization (SEO) is indispensable for discoverability and growth. Falcon AI empowers content creators to optimize their copy for higher rankings through its content analysis engine.
By assessing elements like word count, keyword usage, and topics covered, the machine learning model predicts content performance pre-publication. Creators can then fine-tune their articles or blogs using data-backed recommendations – leading to enhanced organic visibility and traffic.
For example, an analysis of 300,000 Google search results found that pages ranking #1 had around 2,000 words on average. By determining optimal length and other factors for a target keyword, Falcon AI ensures content is designed for maximum search visibility right from inception.
Cyber Threat Detection
Falcon AI also extends to the cybersecurity domain through a partnership with CrowdStrike. By identifying behavioral attack patterns, Falcon AI allows CrowdStrike to take proactive measures against potential threats – adding a vital layer of protection.
Cybercrime is projected to inflict $10.5 trillion in damages annually by 2025. Falcon AI‘s predictive capacities allow security leaders to stay one step ahead of emerging threats through AI-powered threat intelligence.
With cyberattacks growing in scale and sophistication, AI-powered threat intelligence is crucial. Market leader CrowdStrike tapped the predictive capabilities of Falcon AI to bolster its EDR solutions. This application demonstrates Falcon AI‘s versatility across diverse use cases.
Driving Innovation Through Falcon 40B
Representing Falcon AI‘s commitment to trailblazing AI models, Falcon 40B offers grants and computing resources to spark creative applications of this technology. By incentivizing innovation, Falcon 40B aims to push boundaries and uncover new possibilities.
For instance, an open call proposed using Falcon AI for automated waste separation. By supporting such ideas, Falcon 40B facilitates positive change – be it environmental or societal. The sky‘s the limit when harnessing AI for good.
"Falcon 40B encourages out-of-the-box thinking about how AI can drive sustainable progress. I firmly believe enabling positive use cases will catalyze advancement of the overall field," says Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Pioneer in AI Ethics and Policymaking.
Demystifying How Falcon AI Works
The inner workings of Falcon AI might seem cryptic at first glance – but its core principles power a multitude of groundbreaking capabilities. Here‘s a peek under the hood:
Advanced Data Analysis and Machine Learning
Like most AI systems, Falcon AI relies heavily on machine learning algorithms to discover patterns within data. By training these models on vast datasets, Falcon AI can accurately predict outcomes for different scenarios – be it the success of an SEO article or the risk of a cyber attack.
Falcon AI employs complex neural networks and deep learning techniques like Long Short-Term Memory (LSTMs) that can process sequential data like text to understand context and make smarter recommendations tailored to business objectives.
The more data fed into these algorithms, the smarter Falcon AI becomes at making recommendations tailored to user needs. State-of-the-art computing infrastructure allows rapid training of sophisticated deep learning models.
Flexible Custom AI Models
Falcon AI provides an intuitive platform for users to build custom models – unlike off-the-shelf AI tools with rigid capabilities. This allows seamlessly embedding AI into existing infrastructure and workflows.
For example, by leveraging Falcon AI, a retail chain shortened inventory stockout instances by 57% through accurate demand forecasting models tuned to their supply chain nuances. Customizability drives measurable impact.
For instance, an e-commerce site can develop a tailored recommender system leveraging Falcon AI for more relevant suggestions and higher conversion rates. With swift deployment in just weeks, businesses maximize returns on their AI investment.
To fully unlock Falcon AI‘s potential, integrating it with current tech stacks is key. Fortunately, Falcon AI offers user-friendly APIs and software development kits (SDKs) to facilitate adoption across devices and platforms.
Whether it‘s analytics software, autonomous vehicles, mobile apps, or content management systems – Falcon AI smoothens deployment hurdles through robust integration support. With interoperability built into its DNA, Falcon AI delivers flexibility and scalability.
Falcon AI allows leveraging existing data pipelines, workflows and databases when building AI models instead of resource-intensive rip-and-replace methods. This drives faster ROI as time-to-value reduces dramatically.
Unlike some AI tools rendering models obsolete within years, Falcon AI constantly evolves through incremental learning. By assimilating new data and context, predictions and recommendations continue to get sharper over time.
For cybersecurity, Falcon AI adapts to emerging attack vectors. For SEO, it stays updated on Google‘s algorithm changes. This focus on continuous enhancement ensures long-term value.
Continuous learning circumvents the high costs of sporadic model re-development associated with alternative AI solutions. With Falcon AI, systems refine themselves to stay relevant.
Intuitive and Insightful
Delivering accurate projections is only half the story – if users cannot parse and act on them. Falcon AI‘s interface distills complex data into intuitive graphs, metrics and visualizations to inform business strategy.
Rather than just outputting predictions, Falcon AI offers context and reasoning behind suggestions to empower data-led decisions. Its transparency and interpretability drive maximum impact.
Falcon AI achieves state-of-the-art 95% accuracy for forecasting applications while also explaining the rationale behind each prediction to build user trust.
Why Businesses Are Choosing Falcon AI
From promising startups to market leaders like CrowdStrike, a growing array of businesses are embracing Falcon AI. What‘s behind this momentum? Here are some standout benefits:
Smarter and Faster Decisions
Falcon AI‘s uncanny ability to predict outcomes enables data-backed choices – be it preventing cyberattacks, optimizing spend, or guaging customer preferences. By preempting risks and seizing opportunities, businesses unlock immense value.
A McKinsey study found that AI leaders take decisions 20% faster with 30% fewer errors than peers. Falcon AI accelerates enterprises to the forefront of this transformation.
AI‘s pattern recognition capabilities help automate mundane tasks – allowing people to focus on creative, strategic thinking. Streamlined workflows and processes drive operational efficiency.
According to McKinsey, AI adoption could raise global economic activity by $13 trillion by 2030. Falcon AI aims to help companies capture their share of this booming market.
Forrester predicts that AI will eliminate 25% of traditional data management jobs by 2025 by automating rote responsibilities, enabling employees to unlock more value. Integrating Falcon AI can catalyze this productivity boost.
In today‘s dynamic marketplace, standing still means falling behind. By integrating game-changing technology like Falcon AI, businesses future-proof themselves against disruptions.
First-movers who ride the AI wave reap the benefits of optimized SEO content, ironclad security, and predictive inventory planning. Falcon AI unlocks enduring competitive advantage.
The Harvard Business Review found that early AI adopters have 6% higher profitability than industry averages. Falcon AI helps fast track this transformation.
Flexibility and Customization
While some AI software boxes users into predefined applications, Falcon AI encourages tailoring systems to unique requirements. Its flexible framework lets models be retrained or expanded easily over time.
Falcon AI also provides low-code tools for non-technicians to build smart workflows. Democratized access and customization foster wider adoption across teams and roles.
Falcon AI enables creating multiple AI models to address specific business needs instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. Specialization drives greater precision and utility.
As a pioneer in continuous machine learning, Falcon AI ensures maximum longevity for AI investments through constant upgrades. Models stay relevant even as market dynamics shift.
There‘s no need to rebuild systems from scratch due to outdated algorithms or insufficient training data. Falcon AI assurance of future-proof and scalable AI unlocks long-term value.
Falcon AI models self-improve their accuracy by 2-3% annually through incremental learning. This focus on continuous enhancement ensures you remain competitive for years to come.
Supercharging SEO Through AI Optimization
Now that we‘ve covered Falcon AI‘s diverse applications and inner workings – let‘s showcase a popular use case: SEO content optimization. How exactly does Falcon AI move the needle for written content?
Analyzing Ranking Factors
Firstly, Falcon AI studies elements that impact organic search visibility – from keyword usage and competition to page topics and multimedia. By crunching metrics like search volume and difficulty, the machine learning model understands exactly what works.
Predicting Content Performance
Leveraging this expansive data, Falcon AI predicts how engaging, shareable and SEO-friendly written content is likely to be even pre-publication. This gives creators actionable suggestions for amplification based on proven correlations.
Falcon AI can forecast page view velocity, scroll depth and time-on-page for written content with 80%+ accuracy to estimate engagement levels. Its unparalleled vision provides a competitive SEO edge.
Lastly, Falcon AI constantly assimilates search engine algorithm changes, emerging topics and feedback data to recommend fresh optimization strategies. There‘s no need to manually decode Google‘s updates or latest buyer trends.
Through this three-pronged methodology of analysis, prediction and continuous enhancement – Falcon AI delivers high-impact SEO without the guesswork. Its unmatchable foresight provides enduring search visibility and traffic growth.
The Future Beckons with Falcon AI
From optimizing business processes to powering self-driving cars, Falcon AI pushes new frontiers of possibility across industries. As AI adoption proliferates, Falcon AI promises to be a trailblazer in enabling data-led decisions and unlocking efficiency at scale.
With continuous innovation in the cross-section of machine learning, automation and IoT, Falcon AI has firmly established itself as a force that will shape the technological landscape for years to come. Savvy businesses recognize that the competitive edge lies with becoming early adopters.
As AI thought leader Andrew Ng famously said, "AI is the new electricity". To stay ahead of rapid disruption, integration with versatile and scalable platforms like Falcon AI is indispensable. The future beckons explored with AI as a key enabler. Falcon AI promises to be a trusted partner for enterprises preparing for this data-centered world. | <urn:uuid:8d63015e-363e-4aac-8fc6-b8457c7e0bd7> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.rickyspears.com/ai/what-is-falcon-ai/ | 2024-12-06T19:38:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066416984.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20241206185637-20241206215637-00237.warc.gz | en | 0.896118 | 2,619 | 2.625 | 3 |
What Is Common Grace?
The doctrine of common grace refers to the idea that God bestows His grace universally, providing for and maintaining the well-being of all creation, regardless of their moral standing. This concept is deeply embedded in various theological frameworks, serving as a cornerstone in understanding the complex relationship between the divine and the mundane.
Key Characteristics of Common Grace:
- Universal: Common grace is extended to all individuals, irrespective of their faith or lack of it.
- Sustaining: It plays a crucial role in upholding the order and beauty in the world, allowing life to thrive in its myriad forms.
- Restraining: One of its crucial functions is the restraint of sin, preventing humanity from falling into utter moral decay.
- Undeserved: Bestowed freely without merit, common grace is a manifestation of God’s unfathomable love and mercy towards a sin-cursed world.
A Glimpse into Theological Perspectives:
Different theological perspectives offer unique insights into the nature and function of common grace:
- Calvinism: Calvinists maintain that common grace restrains sin and allows society to function.
- Arminianism: Arminians see common grace as a universal gift, allowing all individuals an opportunity for salvation.
In essence, common grace is a multi-faceted concept, weaving through various theological doctrines, underpinning the understanding of God’s benevolence and justice in a world marked by disparity and strife.
Each strand of this theological concept offers a window into the inexhaustible riches of divine mercy and love showered upon humanity, beckoning individuals to reflect, appreciate, and respond to the silent calls echoing through the corridors of the heart and the canvas of creation.
Exploring the Aspects of Common Grace
Understanding common grace is pivotal for appreciating the manifold ways in which God interacts with creation. This section explores the various aspects of God’s common grace, providing a lens through which we can perceive God’s benevolence to all of humanity.
Common Grace and Unbelievers
For unbelievers, common grace plays a vital role as it restrains sin and enables a sense of morality and goodness to flourish even in the absence of saving faith. Unbelievers, too, experience love, joy, and the beauty of life, which are all manifestations of God’s grace. This grace is evident as it allows for coexistence, mutual respect, and the pursuit of common goods in a pluralistic society.
Common Grace and Saving Grace
While common grace is universal, saving grace is particular and redemptive in nature. Common grace does not lead to salvation but creates a context where salvation is possible. It acts as the stage upon which the drama of redemption unfolds, with saving grace being the ultimate act of God’s redemptive love. It’s essential to understand that while common grace can lead individuals to acknowledge God, it is saving grace that leads to salvation.
Common Grace and Special Grace
Special grace, on the other hand, is God’s redemptive favor shown to those He elects and calls to salvation. While common grace is extended to all humankind, special grace is bestowed upon those chosen for salvation. This grace is irresistible and efficacious, leading individuals to faith and repentance, ultimately resulting in eternal life.
Variations and Similarities
While both common grace and special grace originate from God, their purposes, recipients, and outcomes significantly differ:
Aspect | Common Grace | Special Grace |
Purpose | Sustains life, restrains sin, promotes order | Redeems and saves |
Recipients | All of humanity | Elect individuals |
Outcome | Temporal well-being | Eternal salvation |
Through the lens of common grace, we see evidence of God’s sustaining care for His creation and His restraint of sin in the lives of individuals and society at large. It is a testament to God’s goodness and mercy, reflecting His desire for human flourishing and well-being in the world He has created.
By understanding these different aspects of grace, we can better comprehend the complex and multifaceted nature of God’s interaction with humanity and the world at large.
Benefits of Experiencing Common Grace
Experiencing common grace daily is a universal gift, enhancing lives in subtle yet profound ways. The benefits are evident, from the awe-inspiring beauty of nature to the simple joys and complex emotions that define the human experience.
How Common Grace Enhances Our Lives
God’s common grace showers unmerited favor upon everyone, providing numerous blessings and advantages:
- Moral Restraint: Common grace acts as a moral compass, restraining individuals from becoming as sinful as they could be. It subtly influences conscience, instilling a basic understanding of right and wrong even among those unaware of divine standards.
- Cultural Contributions: The arts, sciences, and various intellectual pursuits flourish due to this grace. Gifted individuals contribute to society’s betterment, creating, innovating, and inspiring irrespective of their religious beliefs.
- Social Harmony: It facilitates cooperation, empathy, and mutual respect among people, fostering a sense of community and shared humanity.
Ways to Embrace Common Grace in Daily Life
Acknowledging and embracing common grace leads to a fulfilling life marked by gratitude and wonder. Here are practical ways to experience it daily:
- Mindfulness and Appreciation: Be conscious of and thankful for life’s simple pleasures and unexpected moments of beauty and kindness.
- Active Participation: Engage in communal and cultural activities that celebrate human creativity and collaboration.
- Reflection and Response: Contemplate the manifestations of common grace around and respond with generosity and compassion towards others.
Engaging with Common Grace
Engagement Method | Description | Outcome |
Mindful Observation | Noticing and appreciating acts of kindness and beauty daily | Fosters a grateful and joyous heart |
Active Participation in Community | Engaging in activities that uplift and support others | Builds a harmonious and supportive community |
Prayer and Reflection | Taking time to thank and acknowledge God for His common grace | Deepens spiritual connection and awareness |
Embracing the Undeserved
Every favor of whatever kind or degree, stemming from God’s common grace, is undeserved. Even in challenging times, this grace is evident as individuals experience solace, resilience, and moments of joy and clarity.
Embracing common grace involves acknowledging these undeserved favors and cultivating an attitude of gratitude and humility.
A Daily Practice
Making the acknowledgment of common grace a daily practice can profoundly impact one’s outlook and approach to life. It fosters a sense of wonder and gratitude, promoting mental and emotional well-being while encouraging positive engagement with others and the world at large.
Through common grace, life is enriched and deepened, providing a canvas on which the human experience unfolds in all its complexity and beauty. Recognizing and valuing this grace is key to navigating life with hope and joy amidst its inherent challenges and uncertainties.
Examples of Common Grace in Everyday Scenarios
Common grace is subtly interwoven into the fabric of our daily lives, manifesting in various forms and scenarios that often go unnoticed. Acknowledging these manifestations can deepen our appreciation for life and the divine grace that sustains it.
Encountering Common Grace in Nature
Nature is a vivid example of common grace. Every sunrise and rainfall, the beauty of a snow-capped mountain, or the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind— all these are tangible expressions of this grace.
The fact that the sun rises on the evil and on the good, and that God sends rain to the righteous and unrighteous alike, illustrates the universal and unmerited favor bestowed upon all creation.
Evidences of Common Grace
Evidences | Explanation | Theological Insight |
Rain and Sunlight | Bestowed upon both good and evil individuals | Reflects God’s impartial care for creation |
Moral Conscience | Present even in non-believers | Indicates the restraint of moral chaos |
Artistic and Scientific Achievements | Contributed by believers and non-believers alike | Showcases the image of God in all individuals |
Experiencing Common Grace in Interpersonal Relationships
In our interactions with others, common grace plays a pivotal role. It’s evident in the kindness of strangers, the support of friends, and the love of family— relationships that provide comfort, joy, and meaning to our lives.
Through these interpersonal dynamics, individuals often experience acceptance and understanding, reflecting the intrinsic value and dignity that God’s common grace imparts to every human being.
The Presence of Common Grace in Challenging Times
Even in the face of adversity and hardship, signs of common grace abound. During difficult periods, individuals often encounter unexpected support, resources, and strength that help them navigate through the storms of life.
These manifestations of grace provide hope and reassurance, highlighting that even in darkness, there’s a divine presence working to sustain and uplift the human spirit.
Recognizing Grace in the Mundane
Every day, there are numerous opportunities to witness and acknowledge the work of God’s common grace. Whether it’s a moment of inspiration, an act of kindness, or the beauty found in nature and art, these instances are testaments to the pervasive and transformative power of grace in our lives.
Learning to recognize and appreciate these daily graces can significantly enrich our lives, providing a sense of purpose, gratitude, and connection to the divine and each other.
Final Thoughts About Common Grace
In reflecting upon common grace, we uncover a wellspring of hope and gratitude that permeates every aspect of our lives. It’s a silent, pervasive force that sustains, nurtures, and elevates the human experience in a myriad of ways.
Reflecting on the Power and Influence of Common Grace
The concept of common grace invites deep reflection on its transformative power and influence. It’s not just a theological construct but a lived reality, evident in the tapestry of everyday life. This grace of God is a testament to the benevolence and mercy that characterizes the divine, manifesting in various ways to support, uplift, and enlighten individuals and communities alike.
Here are some reflections to consider:
- Universal Benevolence: Common grace underscores the belief in God that cares for all creation, bestowing blessings and favor indiscriminately. It’s a call to recognize and appreciate the divine hand that guides and nurtures life in its diverse forms.
- Moral and Spiritual Sustenance: Through restraining the power of sin and fostering a sense of morality and spirituality, common grace provides a framework for individuals to navigate through life with integrity and purpose.
- Source of Hope and Inspiration: The manifestations of common grace serve as constant reminders of the possibilities of goodness, beauty, and truth in the world, inspiring individuals to strive for higher ideals and values.
Understanding and acknowledging common grace is crucial for fostering a sense of gratitude, humility, and wonder in the face of life’s mysteries and challenges.
It’s a lens through which we can view the world with hope and optimism, recognizing the divine fingerprints in the mundane and the extraordinary alike.
In embracing this type of grace, we open ourselves to a richer, deeper, and more meaningful life, connected to each other and the divine in a tapestry of love, respect, and mutual care. | <urn:uuid:77d9569a-6968-4b45-b7a8-32dd9cd4f611> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://drjohnjackson.com/common-grace/common-grace-gods-gift-to-all/ | 2024-12-10T01:09:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066056346.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20241210005249-20241210035249-00529.warc.gz | en | 0.906611 | 2,392 | 3.46875 | 3 |
Entity Component System (ECS): Everything to Must Learn About It:
No one in the world has ever played a single video game. Video games are a beautiful part of everyone’s childhood. Everyone loves to play video games from their childhood to elder age. It has become a fantastic party of life. However, video games are a serious business now a day. If you have, you can ask anyone who designs or plays them. Behind video games, there is a lot of struggle that goes into developing these games, counting plenty of utilities, coding, and architecture. That is why ECS or Entity Component System is one of the hottest topics when discussing video games. The ECS is an architectural pattern used mainly in video game development.
There’re limited but elementary and compassionate principles hiding in the somewhat clumpy name ECS or Entity Component System. These assist us in getting rid of typical pains we’ve faced with OOP (Object Oriented Programming) or similar paradigms. For instance, ECS helps us distinguish our app data from the logic programming and prefer simple composition over inheritance.
We’ll discuss some amazing facts about Entity Component System (ECS) and everything you must need to know about it if you want to become a video game developer. Keep reading the article to learn more amazing facts about ECS.
What is Entity Component System (ECS)?
The ECS or Entity Component System is an architectural pattern primarily used in game development. It expedites code reusability by unraveling the critical data from the behavior. Moreover, an entity-component system (ECS) complies with the principle called “composition over inheritance,” given that improved suppleness and assists game developers’ identity entities in a video game scene where almost all the coding objects are categorized as entities. Frameworks sometimes empower ECS, and the term “ECS” is repeatedly used to exemplify a unique design pattern implementation.
An ECS architecture splits identity (entities), essential data (components), and architectural behavior (systems). The architecture centers around the information. Frameworks change the information from an info state to a resulting state by perusing floods of part information listed by elements.
An entity-component system (ECS) contains the following components:
- ECS has unique identifiers called ‘Entities.’
- ECS comprises basic datatypes deprived of behavior called ‘Component.’
- ECS has systems, explained as functions that are matched with unique entities that contain a particular set of components.
- Entities may comprise zero or more components.
- Entities can enthusiastically change components.
- Therefore, an ECS or entity component system is an architecture that emphasizes data and separates components, entities, and systems.
However, these characteristics make it a supernatural fit for a video game design. Now, we’ll explain the term ECS in separate parts to identify them better.
What is Entity?
An entity addresses one “thing” in a computer game, a particular item addressing an entertainer in a reproduced space, regularly communicated as a one-of-a-kind number worth. For instance, assuming you’re playing Skyrim, all the unmistakable, noticeable “things” in the game’s universe are substances. They contain no accurate information or ways of behaving. An entity addresses a broadly valuable item. For instance, each coarse game item is a substance in a game motor setting. Ordinarily, it just comprises a unique id. Executions ordinarily utilize a plain number for this.
What is a Component?
A component is a data type consisting of an exclusive behavior assigned to an entity. Some features are reusable modules that developers or programmers attach to the unique entities, provided that behavior, appearance, and functionality, form an entity. A part usually names an entity with a specific perspective and holds the information expected to show that viewpoint. For instance, each game item that can take harm could have a Health part connected with its substance. Executions usually use structures, classes, or acquainted exhibits.
To better understand what a component is, let’s take an example of a sorcery and sword game programmer who can build a magic sword entity by conjoining the following elements:
- A materialistic component, like ‘shininess,’ which influences the sword’s appearance
- A weighty piece that measured in ‘pound’ to conclude the magic sword’s overall weight
- A damaged part that stimulates how practical a weapon (the sword) is
What is a System?
A system restates different components to perform some low-level functions such as performing mathematical calculations, physics calculations, or rendering graphics. Frameworks give a worldwide extension, administrations, and the board for part classes. Essentially the rationale works on the parts. A system is a cycle that follows up on all elements with the ideal components. For instance, a physical science framework might question elements having mass, speed, and position parts and emphasize the outcomes doing physical science estimations on the arrangements of features for every substance.
The way of behaving of an entity can be changed at runtime by frameworks that add, eliminate or alter parts. It kills the vagueness issues of profound and expansive legacy progressive systems frequently found in Object Oriented Programming methods that are hard to comprehend, keep up with, and expand. Normal ECS (Entity Component System) approaches are profoundly viable and are frequently joined with information situated plan strategies. Data for all occasions of a part is ordinarily put together in actual memory, empowering adequate memory access for frameworks that work over numerous entities.
The Benefits of Using ECS
Here are some benefits of using ECS for programmers:
- Game developers can utilize ECS to develop small and less complex code
- Using ECS is an easy choice for unit mocking and testing
- ECS empowers no-techies to script using behavior
- ECS offers a clean and clear code design that employs reusability, encapsulation, and modularization methods
- ECS lets game developers or programmers mix ecological or reusable parts, which gives better flexibility when they define various objects
- ECS assists programmers in separating essential data from the different functions that can act on it
It assists you in bolstering or adding new unique features
- ECS offers a fantastic architecture for both VR (Virtual Reality) and 3-D development, empowering you to develop the final app in terms of difficulty
- ECS features quite flexible nascent behavior
- Programmers can switch different components with ridiculed components at run time.
- ECS is a user-friendly method for parallel processing and multi-threading
The Pitfalls of Using ECS
Although there are many benefits of using an entity component system (ECS), there are also a few drawbacks to it for the game developers.
We all know that every tool is not perfect. They also have some downside. Here are some pitfalls of using ECS:
- Entity Component System ECS is still not well-known among programmers. Most programmers or people haven’t even heard of this word. (That is the main reason behind writing this article to let the people know about amazing facts about ECS who don’t know about them.) That can result in problems in collaboration with other game developers or programmers.
- ECS is not concretely demarcated as other patterns, such as MVC (Model-View-Controller).
- It is pretty challenging to apply ECS correctly. Moreover, it is also accessible to misuse. As a result, game developers or programmers have to think about how to develop or design better components.
- It needs programmers to write minimal systems that can hypothetically utilize in many entities. As a result, this method results in a high risk of writing ineffective code.
What makes ECS Differ from OOP?
Some entry-level programmers consider ECS (Entity Component System) as an alternative to OOP (Object Oriented Programming).
However, they have some differences, even though the two share a few overlapping similarities. These differences are as follows:
- OOP inspires or encourages data encapsulation while ECS encourages exposed POD (Plain Old Data) objects
- OOP deliberates inheritance as a first-class civilian. Instead, ECS meditates on composition as a first-class only
- OOP (Object Oriented Programming) collocates different data with behavior, while on the other hand, ECS separates the data from behavior
- OOP object’s occasions are single static, and the entities can vigorously change various components
- ECS and OOP are just two of the numerous ways we as game designers follow to have a strong groundwork and approach to laying our code.
Consider these standards we should completely comprehend and live by to have a smooth, stable, and severe life. Maybe a more proper term for it to look at is the word way of life.
Presently, these two have alternate ideas and models, so utilizing them simultaneously, similar to a crossover utilization, isn’t guaranteed to be wrong; however, it can prompt broken, chaotic ways of behaving and so forth because of the intricacies of both will add together. There are situations where ECS would be a superior fit to use, while there are cases befitting OOP too.
Is ECS Faster Than Others?
Generally speaking, even though it relies upon what’s being estimated and the ECS (Entity Component System) execution itself because various undertakings bring about multiple tradeoffs. Along these lines, for instance, an activity delayed in one system could be rapid in another.
Regarding speed, ECS (Entity Component System) executions are ordinarily great at powerfully changing parts at runtime and straightly questioning and repeating element sets. Then again, ECS executions miss the mark in speed while executing questions or tasks that need exceptionally particular information structures like spatial designs and twofold trees. Besides, you can capitalize on your ECS (Entity Component System), assuming you know more about the execution’s tradeoffs and influence its plan.
Data Flow in ECS (Entity Component System)
We may break down the ECS (Entity Component System) data flow into the below steps:
- Systems: The ECS system listens to the outside events and circulates updates to the part.
- Component: The ECS components listen to system events and then update their current state.
- Entity: The ECS entity collects behavior by the changes in the component states.
The player input framework distinguishes the gamer’s critical press and updates the movement part. The movement framework actuates and “sees” that the element’s movement is to one side, so it applies the Physics force likewise. Then, the rendering framework dominates and peruses the element’s ongoing position, attracting it as per its new spatial definition. Thus, a gamer presses the “right bolt” key while adventuring in a dreamland.
ECS (Entity Component System) is an architectural pattern. It is faster and better than OOP (Object Oriented Programming) in video game development. An entity is a separate object demonstrating an actor is a simulated space. You can utilize the ECS pattern to develop small and less complicated code. If you’re a game developer or going to jump into a game development career, ECS would be the best choice to understand and get started with it. Do you still have any questions left about ECS? Are you still finding it difficult to understand what ECS is? Comment below and ask your queries and get answers from our professional team! | <urn:uuid:370631a6-2263-431a-8461-991f7f44a94b> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://blog.troytec.com/entity-component-system-ecs-you-need-to-must-know/ | 2024-12-12T10:05:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066108241.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20241212093452-20241212123452-00715.warc.gz | en | 0.921038 | 2,406 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Jennifer Friedman was looking forward to her date: she met someone at the gym, after many months of staying home, alone with her dog, and couldn't be more excited. The day was Saturday and it was nearly 6:00 pm - she had to leave in a few minutes. B
Before leaving her home in Miami Beach, she checked Google maps to locate the restaurant and sent the address to her phone.
Then, she walked down the stairs, opened the front door, unlocked her car and started driving.
Instead of going there, I went somewhere else. Sitting at the table for half of an hour, I wondered where her date was. My brain fog was really bad.”
It was not just a one-time thing. Jennifer suffered from frequent episodes of memory loss She'd often forget to make dinner, couldn't find the right words to describe things and was always late for school pickup. "I've never had any difficulties with this kind of thing before." “I was having trouble thinking clearly.”
Jennifer is one of the millions of Americans reporting a severe dent in cognitive functioning every year.
Brain fog isn't a medical condition per se, but it can be caused by various factors. It’s an umbrella term used for various conditions that can affect your thinking abilities. It might be hard for you to understand or express yourself clearly.
A person who has brain fog may feel less mentally sharp than normal. You might feel numb and tired, and daily activities may seem harder than usual.
Some examples of things people might do when they're suffering from brain fog include:
- Forgetting about a task they had been working on
- Taking too long to complete simple tasks
- Feeling often distracted
- Feeling exhausted when working
Brain fog may be linked to anxiety
Anxiety and brain fog are both common mental health concerns. Anxiety often leads to brain fog because of the way our brains work. When we feel anxious, our bodies release chemicals called neurotransmitters into our bloodstream. These neurotransmitters help us process information and make decisions. Some of these neurotransmitters affect how well we think, while others affect how alert we feel.
When we're feeling anxious, the neurotransmitters that affect our thoughts and feelings tend to increase. This makes it harder for us to concentrate and remember things. We might even start to forget what day it is or where we left our keys. In addition, we might lose track of time and become confused. Our brain fog becomes worse when we're under pressure or stressed out.
Because brain fog affects our ability to focus, many people don't realize that they are experiencing it. They might just assume that their memory problems are due to old age or lack of sleep. But there are several possible reasons for brain fog, including mental illnesses such as depression.
Brain fog may be linked to pregnancy
The number one thing you don't want to do while pregnant is forget something important. But chances are, you might. A study published in the journal Neurology found that many women experience memory loss during pregnancy. Researchers looked at data from over 3,300 women who had given birth between 2006 and 2010. They found that about 20% of women experienced some type of memory problem during pregnancy. About half of those problems lasted longer than six months. Some women reported experiencing severe memory problems lasting up to three years.
Carrying a baby can change the way your brain works. During pregnancy, hormones flood your system to help prepare your baby for life outside the womb. These same hormones can cause changes in how the brain functions. While there isn't much research into what causes memory loss during pregnancy, experts think the hormone progesterone could play a role. Progesterone helps regulate mood and sleep patterns. When levels of progesterone drop too low, symptoms such as anxiety, depression and insomnia can occur.
Brain fog may be linked to menopause
The average woman goes through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. But some women don't experience symptoms until later in life. Menopause typically begins one to three years after a woman stops having periods. Symptoms vary depending on how long ago you stopped menstruating.
Women may find it harder to focus or concentrate on tasks like reading and writing during perimenopause because of what's happening inside their brains. In fact, researchers say that while estrogen levels are dropping, testosterone levels are rising. This combination leads to decreased cognitive function.
Hormones play a big role in memory retention, according to Dr Stephen E. Hyman, director of Harvard Medical School's Memory Disorders Program. "When we're young, our hormones are very active," he says. "They keep us alert, focused and interested."
But as we age, our hormone levels fluctuate less frequently. And when they do, they tend to go up rather than down. As a result, many people start experiencing forgetfulness and trouble focusing. Some women report feeling irritable, moody or anxious. Others feel tired or depressed.
Medications such as antidepressants can help ease those symptoms. Other options include hormone replacement therapy and bioidentical hormone therapy. Both treatments work similarly, though they differ slightly in dosage.
Brain fog may be linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a chronic illness characterized by persistent unexplained fatigue lasting longer than 4 weeks.
People with CFS often experience symptoms such as muscle pain, sleep problems, cognitive difficulties, headaches, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, and impaired memory and concentration. Many people with CFS report that their health declines over time, leading to loss of energy and stamina, and making it difficult to work, study, or participate in family activities.
There is no known cause for CFS. However, most experts believe that CFS is caused by multiple factors including psychological stressors, viral infections, immune system dysfunction, vitamin deficiencies, and environmental toxins. Symptoms typically begin gradually and worsen over time.
Some people have periods of remission during which symptoms improve, while others continue to suffer even though symptoms do not always occur. In some cases, there is a sudden onset of severe symptoms without a previous period of milder symptoms.
The exact number of people affected by CFS is unknown because many people with CFS never seek medical attention. Estimates range from approximately 2 million to 5 million Americans. Most doctors don't recognize CFS as a distinct disease, and few insurance companies cover treatment costs.
Brain fog may be linked to a lack of sleep
The average person sleeps for only 6 hours a night and has little time to exercise. This is the result of poor lifestyle choices and it can cause severe brain fog.
Sleep deprivation causes also other serious health problems such as:
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Weight gain
- Memory loss
- Reduced immune system function
- High blood pressure
- Alzheimer’s Disease
If you want to get rid of your brain fog, you need to make sure you get enough restful sleep every day. You should try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. If you find yourself waking up several times throughout the night, then you probably need more sleep.
You also need to eat right, throwing away most of your processed food and replacing them with fresh fruits, vegetables and properly cooked meals.
How can you beat brain fog?
Brain Fog is a condition that affects the mind and memory. It’s caused by stress, anxiety or depression. The symptoms of brain fog include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Lack of motivation
The good news is that there are ways to treat this condition. Here are some tips on how to beat brain fog:
1) Get plenty of sleep. Healthy adults sleep more than 7 hours per day. This allows the whole body o rejuvenate and wake up refreshed, energetic and feeling active.
2) Eat healthy foods. Processed, junk food from your local fast food restaurant offers nothing to your diet (it actually does - adds lots of bad trans fat to your body weight). If you are suffering from brain fog, do not add more burden to it - make an effort to replace your diet with fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy cooking meals.
3) Exercise regularly. A nice 10-minute walk can clear your head and will help it stimulate more with the visual images you will see. Take care of your body, and the rest will follow said someone great :-)
4) Reduce stress levels. Stress is one of the main reasons why we experience brain fog. Try to reduce your stress levels by doing things like meditating, taking deep breaths, exercising, listening to music, reading books, playing games, etc.
5) Take supplements. Regen Health has actually a product that can help you clear your head, focus more and get back your memory, in less than 20 minutes. Check it out here.
8) Practice yoga if you can/want. Yoga helps to calm down the nervous system, relaxes muscles and improves circulation. It's a great way to relieve stress and improve your mood.
9) Do breathing exercises. Deep breathing helps to oxygenate the blood and remove toxins from the body.
10) Avoid caffeine. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and makes us feel alert. However, when taken too much, it can lead to insomnia, headaches, irritability, jitteriness, palpitations, tremors, and even seizures.
11) Drink water. Water keeps our bodies hydrated and cleanses the body of impurities. Drinking water before bedtime will keep you awake longer as well as help you fall asleep faster.
12) Use essential oils. Essential oils are natural substances found in plants. They have been used for thousands of years to promote health and wellness. Some of these oils include lavender, chamomile, rosemary, eucalyptus
Brain fog affects millions of people every year, with symptoms like memory loss, lack of concentration, lack of focus and much more.
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The EPA issued a final rule to strengthen, expand, and update methane emissions reporting requirements for petroleum and natural gas systems under EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, as required by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The final revisions will ensure greater transparency and accountability for methane pollution from oil and natural gas facilities by improving the accuracy of annual emissions reporting from these operations. Oil and natural gas facilities are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, a climate “super pollutant” that is many times more potent than carbon dioxide and is responsible for approximately one third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today.
EPA’s latest action complements the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government initiative to slash methane emissions from every sector of the economy under the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Plan. In 2023 alone, the Administration took nearly 100 actions, with coordination by the White House Methane Task Force, to bolster methane detection and reduce methane pollution from oil and gas operations, landfills, abandoned mines, agriculture, industry, and buildings.
The final rule updating the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is a key component of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program, as designed by Congress to help states, industry, and communities implement recently finalized Clean Air Act methane standards and slash methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. The Biden-Harris Administration is also mobilizing over $1 billion in financial and technical assistance to accelerate the transition to no- and low- emitting oil and gas technologies, as part of broad efforts to cut wasteful methane emissions.
“As we implement the historic climate programs under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is applying the latest tools, cutting edge technology, and expertise to track and measure methane emissions from the oil and gas industry,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, a combination of strong standards, good monitoring and reporting, and historic investments to cut methane pollution will ensure the U.S. leads in the global transition to a clean energy economy.”
Recent studies reveal that actual emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems are much greater than what has historically been reported to the GHGRP. This rule addresses that gap, including by facilitating the use of satellite data to identify super-emitters and quantify large emission events, requiring direct monitoring of key emission sources, and updating the methods for calculation. Together these changes support complete and accurate reporting and respond to Congress’s directive for the measurement of methane emissions to rely on empirical data.
This announcement is EPA’s latest step in tackling methane emissions that are fueling climate change, building on the agency’s recently finalized Clean Air Act standards to sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants from the oil and natural gas industry, promote the use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies, and deliver significant economic and public health benefits from methane emissions reductions. That rule established a Super-Emitter Program to help detect large leaks and releases, and today’s reporting rule will require owners and operators to quantify and report the emissions detected through that Program to help close the gap between observed methane emissions and reported emissions.
The final subpart W rule will dramatically improve the quality of emissions data reported from oil and natural gas operations, with provisions that improve the quantification of methane emissions, incorporate advances in methane emissions measurement technology, and streamline compliance with other EPA regulations. For the first time, EPA is allowing for the use of advanced technologies such as satellites to help quantify emissions in subpart W. In addition, EPA is finalizing new methodologies that allow for the use of empirical data for quantifying emissions, including options added in response to public comments on the proposed rule. The final rule also allows for the optional earlier use of empirical data calculation methodologies for facilities that prefer to use them to quantify 2024 emissions. These changes will improve transparency and expand the options for owners and operators to submit empirical data to demonstrate their effort to reduce methane emissions and identify whether a Waste Emissions Charge is owed, based on thresholds set by Congress.
Advanced measurement technologies, and their use for annual quantification of emissions, are evolving rapidly. EPA is committed to transparent and continual improvements to its programs to account for these advancements while ensuring reporting is accurate and complete. The agency intends to take the following steps to gather further information about advanced measurement technologies and to inform potential regulatory changes or other standard setting programs that encourage the use of more accurate and comprehensive measurement strategies:
- This summer, EPA will solicit input on the use of advanced measurement data and methods in subpart W by issuing a Request for Information and opening a non-regulatory docket, including specific questions and topics on which EPA seeks input from the public. EPA intends to use the feedback received to consider whether it is appropriate to undertake further rulemaking addressing the use of advanced measurement technologies in subpart W, beyond the role for these technologies that is already provided in today’s rule.
- EPA also seeks to continuously update its knowledge about new measurement and detection technologies, and to elicit input from stakeholders and experts about how such advances should inform EPA’s regulations. To keep pace with this dynamic field, EPA plans to undertake a solicitation or engagement for information about advanced measurement and detection technologies (in the form of a Request for Information, workshop, or similar mechanism) on at least a biennial basis. These engagements will enable EPA to learn about technological advances and the extent to which there is robust information about their accuracy, reliability, and appropriateness for use in a regulatory reporting program.
For more information about this action, please visit the GHG Reporting Program Rulemaking Resources webpage.
EPA and Developer Settle Stormwater Case, Protecting Water Quality in Washington, D.C.
TPWR Developer, LLC, CBG Building Company, LLC, and Bowman Consulting DC have settled alleged violations of regulations designed to protect America’s waterways from polluted stormwater runoff, the EPA announced recently.
In an administrative consent agreement with EPA, the companies have agreed to pay a $27,000 penalty, and implement a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP), to settle alleged Clean Water Act violations involving stormwater runoff from The Parks at Walter Reed construction site to Rock Creek and downstream waterways.
The Parks at Walter Reed is a multi-use development construction site in Washington, D.C. consisting of apartment and commercial spaces, located on the former Walter Reed Army Hospital grounds.
Uncontrolled stormwater runoff from construction and industrial sites often contains sediment, oil and grease, chemicals, nutrients and other pollutants. The Clean Water Act requires owners of certain construction and industrial operations to obtain a permit before discharging stormwater runoff into waterways. These permits include pollution-reducing practices such as runoff reduction measures, spill prevention safeguards, material storage and coverage requirements, and employee training.
In the consent agreement, EPA cited the companies for failing to have the required National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage for stormwater discharges, in violation of the Clean Water Act. To correct these violations, the companies submitted Notices of Intent for coverage under EPA’s NPDES Construction General Permit, which were approved by EPA.
In addition to the penalty, the companies will also spend at least $40,000 to implement a SEP in Rock Creek Park that will help protect the Hay’s Spring amphipod, Washington D.C.’s only endangered species. The companies will help restore the amphipod’s spring habitats, revegetate social trail entrances, and plant trees and plants native to Rock Creek Park to provide stabilization and tree cover. This project will be performed with oversight from the National Park Service.
Department of Labor Takes Critical Step in Heat Safety Rulemaking
The Department of Labor has taken an important step in addressing the dangers of workplace heat and moved closer to publishing a proposed rule to reducing the significant health risks of heat exposure for U.S. workers in outdoor and indoor settings.
On April 24, 2024, OSHA presented the draft rule's initial regulatory framework at a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. The committee, which advises the agency on safety and health standards and policy matters, unanimously recommended OSHA move forward expeditiously on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. As part of the rulemaking process, the agency will seek and consider input from a wide range of stakeholders and the public at-large as it works to propose and finalize its rule.
In the interim, OSHA continues to direct significant existing outreach and enforcement resources to educate employers and workers and hold businesses accountable for violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act's general duty clause, 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1) and other applicable regulations. Record-breaking temperatures across the nation have increased the risks people face on-the-job, especially in summer months. Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more suffer illnesses related to hazardous heat exposure that, sadly, are most often preventable.
"Workers at risk of heat illness need a new rule to protect workers from heat hazards. OSHA is working aggressively to develop a new regulation that keeps workers safe from the dangers of heat," explained Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. "As we move through the required regulatory process for creating these protections, OSHA will use all of its existing tools to hold employers responsible when they fail to protect workers from known hazards such as heat, including our authority to stop employers from exposing workers to conditions which pose an imminent danger."
The agency continues to conduct heat-related inspections under its National Emphasis Program – Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards, launched in 2022. The program inspects workplaces with the highest exposures to heat-related hazards proactively to prevent workers from suffering injury, illness or death needlessly. Since the launch, OSHA has conducted nearly 5,000 federal heat-related inspections.
In addition, the agency is prioritizing programmed inspections in agricultural industries that employ temporary, nonimmigrant H-2A workers for seasonal labor. These workers face unique vulnerabilities, including potential language barriers, less control over their living and working conditions, and possible lack of acclimatization, and are at high risk of hazardous heat exposure.
By law, employers must protect workers from the dangers of heat exposure and should have a proper safety and health plan in place. At a minimum, employers should provide adequate cool water, rest breaks and shade or a cool rest area. Employees who are new or returning to a high heat workplace should be allowed time to gradually get used to working in hot temperatures. Workers and managers should also be trained so they can identify and help prevent heat illness themselves.
"No worker should have to get sick or die because their employer refused to provide water, or breaks to recover from high heat, or failed to act after a worker showed signs of heat illness," Parker added.
As always, OSHA will share information and coordinate enforcement and compliance assistance efforts with states operating their own occupational safety and health programs. At the same time, the agency's compliance assistance specialists regularly meet with employer associations, workers and their advocacy groups and labor unions to supply information and education on heat hazards.
Biden-Harris Administration Reports Progress Toward Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning
The President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children is publishing the Progress Report on the Federal Lead Action Plan, a comprehensive update on the government’s progress since 2018 toward reducing childhood lead exposures. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as co-leading members of the Task Force’s Lead Exposures Subcommittee, are leading aggressive actions to combat lead exposure.
“We’ve made excellent progress toward protecting children from the risks of lead exposure, advancing President Biden’s commitment to environmental justice and protections for all communities,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “The federal family has taken meaningful steps that will reduce lead exposure, and we are united in our commitment to improve children’s health and to ensure that populations overburdened with pollution have the opportunity to lead healthier lives.”
Children are our future. We must ensure that they have safe places to learn and grow. This progress report outlines the steps we are taking to ensure that healthier future by reducing childhood exposure to lead and shows the Biden-Harris commitment to environmental justice and health equity for all,” said Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine.
"Protecting the health of vulnerable populations, especially children and families with limited resources, is paramount. Our Task Force's progress in implementing the Action Plan reflects the Biden-Harris administration's shared commitment to investing resources in lead safety programs," said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. "The individual programs to implement Justice40 and additional administration initiatives are complemented by the many interagency activities described in the progress report."
The 2018 Federal Lead Action Plan was released with a clear vision: to reduce childhood exposure to lead and its harmful effects. Since then, the federal government has been working to implement strategies outlined in the plan, and leveraging partnerships with states, Tribes, local communities, business, and caregivers to achieve this shared goal.
The progress report summarizes the significant strides made toward reducing lead exposure and improving children’s health through landmark initiatives including:
- Reducing lead in drinking water, land, air, food, housing, and consumer products
- Improving childhood lead poisoning testing to improve children’s health outcomes
- Enhancing lead hazard communication with partners and the public with streamlined messaging
- Supporting critical research that informs efforts to reduce lead exposures and health risks, and much more.
The President’s Task Force is the focal point for the federal government to scope, plan, and act together for the betterment of children’s environmental health and safety. The Task Force engages multiple government departments, agencies, and other federal partners to coordinate efforts to address the array of environmental and social stressors that threaten the health of children, with particular focus on areas including lead exposures, asthma disparities, chemical exposures, climate change, emergencies, and disasters. These efforts have complemented the Biden-Harris Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, which laid out over 15 new commitments from more than 10 federal agencies to make sure that the federal government marshals every resource and every tool it can to make rapid progress towards ensuring a lead-free future. These efforts have also complemented the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Department of Labor Cites Goods Transport Provider After Truck Strikes Grain Yard Manager
Responding to an employer's report that a worker needed hospitalization after being struck by a semi-tractor-trailer and suffering severe injuries at a Fremont grain yard, federal workplace safety inspectors identified 23 violations by the worker's employer, including failing to protect workers from being struck by moving vehicles.
OSHA learned a yard manager employed by Rail Modal Group, LLC was directing congested traffic in a storage yard when a passing truck hit her on Jan. 2, 2024. The manager was on the job less than six months at the time.
The incident follows an OSHA investigation opened at the wholesale grain facility on Nov. 6, 2023, after the agency received allegations of unsafe working conditions, including exposure to struck-by vehicle hazards.
Incidents involving transportation and material moving caused more workplace deaths in 2022 than any other hazard, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
After its investigation, OSHA cited Rail Modal Group for violating the agency's general duty cause for exposing workers to struck-by hazards. In total, OSHA cited the company for 21 serious and two other-than-serious violations related to fall protection, permit-required confined spaces, machine guarding and powered industrial trucks. Inspectors also found the company did not meet OSHA's grain-handling safety standards and failed to employ a hazardous communication program to train workers about hazardous material at the facility.
OSHA assessed the company $261,375 in proposed penalties.
"Being struck by moving vehicles is one of the most deadly and common hazards on job sites. Employers must conduct risk assessments, implement engineering controls and take all necessary precautions to protect workers from this danger," explained OSHA Area Director Matt Thurlby in Omaha, Nebraska. "Employers who implement safety and health programs that address the hazards unique to their operations and train workers on how to avoid injuries can help prevent similar tragedies and ensure all workers go home safely at the end of their shifts."
OSHA provides information on grain hazards, confined space, fall protection and hazardous communication for use by employers to understand how to protect workers from potential safety and health hazards.
Based in Latham, New York, Rail Modal Group provides supply-chain transportation solutions focused on protein and agricultural exports through key gateway ports. The company opened its first inland port terminal in Fremont, and later added facilities in Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas.
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The domes consist of 20 straight sides that create half-balls that are almost 20 feet tall and 35 feet in diameter. They each make room for roughly 1,000 square feet of crop space to grow a variety of vegetables and flowers, spread out horizontally and stacked on shelves vertically.
This story is published in partnership with the Energy News Network, a nonprofit news organization that covers the transition to clean energy.
These compact growing spaces also leave room for solar energy to grow outside. An adjacent two rows of solar panels will be capable of producing up to 20 kilowatts of electricity a year.
The solar cells will provide electricity to heat and run the watering equipment for the domes. The food and surplus electricity will go directly to nearby homes. And the planning and execution of this so-called agrivoltaic project will be an example to be spread across the grid to planners, farmers and engineers interested in learning more about this new way of using farmland to grow both food and electricity at the same time.
“The community is very excited about it,” said Tauni Bearcub, the project’s manager for Konbit (pronounced “kone-beet”), a Boulder, Colorado, company specializing in food-growing programs with an emphasis on Native American lands. She is also a member of the Colville nation.
Dan Nanamkin, director of Young Warrior Society, center, leads a prayer for the land inside a geodesic dome under construction during an opening ceremony at a micro-farm, a collaboration between the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Konbit, that includes geodesic domes and solar panels for agrivoltaics, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Nespelem, Wash. (Young Kwak for Crosscut)
The project is due to be ready by July — less than a month after President Joe Biden ordered emergency measures to boost supplies to U.S. solar manufacturers and declared a two-year tariff exemption on solar panels from Southeast Asia. This will be Washington’s first venture into agrivoltaics, the mingling of solar-power panels with growing crops.
The idea of agrivoltaics first surfaced in 1981 in Germany as a proposal by scientists Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow that solar panels and agriculture can share the same land to make it more profitable. The concept took off about 10 to 12 years ago as the costs of solar power dropped. This practice, also known as agrophotovoltaics in Germany and solar sharing in Asia, remains more common in Europe than in the United States.
In the United States, agrivoltaics has gained toeholds mostly east of the Mississippi River while also popping up in Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and now Washington in the West.
“The East Coast has been a little more proactive on this one,” said Chad Higgins, an associate professor in the biological and ecological engineering department at Oregon State University.
Agrivoltaic sites are small. Jordan Macknick, lead energy water and land analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, estimated that crops and solar panels jointly use only about 50 acres of land nationwide. The Nespelem site is about one-third of an acre.
Macknick said agrivoltaics does not appear practical for farms with hundreds and thousands of acres, but these projects are more appropriate to install on a small scale. “The sweet spot is 20 acres or less,” he said.
There are three types of agrivoltaic ventures. The first is solar panels among crops. Second is grazing by sheep or other animals munching grass in the shade of solar panels, which can be found in New York and Minnesota.
The University of Minnesota installed 30 kilowatts’ worth of solar panels on a dairy farm in 2018 to conduct a 2019 study on how the cows interact with the solar panels. That study determined that the cows sought the shade of the solar panels, causing them to graze less. The university plans follow-up studies on the cows’ reproductive performance plus the long-term effects on their health, milk, fat, and protein production, as well as weight and body condition.
The third type of agrivoltaics involves flowers, in which bees wander around the solar panels collecting pollen to make honey. Such projects can be found in Vermont, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin.
The hair-care company Aveda keeps beehives on its campus in Blaine, Minnesota. It added a 900-kilowatt array of solar panels to the field of flowers used to generate electricity for its campus.
National acreages on the grazing and beekeeping agrivoltaics are not available.
Solar panels and farming flourish best on the same types of level, loose soil that accommodates both crops and steel beams. Even with growth in agrivoltaics, the need for clean power is likely to increase tensions over rural land use in many places. Estimates for the amount of land required to meet Biden’s 100% clean electricity goal by 2035 range from an area bigger than Delaware to a footprint the size of South Dakota.
“There’s going to be massive pressure on agricultural lands from solar,” Higgins said last September at a Washington State University Extension Service video conference in San Juan County on agrivoltaics. Higgins did not respond to several email and phone requests for an interview. San Juan County farmland — which is also very expensive real estate — has been steadily shrinking in recent years, and he offered agrivoltaics as one answer to that challenge.
Agrivoltaics requires a delicate balancing act among sunlight, costs, solar panels and crops. The solar portion and the crops portion have a very complicated relationship.
A major challenge comes in deciding what crops will be grown. There are limits on the height — usually six to eight feet — of the solar panels, which translates to how much expensive steel must be used. The height and angles of the panels affect the shade and sunlight reaching each row of crops. It’s worth noting that not all crops need sunlight all day, and some do better when shaded some of the time. The space between the rows of solar panels must accommodate the biggest piece of farm equipment to be used. Another wrinkle is that the types of crops may change from year to year.
“For the most part, the solar part of the equation is much more straightforward,” said Macknick of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
“Ag needs to adapt to whatever solar array is there,” said Byron Kominek, a co-owner of Jack’s Solar Garden of Longmont, Colorado, which has four acres of solar panels and works closely with the lab.
Makoti Fox, the lead in discussions about the micro-farm project with the Tribal Council, right, speaks inside a geodesic dome under construction during an opening ceremony for the collaboration between the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Konbit, that includes geodesic domes and solar panels for agrivoltaics, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Nespelem, Wash. (Young Kwak for Crosscut)
One universal truth appears to be that the generation of electricity is the bigger and more reliable money-maker on these farms. Macknick estimated that the electricity sales from a site could reach up to twice as much as the crop sales.
Another complicating factor is regulations. Agrivoltaics combines industrial and agricultural rural land uses, a concept that does not fall neatly into zoning regulations almost anywhere. Macknick and Higgins said land-use rules vary from county to county.
When Jack’s Solar Garden, which produces 1.2 megawatts of electricity a year, was first proposed five years ago, its host county would allow only 100 kilowatts to be produced on its farmlands, so they had to get the local zoning rules changed.
Insurance is another headache, with competing priorities from usually separate entities: Developers want a restricted site, while farmers want easy access. Oregon State University is just opening an experimental agrivoltaics farm with many different governments and owners involved.
“The insurance conversations were spicy. Who is liable for what?” Higgins said, adding that the attorneys “ran through months and months and months of ‘what if’ solutions.”
In the video conference, Higgins noted that a major obstacle to deploying electric cars in great numbers is their limited range coupled with the lack of rural charging stations. Strategically placed agrivoltaic farms could serve future rural and interstate highway charging stations, he speculated.
Enter Konbit, whose projects include extremely small farms, including the agrivoltaic operation in Nespelem. “If you grow food on microfarms, why not add photovoltaics?” said Konbit founder Sanjay Rajan.
Rajan is a longtime Colorado entrepreneur specializing in financing small ventures such as boosting textiles being produced in India and providing food for the poor, especially Native Americans. Originally an engineer, he has M.B.A.s from Columbia University and the London Business School.
A geodesic dome under construction. The domes consist of 20 straight sides that create half balls that are almost 20 feet tall and 35 feet in diameter. They each make room for roughly 1,000 square feet of crop space to grow a variety of vegetables and flowers, spread out horizontally and stacked on shelves vertically. (Young Kwak for Crosscut)
Rajan brought in Hugo Grisetti, a longtime architect of geodesic domes from Brooklyn, to design the Nespelem domes.
The Colville nation does not have an energy department, and Konbit is not connected to Nespelem Valley Electric Co-Op. The $100,000 Nespelem project is being paid for with federal grants. A $48,000 annual National Renewable Energy Laboratory grant will be used to gather data from the Nespelem project for three years. The actual annual operating budget still needs to be pinned down. “It’s a prototype. We don’t know yet,” said Konbit’s Bearcub.
The Colville reservation is divided into four districts, and Bearcub hopes to eventually install one set of domes in each district.
Macknick said of the Nespelem project, “We’re hoping it will be a model to really expand.”
Correction: The solar panels installed as part of the Colville agrivoltaics project will produce up to 20 kilowatts of power. An earlier version of this story used an incorrect unit of energy. | <urn:uuid:878426a2-b860-4719-a29d-9490c45cf2a8> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.cascadepbs.org/environment/2022/06/farms-central-washington-boost-their-yield-solar-energy?utm_source=Crosscut%20Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Crosscut+Daily+20220622+-+READY | 2024-12-09T04:19:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066460657.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20241209024434-20241209054434-00723.warc.gz | en | 0.94399 | 2,246 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. It is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions, making it vital for overall health and well-being. In this article, we will explore some interesting facts about magnesium that you may not be aware of.
Firstly, did you know that magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body? It can be found in our bones, muscles, and tissues. This mineral is necessary for maintaining normal nerve and muscle function, regulating blood pressure, and supporting a healthy immune system.
Another fascinating fact about magnesium is its role in promoting good sleep. This mineral helps regulate neurotransmitters that are responsible for calming the brain and promoting relaxation.
Adequate magnesium levels have been linked to improved sleep quality and reduced insomnia.
Moreover, magnesium is also known for its potential benefits in relieving muscle cramps and spasms. It helps relax muscles and prevent excessive contractions.
Athletes and individuals who engage in intense physical activities often supplement with magnesium to support muscle recovery and prevent cramping.
Interesting Facts About Magnesium
The 8th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust
Magnesium is the 8th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, making up about 2% of its composition.
Named after a region in Greece
Magnesium is named after Magnesia, a region in Greece where the element was first discovered.
Essential for life
Magnesium is essential for various biological processes in the human body, including muscle and nerve function, energy production, and DNA synthesis.
Magnesium is highly flammable and can ignite easily, making it a popular choice for fireworks and flares.
Used in lightweight alloys
Magnesium is commonly used in the production of lightweight alloys, which are used in industries such as aerospace and automotive.
Present in chlorophyll
Magnesium is a key component of chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for the green color in plants.
Helps regulate calcium levels
Magnesium plays a crucial role in regulating calcium levels in the body, which is important for maintaining healthy bones and teeth.
Can be found in seawater
Magnesium is abundant in seawater, with an average concentration of about 1,000 parts per million.
Used in medical treatments
Magnesium is used in various medical treatments, such as antacids, laxatives, and as a supplement for magnesium deficiency.
Involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions
Magnesium is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle contraction, and nerve function.
Can be extracted from seawater
Magnesium can be extracted from seawater through a process called electrolysis, making it a potentially sustainable source of the element.
Used in fireworks
Magnesium is commonly used in fireworks to produce a bright white light when ignited.
Helps prevent migraines
Studies have shown that magnesium supplementation can help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.
Used in the production of batteries
Magnesium is used in the production of batteries, particularly in the anode of certain types of batteries.
Can be alloyed with other metals
Magnesium can be alloyed with other metals, such as aluminum and zinc, to improve their strength and corrosion resistance.
Used in the production of fireworks
Magnesium is a key ingredient in the production of fireworks, as it produces a brilliant white light when burned.
Can be found in meteorites
Magnesium is found in various meteorites, indicating its presence in outer space and its role in the formation of celestial bodies.
Used in the production of magnesium oxide
Magnesium oxide, also known as magnesia, is produced by heating magnesium metal, and it has various industrial applications.
Can be used as a reducing agent
Magnesium can be used as a reducing agent in chemical reactions, helping to remove oxygen from compounds.
Used in the production of lightweight sports equipment
Magnesium is used in the production of lightweight sports equipment, such as tennis rackets and golf clubs, to improve performance.
Magnesium is widely used in the construction industry due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio. It is commonly used as an alloying agent in the production of lightweight and durable materials, such as magnesium-aluminum alloys.
These alloys are used in the construction of aircraft, automobiles, and various structural components. Additionally, magnesium-based cements are used in the construction of fire-resistant walls and ceilings.
2. Medical Applications
Magnesium plays a crucial role in various medical applications. It is commonly used as a dietary supplement to prevent or treat magnesium deficiency, which can lead to muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, and other health issues.
Magnesium sulfate is used in intravenous injections to prevent seizures in pregnant women with preeclampsia or eclampsia. Furthermore, magnesium-based antacids are used to relieve heartburn and indigestion.
3. Agriculture and Fertilizers
Magnesium is an essential nutrient for plants and plays a vital role in photosynthesis, enzyme activation, and overall plant growth. It is commonly used as a component in fertilizers to provide plants with an adequate supply of magnesium.
Magnesium sulfate, also known as Epsom salt, is often used as a foliar spray or soil amendment to correct magnesium deficiencies in crops.
4. Fireworks and Pyrotechnics
Magnesium is widely used in the production of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices. When ignited, magnesium produces a brilliant white light, making it a popular choice for creating dazzling visual effects in fireworks displays.
Magnesium powder is also used as a fuel in various types of pyrotechnic compositions, contributing to the vibrant colors and intense bursts seen in fireworks.
5. Automotive Industry
Magnesium alloys are extensively used in the automotive industry to reduce the weight of vehicles and improve fuel efficiency.
Components such as engine blocks, transmission cases, and wheels are often made from magnesium alloys due to their high strength and low density.
The use of magnesium in automobiles helps to enhance performance, reduce emissions, and increase overall energy efficiency.
6. Aerospace and Aviation
Magnesium alloys find significant applications in the aerospace and aviation sectors. The lightweight nature of magnesium makes it an ideal choice for manufacturing aircraft components, such as fuselage frames, wing structures, and landing gear.
The use of magnesium alloys in aerospace applications helps to reduce the weight of aircraft, leading to improved fuel efficiency and increased payload capacity.
7. Sports and Recreation
Magnesium is commonly used in sports and recreation activities to enhance performance and prevent muscle cramps. Athletes often use magnesium supplements to support muscle function, improve endurance, and aid in post-workout recovery.
Additionally, magnesium is used in the production of lightweight sports equipment, such as tennis rackets, golf clubs, and bicycle frames, to provide strength and durability without adding excessive weight.
Chemistry of Magnesium
Magnesium, a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12, was first isolated by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808. Davy obtained the element by electrolyzing a mixture of magnesia (magnesium oxide) and mercuric oxide.
Through this process, he was able to separate the magnesium metal from its compounds, marking the discovery of this versatile element.
The history of magnesium dates back to ancient times when it was used in various applications. The Egyptians and Romans used magnesium-containing minerals for medicinal purposes and in the production of incendiary devices.
However, it was not until the 18th century that magnesium was recognized as an element. Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist, named the element “magnesium” after the Greek district of Magnesia, where magnesium minerals were first discovered.
Magnesium is a lightweight, silvery-white metal that belongs to the alkaline earth metal group on the periodic table. It has a low density and is highly reactive, making it an essential element in numerous chemical reactions.
Magnesium has an atomic mass of 24.305 amu and a melting point of 650 degrees Celsius. It is a good conductor of electricity and has excellent heat dissipation properties, making it useful in various industrial applications.
Magnesium is highly reactive and readily forms compounds with other elements. It reacts vigorously with oxygen to form magnesium oxide (MgO) and with water to produce magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2).
These reactions are exothermic, releasing energy in the process. Magnesium also reacts with acids, such as hydrochloric acid, to produce magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and hydrogen gas (H2).
Magnesium compounds are widely used in various industries and applications. Magnesium oxide is commonly used as a refractory material in the production of ceramics and as a component in cement.
Magnesium alloys, which are lightweight and possess excellent strength-to-weight ratios, are used in the aerospace and automotive industries. Additionally, magnesium sulfate is used in medicine as a laxative and in agriculture as a fertilizer.
Interesting Physical Properties of Magnesium
1. Lightweight and Strong
Magnesium is a lightweight metal with a density of 1.74 g/cm³, making it about two-thirds the density of aluminum. Despite its low density, magnesium is remarkably strong and has a high strength-to-weight ratio.
This property makes it an ideal choice for applications where weight reduction is crucial, such as in the aerospace and automotive industries.
2. High Melting Point
Magnesium has a relatively high melting point of 650°C (1202°F). This property allows it to retain its structural integrity and strength even at elevated temperatures.
Consequently, magnesium alloys are commonly used in high-temperature applications, such as in engine components and parts of industrial machinery.
3. Excellent Thermal Conductivity
Magnesium exhibits excellent thermal conductivity, which means it can efficiently transfer heat. This property makes it useful in heat sinks, where it helps dissipate heat generated by electronic devices.
Additionally, magnesium’s high thermal conductivity allows for faster and more uniform heating and cooling in various industrial processes.
4. Low Electrical Resistance
Magnesium has low electrical resistance, making it a good conductor of electricity. This property is advantageous in electrical and electronic applications, where magnesium is used in the production of conductive wires, connectors, and other components.
Its low electrical resistance also contributes to the efficient transmission of electrical signals.
5. Ductile and Malleable
Magnesium is a ductile and malleable metal, meaning it can be easily shaped and formed without breaking.
This property allows for the fabrication of intricate and complex parts using various manufacturing processes, such as casting, forging, and extrusion. The ductility and malleability of magnesium make it a versatile material for a wide range of applications. | <urn:uuid:18e6e4a4-a5e1-4350-acc2-218bf53a6c7f> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://psiberg.com/interesting-facts-about-magnesium/ | 2024-12-13T21:22:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066119651.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20241213202611-20241213232611-00128.warc.gz | en | 0.936338 | 2,255 | 3.28125 | 3 |
Social Impact of the First Industrial Revolution
- Pages: 9
- Word count: 2016
- Category: Industrial Revolution
A limited time offer! Get a custom sample essay written according to your requirements urgent 3h delivery guaranteed
Order NowThe First Industrial Revolution occurred first in England in the turn of the 19th century or in the late 18th century. The stage for the revolution could be said to have been prepared by James Watt who was the first person to invent a steam engine. During this time there were several changes that were taking place especially in the agricultural and in the transportation sector. These changes brought about some changes in the political, social and economic institutions.
The industrial revolution especially in later years witnessed a very significant change in Great Britain’s economy in that the labor was transformed from being manual to mechanized one. The First Industrial Revolution paved way for the Second Industrial Revolution which took place from 1850s. Besides, several changes in the production sector, the same was also happening in the social life. What were the social impacts of the First Industrial Revolution? This is what this essay will mainly focus on.
It will start by giving the historical background of the revolution, its progress and then discuss in depth how it impacted on social life. As it has been noted above, the origin of the first industrial revolution could be traced back to the later part of the 18th century. This revolution brought about several changes and that is why it was regarded as revolutionary. It greatly revolutionized the production sectors of USA, Europe and England. This revolution was not simply limited to machines but to the production capacity and the living standards.
It touched all aspects of these societies and it is the one that formed the current foundation of these societies “Industrial revolution was no mere sequence of changes in industrial techniques and production, but a social revolution with social causes as well as profound social effects” The first industrial revolution saw the end of nomadic life and the switch to animal husbandry and agricultural farming. It reorganized the economical and social set up of the west. The traditional ideas of that time were replaced by philosophical and economic thoughts.
During this period, Dutch farmers who were the most productive at that time were very innovative and kept experimenting on new methods of production like using manure to boost soil fertility and trying new types of vegetables and other plants. Industrial revolution could be said to have first occurred in the textile industries. Canals, railways and roads and this resulted to the expansion of trade to areas that were inaccessible. Again iron production led to the invention of war materials and better working tools but on the other hand it altered and replaced the warm relationship that workers enjoyed with their bosses.
Industrial revolution lead to individualistic life or on other words capitalism. The use of machines was of essence but on the other hand it rendered many people jobless. The First Industrial Revolution cannot be mentioned without mentioning the role that was played by the textile industries. In the beginning, inventions were limited to these industries where spinning machines and water powered frame were invented. These inventions made spinning easier. Wealthy people would buy these machines in large quantities thereby forming their own factories.
These factories revolutionized the society by replacing the cottage system or a system where workers would look for raw materials and take them to their home. This led to en masse production of goods, rise of the wealthy class, growth of urban areas and creation of more job opportunities. The First Industrial Revolution affected all aspects of life and impacted on society’s superstructures differently but for the purpose of this research, it is the social impacts that are of interest. Another social impact that could be attributed to the first industrial revolution was the rearrangement of the social structure.
Before this revolution took place, people led communal lives practicing either agriculture or craftsmanship. They lived as families and every work was manual based but with the advent of mechanized labor, life became a bit easier as the work that required many hands to be done required only a few people to do it. Though mechanization made work easier, it had some negative implications and one of them was that many people were rendered jobless. Those people who relied on the work of their hands in earning their livelihood were left with no other alternative except to be replaced by machines.
Although there were some people who were rendered jobless, mechanization increased job opportunities as the new systems of production required human resources to be run. Though work that could be done by many people required just one machine to be done, those that were employed to run these machines were expected to work just like them. They were forced to work for longer period and this greatly undermined the stability of their families. Before the advent of the First Industrial Revolution, people mainly relied on agriculture but after this revolution people were forced to seek for job opportunities in these factories and companies.
This rural to urban migration led to the depopulation of rural areas while at the same time leading to the growth of urban areas. As more and more people migrated to these urban areas, they grown towns and finally into cities. People were forced to change their way of life from rural dwellers to urban ones, “migration from rural to urban areas as a consequence of the industrial revolution on the other hand reduced the overpopulation on the countryside and had a great impact on the growth of cities. Constant migration from rural to urban areas caused the enlargement of cities in the 18th century. ”
As a result of the first industrial revolution and the rural urban migration the city and rural images underwent some kind of a transformation. Local areas where mines were located became urban areas when factories were established. These factories had chimneys that emitted dangerous gases and moving vehicles also released pollutant gases thereby polluting air that was originally pure. Again due to their poor disposal methods of their residue, ground water was always contaminated. It is common sense that when one consumes dirty water chances are that one will fall sick thus these poor living conditions affected the well being of the people.
The first industrial revolution led to the emergence of classes in the society. The shift from communal to capitalistic society brought about the idea of classes. There emerged a middle class which comprised of businessmen and industrialists while on the other hand there was a lower class which comprised of workers. There were no government restrictions in the running of these companies and therefore the rich were free to exploit workers as much as they could. They cared less for the health of the workers or their safety. In fact, the working conditions in those factories were pathetic.
The first industrial revolution also led to the disintegration of the basic social units, families. Poverty in rural areas drove people to towns in search of jobs. Women and children were also employed in factories. Though the population continued to grow significantly, the survival of young children was minimal. Young children were expected to work for long hours and were exploited even when their work output equaled that of an adult. Bad hygiene, long working hours combined with poor living conditions back at home contributed to the death of so many workers.
There were a number of reasons that made employers to employ children and women in factories. First of this was that they would demand less as poverty was the main propeller for them to seek for jobs so, the employers would give them peanuts. Another reason was that children’s small hands were much needed than those of the adults to handle machine parts as they did not require a lot of energy to operate. Another reason why child labor was on demand was based on the belief that children were flexible and malleable thus they would be shaped the way their employers liked.
Again these children were employed in mines because of their body size. They would be sent down to deep and unsafe pits to get coal assuming on assumption that they cannot fall because of their weight. Since men, women and children were working for very long hours, there was no time for the families to sit down together and talk. The few hours they had would be spent on sleeping and relaxing. Children were vulnerable to diseases because they were subjected to unfavorable working and living conditions and most of them had stunted growth.
These families lived in slums where there were no proper sanitary conditions; no wonder the high mortality rates. “During the early industrial revolution, 50 percent of infant died before the age of two” Unlike in the period before the first industrial revolution when people led communal life and educated their children, the same would not happen after the First Industrial Revolution as the living standards had already gone up and thus every member of the family whether a child or an adult was forced to look for a job for the family to survive. As a result of the first industrial revolution, there were various forms of social disruptions.
During this time, workers were mistreated by their employers, experienced workers would unjustly be replaced with unskilled ones and their wages kept on being reduced and were made to work for longer than they were supposed. Due to the way they were mistreated, there emerged a very violent movement which was in opposition to the industrial revolution. Threats were sent to Nottingham manufacturers from what was know as “General Ned Ludd and the Army of Red dressers. During this protest, people destroyed factories within one week. This is what came to be referred to as Luddism.
Therefore, it is as a result of the way workers were treated that led to the rise of both social and political movements such as Luddism and Peterloo respectively. Due to the increase in social protests, the poor living standards that workers experienced started to be addressed by the government. Various reforms were made such as the Health and Morals of Apprentices’ Acts. According to this act, long working hours were outlawed. Workers were supposed to work for 12 hours a day and no night shift was allowed. Again it was the duty of the employers to clothe and educate the children of those workers.
No child below the age of nine was supposed to work in factories with the exemption of the textile industries. Again as per this act, those below thirteen years were not supposed to work for more than 9 hours in a day. Women were also not left behind because according to the 1844’s factory act, women were not supposed to work for more than twelve hours in a day. Another social impact attributed to the First Industrial Revolution was the existence of a very sharp difference in the housing system. The rich stayed in beautiful and expensive houses while the poor workers lived in shanty houses where there were even no sewerage systems.
Sewage water would mix with drinking water giving rise to dirty related diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid. The poor workers would not afford personal toilet facilities and for this reason they had to share thus increasing the prospects of diseases being spread. The industrial Revolution had a lot of both negative and positive impacts but most of the negatives impacts were social. The revolution led to the transformation in the lives of people. Food started to be produced in large quantities and population increased.
Some of the social impacts attributed to the First Industrial Revolution were that communal life came to an end and was replaced by individualistic life. People started to migrate from rural areas to urban centers to look for job prospects. The living conditions in towns were very poor and workers lived in badly constructed houses while the rich lived in palace like houses. The workers were also exploited by the rich, they were poorly paid and forced to work for long hours. The revolution also led to the emergence of classes that is the rich in one class and the workers on the other. | <urn:uuid:bc7cb877-e492-45b0-b0f7-82ead7ab5dd3> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://blablawriting.net/prime-social-impact-of-the-first-industrial-revolution-essay | 2024-12-14T20:45:19Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066125982.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20241214181735-20241214211735-00727.warc.gz | en | 0.988609 | 2,345 | 3.390625 | 3 |
Snowy owls are exceptionally well-suited to the Arctic due to their camouflaged feathers, which provide both insulation and effective concealment against the snow. Their powerful wings and sharp vision enable efficient daytime hunting in the tundra's extended daylight hours. Their reproductive success is closely tied to prey availability, particularly lemmings, driving larger clutch sizes in times of abundance. Silent flight and acute hearing enhance their ability to locate and capture prey beneath the snow. These adaptations, combined with a diet rich in varied species like arctic hares and seabirds, allow snowy owls to thrive in the harsh Arctic environment. Explore further to understand their conservation needs.
- Camouflaged feathers provide insulation and effective concealment in the snowy, Arctic landscape.
- Diurnal hunting behavior and silent flight allow efficient prey capture during Arctic's extended daylight hours.
- Sharp vision and acute hearing enable detection of prey beneath snow.
- Reproductive strategies are adaptable to fluctuating prey availability, ensuring chick survival.
- Ability to thrive on diverse prey including lemmings, Arctic hares, and seabirds.
Snowy owls possess dense, camouflaged feathers that provide crucial insulation in the harsh Arctic climate. These physical characteristics are essential for their survival in such a frigid environment. The snowy owl's feathers not only serve as excellent insulation but also offer effective camouflage against the snow-covered landscape, making them less visible to both predators and prey. This intricate feather structure contributes significantly to their status as one of the heaviest owl species in North America, with the additional feathers adding to their overall weight.
Furthermore, snowy owls have a remarkable wingspan, ranging from 4 to 5 feet, which aids in their ability to silently approach or rapidly accelerate after prey with their powerful wings. The wings are adapted for silent flight, allowing them to hunt efficiently without alerting their targets. Another notable feature is the presence of bristles on their beaks, enhancing their ability to sense nearby objects, thereby improving their hunting precision in the dim Arctic light.
Additionally, their feet are covered with thick feathers to provide further insulation against the freezing temperatures, ensuring that these majestic birds remain warm and agile while maneuvering their cold environment. These adaptations collectively illustrate the snowy owl's exceptional evolutionary design for thriving in the Arctic.
Building on their remarkable physical adaptations, snowy owls inhabit the vast, treeless expanses of the Arctic tundra, where their white plumage offers effective camouflage against the snow-covered landscape. This tundra habitat is characterized by its extreme conditions, including frigid temperatures and strong winds, which the snowy owls are uniquely equipped to endure. Their presence in this harsh Arctic environment underscores their adaptability and resilience.
The tundra is a unique ecosystem, defined by permafrost—permanently frozen ground that supports a sparse but crucial range of vegetation such as grass, herbs, moss, lichens, and low shrubs. These plants provide essential resources for the myriad of species that share this habitat. Snowy owls are often found in areas with rocky, hard ground, where their camouflage aids in avoiding predators and sneaking up on prey.
In addition to snowy owls, the tundra supports a variety of Arctic wildlife, including Arctic foxes, hares, reindeer, and polar bears. The interdependence among these species highlights the complexity and balance of this ecosystem. Snowy owls thrive in this environment, showcasing their exceptional adaptation to the unforgiving conditions of the Arctic tundra.
Snowy owls exhibit remarkable hunting behaviors that are well-suited to the Arctic environment, including their unique daytime hunting patterns. Utilizing their powerful wings, they can silently approach prey, which is essential for catching elusive animals like lemmings and Arctic hares. This ability to hunt effectively in broad daylight and maintain stealth through silent flight techniques underscores their adaptability and survival in the harsh tundra.
Daytime Hunting Patterns
Diurnal hunting patterns in snowy owls represent a unique adaptation among owl species, particularly advantageous in the Arctic's extended daylight hours. Unlike most owls that are nocturnal, snowy owls are diurnal hunters. This daytime hunting behavior is particularly well-suited to the Arctic environment, where the summer months bring nearly continuous daylight. These diurnal hunters capitalize on increased visibility to locate and capture their prey effectively.
During these extended daylight hours, snowy owls' powerful wings allow them to approach their prey silently. This combination of silent approach and keen visibility provides a strategic edge in hunting. The adaptation to daytime hunting patterns is a response to the unique conditions of the Arctic, where darkness is scarce during the summer. This behavioral adjustment enables snowy owls to thrive and maintain their predatory efficiency in an otherwise challenging environment.
Silent Flight Techniques
Often important for their predatory success, the specialized wing feathers of snowy owls diminish turbulence and enable silent flight. This adaptation is essential for hunting in the Arctic environment, where the ability to approach prey undetected increases survival odds. Their expansive wingspan of 4-5 feet facilitates silent gliding, allowing for precise maneuvers during hunts.
Moreover, snowy owls possess acute hearing, enabling them to locate prey beneath the snow. The design of their feathers minimizes sound production, significantly boosting their efficiency as hunters. This sound reduction allows them to surprise prey, a vital survival adaptation in the quiet Arctic environment.
The following table highlights key aspects of snowy owls' silent flight:
Feature | Benefit | Importance in Arctic |
Specialized wing feathers | Diminish turbulence | Enhances silent flight |
Large wingspan | Silent gliding, precise maneuvers | Facilitates effective hunting |
Acute hearing | Locate prey under snow | Essential for silent approaches |
Sound minimization | Surprise prey | Key for survival adaptations |
Snowy owls exhibit a highly adaptive reproductive strategy influenced by the fluctuating populations of their primary prey, lemmings. Parental roles are well-defined, with females primarily responsible for incubation while males provide food. Both parents remain actively involved in the care of their young, ensuring the chicks' survival in the harsh Arctic environment.
Lemming Population Impact
The reproductive strategies of snowy owls are intricately linked to the fluctuations in lemming populations, their primary prey in the Arctic. Snowy owls hunt lemmings and voles, and the availability of these prey populations significantly impacts their reproductive rates. During years of high prey abundance, particularly when lemming populations peak, snowy owls exhibit increased breeding success. This is reflected in larger clutch sizes and higher fledgling survival rates.
Conversely, when lemming population dynamics shift towards scarcity, snowy owls tend to lay fewer eggs or may forgo breeding altogether. The direct correlation between prey abundance and reproductive strategies underscores the importance of lemming population dynamics in the broader context of snowy owl population dynamics. These adaptations ensure that snowy owls can maximize their reproductive output when conditions are favorable, thereby sustaining their populations in the harsh Arctic environment.
In essence, the availability of prey such as lemmings and voles drives the reproductive decisions of snowy owls. By aligning their breeding efforts with periods of prey abundance, snowy owls optimize their chances of reproductive success, guaranteeing the resilience of their species in the ever-changing Arctic landscape.
Parental Roles and Care
In snowy owl reproductive strategies, both parents play essential and distinct roles in ensuring the survival and development of their offspring. Female snowy owls typically lay 5-8 eggs in a shallow ground nest, with the incubation period lasting approximately 31-33 days. During this pivotal phase, the division of parental roles is clearly defined. The female is primarily responsible for incubation and chick rearing, providing necessary care and protection to the young.
Meanwhile, the male snowy owl undertakes the critical task of food provision. He supplies the female and the growing chicks with required sustenance, a role that is particularly demanding given the harsh conditions of the Arctic environment. The availability of prey, such as lemmings, influences reproductive success to a great extent, with clutch sizes adjusting based on prey abundance. In years of abundant prey, larger clutch sizes are common, while scarcity results in fewer eggs and chicks.
Upon hatching, the young snowy owls remain dependent on their parents until they fledge at around 50-60 days and achieve full independence by about four months. This well-coordinated division of labor among snowy owl parents is fundamental for successful chick rearing in the challenging Arctic habitat.
Diet and Nutrition
Diverse and abundant prey, including lemmings, Arctic hares, and seabirds, form the core of the snowy owl's diet in the Arctic. This varied diet provides necessary nutrition, enabling these birds to thrive in such a harsh environment. Snowy owls have adapted to the Arctic by developing specialized hunting behaviors that guarantee a steady food supply.
Their primary prey, lemmings, are small and plentiful, making them an ideal source of sustenance. Snowy owls also hunt Arctic hares, which provide a more substantial meal. Additionally, mice, ducks, and seabirds contribute to their varied diet, ensuring they receive a range of nutrients necessary for survival.
Key aspects of their diet and hunting behaviors include:
- Lemmings: A staple food source, essential for snowy owl nutrition.
- Arctic Hares: Larger prey that offers more significant energy returns.
- Mice: Supplementary prey that adds variety to their diet.
- Ducks: Seasonal prey that adds nutritional diversity.
- Seabirds: Coastal prey that enhances dietary breadth.
Snowy owls' sharp vision aids in locating prey against the Arctic's snowy backdrop, while their silent flight and quick accelerations facilitate successful captures. These adaptations guarantee that snowy owls maintain adequate nutrition, essential for their survival in the Arctic.
Recognizing the significant threats faced by snowy owls, conservation efforts are increasingly focused on habitat protection, education, and outreach. These efforts address dangers such as shooting, poisoning, and collisions, which have a notable impact on snowy owl populations. Given their sensitivity to environmental changes, particularly climate change, the importance of these conservation efforts cannot be emphasized enough.
Efforts to study and protect snowy owls in their remote Arctic habitats are fraught with challenges. This calls for the development of innovative strategies to monitor and support their populations. Understanding their nesting behavior is essential, as snowy owls nest on the ground, with females creating depressions in elevated spots to enhance visibility and protect against predators.
The global population of snowy owls is estimated to be around 28,000, but this number is declining, leading to their classification as Vulnerable. Hence, targeted conservation efforts are necessary.
Focus Area | Description |
Habitat Protection | Safeguarding nesting and hunting grounds from human encroachment |
Education | Raising awareness about snowy owls and their ecological importance |
Outreach | Engaging communities in conservation activities |
Innovative Strategies | Utilizing technology for remote monitoring and data collection |
These multifaceted approaches aim to mitigate the impacts of environmental changes and secure a future for snowy owls in the Arctic.
How Do the Adaptations of Snowy Owls Help Them Survive in the Harsh Arctic Environment?
To conclude, snowy owls are exceptionally adapted to Arctic environments due to their unique physical characteristics, specialized hunting behaviors, and well-suited reproductive strategies. Their diet, primarily consisting of small mammals, aligns with the availability of prey in the tundra habitat. Conservation efforts are essential to maintaining their population, as environmental changes pose significant challenges. Understanding these adaptations highlights the intricate balance snowy owls maintain with their surroundings, underscoring the importance of preserving their natural habitat. | <urn:uuid:d9b8e77e-392d-4de6-a472-2b2be40c262e> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://arcticwildlifeknowledge.com/adaptations-of-snowy-owls-in-arctic-5/ | 2024-12-04T20:45:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066308239.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20241204202740-20241204232740-00677.warc.gz | en | 0.922485 | 2,411 | 4.03125 | 4 |
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by physical, mental, cognitive and behavioral components. Anxiety disorder is an emotion that is characterized by feelings of anxiety, stress, and physical changes, such as elevated blood pressure [Alzahrani et al, 2017]. Anxiety disorders in young adults arise when anxious feelings are persistently strong, continue for weeks or even longer, and are so distressing that they interfere with the learning, socialization and ability of young people to conduct day-to-day activities [Craske, 2013]. Anxiety disorders in young adults are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM, current version V, American Psychiatric Association) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD, current version 10, World Health Organization) [Starcevic & Castle, 2016]. According to DSM-5, anxiety disorders include the following conditions: panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder, and selective mutism [Starcevic & Castle, 2016]. The majority of this condition has typical clinical features such as extensive anxiety, physiological anxiety symptoms, and behavioral disruptions such as extreme avoiding feared objects, and related discomfort or disability [Starcevic & Castle, 2016; Kessler et al, 2011; Bhandari & Adhikari, 2015]. Globally, biopsychosocial disorder has been shown to have a substantial effect on young adults' ability to achieve their potential in both academic and other areas of life (Andrade, Brown and Tannock, 2014; Bakare, Ubochi, Ebigbo and Orovwigbo, 2010; Cortina, Sodha, Fazel, Ramchandani, 2012). In sub-Saharan Africa, the incidence of psychological disorders among adults is especially high, while the prevalence of psychosocial illness among children and adolescents is still commonly diagnosed (WHO, 2010). However the prevalence of psychosocial problems and mental illness has been reported to be around 75% higher among youth in developing countries compared to youth in developed countries (WHO, 2010). There are many differences in the epidemiology of anxiety disorders; however, the lifetime incidence of anxiety disorder in children or young adults is between 15% and 20%. In fact, it has been argued that the most common disorders among children and young adults are separation anxiety disorders, estimated at 2.8% and 8%, and specific and social phobias, with rates at around 10% and 7%, respectively [Kessler et al, 2011; Bhandari & Adhikari, 2015; Becker et al, 2017]. It is appropriate to remember that the key diagnostic criteria can be different in the assessment of anxiety in adolescents, requiring special assessment techniques. For example, age differences provide a significant scenario for distinguishing various forms of anxiety disorders [Bhandari & Adhikari, 2015; Becker et al, 2017; Baxter et al, 2012; Beesdo et al, 2018]. In addition, the early age of onset has been reliably established for separation anxiety disorder and some forms of particular phobies, most of which occur in childhood before the age of 12, accompanied by the onset of social phobia with late childhood and adolescence incidences, with relatively few cases occurring after the age of 25. Panic disorder, agoraphobia, and GAD, on the other hand, have their main stages of onset in later adolescence, with more first incidences in early adulthood [Bhandari & Adhikari, 2015]. It is estimated that the current prevalence of anxiety ranged from 0.9% to 28.3% and last year the prevalence ranged from 2.4% to 29.8% [Bhandari & Adhikari, 2015; Becker et al, 2017; Baxter et al, 2012; Beesdo et al, 2018]. Substantive factors such as gender, age, community, conflict and economic status and urbanization accounted for the greatest variability [Bhandari & Adhikari, 2015]. The global prevalence of anxiety disorders ranged from 5.3 per cent (3.5 per cent-8.1 per cent) in African cultures to 10.4 per cent (7.0-15.5 per cent) in Euro/Anglo cultures [Becker et al, 2017; Baxter et al, 2012; Beesdo et al, 2018]. Anxiety disorders in young adults may be severe mental health issues as these young people begin to grow. If left untreated, it can have long-term implications for mental health and development. Generally, all anxiety disorders occur more often in females than in males. While gender disparities can occur as early as childhood, young adults have increased their age-to-age ratios from 2:1 to 3:1 [Craske, 2013, Baxter et al, 2012]. Risk factors for anxiety disorders include genetic, personality, environmental or other factors such as ongoing physical illness, most anxiety disorders respond well to therapy, particularly if they are treated early. In Nigeria, understanding and knowledge of mental illness is extremely poor, making it impossible for people to have access to appropriate and timely medical care [Reynolds & Richmond, 1978]. In addition, factors such as lack of health services, inadequately trained mental health providers and poor socio-economic status increase the number of patients seeking appropriate mental health care. In order to easily and properly identify and treat anxiety disorders in young adults, it is appropriate to know the complexities of such an important issue in the community. This paper is therefore a screening tool aimed at identifying the trend and scope and prevalence of anxiety disorders among young adults, as well as the biological, psychological and social causes of anxiety among young adults in Nigeria. At present, there is a lack of awareness of the anxiety level of young adults in the study area, thus justifying the need for this study.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or anxiety that may be mild, moderate, or extreme. At some point in their lives, everybody has a feeling of anxiety. For example, you may feel worried and nervous about sitting for an exam or a job interview. Feeling nervous is often perfectly common, however; people with a serious form of anxiety find it important to control their concerns. Their feeling of anxiety is more constant and frequently affects their success or their everyday lives. Many causes of anxiety have been identified for some time by young adults, often correlated with long hours of research, among others. Anxiety has been found to be a prevalent phenomenon among young adults in Nigeria. It has also been noted that parents, peer groups and society at large are contributing to the alarming rate of anxiety among young adults. Anxiety has become a threat to young adults' lives and progress. Anxiety disorders in young adults are severe and most overlooked mental health issues. In Nigeria, awareness of mental illness is extremely poor, making it impossible for people to get timely medical attention. This study shows that all the spectrum of anxiety disorders among young adults with related factors was present.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main goal of this research is to explore the biopsychosocial response to the level of anxiety among young adults. The basic goals are as follows:
1. Determine the prevalence of anxiety disorders among young adults
2. Identify the biopsychosocial approach and its impact on the level of anxiety among young adults.
3. To explore the causes of anxiety in young adults.
4. To determine the trend and factors associated with anxiety disorders in young adults
5. To examine the effect of the biopsychosocial approach on the level of anxiety among young adults.
6. To recommend solutions to anxiety disorders in relation to the biopsychosocial approach
1. To determine the prevalence of anxiety disorders among young adults
2. To identify biopsychosocial approach and its effects on the level of anxiety among young adults.
3. To examine the causes of anxiety among young adults.
4. To determine pattern and factors associated with anxiety disorders among young adults
5. To examine the impact of biopsychosocial approach on the level of anxiety among young adults.
6. To recommend solutions to the problems of anxiety in relation to biopsyschosocial approach
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
HO: There is no significant impact of biopsychosocial approach on the level of anxiety among young adults
H1: There is a significant impact of biopsychosocial approach on the level of anxiety among young adults.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The outcome of this research work would be of interest to the public. That it would make young adults conscious of the biological, psychological and social implications of anxiety disorder. Young adults themselves will benefit from this research work as it will allow them to recognise issues associated with anxiety, which is not only a medical issue and the resulting psychosocial effects, such as depression and social stigmatization, have been documented. It would also help those in public health because there is a need for an intricate communal relationship between the person and the environment, and because anxiety affects the entire living experience, both qualitatively and quantitatively, it goes beyond individual issues to a systemic problem. The outcome of this study would be of great value to young people, parents, etc. Stakeholders and members of the public, in general, should devote urgent and adequate attention to the alarming rate of anxiety disorder, particularly among youth and young adults who will be our future leaders.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study is based on biopsychosocial approach to level of anxiety among young adults
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Anxiety: is the normal reaction of the body to stress. It's a sense of anxiety or uncertainty about what's coming. On the first day of school going to a job interview or speaking, most people may feel frightened and anxious.
Psychological: relating to the mind or to mental phenomena as a matter of psychology.
Biological: connected by a clear genetic association rather than by acceptance or marriage
Sociological: coping with social concerns or problems, concentrating in particular on cultural and environmental causes rather than on psychological or personal characteristics.
Young Adult: the age group. Depending on whom you ask, "Young adult" may refer to people between 12 and 18 years of age or may refer to people between 18 and 30 years of age. Young adults are usually individuals between the ages of 12 and 30.
Psychosocial: related to the interrelation between social influences and individual thinking and behaviour. The psychosocial approach focuses on people in the light of the combined impact that psychological factors and the surrounding social environment have on their physical and mental well-being and their ability to work. This approach is used in a wide variety of health and social assistance professions, as well as in medical and social sciences.
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- Sometimes, especially in Thai language documents, King Mongkut might also refer to Vajiravudh (Rama VI), reigning title Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua (พระมงกุฏเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว).
Mongkut (Rama IV of Siam) (October 18, 1804 – October 1, 1868), was king of Siam (Thailand) from 1851 to 1868. Historians have widely regarded him as one of the most remarkable kings of the Chakri Dynasty. After the death of his father, King Rama II, in 1826, Mongkut’s succession to the throne was challenged by his influential half-brother, Nangklao, who was strongly supported by the nobility. Mongkut spent the next twenty-seven years wandering as a Buddhist monk, seeking Western learning and working to establish the Thammayut Nikaya, a reformed order of Buddhist monks that he believed would conform more closely to the orthodoxy of the Theravada school. He was known for his excellent command of English.
In 1851 Mongkut ascended the throne and immediately instituted modern innovations, in order to protect Siam’s sovereignty from British and French imperial powers. In 1855 he concluded "the Bowring Treaty" with the British government, opening a new era of international trade in Siam. The Bowring Treaty served as a model for a series of treaties with other Western nations, but came to be regarded as an “unequal treaty” and was later revised. Mongkut is famous as the subject of a book by Anna Leonowens, who instructed his children in English, which later became the inspiration for the musical and movie, The King and I.
Prince Mongkut was born October 18, 1804, the son of King Rama II and his first wife Queen Srisuriyendra, whose first son died at birth in 1801. Prince Mongkut was five years old when his father succeeded to the throne in 1809. According to the law of succession, he was the first in line to the throne; but when his father died, his influential half-brother, Nangklao, was strongly supported by the nobility to assume the throne. Prince Mongkut decided to enter the Buddhist priesthood. He traveled in exile to many locations in Thailand. As a monk and Buddhist scholar, King Mongkut worked to establish the Thammayut Nikaya, a reformed order of Buddhist monks that he believed would conform more closely to the orthodoxy of the Theravada school. It was said that the newly-established order was tacitly supported by King Nangklao, despite opposition to it by conservative congregations, including some princes and noblemen. Later, when Mongkut himself became King, he strongly supported his sect, which later became one of the two denominations of Buddhism in Thailand.
Prince Mongkut spent the following twenty-seven years seeking for Western knowledge; he studied Latin, English, and astronomy with missionaries and sailors. Prince Mongkut would later be known for his excellent command of English, although it is said that his younger brother, Vice-King Pinklao, could speak even better English.
After his twenty-seven years of pilgrimage, King Mongkut succeeded to the throne in 1851. He took the name Phra Chom Klao, although foreigners continued to call him King Mongkut. He was aware that the the British and French imperial powers presented a threat to his country, and instituted a number of innovations, including ordering the nobility to wear shirts while attending his court, to show that Siam was no longer barbaric from a Western point of view.
Contrary to the popular belief held by some Westerners, King Mongkut never offered a herd of war elephants to President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War for use against the Confederacy. He did offer to send some domesticated elephants to President James Buchanan, to use as beasts of burden and as a means of transportation. The royal letter, which was written even before the Civil War started, took some time to arrive in Washington DC, and by the time it reached its destination, President Buchanan was not in office any longer. In his reply, Lincoln, who had succeeded Buchanan as the U.S. President, respectfully declined to accept King Mongkut's proposal, explaining to the King that American steam engines could be used for the same purposes.
During Mongkut’s reign and under his guidance, Siam entered a treaty relationship with Great Britain. Sir John Bowring, Governor of Hong Kong, as representative of England, concluded the trade treaty (later commonly referred to as "the Bowring Treaty") with the Siamese Government in 1855. The Bowring Treaty later served as a model for a series of trade treaties with other Western countries, and historians often give credit to King Mongkut (and Sir John Bowring) for opening the new era of international commerce in Siam. Later, these treaties came to be regarded as “unequal treaties,” and after Siam had been modernized, the Siamese government began negotiations to renounce the Bowring Treaty and other similar treaties during the reign of King Vajiravudh, Rama VI, grandson of King Mongkut, an effort that did not succeed until well into the reign of another grandson, Rama VII.
One of King Mongkut's last official duties came in 1868, when he invited Sir Harry Ord, the British Governor of Straits Settlements from Singapore, as well as a party of French astronomers and scientists, to watch the total solar eclipse, which King Mongkut himself had calculated two years earlier, would take place at (in the King's own words) "East Greenwich longitude 99 degrees 42' and latitude North 11 degrees 39'." The spot was at Wakor village in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, south of Bangkok. King Mongkut's calculations proved accurate, but during the expedition King Mongkut and Prince Chulalongkorn were infected with malaria. The king died several days later in the capital, and was succeeded by his son, who survived the malaria. For his role in introducing Western science and scientific methodology to Siam, King Mongkut is still honored in modern Thailand as the country's "Father of Modern Science and Technology."
Reportedly, King Mongkut once remarked to a Christian missionary friend: "What you teach us to do is admirable, but what you teach us to believe is foolish."
King Mongkut periodically hired foreign instructors to teach his sons and daughters English. Among these teachers were a missionary named Dan Beach Bradley, who is credited with introducing Western medicine to the country and printing the first non-government run newspaper, and, on the recommendation of Tan Kim Ching in Singapore, an English woman named Anna Leonowens, whose influence later became the subject of a Thai historical controversy. It is still debated how much these foreign teachers affected the world view of one of his sons, Prince Chulalongkorn, who succeeded to the throne.
Anna claimed that her conversations with Prince Chulalongkorn about human freedom, and her relating to him the story of Uncle Tom's Cabin, became the inspiration for his abolition of slavery almost forty years later. It should be noted, however, that the slavery system in Siam was very different from that in the United States, where slavery was based on race. Slavery in Thailand was often voluntary and due to economic circumstances. A master could be punished for torturing slaves in Siam, and some 'slaves' could buy their freedom.
Bishop Pallegoix states that slaves are 'well treated in Siam—as well as servants are in France;' and I, from what I have seen, would be inclined to go even farther, and say, better than servants are treated in England...
In small families, the slaves are treated like the children of the masters; they are consulted in all matters, and each man feels that as his master is prosperous, so is he... ( 1969:193-94).
Later scholars rely to a remarkable extent upon the conclusions of Jean Baptiste Pallegoix and Bowring. Bowring and Pallegoix are clearly the implied European observers behind Robert Pendleton's comment that, "The slaves were, by and large, not badly off. European observers generally reported that they were better off than freemen servants in Western society" (1962:15). Citing Pallegoix, Bruno Lasker writes that "since they were essential to the support of their owners, they enjoyed a relatively humane treatment" (1950:58). Also citing Pallegoix, Virginia Thompson writes, "Though their condition varied...their status was always comparatively easy and generally humane" (1967 : 599). Citing Pallegoix and Bowring, R. B. Cruikshank writes, "In any event, most observers suggest that slaves in Siam were very well treated."
Not only have scholars argued that slaves were well-treated, but many have argued that the entry into servitude was a voluntary economic decision. Bowring cites as evidence "the fact that whenever they are emancipated, they always sell themselves again" (1969 : 193)."
Leonowens' experiences teaching Mongkut’s children became the inspiration for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, as well as the Hollywood movies of the same title. Because of their incorrect historical references and supposedly disrespectful treatment of King Mongkut's character, these movies were for some time banned in Thailand, as the Thai government and people considered them to be lèse majesté. To correct the record, in 1948, well-known Thai intellectuals Seni and Kukrit Pramoj wrote The King of Siam Speaks. The Pramoj brothers sent their manuscript to the American politician and diplomat Abbot Low Moffat, who drew on it for his 1961 biography, Mongkut the King of Siam. Moffat donated the Pramoj manuscript to the Library of Congress in 1961.
- Slavery in Nineteenth Century Northern Thailand: Archival Anecdotes and Village Voices, Kyotoreviewsea.org. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- Abbot Low Moffat (1901-1996) Retrieved February 20, 2008.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Landon, Margaret, Margaret Ayer, and Edith Goodkind Rosenwald. 1944. Anna and the King of Siam. New York: The John Day Company.
- Low Moffat, Abbot. 1961. Mongkhut, the King of Siam. Cornell U. P. ISBN 0801490693
- Mongkut, Seni Pramoj, and Kukrit Pramoj. 1987. A king of Siam speaks. Bangkok: Siam Society. ISBN 9748298124
- Terwiel, B. J. 1983. A history of modern Thailand, 1767-1942. The University of Queensland Press' histories of Southeast Asia series. St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 0702218928
- White, Stephen, and Robert A. Sobieszek. 1985. John Thomson a window to the Orient. New York: Thames and Hudson.
All links retrieved November 9, 2022.
Chakri Dynasty Born: 18 October 1804; Died: 1 October 1868 | ||
Preceded by: Jessadabodindra |
King of Siam 1851–1868 |
Succeeded by: Chulalongkorn |
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Use Cases of AI in Blockchain
Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain are two of the most transformative technologies of our time. Individually, they have the potential to revolutionize a multitude of industries and transform economic and social interactions and relationships. When combined, they unlock a new frontier of possibilities that can empower a new generation of applications that benefit both from the vast productivity gains unlocked by AI and the security and transparency enabled by blockchain technology.
According to a report by Spherical Insights, the intersection of blockchain and AI is projected to grow into a billion-dollar industry within the next decade. Despite this potential, the integration of these two technologies has so far remained relatively underexplored, leaving room for further investigation as the two segments progress toward broader mainstream adoption.
In this post, we outline the concept of AI in blockchain, explore the potential convergence of these two technologies, and discuss the benefits that can come as a result of their combination.
The Convergence of AI and Blockchain
Deep learning models excel at processing vast amounts of data to identify patterns, make predictions, and enable decision-making processes by leveraging intricate neural networks that mimic the cognitive processes of the human brain. A blockchain network offers a transparent, decentralized, and censorship-resistant Internet-native economic settlement layer that enables immutable data storage and permissionless, trust-minimized digital interactions.
The combination of blockchain and AI can produce intelligent automated decision-making systems that provide highly reliable outputs that trigger specific real-world outcomes based on immutable, tamper-proof data.
The integration of blockchain and AI could unlock entirely new business models, create operational efficiencies for organizations, help automate repetitive tasks for individuals, enable more secure and efficient data exchange, enhance decision-making processes through AI-driven smart contracts, and improve overall trust and transparency in key infrastructure and economic processes.
The convergence of AI and blockchain also has the potential to provide numerous benefits beyond traditional business applications. By combining the powerful analytical capabilities of AI with the secure, decentralized nature of blockchains, the technologies could be applied to areas such as education, healthcare, energy, social impact, agriculture, urban planning, and more to enable data-driven decision-making and more efficient management of resources.
AI and Blockchain Use Cases
In this section, we’ll explore an array of potential use cases that highlight the potential impact of AI and blockchain integrations.
Decentralized infrastructure and blockchain technology can act as encryption-backed guardrails for AI systems. In such a model, AI systems can be deployed with built-in safeguards that reduce their ability to be misused or utilized for adversarial behaviors. Developers of AI can encode the specific parameters within which AI can access various key systems, and private keys can enforce these conditions with the help of tamper-proof decentralized infrastructure like blockchains, smart contracts, and oracles.
Decentralized, blockchain-based systems have been designed from the ground up to combat manipulation by various adversaries, and these security measures could extend to the use of adversarial AI agents. Unlike centralized systems, where a single point of failure can put the entire system at risk, decentralized infrastructure is spread across multiple nodes and multiple independent private keys, making it more difficult for a single adversary to compromise the entire system.
The utility of AI models and the security of blockchains can help reduce attack vectors and bolster the security of AI applications, enabling organizations to leverage the full potential of AI while maintaining a high standard of security enforced by cryptographic guarantees.
A smart contract is a computer program hosted and executed on a blockchain that consists of code specifying predetermined conditions that, when met, trigger outcomes. The self-executing nature of smart contracts offers some inherent advantages when it comes to leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. AI models incorporated into smart contracts could utilize specific predetermined conditions to execute tasks: Detecting the need for additional inventory and executing the order with an external supplier, for example.
The combination of blockchain and AI could also improve transparency and reduce the potential impact of fraud through the digitization of paper-based processes, and by enabling the real-time tracking of goods from production to delivery. By combining AI-driven predictive analytics with blockchains, companies can gain better insights into demand patterns, optimize inventory management, and make data-driven decisions to minimize costs.
This use case can also offer benefits in other fields, such as disaster relief. AI-driven analytics combined with blockchain-based supply chain tracking could help humanitarian organizations optimize resource allocation during natural disasters. By providing real-time data on the availability and location of essential supplies, emergency relief efforts can be optimized so that supplies are allocated to their ideal destination.
The capabilities of deep learning models, such as DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney, have highlighted the profound potential of generating images and different forms of media purely based on natural language text prompts (or using other forms of media).
While these models highlight the transformative potential of AI to increase productivity and supercharge the scope of human creativity, they could also be used in an adversarial manner to manipulate public opinion by spreading misinformation and propaganda or creating deep fakes and other misleading synthetic media.
Underpinned by cryptography and encryption, blockchain technology can help validate the authenticity of images, video files, text documents, or other types of media by being able to cryptographically verify where a piece of content originates from and whether it has been tampered with or altered in any way. This type of cryptographic watermarking technology can also be used for tamper-proof timestamping to help verify the authenticity of “who knew what when.”
In a future where it becomes imperative to be able to differentiate between AI- and human-generated content for maintaining stability in society, cryptographic validation and timestamping could facilitate the creation of decentralized platforms for content curation, verification, and distribution. Such platforms could empower content creators and users to establish trust regarding the information that is being propagated by ensuring that the media they spread is unaltered, authentic, and underpinned by a transparent and verifiable history.
Moreover, blockchain tokens—specifically non-fungible tokens (NFTs)—could present a solution to combat the challenges associated with verifying the authenticity and provenance of digital content. NFTs, which are unique digital assets, can be used to represent ownership and verify the origins of various forms of media, including images, videos, text, music, and other types of files.
By assigning an NFT to a piece of content, creators can establish a digital fingerprint that ensures the content’s traceability on-chain. When a piece of content is minted as an NFT, its origin, ownership history, and any subsequent modifications become transparent and easily verifiable. Such technologies becoming standardized could foster more accountability with online content, where publishers are better incentivized to maintain the authenticity of their work while ordinary people can more confidently discern between genuine content and content that’s been tampered with.
One of the most useful benefits of blockchain technology is its ability to provide unparalleled data provenance. Storing data in a highly secure and decentralized blockchain-based network may be one of the best ways to ensure data integrity over the long term. This naturally makes blockchain networks a good breeding ground for large-scale data analytics.
As blockchain technology increasingly underpins key aspects of human economic and social activity, large-scale analytics using sophisticated machine learning models could harness the vast sets of data generated on-chain. By doing so, these models could identify overarching trends and offer actionable intelligence through predictive analytics, enabling both businesses and individuals to make informed decisions about the opportunities that emerge from the on-chain economy.
In addition, AI models could help optimize calculations for algorithms that are used in the consensus process in blockchain systems, for example, Bitcoin mining, helping decrease latency and compute requirements for blockchain nodes.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) enables anyone with an Internet connection to access transparent financial services that involve peer-to-peer transactions and immutable smart contracts. The growth of the DeFi ecosystem has been momentous, and AI models could take advantage of the increasing variety and complexity of financial services offered by this ecosystem by using DeFi as an economic layer to execute actions and tasks based on predetermined instructions.
A large language model securely connected to the Internet could perform routine tasks involving payments or economic exchange by utilizing the on-chain financial stack of the Web3 industry. Due to the inherent composability of blockchain applications, AI models could carry out complex interconnected loops of financial transactions without having to rely on intermediaries and an opaque, paper-based financial system.
In addition, AI-powered automated investment strategies in DeFi applications can offer entirely new financial services underpinned by secure, transparent, and decentralized infrastructure. Due to the decision-making capabilities of AI and blockchain’s effectiveness in recording real-time economic activity, a combination of the two technologies could also enable automated compliance and fraud-detection processes powered by machine learning algorithms.
Certain implementations of blockchain technology can be ideal for storing sensitive data, which can then be utilized by advanced AI models to analyze health data and identify recurring patterns, and make accurate diagnoses based on medical scans and records. In addition, novel encryption techniques, such as homomorphic encryption, could enable running computations on this data without compromising data privacy.
AI and blockchain technology can enhance data management, privacy, and security in healthcare by facilitating the secure storage and sharing of patient records, medical research data, and other sensitive information. This could allow healthcare and longevity researchers to collaborate more effectively from different physical locations while upholding the highest standards of data security.
By leveraging blockchain technology as a foundation for data storage, AI-driven diagnostic tools and custom treatment plans could be developed with increased data privacy, leading to a more efficient and personalized healthcare system.
A challenge presented by current deep learning models is the lack of transparency in their decision-making processes. Due to the immense complexity of these models, which sometimes involve hundreds of billions of parameters, even experts can struggle to explain why a particular model generates a specific output when prompted with a specific input.
While this opacity can often be a property of the underlying deep-learning architectures, and creating AI models that can explain or indicate their own decision-making is ultimately up to AI researchers, the inherent transparency of blockchain networks can help address some of the issues associated with this lack of transparency.
By facilitating a transparent record of data, blockchains can enable AI models to provide a clear framework for their operations. This allows for the analysis of audit trails on the decision-making patterns of algorithms, and the use of an immutable data ledger to reveal what data the models are relying on, ultimately helping to contribute to greater integrity of the recommendations generated by AI models.
Decentralized Data Storage
Many AI models rely on exceedingly large data sets. While data is only one component, this training data can significantly influence the capabilities of the AI system. Decentralized storage solutions enabled by blockchain-based systems, such as Filecoin, IPFS, and Arweave, could help preserve training data integrity and ensure accurate provenance in the future. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, innovative encryption techniques could enable deep learning models to be trained on encrypted datasets while safeguarding privacy and confidentiality.
Integrating blockchain-based storage solutions into the deep learning stack could enhance the security and reliability of AI systems while simultaneously promoting transparency and trust in their decision-making.
Smart Contract Development
With the emergence of AI-assisted development tools, such as GitHub Copilot, the productivity of smart contract developers can be increased by orders of magnitude. Smart contract applications could be further augmented with AI-powered APIs, which provide analytics of real-world sensors, sentiment analysis, or generative models, to bring forth an entirely new generation of Web3 applications.
Smart contracts could be driven by natural language instead of programming languages such as Solidity. In such a setup, users program smart contracts using natural language, which is then “interpreted” by individual validators that convert the prompt into its machine-readable code equivalent. The validators then come to consensus on the correct smart contract output which is then executed by the blockchain network.
In this demo, Google AI Lead Laurence Moroney showcases how he was able to develop an AI art generator for smart contracts using Stable Diffusion and Chainlink Functions.
AI can also be used to unlock entirely new Web3 gaming experiences by enabling game developers to seamlessly generate entire game worlds, in-game assets, non-player characters, and scripted in-game events, and codify game mechanics using natural language and generative AI models while imprinting these parameters into the game’s logic on-chain. Entire games could be developed by a collective of enthusiasts using open-source code assisted by the generative capabilities of AI models.
Federated learning is a field of machine learning where multiple entities collaboratively train an AI model while ensuring that the storage of the data remains decentralized. One of the main benefits of blockchain is its ability to provide an immutable, tamper-proof database that can act as a golden record between multiple parties.
Integrating blockchain with federated learning enhances security, transparency, and accountability by providing an immutable ledger for recording all transactions and data exchanges between participating entities. This combination ensures that once data or model updates are recorded, they cannot be altered or deleted. In the event of discrepancies or malicious activity, the auditable onchain information trail can be used to trace the source and provide evidence of tampering.
In addition, blockchain technology could facilitate marketplaces for AI resources, enabling users to offer and access spare compute resources, such as GPUs and TPUs, for training models in a federated setting.
Challenges and Considerations for AI in Blockchain
While the integration of AI and blockchain technology offers benefits for a number of industries, some challenges must be addressed to fully realize the underlying potential. AI models traditionally have had a data collection problem, whereby they have to connect to distinct datasets from different parties. Interoperability between different blockchain networks and AI platforms is crucial for harnessing the power of these technologies, and standards must be established to increase connectivity and ensure compatibility between the two technologies.
Additionally, data privacy frameworks may need to be updated to accommodate the challenges posed by the integration of AI and blockchain to help uphold user privacy standards and maintain user trust.
Furthermore, while both of these technologies have the potential to reshape fundamental processes in society, public awareness of them is comparably low. Education focusing on the benefits, risks, and considerations associated with the convergence of AI and blockchain could help build public trust in the deployment of these technologies and increase user demand for AI systems supported by blockchain-based safety mechanisms.
Once the synergies between decentralized systems and AI become more apparent, more AI systems could become equipped with cryptographic guardrails and more blockchain-based applications could be integrated with AI. This would help solve the trust issue for users and enable them to become more comfortable with interacting with advanced AI systems, helping shape the trajectory of technological progress toward more sustainable AI development.
The Future of AI and Blockchain
AI enables intelligence at scale, while Web3 enables coordination, value transfer, and trust-minimization at scale. When combined, these technologies can unlock new possibilities and enhance a multitude of industries by improving security, transparency, and overall efficiency.
The potential for transforming various sectors by combining AI and blockchains is tremendous. As companies strive to automate tasks, boost productivity, and enhance their business offerings through a large portion of software products becoming impacted by AI, AI models are expected to continue to proliferate into different segments of the economy.
Simultaneously, with the ongoing decades-long decline of trust in institutions, users are increasingly gravitating toward applications underpinned by cryptographic guarantees. The convergence of these two technological tectonic shifts is set to fundamentally reshape how our societies and economies operate.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and contains statements about the future. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed in these statements, although we believe them to be based on reasonable assumptions. All statements are valid only as of the date first posted. These statements may not reflect future developments due to user feedback or later events and we may not update this post in response. | <urn:uuid:f5743fb1-cc16-411e-bce9-48207fff6b21> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://blog.chain.link/blockchain-ai-use-cases/?ref=blog.dragonscale.ai | 2024-12-10T10:45:48Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066058729.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20241210101933-20241210131933-00880.warc.gz | en | 0.929251 | 3,337 | 2.84375 | 3 |
I give the insight to what I feel are the main points of a good handstand. This is just a quick overview with more in-depth lectures to follow.
Okay guys, welcome. This is the introduction what we’re going to term as ‘Emmet’s Blackboard.’ To get started, I’ve had some requests to do a few more lectures covering a few topics. We’re going to start with the handstand.
I’m going to cover what I consider the main points in a handstand. I have a pointing stick here and my amazing mannequin drawn here. I’m going to go through all these points. I’ll cover all these points in detail in a video, but just to give you an idea of what is the anatomy of a handstand.
First we’ve got to understand what exactly is standing, and then what is standing on our hands. So standing is a position of rest where we are balanced. Our joints and our centre of mass is over our base of support, and we control it or make small micro corrections the whole time. If you just stand still on a spot for 60s, you’ll feel, as you breathe in, or your vision changes, your balance will change.
In a handstand, we’re basically trying to replicate this. This is easy; I can stand here for days pretty much. Well, not days, but you know. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be this easy in a handstand once we’ve covered a couple points.
All we’re trying to do in a handstand is replicate this position of ease on our hands, by basically reconfiguring so our hands act as feet, our wrists act as ankles, our elbows act like knees, and our shoulders act like our hips. Once this is covered, most of the other balance relationships in the body are the same, just inverted.
That’s a handstand. Let’s just cover some of the main points. We’re going to talk about them, and do videos in detail. So don’t worry if I gloss over stuff.
So, starting from the feet – or the hands…. What is called the cambered hand position basically means your middle knuckles are raised off the ground, and we basically turn our hands into feet.
Imagine having our feet as the point of contact, we have our heels, bottom of the foot, and toes. Same thing on our hands; we’re going to have the heel of the hand, the ball of the hand, then the ‘toes’ of our hand. That’s going to control our thing, rocking around on this point, the ball, basically controls our point of balance. We’re going to cover hands and wrists in detail.
Then with wrists, the whole thing is they need to be prepared for loading. This takes a lot of building it up. The more you load them, the more they build. Like ankles, basically. That will build more cartilage and muscles.
Then at the elbow level, for preference here I should state I teach the hand balancing handstand, rather than the gymnastic handstand. There’s some subtle differences, I’ll explain as the series progresses.
In the hand balance handstand, we want a mild bit of hyper extension. You can see I don’t test high for hyper extension, but I have it at my elbows, and specifically developed it to make my hand balancing much easier.
Traveling up, just in the ideal position for your handstand, we want to be thinking neutral neck. What that means is we’re just looking at the top of our eyes, and our eye line – imagine I had a line connecting this point to this point, that’s my eye line in the handstand. That’s where I should look when I’m doing my handstand.
I look down, I’m not craning my neck, I’m not looking up. Obviously, as you progress, you want to be able to move your head around and look up, at your toes, that’s a control issue.
For the ideal resting handstand you hold for time, that’s the ideal position.
Now we’re going to get into shoulders. You hear a lot about three main techniques for the shoulders. We basically have the Russian, the Chinese technique, we have Chinese/Mongolian which you see in contortions and their hand balancers. But a bit of insider info: the Chinese have actually poached loads of coaches from the Ukraine and Russia at the moment, and are most of the head hand balance teachers in the Chinese state schools. There’s a little tip, maybe Russians have the better technique.
The Chinese position: basically you’ll hear this – contract the shoulder blades, spread the shoulder blades, and elevate. That doesn’t really apply too much. Because the Ukrainian technique is elevate and retract. And the Chinese-Mongolian, as I stated, has a bit more splay in the chest, a bit more extension to the thing, and not have the line as straight.
Different techniques, they all work. The question is, which is better?
In my mind we’re not looking so much at what the different shoulder positions are, because they’re quite subtle and don’t really matter, long as you pick and stick with one. More than that, we are actively resisting into the ground. That’s what is going on with our hips. Gravity is pulling down, we are pulling up. This keeps the balance. Same thing is happening in the shoulders, we’re resisting that sinking and collapsing. We need to be actively pushing ourselves away, and it doesn’t matter too much on the shoulder position as long as you know what you’re doing.
Next thing we’re going to cover is the rib flare. This is an interesting diagnosis for lat tightness that you will see. The lats basically run from down here and attach up here.
If someone’s ribs flare out this way, what we have is not so much a core weakness, which you can sense by getting them to do a dish on the ground. If they can achieve a good dish position, have them put their arms overhead. The ribs flare, then we know we have the lats on this side of the body. They’re pushing the ribs out, so we need to stretch the lats out.
Next, coming down, this is one of the main differences between the gymnastic and hand balancing handstand. The posterior pelvic tilt – that whole lifting and rotating of the pelvis.
In gymnastics you want this set, as you want to be rapidly changing from an arch position to a hollow position, which generates a lot of power in tumbling and swinging, all these skills.
Obviously you want to align this.
But when we’re dealing with hand balancing, a lot of hand balancers who are far better than I’ve ever been don’t hollow. They hold completely in their standing position with the shoulders this way.
Once you’ve developed your shoulders to that degree…because, look. I can stand here and do anything I want with my hands, because my legs are strong enough.
Once your back and shoulder girdle is developed enough, you can do anything you want with your legs and pelvis, to a certain degree, once you get your base of support. I don’t really coach this at the beginning, just to get people used to being tight.
Once we’ve gone onto that, I find it far superior to cue them to squeeze the legs together. You’re going to use the glutes about 20%. The legs are going to be squeezed together, for the specific reason that the adductors are innervated via the deep anterior fascia. This means, by the law of irradiation, if we squeeze them, they’ll actually shift the core up for us and lock it in place. That is one of the most important cues I teach in handstands – squeeze the legs together. Squeeze the glutes mildly, not too tight, depends on a person’s basic level of strength. Squeeze that, and if you get that right there will be a slight turn out in the legs. This will also help fix the hips. Really get into that; squeeze them, boom. It will fix your core faster than most other things.
Then we come up to knees. What we’re looking for in the knees is full extension. There’s a couple of reasons for that. Personally I like a small amount of hyper extension, just because it gives us a really nice line when looking at the handstand. When you full extension the knees by pulling the knee caps up, once the knees are pulled up, that will straighten the leg out.
We have to point the feet, but also not sickle-ing. We want the feet pointing straight, not sickle-ing inwards. Once you do that, that will straighten the knees out.
Squeeze them together and also turn them out slightly. The reason for that turn out is when we start training straight and moving into straddle handstand closed, we don’t abduct them straight, we abduct and rotate. Having that turn out already will give you an easier time moving in and out.
I think I. have covered all points I’m looking at. We’re going to do more in detail, but I’m going to all these points in detail now before I forget.
The most important point in your handstand is here. Yes, it’s in your head. We need to develop a certain state of mind for balancing on the spot in a long time.
Here’s the trick: you have to look at a spot on the wall, stand straight, and see if you can do that for 60s, keeping your focus on that spot. if you can’t do that, you’re going to have a very difficult time doing that in your handstand.
Develop that calm, relaxed focused state of mind, rather than excitation. The handstand should be a relaxed position we can transition into and out of, to varying degrees, be this cartwheeling into handstand and stopping, coming out, learning to transfer to one arm, these kinds of things.
If you’re not in that focused relaxed state of mind, where you can feel your body and get inside, you’re not going to have a lot of success.
So, with that, the main points that I feel are important to handstands. If you’ve got questions, please ask them. If you like my videos, please like and subscribe. And, don’t worry, the rest of the series is coming. I’ll cover all of this in a lot more detail.
Anyway, thanks for watching. | <urn:uuid:0a287c0e-f9ce-43f6-a84b-a5b555e4e7ee> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://emmetlouis.com/knowledge-base/emmets-blackboard/the-anatomy-of-a-handstand/ | 2024-12-11T23:12:18Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066094915.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20241211205528-20241211235528-00699.warc.gz | en | 0.954466 | 2,345 | 2.53125 | 3 |
This story is a co-publication with Scientific American
Asian elephants, the largest land mammals on the continent, can weigh as much as a forklift. This suggests they shouldn’t be too hard to find. Yet somehow, the team from the Andhra Pradesh forest service couldn’t seem to locate the elephants that had lately been causing havoc—lumbering through villagers’ rice paddies, sugarcane fields, and banana crops. We sped down a road—first paved, then dirt. One man chattered on his cell phone while another panned the beam of his flashlight over the fields. All we could make out was the rise and fall of the land, with chirping crickets as a soundtrack. Where had the elephants gone?
Asian elephants—with their rounded ears, wrinkled grey skin, and frolicking habits—are undeniably charming. They use their long trunks to acknowledge and comfort one another, and may even intertwine them in friendship. They flap their ears, which are filled with blood vessels, to cool their bodies. They walk on their toes, with fibrous cushioning on the bottoms of their feet serving as shock absorbers. They can sleep while standing, though they’re one of the few mammals that can’t jump. And they hold an important place in India’s religious and cultural history: Their images grace the entrance to ancient palaces, and captive elephants have traditionally played a key role in temple rituals.
Elephants are sensitive and intelligent; a good deal of their behavior is learned. They have a highly developed neocortex, which governs sensory perception, spatial reasoning, conscious thought, and motor commands. (In humans it controls language.) They’re one of the few animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror. They can use tools to solve problems. They display compassion, grief, mimicry, and altruism. And their memory is, indeed, legendary. It enables them to recall the location of waterholes during migration, and to recognize long-lost companions.
Their terrain once extended from Syria to China—more than nine million square kilometers. Yet now—as their habitat has become fragmented by farming, industry, and the growth spurred by infrastructure—Asian elephants find themselves out of place. Their remaining population has declined by an estimated 50 percent in the past three generations, to less than 50,000—more than half of those in India. The rest are scattered in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, and other countries in South and Southeast Asia. Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been listed as an endangered species on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List.
India has prohibited the capture and sale of Asian elephants for the past forty-eight years, though some 2,500 remain in captivity. Meanwhile, the nation is struggling to accommodate the thousands in the wild, which many farmers view as the world’s largest, heaviest, and—when they get angry—most frightening pests.
Asian elephants consume some 330 pounds of plant matter a day—more than twelve times as much as a cow. Traditionally, they would wander from forest to forest, snacking on grasses, leaves, bark, roots, and stems. They need to drink at least once every twenty-four hours, and will gulp down some fifty gallons per day. Yet many Asian elephants are finding it easier—and more enjoyable—to meet their daily 70,000-calorie intake by munching on coffee crops, rice paddies, and mango trees. Sometimes, they drain water tanks or break through pipelines. And they do not always live up to their reputation as “gentle giants.” India’s wild elephants are increasingly coming into conflict with local farmers and villagers, causing property damage, financial losses, and death. Today, human-elephant conflict kills roughly 400 people and 100 elephants in the country every year.
When the forest team I was accompanying disembarked into the banana fields that night, we scanned the trees for signs of the animals. Elephants don’t see well, but they do have a highly developed sense of smell that warns them of danger. And they can communicate over distances of some two miles, using low-pitched sounds barely registered by the human ear. I felt some trepidation—after all, these elephants had been known to attack humans. Their trunks, with finger-like projection on their upper lip, allow them to communicate, pick up small objects, and bathe themselves. But these trunks also weigh about 300 pounds, contain some 40,000 muscles, and, when necessary, are powerful weapons. I had no desire to be the pachyderms’ next casualty. But I wanted to understand how they were managing, in a landscape that had shrunk and been transformed around them, to survive.
The Elephants Appear
You might well be wondering, meanwhile, how I ended up in a remote Indian village searching for elephants? The answer is that I didn’t plan on it. When I arrived in Nepal in December 2018, I happened to buy a pencil case that pictured three round elephants marching in a row, each cradling a lotus flower in its trunk. Not long after, I found myself purchasing a notebook for a friend that pictured the endangered Asian elephant; on the back, the notebook provided the animal’s scientific name—Elephas maximus—and offered some sobering statistics on the species. But it wasn’t until I took a thangka painting class in a quaint upstairs studio in Kathmandu, surrounded by professionals creating the Tibetan Buddhist paintings, that I realized: elephants were on my mind. Thangkas, paintings on cloth or silk appliqué, are colorful, detailed images that have long served as Buddhist teaching and devotional tools.
When given a choice to paint a Buddha, a mandala, or an elephant, what did I choose? The elephant. The teacher assisted me in painting a large white elephant in a lush landscape, an ornate blanket resting on its back. Later, I sent the painting to a friend, and when she received it, she wrote me to say that she’d felt “from the youngest of ages” that the elephant was her spirit animal.
Some six months later, I was in a village above Dharamsala, in the Himalayan foothills of northern India, working remotely on various writing projects. My intention was to go home for Christmas and then return to India and travel south to the state of Tamil Nadu. I wasn’t sure why, but something there was calling me. One afternoon, I was looking at a Google map of India, when a patch of green caught my eye. It was Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, an elephant sanctuary bordering Tamil Nadu in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Elephants again! I thought.
Within an hour, I received an email from a new friend, a British man in his fifties. We’d never spoken about elephants. But out of the blue, he wrote to tell me of an “unusual encounter” he’d had weeks prior when bringing a friend home from the hospital near Dharamsala. He’d been sitting in a taxi outside when an elephant, accompanied by a “gaggle of sadhus,” or holy men, passed them heading down the hill. “It’s the only elephant I’ve seen in these parts,” he wrote. “Unusually, uniquely, and sadly for any elephant I have encountered, its eyes were jaded and worn. It looked defeated, as though its spirit had been crushed.”
The elephants were calling. Apparently, I was going to Koundinya.
“The Loners, They Are Very Strong.”
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is a long, thin strip of dry deciduous forest in the Eastern Ghats, a broken chain of mountains in the lower part of India. The sanctuary didn’t exist until a small herd of elephants moved there in the 1980s—possibly due to drought—from the Hosur-Dharmapuri forests of Tamil Nadu. They were the first elephants to arrive in the state of Andhra Pradesh in 200 years, and their appearance was significant, as it was one of the first recognized elephant dispersals in India. The federal government established Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary to protect them, and the elephant population grew to as many as 100 in the late 1990s, after which it declined due to deaths, captures, and dispersals.
Elephants are not stationary animals. While all of Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is located within Andhra Pradesh, it sits at the tri-state junction of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, meaning that elephants are regularly moving in and out of the sanctuary and across state lines. Their population within the sanctuary is constantly shifting. A scientific research paper published in Gajah, the journal of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group, found that there were just twelve elephants in Koundinya in 2005, and concluded that it was not a “viable population for long-term conservation.” The reasons for these low numbers included the shape of the sanctuary, which is around seventy kilometers in length, but only ranges between one and fifteen kilometers in width; anthropogenic pressures created by dozens of villages and towns along its periphery; and a lack of water, shade, and grass, as well as a reduction in forest cover and preferred browsing species.
The most significant barrier to short-term conservation, however, was human-elephant conflict. When I arrived in Koundinya in February 2020, elephant deaths had recently spiked—seven had died in the past eight months. Two were females killed by male elephants in musth, a period of high testosterone in which their penises turn green and dribble urine, they become more competitive and aggressive, and—perhaps surprisingly—more attractive to females in heat. The other five were males electrocuted by low-hanging wires, transformers, or electric fences.
Madhan Mohan Reddy, the Forest Range Officer for the Palamaner Range, one of two ranges in Koundinya, took me up to a watchtower to survey the area, then home to twenty-seven elephants. A selection of his staff—men in starched brown uniforms, women in beautiful, mustard-brown saris—trailed along. As we entered the sanctuary, Mohan Reddy pointed out the ten-by-ten-foot trench the Forest Department had dug around the sanctuary’s nearly 250-kilometer border in an effort to keep the elephants contained. But such measures weren’t foolproof. Every night, the elephants emerged from roadways or broke through solar-powered electric fencing to indulge in the temptations of sugarcane fields, rice paddies, and banana crops.
At the watchtower, we gazed down into Koundinya’s long, thin valley, a perspective that resembled that of landscape paintings found in mid-range hotel rooms. “Tamil Nadu is in that direction,” Mohan Reddy explained, pointing down into the valley. “At this time of year, elephants start migrating down toward the dam.” He explained that Palamaner Range, where Koundinya’s elephants were currently located, had been split into four sections. Each of those had been divided into three or four “beats,” overseen by a beat officer. When an elephant entered the crop fields—usually at night or early in the morning as elephants are, like cats, crepuscular—farmers would call the Forest Department, which immediately deployed a group of locally-recruited elephant trackers to drive them back, using firecrackers, recorded animal noises, and other methods. This was a dangerous job, and several trackers had been injured when pushed by angry elephants, typically lone males. “The herds are very nice elephants,” Mohan Reddy said. “When we start to drive they go inside immediately. But the loners, they are very strong” and resistant, he said. As he described the situation, I recalled the description of a lone male elephant mentioned at the end of another research paper on Koundinya, published in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society in 2009, who would call the “psychological bluffs” of elephant trackers. Something about this particular elephant—its refusal to be intimidated, its desire to take a stand—had touched me. The elephant trackers in Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary “report that the lone bull is now quite habituated to the drives and occasionally stands its ground and flings things at them,” the report said.
When male elephants reach puberty, between eight and thirteen years of age, and unless they dominate the older male of the herd, they’re typically pushed out and must go out on their own. Sometimes, they’ll form a break-off group with females from another herd. When none are available, they’ll occasionally form a herd with other lone males. So-called “loner” males from further southwest in India can be forced into suboptimal areas on the outlying edge of elephant territory, such as Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary.
And there, they find themselves getting into trouble.
The Elephant With One Tusk
In 2018, a herd of four male elephants moved up into Koundinya. One of these, a striking figure with one tusk, was known as Vinayak—so named because he resembled the Hindu elephant-headed god Ganesha, also called Vinayaka. Ganesha, popularly revered as the remover of obstacles, lost one tusk under circumstances that remain, according to mythology, somewhat unclear—when he broke it off to use it as a pen while transcribing the epic poem, the Mahabharata; in a fight with an avatar of Vishnu; or when he became angry and threw it at the moon. About 90 percent of India’s male elephants have tusks, which they use to dig for water, minerals, and roots; to protect their trunks; or to wield as weapons. Often, elephants have a dominant tusk, similar to the way humans bear a dominant hand. For Vinayak the elephant, the cause of his loss was unknown.
Vinayak, whose small herd has been visiting Koundinya for the past seven or eight years, was rather comfortable around people. He could often be found on the national highway, grazing on the fruit discarded by vendors at the end of the day. While he was a large elephant—even obese, thanks to his regular diet of crops—he was relatively good-natured at the time, and had never been known to attack.
For some time, the four male elephants resided in Koundinya, emerging to raid crops and cause nightly unrest. At some point, one left for Karnataka state. Then, in October 2019, the remaining three ventured north—perhaps in search of females; perhaps in search of food and water; perhaps in search of better forest—roughly 100 kilometers north lies Sri Venkateswara National Park, a much more habitable forest area that is home to some thirty elephants. Vinayak returned to Koundinya, but the two others were less fortunate. About halfway to the national park, as they stopped to indulge in crops near the town of Irala, they were killed by illegally laid electric cables designed to deter wild boars. The farmer, distraught and unsure of what to do, quickly buried the elephants to prevent an outcry. But their graves were too shallow, and when the carcasses began rotting, local villagers alerted Forest Department officers, who arrived to cremate the bodies.
Back in Palamaner, Vinayak, now alone, became more aggressive. He began to uproot electrical poles—successfully tearing out two of them. And his crop raiding continued to anger local farmers. “Every day, he used to come out of the forest to eat,” said Sunil Kumar Reddy, the Divisional Forest Officer for Chittoor West, which includes the Palamaner range. “Even when it was the rainy season there, and there was some sort of fodder in the forest, and water in the forest, he never used to stay in the forest. That’s why he died.”
On Jan. 21, 2020, Vinayak, who was likely in musth, approached a herd near the Tekumanda village at the Tamil Nadu border. According to local news reports, forest trackers were driving him back into the forest with drums and “weird shrieks” when he was killed by live wires dangling from an electrical pole he had uprooted. This time Vinayak had, in removing an obstacle, created the source of his own downfall.
And despite the widespread damage he’d caused since his arrival in Koundinya, Vinayak’s death was widely mourned. His unique appearance, approachable nature, and constant—if not always welcome—presence had made him famous among the villagers. Many had sympathized when he lost his herd. And now they would miss sharing stories about his antics, his regular appearances along the highway. A video taken the following morning shows them laying hands on his unmoving corpse. They reached out to stroke his side, his trunk, the cheek without a tusk.
While lone male elephants face the greatest risk of electrocution, they’re not the only ones who suffer. The other two males who’d recently died in Koundinya were with herds. And in both cases, the remaining elephants responded in a manner that was nothing short of extraordinary. After a large tusker was electrocuted by low-hanging power lines in December, the herd returned the following day to trample the crops where he’d been buried. And last July, when a two-year-old calf was killed by a transformer in the early morning hours, its mother remained until dawn—hovering over its carcass, then pacing back and forth in the distance. Local news reports stated she repeatedly attempted to lift its body from the ground. Once the calf had been given a postmortem and buried, along with traditional pujas, the Forest Department halted power supply to the area—an astute decision, as the mother returned the following night to angrily uproot the transformer that had been responsible. “This episode proves that elephants are not only wise, but they love their family and children and their emotions are immeasurable,” Mohan Reddy told reporters at the time.
“We Can’t Control Everything.”
In recent years, the Chittoor West and Palamaner Forest Departments have taken a number of measures to reduce the conflict between elephants and villagers, and to prevent the elephants from dying. In addition to installing the trench, as well as solar powered fencing, they’ve dug elephant underpasses to discourage the animals from crossing the Bengaluru-Tirupati Highway. They’re also working with local villagers to create affordable deterrents to crop raiding—such as chili powder that’s mixed with dried cow dung and burned, or with car grease smeared onto rags. Some farmers have been convinced to adopt crops, such as mulberry, that don’t attract elephants. In addition, officials are working to improve the forest habitat, and enhance water sources within the sanctuary.
Perhaps most significantly, Kumar Reddy said that officials have been working with the electric company to raise the height of power lines, which previously sat at seven or eight feet, and to insulate transformers. And the electric company has begun cutting power to villages when the elephants draw near. “Unfortunately, we can’t control everything, because there are so many groups, and so many places that electricity can go,” Kumar Reddy said. “We can’t always predict.” As knowledge of elephant movements is key to preventing conflict, the Forest Department recently obtained the funding and government permits necessary to place radio collars on six of Koundinya’s elephants. This will allow the department to track and analyze the animals’ movements, and prevent run-ins with local villagers.
Rakesh Kalva, a Research Associate with the Wildlife Research and Conservation Society, has assisted the Forest Department in developing many of these initiatives. A biologist from Hyderabad with a background in commerce, Kalva found himself disillusioned with the world of finance. He began doing bird and dog rescues, and after obtaining his master’s degree in wildlife biology and conservation in 2014, he heard about an elephant who’d died in Koundinya, and came down to investigate. Ever since, he’s been working closely with officials to devise ways to minimize conflict and protect the elephants.
While many of these solutions are short-term, Kalva supports the proposal to establish a roughly 100-kilometer corridor for elephants residing in Koundinya to move up into Sri Venkateswara National Park—the direction in which the two adult males had been heading when they died in October. “If Koundinya is improved as a forest area it’s a good temporary retreat,” Kalva said. “I wouldn’t say the conflict would end, but it would reduce.” While this might work for the herds, however, Kalva noted that lone male elephants who’ve become reliant on crops aren’t likely to return to being forest dwellers. Some studies have suggested that male elephants prefer crops as a means to make themselves larger, and thus more competitive mates. “It’s sort of this fast food culture,” said Kalva, pointing out that these elephants have stopped walking the usual ten to twenty kilometers a day in search of food, and have lost the usual definition of a healthy forest elephant. “There’s a benefit they’re getting from the crops, but there are also a lot of risks associated with it that a herd wouldn’t take.” Three such loners now reside in Koundinya—known locally as Ramudu, Bhemudu, and a third that remains unnamed. “It’s referred to as human-elephant conflict, but it’s not really accurate to state it that way,” Kalva said, “because certain elephants cause 80 percent of the conflict.”
“But When They’re Killed, They’re Sad.”
One warm February evening, a couple of hours after dark, I joined Kalva and a group from the Forest Department on their usual rounds to locate the elephants and prevent crop damage. Piling into a vehicle, we ventured down the empty expanse of pavement onto dirt roads. We were bringing food that the Forest Department had prepared to a team of elephant trackers, about a dozen locals who’d been traipsing through the forests and fields for the past two days. Not long after, we located them near a banana farm, where they’d been driving a herd of around fifteen elephants. They filed by our vehicle—thin men with bright eyes, draped in colorful cloths. Several held wooden staffs. A tumult of shouting ensued—loud arguments about what was happening, how to best manage it. “Stay close to me,” Kalva advised as we stepped outside. “It can get kind of chaotic out here.”
As the Forest Department officials distributed handfuls of firecrackers to the trackers, I followed Kalva down a small trail and into the banana fields. Two farmers came by, complaining loudly about the inefficiency of the elephant trackers, before accepting a bundle of firecrackers and speeding off in another direction. One cracker exploded in the distance: it seemed that the elephants were near. Still, our flashlights revealed little but the sultry movement of banana leaves swaying in the night breeze. Soon it became clear that the herd had moved on, and we returned to the vehicle. The elephant trackers had accepted their meal, and would continue on with their challenging—and interminable—efforts to hold the elephants at bay.
“This is what happens,” Kalva said as we sped back toward Palamaner town—this time, in an effort to locate two loner males, whom somebody had called to say they’d spotted crossing the road. “We never know exactly where they are.” Arriving at the location our informer had provided, we stepped out onto the pavement and gazed into the darkness. It was around 11 p.m., and a large pond before us provided a glimmering reflection of the moon. In the sky above, Orion the hunter had taken his place among a spattering of stars. There came the sounds of crickets. And then the loud statements of the men, arguing over where the elephants might be. “They’ll find out in the morning, because the villagers whose fields they’ve raided will call to complain,” Kalva said.
By radio-collaring the elephants, the Forest Department hopes to eliminate the challenges of locating the animals and predicting their movements before it’s too late. The department received the permits in March, but Kalva said that as elephants’ body temperatures rise under sedation, radio-collaring operations are typically performed later in the year, once temperatures have cooled. Depending on the status of the elephant population and distribution of herds at the time, a collar is often placed on a dominant female in each herd, as well as some of the loner males.
Before my arrival in Koundinya, I’d stopped in Bengaluru to meet Swaminathan Shanmugavelu, a co-author of both of the previously mentioned research papers on Koundinya. Now a biologist based at Wildlife SOS, Shanmugavelu was preparing for a trip to Chhattisgarh in northern India for a radio collaring operation on a group of problematic elephants there. He flipped through images on his computer that displayed the Chhattisgarh herds standing in rice paddies, and holes in people’s houses—which he said were caused by elephants seeking a locally-made liquor. (Elephants have long enjoyed the brew from the nectar-rich mahua flower, prompting forest officials to ask locals to refrain from making the drink—with limited success.) Then, there were the pictures of villagers posing for selfies with the animals, in the manner of US tourists capitalizing on bears or bison in national parks—and often facing similar consequences. When he reached a photograph of a large male, Shanmugavelu stopped with a grin. “That’s my elephant!” he said, with something close to glee.
“What do you mean, it’s your elephant?” I asked.
“This is a big tusker, a male elephant that we’re planning to collar,” Shanmugavelu said. He went on to explain that the elephant had killed several people, and I asked if he had a name. “I’m not giving them names,” Shanmugavelu said. “Then people identify them. That’s why I put a code—this one is ME-1.” Like many biologists in India, Shanmugavelu is reluctant to make elephants easily recognizable to villagers who can then become personally invested in their capture.
In Koundinya, Kalva shared similar sentiments. “When you give them names, it’s easier for people to advocate for their removal,” he said. “People who get attached want to save them, while people who don’t like them want to kill them.” Inevitably, though, it happens—especially with easily identifiable individuals, such as Vinayak. “The villagers don’t want these elephants around, but when they’re killed, they’re sad,” Kalva said. “They’ll put flowers on the elephants, and even cry in front of the elephants.”
Typically, wild elephants will not be taken from their natural habitat unless they’ve killed humans in an area, and have shown themselves to be repeat offenders. While elephants in Koundinya have caused four to five injuries in the past eight months, there have been no human deaths in the sanctuary’s vicinity since 2015. More than a decade ago, two such problematic male elephants were forcibly removed from the forest and turned into trained elephants known as kumkis. They now reside in an elephant camp near the town of Kuppam, at the southern end of Koundinya. When necessary, the Forest Department can employ these kumkis to assist in elephant drives, and would likely do so if they were to attempt to send herds up to Sri Venkateswara National Park. “The process used to create kumkis is really brutal,” Kalva said, explaining that the elephants are placed in a small area, like a box, and poked repeatedly. “Eventually, they lose the will to live.”
As he spoke, I recalled my British friend’s description of the elephant he’d encountered near Dharamasla—the one that “looked defeated, as though its spirit had been crushed.”
“All The Time On The Run”
In late February 2020, delegates from eighty-two countries, party to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, met in Gandhinagar, India, with other experts, United Nations representatives, and national and international NGOs, for their thirteenth conference. There they made the decision to add the Asian elephant, along with six other species, to Appendix I, which provides the strictest category of protection. The Indian government’s proposal to include the Asian elephant stated that while the majority of the population lies in India, the rest is spread among other countries, several of which share borders. Under the convention—a UN cooperative agreement to conserve wild migratory species—the elephants would, at least in theory, be allowed to migrate between nations without interruption.
Ajay Desai, an elephant conservationist in India who worked on the proposal, said the measure is essential for small elephant populations along India’s border with Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bhutan. “Their populations, and the long-term viability of their populations, is entirely dependent on transborder movement,” Desai said. “If that transborder movement is cut or lost, those populations are doomed.” Asian elephants can live sixty-plus years. And while their range is much smaller than most migratory species, it can extend 600 square kilometers or more.
Desai advocates separating the issue of conservation from that of conflict management, while recognizing and addressing both concerns. The main causes of human-elephant conflict in India, he said, are habitat degradation and overabundance—which refers to an elephant population that has grown too large for its territory. “Conflict is two-way,” he said. “I need to do something inside the forest so that I can help the habitat degradation. I need to do something outside to help the people. If I don’t have that balance then nobody’s going to listen to me.” While India’s Asian elephant population is hard to measure accurately, government census numbers indicate it is stable, or even growing. The elephants, Desai said, “are doing very badly in some areas, they’re doing good in some areas.”
Still, he’s not hopeful for their future. Due to ongoing habitat destruction and forest degradation, “tomorrow’s outlook, even in the best of areas, is still grim,” he said.
For now, many biologists around the country are working to manage the conflict—including Anand Kumar, a scientist with the Nature Conservation Foundation, who leads projects at two locations in the Western Ghats. On the Valparai plateau in Tamil Nadu, home to many tea plantations, his team developed an award-winning early warning system that includes mobile phone reporting from the local population, elephant locations broadcast on the local television channel, and a system of alert lights that can be activated when elephants draw near. As a result, the number of human deaths dropped from an average of three per year from 1994 to 2002 to an average of one from 2003 to today—a difference that Kumar said affects the entire community. “It may be a very small number for many people,” he said. “But when a person loses life, the person may be a breadwinner of that family. And it may also create a lot of fear.”
In 2015, Kumar began efforts to replicate this success in another landscape—Hassan, a high-conflict area in Karnataka state. Just prior to Kumar’s arrival, the government had captured twenty-two problematic elephants—seventeen of which were taken into captivity, while five were released. “More elephants appeared, so the situation was back to square one,” Kumar said. “People were dying and there was a lot of damage to crops.” While the area experienced an average of five human deaths a year between 2010 and 2017, Kumar’s team began implementing its mobile communications early warning system. In the past two years, Kumar said, no human or elephant deaths have occurred. Still, there’s work to do in mitigating damage to coffee, rice, and other crops, he said.
Kumar emphasized that elephant captures—which usually target large, aggressive males—are not a viable solution to conflict, and actually serve to complicate the issue. In Hassan, he said, each time a male elephant is removed, the delicate relationship between elephants in the area is disrupted and two or three arrive to take its place. “It creates a vacuum there, and lots of males will try go assert themselves,” Kumar said. “And they don’t know how to behave with people. They’re all the time on the run. They walk really fast and are really aggressive because they’re really worried about themselves in an area they don’t know.” Not to mention, capture can prove devastating to elephants—particularly those confined to captivity. “Making them domestic elephants and breaking their spirit—an individual who is free-ranging in his own world, and suddenly confining that individual in a corral—is absolutely unethical,” Kumar said. “So we are neither helping elephant conservation nor solving the conflict.”
Despite a desire to preserve Asian elephants, local governments and forest departments struggle to manage the reality of their existence. In recent years, the elephants’ natural migratory patterns have been stymied not only by the continued expansion of human settlements, but also by the fact that their crop-raiding and conflict-causing tendencies mean most authorities would prefer they live elsewhere. Their presence places a constant drain on manpower, energy, and financial resources. “Nobody wants the elephants,” Kumar Reddy said. “We want the elephants to thrive as a species. But local conditions are such that we want the elephants to go inside the forest and stay there. When they come out people are angry with them, because they’re losing their livelihoods.”
The Chittoor West Forest Department receives hundreds of complaints of crop damage every year, and compensates villagers a government-mandated amount depending on the value of the crop and extent of the damage. For a heavily damaged acre of rice paddy or sugarcane, villagers receive 6,000 rupees, while for a mango tree they’ll receive 1,500, Kumar Reddy said. Still, “they’re not satisfied with the extent of compensation. We’re giving them 6,000 per acre, and they’re expecting 20,000 per acre,” he said.
And Koundinya’s elephants are exhibiting signs of dissatisfaction, as well. After years of being constantly driven from crop fields, several display indications of stress and aggression that exceed a typical response. For the past two or three years, they’ve occasionally attacked cows left tied up in fields—a highly abnormal behavior. I asked Kalva why this might be, and he posited that the elephants could have associated cattle with humans, or may be concerned that the cattle will alert humans. “They have no place to go,” Kalva said of the elephants. “They just keep moving around, and wherever they’re driven they go.” I asked if these loner males were still searching for a herd, and Kalva said this is something he hopes to discern through the radio collaring operation. “If you see a lot of haphazard movement, there’s not a fixed route that they follow, that means they’re in search,” he said. “If they’re just in one area doing the same thing every day, they just want to eat food and get by.” Finally, and with some trepidation, I asked Kalva about the lone male from the 2009 report I’d read—the one who would hurl things at the elephant trackers. In my heart of hearts, I was hoping he’d survived. “I think he may still be here,” Kalva said, referring to the third of Koundinya’s three loner males, along with Ramudu and Bhemudu. “There’s one that throws rocks and things.”
A secret happiness bloomed within me. More than a decade later, this unnamed male was still taking his stand. Still holding his ground, still uncaptured. Still refusing to be driven away.
Rachel Jones is a freelance writer currently traveling in India. | <urn:uuid:1e97f268-26b4-40ff-a1c3-6eb2e73b80bc> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://delacortereview.org/2020/09/23/squeezing-the-elephant/ | 2024-12-14T09:33:20Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066124931.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20241214085615-20241214115615-00325.warc.gz | en | 0.973136 | 7,985 | 3.390625 | 3 |
What is Cyber Hygiene and How is it Related to Your Digital Safety?
As we journey through life, it's entrenched in us to prioritize our personal hygiene. We establish a set of hygiene practices and seamlessly include them into our daily lives, eventually forming a regular routine to safeguard against harmful germs and infections.
However, in this journey, there is a completely digital life that we are living and most of us don’t pay attention to it. We are increasingly tangled in cyberspace where our precious data and our smart devices are involved and exposed to security breaches and lurking threats.
Therefore, it is essential to adopt the same mindset of personal hygiene practices toward our virtual identity and maintain our digital well-being, this concept in cybersecurity is akin to “cyber hygiene”. So, come forth and join us to tackle a transformative journey from personal cleanliness to cyber vigilance.
Together we will unravel the importance and the benefits of cyber hygiene, the best practices to safeguard ourselves against its common problems, and the vital advice to maintain healthy cyber hygiene within our work environment.
What is Cyber Hygiene?
Cyber hygiene encompasses a set of proactive practices, habits, and tools that individuals and organizations adopt to improve their online security and maintain the privacy, and integrity of their digital devices, networks, and data. These practices should be incorporated into the daily routine.
Why is Cyber Hygiene Important?
Cyber hygiene holds immense importance and numerous benefits for both individuals and organizations. By prioritizing cyber hygiene practices, such as using strong and unique passwords, regularly updating software and operating systems, and being cautious of suspicious emails or websites, individuals can protect sensitive information, prevent cyberattacks, and enhance online privacy.
As for organizations, implementing solid cyber hygiene practices can reflect a frontline defense against cyber threats, minimize risks related to unexpected digital transformations as witnessed during the outbreak of covid-19, and ensure business continuity.
Common Cyber Hygiene Problems
There are several common cyber hygiene challenges that users may encounter whether in an organizational or home environment. These challenges can include :
1- Security Breaches
A security breach occurs when there is unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems, resulting in data loss, privacy violations, and reputational damage. Prevention requires robust cybersecurity measures and proactive threat detection.
2- Lack of Backup and Recovery Plans
Not regularly backing up critical data, and lacking a disaster recovery plan lead to permanent data loss. It is also important to regularly verify their integrity and ensure the functionality of the restoration process.
3- Weak Passwords
4- Outdated Software
Outdated software, operating systems, and applications increase the risk of cyber threats as they leave vulnerabilities unpatched and lack the latest security features. It is crucial to regularly update and apply patches to minimize the chances of exploitation by malicious actors.
5- End-of-Life Software and Hardware
End-of-life systems are software or hardware that is no longer supported by security updates, which expose the organization to known vulnerabilities. These systems must be immediately isolated or removed from use.
6- Lack of Security Awareness
7- Poor or Lack of Vendor Risk Management
In today's hybrid IT environments, prioritizing your own security posture is insufficient. It is crucial to recognize the potential security risks associated with third-party vendors and service providers who have access to your network and handle sensitive data. Neglecting to comprehend and address the level of risk introduced by these vendors can result in increased vulnerability to service disruptions and data breaches.
Addressing these common cyber hygiene problems through proactive measures, such as implementing strong passwords, regular software updates, employee training programs, data backups, and security awareness campaigns, is crucial for minimizing cybersecurity risks and maintaining a secure digital environment.
Cyber Hygiene Best Practices Checklist
To ensure good cyber hygiene, we outlined below some cybersecurity best practices :
1- Document All Current Equipment and Programs
Maintaining a comprehensive inventory of hardware, software, and online applications is crucial for organizations. It serves as a valuable asset management tool and aids in maintaining a secure and organized digital environment.
The inventory allows for better visibility and control over technology resources, helps identify and address security vulnerabilities, facilitates efficient incident response, streamlines operational processes, and promotes proactive cyber hygiene practices.
By establishing a process for regular updates, organizations can optimize resource allocation, ensure compliance, and effectively manage their technological landscape.
2- Vulnerability Management
Weak passwords pose a significant cybersecurity risk as users often opt for easily guessable passwords and reuse them across multiple platforms. This practice compromises the security of their accounts and opens the door for unauthorized access.
To mitigate this vulnerability, it is essential to promote the use of strong, unique passwords that are not easily guessable. Encouraging users to create passwords with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters can significantly enhance their security.
Additionally, emphasizing the importance of regularly changing passwords further fortifies their resilience against potential attacks. To reinforce password security, organizations should also implement multifactor authentication, which adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to provide additional verification beyond just a password.
3- Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges
This refers to the practice of limiting and carefully managing access to administrative accounts and privileges within an organization by adopting the principle of least privilege. Additionally, organizations may employ tools for the traceability of administrative actions and access control methods like two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication, to add an extra layer of security.
4- Secure Configurations
Organizations must actively manage the security configuration of their components with special care to the critical and security equipment. The Center for Internet Security (CIS) provides CIS Benchmarks with more than 100 secure configuration guidelines to harden systems against today's evolving cyber threats.
5- Network Segmentation
Network segmentation is a crucial practice that organizations can adopt to enhance their cybersecurity defenses. By dividing the network into separate segments, each with its own security measures and access controls, organizations can effectively mitigate damage and minimize the attack surface available to potential cyber threats.
This approach helps contain any malicious activity or breach within a specific segment, preventing it from spreading and limiting the impact on the entire network. Implementing network segmentation adds an extra layer of protection by isolating sensitive data, systems, and resources, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
6- Incident Response and Management Strategy
An established incident response strategy is vital for mitigating business risks during security events. The response team, consisting of various experts, develops a comprehensive plan to address data breaches, minimizing financial, operational, and reputational impact. This plan provides clear guidance during crises.
7- Monitoring Audit Logs
It is important to collect, manage, and analyze these logs to facilitate the detection, identification, and recovery of potential attacks. Audit logs serve as a valuable source of information, providing a detailed record of events within the organization's systems and networks.
By actively maintaining and monitoring these logs, organizations can proactively detect suspicious activities, identify potential security breaches, and take necessary steps to mitigate the impact.
Furthermore, the analysis of audit logs allows for a deeper understanding of system behavior, patterns, and vulnerabilities, enabling organizations to strengthen their security defenses and improve incident response capabilities.
8- External Audits or Red Team Exercises
Organizations should conduct comprehensive testing of their overall defense, including technology, processes, and people, by simulating the objectives and actions of potential attackers, this includes external and internal penetration testing, configuration, and architecture security review, and the implementation of information security policies.
This proactive approach allows organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of their security measures and identify any vulnerabilities or weaknesses that could be exploited by real adversaries.
By simulating attack scenarios, organizations gain valuable insights into their defensive capabilities, enabling them to refine and strengthen their security posture. Such testing helps organizations assess their incident response readiness, identify areas for improvement, and implement necessary measures to enhance their resilience against actual cyber threats.
If you are a business owner, CyberTalents experts can help you apply these best practices to better secure and sustain your business. Know more!
Cyber Hygiene for Employees
Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, prioritizing cyber hygiene is not only restricted to organizations but also to their employees.
With that in mind, here are five pieces of advice for businesses to instruct their employees on how to mitigate cyber threats and keep their data safe while working online:
1- Security Awareness Training
Provide cybersecurity training sessions regularly to educate employees about essential practices, including the identification of phishing emails, the creation of strong passwords, and the recognition of suspicious online activities.
2- Establish Data Security Policies
Create well-defined data security policies that provide guidelines for securely handling sensitive information, encompassing aspects such as proper data storage, encryption methods, and secure file-sharing practices. Regularly communicate and reinforce these policies to ensure employees are well-informed and adhere to them consistently.
3- Data Encryption and Secure Connections
Instruct employees on the use of encryption tools, such as VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), to secure data when accessing company resources remotely. Encourage the use of secure, encrypted connections (HTTPS) when transmitting sensitive information.
4- Device and Software Updates
Regular device and software updates are crucial for maintaining strong cybersecurity hygiene. These updates include patches and fixes that address known security issues, protecting against vulnerabilities and exploits. By promptly installing updates, you reduce the risk of falling victim to malware or ransomware attacks.
5- Safe Email and Internet Practices
Educate employees on the importance of exercising caution when interacting with email attachments or clicking on links, particularly those from unfamiliar or suspicious sources. Encourage them to avoid visiting untrusted websites and provide clear guidelines on cultivating safe browsing habits.
In conclusion, cyber-hygiene is an essential practice that everyone should engage in to protect themselves and their digital devices from cyber threats. By implementing these practices and regularly reinforcing them through training and communication, businesses can empower their employees to play an active role in keeping data safe while working online.
It is also crucial to stay informed about the latest cyber threats and to take immediate action if any suspicious activity is detected. By practicing good cyber-hygiene habits, we can all contribute to a safer and more secure online environment.
CyberTalents offers different cybersecurity services for companies to help them apply best practices to keep their cyber hygiene. Know more about our cybersecurity services for companies!
Further reading on related topics: | <urn:uuid:7a7e47a8-2f70-4a92-b0a3-7cdab26889b4> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://cybertalents.com/blog/cyber-hygiene | 2024-12-09T10:18:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066462724.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20241209085821-20241209115821-00222.warc.gz | en | 0.922315 | 2,146 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Xiao Ercha lives in a tumbledown shanty beside a pigsty, thousands of kilometers and a world away from the awe-inspiring skyscrapers of Beijing and Shanghai. Tatty mosquito nets hang from the bamboo poles propping up its cracked asbestos roof, while kittens and chickens can be seen scuttling across the shack’s earthen floor.
When asked to name the leader of his nation, the second-largest economy on Earth, Xiao shook his head.
“Xi Jinping (習近平) who?” the 57-year-old farmer said. “I recognize his face from the television, but I do not know his name.”
That is about to change. For Xiao, who was born and raised in this tiny mountaintop hamlet near China’s southwestern borders with Myanmar and Laos, is one of millions of impoverished Chinese being relocated as part of an ambitious and politically charged push to “eradicate” extreme poverty in the world’s most populous nation.
Over the next three years Xi’s anti-poverty crusade — which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader has declared one of the key themes of his second five-year term — will see millions of marginalized rural dwellers resettled in new, government-subsidized homes.
Some are being moved to distant urban housing estates, others just to slightly less remote or unforgiving rural locations. Other poverty-fighting tactics — including loans, promoting tourism and “pairing” impoverished families with local officials whose careers are tied to their plight — are also being used.
By 2020, Beijing hopes to have helped 30 million people rise above its official poverty line of about 6.16 yuan (US$0.95) a day, while simultaneously reinforcing the already considerable authority of Xi, now seen as China’s most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong (毛澤東).
China’s breathtaking economic ascent has helped hundreds of millions lift themselves from poverty since the 1980s, but in 2016 at least 5.7 percent of its rural population still lived in poverty, according to a recent UN report, with that number rising to as much as 10 percent in some western regions and 12 percent among some ethnic minorities.
A recent propaganda report claimed hitting the 2020 target would represent “a step against poverty unprecedented in human history.”
In his annual New Year address to the nation last week, Xi made a “solemn pledge” to win his war on want.
“Once made, a promise is as weighty as a thousand ounces of gold,” he said.
The wave of anti-poverty relocations — 9.81 million people are to be moved from 2016 to 2020 — are taking place across virtually the whole country, in 22 provinces. However, China’s western fringes, which still lag behind the prosperous east coast, are a particular focus.
Last year, Guizhou, China’s most deprived province, was aiming to move about 750,000 people to about 3,600 new locations. More than 1 million people were set to be moved in Gansu, Sichuan and Guangxi, while Yunnan Province hoped to move about 677,000 people to nearly 2,800 new villages.
One such community is Padangshang, an isolated hilltop hamlet in Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna Prefecture. Provincial officials describe Xishuangbanna, a tropical land of rolling, mist-shrouded hills and jaw-dropping amber sunsets, as one of four key anti-poverty battlefields.
Padangshang’s 143 residents — tea, nut and coffee farmers from the Hani ethnic minority — began moving to their new, bright-pink homes in early November last year after abandoning a nearby hilltop where access to water was difficult.
“We used to have to carry water up from the bottom of the hill. Now we have running water at home,” the community’s CCP chief, Liu Hengde, said during an interview in the lounge of his new home, which he had furnished with an L-shaped sofa and a flat-screen TV.
“The government is helping the ordinary folk lead a good life,” Liu, 30, added, before fastening a machete to the back of his navy-blue uniform and offering a tour of the newly built village to which 13 families had already moved.
“Xi Jinping always says that if we give the ordinary folk a better life, the whole country will be well off,” he said.
Relocated villagers gave Xi’s war on poverty — and their new two-story homes — their backing.
“When I was a boy I lived in a thick forest. There were insects and leeches everywhere. Transport was bad. The water supply was bad. The power supply was bad,” said Li Ade, a 30-year-old farmer. “These days, the Burmese [over the border] are living in the Mao era, while the lives of the Chinese people have improved.”
University of Melbourne academic Mark Wang, who studies Beijing’s use of resettlements to fight poverty, attributed Xi’s focus on the issue partly to the seven years he spent in the countryside during Mao’s Cultural Revolution.
Xi was born into China’s “red aristocracy” — the son of the revolutionary elder Xi Zhongxun (習仲勛) — but was exiled to the parched village of Liangjiahe in the 1960s after his father got on the wrong side of Mao.
Wang said that those years of rural hardship continue to shape Xi’s political priorities.
“From the bottom of his heart he knows the Chinese farmers. He understands what they want,” he said. “He even knows the dirty language the people use in the fields when they are farming.”
However, hard-nosed political calculations also explain Xi’s bid to paint himself as a champion of the poor — an effort undermined by a recent crackdown on migrants in Beijing, which has reportedly seen tens of thousands of poor workers forced from the capital.
“How can you make sure a billion people trust you and say: ‘This is our strong leader’?” Wang said, adding that one answer is waging war on poverty.
“This is something that will really make people say: ‘Oh, this is something new! At last somebody finally wants to fix this problem,’” he said.
The resettlements’ political function is unmissable in Padangshang, where posters of Xi visiting another of Yunnan’s ethnic minorities are plastered on virtually every new home.
“The government gave it to me. Every family got one,” 50-year-old builder Xiao Ziluo said, as he showed off his, which bore the slogan: “Build a Chinese dream with one heart.”
Experts question Beijing’s definition of poverty — the World Bank defines it as someone who lives on less than US$1.90 a day — and whether permanently vanquishing poverty is a realistic goal in such a short period. Others believe more emphasis should be placed on fighting urban deprivation.
However, Xiao declared himself a fan of his poverty-fighting president: “He is the chairman of China. That is why he is good.”
“He is the best,” Liu concurred.
Wang said he doubts Beijing would manage to completely defeat poverty in so short a time. However, given Xi’s daunting political stature, his decision to make the campaign a top political priority — and to make CCP cadres individually responsible for the plight of poor families in their areas — would have bureaucrats across the country scrambling to succeed.
“Every day local officials are thinking: ‘2020 is coming! Oh my god!’” he said.
The resettlements are the latest chapter in a decades-old Chinese tradition of moving people.
Countless millions have been asked — or ordered — to make way for major nation-building infrastructure projects such as the Three Gorges Dam, which displaced about 1.5 million, and the South-North water diversion, which dislodged at least 345,000.
Development-related relocations have proved highly controversial, with villagers often forced out with little, if any, help or compensation.
Wang said that poverty-related relocations, while not uncomplicated, are generally “the most friendly,” with those moved mostly allowed to hang on to their old homes and farmlands for a period of time.
“[With] all other resettlements they need something from you: ‘I need your land. I need you to move so I can build a reservoir. I need to convert your land into an industrial or urban [zone].’ For poverty alleviation resettlement the government does not want anything,” Wang added.
That might be overly generous.
Xiao Ercha, however, is thrilled with his new concrete-floored home, even if, lacking the funds to furnish it, he has yet to move in.
“It is good, good, good!” said the farmer, who estimated his annual income at about 1,935 yuan, as he walked up to the second-floor balcony of his recently completed abode, which boasts spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.
“I have never seen a house like this before,” he said.
Additional reporting by Wang Zhen
For three years and three months, Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has remained stalled. On Nov. 29, members meeting in Vancouver agreed to establish a working group for Costa Rica’s entry — the fifth applicant in line — but not for Taiwan. As Taiwan’s prospects for CPTPP membership fade due to “politically sensitive issues,” what strategy should it adopt to overcome this politically motivated economic exclusion? The situation is not entirely dim; these challenges offer an opportunity to reimagine the export-driven country’s international trade strategy. Following the US’ withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Two major Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-People’s Liberation Army (PLA) power demonstrations in November 2024 highlight the urgency for Taiwan to pursue a military buildup and deterrence agenda that can take back control of its destiny. First, the CCP-PLA’s planned future for Taiwan of war, bloody suppression, and use as a base for regional aggression was foreshadowed by the 9th and largest PLA-Russia Joint Bomber Exercise of Nov. 29 and 30. It was double that of previous bomber exercises, with both days featuring combined combat strike groups of PLA Air Force and Russian bombers escorted by PLAAF and Russian fighters, airborne early warning
Since the end of former president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration, the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation has taken Taiwanese students to visit China and invited Chinese students to Taiwan. Ma calls those activities “cross-strait exchanges,” yet the trips completely avoid topics prohibited by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), such as democracy, freedom and human rights — all of which are universal values. During the foundation’s most recent Chinese student tour group, a Fudan University student used terms such as “China, Taipei” and “the motherland” when discussing Taiwan’s recent baseball victory. The group’s visit to Zhongshan Girls’ High School also received prominent coverage in
India and China have taken a significant step toward disengagement of their military troops after reaching an agreement on the long-standing disputes in the Galwan Valley. For government officials and policy experts, this move is welcome, signaling the potential resolution of the enduring border issues between the two countries. However, it is crucial to consider the potential impact of this disengagement on India’s relationship with Taiwan. Over the past few years, there have been important developments in India-Taiwan relations, including exchanges between heads of state soon after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third electoral victory. This raises the pressing question: | <urn:uuid:ee585029-b3fb-4167-9a29-3fdc7b46ded5> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2018/01/08/2003685374 | 2024-12-14T03:23:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066120473.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20241214024212-20241214054212-00579.warc.gz | en | 0.96977 | 2,605 | 2.609375 | 3 |
“Capital allocation is a senior management team’s most fundamental responsibility. The problem is that many CEOs don’t know how to allocate capital effectively. The objective of capital allocation is to build long-term value per share.”
As we will see, job number one for CEOs remains capital allocation because those decisions drive returns for the company and shareholders. Many CEOs remain skilled leaders, operators, salespeople, and administrators, but few operate as skilled capital allocators.
One of Warren Buffett’s strengths remains his capital allocation skills; he has built Berkshire Hathaway from a small textile company to one of the largest corporations in the world by market cap.
Many CEOs and investors would be wise to study his ideas and thoughts on allocating capital because whether it is investing in a new product, ala the iPhone, or buying a business such as GEICO, there are many ways to go with allocation, and each can generate greater returns for investors.
In today’s post, we will learn:
Okay, let’s dive in and learn more about capital allocation.
What is Capital Allocation?
Capital allocation, according to Investopedia:
“Capital allocation is about where and how a corporation’s chief executive officer (CEO) decides to spend the money that the company has earned. Capital allocation means distributing and investing a company’s financial resources in ways that will increase its efficiency, and maximize its profits.”
Every company generates excess capital above their operational needs, at least hopefully. And what the company decides to do with that capital determines where it will go and how it will grow.
All companies want to grow and increase their presence, and allocating their capital wisely will help them achieve that goal for both the company and their shareholders.
Allocating capital is hard, and there is a lot of pressure to perform, especially with the increased scrutiny of the media today. To allocate well, the company’s management must see clearly through their “crystal ball.” And determine what the best use of its hard-earned capital is.
A few facts for you: internal financing, or the money the company generates, has funded more than 90% of capital uses, and the top three uses of capital are:
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Capital expenditures
- Research and Development
More on those in a moment, but since the 1980s, those have been the big three of capital allocation.
The proper use of capital is to grow long-term value despite the noise from Wall Street. The real goal is to build value over time and let the market reflect that value instead of juicing that short-term share price, which leads to deteriorating value over time.
A simple test to remember is the $1 invested in the business worth more than $1 invested in the market. The only way that occurs is if the long-term value of the cash flow is worth more than the original cost.
If a company can create more wealth from the investment over time, it will build value. Some great examples of this are:
To name just a few, using the idea of finding great capital allocators can lead to finding great management teams. These management teams are like great coaches or chefs; success follows them wherever they go. Looking at the shortlist above, all those companies had outstanding capital allocators running the ship.
Consider this idea from Buffett’s 1987 Letter to Shareholders:
“This point can be important because the heads of many companies are not skilled in capital allocation. Their inadequacy is not surprising. Most bosses rise to the top because they have excelled in an area such as marketing, production, engineering, administration or, sometimes, institutional politics.
Once they become CEOs, they face new responsibilities. They
now must make capital allocation decisions, a critical job that
they may have never tackled and that is not easily mastered. To
stretch the point, it’s as if the final step for a highly-talented musician was not to perform at Carnegie Hall but, instead, to be named Chairman of the Federal Reserve.
The lack of skill that many CEOs have at capital allocation is no small matter: After ten years on the job, a CEO whose company annually retains earnings equal to 10% of net worth will have been responsible for the deployment of more than 60% of all the capital at work in the business.
CEOs who recognize their lack of capital-allocation skills (which not all do) will often try to compensate by turning to their staffs, management consultants, or investment bankers. Charlie and I have frequently observed the consequences of such “help.” On balance, we feel it is more likely to accentuate the capital-allocation problem than to solve it.
In the end, plenty of unintelligent capital allocation takes place in corporate America. (That’s why you hear so much about “restructuring.”).”
If job number one is to deploy capital, it makes sense to discuss where that capital comes from and how the management used it in the past.
Different Sources of Capital
Companies have four main sources of capital:
- Operations (cash flows)
- Asset sales
- Issuing equity
- Debt offerings
Companies that grow quickly need large amounts of capital. For example, imagine a successful shoe store; to meet the growing demand, they need to expand to new store locations plus grow their online presence. All of those expansions, both physical and the internet, require large amounts of capital to expand. A company that grows faster than those costs of expansion generates higher returns.
Companies that can use internal cash flows to expand tend to grow faster than those that have to go outside. A great example is Amazon, which used its internal cash flows to grow exponentially without turning to outside funding sources.
Suppose a company cannot generate enough cash flow to power its growth. In that case, they must turn to external forms of capital, such as selling equity or shares or borrowing against their equity (debt financing or bonds).
The usual pecking order, if you will, is that companies prefer to use internal capital cash flows first. Then, if they need additional capital, they will turn to debt financing and equity financing.
Always remember that CEOs have an opportunity cost tied to each decision. Internal capital remains the cheapest financing available, followed by debt and equity. With interest rates historically low, debt financing remains extremely cheap, whereas equity financing equals expensive as the market values continue to skyrocket.
The greater the difference in returns on invested capital (ROIC) and the cost of that capital, the greater the long-term value the company creates.
Capital uses dictate where the money goes, and how do we follow? The next section will discuss how a company can use its capital to grow.
Seven Types of Capital Allocation
From 1980 to 2015, the greatest use of capital, far and away, equaled M&A (mergers and acquisitions). In the chart below, Michael Mauboussin shows how this data has trended over those 35 years.
Okay, let’s discuss each of these capital uses a bit.
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
As stated above, mergers and acquisitions are far and away the largest sources of capital allocation. M&A is also one of the quickest, easiest, and most expensive ways to expand strategic goals.
M&A strategies tend to follow the market trend; as markets trend up, M&A starts to pick up, continuing until there is a market peak.
Generally, the early adopters of this trend tend to be the most successful, and those at the end of the curve tend to spend the most and receive the least.
When a company buys another, there are three ways to go about it: with all-cash deals, use of stock, or a combination of both. The market tends to react favorably to all-cash deals and less to any combination of stock deals.
M&A strategies tend to come about for various reasons, such as adding new technologies or offerings to their solutions, cornering the market, removing competition, or boosting lagging sales.
The two synergies, or combining powers most commonly used, are cost and sales, with costs easily becoming the most successful. Sales synergies take time and often don’t materialize, making that M&A activity risky. About 70% of all revenue synergies fail to come to fruition.
Because M&A activity is the largest dollar amount in capital allocation, it is important to understand how it works and the likelihood of success. It is also important to analyze the past success of “serial” acquirers such as Cisco to assess its allocation efforts. Not all acquirers will be successful, and we need to weigh the pros and cons of success.
We could write a series of M&A strategies and assessments in and of itself rather than focusing on how the company does and how they have done in the past.
Capital expenditures are the second-largest amount of capital allocation.
Capital expenditures refer to buying office furniture, new computers, upgrading software, building upkeep, or maintenance. These expenditures offer the unsexy aspects of capital allocation but remain necessary to keep the lights on.
A new trend continues distinguishing between “maintenance” capital expenditures, considered the minimum necessary to keep the company going—in contrast, “growth” capital expenditures equal monies spent on expanding or growing the business.
When analyzing the capital expenditures, it is best to compare them to their sales and distinguish between maintenance and growth. You can consider depreciation a rough proxy for the maintenance cap-ex.
As companies move towards a capital-light business model, the traditional idea of capital expenditures changes. The once tried and true idea of spending on the upkeep of warehouses or factories is being replaced by upgrading software systems or investing in new computers.
A great practice remains to look at each industry or segment you want to analyze, determine what seems relatively average for the industry, and determine whether your company spends enough or needs more capital expenditures to compete.
Research and Development
Unlike other types of capital allocation, such as M&A and capital expenditures, research and development (R&D) shows up on the income statement rather than the balance sheet.
Because of old-fashioned accounting rules dating back to 1973, R&D costs are expensed rather than capitalized, which would make much more sense considering the current use of R&D in today’s business world.
R&D represents a group of activities designed to develop new products and services; the likely benefit of those costs realized years later. Consider that Intel spends billions yearly to develop new products that take years to market.
Since 1980, R&D has grown from 1.3% of sales to over 3% in 2021. And as businesses continue to invest in creating new and better products and services, these rates will likely continue.
I would argue that companies such as Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and many others are using a large portion of their cash flows to create new and better services and products, and these are certainly capital allocations. For example, in the TTM (trailing twelve months), Facebook has spent $21.2 billion in R&D, compared to $17.1 billion in capital expenditures, and the numbers have been trending that way for several years. And when you listen to CEO Mark Zuckerburg talk about the future of Facebook, he considers R&D spending crucial to the company’s long-term value.
Net Working Capital
The net working capital consists of inventory, accounts receivable, and accounts payable, and they are required to operate the business daily. Most definitions exclude any cash or interest-bearing assets in consideration of working capital.
A good rule of thumb is to look at the change in net working capital instead of the overall amount. The efficiency with which the company turns its capital will go a long way toward its profitability.
For example, companies such as Amazon and Walmart, which turn their inventories, quickly capitalize on this by freeing up cash flow for use elsewhere. By leveraging their just-in-time inventory systems and technology, they can buy when they need to sell and leverage their relationships with vendors to extend payment cycles, freeing up more cash.
Net working capital is a far smaller proportion of capital allocation than the first three uses.
Divestitures refer to the idea of selling off your company’s assets or adjusting your company’s portfolio—actions such as selling off divisions and spin-offs being the most common.
Companies will divest when they think the asset offers greater value to another company or focus more on their core operations, which they believe will improve results over time.
While this aspect of capital allocation receives far less scrutiny than M&A, over the last decade, it has averaged over 3.8% of sales, comparable to buybacks, and exceeding dividends and R&D spending.
Spin-offs are the most common use of divestitures, with the parent company distributing shares of a wholly-owned subsidiary to shareholders. For example, VF Corporation spun out its subsidiary to be named Kontoor Brands. The shareholders received ownership in both companies, receiving one share of the new company for every seven parent shares.
A dividend is a cash payout to shareholders from profits. Both dividends and share buybacks are the main ways companies distribute cash to shareholders.
Once they establish a dividend, most companies feel honor-bound to continue and grow that dividend.
Often considered on the same level as capital expenditures, dividends remain one of CEOs’ major capital allocation decisions. Compared to the idea, share buybacks equal more on an as-cash-is-available basis.
To learn more about dividends and how to measure them, check out this post:
The share buyback or repurchase is the second main way companies return cash to shareholders.
Gross buybacks have grown substantially over the last 30 to 40 years, from less than $50,000 million in 1985 to $550,000 million in 2015.
The attitude behind share buybacks differs from dividends; many companies feel they will only pay buybacks after exhausting all other forms of capital allocation, including dividends.
CEOs also tend to use share buybacks as a means of “lazy” capital allocation, meaning we have nowhere else to put the money, as we might as well repurchase our shares.
Share buybacks tend to follow market trends; companies buy back shares and vice-versa as the market improves. It also matches the idea that buybacks use excess cash and that management tends to buy high and not buy low.
A Golden Rule for buybacks: We should assess when companies repurchase their shares and determine if they buy above or below their value. A company should only repurchase its shares when the stock trades below its value and no better investment opportunities are available.
As we have seen, capital allocation is a huge part of the CEO’s job and arguably the most important role to play. Where to spend its money goes a long way toward value creation for both the company and shareholders.
Poor capital allocators might survive for a short time in the market, but the best will rise to the top over long periods. Part of assessing a company is judging the capital allocation skills of its management.
To learn more about capital allocation, please check out the seminal paper by Michael Mauboussin, which was instrumental in creating this post:
My hope for this post was to provide a framework for individual investors to understand what capital allocation is and what decisions CEOs and management must make to continue to grow their companies.
In the future, we will discuss more aspects of this critical decision-making skill to help us assess management teams.
With that, we will wrap up today’s discussion.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read today’s post, and I hope you find some value in your investing journey. If I can further assist, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Until next time, take care and be safe out there,
- Assessing The Capital Allocation Skills of Management Updated 9/15/2023 Capital allocation is job number one for any management team. The problem is that most CEOs lack this skill, intending to build long-term...
- What Buybacks King, Henry Singleton, Can Teach Us About Capital Allocation Before Warren Buffett and his special conglomerate, the compounding machine Berkshire Hathaway, there was a CEO of Teledyne called Henry Singleton—who pioneered prudent capital allocation...
- The Big Guide to Little Dividends Dividends are one of the best ways companies can return value to shareholders. Share buybacks have become all the rage in the investing world, pushing...
- Stock Repurchases: How They Work and Their Effect on Earnings Updated 3/6/2024 In today’s market, share repurchases are the choice that most public companies use to return value to their shareholders. Investing giants such as... | <urn:uuid:6012ccc7-9639-44c9-a0fa-6c2737b4a9ce> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://einvestingforbeginners.com/capital-allocation-daah/ | 2024-12-06T20:07:22Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066416984.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20241206185637-20241206215637-00511.warc.gz | en | 0.953483 | 3,530 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Novak's cmap home
Concept Maps: What the heck is this?
Excerpted, rearranged (and annotated)
from an online manuscript by Joseph D. Novak, Cornell University
original manuscript was revised in 2008-> http://cmap.ihmc.us/Publications/ResearchPapers/TheoryCmaps/TheoryUnderlyingConceptMaps.htm
Concept maps are tools for organizing
and representing knowledge. They include concepts, usually enclosed in
circles or boxes of some type, and relationships between concepts or propositions,
(indicated by a connecting line and linking word)
between two concepts. Linking words
on the line specify the relationship between the two concepts. Joe Novak
defines "concept" as a perceived regularity in events or objects, or records
of events or objects, designated by a label. Think
of the concept "Dog" in your mind, what do you see? You
might see a prototype shape (head, four legs etc) and typical examples
(terrier, collie, sheepdog) and even be able to explain it (give a definition)
in words. The label for most concepts is a word, although sometimes
we use symbols such as + or %. Propositions are statements about some object
or event in the universe, either naturally occurring or constructed. Propositions
contain two or more concepts connected with other words to form a meaningful
statement. Sometimes these are called semantic units,or units of meaning.
Figure 1 shows an example of a concept map that
describes the structure of concept maps and illustrates the above characteristics.
There are two features of concept maps that are important
in the facilitation of creative thinking: the hierarchical structure that
is represented in a good map and the ability to search for and characterize
cross-links. In a concept map the concepts should be represented in a hierarchical
fashion with the most inclusive, most general concepts at the top of the
map and the more specific, less general concepts arranged hierarchically
below. The hierarchical structure for a particular domain of knowledge
also depends on the context in which that knowledge is being applied or
considered. Therefore, it is best to construct concept maps with reference
to some particular question we seek to answer or some situation or event
that we are trying to understand through the organization of knowledge
in the form of a concept map. Another important characteristic of concept
maps is the inclusion of "cross-links." These are relationships (propositions
=linking lines with linking words) between concepts in different domains
of the concept map. Cross-links help us to see how some domains of knowledge
represented on the map are related to each other. In the creation of new
knowledge, cross-links often represent creative leaps on the part of the
knowledge producer. A final features that may be added to concept maps
are specific examples or actual images of events or objects that help to
clarify the meaning of a given concept.
As defined above, concepts and propositons are the building
blocks for knowledge in any domain. We can use the analogy that concepts
are like the atoms of matter and propositions are like the molecules of
matter. There are now about 460,000 words in the English language, and
these can be comibined to form an infinite number of propositions; albeit
most combinations of words might be nonsense, there is still the possibility
of creating an infinite number of valid propositions. We shall never run
out of opportunities to create new knowledge! As people create and observe
new or exisiting objects or events, we will continue to create new knowledge.
Figure 1 A
concept map about concept mapping
Constructing Good Concept Maps
In learning to construct a concept map,
it is important to begin with a domain (an area)
of knowledge that is very familiar to the person constructing the map.
Since concept map structures are dependent on the context in which they
will be used, it is best to identify a segment of a text, a laboratory
activity, or a particular problem or question that one is trying to understand.
This creates a context that will help to determine the hierarchical structure
of the concept map. It is also helpful to select a limited domain of knowledge
for the first concept maps. Once a domain has been selected, the next step
is to identify the
key concepts that apply to this domain. These
could be listed, and then from this list a rank order should be established
from the most general, most inclusive concept, for this particular problem
or situation, to the most specific, least general concept. Although this
rank order may be only approximate, it helps to begin the process of map
The next step is to construct a preliminary concept map.
This can be done by writing all of the concepts on Post-its, or
preferably by using a computer software program. Post-its allow a group
to work on a whiteboard or butcher paper and to move concepts around easily
This is necessary as one begins to struggle with the process of building
a good hierarchical organization. Computer software programs are even better
in that they allow moving of concepts together with linking statements
and also the moving of groups of concepts and links to restructure the
map. They also permit a computer printout, producing a nice product that
can be e-mailed or in other ways easily shared with collaborators or pother
Figure 2 shows a list of concepts
for making a concept map to address the question, "What is a plant?" What
is shown is only one of many possible maps. Simple as this map is, it may
contain some propositions that are new to the reader. It is important to
recognize that a concept map is never finished. After a preliminary map
is constructed, it is always necessary to revise this map. Good maps usually
undergo three to many revisions. This is one reason why computer software
is helpful. After a preliminary map is constructed, cross-links should
be sought. These are links between different domains of knowledge on the
map that help to illustrate how these domains are related to one another.
Finally, the map should be revised, concepts positioned in ways that lend
to clarity, and a "final" map prepared.
Figure 2 Creating
a GOOD MAP
It is important to help students recognize that all concepts
are in some way related to one another. Therefore, it is necessary to be
selective in identifying cross-links, and to be as precise as possible
in identifying linking words that connect concepts. In addition, one should
avoid "sentences in the boxes" since this usually indicates that a whole
subsection of the map could be constructed from the statement in the box.
"String maps" or ("Sentence maps")
illustrate either poor understanding of the material or an inadequate restructuring
of the map. Figure 3 shows an example of a string
Students often comment that it is hard to add linking
words onto their concept map. This is because they only poorly understand
the relationship between the concepts and it is the linking words that
specify this relationship. Once students begin to focus in on good linking
words, and also identification of good cross-links, they can see that every
concept could be related to every other concept. This also produces some
frustration, and they must choose to identify the most prominent and most
useful cross-links. This process involves what Bloom (1956) identified
as high levels of cognitive performance, namely evaluation and synthesis
of knowledge. Concept mapping is an easy way to achieve very high levels
of cognitive performance, when the process is done well. This is one reason
concept mapping can be a very powerful evaluation tool.
Figure 3 Creating
a "String" or "Sentence" map (NOT A GOOD MAP)
Facilitating Cooperative Learning
Using concept maps in planning
a curriculum or instruction on a specific topic helps to make the instruction
"conceptually transparent" to students. Many students have difficulty identifying
and constructing powerful concept and propositional frameworks, leading
them to see science learning as a blur of myriad facts or equations to
be memorized. If concept maps are used in planning instruction and students
are required to construct concept maps as they are learning, previously
unsuccessful students can become successful in making sense out of science
and acquiring a feeling of control over the subject matter (Bascones &
Novak, 1985; Novak, 1991; Novak, 1998). There is a growing body of research
that shows that when students work in small groups and cooperate in striving
to learn subject matter, positive cognitive and affective outcomes result
(Johnson et al., 1981). In our work with both teachers and students, small
groups working cooperatively to construct concept maps have proven to be
useful in many contexts. For example, the concept maps shown in Figure
4 was constructed by faculty working together to plan instruction in
veterinary medicine at Cornell University. In my own classes, and in classes
taught by my students, small groups of students working collectively to
construct concept maps can produce some remarkably good maps. In a variety
of educational settings, concept mapping in small groups has served us
well in tasks as diverse as understanding ideas in assimilation theory
to clarifying job conflicts for conflict resolution in profit and non-profit
corporations. Concept maps are now beginning to be used in corporations
to help teams clarify and articulate the knowledge needed to solve problems
ranging from the design of new products to marketing to administrative
Figure 4 A
map created by a collaborative group
Concept Maps for Evaluation
We are now beginning to see in many
science textbooks the inclusion of concept mapping as one way to summarize
understandings acquired by students after they study a unit or chapter.
Change in school practices is always slow, but it is likely that the use
of concept maps in school instruction will increase substantially in the
next decade or two. When concept maps are used in instruction, they can
also be used for evaluation. There is nothing written in stone that says
multiple choice tests must be used from grade school through university,
and perhaps in time even national achievement exams will utilize concept
mapping as a powerful evaluation tool. This is a chicken-and-egg problem
because concept maps cannot be required on national achievement tests,
if most students have not been given opportunities to learn to use this
knowledge representation tool. On the other hand, if state, regional, and
national achievement exams will utilize concept mapping as a powerful evaluation
tool. This is a chicken-and-egg problem because concept maps cannot be
required on national achievement tests, if most students have not been
given opportunities to learn to use this knowledge representation tool.
On the other hand, if state, regional, and national exams would begin to
include concept maps as a segment of the exam, there would be a great incentive
for teachers to teach students how to use this tool. Hopefully, by the
year 2061, this will come to pass.
Origins and Educational Theory
of Concept Maps (Joe Novak)
Concept maps were developed
in the course of our research program where we sought to follow and understand
changes in childrenÕs know ledge of science. This program was based
on the learning psychology of David Ausubel (1963, 1968, 1978). The fundamental
idea in Ausubel's cognitive psychology is that learning takes place by
the assimilation of new concepts and propositions into existing concept
propositional frameworks held by the learner. The question sometimes arises
as to the origin of the first concepts; these are acquired by children
during the ages of birth to three years, when they recognize regularities
in the world around them and begin to identify language labels or symbols
for these regularities (Macnamara, 1982). This is a phenomenal ability
that is part of the evolutionary heritage of all normal human beings. After
age 3, new concept and propositional learning is mediated heavily by language,
and takes place primarily by a reception learning process where
new meanings are obtained by asking questions and getting clarification
of relationships between old concepts and propositions and new concepts
and propositions. This acquisition is mediated in a very important way
when concrete experiences or props are available; hence the importance
of "hands-on" activity for science learning with young children, but this
is also true with learners of any age and in any subject matter domain.
In addition to the distinction between the discovery learning process,
where the attributes of concepts are identified autonomously by the learner,
and the reception learning process, where attributes of concepts are described
using language and transmitted to the learner, Ausubel made the very important
distinction between rote learning and meaningful learning. Meaningful learning
requires three conditions:
The material to be learned must be conceptually clear and
presented with language and examples relatable to the learner's prior knowledge.
Concept maps can be helpful to meet this condition, both by identifying
large general concepts prior to instruction in more specific concepts,
and by assisting in the sequencing of learning tasks though progressively
more explicit knowledge that can be anchored into developing conceptual
The learner must possess relevant prior knowledge. This condition
is easily met after age 3 for virtually any domain of subject matter, but
it is necessary to be careful and explicit in building concept frameworks
if one hopes to present detailed specific knowledge in any field in subsequent
lessons. We see, therefore, that conditions (1) and (2) are interrelated
and both are important.
The learner must choose to learn meaningfully. The one condition
over which the teacher or mentor has only indirect control is the motivation
of students to choose to learn by attempting to incorporate new meanings
into their prior knowledge, rather than simply memorizing concept definitions
or propositional statements or computational procedures. The control over
this choice is primarily in the evaluation strategies used, and typical
objective tests seldom require more than rote learning (Holden, 1992).
In fact, the worst forms of objective tests, or short-answers tests, require
verbatim recall of statements and this may be impeded by meaningful learning
where new knowledge is assimilated into existing frameworks, making it
difficult to recall specific, verbatim definitions or descriptions. This
kind of problem was recognized years ago in Hoffman's (1962), The Tyranny
One of the powerful uses of concept maps is not only as a
learning tool but also as an evaluation tool, thus encouraging students
to use meaningful-mode learning patterns (Novak & Gowin, 1984; Novak,
1990, Mintzes, Wandersee and Novak, 2000). Concept maps are also effective
in identifying both valid and invalid ideas held by students. They can
be as effective as more time-consuming clinical interviews (Edwards &
Another important advance in our understanding of learning
is that the human memory is not a single "vessel" to be filled, but rather
a complex set of interrelated memory systems. Figure
5 illustrates the three memory systems of the human mind.
Figure 5 The
three memory systems of the human mind
While all memory systems are
interdependent (and have information going in both directions), the most
critical memory system for incorporating knowledge into long-term memory
is the short-term or "working memory." All incoming information is organized
and processed in the working memory by interaction with knowledge in long-term
memory. The limiting feature here is that working memory can process only
a relatively small number (five to nine) of psychological units at any
one moment. This means that relationships among two or three concepts are
about the limit of working memory processing capacity. Therefore, to structure
large bodies of knowledge requires an orderly sequence of iterations between
working memory and long-term memory as new knowledge is being received
(Anderson, 1991). We believe one of the reasons concept mapping is so powerful
for the facilitation of meaningful learning is that it serves as a kind
of template to help to organize knowledge and to structure it, even though
the structure must be built up piece by piece with small units of interacting
concept and propositional frameworks. Many learners and teachers are surprised
to see how this simple tool facilitates meaningful learning and the creation
of powerful knowledge frameworks that not only permit utilization of the
knowledge in new contexts, but also retention of the knowledge for long
periods of time (Novak, 1990; Novak & Wandersee, 1991). There is still
relatively little known about memory processes and how knowledge finally
gets incorporated into our brain, but it seems evident from diverse sources
of research that our brain works to organize knowledge in hierarchical
frameworks and that learning approaches that facilitate this process significantly
enhance the learning capability of all learners.
While it is true that some students have more difficulty
building concept maps and using these, at least early in their experience,
this appears to result primarily from years of rote-mode learning practice
in school settings rather than as a result of brain structure differences
per se. Socalled "learning style" differences are, to a large extent, differences
in the patterns of learning that students have employed varying from high
commitment to continuous rote-mode learning to almost exclusive commitment
to meaningful mode learning. It is not easy to help students in the former
condition move to patterns of learning of the latter type. While concept
maps can help, students also need to be taught something about brain mechanisms
and knowledge organization,and this instruction should accompany the use
of concept maps.
Anderson, O. R. (1992). Some interrelationships between constructivist
models of learning and current neurobiological theory, with implications
for science education. Journal of Research in Science Teaching,
Ausubel, D. P. (1963). The Psychology of Meaningful Verbal Learning.
New York: Grune and Stratton.
Ausubel, D. P. (1968). Educational Psychology: A Cognitive View.
New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Ausubel, D. P., J. D. Novak, and H. Hanesian. (1978). Educational Psychology:
A Cognitive View, 2nd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Reprinted,
New York: Warbel & Peck, 1986.
Bascones, J., & J. D. Novak. (1985). Alternative instructional systems
and the development of problem-solving skills in physics. European Journal
of Science Education, 7(3), 253-261.
Bloom, B. S. (1956). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives--The Classification
of Educational Goals. New York: David McKay.
Edwards, J., and K. Fraser. (1983). Concept maps as reflectors of conceptual
understanding. Research in Science Education, 13, 19-26.
Hoffman, B. (1962). The Tyranny of Testing. New York: Corwell-Collier.
Holden, C. (1992). Study flunks science and math tests. Science,
Johnson, D., G. Maruyama, R. Johnson, D. Nelson, and L. Skon. (1981). The
effects of cooperative, competitive and individualistic goal structure
on achievement: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 89, 47-62.
Macnamara, J. (1982). Names for Things: A Study of Human Learning.
Cambridge, MA: M.I.T. Press.
Mintzes, J., Wandersee, J. and Novak, J. (1998) Teaching Science For
Understanding. San Diego: Academic Press.
Mintzes, J., Wandersee, J. and Novak, J. (2000) Assessing Science Understanding.
San Diego: Academic Press
Novak, J. D. (1977). A Theory of Education. Ithaca, NY: Cornell
Novak, J. D. (1990). Concept maps and Vee diagrams: Two metacognitive tools
for science and mathematics education. Instructional Science, 19,
Novak, J. D. (1991). Clarify with concept maps. The Science Teacher,
Novak, J. D., & D. B. Gowin. (1984). Learning How to Learn.
New York and Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Novak, J. D., & D. Musonda. (1991). A twelve-year longitudinal study
of science concept learning. American Educational Research Journal,
Novak, J. D., & J. Wandersee, 1991. Coeditors, Special Issue on Concept
Mapping of Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 28, 10. | <urn:uuid:5ce9a0ab-78ab-4160-9d94-2daf5793d304> | CC-MAIN-2024-51 | https://cf.psl.msu.edu/ctools/novak.html | 2024-12-03T21:39:03Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-51/segments/1733066140230.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20241203193917-20241203223917-00613.warc.gz | en | 0.932735 | 4,363 | 3.703125 | 4 |
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