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Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsh, [1857-78], at sacred-texts.com
The occasion for this law was a representation made to Moses and the princes of the congregation by the heads of the fathers' houses (האבות for בּית־האבות, as in Exo 6:25, etc.) of the family of Gilead the Manassite, to which Zelophehad (Num 26:33) belonged, to the effect that, by allotting an hereditary possession to the daughters of Zelophehad, the tribe-territory assigned to the Manassites would be diminished if they should marry into another tribe. They founded their appeal upon the command of Jehovah, that the land was to be distributed by lot among the Israelites for an inheritance (Num 36:2 compared with Num 26:55-56, and Num 33:54); and although it is not expressly stated, yet on the ground of the promise of the everlasting possession of Canaan (Gen 17:8), and the provision made by the law, that an inheritance was not to be alienated (Lev 25:10, Lev 25:13, Lev 25:23.), they understood it as signifying that the portion assigned to each tribe was to continue unchanged to all generations. (The singular pronoun, my Lord, in Num 36:2, refers to the speaker, as in Num 32:27.) Now, as the inheritance of their brother, i.e., their tribe-mate Zelophehad, had been given to his daughters (Num 27:1), if they should be chosen as wives by any of the children of the (other) tribes of Israel, i.e., should marry into another tribe, their inheritance would be taken away from the tribe-territory of Manasseh, and would be added to that of the tribe into which they were received. The suffix להם (Num 36:3) refers ad sensum to מטּה, the tribe regarded according to its members.
And when the year of jubilee came round (see Lev 25:10), their inheritance would be entirely withdrawn from the tribe of Manasseh. Strictly speaking, the hereditary property would pass at once, when the marriage took place, to the tribe into which an heiress married, and not merely at the year of jubilee. But up to the year of jubilee it was always possible that the hereditary property might revert to the tribe of Manasseh, either through the marriage being childless, or through the purchase of the inheritance. But in the year of jubilee all landed property that had been alienated was to return to its original proprietor or his heir (Lev 25:33.). In this way the transfer of an inheritance from one tribe to another, which took place in consequence of a marriage, would be established in perpetuity. And it was in this sense that the elders of the tribe of Manasseh meant that a portion of the inheritance which had fallen to them by lot would be taken away from their tribe at the year of jubilee.
Moses declared that what they had affirmed was right (כּן), and then, by command of Jehovah, he told the daughters of Zelophehad that they might marry whoever pleased them (the suffix ־הם, attached to בּעיני, for ־הן, as in Exo 1:21; Gen 31:9, etc.), but that he must belong to the family of their father's tribe, that is to say, must be a Manassite. For (Num 36:7) the inheritance was not to turn away the Israelites from one tribe to another (not to be transferred from one to another), but every Israelite was to keep to the inheritance of his father's tribe, and no one was to enter upon the possession of another tribe by marrying an heiress belonging to that tribe. This is afterwards extended, in Num 36:8 and Num 36:9, into a general law for every heiress in Israel.
In Num 36:10-12 it is related that, in accordance with these instructions, the five daughters of Zelophehad, whose names are repeated from Num 26:33 and Num 27:1 (see also Jos 17:3), married husbands from the families of the Manassites, namely, sons of their cousins (? uncles), and thus their inheritance remained in their father's tribe (על היה, to be and remain upon anything).
The conclusion refers not merely to the laws and rights contained in Num 33:50-36:13, but includes the rest of the laws given in the steppes of Moab (ch. 25-30), and forms the conclusion tot he whole book, which places the lawgiving in the steppes of Moab by the side of the lawgiving at Mount Sinai (Lev 26:46; Lev 27:34) and bring sit to a close, though without in any way implying that the explanation (בּאר, Deu 1:5), further development, and hortatory enforcement of the law and its testimonies, statutes, and judgments (Deu 1:5; Deu 4:44., Num 12:1.), which follow in Deuteronomy, are not of Mosaic origin. | <urn:uuid:11564972-de51-4ab2-ae9f-54f423a3731c> | CC-MAIN-2015-32 | http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/kad/num036.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-32/segments/1438042990123.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20150728002310-00206-ip-10-236-191-2.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973671 | 1,134 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Summer is here which means lots of fun and sun in the months ahead! Kids need to be educated on sun safety so as not to end up burned and/or taking in too many of the dangerous rays from the sun. While the sun is a great source for vitamin D, it is essential to make sure to apply and reapply sunscreen on kids when playing or swimming outdoors this summer to prevent painful sunburn. Kids need to understand this lifelong lesson, too!
Make sure to download the fun coloring sheet featuring Calci M. Bone teaching kids about the importance of sun safety! | <urn:uuid:8817d4ac-82d5-499e-a1ca-6b4eedbe7e74> | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | https://blog.organwiseguys.com/summer-sun-safety-for-kids/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027330750.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20190825151521-20190825173521-00551.warc.gz | en | 0.952916 | 117 | 2.53125 | 3 |
The Smithsonian Institution is is a special gem. Founded in 1846, it has provided inspiration and resources for literally generations of Americans and international visitors.
Today, many of the Smithsonian's resources are available on-line.
The Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access created the Smithsonian Learning Lab to inspire the discovery and creative use of its rich digital materials—more than a million images, recordings, and texts. It is easy to find something of interest because search results display pictures rather than lists. Whether you've found what you were looking for or just discovered something new, it's easy to personalize it. Add your own notes and tags, incorporate discussion questions, and save and share. The Learning Lab makes it simple.
By encouraging users to create and share personalized collections of Smithsonian assets and user-generated resources, the Learning Lab aspires to build a global community of learners who are passionate about adding to and bringing to light new knowledge, ideas, and insight.
In addition to the Learning Lab, the Smithsonian has a very wide range of on-line resources, with everything from the National Postal Museum and the National Portrait Gallery to Folkways (world music, music history, and music for children).
The Smithsonian has a kids section with games, projects, stories and interactive activities. A sample of topics includes Build a Sod House, Choose Ur Style, Coral Reef Interactive, Do try this at home!, and OurStory: American History Stories and Activities.
Check out over 100 on-line exhibits, covering a wide variety of subjects from Fantastic Worlds: Science and Fiction, 1780-1910 to Views from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera and Solar Energy to The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire.
The Smithsonian Magazine is now online for your perusal. Check it out.
The Smithsonian may be of particular interest to history and science educators. The Smithsonian even has prepared a site in which math and American history are "integrated".
A little know fact about the founding of the Smithsonian...
It all started in 1826 when James Smithson, a British scientist, drew up his last will and testament, naming his nephew as beneficiary. Smithson stipulated that, should the nephew die without heirs (as he would in 1835), the estate should go "to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."
It took another 20 years (until 1846) for the Smithsonian to become a reality. | <urn:uuid:2a99b0e0-39ed-44a2-b2c9-9bcfdd5ce793> | CC-MAIN-2018-43 | https://www.k12irc.org/tools/virtual/libraries/smithsonian.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-43/segments/1539583512693.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20181020101001-20181020122501-00207.warc.gz | en | 0.919353 | 514 | 3.140625 | 3 |
OCTOBER 2001 GLOBAL TEMPERATURE WARMEST ON RECORD,
U.S. TEMPERATURE SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE
November 21, 2001 October 2001 was the warmest October on record globally, scientists at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., said today. NOAA scientists calculated last month's climate conditions using the world's largest weather database. (Click NOAA image to see climate data for October 2001.)
The preliminary globally averaged temperature was 58.2 degrees Fahrenheit (14.6 C). This was 1.0 F (0.6 C) above the 1880-2000 long-term mean, the warmest October on record. October global temperatures have been above average 23 of the past 25 years.
The year-to-date global temperature was 0.9 F (0.5 C) above average, the second warmest January-October period since global surface temperature records began in 1880. Global temperatures have risen over the past 100 years by 1.0 F (0.6 C). The rise in temperature has been more rapid during the past 25 years, a rate approximately three times greater than the century-scale trend.
The previous October global temperature record occurred in 1997 during the most recent El Niño. For much of the past three years, La Niña conditions have been predominant, with colder-than-normal sea surface temperatures in much of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. La Niña has now yielded to neutral conditions. The absence of cold equatorial waters in the central and eastern Pacific is a contributing factor to higher temperatures in the tropics, hence a higher global temperature average than those recorded during the past three years. Land and ocean temperatures in the tropics (20 N to 20 S) were 0.7 F (0.4 C) above average, the fifth warmest October on record.
Monthly temperatures were above average across much of Europe and northern portions of Africa as well as across eastern Asia, with monthly departures of more than 7 F (3.9 C) above the long-term mean in Algeria. According to the United Kingdom Met Office, the mean Central England Temperature for October was 55.9 F (13.3 C). This exceeded the previous October record of 55.4 F (13.0 C) set in 1969. The CET database dates back to 1659.
Lower-than-average temperatures were reported throughout parts of eastern Europe, western Asia and throughout much of Australia. In Australia, October average maximum temperatures were the lowest since 1976, and minimum temperatures were fourth lowest on record since October 1950, according to the Australia Bureau of Meteorology.
Temperatures in the United States for October ranked 38th highest in the U.S. 1895-to-present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature for the forty-eight contiguous states was 55.4 F (13.0 C) or 0.7 F (0.4 C) above the long-term mean. Regionally, temperatures were above average in the Northeast and Southwest, and lower than average across the South, Southeast and Alaska.
Nevada, which experienced its third warmest October in the U.S. 1895-to-present record, has experienced above-normal temperatures throughout much of 2001. The most recent three and six month periods are the warmest on record for Nevada. Temperatures have been above average for many of the western states throughout the summer months and into the fall.
October precipitation in the United States (2.01 inches, 51.1 mm) was near the long-term mean. Regionally, precipitation was above average throughout much of the central Great Lakes and the lower Mississippi River.
A strong cold front brought widespread severe weather Oct. 24, with heavy rains, hail and wind damage to parts of the Midwest. Wind gusts of 90 mph were reported in South Bend, Ind., and estimated to be as high as 120 mph in parts of Clinton County, Mich., near Lansing. Rainfall totals for this event included 2.24 inches (56.9 mm) in Grand Rapids, Mich., and 1.52 inches (38.6 mm) in Indianapolis, Ind.
Drier-than-normal conditions prevailed throughout the East Coast and portions of the Southern Plains and West. Eight states (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina) were much drier than normal in October. As a result of the continued below average precipitation, drought conditions amplified east of the Appalachians and northward to New England as well as in portions of the Southwest.
Relevant Web Sites | <urn:uuid:1bc70993-fb01-473c-9812-b071ce547525> | CC-MAIN-2015-11 | http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s818.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-11/segments/1424936463460.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20150226074103-00077-ip-10-28-5-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960788 | 951 | 3.109375 | 3 |
This seasonal question is age-old: Is it a cold or is it the flu? While it often feels like you’re only choice to wait and see how sick you get, there are clues to help you differentiate one from the other. Typically, colds begin gradually with a sore throat that is rarely accompanied by a fever, headache and/or muscle aches. The main symptoms of a cold are sniffles, a runny nose and a wet sounding productive cough. Flu on the other hand, hits you like a freight train with a high fever that’s usually greater than 100-102 degrees Fahrenheit, a bad headache and muscle aches. Rarely do you have sniffles, and if there is a cough, it is usually a dry non-productive cough. The flu causes severe fatigue; you will be wiped out. Colds usually get better by 1 week at the most but the flu can linger longer.
And while colds and flu are simply a nuisance for most of us, they can be deadly for those with severe asthma or other respiratory problems, or those who are immune compromised. While our bodies are fighting off these viral infections they become more susceptible to secondary, more serious bacterial super infections. In fact, the death rate attributed to the flu is primarily due to the secondary bacterial pneumonias that develop. Click here to read more about super infections.
It is also believed that colds in young people may play a role in the development of asthma by programming their immunes systems.
The Uncommon Cold
The common cold is somewhat of a misnomer. It isn’t caused by a single virus. There are over 200 different viruses that cause the “common” cold. Over half of them are a type of virus called the rhinovirus and there are 99 different types of rhinoviruses! That is why we can send a man to the moon but we can’t cure the common cold. All these heterogeneous distinct viruses make it difficult to develop a vaccine to prevent the cold or even an antiviral drug to combat it.
Fighting the Flu
An RNA virus in the Orthomyxovirus family causes the flu. There are 3 main types, Influenza A, B, and C. (Influenza A is further divided into subtypes.) Humans can be infected with all 3 types of Influenza. Most of the virus subtypes of Influenza A also have natural animal hosts such as birds and pigs. And even though from year to year the viruses mutate and change through a process called antigenic shift and drift, we still develop new vaccines every year to prevent infection. Occasionally, as seen in last year’s H1N1 outbreak, there is a completely new mutated subtype of the flu virus that causes a pandemic. But our global surveillance system caught it and, even though it took some time and effort, a vaccine was developed for this new subtype of influenza virus.
Also, because the flu is more homogenous and uniform when compared to the cold, we have been able to develop antiviral medications. These medications can help prevent the flu if you take them after exposure but before you get sick, or they can help shorten the course of the illness (but only by a day or so).
However, most healthy people don’t need antiviral medicine; they are a good idea for individuals at high-risk for experiencing serious complications from the flu. Those are people with compromised immune systems, chronic illnesses such as diabetes, or respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema.
Good hand washing is key to preventing both colds and the flu. Also, be careful not to touch your face, eyes, nose and mouth during this cold and flu season without washing your hands since this is how viruses can be transmitted. Cover your sneezes and cough with the inside crook of your elbow (if you don’t have a tissue). Throw out used tissues immediately.
The best way to prevent the flu and any complications that can develop from it, such as pneumonia, is to get a yearly vaccination. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot. And this year the H1N1 is included in the regular flu vaccine.
As with many diseases and medical conditions, your lifestyle can critically affect your health. So eating healthy is an important prevention technique, as well as being good for your overall health. Bright, colorful fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, which have anti-oxidant properties to boost your immune system.
Yogurt has probiotics that can strengthen your GI tract’s immune system and mucus membranes. It increases the amount of antibodies in your mouth and nasal passage, points of entry for many viruses. Some studies showed a daily helping of yogurt may decrease cold and flu susceptibility by 25%.
Green tea contains catchins, anti-oxidants that help stimulate the immune system’s T-cells. There is actually very little evidence that vitamin C prevents colds, but studies show that people with low levels of vitamin D are almost 40% more likely to get a respiratory infection. Sun exposure can be in short supply during the winter months, so try foods that are vitamin-D fortified, such as dairy, tuna and salmon or taking a supplement of about 1,000 IU/day can help.
Cutting your alcohol consumption is also a good idea as heavy alcohol use suppresses your immune system and makes you more susceptible to viruses and secondary complications.
Lifestyle strategies can also help prevent cold and flu. Try reducing your stress level; natural virus-killing chemicals are released during relaxation techniques, such as biofeedback.
Massage and saunas also have been found to bolster your immune system and lower your level of cortisol, a stress hormone that decreases immune function. A German study found that people who took a sauna twice a week had half as many colds as those who did not. They theorized that as you inhale the hot air, it helps kill viruses.
If you smoke, quit. Statistics show smokers have more frequent and severe colds that more often produce secondary complications like pneumonia.
Regular, moderate exercise releases endorphins and reduces stress and cortisol levels Studies found that people who exercise experienced a 23% reduction in upper respiratory infections.
Lastly, keep in touch with friends and families. Research shows people with close ties to their loved ones were less susceptible to colds than socially isolated individuals.
Looking to the future, there is exciting new research that shows promise for treating and preventing colds and the flu. New studies may lead to a single universal flu vaccine. Currently, vaccines target the head of the flu virus, an area that is able to mutate (thus requiring yearly new vaccines.) A newly discovered antibody targets the stem area of the virus, which is similar in many different types of flu strains and doesn’t mutate as often. Animal studies are being conducted now, but as early as 2011-2012 there may be human clinical trials in the works.
Another recent study just cracked the genetic code for the common cold, identifying the DNA sequence of all 99 different strains of human rhinoviruses. This has allowed researchers to pinpoint areas of similarities, grouping the 99 diverse strains into 15 smaller similar groups. The hope is to eventually develop classes of antiviral medications and vaccines aimed at these 15 different groups. Researchers believe we may see development of these new types of therapies within the next several years!
But for now we will have to use common sense and listen to our grandmothers, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! | <urn:uuid:c16c49ef-6ca5-45d8-9c5d-327d636b6f64> | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | http://www.doctoroz.com/article/comparative-anatomy-cold-or-flu | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463612003.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20170528235437-20170529015437-00273.warc.gz | en | 0.958005 | 1,574 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Great Red Spot (GRS) of Jupiter as seen through the near-infrared (757 nm) filter of the Galileo imaging system. The image is a mosaic of six images taken over an 80 second interval during the first GRS observing sequence on June 26, 1996. They have been map-projected to a uniform grid of latitude and longitude. North is at the top. The Red Spot, which is 20,000 km long, has been followed by observers on Earth since the telescope was invented 300 years ago. It is a huge storm made visible by variations in the composition of the cloud particles. Counterclockwise winds around its periphery reach 100 m/s. The Red Spot is not unique, but is simply the largest of a class of long-lived vortices, such as the three smaller vortices visible to the south. Other features of interest include a very bright cloud feature to the northwest and the dark collar surrounding the Great Red Spot.
Launched in October 1989, Galileo entered orbit around Jupiter on December 7, 1995. The spacecraft's mission is to conduct detailed studies of the giant planet, its largest moons and the Jovian magnetic environment. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA manages the mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, DC.
This image and other images and data received from Galileo are posted on the World Wide Web, on the Galileo mission home page at http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov. Background information and educational context for the images can be found at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/sepo. | <urn:uuid:6392926f-68a0-49f7-8a12-a6a729f67f1c> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00488 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609530136.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005210-00104-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937413 | 333 | 3.609375 | 4 |
From the production of textiles to their use and disposal - in the effort to sustainably reduce the output of textile microplastics it's important to identify and exploit potential savings and optimisation at all stages of the product life cycle. This was the key finding of the conference "Textile Microplastics - Solutions by Industry and Research" held on November 7, 2019 in Berlin, organised by the TextileMission project partners and sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The partners presented first results of their research activities and discussed promising solutions together with around 90 participants.
Key topics were:
- Causes and extent of microplastic loss in textiles
- Development of low-emission textiles
- Biodegradable plastics as alternative fibre materials
- Textile recycling and circular economy
- Retention of textile microplastics in wastewater treatment plant
Focus on the entire life cycle of garments
"Studies have shown that 20 to 35 percent of the microplastics found in the oceans worldwide originate from garments made of synthetic fibres. The fibre fragments can cause inflammations and entanglements in the digestive tract of marine organisms. They influence natural behaviour, reduce fertility and can lead to the death of marine animals," said Caroline Kraas, project manager microplastics at WWF Germany, one of the project partners. She explained the extent of the problem and gave advices on how to find a solution:
"From a sustainability perspective, it is important to extent the research and action framework as far as possible. It is not just a question of particle discharge caused by the household washing of synthetic textiles. There are already considerable emissions at the textile production stage, another source of particles is the abrasion that occurs during wearing, and finally fibres are also released during the transport and when textiles end up in landfills. Avoidance must start at the very beginning and go on throughout the cycle".
The presentation of Caroline Kraas can be found here.
Strongest microplastic release during the first three washes
What are the causes of microplastic emissions from textiles? What influence does the washing behaviour of consumers have? What textile technology approaches can be used to develop low-emission textiles? The project partners Dr. Jens Meyer and Malin Obermann, scientific co-workers of the Research Institute for Textiles and Clothing at Hochschule Niederrhein - University of Applied Sciences, provided answers to these questions. Up to now, fleece products have been the focus of their investigations - a focus that needs to be expanded, as Jens Meyer explained: "Fleece products were previously regarded as particularly microplastic-emitting due to the deliberate destruction of fibres during the shearing and roughening process in production. To a large extent, this is also true. However, in our washing and drying tests, conventional filament goods such as pullovers and T-shirts made of polyester show sometimes a similarly high particle output".
A further test result catches the eye: during the first three washing cycles of a new garment by far the most microparticles are released. "This indicates that there are often still loose fibre fragments from production in the product that are only discharged during household washing," says Jens Meyer. A solution that all TextileMission partners consider worth testing could be a processing step (e.g. prewashing or pre-drying) directly connected to the production process. Pre-drying would have several advantages: The resulting fibre fragments are generally easier to filter from air than from water. In addition, the haptics and volume of the new garments, which are important for sales, would be less affected than in the case of laundry.
Advice for consumers: Always pack the washing machine as full as possible
Should it prove practicable, this approach would take effect at the beginning of the product life cycle. Consumers, on the other hand, wonder what contribution they can make during the use phase. "One recommendation is to always fill the washing machine as much as possible. Textiles being washed at a low load are exposed to higher mechanical stress and therefore release more microplastic," explained Jens Meyer.
However, the textile researchers are sceptical about the use of a washing bag on the market that promises to filter out most of the textile microplastic. "Although the protection of the textile by the surrounding wash bag has certain positive effects, we were unable to prove the announced filter performance in our tests," says Meyer. In addition, the bag reduces the washing performance.
Product development: machine parameters and alternative joining techniques as levers
The Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences is researching not only into the causes of microplastic loss, but also into the development of sports and outdoor textiles, which have a lower microplastic by design. Malin Obermann explained two approaches at different stages of the textile production chain. "Already during the knitting process in the production phase there is a high generation of microplastic load.. Initial tests with our institute's own large-scale circular knitting machine have shown that even changing two machine parameters can lead to a significant reduction in particle emissions," said Obermann.
Later, when the raw material is joined to fleece jackets and pullovers by the manufacturers, there are also promising levers. "Conventional seams increase the emission potential. Alternative joining techniques such as ultrasonic welding, which we have already tested, can lead to a reduction in this output", Obermann added. It remains to be proven, however, whether garments produced in this way also have the same performance properties as standard products on the market. In the further course of the project, the textile researchers, together with the participating industrial partners such as VAUDE, will also test biodegradable fibre materials and work on the implementation of the solution approaches in the textile supply chain.
The presentation of Hochschule Niederrhein can be found here.
Biodegradability of fibre materials in sewage treatment plants: viscose performs well
The extent to which materials declared as biodegradable are actually degraded in a sewage treatment plant within the framework of TextileMission is a research focus of TU Dresden. Prof. Dr. Stefan Stolte, head of the Institute for Water Chemistry, explained the first results achieved by laboratory sewage treatment plants and the OxyTop test system to the participants: "Within our test period of 58 days, pure polyester was, as expected, almost not degraded at all, while cellulose fibres such as viscose were almost completely degraded. It was found that dyestuffs, which in this case accounted for about 0.2 - 0.4 weight percent of the viscose fiber, had no negative effect on the biodegradability of the material."
A possible toxicity of the usually not degradable dye, however, remains unaffected by this finding. Stefan Stolte also warned against a prematurely optimistic generalization of the results: "These statements on biodegradability refer to the system sewage treatment plant - the degradation behavior for example in the deep sea runs under completely different conditions". Water temperature and pressure are just two examples.
The presentation of Prof. Dr. Stefan Stolte can be found here.
Further lectures were given by the following top-class speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Gunnar Seide (Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials) on the biodegradability of plastics,
- Prof. Dr. Hans-Josef Endres (Leibniz Universität Hannover) on end-of-life options and sustainability aspects of bio-based fibre raw materials,
- Jérome Pero (Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry) on European policy aspects of textile recycling,
- Carsten Eichert (Rittec Umweltsysteme) on technical aspects of textile recycling and environmental services,
- Nathan Obermaier (UBA - Federal Environment Agency) on regulatory aspects of microplastics. | <urn:uuid:7a883878-3bf1-46bf-8dd7-6de84a6036ab> | CC-MAIN-2019-51 | https://textilemission.bsi-sport.de/en/events/conference-textilemission-2019/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-51/segments/1575540510336.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20191208122818-20191208150818-00172.warc.gz | en | 0.945928 | 1,650 | 3.140625 | 3 |
If you love nuts, you’ll be glad to know that nuts are chock-full of health benefits. It’s hard to believe that so much good comes in such a tiny package!
Nuts, by definition, are a combination of a seed and a fruit inside a hard shell. Examples of nuts include almonds, walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts. Peanuts, while technically a legume, are also usually grouped with nuts.
Nuts are bursting with nutrition, providing healthy fats called omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamin E, plant sterols (substances that can lower cholesterol) and l-arginine, an amino acid that improves the health of your artery walls. Besides all of these nutrients, nuts are full of important minerals, including magnesium, selenium, potassium and zinc.
Researchers have discovered a whole host of health benefits from eating nuts. Here’s a rundown of how nuts can help you lead a healthy life:
- A longer life. Who doesn’t want to live a long, healthy life? Data from two large studies, the Nurses’ Health Study and the Physician’s Healthy Study showed that of the 120,000 participants, those who ate nuts often had a lower risk of premature death.
- A smaller waistline. Nuts are high in calories and fat, so it may seem surprising that nuts can be part of a weight reduction diet. But a review of 31 studies revealed that people who replaced other foods in their diets with nuts lost more weight and shrunk their waist size by more than half an inch compared to non-nut eaters. Nuts may help with weight control because of their fat and fiber content, two nutrients that help you feel full.
- A healthier heart. People who have diabetes have double the risk of heart disease compared to people without the condition. Eating nuts can lower this risk by helping to lower LDL, or bad cholesterol. Arginine, an amino acid found in nuts, helps blood vessels relax, lessening the chances of blood clot formation.
- Better blood sugars. Researchers have discovered that eating two servings (about half of a cup) of nuts a day can help improve fasting blood sugar levels and lower A1C levels in people who have type 2 diabetes.
- Better brain health. To stay sharp and thinking clearly as you get older, eat more nuts. Nuts are rich in vitamin E and B vitamins – nutrients that help to fight cognitive decline. Nuts may even help to boost memory, at least in rats!
- A lower cancer risk. There’s some research hinting that men who eat Brazil nuts, which are rich in the mineral selenium, may be 60% less likely to develop prostate cancer. Also, nut eaters may be less likely to develop colorectal and pancreatic cancer.
Tips for Eating Nuts
- Watch your portions. Nuts are a tasty, low carbohydrate treat and it’s easy to go overboard. But, despite all of the health benefits, nuts are quite high in calories. A small handful of nuts (about ¼ cup) contains around 200 calories. Portion them into small baggies if stopping at one handful is too hard.
- Sprinkle nuts onto your morning cereal, stir some into your Greek yogurt, or add nuts to your salad or pasta dishes. Nuts make a great topping for soup, too.
- Coat fish or chicken with finely ground nuts, such as almonds or pistachios. You can grind your own or buy them already ground.
- Use nut butters as a spread for toast, crackers or vegetables. Peanut butter is an old stand-by, but try almond or cashew butter as a change.
- Mix nuts with popcorn for a healthy and satisfying snack. | <urn:uuid:c259495a-4ba2-4278-964c-b3e05b4ee4e4> | CC-MAIN-2020-45 | http://cdiabetes.com/nuts-and-your-health/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-45/segments/1603107905777.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20201029184716-20201029214716-00223.warc.gz | en | 0.935392 | 792 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Much has recently been written about the advantages of using Brain Breaks with pupils. Doing a range of activities involving physical movement at the beginning of a lesson can enhance pupils’ readiness for learning.
Brain Breaks can be used at the beginning of the lesson to energise the group and get their brains fit for learning. Also they can be dropped into a session when energy levels and concentration are flagging.
This free resource provides useful ideas for activities which will help to get students focused at the start of lessons and will re-engage them when their energy and interest begins to wane.
Did you like this download? Then why not check out some other free resources from Behaviour Solutions. | <urn:uuid:a8dd2676-105d-4682-9f9d-c981f7c4b952> | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | https://behaviourmatters.com/pages/brain-breaks | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570986668569.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20191016113040-20191016140540-00461.warc.gz | en | 0.941555 | 141 | 3.671875 | 4 |
While the world’s attention has been focussed on Ebola, another outbreak has been spreading in a number of countries across the world. Now, Oxford University infectious disease specialists are applying the lessons from the Ebola outbreak to try to support local medics and researchers to get ahead of this new pathogen.
Zika, carried by the Aedes mosquito, has been known about for some years, typically causing mild illness and a rash. Now, however, reports from South America suggest that it is causing birth defects in newborn babies of women who have had Zika.
The researchers in the affected regions are poised to run and lead these studies, and the international research community, through ISARIC, is working to support them and provide any input and external expertise that is needed.
Trudie Lang, Head of The Global Health Network and Professor of Global Health Research
The outbreak came to the attention of two Oxford-based organisations: The Global Health Network (TGHN), an online science park that guides and supports medical research around the world, especially in low and middle income countries and ISARIC, a global network of researcher groups whose aim is to enable research in disease outbreaks
Professor Trudie Lang explained: 'I was at an ISARIC meeting about Ebola when Fernando Bozza of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation told us about the Zika outbreak He asked what we knew about the Zika outbreak. The answer was not much.
'He briefed the ISARIC team and it was clear this was another situation where the research community had to come together to ensure that evidence was gathered as early as possible this time, and that we should apply the lessons from Ebola that we were discussing at that very meeting.'
Zika has been known about since the late 1940s but major outbreaks were not recorded until a 2006 occurrence on the pacific island of Yap. In 2013 there were 30,000 cases in French Polynesia.
Zika affected countries in the Americas:
Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela.
Other current Zika outbreaks: Cape Verde.
However, the South American outbreak is particularly concerning because if its apparent effect on foetal development. Dr Fernando Bozza said: 'Zika Virus has been reported in Brazil since April 2015 and up to mid-December, nine other countries in the Americas have reported local Zika transmission.
'In November, the Brazilian Ministry of Health reported an unusual increase in cases of microcephaly, with a causal link between Zika infection during pregnancy and congenital abnormalities. 2,401 microcephaly cases are under investigation in Brazil, with 134 cases confirmed related to Zika virus infection. Investigations are also on-going to assess a possible relation between Zika and Guillain-Barré Syndrome and other neurological events.'
With Zika becoming a more serious disease, The Global Health Network recognised the need to move as rapidly as possible into obtaining data, which requires the integration of research into the medical and public health response. Developing research tools and strategies is key and this needed a resource for agreeing research priorities and sharing research documents
Professor Lang said: 'Medical research is vital to understand, manage and hopefully stop the outbreak. However, if samples and patient information are to be used for research purposes then protocols are needed that have been given ethical approval by regulatory authorities and patients need to be informed and asked for their consent. Robust studies need to be planned and this all takes time to put into place. However, a lesson from Ebola was that it can be done faster. The researchers in the affected regions are poised to run and lead these studies, and the international research community, through ISARIC, is working to support them and provide any input and external expertise that is needed.
'The Global Health Network’s website for Zika has been set up for the local research community. It will make available documents like case record forms and consent forms, as well as sharing research priorities. By providing a common and open sharing space that is driven by the regional researchers in Brazil and other countries it should be possible to speed up getting this crucial data that is needed to understand, manage and eventually treat Zika virus infection.'
The hope is that a joined up approach, where frontline health organisations are supported by a global network, will mean Zika is understood quicker and that work on treatments can begin sooner.
The site is at: https://zikainfection.tghn.org/
The Global Health Network is an online science park that allows scientists to work together without geographical, institutional or financial barriers, to support researchers across world to the acquire technical expertise and develop new protocols to hasten and improve research outputs. www.theglobalhealthnetwork.org
ISARIC – International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium – is a global initiative aiming to ensure that clinical researchers have the open access protocols and data-sharing processes needed to facilitate a rapid response to emerging diseases that may turn into epidemics or pandemics. www.isaric.org | <urn:uuid:0d2c9213-e17e-497f-81c3-fc99cde54857> | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2016-01-12-fight-against-little-known-zika-virus-applies-lessons-ebola | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218189032.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212949-00623-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955321 | 1,033 | 3.265625 | 3 |
Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment For Depression In Seniors
Many seniors and older adults are reluctant to seek treatment due to stigma associated with mental illness. It is estimated that one out of five people age 55 and older experience some type of mental health concern, according to the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry.
Anxiety and depression are among the conditions most likely to affect seniors. Depression in older adults can present differently due to physical health problems or pain that may be closely linked with feelings of guilt, sadness, anger, resentment and loneliness. In addition, depression in older adults must be distinguished from medical conditions or prescription medications that may contribute to symptoms of depression.
Do not be reluctant to seek help if you or an older member of your family is struggling with symptoms such as memory loss, personality changes, increasing aches and pain, and sleep problems or chronic fatigue.
Depression and anxiety are medical conditions that interfere with daily life and normal functioning. These symptoms are not a normal part of growing old, and many older adults require treatment to feel better. As we age, we go through a lot of changes. We may experience the death of loved ones, isolation from friends and family (especially during the Covid-19 pandemic), retirement, loss of independence, stressful life events, physical health issues, financial issues, and limited mobility.
These major life stressors are risk factors for depression in older adults.
Signs of Depression In Older Adults
For some older adults with depression, sadness is not the main symptom.
Some adults with depression commonly experience a lack of emotion rather than a depressed mood. In some cases, memory and thinking problems may be apparent as well. In addition, stigma associated with mental health may prevent older people from from talking about their feelings with doctors, family, or friends and can be reluctant to seek treatment.
Treatment Of Depression in Seniors
Anxiety and depression are two of the most treatable mental health conditions. Effective treatment of depression in older adults can reduce depressive symptoms, secondary symptoms such as pain, and improve functioning and quality of life.
The most common forms of treatment for depression in seniors are medication, psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy), or a combination of the two. The psychiatrists and therapists of Novum Psychiatry are well-versed in the diagnosis and treatment of depression in older adults.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of depression, please make an appointment today for a confidential evaluation.
Our Experienced Team of Psychiatrists Can Help!
We know that taking the first step can be difficult.
Our highly-trained psychiatrists and therapists offer a comprehensive and confidential approach to private, outpatient psychiatric care. Whether this is your first time seeking psychiatric care or if you are seeking a new provider, Novum Psychiatry can help. In-person and telehealth appointments available. We accept health insurance. | <urn:uuid:a2a1538b-7acd-4900-a23d-6412f27ab32d> | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | https://novumpsychiatry.com/blog/depression-in-older-adults/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623487625967.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20210616155529-20210616185529-00070.warc.gz | en | 0.943121 | 583 | 2.78125 | 3 |
A headache is a pain or ache in your head, especially one that lasts longer than a few minutes. You might get a headache after a day of staring at a computer screen.
There are many reasons for getting a headache, from staying up too late to a stressful day to skipping your morning cup of coffee. A more serious type of headache, like a migraine, might keep you home from work for a day, but most headaches are just a nuisance. You can also describe a problem or struggle as a figurative headache: "Learning Danish is turning out to be a real headache." In Old English, the word was heafodece. | <urn:uuid:9483e33c-7011-401d-952f-90ae6f77d0b7> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/headaches | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585518.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20211022181017-20211022211017-00714.warc.gz | en | 0.960906 | 131 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Rights to financial support
There is a range of welfare benefits and grants that deaf children and their families might be eligible for.
The main disability benefits are:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and young people under 16.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for people aged 16-65.
Other benefits include:
- Carer’s Allowance (CA) for people caring for 35 hours a week.
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for people aged 16-65 who can’t work due to a disability or health condition.
- Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for students from low-income households in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) to help to pay for extra equipment and support for disabled students in higher education (university).
There are also grant-giving organisations that support deaf children and young people and their families.
For more information on benefits and grants go to Money and benefits. | <urn:uuid:2f163b26-433c-4bd5-b550-728a0c16a203> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://www.ndcs.org.uk/information-and-support/your-rights/rights-to-financial-support/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320300805.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20220118062411-20220118092411-00035.warc.gz | en | 0.933672 | 211 | 3 | 3 |
By midsummer, it was clear the western United States would have another record-breaking fire season. Wildfires had burned through nearly 2 million acres (810,000 hectares) and consumed thousands of structures in California alone. Smoke from the fires reached all the way to the East Coast, carrying particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or less in width (PM2.5) and other pollutants across the country. Although PM2.5 is known to harm human health, less is known about the specific effects of wildfire smoke on health across regions. However, knowledge of wildfire smoke impacts is critical for researchers and public health experts going forward, as climate change continues to produce a warmer, drier western United States and the fire season is expected to become only longer and more intense.
To fill this gap, O’Dell et al. looked at smoke exposure across seasons and regions in the United States between 2006 and 2018. The team combined observation-based estimates of smoke-related PM2.5 and gas phase hazardous air pollutants, or HAPs, with data on asthma hospital admissions and emergency department visits to determine the impacts of both acute and chronic smoke exposure.
The authors found that smoke caused between 1,300 and 5,900 asthma-related emergency department visits per year, and these were more likely to occur in the spring and summer. Chronic exposure to PM2.5 from smoke was linked to as many as 6,300 deaths per year, the study found.
Although most large wildfires originated in the western United States, nearly 75% of the emergency department visits and hospital admissions due to smoke occurred in nonwestern states. This is due largely to the higher population in the eastern United States, according to the study’s authors. Comparing the relative health effects of PM2.5 and HAPs in smoke, the authors found that the former had more long-term health impacts on individuals than the latter, but they note that the health impacts of HAPs are more uncertain.
The results highlight the importance of understanding the impacts of wildfire smoke on human health for populations across the country, not just those in states typically thought of as the most affected by wildfires. Insights into wildfire-related human health effects will be especially important as wildfire conditions continue to worsen under climate change. (GeoHealth, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GH000457, 2021)
—Kate Wheeling, Science Writer | <urn:uuid:e6f8c87b-c14e-41c4-8051-55baf65dff00> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://eos.org/research-spotlights/the-far-reaching-consequences-of-wildfire-smoke-plumes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103624904.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20220629054527-20220629084527-00518.warc.gz | en | 0.968172 | 504 | 4.1875 | 4 |
ALCOHOLS / ETHANOL
: Can ethanol from corn or other grain replace gasoline?
Almost certainly not, for several reasons.
- There isn't enough grain. The best process we have makes about 2.66 gallons of ethanol from a bushel of corn (maize). The 2004 maize harvest was about 11.8 billion bushels; if all of it was used for ethanol, it could make a maximum of 31.4 billion gallons of ethanol (with energy equivalent to about 22 billion gallons of gasoline). US gasoline consumption in 2003 was roughly 134 billion gallons, or more than 6 times the amount which can be replaced by ethanol production from corn. Total US motor fuel consumption (gasoline and diesel fuel) is approximately 200 billion gallons per year.
- Ethanol requires too much other fuel to produce it. A gallon of ethanol (84,200 BTU) consumes about 33,000 BTU of heat in the distillation process alone. Some of this heat comes from coal or cogenerators, but most distillers burn natural gas or LPG. LPG is a petroleum byproduct, and natural gas supplies are tight and getting tighter. Ethanol producers are competing with people who need to heat their homes. The energy losses of the ethanol process make it more efficient to burn the grain for heat, and use the LPG or natural gas as motor fuel (source).
: Someone sent me an e-mail about bio-butanol as a replacement for gasoline. Could we get rid of oil this way?
No. Environmental Energy, Inc (www.butanol.com
) claims a process which yields 2.5 gallons of butanol per bushel of corn (maize). They further claim 105,000 BTU/gallon of butanol vs. 84,200 BTU/gallon of ethanol (~25% more energy) which makes it a superior fuel. This is true so far as it goes, but this also runs into limits of raw materials; 11.8 billion bushels of corn would make 29.5 billion gallons of butanol. This would displace less than 1/5 of US gasoline consumption, with nothing extra to replace diesel fuel. The major advantage of butanol over ethanol is that it would require far less energy to separate it from water; it would be worthwhile to promote butanol rather than ethanol for energy-security reasons.
Source: Environmental Energy, Inc
: Could ethanol from crop wastes replace gasoline?
Probably not; there almost certainly isn't enough biomass available. The surplus biomass of corn stalks and such (corn stover) is the largest single biomass source in the US; it yields about 2.5 tons/acre (source
) at the average yield of 146 bu/ac. The surplus biomass over the entire 80.7 million acres planted to corn is roughly 200 million dry tons per year. Even if the entire dry mass was converted to ethanol with the same efficiency as grain (2.66 gallons per 56-lb bushel, or 31.3% by weight), it would only produce 62.6 million tons (19.0 billion gallons) of ethanol, equivalent to about 13.3 billion gallons of gasoline. In practice only 30% to 60% of this biomass could be made available for fuel production, and the energy requirements for distillation come on top of this.
(corn stover yield)
(2004 corn harvest)
: How efficient are batteries?
It depends on the type of battery. Lead-acid requires equalizing charges which make it relatively inefficient overall, while modern Li-ion has over 95% efficiency
: Can cogeneration be made quiet and friendly enough to use in a dwelling?
Many generators are already quiet enough to use near a home, and the backers of Climate Energy LLC
are betting money that they can sell cogeneration systems for people to put in their homes.
: Is there any truth to the claim that oil is abiotic in origin, and we'll never run out?
Almost certainly not; there may be trivial amounts of abiotic hydrocarbons coming out of the earth, but
- All chemical and geological evidence (on-line source) indicates that the source is from ancient organisms, and
- Even the most cursory arithmetic shows that the rate of production cannot be remotely close to our rate of use.
Source: No Free Lunch, part 3 of 3
The Oil Drum
: Do solar panels ever pay back the energy needed to make them?
Yes. As of the late 1990's, systems based on crystalline silicon PV panels returned their energy of manufacture in less than 4 years (about 3 years for the module and frame), and systems based on thin-film panels in a bit over two years (2 years for the module and frame); advances were expected to reduce the system figures to about 2 years and 1 year, respectively.
: What's the skinny on vehicle-to-grid?
: See the Vehicle-to-grid
page at the University of Delaware.
: Do wind turbines ever pay back the energy needed to build them?
Yes, and very quickly too. One analysis found that a land-based wind farm would return its invested energy in a mere 0.26 years (3 months 4 days), and a sea-based wind farm would pay back in 0.39 years (less than 5 months). This analysis was for 1.5 MW turbines, which are already small compared to the 5 MW turbines which are soon to be current and will be dwarfed by the 10 MW turbines considered to be most economical.
is slightly less optimistic
about their latest, claiming a payback in 6.8 months.
A more recent summary of analyses
is not so optimistic on average, but strongly positive nevertheless.
The Oil Drum | Energy from Wind: A Discussion of the EROEI Research
: How much wind power is available, world-wide?
The latest estimate is 72 terawatts from areas of class 3 (6.9 m/sec wind speed) or greater.
Further information: Mark Z. Jacobson's wind page | <urn:uuid:65e44058-6b9c-48ae-9f16-5a828bca332f> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | http://ergosphere.blogspot.com/2005/09/faq.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698542455.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170902-00442-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.908987 | 1,255 | 2.953125 | 3 |
In today’s connected world, enormous data is being generated in terms of the volume, variety and speed. It increases the burden on storage by capacity and performance. The rise of cloud computing, big data, social media and IoT makes the storage problem even worse. The cost of acquisition (capital expenses) and management of data (operating expenses) are sky rocketing for cloud service providers. The computational power is not enough to make sense of relevant data, which can get lost within the rapidly growing sea of information. Big data analytics can be a big nightmare for cloud service providers attempting to quickly monetize data. When information is relevant and has economic value, the data loses that value in time. It’s imperative to extract value from relevant data almost in real time.
Current data center operators and enterprises are scratching their heads to solve their immense storage needs and are attempting to monetize the data stored by applying big data analytics technologies. This old architectures of storage has challenges with regard to performance, power consumption, management and monetizing data while scaling systems to zettabytes and beyond.
most powerful processors (2 x86s), switch, and IO cards (with support for a variety of protocols like FC, FCoE, Infiniband, Ethernet at various speeds) to connect to the fabric of data centers. The expanders connect to SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)/SATA (Serial ATA) hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SSDs). All storage services run in software on processors.
Even when SSDs replace HDDs, the older architectures are still limited to ~50K IOPs vs Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) SSDs with performance measured in excess of 1M+ IOPs. The NVMe (www.nvmexpress.org) is a new data bus that supports memory-based storage. SSDs with ~1M+ IOPs (input/output operations per sec) at <1/3 the latency of traditional SSDs are creating huge waves in the market as it is a standards based.
The following diagrams show the performance advantages of NVMe SSDs compared with traditional SAS and SATA-based SSDs. This case study was performed by SNIA (Storage Networking Industry Association).
Figure 1: Performance comparison of NVMe w SATA/SAS
Programmable logic is, indeed, a key component in reducing data center power consumption and accelerating computation. FPGAs can be used as hardware accelerators and can be reconfigured, as in the shell and role model, thus significantly increasing their value in the data center. The Xilinx SDAccel™ Development Environment for data center workload acceleration can be used to reconfigure FPGAs to be purpose-built while supporting different applications on the same hardware.
The new NVMe over Fabric architecture shown in below Figure -2, scalable and optimized for a 3x-5x increase in performance and up to 100x lower latency with services implemented in FPGA-based hardware acceleration. The implementation of these services in Xilinx’s MPSoC (Multiprocessor System on Chip) has resulted in up to 100x lower latency compared to a standard x86. (For Compression of files)
The new storage architectures are evolving around scale-out storage aka fabric -attached storage. The storage servers are distributed across multiple servers with NVMe-based all-flash storage devices, all connected via fabric. This scalable architecture supports multiple data centers as a single storage domain to scale the storage needs across the globe. The user of this architectures get advantage of independently scaling the Network attached Storage (NAS) heads (performance), and additional storage can be attached without forklift upgrade of NAS heads.
The NVMe over Fabrics architecture supports NFS (Network File System) or CIFS (Common Internet File System) or block storage over iWARP (Internet Wide Area RDMA Protocol) or ROCEV2 (RDMA over Converged Internet) to transfer data from application servers to storage servers. The storage servers are distributed across multiple servers in a scale-out architecture. The storage devices are connected to storage servers via fabric. The fabric technology is implementation- dependent and could support PCIe, Ethernet, Converged Ethernet, Fibre Channel or Infiniband. The storage services can run on storage devices (aka target devices) to be accelerated in hardware. The services are configurable based on the end user, and the capacity of the service is use-case dependent.
Figure 2: NVMeOFabrics concept
Xilinx provides its SDAccel Development Environment which supports C/C++/OpenCL language as input. The toolset converts this input file format to RTL (Register Transfer Level in Verilog or VHDL), and Xilinx’s Vivado® Design Suite converts the data to bit stream that gets downloaded into the FPGA. The bit stream configures logic functions in the FPGA.
Figure 3 shows the SDAccel and Vivado toolset with its partial reconfiguration flow along with the shell and role model for configuring/reconfiguring storage services in Xilinx FPGAs.
Figure 3: SDAccel with Vivado and partial reconfiguration with storage services
The purpose of the Xilinx partial reconfiguration flow is to implement and reconfigure a portion of the FPGA on the fly while the rest of the FPGA is still running other functions. Making use of this partial reconfiguration flow, Xilinx supports the industry-wide shell and role model for reconfigurability, where shell includes connectivity such as PCIe, NVMe controllers, DDR memory controller, NVMe over Fabrics module etc. The shell is always on vs the role of the FPGA which is design-dependent. In this case, we ran the experiment of compression/de-compression as an example. The role has standard AXI interfaces so that various IP can come from different sources. This type of hardware acceleration has shown performance benefits in excess of 100x compared to storage services implemented in software on processors. The algorithm implemented in hardware was LZ77 + Huffman code and compared w GZIP in X86 Processor.
The diagram below shows the latency numbers of hardware vs software. As one can see, the hardware is approx 100x faster than software implementation. The algorithms are implemented in C/C++/OpenCL as shown with our SDAccel tool flow with partial reconfiguration. The red line is for processor vs blue line is for hardware based accelerator that is fairly constant based on file size.
Figure 4: Performance comparison of X86 with FPGA
As shown earlier, comp/de-comp was the first service implemented inside Xilinx’s solution.
With Xilinx’s SDAccel flow, coupled with partial reconfiguration and connectivity interfaces like PCIe, memory controllers, Ethernet MACs, NVMe controllers, you can use the shell and role reconfigurability model with Xilinx FPGAs to implement hardware accelerators in the NVMe over Fabrics architecture. This fabric-attached storage with scalable performance and highly efficient platform for analytics provides much lower total cost of ownership for cloud service providers.
Future areas will explore porting other storage services like security, matrix multiplication, Spark machine-learning (ML) libraries acceleration for analytics and de-duplication in hardware accelerators in scale out storage architectures.
About the Author
Shreyas shah has over 20 years of experience in designing of chips and systems. He started his career at Alantec/FORE/Marconi communications in Mid 1990s as networking chip designer. Later he moved to various startups, Sisilk Networks, Fabric7 systems and Xsigo systems where he held position of CTO and architect. Shreyas is with Xilinx for last 6+ years, joined as wired architect and currently holds Principal Data Center architect position. | <urn:uuid:d5559c1d-6c08-411a-bbd5-4c962b60c866> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | http://www.rtcmagazine.com/nvme-over-fabric-technology-enables-new-levels-of-storage-efficiency-in-todays-data-centers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676592636.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20180721145209-20180721165209-00389.warc.gz | en | 0.904031 | 1,647 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Learners read the sentences from the chapter on Handout 1. They write their own definition for each word and then use a dictionary to check their definitions. Then, they write another sentence for each word.
Learners answer questions about the chapter. The questions are listed on Handout 2. Below are the questions and answers for the instructor.
What happened when the Air Force sent a black Santa? No one wanted to sit on his lap because they all knew Santa was white.
What was the only connection to the outside world in the 1960s? AFRN, radio station from Elmendorf Air Force Base outside Anchorage.
Why did Velma volunteer to wash dishes at night? So that she could listen to the radio at 11pm played by disk jockey Pete Smith.
How was her father earning a living? He would trap in the winter.
What furs did he come home with? What did they use the money for? Lynx, marten, mink, fox and weasels. Food, electricity and other items to raise 13 children.
What two things did they do to help their mother? Scrape baby “dah” off diapers with a table knife and wash green wine bottles in a big tub for homebrew. | <urn:uuid:d3feba5b-3abe-4c06-b907-a2858ecbcdc5> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.nwtliteracy.ca/resources/adultlit/en130/72.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285337.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00213-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964514 | 258 | 3.734375 | 4 |
Roving vehicles proved invaluable during the Apollo missions, enabling astronauts to complete almost 20 trips across the surface of the moon. With each successive mission, NASA improved the rovers’ capacities, increasing the number and duration of exploration missions.
NASA is still building on the lessons learned during the Apollo missions, and also incorporating the experience gained operating unmanned rovers on Mars. Using them, NASA has developed the multi-mission Space Exploration Vehicle, or SEV. The SEV cabin concept could be coupled with a flying platform for use near the International Space Station, satellite servicing and near-Earth asteroid missions.
A wheeled chassis concept, unveiled in 2007 with an upgraded version completed in 2009, could be used for exploring planetary surfaces.
The Space Exploration Vehicle
NASA plans to conduct human space exploration missions to a variety of destinations. To maximize the number of destinations NASA explores, space exploration systems must be flexible, and NASA must minimize the number of systems developed. One system concept NASA is analyzing is the SEV. The SEV would use the same cabin for in-space missions (i.e., satellite servicing, telescope assembly and exploration of near-Earth asteroids) as well as surface exploration on planetary bodies (i.e., the moon and Mars).
|Click to enlarge|
On planetary surfaces, astronauts will need surface mobility to explore multiple sites across the lunar and Martian surfaces. The SEV surface concept has the small, pressurized cabin mounted on a wheeled chassis that would enable a mobile form of exploration. These two components could be delivered to the planetary surface together, or as separate elements.
The SEV can provide the astronauts’ main mode of transportation, and – unlike the unpressurized Apollo lunar rover – also allow them to go on long excursions without the restrictions imposed by spacesuits. The pressurized cabin has a suitport that allows the crew to get into their spacesuits and out of the vehicle faster than before, enabling multiple, short spacewalks as an alternative to one long spacewalk.
|The Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV) has a flexible architecture, allowing it to be used as a rover or as a space vehicle. credit: NASA|
The surface exploration version of the SEV also features pivoting wheels that enable “crab style” sideways movement, which helps the vehicle maneuver over difficult terrain. Its tiltable cockpit provides the drivers the best possible view of the terrain ahead. Astronauts can drive the mobility chassis, called Chariot, without the pressurized cabin by riding in rotating turrets while wearing spacesuits.
Additionally, Chariot can be used to carry cargo. The modular design allows various tools – winches, cable reels, backhoes, cranes and bulldozer blades – to be attached for special missions. It could even pick up and reposition solar-powered charging stations, communication relays and scientifi c packages.
The in-space version of the SEV would have the pressurized cabin on a flying platform and allow astronauts to live inside for up to 14 days. It would provide robotic manipulators to grasp objects for observation, and allow astronauts easy access to space via the suitports, to maximize their productivity performing spacewalks outside of the cabin. | <urn:uuid:c4e79907-86c5-4fa1-83b4-71bb5d79554d> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://dailycosmicnews.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-is-sev.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106367.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820092918-20170820112918-00032.warc.gz | en | 0.916352 | 660 | 3.40625 | 3 |
Pottytraining the World
Why does the world need to say farewell to the "flush and forget" principle?
In urban settings, the one-time use of water to disperse human and industrial wastes is becoming an outmoded practice, made obsolete by new technologies and water shortages.
Water enters a city, becomes contaminated with human and industrial wastes, and leaves the city dangerously polluted. Toxic industrial wastes discharged into rivers and lakes or into wells also permeate aquifers, making water — both surface and underground — unsafe for drinking.
And their toxic wastes are destroying marine ecosystems, including local fisheries.
The time has come to manage waste without discharging it into the local environment, allowing water to be recycled indefinitely — and reducing both urban and industrial demand dramatically.
The current engineering concept for dealing with human waste is to use vast quantities of water to wash it away, preferably into a sewer system where it will be treated before being discharged into the local river.
The “flush and forget” system is expensive, water-intensive, disrupts the nutrient cycle — and is a major source of disease in developing countries.
As water scarcity spreads, the viability of water-based sewage systems will diminish. Water-based sewage systems take nutrients originating in the soil and typically dump them into rivers, lakes or the sea.
Not only are the nutrients lost from agriculture, but the nutrient overload has led to the death of many rivers and to the formation of some 200 dead zones in ocean coastal regions. Sewer systems that dump untreated sewage into rivers and streams are a major source of disease and death.
Sunita Narain of the Centre for Science and Environment in India argues convincingly that a water-based disposal system with sewage treatment facilities is neither environmentally nor economically viable for India.
She notes that an Indian family of five, producing 250 liters of excrement in a year and using a water flush toilet, requires 150,000 liters of water to wash away its wastes.
As currently designed, India’s sewer system is actually a pathogen-dispersal system. It takes a small quantity of contaminated material — and uses it to make vast quantities of water unfit for human use, often simply discharging it into nearby rivers or streams. Narain says both “our rivers and our children are dying.”
India’s government, like that of many other developing countries, is hopelessly chasing the goal of universal water-based sewage systems and sewage treatment facilities — unable to close the huge gap between services needed and provided, but unwilling to admit that it is not an economically viable option. Narain concludes that the “flush and forget” approach is not working.
This dispersal of pathogens is a huge public health challenge. Worldwide, poor sanitation and personal hygiene claim 2.7 million lives per year, second only to the 5.9 million claimed by hunger and malnutrition.
Fortunately, there is a low-cost alternative — the composting toilet. This is a simple, waterless, odorless toilet linked to a small compost facility. Table waste can also be incorporated into the composter.
The dry composting converts human fecal material into a soil-like humus, which is essentially odorless and is scarcely 10% of the original volume. These compost facilities need to be emptied every year or so, depending on design and size.
Vendors periodically collect the humus and can market it as a soil supplement, thus ensuring that the nutrients and organic matter return to the soil, reducing the need for fertilizer.
This technology reduces residential water use, thus cutting water bills and lowering the energy needed to pump and purify water. As a bonus, it also reduces garbage flow if table waste is incorporated, eliminates the sewage water disposal problem and restores the nutrient cycle.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now lists several brands of dry toilets approved for use. Pioneered in Sweden, these toilets work well under the widely varying conditions where they are now used, including Swedish apartment buildings, U.S. private residences and Chinese villages.
At the household level, water can be saved by using showerheads, flush toilets, dishwashers, clothes washers and other appliances that are more water-efficient. Some countries are adopting water efficiency standards and labeling for appliances, much as has been done for energy efficiency.
When water costs rise, as they inevitably will, investments in composting toilets and more water-efficient household appliances will become increasingly attractive to individual homeowners.
For cities, the most effective single step to raise water productivity is to adopt a comprehensive water treatment/recycling system, reusing the same water continuously.
With this system, only a small percentage of water is lost to evaporation each time it cycles through. Given the technologies that are available today, it is quite possible to recycle urban water supplies comprehensively, largely removing cities as a claimant on scarce water resources.
The existing water-based waste disposal economy is not viable. There are too many households, factories and feedlots to simply try and wash waste away on our crowded planet. To do so is ecologically mindless and outdated — an approach that belongs to an age when there were many fewer people and far less economic activity. | <urn:uuid:5080b53e-993e-40b3-8598-3ac9b8c9cce4> | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | https://www.theglobalist.com/pottytraining-the-world-sewage/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570986653216.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20191014101303-20191014124303-00166.warc.gz | en | 0.940532 | 1,072 | 3.6875 | 4 |
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. When you eat, the food in your stomach gets broken down, the body utilises the good bits and the other bits get flushed out as waste matter. With autistic children foods containing gluten do not break down fully. The broken down pieces are called peptides and these peptides are small enough to pass through the wall of the stomach rather than being fully processed. Children and adults with autism usually have something called Leaky gut, this means that the wall of the stomach is damaged and these peptides are small enough to pass through the wall into the bloodstream and the central nervous system including the brain, causing various adverse reactions.
When the protein gluten gets broken down, it becomes the peptide known as gluteomorphin. Most people are aware of the highly addictive drug Morphine and this peptide is very similar in its effects on the brain and body of the autistic person.
Casein which is the protein found in dairy products. This protein breaks down to the peptide Caseomorphin but again like gluten, does not fully break down and passes through the lining of the stomach into the bloodstream, contributing to the adverse reactions listed below.
Gluten & Casein foods are also inflammatory , where you have inflammation you have a perfect environment for disease to flourish.
Parents of autistic children have observed the following reactions when their children have eaten foods containing gluten and/or casein.
Their child seems to be spaced out
Unusual behaviours including stimming
Sensory issues including hearing sensitivities
Very high pain threshold
Craving foods containing gluten and/or Casein
Night waking/sleep issues
food craving and screaming until they get the food containing gluten and/or casein
dark circles under eyes
history of glue ear, or ear infections
diarrhoea and/or constipation
runny nose, phlegm, catarrh
red ears or cheeks
It should also be noted that some parents have even observed autistic children and adults going through withdrawal symptoms, similar to that of a drug addict when taking gluten out of their diet.
It is also good to note that Gluten can take up to a year to leave the body and Casein 2-4 days. Digestive enzyme supplement containing DPP-IV (dipeptidyl peptidase IV) taken with every meal can help.
It can be quite daunting starting the gluten free & Casein free diet but there are many recipe books available and also many websites listing recipes. A lot of supermarkets stock gluten free bread now but these obviously contain preservatives which are usually chemical based and autistic individuals are more prone to being sensitive to chemicals in any form. | <urn:uuid:9e09738f-cf7a-4282-ae57-835650657e0f> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://vdbp.info/autism-gcmaf/50-gluten-and-casein-negative-effects-in-autism.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187820556.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20171017013608-20171017033608-00656.warc.gz | en | 0.957438 | 552 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Cement manufacturing plants have laboured to maintain optimal O2 levels in their manufacturing process, while maintaining enough O2 for combustion. Optimising O2 in the kiln exit gas is important for a few reasons, but most importantly, it ensures complete combustion and the efficient operation of the kiln.
All plants want to operate as efficiently as possible. The fact is, if a kiln is operating with excess O2, it is operating inefficiently. The goal is to have enough O2 for 100% combustion. However, too much O2 can actually cool the process, so there is an optimal balance.
Many popular refractory linings make use of SiC-based products because of their non-wetting properties, low thermal expansion, and high strength. But SiC materials are not necessarily the best choice in reduced O2 conditions. The non-wetting properties of SiC depend on having sufficient oxidation to form a protective skin. A reduced O2 environment interferes with this oxidation, at least partially compromising one of the key benefits of SiC as a refractory material. This has side effects in terms of alkali resistance, which in turn affects the service life of not only the refractory lining but also other structures, such as the shell and metallic anchors. It also affects the susceptibility of the lining to build-up of dust and other particulates, which was a principal reason for using non-wetting material in the first place.
Alkali penetration and buildup
The major factor that contributes to lower service life is the presence of alkali vapours and salts in the cement making process. Alkalis are introduced into the system through feed raw materials or fuels. They are vaporised in the kiln preheating and calcining zones and flow back with the gas stream toward the preheater tower. These alkalis precipitate on dust particles and attach themselves to refractory linings in the riser area and lower vessels. The infiltration of these alkali compounds alters the surface density of the refractory lining, which increases the risk of cracking and thermal shock. The increased densification also greatly increases the potential for spalling. The net effect of these issues is the reduced life of the lining due to corrosion and mechanical degradation.
Clearly, protection against corrosion caused by alkalis is a key concern. SiC-based liner materials achieve this protection by so-called ‘glassy phase coating’ that liberates silica and carbon through intense oxidation. The carbon forms a protective skin, while the free silica fills in porous holes, contributing to alkali resistance. But herein lies the problem. To achieve these non-wetting properties requires sufficient O2 for oxidation to occur. In a reducing environment, the lower O2 levels may actually prevent this from occurring when SiC material is used. That contributes to susceptibility to alkalis, leading to corrosion of those materials and reduced service life for the lining.
Alkalis are not the only source of corrosion. In the cement industry, many plants use materials that cause or contribute to the build-up of dust and particulates on the lining surface. This is exacerbated by the presence of alkali vapours and salts. When these particulates build up in areas that restrict airflow, it can have extremely undesirable effects and even cause plant shutdown. Costs of US$500 000 and more are common in these scenarios.
To further complicate the issues, many plants have shifted to the use of alternative fuels for cost-saving reasons. These can introduce more chemicals into the process mix that contribute to build up. Again, materials with non-wetting properties have historically been used to combat these effects.
Other drawbacks of SiC-based products
Of course there are also unintentional conditions that can lead to reducing conditions, in particular air ‘inleakage’. For many reasons, such as placement of a kiln gas analyser with respect to kiln exit gases and faulty door seals, it is possible to introduce undesirable process effects. The presence of additional O2 may be falsely detected by the control system, leading to increased fuel and thereby reducing the O2 content at the bottom of the riser.
Another drawback to SiC-based castables is higher thermal conductivity. This leads to higher shell temperatures, process heat loss, and potentially premature metallic anchor failure. Additional insulation can be used to mitigate these effects, but that increases the heat held in the hot face lining, resulting in deeper penetration of alkali compounds.
Since reduced O2 levels interfere with SiC-containing materials’ ability to oxidise and produce the protective glassy phase surface, what alternatives are available to mitigate those effects? An alternative material for monolithics is alumina-zirconia-silica (AZS). AZS exhibits substantially increased resistance to alkali corrosion. Results from alkali tests have shown that products with as little as 14% zirconia are almost completely resistant to alkali penetration under both oxidising and reducing conditions. Another benefit is that zirconia-containing products have lower thermal conductivity than SiC. Products using virgin zirconia grain have been shown to outperform recycled zirconia grain.
AZS-based products are noted for their superior corrosion resistance. Adding more zirconia increases toughness and decreases alkali penetration. Long used in glass and steel making for exactly this reason, AZS products also bring these desirable qualities to the cement-making process.
HarbisonWalker International (HWI) has worked with customers that have experienced poor results with SiC-based liners due to inleakage. In these instances, false readings led to a reducing environment that causes accelerated corrosion of the SiC liner, typically over a 3 − 4 month period. In these situations, replacement of the linings with AZS-based materials resulted in an improved process and increased service life for the lining.
In other examples, HWI has supplied AZS products in many greenfield installations, as specified by OEMs, to help fight build up and alkali attack. With HWI’s help, these customers significantly increased daily clinker production using the company’s ASZ products. In several cases, some of that material remained in service for more than 4 years.
Whether the motivation is environmental impact, operating efficiency, reduced cost, or increased service life, a reducing environment for cement refractories is more than a possibility. While SiC-based products are widely popular and ideal in several applications, there are clear shortcomings that are at cross-purposes with these goals in cement-making refractories. AZS monolithics provide practical alternatives that contribute to these goals and mitigate the drawbacks of SiC.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/special-reports/24122018/mitigating-production-drawbacks/ | <urn:uuid:eb208146-7996-46ef-893f-a651e7b682bc> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.worldcement.com/special-reports/24122018/mitigating-production-drawbacks/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570692.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20220807181008-20220807211008-00697.warc.gz | en | 0.931576 | 1,421 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Day after New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 2 when New Year’s Day falls during the week or the following Monday if New Year’s Day falls on a weekend, and we are going to do the most obvious thing to do on a holiday — chill. Did you know that there was a time when the new year was March 15? Weird, right? New Zealand is one of the countries that are always first to celebrate New Year’s Day as it’s 12 hours ahead of G.M.T. Day after New Year’s Day is a public holiday in New Zealand, where people and businesses take the day off.
History of Day after New Year's Day
Up until the 16th century, New Year’s Day on January 1 was hardly a tradition, and different countries worldwide had their times when they celebrated the new year.
In ancient Babylon, the first recorded new year celebration took place in the year 2000 B.C. The Babylonians designed their calendar around the movement of the moon and sun. They celebrate their new year in the month of Nisan, the first new moon after the vernal equinox (mid-March in Gregorian calendar). Before the ancient Roman calendar reformation in Numa’s era, Romans followed the ten-month calendar thought to have been created by the first king of Rome, Romulus.
The month of March was the first on the calendar. As a result, the new year’s celebrations took place on March 1. Later on, January and February were introduced to the Roman calendar, but as the last two months. However, after some period, people began seeing them as the first two months of the year instead. By 153 B.C., Romans had started celebrating the new year on January 1.
After being named Consul and seeing the harmful influence of the Roman calendar on the state’s administration, Julius Caesar instituted fresh adjustments to the calendar. He adjusted the calendar to the movement of the sun and declared January to be the first month of the year. People in much of the Western world followed the calendar for the next 1,600 years, and many of them celebrated the new year on January 1.
During medieval times, the Church temporarily replaced the first day of the year with important religious days, such as the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25 and Jesus’ birthday on December 25. This practice ended in 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, re-establishing January 1 as New Year’s Day.
Day after New Year's Day timeline
Babylonians celebrate the Atiku festival — the first recorded New Year's celebration in history.
After January 1 becomes the day for the new consuls’ inauguration, people begin celebrating New Year's Day on the same day.
The church designates different important days in the Christian calendar as New Year's Day.
Pope Gregory XIII reinstates January 1 as New Year's Day.
Day after New Year's Day FAQs
Is the day after New Year's Day a public holiday in New Zealand?
Yes, the Day after New Year’s Day is a public holiday in New Zealand, and businesses are expected to remain closed for the entire day.
What is the Day after New Year's Day called?
It is called precisely that — the Day after New Year’s Day. There is no other particular name for it.
What do New Zealanders do on the Day after New Year's Day?
Since it’s a no-work day, most New Zealanders use the day as part of their annual vacation where they travel to the countryside or abroad and go camping. Some people spend the time at home, generally relaxing.
Day after New Year's Day Activities
During this time, there are a lot of campsites available for people who want to spend some time in the great outdoors. Check out websites like booking.com and newzealand.com to find amazing camping spots for you and your friends or family. Remember to make your reservations early because this is one of the busiest camping seasons of the year.
Have a barbecue
Your front yard or backyard can be used for multiple purposes — it could be the location of your yearly B.B.Q. party the day following New Year's Day. Once you've learned how to handle the grill, throwing a barbecue party is simple. If you do, all that's left to do now is make the punch, ice, and games, as well as send out invitations. For people who have no prior experience with grilling, an online crash course is available.
Relax and chill
There's nothing wrong with spending the day relaxing from all the merriments of Christmas and New Year's Day. Put on your favorite baggy pants and sweatshirt, grab some cold drinks, snacks, and tune in to your favorite T.V. show.
5 Mind-blowing Facts About New Year's Day
The most popular resolution is exercising
The top New Year’s resolution is exercise, followed by eating healthier, saving money, and losing weight.
Most resolutions fail by February
By February, most people have either dropped or forgotten about their resolutions.
Sparkling wine is the drink of choice
About 360 million glasses of sparkling wine are consumed in the United States on New Year's Eve.
Ethiopia celebrates the new year on September 11
Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar whose New Year’s Day is 1 Mäskäräm (September 11 in Gregorian calendar).
Russia celebrates New Year’s Day twice
They celebrate the new year on January 1 and January 14.
Why We Love Day after New Year's Day
It’s a day to relax
Since it is a no-work day, the Day after New Year's Day is normally a chance for New Zealanders to unwind and spend time with family and friends. So relax and unwind for what might be the last time before the grind of work begins again.
It's a continuation of the New Year's Day celebration
Since the Day after New Year's Day is after New Year's Day, it is only natural to pick up from where the previous day's celebration ended.
What's more fun than the freedom to lay back or party, especially if it's going to be the last in a long while? Therefore, make sure you spend this day to the fullest.
Day after New Year's Day dates | <urn:uuid:34b011c0-f01e-4ded-b830-d85212f5284a> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://nationaltoday.com/day-after-new-years-day/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945292.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20230325002113-20230325032113-00662.warc.gz | en | 0.952566 | 1,413 | 3.65625 | 4 |
1. How long ago was the collection of The Homeric Hymns formed, and how many songs were compiled?
Thirty three songs were used to compile The Homeric Hymns. The collection was formed thousands of years ago and is still regarded as one of the best representations of Greek mythology.
2. What leads historians to believe that Homer either wrote or was influential in the writing of the hymns?
Homer had a particular style called hexameter that was also used in the hymns. For this reason, many historians think that Homer may have written some of the hymns and/or influenced the Homeric bards to write the others. Hexameter is the term used to describe Homer's writing style because it has six units, and each of them contains either a dactyl or a spondee. The difference is that a dactyl features one long and two short syllables while a spondee has two long syllables. Either way, both of them are combined to give the writer more flexibility when composing in a hexameter verse.
This section contains 3,256 words
(approx. 11 pages at 300 words per page) | <urn:uuid:d1eaf83b-6b54-4430-989b-82324034ae59> | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/the-homeric-hymns/shortessaykey.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218189686.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212949-00158-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978344 | 244 | 3.578125 | 4 |
(Beyond Pesticides, April 3, 2008)
Wines on sale in the European Union (EU), including wines made by world famous vineyards, contain residues of a number of pesticides, according to a new report by Pesticide Action Network Europe. The organization tested 40 bottles of wine purchased inside the EU from Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal and South Africa, six of which were organic wines. Every bottle of conventional wine included in the analysis was found to contain pesticides, with one bottle containing 10 different pesticides. On average each wine sample contained over four pesticides.
The analysis revealed 24 different pesticide contaminants, including five classified as being carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to the reproductive system or endocrine disrupting. The most widespread pesticide contaminant was pyrimethanil, a possible carcinogen, which was detected in 25 bottles of conventional wine almost 75% of all conventional samples analyzed. While the majority of wines tested were selected from low cost affordable brands, three of the bottles are world famous Bordeaux wines and more expensive, according to PAN Europe.
The discovery of pesticides in samples of wine follows the publication of a report by the French Ministry of Agriculture which identified 15 pesticides as being systematically transferred from grapes into wine during the wine-making process. Grapes are among the most contaminated food products on sale in the EU and receive a higher dose of synthetic pesticides than almost any other crop. The contamination of wines is a direct result of over reliance on pesticides in grape production. In the EU, grapes account for 3% of all cropland, while being responsible for 15% synthetic pesticide applications.
“The presence of pesticides in European wines is a growing problem,” said Elliott Cannell of PAN Europe. “Many grape farmers are abandoning traditional methods of pest control in favor of using hazardous synthetic pesticides. This trend has a direct impact on the quality of European wines. In two thirds of cases the pesticide residues identified in this study relate to chemicals only recently adopted into mainstream grape production in the EU. Hazardous pesticides applied to food crops growing in the field can and do end up in food products. Almost half of all fruit and vegetables sold in the EU are contaminated with pesticides, with one item in 20 containing pesticides at concentrations above legal limits.”
Of the six bottles of organic wine tested, five contained no detectable pesticide residues. These results provide a clear proof of principle that pesticide free wine production is possible where no synthetic pesticides are applied to grapes. One sample contained a low concentration of pyrimethanil, a possible carcinogen. The presence of pesticide residues in organic wines is a rare but well documented phenomenon. A 2004 study, suggests that small organic wine producers located in areas of intensive conventional grape production may suffer occasional contamination due to the drift of pesticides from neighboring plots affecting front-line organic vines.
The U.S. is second behind EU for global wine consumption. Europe accounts for two thirds of global wine production and consumption. Italy, France, Spain are major exporters selling around 64% of all wine traded internationally. Germany and UK are the world’s largest wine importers.
According to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) reported pesticide use statistics, total pesticide use on wine grapes in the state dropped by about 8.5 million pounds in 2006. DPR analysts note that pesticide use varies from year to year based on many factors, including types of crops, economics, acreage planted, and weather conditions. Even under similar conditions, pest problems may vary. For example, cool wet spring weather often prompts increased use of sulfur and other fungicides, as was the case in 2005. But similar weather conditions in 2006 did not produce as much vineyard disease in most areas, so wine grape growers actually used less sulfur.
Back in 1998, a wine industry group acknowledged that some wines produced in France may have been contaminated with polychlorophenols, specifically pentachlorophenol, for the past decade. The wine industry says the contamination causes “no health hazard,” according to L’Express news magazine, but that it makes the wine taste bad. This bad taste was often blamed on bad corks.
However, pentachlorophenol is a probable human carcinogen that contains dioxin; it is not registered for food uses and has no “safe” level, according to Beyond Pesticides. The chemical is used to treat wood used for the walls of wine storage facilities, and “trace quantities” seeped into such wines as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais and champagnes. Contamination in champagne has been known of since 1982. The industry chose not to inform the public so as not to cause unnecessary alarm. According to L’Express, Sophie Gerard, a spokesperson for the wine industry, says that less than one percent of Bordeaux wine was affected and that the problem has been resolved through replacing the treated wood with solid oak which does not need treatment. She cites a study by the Conseil Interprofessionenel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB), also mentioned in Wine Spectator magazine, which found that of 1344 wine samples, only 11 were contaminated with a wood preservative. The scientist, Pascal Chatonnet, who discovered the contamination, says that about 50% of his samples had been contaminated. According to Wine Spectator, vintners believe it is the humid conditions in wine cellars that cause the polychlorophenol molecules from wood ceilings and walls to evolve into 2,4,6, trichloroanisole (TCE), which is commonly cited as the chemical responsible for making wine taste “corky.”
The health impacts of pesticide exposure to vineyard farmworkers is also a concern. According to the PAN-Europe report, “Published scientific analysis suggests that those exposed to pesticides in grape production suffer a higher incidence of allergic rhinitis, respiratory problems, cancers, and chromosomal and nuclear abnormalities, as well as lower neurological capacities.” | <urn:uuid:2e62996e-34ba-4073-9ce4-3b11dfce3e1b> | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | https://mdpestnet.org/pesticide-residues-found-in-european-wines/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710534.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20221128171516-20221128201516-00207.warc.gz | en | 0.956067 | 1,243 | 2.90625 | 3 |
UPMC Eye Center Experts Stress the Need for Awareness of Glaucoma, the ‘Sneak Thief of Sight’
In Support of the First-Ever World Glaucoma Day March 6
PITTSBURGH , March 6, 2008 — The second-leading cause of blindness worldwide, glaucoma usually has no symptoms until it’s too late – leaving about half of people with the disease unaware of having it until they experience vision loss. Regular screenings for glaucoma are the best way to detect the disease early, and since damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed, these screenings are vital – especially for those at high risk of developing the disease.
“Glaucoma can be treated, and sight can be preserved – if the disease is detected early and treatment follows,” said Joel Schuman, M.D., director of the UPMC Eye Center and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “Being examined by an ophthalmologist at least every two years after age 40 is key to prevent blindness.”
World Glaucoma Day is being recognized for the first time on Thursday, March 6 and aims to increase glaucoma awareness. To support this worldwide endeavor, the UPMC Eye Center provides these facts about glaucoma and tips for proper eye health:
Known as the “sneak thief of sight,” glaucoma can affect anyone.
Defined, it is a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma has no cure and, for most types of the disease, its early symptoms go unnoticed. However, many treatment options are available that can help manage the effects of glaucoma, especially if the disease is detected early.
Early detection is the key to preserving the vision of people with glaucoma.
Undergoing a complete eye examination by your eye care professional is the best way to detect glaucoma. The average, healthy adult should be screened for glaucoma:
- At least once between ages 20 and 29
- At least twice between ages 30 and 39
- Every two years from ages 40 to 65
- Every one to two years after age 65
Those at risk for glaucoma should be screened regularly, as directed by a doctor.
You should discuss your risk for glaucoma with your doctor, but some risk factors include:
- Being over age 40
- Having a family history of glaucoma or another eye disease
- Being African-American or of African or Latin heritage
- Having eye surgery, or experiencing a serious eye injury
- Using steroids for a long period of time
- Having diabetes, high blood pressure or another chronic illness
For more information about glaucoma and other eye health issues, or to schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist, please call 412-647-2200 or visit the UPMC Eye Center’s web site at http://eyecenter.upmc.com.
Note to editors: To arrange an interview with Dr. Schuman on the latest advances in screening and treatment of glaucoma, or to interview another expert at the UPMC Eye Center, please contact Stacey Simon at 412-647-3555 or e-mail [email protected]. | <urn:uuid:1a29aac0-acb3-4b11-b4ba-8cdfc05115d5> | CC-MAIN-2017-09 | http://www.upmc.com/media/newsreleases/2008/pages/glaucoma-sneak-thief-sight.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-09/segments/1487501171281.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20170219104611-00141-ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924193 | 709 | 2.6875 | 3 |
(NaturalNews) Zinc is an essential mineral which, although required in only limited amounts, the body cannot produce and a steady supply must be maintained in order to support important bodily processes like strengthening the immune system, wound healing, cell division and supporting the catalytic activity of various enzymes essential in DNA. It has also been reported to encourage hair growth, as cells in the hair follicle contain zinc, and promote healthy skin, as zinc manages the skin's oil content and the androgenic hormonal effect that produces acne.
Aside from being present in meat, dairy products and certain vegetables, zinc is also an essential trace mineral found in the soil. To get the full dietary benefits of zinc, choosing only organically grown vegetables or meat sourced from free range farms that feed their livestock organic grain is important. Commercial farming has depleted the soil of minerals and trace elements resulting in nutrient deficient products that may not contain enough zinc. It has also been observed that zinc is best absorbed when taken with a meal that contains protein and that zinc sources from fish, meat and poultry are more easily absorbed by the body than zinc derived from plant food. The body absorbs around 20 to 40 percent of the zinc present in food.
Nevertheless, observing a healthy and well rounded diet can already satisfy the body's zinc requirements. However, if you suspect that you may not be getting enough, zinc is also commercially available as a supplement and is already normally a component in commercially available multivitamin supplements.
Benefits of zinc
People from industrialized countries rarely suffer from zinc deficiency. However, alcoholics, vegans, vegetarians, those undergoing chronic treatment of certain medications and infants are prone to zinc deficiency. So are patients who suffer from chronic GI, diabetes, liver disease, malabsorption syndrome and HIV infection.
Zinc deficiency is normally accompanied by nutrient deficiencies and addressing these deficiencies is important as zinc repletion alone may not lead to significant clinical improvement. Deficiency in iron, as well as vitamin D, is a nutritional deficiency normally associated with zinc.
People who suffer from zinc deficiency increase their risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Researchers have long recognized that zinc improves memory and learning. Zinc is normally found in the vesicles or nerve cells responsible for the transmitters that enable the nerve cells to communicate. The neurons of the hippocampus responsible for higher functions of learning and memory also contain major concentrations of zinc. If zinc were to be removed from the brain, communications between the neurons would significantly decrease. Scientists discovered that zinc is vital for controlling the efficiency of nerve cells in the hippocampus and when zinc levels are increased, communication in the hippocampus region would be restored, improving learning and memory capacity.
In men, zinc deficiency can result in delayed sexual maturation, prostate enlargement and even impotency.
Among the elderly, factors like reduced capacity to absorb zinc, increased use of drugs that increase zinc secretion may contribute to a mild case of zinc deficiency. It is particularly relevant that they pay attention to maintaining adequate zinc intake to avoid the consequences of zinc deficiency like impaired immune functions and osteoporosis. In a study conducted on 600 senior citizens, it was discovered that those with healthy zinc levels in their blood were 50 percent less likely to develop pneumonia. A prior study also revealed that those who had normal zinc levels in their blood experienced fewer overall infections and needed fewer antibiotics as opposed to those who suffered from low zinc levels who were prone to developing prolonged illness.
Other conditions associated with zinc deficiency include rashes, hair loss, diarrhea, dry or scaly scalp, loss of appetite, loss or changes in vision, poor or stunted growth, recurring infections, reduced sense of smell or taste, slow healing of wounds, cuts, bruises and unexplained weight loss.
Drug interactions and recommendations
Zinc supplements are available in the following forms: zinc sulphate, which may be the most affordable, but not easily absorbed and may cause stomach upset; zinc acetate, zinc citrate, zinc glycerate, zinc monomethionine and zinc picolinate. The following are easily absorbed by the body but may cost a lot more. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, zinc's recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 11mg/day for men and 8mg/day for women.
When taking zinc, have it with juice or water. Take it with meals if it causes stomach upset. Zinc also shares a strong inverse relation with copper. Excess amounts in one can cause deficiency in the other. That is why it is recommended that when taking zinc, even in a multivitamin, it should be taken along with copper.
Although research has shown that taking 40 mg of zinc daily is a safe amount, scientists are not sure what would happen with prolonged intake. Very high doses of zinc may actually weaken the immune functions, lower good cholesterol and increase bad cholesterol. There are also reports of people who have used zinc nasal sprays to treat a cold and instead; lost their sense of smell. It is suspected that high doses of zinc may cause headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, loss of muscle coordination, hallucination and alcohol intolerance.
Also, zinc interacts with antibiotics by decreasing the absorption of the drug potentially reducing its efficacy. It is recommended that zinc supplements and antibiotics be taken two hours apart to prevent interactions. The therapeutic use of metal chelating agents and anti-convulsant drugs, as well as the prolonged use of diuretics increasing urinary excretion, may further result in zinc loss.
Recent developments on zinc
Recent research on zinc has shown that zinc is essential in preventing atherosclerosis, provides resistance to malaria, fights breast cancer, diabetes and even the common cold.
The scientists from the University of Singapore discovered that high zinc intake reduced cholesterol build-up on arterial walls. In a study conducted on animal subjects, two sets of rabbits were fed high cholesterol diets over a period of eight weeks. Only one group was given a zinc supplement. At the close of the study, it discovered that the group who enjoyed a zinc supplement had reduced cholesterol build up in their artery walls.
On a related note, it was also discovered that together with vitamin A, zinc provided resistance to malaria, a tropical disease introduced into the bloodstream by a mosquito bite. Drugs once successful in treating malaria are facing a resistance from the evolving parasite. In a study conducted in Burkina Faso, West Africa, where malaria is endemic, researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health studied 150 children aged 6 to 72 months. The children were divided into two groups, one given a placebo while the other was given a single 200,000IU dose of vitamin A plus 10 mg of zinc six days a week for six months. The results of the study revealed that even though the children received supplementation and were still exposed to mosquitoes with some still severely ill, the prevalence of malaria decreased in their group by 34 percent compared to the placebo group who showed only a 3.4 percent decrease.
Zinc has also been found to prevent diabetes and cancer - two of the world's most prevalent diseases.
Diabetes is a disease that affects 23.6 million American adults and children with 1.6 million new cases diagnosed every year. Studies have shown that zinc is responsible for many enzymatic functions that assist in dealing with the negative symptoms of diabetes mellitus. It also improves glycemic control; lessening the harmful effects of diabetes because the enzyme systems which require zinc are mainly involved with the metabolism of glucose; making zinc a natural catalyst for insulin secretion.
On the other hand, cancer is caused by imbalances in the body. The only way to avoid it is to address the imbalance. Zinc together with selenium is one of the many minerals that maintain the body's balance and keep cancer away. Scientists from Pennsylvania University discovered that glands in the breast have unique zinc requirements which, during lactation and breastfeeding, also transfer plenty of zinc into the milk. Infants suffer impaired growth and development if they receive inadequate zinc during breastfeeding. When zinc is not properly metabolized or is deficient, breast cancer often occurs. Lack of zinc has been implicated in the transition and development of the disease; compromising cellular function.
Lastly, zinc has been found to prevent the common cold. In a 2002 study conducted in an American high school, students were given zinc lozenges to test if reported cases of cold and flu would decrease. Based on the results, it was observed that an increase in student attendance, as well as a 62 percent drop in reports of cold-like symptoms, was found among the students.
Moreover, a comprehensive review of prior case studies published in The Cochrane Library has indicated that zinc lozenges and supplements lowered the duration of the common cold, especially when taken within the first 24 hours of visible symptoms.
Call to action
Taking a proactive approach on staying healthy by being aware of your body's nutritional needs, is a step to the right direction towards helping you achieve your goals of becoming healthy, happy and strong. Knowing what zinc can do for you should guide you to making the right choices. After all, your health is your responsibility. | <urn:uuid:320fce14-4a0d-4f88-b815-ec2ed0e07293> | CC-MAIN-2014-52 | http://www.naturalnews.com/036669_zinc_biology_healing.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-52/segments/1418802768050.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20141217075248-00043-ip-10-231-17-201.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958528 | 1,852 | 3.46875 | 3 |
Deaf children face challenges in education in India
Children in villages and remote areas of the country that are hearing impaired have very less chance of getting quality education.
The education of deaf children has not received enough importance in the country so far, and that has caused a major lack of infrastructure and support to the cause.
As per data from India's National Association of the Deaf, there are around 18 million people in India with hearing impairments and that is almost 1 percent of the Indian population.
The numbers could be more as many times disabilities go unreported and do not become part of the census.
The use of sign language is also very rare and mostly ignored. The times are changing and ISL- Indian sign language is slowly getting recognition.
As per experts, Indian education is mostly based on oral skills and that conflicts with the education for children who cannot speak and hear.
This has become a cultural reason that hampers the growth in education sector for hearing impaired children in the country.
However, a change in attitude and mentality is gradually becoming apparent and ISL is being used in various parts of the country in a more prominent manner.
Various originations are also promoting it as a means for spreading the light of education among deaf children.
Support from parents and teachers can help deaf children learn sign language and learn the skill of communication.
Watch in Sign Language
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Ask your question about any issue related to disability, this is your space to find the answer.
Want to feature your inspiring story or share an event with the disabled community? Write to:
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Frederick County Master Gardener
Okay, so you’ve been to your favorite garden nursery and selected plants that match the sun and shade requirements of your location. You have a container large enough to hold sufficient soil to
support the roots of your plants and most importantly has a drainage hole. Now what? What do you do next to grow a successful container garden?
#1 Plant your flowers using quality potting soil. This is not the time to be frugal. There are many quality potting soils available, most with slow release fertilizers. Never use the soil from your
garden in your containers, it’s much too heavy and compact for the roots of your plants.
#2 Plant your plants level with the top of the pot or maybe a ½" below. After the first couple of gentle waterings the soil settles anyways. If you plant two or three inches below the top of your
containers, your flowers will spend the first few weeks of spring just trying to get to the lip of the pot. Your pots will look much fuller if you plant them close to the top of the pot.
#3 For lush overflowing containers, plant your flowers next to each other, about an inch or so apart. They do not have to be spaced as far apart like you would if you were planting directly in the
ground. Remember you are controlling their environment so you can push the envelope a bit.
#4 Water…..the secret ingredient to fabulous containers! Containers need to be watered daily. Ideally it’s best to water in the morning so the plants are fortified for the heat of the day. Every time
your container dries out and the plants collapse, they lose a little of their vigor. So it’s important to water regularly and sufficiently. Water the container until it runs out the bottom of the pot. You’ll notice as the
plants grow you’ll need more water that when the container was first planted.
#5 The companion to water is fertilizer, also essential for successful containers. Despite using potting soil with fertilizers included, your plants will need a boost of nutrients during the season. I
usually start using a liquid fertilizer a month after my plants are first planted, then every other week after that. Remember you are watering daily and many of the nutrients leach out of the soil. Plus you have a lot of
plants in a relatively small space and they will quickly use up the nutrients in the soil, especially as they grow bigger as the summer progresses. Even fertilizing your containers only once during the season will be a help.
Be sure to follow all the manufacturer’s directions on the liquid fertilizer.
#6 And finally take a little time each week to keep your containers looking attractive. Remove spent blooms, not only will your plants look better but they’ll produce more flowers. Don’t be afraid to
do some judicious trimming, some plants get unruly in the summer and want to take over the container. Most plants will grow back if you overdue it but you may want to hold off on serious trimming until after your garden
So follow these six simple tips and I know you’ll be enjoying beautiful containers all summer long. Happy Gardening!
Read other articles on gardening techniques
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A selection from
HISTORY OF ENGLAND
Narrated by Simon Vance
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running time is 12 minutes
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Commencement of the Civil War
In August 1642 the sword was at length drawn; and soon, in almost every shire of the kingdom, two hostile factions appeared in arms against each other. It is not easy to say which of the contending parties was at first the more formidable. The Houses commanded London and the counties round London, the fleet, the navigation of the Thames, and most of the large towns and seaports. They had at their disposal almost all the military stores of the kingdom, and were able to raise duties, both on goods imported from foreign countries, and on some important products of domestic industry. The King was ill provided with artillery and ammunition. The taxes which he laid on the rural districts occupied by his troops produced, it is probable, a sum far less than that which the Parliament drew from the city of London alone. He relied, indeed, chiefly, for pecuniary aid, on the munificence of his opulent adherents. Many of these mortgaged their land, pawned their jewels, and broke up their silver chargers and christening bowls, in order to assist him. But experience has fully proved that the voluntary liberality of individuals, even in times of the greatest excitement, is a poor financial resource when compared with severe and methodical taxation, which presses on the willing and unwilling alike.
Charles, however, had one advantage, which, if he had used it well, would have more than compensated for the want of stores and money, and which, notwithstanding his mismanagement, gave him, during some months, a superiority in the war. His troops at first fought much better than those of the Parliament. Both armies, it is true, were almost entirely composed of men who had never seen a field of battle. Nevertheless, the difference was great. The Parliamentary ranks were filled with hirelings whom want and idleness had induced to enlist. Hampden's regiment was regarded as one of the best; and even Hampden's regiment was described by Cromwell as a mere rabble of tapsters and serving men out of place. The royal army, on the other hand, consisted in great part of gentlemen, high spirited, ardent, accustomed to consider dishonour as more terrible than death, accustomed to fencing, to the use of fire arms, to bold riding, and to manly and perilous sport, which has been well called the image of war. Such gentlemen, mounted on their favourite horses, and commanding little bands composed of their younger brothers, grooms, gamekeepers, and huntsmen, were, from the very first day on which they took the field, qualified to play their part with credit in a skirmish. The steadiness, the prompt obedience, the mechanical precision of movement, which are characteristic of the regular soldier, these gallant volunteers never attained. But they were at first opposed to enemies as undisciplined as themselves, and far less active, athletic, and daring. For a time, therefore, the Cavaliers were successful in almost every encounter.
The Houses had also been unfortunate in the choice of a general. The rank and wealth of the Earl of Essex made him one of the most important members of the parliamentary party. He had borne arms on the Continent with credit, and, when the war began, had as high a military reputation as any man in the country. But it soon appeared that he was unfit for the post of Commander in Chief. He had little energy and no originality. The methodical tactics which he had learned in the war of the Palatinate did not save him from the disgrace of being surprised and baffled by such a Captain as Rupert, who could claim no higher fame than that of an enterprising partisan.
Nor were the officers who held the chief commissions under Essex qualified to supply what was wanting in him. For this, indeed, the Houses are scarcely to be blamed. In a country which had not, within the memory of the oldest person living, made war on a great scale by land, generals of tried skill and valour were not to be found. It was necessary, therefore, in the first instance, to trust untried men; and the preference was naturally given to men distinguished either by their station, or by the abilities which they had displayed in Parliament. In scarcely a single instance, however, was the selection fortunate. Neither the grandees nor the orators proved good soldiers. The Earl of Stamford, one of the greatest nobles of England, was routed by the Royalists at Stratton. Nathaniel Fiennes, inferior to none of his contemporaries in talents for civil business, disgraced himself by the pusillanimous surrender of Bristol. Indeed, of all the statesmen who at this juncture accepted high military commands, Hampden alone appears to have carried into the camp the capacity and strength of mind which had made him eminent in politics.
When the war had lasted a year, the advantage was decidedly with the Royalists. They were victorious, both in the western and in the northern counties. They had wrested Bristol, the second city in the kingdom, from the Parliament. They had won several battles, and had not sustained a single serious or ignominious defeat. Among the Roundheads adversity had begun to produce dissension and discontent. The Parliament was kept in alarm, sometimes by plots, and sometimes by riots. It was thought necessary to fortify London against the royal army, and to hang some disaffected citizens at their own doors. Several of the most distinguished peers who had hitherto remained at Westminster fled to the court at Oxford; nor can it be doubted that, if the operations of the Cavaliers had, at this season, been directed by a sagacious and powerful mind, Charles would soon have marched in triumph to Whitehall.
But the King suffered the auspicious moment to pass away; and it never returned. In August 1643 he sate down before the city of Gloucester. That city was defended by the inhabitants and by the garrison, with a determination such as had not, since the commencement of the war, been shown by the adherents of the Parliament. The emulation of London was excited. The trainbands of the City volunteered to march wherever their services might be required. A great force was speedily collected, and began to move westward. The siege of Gloucester was raised: the Royalists in every part of the kingdom were disheartened: the spirit of the parliamentary party revived: and the apostate Lords, who had lately fled from Westminster to Oxford, hastened back from Oxford to Westminster.
And now a new and alarming class of symptoms began to appear in the distempered body politic. There had been, from the first, in the parliamentary party, some men whose minds were set on objects from which the majority of that party would have shrunk with horror. These men were, in religion, Independents. They conceived that every Christian congregation had, under Christ, supreme jurisdiction in things spiritual; that appeals to provincial and national synods were scarcely less unscriptural than appeals to the Court of Arches, or to the Vatican; and that Popery, Prelacy, and Presbyterianism were merely three forms of one great apostasy. In politics, the Independents were, to use the phrase of their time, root and branch men, or, to use the kindred phrase of our own time, radicals. Not content with limiting the power of the monarch, they were desirous to erect a commonwealth on the ruins of the old English polity. At first they had been inconsiderable, both in numbers and in weight; but before the war had lasted two years they became, not indeed the largest, but the most powerful faction in the country. Some of the old parliamentary leaders had been removed by death; and others had forfeited the public confidence. Pym had been borne, with princely honours, to a grave among the Plantagenets. Hampden had fallen, as became him, while vainly endeavouring, by his heroic example, to inspire his followers with courage to face the fiery cavalry of Rupert. Bedford had been untrue to the cause. Northumberland was known to be lukewarm. Essex and his lieutenants had shown little vigour and ability in the conduct of military operations. At such a conjuncture it was that the Independent party, ardent, resolute, and uncompromising, began to raise its head, both in the camp and in the House of Commons.
The soul of that party was Oliver Cromwell. Bred to peaceful occupations, he had, at more than forty years of age, accepted a commission in the parliamentary army. No sooner had he become a soldier than he discerned, with the keen glance of genius, what Essex, and men like Essex, with all their experience, were unable to perceive. He saw precisely where the strength of the Royalists lay, and by what means alone that strength could be overpowered. He saw that it was necessary to reconstruct the army of the Parliament. He saw also that there were abundant and excellent materials for the purpose, materials less showy, indeed, but more solid, than those of which the gallant squadrons of the King were composed. It was necessary to look for recruits who were not mere mercenaries, for recruits of decent station and grave character, fearing God and zealous for public liberty. With such men he filled his own regiment, and, while he subjected them to a discipline more rigid than had ever before been known in England, he administered to their intellectual and moral nature stimulants of fearful potency.
The events of the year 1644 fully proved the superiority of his abilities. In the south, where Essex held the command, the parliamentary forces underwent a succession of shameful disasters; but in the north the victory of Marston Moor fully compensated for all that had been lost elsewhere. That victory was not a more serious blow to the Royalists than to the party which had hitherto been dominant at Westminster, for it was notorious that the day, disgracefully lost by the Presbyterians, had been retrieved by the energy of Cromwell, and by the steady valour of the warriors whom he had trained.
These events produced the Selfdenying Ordinance and the new model of the army. Under decorous pretexts, and with every mark of respect, Essex and most of those who had held high posts under him were removed; and the conduct of the war was intrusted to very different hands. Fairfax, a brave soldier, but of mean understanding and irresolute temper, was the nominal Lord General of the forces; but Cromwell was their real head.
Cromwell made haste to organise the whole army on the same principles on which he had organised his own regiment. As soon as this process was complete, the event of the war was decided. The Cavaliers had now to encounter natural courage equal to their own, enthusiasm stronger than their own, and discipline such as was utterly wanting to them. It soon became a proverb that the soldiers of Fairfax and Cromwell were men of a different breed from the soldiers of Essex. At Naseby took place the first great encounter between the Royalists and the remodelled army of the Houses. The victory of the Roundheads was complete and decisive. It was followed by other triumphs in rapid succession. In a few months the authority of the Parliament was fully established over the whole kingdom. Charles fled to the Scots, and was by them, in a manner which did not much exalt their national character, delivered up to his English subjects.
More information about Thomas Macaulay from Wikipedia
More selections (60) in this category: History/Society/Politics
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Regardless of your musical or lack of musical training, kNOW music studio believes in helping you make music NOW and in the future.
At kNOW music studio, we believe in assisting the student hone his/her musical abilities and to reach his/her full potential. One aspect of the teaching includes fostering a love for music within the student. With the love of music and helping the student reach his/her full potential, kNOW feels having goals to meet is better than simply meeting a required practice time. Goals are met by correct practicing, and this creates progress. The progress will lead to enjoyment and motivation for continued practice. Assessing of practice can be based upon whether or not the student consistently meets goals.
Lost a lesson plan – no worries…
At kNOW music studio, we understand that printed lesson plans can be misplaced or forgotten so we also provide digital copies of the lesson plans.
KNOW does not just work during the lesson. We believe in providing the students with the best musical education possible so kNOW music studio diligently prepares before and after the lessons by creating lesson plans to help each student and then evaluates each lesson to help make the next lesson even better.
What about functional skills?
Another aspect of strengthening a love for music and a good level of playing is to teach functional skills. The skills include the ability to sight-read, improvise, and play lead sheets. An additional aspect of fostering the love of music is giving the student a comprehensive music learning experience. The comprehensive music learning includes knowing music theory, history, and styles. All of these are discussed in the private lessons and will later be studied in more detail in classes outside of the lesson.
- From theory, the student can apply knowledge of chords to improvise and compose.
- With music history, the student learns how to feel a connection with the music and how to play stylistically.
- With music styles, having the student define the styles can assist the student in applying the knowledge to repertoire.
- The students can also participate in small projects such as writing paragraphs on music history/music styles and composing short compositions. These exercises help to formulate the knowledge within the student, and the projects will inform the teacher where the student may not be grasping a topic.
What kind of modeling is used for teaching?
At kNOW music studio, we believe a key ingredient to teaching is modeling curiosity and enjoyment of music. The teacher’s love and curiosity for music helps inspire the student’s love and curiosity. The teacher actively listens to the student play his/her pieces and assists the student with problem solving and discovery learning. This process is done by the teacher asking questions and addressing problems for the student to solve and with the teacher assisting the student’s growth in learning how to problem solve on his/her own. The end goal of teaching problem solving is to allow the student to learn how to teach him/herself and to solve difficulties without the teacher’s assistance. We believe in the student’s ability to problem solve independently from the teacher which allows the student to learn faster such as when practicing at home. One day, the student may also discontinue lessons, and the student will need to know how to continue learning music without having a teacher.
When should a student begin private lessons?
At kNOW music studio, the preferred age for a student to begin formal music lessons is when the student is 7 or 8. The reason can be explained by thinking of the student’s musical intelligence as a lump of clay bestowed at conception. Each person is conceived with a different size lump of clay. Before turning seven, the clay is still soft and can be molded and shaped. Focusing on musical intelligence (or aptitude) works best during the soft stage to prepare for when the clay hardens around the age of 7. The musical intelligence before the age of 7 shapes the clay into a container which can be filled with musical achievement after the student turns 7. The importance of cultivating the student’s intelligence before achievement can be shown with an example of farmers. A farmer who plants his crops in early May before getting the field ready by plowing etc. will have less success than another farmer who plants in later May after getting his field ready before planting. The analogy applies with the farmer planting in early May being a student who emphasizes on achievement before getting ready by developing aptitude. The farmer who waits until the end of May is the student who emphases aptitude such as tuneful singing and understanding rhythm before working on achievement.
What about parents and the lessons?
kNOW Music Studio knows that the best success happens when teachers, parents, and students work together. Therefore, kNOW Music Studio strives to make sure that parents are informed about the development of their child’s musical abilities. We believe in the importance of keeping parents involved with the musical journey. | <urn:uuid:e5ee49a6-dbb1-4c6f-9bb1-cf4e06876787> | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | https://nowmusicstudio.com/about/philosophy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446711111.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20221206161009-20221206191009-00693.warc.gz | en | 0.947247 | 994 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Presentation on theme: "The Great Awakening 1730s-1740s. Questions What was the significance of the Enlightenment in America? In what ways did the Enlightenment and the Great."— Presentation transcript:
The Great Awakening 1730s-1740s
Questions What was the significance of the Enlightenment in America? In what ways did the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening prompt Americans to challenge traditional sources of authority? How did the Baptists in Virginia challenge conventional assumptions about race, gender, and class in the colony?
THE ENLIGHTENMENT INFLUENCED THE COLONISTS Philosophical movement throughout Europe in the 17 th and 18 th centuries Emphasis on REASON as the most important human ability John Locke, a philosopher, argued that people possessed “natural rights” given to humans by God: life, liberty, property. The purpose of government, then, was to protect those rights. Others, like the Baron de Montesquieu, argued that absolute monarchy went against natural, God-given rights In this manner, colonial leaders believed British government was violating these rights; how were they to overcome oppression? LOCKE MONTESQUIEU
4 What was the Great Awakening? Religious revival movement Evangelicalism – “new birth” considered the ultimate religious experience Followers accepted that they were sinners and asked for salvation George Whitefield preaching
5 Before the Great Awakening Before the 1730s, most colonies had two established religions. Congregationalism was the largest religion in New England (Puritans and other dissidents who broke away from the Church of England). Anglicanism was the largest religion in New York and the Southern colonies (same as the Church of England).
6 Old Lights vs. New Lights Churches that grew as a result of the Great Awakening: Presbyterianism, Methodism, Baptism (New Lights) Great Awakening challenged authority and hierarchy of established churches (Old Lights: Congregationalists and Anglicans) Great Awakening said that anybody could be converted and born again. You didn’t need traditional church leadership to decide whether or not you belonged.
7 Leaders of the Great Awakening George Whitefield Jonathan Edwards
Central Historical Question: Why was George Whitefield so popular?
Review: The Great Awakening GA: religious movement throughout colonies in 1700s, based on revivalism—stressed individual religious experience rather than needing church leaders as intermediary with God Contributed to a sense of quality for all, since all were qualified to take an active role in the church Widely believed that this movement was a major factor leading to a sense of freedom and independence within the colonies JONATHON EDWARDS GEORGE WHITEFIELD INFLUENTIAL MINISTERS
∞ Some Puritans moved away from original ideal, beginning to seek material comforts ∞ As result, Puritan church attendance declined ∞ Some Puritan clergy, such as Edwards and Whitefield sought to restore the “ideal” and increase church attendance through a “rebirth” of religion ∞ Sought to Christianize all of North America, by bringing Native Americans and Africans into organized religion Review: The Great Awakening
Enlightenment sought to use scientific methods and rational thought to explain natural phenomena as something beyond an “act of God” Great Awakening saw Puritan ideal in saving people from decay; sought to return people back to religious lifestyle Enlightenment supported reason; GA supports emotionalism and religious faith Both groups question traditional authority and practice Both groups highlight the importance of the individual over the authority of the government or church Similarities/Differences of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening | <urn:uuid:263c56ec-b1ca-4268-98c6-0792adab8659> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://slideplayer.com/slide/4249472/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280668.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00172-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942105 | 734 | 3.484375 | 3 |
Spin 'N' Sprinkle Water Lab
STEM comes to life with the pure power of water! Set up chain reactions with Spin 'N' Sprinkle Water Lab!
Attach the water lab to the tub with the suction cups, fill the test tube with water – with or without the help of the metered marks of measurement on it – and pour it into a funnel. Then watch the mysterious effects unfold with just the power of water!
- Pour water into the detachable funnel and set the googly eyes into motion.
- Pour into the other funnel and set the dial spinning.
- Watch the water flow out from beneath the dial and magically spring out from the 10 holes in the pipeline.
- Point out to your child the chain reaction as the lab is activated.
- Follow the stream of water as it flows out from under the googly eyes, from one side of the pipeline to the other, and spins the propeller.
- The water lab attaches to the tub for easy play and storage.
Spin, pour, and learn STEM bath set
10+ fun activities and water effects
Double chain reaction
Easily attach to tub, play, and storage
Bath time fun for ages 1 to 3 | <urn:uuid:6f600ef2-381e-46d2-8530-bd5fb18d66ce> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://busybeetoys.net/products/spin-n-sprinkle-water-lab | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100912.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20231209134916-20231209164916-00129.warc.gz | en | 0.896196 | 255 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Abstract: The Curse of Ham narrative claims that Ham (the son of Noah) and his progeny were cursed by God with “blackness and slavery.” While the story can be located within Islamic literature, the tradition was refuted by numerous scholars for various reasons. Firstly, the story is not found within the Quranic text. Secondly, it was generally accepted that slavery was not linked to color but was a substitute for execution following defeat in warfare. Most importantly, scholars refuted the idea that blackness could be considered a curse due to a number of early Muslim heroes being described as black.
This paper explores the debates and discourses surrounding blackness and the story of Ham. Keywords: Islam, race, slavery, racism, Blackness, Black Excellence, curse of Ham, critical Muslim studies
To download click here | <urn:uuid:ae8e61a7-0440-44fe-bbb4-9994e7fefd50> | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | https://www.mihe.ac.uk/publication/black-excellence-and-curse-ham-debating-race-and-slavery-islamic-tradition | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141189038.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20201127015426-20201127045426-00362.warc.gz | en | 0.979243 | 167 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Welcome to Pocket Science: a glimpse at recent research from Husker scientists and engineers. For those who want to quickly learn the “What,” “So what” and “Now what” of Husker research.
Sexual assault has been studied for decades. Previous research has demonstrated that the risk of being a victim of sexual assault is much higher on college campuses and that women are most likely to be victims, but is it that simple?
No, says Husker researcher Colleen Ray, a graduate student in sociology, because society is comprised of more than just heterosexual males and heterosexual females. She recently authored a study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence that looked at risks of sexual assault among heterosexuals, as well as sexual minority men and women.
The study surveyed 1,413 college students at two universities, and found that while heterosexual females are at a higher risk for victimization, sexual minority males and females face elevated risk, too.
“The main takeaway is that by focusing on males versus females, we’re missing this group of people being victimized,” Ray said. “We need to think about changing the language that we use when talking about sexual assault.”
Focusing solely on heterosexual females as victims may add unnecessary difficulties for sexual minorities and men to report sexual assault, Ray said. | <urn:uuid:710f0518-1d62-4458-bf0d-be3d92a1ae90> | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/study-shows-sexual-assault-risk-greater-for-lgbtq-students/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141203418.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20201129214615-20201130004615-00353.warc.gz | en | 0.96282 | 275 | 2.765625 | 3 |
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Gender and television this essay gender and television and other 62,000+ term papers, college essay examples and free essays are available now on reviewessayscom. Essays on television essays on television essay on television essay on television need essay help certified us experts, plagiarism-free, moneyback guaranteelike. Television is not a bad thing, but in fact is a resource that can be used to educate and entertain people of all ages there are many programs on television. | <urn:uuid:f0bdbb53-e363-4c08-96cd-87c32f484f2b> | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | http://rjhomeworkushu.tlwsd.info/television-essays.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125947654.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20180425001823-20180425021823-00257.warc.gz | en | 0.95213 | 662 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Debbie: We argue a lot, yet what do we need to do to be convinced by it? What makes some arguments good, and others bad? How should we assess an argument, and whether or not to believe it?
Adam: Take a recent example. William Lane Craig offers something called a Kalam Cosmological argument, which runs like this:
- Everything that begins to exist has a cause.
- The universe began to exist
- The universe had a cause.
The argument is valid – that is, the conclusions follow from the premises. The question is whether the premises are true. Craig’s standard conception of what makes a good argument is whether or not the premises are more plausible than their negations.
Is that sufficient? Suppose that you do find each premise more plausible than it’s negation, but not by much: so you assign something like P=0.6 for each premise. Yet, given this the probability of the conclusion is only around 0.36, so you shouldn’t accept it.
Debbie: Hmm. It obviously isn’t right that P(conclusion) is the multiplication of each P(premise). Otherwise one could disprove god by producing an awful (but valid) argument that concludes he exists. The right answer should be something like the multiplication of the premises give a lower bound on the probability of the conclusion.
Yet this example is right insofar as it goes. It isn’t enough to say that the premises are more likely than not means you should accept the conclusion. Here’s an easy counter-example: suppose I tell you I’ve rolled two dice, and give you this argument.
- Dice A came up 1-4
- Dice B came up 1-4
- Both die came up 1-4.
Now that’s also a valid argument (A. B. A&B). Both premises are more likely true than their negations. Yet it would be silly to actually believe the conclusion – because it is probably false! In this case, the lower bound of the probability (2/3 * 2/3 = 4/9) is in fact it’s actual value, yet this is not more plausible than it’s negation. To make the point even stronger, just add more dice.
Adam: There are parallel examples to the dice case. For all of my beliefs (at least those about questions with only two answers), I believe they are more likely true than their negations. Yet I am fairly confident that at least some of these are wrong. Similarly authors often offer a pre-emptive apology for any errors made in the foreword.
Debbie: Right. I think for these sorts of deductive arguments to be persuasive, you need to believe that the conjunction of premises is more likely true than not, not that all of them meet some threshold. Because to believe that the argument is sound (that is, a valid argument with true premises) it needs to be that all the premises are true and the argumentative form is valid. So, popping back under our epistemic veil, we need to be confident of just these things. We can usually quickly work out whether an argument is valid or not, so its the premises that are the issue. Yet, in cases where we’re in doubt about multiple premises, these doubts, well, multiply. So – using the credences you offered earlier – even though we’d accept P1 or P2 of Craig’s argument, we wouldn’t accept that P1 and P2 are probably both true together. So we shouldn’t accept the conclusion.
Further, the P=0.5 threshold doesn’t matter the other way either – not only are arguments with P(premise) > 0.5 not necessarily persuasive, also arguments with P(premise) < 0.5 aren’t necessarily unpersuasive. Suppose I was arguing with someone who took P(the universe had a cause) to be very very low – 0.01, say. Yet, if they hold to P=0.6 for the premises of the Kalam, they should raise their estimate to at least 0.36 (or, if they’re feeling Moorean, drive down their assignments for the premises). So I’m not even sure it’s a very good heuristic – any better than “more plausible premises are better than less plausible ones for a persuasive argument” for example.
Adam: In that case, then, all these valid arguments really do is point to links between certain beliefs: that certain combinations of beliefs entail others. That we can’t hold conjunctions of premises with a probability higher than their entailments.
That leads to some interesting asides. For example, argumentative force leaks away with the addition of controversial premises. If you need only two premises to make your argument, then having each at P=0.9 is good enough. Yet, with several premises, even if you are very confident of each one, you shouldn’t necessarily be confident of the truth of their conjunction – even if you’re sure of each, there are plenty of chances to ‘get unlucky’. Perhaps this is why we are wary of arguments that rely on things a far way removed from the topic at hand.
Claire: It also means that these sorts of arguments don’t add power in concert – they are only as good as their strongest link, because an argument that gives a lower bound less than your current assignment isn’t interesting. So, when Craig offers half a dozen arguments for the existence of God, it isn’t the case that each makes the case more likely. He might think each argument is sufficient to raise a reasonable persons estimate of God’s existence above 0.5, but they can’t incrementally convince one of the conclusion.
Adam: That isn’t quite right. Suppose I have two arguments, such that A/B //C and D/E //C. Suppose again the probability for he premises (A,B,D,E) is 0.6. Yet the probability of C is not 0.36, but 0.59. This is because now you are being asked the probability of (A&B)V(D&E), which amounts to the probability of tossing at least one head in two shots when P(head)=0.36. And that is more likely than not. [ref]I owe this to Andrew Johnson[/ref]
In effect, multiple arguments offer a chance at entrapment. The multiple arguments demand you commit to a large number of auxiliary denials to avoid these argument (“So you believe C, well, you need to deny at least one of A or B, and at least one of D or E, etc.”) As these mount up, the tension in these denials might become unbearable. So if all of Craig’s arguments purchased significant plausibility, then Atheist would be in trouble. However, it wouldn’t be true to claim that only one of Craig’s arguments need be successful to carry the day, unless it satisfies the condition above.
Abductive and inductive concerns
Adam: How does this work with a cumulative case? Because it seems wrong to use what we said above to defeat a cumulative case in detail by showing that each element doesn’t force the conclusion in mind – for that is the purpose of the cumulative case in the first place.
Claire: Yes. We want there to be these sorts of arguments. They are doing different things.
Our deductive case is something simple like.
- A → B
And so our relevant probability calculus is simply something like P(A)*P(B|A), which gives us our probability of B. Yet, for an abductive argument, things are a bit different. Suppose something like a fine tuning argument.
- Fine tuning exists
- Fine tuning is better explained under Theism than under Naturalism
- Theism is confirmed over Naturalism.
The probabilistic calculus here is something more complicated like:
P(F|T) > P (F|N).
[P(T|F)/P(N|F)]= [P(F|T)/P(F|N)] * [P(T)/P(N)]
// P(T|F) > P(T)
So here we’re looking at relative probabilities, or the balance of probabilities between two competitors. So we can say that some evidence favours our hypotheses, even if it needn’t necessarily drive it above P=0.5. The probability of the evidence in question isn’t fundamental – the lower it is, the more the confirmatory push is ‘screened off’, but even likely-to-be-false evidences can still push one towards one hypothesis over another.
Adam: Perhaps we can put it another way: deductive arguments concern themselves with a single ‘confirmatory route’. Any doubt in the premises saps away from the conclusion – on the plus side, you end up with an absolute assignment. Adding multiple arguments can help persuade by plotting other confirmatory routes, and perhaps making it harder to deny that all different sets of argument have premises more likely to be true than not. The sort of probabilistic argument above doesn’t worry about any absolute assignment – instead of ‘linking’ premises to conclusions, it shows how one belief ‘pulls’ upon another – that, on considering certain data, we should adjust our confidence in other beliefs we hold. Other arguments to the same confusion add directly, like tributaries onto a river.
Claire: Yes, although the cost is the conclusions are vague: instead of “so X is probably true”, we end up with “you should now believe X is more likely to be true (or maybe ‘much more likely to be true’). But you could still accept the argument and yet still believe not-X: you just evaluate the confirmatory ‘shove’ as insufficient to get from your prior to over 0.5.
Also, they have varying degrees of robustness. Multiple deductive arguments for the same conclusion don’t necessarily sum well. Unless one of them reaches the ‘silver bullet’ territory of the set of premises being probably true, then it, alone, is unpersuasive. It needs its peers to begin to do the sort of entrapment you have in mind. Yet an abductive or hypothetico-deductive idea can still ‘work’ even if it is both implausible and unsupported. It can still offer some confirmatory shove, even if the effect is meagre. | <urn:uuid:be3446d9-b3bc-4d2d-9058-d73c01f1285d> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://gregoryjlewis.com/2015/01/03/what-makes-a-good-argument/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370497301.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330181842-20200330211842-00297.warc.gz | en | 0.926443 | 2,264 | 2.6875 | 3 |
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B'resheet/Genesis 9:19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole world dispersed
The second half of this verse obeys the normal Hebrew word order: the subject - , "all the earth" or "the whole earth" - following the verb - , a Qal Affix 3fs form to agree with its subject. The root is , "to break, dash in pieces, to disperse or scatter, to disperse themselves" (Davidson) and is essentially an active verb; it was the peoples who dispersed themselves, who spread out from the place where the ark came to rest and Noah their father settled and planted a vineyard.Targum Onkelos, on the other hand, uses the Aramaic itpa'al stem to switch the voice of the verb from active to passive: - they were dispersed over the whole earth. Instead of the whole earth dispersing from them, they are dispersed over all the earth; the focus changes from the people to G-d who disperses them and takes the active role to ensure the population of the whole earth.
TheSforno comments that although Ham - the wicked son, because he had humiliated his father - was among them, yet because they were all sons of Noah, and all had been blessed by G-d when they came out of the ark: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the land" (9:1), the result was that all three sons experienced the spreading out, the blessing of progeny, increase to fill the world. Because G-d had already given the blessing, its fulfillment was not dependent on the behaviour of the individual sons; as a group the blessing was still worked out. So it has always been with our people; both in biblical times, as the Bible's narrative shows, and in the two millenia since, that despite our mixed behaviour and obedience to G-d - consider the secular Jews, the humanist Jews and even the Buddhist Jews - still G-d blesses us as a people, still the Jewish people are a blessing to the nations, still the Jewish people are overweight in the world ranks of scientists, doctors, lawyers, human rights activists, the arts and the caring professions. It is not of ourselves, but of G-d, who fulfills His promises through us and sometimes despite us!
Hirsch points out that the verb is also the root for the noun , a hammer, an object that breaks into pieces. A hammer is a tool that can be used for beating out metal to spread it out thinly, to make a covering and effect a design. In the context of the first communities of believers, this illustrates G-d's purposeful dispersion of the people around the Land so that they had to move away from their natural centre in Jerusalem. The book of Acts records that, "starting from that day, there arose intense persecution against the Messianic community in Yerushalayim; all but the emissaries were scattered throughout the regions of Y'hudah and Shomron" (Acts 8:1, CJB). This was the way that G-d caused the gospel to spread throughout the Land of Israel - He used the persecution as a hammer to break the holy huddle into pieces and to spread it out over all the villages and towns so that all the Jewish people - where Yeshua Himself had been ministering and proclaiming the Kingdom of G-d in recent years - would have an opportunity to hear and respond to the good news. The narrative tells us that, "those who were scattered announced the Good News of the Word wherever they went" (Acts 8:4, CJB). A little later on, we can see how far the dispersion had reached: "Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution which had arisen over Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch; they spoke G-d's word, but only to Jews. However, some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, when they arrived at Antioch, began speaking to the Gentiles too, proclaiming the Good News of the L-rd Yeshua. The hand of the L-rd was with them, and a great number of people trusted and turned to the L-rd" (Acts 11:19-21, CJB). Not only were physical boundaries crossed, but religious and spiritual boundaries were also crossed as the message was spread out to the Gentiles.
The Scripture uses two contrasting pictures to describe G-d's word and the effects that it has. One, hinted at already, is that of fire and a hammer: "'Isn't My word like fire,' asks Adonai, 'like a hammer shattering rocks'" (Jeremiah 23:29, CJB); the other is of water: "For just as rain and snow fall from the sky ... so is My word that goes out from My mouth" (Isaiah 55:10-11, CJB). Both fire and water are devastatingly powerful forces in nature, destroying and demolishing families, homes, businesses; every facet of life can be swept away and disrupted. At the same time, the water picture also speaks of a gentle encouraging or nurturing action: "watering the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater" (Isaiah 55:10, CJB), as G-d provides the means for life and growth. So it is with our lives: sometimes G-d needs to break us up and scatter us further afield in order to increase our effectiveness, to reach more people, to stop us becoming inward-looking; but once dispersed, we need the means of growth so that we may bring forth a crop for the Kingdom. Cycles, then, of growth and change should be expected in our lives, but behind it all the steady plan and purpose of G-d, moving us on and growing both us and others "until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of G-d, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by Messiah's perfection" (Ephesians 4:13, CJB).
Further Study: Matthew 10:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2
Application: Are you in a dispersal phase or a growth and consolidation phase? Either way, know that the hand of G-d is upon you, moving and shaping your life according to His good will and purpose. Be aware of His hand upon you today and ask Him to show you where you are and how you can co-operate with Him to accomplish the best in your life.
© Jonathan Allen, 2008
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Your turn - what do you think of the ideas in this drash ?Like most print and online magazines, we reserve the right to edit or publish only those comments we feel are edifying in tone and content. | <urn:uuid:99b58c94-22d9-4c1c-8ace-e34d0267f2db> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | http://messianictrust.org.uk/parashiyot/noach-6.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676595531.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20180723071245-20180723091245-00069.warc.gz | en | 0.967938 | 1,472 | 2.6875 | 3 |
What are house dust mites?
House dust mites are tiny bugs found in dust and fabric. They can trigger allergies in some people, causing sneezing, coughing, and itching.
How do house dust mites cause allergies?
House dust mites produce proteins that can irritate the respiratory system in sensitive individuals, leading to allergy symptoms.
Where do house dust mites live?
House dust mites love warm, humid places like bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture, where they feed on dead skin cells.
Can you see house dust mites with the naked eye?
No, they're too small to see with the naked eye. You need a microscope to see dust mites properly.
How can we reduce exposure to house dust mites?
Regularly wash bedding in hot water, vacuum carpets, and keep humidity levels low to help minimize house dust mite presence.
What are the common symptoms of allergies caused by house dust mites?
Common symptoms include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and skin rashes.
Are children more susceptible to house dust mite allergies than adults?
Yes, children's immune systems are still developing, making them more prone to allergies.
Can house dust mite allergies be cured, or are they lifelong?
Allergies are usually lifelong, but their symptoms can be managed and minimized with treatment.
Besides allergies, can house dust mites cause other health problems?
House dust mites don't transmit diseases, but they can worsen asthma symptoms in some individuals.
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Small Islands – Big Problem: Senkaku/Diaoyu and the Weight of History and Geography in China-Japan Relations
This article is available in translation in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.
“Senkaku Islands Colonization Day”
In December 2010, the Okinawan city of Ishigaki (within which Japanese administrative law incorporates these islands) adopted a resolution to declare 14 January to be “Senkaku Islands Colonization Day.” The “Colonization Day” is intended to commemorate the incorporation of the islands by cabinet decision 116 years earlier. China immediately protested.
Ishigaki was following the model of the Shimane Prefectural Assembly, which in 2005 declared a “Takeshima Day” in commemoration of the Japanese state’s incorporation 100 years earlier of the islands known in Japan as Takeshima but in South Korea (which occupies and administers them) as Tokdo. That Shimane decision prompted fierce protests in South Korea. The Ishigaki decision seems likely to do no less in China. Why should these barren rocks, inhabited only by endangered short-tailed albatross, be of such importance to otherwise great powers? Whose islands are they? How should the contest over them be resolved?
On the morning of 7 September 2010, the Chinese fishing trawler Minjinyu 5179 collided, twice, with Japanese Coastguard vessels in the vicinity of the islands known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China and Taiwan as Diaoyu or Diaoyutai.1 These islands are under effective Japanese control, but are claimed also by China and Taiwan. Zhan Qixiong, captain of the Chinese vessel, refused to obey the Japanese orders to withdraw. By Japanese accounts, he deliberately rammed his ship into the Coastguard vessels and was only later apprehended and sent to prosecutors for offence against Japanese law (interfering with officials conducting their duties).
The island group is made up of 8 rocky, uninhabited outcrops, a sprinkling of poppy seeds on the East China Sea. The largest of them about 4 square kms, they are about equi-distant (less than 200 kms) to the coast of Taiwan and to the Japanese Okinawan islands of Yonaguni and Ishigaki, or a little over 400 kms from Okinawa’s main island. On the edge of the Chinese continental shelf, they are separated from Okinawa by the deep waters (over 2,000 metres) of the Okinawa Trough.
Following the seizure of the Chinese trawler and the arrest of captain Zhan, the Japanese government stated its position: there was “no room for doubt” that the islands were an integral part of Japanese territory: (wagakuni no koyu no ryodo), there was no territorial dispute or diplomatic issue, and captain Zhan was simply being investigated for breaches of Japanese law.
Yet plainly there was doubt. China (both the People’s Republic and the Republic, or Taiwan) disputes the Japanese claim to sovereignty.2 The US, which occupied the islands between 1945 and 1972, was carefully agnostic about their sovereignty when returning to Japan “administrative rights” over them, and it has reiterated that stance on many subsequent occasions.3 As re-stated in the context of the 2010 clash, the US position is that sovereignty is something to be settled between the claimant parties.4 Furthermore, while Japan has exercised “administrative rights” and thus effective control since 1972, it has blocked all activities on the islands, by its own or other nationals, thereby acting as if sovereignty was indeed contested. Thus, with two Chinese governments denying it, and the US refusing to endorse it, it is surely whistling in the wind for Japan to insist there is “no dispute” over ownership. Whoever initiated them, the clashes of that day raised a large question-mark over the islands.
As news of the clash exploded into the media of the region, the Japanese ambassador to China was summoned to hear China’s protests, demonstrations spread quickly in both Chinese and Japanese cities, diplomatic contacts were suspended, rare earth exports from China stopped, concerts and student exchange visits involving many thousands of both Chinese and Japanese young people cancelled. Defence planners on all sides dusted off plans for achieving, and if necessary demonstrating, military superiority.
Responding to Japanese claims that there was “no dispute” and that procedures against the Chinese Captain would proceed with due seriousness and deliberation (shukushuku) under Japanese law, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, in New York on 21 September, declared, “When it comes to sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity, China will not yield or compromise."
The formal Japanese position – that there was no dispute – rang hollow from the outset. Japan handled the crisis in a characteristic and revealing way, by seeking first of all to escalate it from a bilateral dispute over borders to a security matter involving the United States. Following a meeting on 23 September, Foreign Minister Maehara declared that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had given him the assurance that the Senkakus were “subject to Article 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty,” the clause of the treaty that authorizes the US to protect Japan in the case of an armed attack “in territories under the administration of Japan.”5
What Clinton actually said, however, is not clear. Only weeks earlier, the US had communicated its reluctance to back Japan’s Senkaku claims.6 Not only did the State Department account of the September meeting not mention the pledge claimed by Maehara but its spokesman repeated the formal US government position urging the two countries to resolve the dispute and stated, “We don’t take a position on the sovereignty of the Senkakus.”7 Despite Maehara’s claim, it seemed more likely, as Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times put it on 10 September, that there was “zero chance the US would activate Ampo [the security treaty] over such an issue.” Weeks later, however, at a joint press conference in Honolulu with Foreign Minister Maehara, Clinton did specifically affirm the applicability of Article 5 to the Senkakus.8 It means that the US re-thought and reversed its position in the space of just over a month, evidently under keen Japanese pressure, committing itself to the possible use of force, i.e., war, in defence of islands on whose legal ownership it took no position.9
However, despite extracting the ambiguous US backing, the Japanese determination to subject Captain Zhan to the full weight of the Japanese law quickly crumbled. On 25 September, following an “autonomous decision of local prosecutors” that was almost universally assumed actually to have been made at the highest levels of government in Tokyo, Zhan was released and returned home. China’s Foreign Ministry demanded an apology and compensation, and Japan’s Foreign Ministry counter-claimed for damage caused to its vessels by the collision. The doyen of Japan’s liberal media, the Asahi’s editor-in-chief (and former Beijing correspondent) Funabashi Yoichi, lamented that while Japan had been “clumsy,” China was to be blamed for its “diplomatic shock and awe” campaign that had brought the two giant neighbour countries to “ground zero, [so that] the landscape is a bleak, vast nothingness.”10 Though Funabashi couched his message in the measured tones of the liberal intellectual seeking China’s understanding, Japanese resentment at China’s dramatic economic growth and increased international standing was palpable.
It was widely reported in Japan that the “international community” supported Japan’s position. Although levels of international support are irrelevant to the merits of the case, there is little doubt that, in East and Southeast Asia, anxiety about China’s dramatic rise fed into support for the reassertion of US alliance-based “containment.” As the Sydney Morning Herald’s China correspondent wrote, “One by one, China’s neighbours are welcoming the reassertion of US power to balance that of China.”11 Other media too rallied to the Japanese cause, or more broadly to the anti-China cause. Weeks after the incident, the New York Times quoted with approval the view of China as “increasingly narrow-minded, self-interested, truculent, hyper-nationalist,”12 and adjectives such as “truculent,” and “arrogant” began to attach almost as a matter of course to “China” in mainstream Western media. The Cold War was back.
However, when Defence Minister Kitazawa Toshimi toured regional capitals in an attempt to drum up diplomatic support, he apparently failed to find a single Defence Minister ready to offer it.13 When Foreign Minister Maehara filed a complaint against Google, demanding it remove the Chinese names from its maps of the islands, not only did Google refuse but the attempt to censor the international media made Japan look both desperate and, in a sense, “Chinese” in its heavy-handed bid to intimidate.14 Furthermore, Japan’s “humiliating retreat” (as the New York Times put it on 25 September) by its sudden release of the Chinese captain signalled to the region that it was actually lacking in the sovereignty it so loudly declared.15
Despite the resolution of the immediate crisis by Captain Zhan’s release, nationalistic passions and fears, once stirred, were not easily settled. Demonstrations in both countries continued. The tabloid daily Fuji in Tokyo (1 October) denounced what it called Japan’s “appeasement (dogeza) diplomacy and widely syndicated pundits thundered that “If Japan gives in on the Senkakus, China will come and grab Okinawa next” (Sakurai Yoshiko) or that “What China’s doing is no different from gangsters. If Japan does nothing, it will suffer the same fate as Tibet” (Tokyo Governor, Ishihara Shintaro).16 Tamogami Toshio, former Chief of Staff of the Air Self-Defence Forces and now president of the “Ganbare Nippon! [Go for it Japan!] All-Japan Action Committee” also stressed the “threat” to Okinawa: “China is clearly aiming to annex Okinawa. So we need to put a stop to it.”17
Such views were by no means confined to the right. Apart from the liberal Asahi referred to above, in general the left-right political divide in Japan dissolved into an “all Japan” media front on this issue. A broad national media consensus supported the Japanese official story of its Senkaku rights, protested China’s threat to Japan’s sovereign territory and insisted on the importance of the security alliance with the US in order to cope with China’s challenge. Japan’s leading financial daily declared that Japan had to cooperate with the United States and Europe in putting pressure on China to become a “responsible,” “civilized” country.18 When the chairman of the Japanese Communist Party joined the chorus declaring the islands to be Japan’s sovereign territory that must be defended, the Chief Cabinet Secretary and the heads of both present and past ruling parties (the DPJ and the LDP) congratulated him.19 The widely syndicated Sato Masaru lamented the blows Japan’s “national interest” had suffered because of amateurish diplomacy and called for a firm Japanese response in kind, “as an imperialist country” to “China’s imperialism.”20
Sato’s role merits attention because of his unique stance as a former Ministry of Foreign Affairs researcher and self-proclaimed rightist embraced also by the “liberal” media and intelligentsia. As of 2010, he was the most prominent advocate of the Okinawan anti-base cause in mainland Japan, with regular columns in Sekai and in Shukan kinyobi (which even published a special issue under his editorship on 12 November 2010), as well as a long running monthly column in the Okinawan daily Ryukyu shimpo.21 Yet Sato’s agenda of opposition to any new Marine base in Okinawa did not fit well with his insistence on confronting China as one imperialist power to another. With his bottom line, as I have argued elsewhere,22 being reinforcement of the Japanese national interest, the Henoko anti-base struggle was for him essentially a means to that end. Enhanced US-Japan military cooperation was not objectionable per se but the way Tokyo was proceeding to foist the new base on Okinawa, by discrimination, was. For Japan to adopt, as he urged, a resolutely “imperialist” stance in opposing China required that it reinforce military positions (whether US or Japanese, or some combination) in Okinawa, especially in the Okinawan islands closest to China.
The Okinawan vulnerability to such “national interest” logic in the wake of the September incident became apparent as prominent Okinawan figures, including Ginowan mayor and candidate for Okinawan Governor, Iha Yoichi, and distinguished author and Okinawan spokesman Medoruma Shun, adopted its frame.23 It became possible to imagine that Senkaku/Diaoyu might even serve as the axis of Okinawan conversion to greater understanding of the national government’s defence and security agenda. The abandonment of the Henoko project might be tolerable to the defence bureaucracy in Tokyo and Washington if it was combined with readiness to reinforce US-Japanese military presence and containment of China. To the extent that “China threat” perceptions spread, Okinawa’s anti-base movement would surely weaken.24 Hatoyama’s 2009 project to turn the East China Sea into a “Sea of Fraternity” looked in 2010 more likely to degenerate into a DPJ project for building confrontation and tension.
As the justice or legality of Japan’s claims went unchallenged and, for the first time in the post-1945 era anti-China sentiment began to spread at the mass level, the political dividing lines between left and right were swallowed by a wave of chauvinism. Blaming Captain Zhan (and the government of China) for reducing the bilateral relationship to the devastation of “ground zero,” Japanese elites lost the capacity to appreciate the Chinese position or to achieve a self-critical awareness of their own.
From the 14th century, Chinese documents record and name the islands as important reference points on the ancient maritime trading route between coastal China (Foochow) and Okinawa.25 The designated route for tribute missions between the Ryukyu kingdom and the Chinese court during the Ming and Qing dynasties lay via these small islands. The Japanese geographer, Hayashi Shihei, follows the Chinese convention, including the islands, with their Chinese names, as Chinese territory, in his 1785 map.
Hayashi Shihei’s map from his Sangoku tsuran zusetsu
(General outline of three countries), 178526
The near universal conviction in Japan with which the islands today are declared an “integral part of Japan’s territory” is remarkable for its disingenuousness. These are islands unknown in Japan till the late 19th century (when they were identified from British naval references), not declared Japanese till 1895, not named till 1900, and that name not revealed publicly until 1950.27
The determination in 2010 not to yield one inch on the Senkaku issue may have owed something to the nagging fear that China’s claim, if admitted on Senkaku, might quickly extend to Okinawa. Japan’s claim to the Senkakus followed shortly after it had established its claim over Okinawa by detaching the Ryukyu kingdom, tied to the court in Beijing by a four century-long “tribute” relationship, from its place in the tribute order. The despatch of a Japanese naval expedition to Taiwan in 1874 to “protest” the killing of Ryukyuan (Miyako Island) fishermen, passing without effective protest from China, was taken by Japanese leaders to signal for international law purposes that China acquiesced in Japan’s claims. It was followed, in 1879, by extinction of the kingdom and Okinawa’s incorporation as a Japanese prefecture. The years of the rise of the modern Japanese state were the years of crisis and decline for the Chinese imperial state, when the country was subject to imperialist encroachment, catastrophic wars and internal rebellions. The revolutionary modern Japanese state, founded in 1868, exploited China’s weakness and its multifaceted crises to join the ranks of imperialists, expanding at imperial China’s cost, by wresting from it first the Ryukyu Islands, then Taiwan and the Senkakus, then Northeast China, till eventually it plunged the region into full-scale war.
On the largest island of the Senkaku group, a Japanese businessman began to make a living from 1884, collecting albatross feathers and tortoise shells.28 However, his requests to the government in Tokyo for a formal leasehold grant of the territory were refused for over a decade until war between Japan and China from 1894, and the series of Japanese victories that defined it, persuaded the Japanese cabinet in January 1895 to declare them Japanese territory, part of Yaeyama County, Okinawa prefecture. The Japanese claim rested on the doctrine of terra nullius – the presumption that the islands were uninhabited and not claimed or controlled by any other country. However, it stretches common sense to see the absence of Chinese protest or counter-claim as decisive under the circumstance of war, the more so as the appropriation of the Senkakus was followed just three months later by the acquisition of Taiwan, under the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
Nearly 40 years have passed since Kyoto University’s Inoue Kiyoshi reached his conclusion that, “Even though the [Senkaku] islands were not wrested from China under a treaty, they were grabbed from it by stealth, without treaty or negotiations, taking advantage of victory in war.”29 It is a view that today appears to have little support among Japanese scholars who, in general, unite in declaring the appropriation of the islands legitimate and in accord with international law, dismissing as irrelevant the circumstances under which Japan made its claim and (with few exceptions) expressing outrage that China has not accepted their reading of law or history.30
From 1895 to 1945, that is to say from the first to the second Japan-China war, China was in no position to contest Japan’s claims. A Japanese community of several hundred people settled on the Senkaku group, where, inter alia, they ran a dried bonito (katsuobushi) factory, and that settlement continued for almost a half-century till 1942. After its defeat in the Asia-Pacific War, Japan was obliged by the Potsdam Declaration to surrender all territories seized through war, but it insisted then, and has continued to insist ever since, that the Senkakus were part of Okinawa (and therefore not a spoil of war).The difficulty with this is that they plainly were not part of Ryukyu’s “36 islands” in pre-modern times nor when the prefecture was established in 1879, being only tacked on to it 16 years later.
After the Japanese surrender in 1945, the US military took effective control of Okinawa and the Senkakus, and international attention only focussed again on the islands from 1968, when a UN (ECAFE) survey mission reported likely oil and gas reserves in their adjacent waters,31 and 1969, when the US agreed to return sovereignty over Okinawa to Japan. For the nearby Senkaku island group, it was careful to stress that what was being transferred to Japan were “administrative rights,” not sovereignty.32
As Kimie Hara of Canada’s Waterloo University points out, the US played a significant role in the creation and manipulation of the “Senkaku problem”: first in 1951 and then again in 1972. Under the 1951 San Francisco Treaty post-war settlement, it planted the seeds of multiple territorial disputes between Japan and its neighbours: Japan and 90 percent communist China over Okinawa/Senkaku, Japan and 100 percent communist USSR over the “Northern territories,” Japan and 50 percent communist Korea over the island of Takeshima (Korean: Tokdo). These disputed territories served “as ‘wedges' securing Japan in the Western bloc, or 'walls' dividing it from the communist sphere of influence.”33 Again in 1972 by leaving unresolved the question of ownership of the Senkaku islands when returning Okinawa to Japanese administration, US Cold War planners anticipated that the Senkakus would function as a “wedge of containment” of China. They understood that a “territorial dispute between Japan and China, especially over islands near Okinawa, would render the US military presence in Okinawa more acceptable to Japan.”34 The events of 2010 proved them far-sighted.
On the eve of the reversion of Okinawa (the Senkakus included) to Japanese administration, both the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China laid counter-claims. Dispute flared, only cooling when, in 1978, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping made his circuit-breaking offer:35
“It does not matter if this question is shelved for some time, say ten years. Our generation is not wise enough to find a common language on this question. Our next generation will certainly be wiser. They will surely find a solution acceptable to all.”36
Despite occasional lapses, and a steady increase in the number of Chinese fishing boats taking from the waters around the islands (up to 400 per year), that “gentleman’s agreement” held until September 2010, when Japan apparently repudiated it by arresting the Chinese captain, insisting there was no dispute and refusing to listen to China’s protests.
There is no question but that the Japanese government lost face by “giving in” to Chinese pressure and releasing Captain Zhan. But the incident also helped boost important agendas, notably concerning Japan’s relationship with the US, the Okinawa “base relocation” problem, and future military posture.
By attaching priority to extracting an American promise to “protect” the Senkakus, Prime Minister Kan Naoto’s government showed its determination to continue Japan’s “Client State” status.37 The initiatives of Kan’s predecessor, Hatoyama Yukio, for closer Japan-China cooperation in the formation of an East Asian Community, became a thing of the past. Instead, Kan used the events to precipitate closer integration of Japanese and US military planning and operations in the Western Pacific and East Asia, and to cooperate in grand regional war games that were plainly intended to intimidate China.
Adding “China threat” to the existing “North Korea threat” helped advance a security agenda under Kan’s DPJ that had been unthinkable under its Liberal-Democratic party predecessors, though the latter were widely assumed to have been far more hawkish. On 27 August, just weeks before the clashes at sea, Prime Minister Kan accepted the report of his special committee on security in the new era (Shin Ampo kon),38 and new National Defence Program Guidelines were adopted by the Cabinet on 17 December 2010.39 Under the Guidelines, to cover the decade commencing in 2011, Japan was to substitute a “dynamic defence force” for the existing “basic defence force” concept, enhance existing security links with the US, and substantially reinforce Self Defence Force presence in the outlying islands in the East China sea. Plans were reportedly underway to beef up the current level of SDF presence in Okinawa from 2,100 to 20,000, with the first contingent, 200-strong, to be sent in the near future to Yonaguni and close attention paid also to the islands of Miyako and Ishigaki.40 Military critic Maeda Tetsuo read the plan as the agenda of a renascent military great power, freed of the restraints of the constitution’s “peace” clause (Article 9), which would, in effect, be revised or cancelled,41 and as a contradiction of the Democratic Party’s own defence principles. He wrote:
“These hawkish new Defence Guidelines appear to contradict the DPJ’s own basic stance. The substitution of “dynamic defence force” for “basic defence force” means in effect abandonment of exclusive defence and transformation (of the defence forces) to a “fighting SDF.”42
Yomiuri shimbun, 11 November 2010
For Okinawa, the Senkaku incident and the Kan government’s military build-up program (in the context of worsening confrontation with China) held especially serious implications. A glance at the map is sufficient to show that access from the heartland of China to the Pacific Ocean requires passage of channels through the Nansei islands between Kyushu and Taiwan. The international waters of the Miyako Strait (between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island) are crucial to China’s Pacific Ocean access, and in March and April 2010, several large Chinese naval flotillas passed through them.43
Even before the Senkaku clash, the Kan government had brushed aside evidence of near total opposition from within the prefecture and declared its determination to build in Northern Okinawa a new base for the US Marine Corps whose major role would clearly be to “deter” China (and North Korea). After the September events, the Kan government only hardened its stance. By involving Okinawa in the nation-wide mood of fear and hostility to China post-September 2010, Tokyo might well reasonably expect that opposition to the Marine base project would weaken. The Kan government and defence and foreign affairs officials in Tokyo must have taken heart when the Okinawan Prefectural Assembly and the City Assemblies of Miyako and Ishigaki (geographically closest to Senkaku, which administratively forms part of Ishigaki City) adopted unanimous resolutions affirming that the islands did indeed “belong to Japan” and calling for Japan to be resolute (kizentaru) in defending them,44 and when prominent “anti-base” figures either supported or else demanded Tokyo take a stronger stance in defence of the Japanese position. The victory in the Okinawan prefectural gubernatorial election (28 November) of incumbent Nakaima Hirokazu might also be seen as favourable to Kan’s base construction agenda. Even though Nakaima had committed himself to demanding no new base be built in Okinawa, he had made that shift only with palpable reluctance, without specifically renouncing his earlier readiness to allow the base to be constructed provided only it be moved a short distance, say 100 metres or so, offshore.
Despite the evidence of a convergence of Okinawan and mainland thinking in insistence on Japanese sovereignty over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands and blaming China for the clash, there were nevertheless significant differences. First, Okinawans had learned from their experience of 1945 that armies do not defend people, and so tended to believe that any defence of the Senkakus that rested on militarizing them and embedding them in hostile confrontation between Japan and China would expose Okinawa to greater threat rather than improve its security.45 It is also the case, as defeated gubernatorial candidate Iha pointed out, that Okinawans have a long historical memory of friendly relations with China, and in contrast to mainland fears and anxieties, many Okinawans rather feel “close” to it.46 Second, for Okinawans, the Senkaku issue is not so much one of national security as of livelihood. It is the fishing grounds around the islands that are precious, rather than national security considerations or seabed oil and gas reserves.47 As Okinawa International University’s Sato Manabu put it, “It is obvious that Okinawa has to find a future as an “open” border land. Okinawa has to make every effort to build stronger ties with neighbouring nations, otherwise we will be cornered.”48
Japanese scholar Wada Haruki insists it is “idiotic” for Japan and China both to insist on exclusive (koyu) territorial rights to uninhabited rocks.49 Though uninhabited, however, the islands hold considerable strategic and probably also economic significance, the former because of their location at the heart of the Northeast Asia region, and the latter because of the accompanying exclusive economic rights to the resources of hundreds of square kilometres of the East China Sea. Confrontation, progressively militarized and in a “zero-sum” approach to territorial and resource matters, would be a recipe for disaster for both and both are surely well aware of the risks of allowing that to happen.
It was too easy in Japan to dismiss anti-Japanese sentiment and demonstrations in China as a device by an authoritarian regime to divert attention from itself, and thus to turn a blind eye to the grievances and suspicions widely felt there. The way that anti-China passions swept Japan following the September clashes would only confirm the worst of those Chinese fears and suspicions.
While the Japanese media united in projecting a picture of China as threatening and “other,” it paid minimal attention either to the circumstances surrounding the Japanese claim to the islands or to the reasons for the recrudescence of suspicion of Japan in China. It took it for granted that Japan “owned” the islands, concentrating its attention only on whether or not captain Zhan had deliberately rammed the Coastguard vessels and who might have leaked the apparent film footage of the events that transpired. Few expressed any hesitation over Japan’s trashing the Deng “freeze” agreement that was the basis for China-Japan accommodation, or over the contempt with which the government met China’s claims by denying they existed. Nor was there sign of dissent when respected opinion leaders accused China of truculence or diplomatic “shock and awe.” Virtually nowhere were there to be found discussions of the possible “blowback” aspect of the events, i.e., that they might simply have brought to the surface unassuaged Chinese suspicions over Japan’s long neglected or insufficiently resolved war responsibility, the high-level denials of Nanjing, the periodic right-wing attempts to sanitize history texts, the refusal to accept formal legal responsibility for the victims of the Asia-wide “Comfort Women” slavery system and the wartime forced labor issue, and the periodic visits by Prime Ministers (notably Koizumi, 2001-2006) to Yasukuni. Zhou Enlai is said to have remarked when deciding that China would not seek war reparations from Japan, “We will strive to forget, but you, please do not forget.” Japan should not forget.
The most detailed study in English of the Diaoyu/Senkaku issue, published just a decade ago, concluded that here were only four possible ways in which it might be resolved: by Sino-Japanese agreement, unilateral Japanese action, war, and referral to the International Court of Justice.50 Of these, he insisted, the first was the only “realistic” way forward. Blocking it for nearly three decades has been Japanese intransigence and insistence on exclusive “effective control.” Under the Kan government, Japan has moved away from the Hatoyama vision of cooperation in the construction of an “East Asian Community”, but the antagonistic approach to questions of territory, resources, and environment can hardly offer any way forward.
Peace and security in East Asia depend on the governments and peoples of the region taking the initiative to remove the “wedges of containment” that US planners left ambiguously and threateningly embedded in the state system they designed more than half a century ago.
Bridge of Nations Bell (1458)
(Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Replica in Shuri Castle)
For Okinawa the Senkaku/Diaoyu events serve as a message to think again about the history of the islands’ links with (mainland) Japan, China and Korea. Once the flourishing independent kingdom of Ryukyu, whose aspiration was to serve as the bridge linking the neighbouring states and peoples, Okinawa was subjected twice to forceful appropriation by mainland Japan, first in 1609 and then, decisively, in 1879 when its long and friendly links with China were finally severed. Modern history did not deal kindly with Okinawa, and today, as waves of chauvinism and militarism again wash on its shores, only by returning to the vision of the islands as uniquely close to China, Korea and mainland Japan (as written on the great “World Bridging” Bankoku shinryo bell, cast in the year 1458 and now on display in the prefectural museum), can it hope to calm and survive the gathering storms.51
Gavan McCormack is emeritus professor of Australian National University, an Asia-Pacific Journal coordinator, and author, most recently, of Client State: Japan in the American Embrace (New York, 2007, Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing 2008). He has written extensively on this site on matters to do with Okinawa and the US-Japan relationship. He delivered the Japanese version of this paper to the Okinawa Forum, jointly sponsored and convened by Japan Focus and Okinawa University at Okinawa University in December 2010.
Recommended citation: Gavan McCormack, Small Islands – Big Problem: Senkaku/Diaoyu and the Weight of History and Geography in China-Japan Relations, The Asia-Pacific Journal Vol 9, Issue 1 No 1, January 3, 2011.
Articles on related subjects:
•Wada Haruki, From the Firing at Yeonpyeong Island to a Comprehensive Solution to the Problems of Division and War in Korea
•Tim Beal, Korean Brinkmanship, American Provocation, and the Road to War: the manufacturing of a crisis
•Nan Kim and John McGlynn, West Sea Crisis in Korea
*Wada Haruki, Resolving the China-Japan Conflict Over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands
*Peter Lee, High Stakes Gamble as Japan, China and the U.S. Spar in the East and South China Sea
*Tanaka Sakai, Rekindling China-Japan Conflict: The Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands Clash
1 References in the following text to “Senkaku” carry no implication as to sovereignty or “proper” name.
2 The question of Taiwan deserves full treatment but is passed over in this short essay save to note that while the majority (and current government) in Taiwan persist in claiming sovereignty a minority concedes it to Japan, and that, when a collision between a Taiwanese ship, the “Lian-ho,” and a Japanese coastguard vessel led to the sinking of the former in June 2008, the then mayor of Taipei, as of 2010 president of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, spoke of war as a last resort for defence of national sovereignty and Japan apologized and paid compensation.
3 Kimie Hara, Cold War Frontiers in the Asia-Pacific, New York and London, Routledge, 2007, especially chapter 7 “The Ryukyus: Okinawa and the Senkaku/Diaoyu disputes.”
4 See Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “The Basic View on the Sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands,” (accessed 17 December 2010); also “Senkaku islands Dispute, ” Wikipedia (17 November 2010)
5 “Clinton: Senkakus subject to security pact,” Japan Times, 25 September 2010.
6 “US fudges Senkaku security pact status,” Japan Times, 17 August 2010.
7 Ibid. For details, Peter Lee, "High Stakes Gamble as Japan, China and the U.S. Spar in the East and South China Seas," The Asia-Pacific Journal, 43-1-10, 25 October, 2010.
8 “Joint Press availability,” Department of State, 27 October 2010, Link.
9 It is even possible that Tokyo might have orchestrated the incident at sea in order “to force an unenthusiastic Obama administration to side with Japan on the Senkakus.” (Peter Lee, cit.)
10 Funabashi Yoichi, “Japan-China relations stand at ground zero,” Asahi shimbun, 9 October 2010, reproduced at East Asia Forum, 20 October, 2010.
11 John Garnaut, “China detonates regional goodwill,” Sydney Morning Herald, 23-24 October 2010.
12 “Taking harder stance toward China, Obama lines up allies,” New York Times, 25 October 2010.
13 Visiting Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand, and Singapore, (Mo Ban fu, “Nitchu shototsu no yoha wo kakudai sasete wa naranai,” Sekai, December 2010, pp. 116-123.)
14 “Senkaku Islands dispute,” Wikipedia, cit.
15 Suggesting such a view: Nakano Seigo, “Dato datta chiken handan,” Okinawa Times, 4 October 2010.
16 Sakurai in Shukan posuto, 8 October 2010, and Ishihara in Shukan bunshun, 7 October 2010, quoted in Mark Schreiber, “Weeklies, tabloids hawkish over China,” Japan Times, 10 October 2010.
17 Quoted in Yuka Hayashi, “China row fuels Japan’s right,” Wall Street Journal, 29 September 2010.
18 “Bei-O to kyocho shi Chugoku o sekinin taikoku ni michibiite,” Nihon keizai shimbun, 1 October 2010.
19 “Senkaku mondai – Nihon no ryoyu wa rekishiteki, kokusaihoteki ni seito,” Akahata, 5 October 2010, and on the congratulations, Akahata, 10 October 2010.
20 Sato Masaru, “Chugoku teikokushugi ni taiko suru ni wa,” Chuo Koron, November 2010, pp. 70-81. In similar vein, Sato called (“Honne koramu,” Tokyo shimbun, 26 November 2010) for Japan to respond to China force with force, making clear its intent to drop the Cabinet Legal Bureau’s interpretation of the constitution so as to be able to join the US in collective security missions, thereby deepening the alliance with the US.
21 For my general reflections on Sato Masaru: "Ideas, Identity and Ideology in Contemporary Japan: The Sato Masaru Phenomenon," 1 November 2010.
23 Neither Medoruma nor Iha appear to doubt the historical legitimacy of Japan’s Senkaku possession. For Iha, Senkaku is “indisputably a part of Okinawa,” and Chinese authorities needed to deal with Chinese fishermen and control anti-Japanese demonstrations (interview with Iwakuni Yasumi, 25 September 2010). For Medoruma too, China was to blame for the September clash, and the Japanese government to be criticized only for its “weak-kneed” response. (“Chugoku gyosen no sencho shakuho ni tsuite,” Uminari no shima kara, 25 September 2010, link) For fuller discussion, see Media debugger, “Senkaku=Chogyoto o meguru shogensetsu hihan (4) Shinryakukoku no ‘kokumin no seishi’ o ninau ‘oru-Japan’ gensho,” 4 November 2010.
24 Kim Sonho, “Chugoku kyoiron fusshoku o,” Okinawa Taimusu. 1 October 2010.
25 For brief histories of the islands and analyses of their disputed status, see Inoue Kiyoshi, Senkaku retto – Chogyo shoto no shiteki kaimei, Tokyo, Gendai hyoronsha, 1972; “Senkaku Islands dispute,” Wikipedia, cit; Wada Haruki, “Resolving the China-Japan conflict over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands,” The Asia-Pacific Journal, 43-3-10, 25 October 2010; Taira Koji, “The China-Japan clash over the Senkaku islands,” Japan Focus, n.d. (2006 ?), and Tanaka Sakai, “Rekindling China-Japan Conflict: The Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands Clash,” The Asia-Pacific Journal, 39-3-10, 27 September 2010.
26 Reproduced in Wikipedia, “The Senkaku islands dispute”.
27 Unryu Suganuma, Sovereign rights and territorial space in Sino-Japanese Relations: Irredentism and the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, Honolulu, University of Hawai’i Press, 2000, pp. 88-9. See also the home page of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Senkaku shoto no ryoyuken ni tsuite no kihon kenkai,” link.
28 Inoue, pp. 103ff.
29 Inoue, p. 123.
30 The exception is Tokyo Metropolitan University’s Murata Tadayoshi. See Murata, Senkaku retto/chogyoto mondai o do miru ka, Rinjin shinsho, 07, 2006. In the blogosphere, however, such anti-mainstream views are expressed and what might be described as the “Inoue Kiyoshi line” is affirmed. See, for example, Heito supichi ni hantai suru kai, “Daioyutai/Senkaku o meguru Nihon no kunigurumi no haigaishugi ni kogi shimasu,” 10 October 2010 (link), and Media debugger, “Senkaku-Diaoyu to o meguru sho gensetsu hihan,” (link).
31 “…the shallow sea floor between Japan and Taiwan might contain one of the most prolific oil and gas reservoirs in the world, possibly comparing favourably with the Persian Gulf area.” United Nations Economic and Social Council, Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, Kabul, 1970, UN Doc.E/CN.11/L.239 (cited Suganuma, p. 129).
32 For the documents covering this: Suganuma, pp. 135ff; Urano Tatsuo et al, Chogyotai gunto (Senkaku shoto) mondai –kenkyu shiryo kihen, Tosui shobo, 2001, pp. 250-2.
33 Kimie Hara, Cold War Frontiers in the Asia-Pacific, 2007, p. 188.
34 Kimie Hara, “The post-war Japanese peace treaties and China’s ocean frontier problems,” American Journal of Chinese Studies, vol. 11, No. 1, April 2004, pp. 1-24, at p.23.
35 For this author’s reflections on the problem as of that time, see Jon Halliday and Gavan McCormack, Japanese Imperialism Today, London, Penguin, 1973, pp. 62-65.
36 Beijing Review, 3 November 1978 (cited in Suganuma, p. 138.)
37 For further discussion, see my Client State: Japan in the American Embrace, London and New York, 2007, Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing, 2008.
38 Arata na jidai no anzen hosho to boeiryoku ni kansuru kondankai, “Árata na jidai ni okeru Nihon no anzen hosho to boeiryoku no shorai koso – ‘heiwa sozo kokka’ o mezashite,” (link) August 2010.
39 Ministry of Defence, “National Defence Program Guidelines, FY 2011” (accessed 17 December 2010.
40 “China threat prompts plan for new GSDF unit,” The Yomiuri Shimbun, 11 November 2010, link.
41 Maeda Tetsuo, “Minshuto wa senshin boei o homuru na ka,” Sekai, November 2010, pp. 113-120.
42 Maeda Tetsuo, “Arasou jieitai ni henbo,” Ryukyu shimpo, 18 December 2010.
43 “Chinese navy’s new strategy in action,” International Institute of Strategic Studies, May 2010, link.
44 Takimoto Takumi, “Beigun kichi no kyoka to Senkaku wa kanren shinai,” Shukan kinyobi, 8 October 2010, p. 19. See also Masami Ito, “Maehara again defends holding Chinese skipper,” Japan Times, 29 September 2010.
45 As argued by Okinawa University’s Wakabayashi Chiyo, “’Kokka’ koeru hasso de,” Okinawa Taimusu, 2 October 2010.
46 Iha Yoichi, interview, Yomiuri shimbun, 23 October 2010. Iha’s position nevertheless was implicitly contradictory since, as noted above, he insisted on Japanese sovereignty over Senkaku.
47 Itoman Seiken, “Senkaku wa gyogyosha no meiko,” Okinawa Taimusu, 19 October 2010.
48 Sato Manabu, personal communication, 10 October 2010.
49 Wada, cit.
50 Suganuma, pp. 159-162.
51 Here I follow the sentiments of the Okinawa taimusu editorialist (26 October) in “Nitchu to Okinawa – daiwa koso kankei kaizen no michi.” The inscription on the bell reads, inter alia, “The Ryukyus are paradisiacal islands perfectly positioned in the South Seas which have adapted Korea’s outstanding culture, are inseparably linked to China, and enjoy intimate relationship with Japan…” | <urn:uuid:c16bbcca-3c34-4653-8d2c-74f6f2ab9053> | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | http://apjjf.org/2011/9/1/Gavan-McCormack/3464/article.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218189802.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212949-00564-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940894 | 9,865 | 2.9375 | 3 |
The storage capacity and volume of water stored in some aquifers are often unknown, which means quantifying the available groundwater store is difficult. From a water accounting perspective, availability is better defined in terms of the LTAAEL or the volume held under water access and basic water rights. Typically, the viable, high-demand groundwater resources in NSW have had WSPs developed for them (e.g. alluvial aquifers in the Hunter River; Tomago Tomaree Stockton coastal sands aquifers) to manage the resources within sustainable extraction limits. In fractured and porous rock aquifers where water availability is often poorly quantified, current levels of entitlements may not be sustainable. The embargo on new groundwater access licences in the Hunter subregion since 5 February 2016 reflects the mismatch between availability and existing licensed entitlement volumes. A water sharing plan for the North Coast Fractured and Porous Rock Groundwater Sources is under development.
Catchment recharge estimates are not available for all of the Hunter subregion, however, DPI Water has defined a broad approach for calculating mean annual rainfall recharge (), which could be applied to the subregion. Estimates of recharge across the subregion using chloride mass balance methods and landscape water balance modelling have been undertaken, which goes some way to addressing the current data gap.
Information on stratigraphy and screened intervals was not available for any of the bores located in the Hunter subregion. This information would provide a more reliable basis for estimating groundwater use by aquifer type.
For bores with water licences, if actual usage data were to become available this would assist in the provision of a more accurate representation of the distribution of groundwater use for some bores within the Hunter subregion. The uncertainty arising from not having accurate groundwater extractions data will be included in the uncertainty analyses undertaken as part of the bioregional assessment (BA) modelling.
Product Finalisation date
- 1.5.1 Current water accounts
- 220.127.116.11 Surface water
- 18.104.22.168.1 Water storage in the Hunter river basin
- 22.214.171.124.2 Water storage in the Macquarie-Tuggerah lakes basin
- 126.96.36.199.3 Gauged inflows and outflows in the Hunter river basin
- 188.8.131.52.4 Gauged inflows in the Macquarie-Tuggerah lakes basin
- 184.108.40.206.5 Surface water entitlements and allocations
- 220.127.116.11.6 Water use in the Hunter Regulated River water source
- 18.104.22.168.7 Gaps
- 22.214.171.124 Groundwater
- 126.96.36.199 Surface water
- 1.5.2 Water quality
- 188.8.131.52 Surface water
- 184.108.40.206 Groundwater
- Contributors to the Technical Programme
- About this technical product | <urn:uuid:6d35e548-91e8-4eec-9aa2-2171064fa65e> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/15-current-water-accounts-and-water-quality-hunter-subregion/15122-gaps | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030337339.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20221002181356-20221002211356-00050.warc.gz | en | 0.890072 | 636 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Missing plane found on moon. What? Is this even possible?
I knew most of you knew the story of the missing plane MH370. There were too many news about the whereabouts of the said plane. Some says it was hi-jacked. Some says it was trap by an alien force coming from the outer space. But the one that really stayed on my mind was the news saying it was found on the moon.
For those of you who do not know the story of MH370, read this.
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370/MAS370)[a] was a scheduled international passenger flight that disappeared on 8 March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, to Beijing Capital International Airport in China. The aircraft, a Boeing 777-200ER operated by Malaysia Airlines, last made voice contact with air traffic control at 01:19 MYT, 8 March (17:19 UTC, 7 March) when it was over the South China Sea, less than an hour after takeoff. The aircraft disappeared from air traffic controllers’ radar screens at 01:22 MYT. Malaysian military radar continued to track the aircraft as it deviated westwards from its planned flight path and crossed the Malay Peninsula. It left the range of Malaysian military radar at 02:22 while over the Andaman Sea, 200 nautical miles (370 km) north-west of Penang in north-western Malaysia. The aircraft was carrying 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers from 15 nations.
The multinational search effort for the aircraft is the largest and most expensive in aviation history. The search began in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea, where the aircraft’s signal was last detected on secondary surveillance radar, and was soon extended to the Strait of Malacca and Andaman Sea. Analysis of satellite communications between the aircraft and Inmarsat‘s satellite communications network concluded that the flight continued until at least 08:19 and flew south into the southern Indian Ocean, although the precise location cannot be determined. Australia took charge of the search on 17 March when the search moved to the southern Indian Ocean. On 24 March, the Malaysian government noted that the final location determined by the satellite communication is far from any possible landing sites, and concluded that “Flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.” From October 2014 through January 2017, a comprehensive survey of 120,000 km2 (46,000 sq mi) of sea floor about 1,800 km (1,100 mi) south-west of Perth, Western Australia, yielded no evidence of the aircraft. Several pieces of marine debris found on the coast of Africa and on Indian Ocean islands off the coast of Africa, the first discovered on 29 July 2015 on Réunion, have been confirmed as pieces of Flight 370. However, the bulk of the aircraft has still not been located, prompting many theories about its disappearance.
Malaysia established the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the incident, working with foreign aviation authorities and experts. Malaysia has stated that a final report on Flight 370 will be released by the end of 2017. Neither the crew nor the aircraft’s communication systems relayed a distress signal, indications of bad weather, or technical problems before the aircraft vanished. Two passengers travelling on stolen passports were investigated, but eliminated as suspects. Malaysian police have identified the captain as the prime suspect if human intervention was the cause of the disappearance, after clearing all others on the flight of suspicious motives. Power was lost to the aircraft’s satellite data unit (SDU) at some point between 01:07 and 02:03; the SDU logged onto Inmarsat’s satellite communication network at 02:25—three minutes after the aircraft left the range of radar. Based on analysis of the satellite communications, the aircraft turned south after passing north of Sumatra and the flight continued for five hours with little deviation in its track, ending when its fuel was exhausted.
With the presumed loss of all on board, Flight 370 is the second deadliest incident involving a Boeing 777 and the second deadliest incident in Malaysia Airlines’ history, behind Flight 17 in both categories. Malaysia Airlines was struggling financially, a problem that was exacerbated by a decline in ticket sales after the disappearance of Flight 370 and the crash of Flight 17; the airline was re-nationalised by the end of 2014. The Malaysian government received significant criticism, especially from China, for failing to disclose information promptly during the early weeks of the search. Flight 370’s disappearance brought to public attention the limits of aircraft tracking and flight recorders, including several issues raised four years earlier—but never mandated—following the loss of Air France Flight 447. In response to Flight 370’s disappearance, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted new standards for aircraft position reporting over open ocean, extended recording time for cockpit voice recorders, and, from 2020, will require new aircraft designs to have a means to recover the flight recorders, or the information they contain, before the recorders sink below water.
Until now, the government has no assurance of the whereabouts of this missing plane. | <urn:uuid:c3d19e4d-c982-4840-838a-aa027f886246> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://skypip.com/missing-plane-found-moon/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949009.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20230329151629-20230329181629-00405.warc.gz | en | 0.962548 | 1,056 | 2.8125 | 3 |
How does O'Neill use voices and nameless characters in the play? How do these "voices" comment on the text?
O'Neill uses "voices" in The Hairy Ape to emphasize specific class structures and groups within the play. Yank aurally and physically stands out against these "voices," dramatically revealing his displacement and detachment from society at large. Yank does not "join in" with the other firemen laughing and joking in Scene One. On 5th Avenue Yank certainly does not "fit in" with the noise of the street goers, talking about church and monkey fur. And, lastly, Yank confronts voices, perhaps most strikingly, in Scene six as he sits in jail. The voices of Yank's inmates a nameless and faceless group that scorn and laugh at him. In each situation Yank encounters a force that opposes him, which he cannot "join."
How do symbols function within the Hairy Ape? Why do you think O'Neill chose to use such heavy symbolism in the text? How do they work thematically? Give specific examples of three symbols in the text, why you think O'Neill chose them and how they comment on theme.
Symbols within The Hairy Ape are an expressionistic means to communicate and indicate abstract ideas with concrete "things." For instance, Mildred's white dress symbolically represents the artificiality and detachment of the aristocracy. Her dress makes a literal black and white contrast between herself and the coal-dusted men. Another symbol, the Transatlantic Liner, reveals the world as a big boat—complete with a "first class" on the top deck and workers below in the bowels of the ship. Steel is yet another symbol in the play, simultaneously representing great strength, industrialization and the repression of the working class. These symbols are vital because they strengthen and heighten Yank's struggle and visually signify class structure and the effects of industry on the worker.
Why does O'Neill choose to place Yank in the position of Rodin's "The Thinker"? How does this comment on the life of the industrial worker and Yank's capability for thought?
Rodin's statue "The Thinker" is perhaps society's most distinguishable symbol of thought. By taking the "attitude" of the statue in the play Yank reveals his attempt to "ape" or copy thought. In reality he does not know how to do it otherwise. While he physically embodies the cultural symbol of a "thinker" he cannot think himself. Every time O'Neill's stage direction calls for the actor to take the position of "The Thinker" Yank has met an obstacle that cannot be tackled by any other means but thought—when Yank cannot process the realities before him. After Yank is thrown out of the I.W.W. he immediately gets into "The Thinker" pose. He is desperate to make sense of his situation and to understand why the union would throw him out. Because Yank cannot process the problems before him, he is sent reeling backward on the evolutionary path—unable to function in modern society.
The real ape in Scene Eight is the only other character that takes "The Thinker" position. The ape is not included in the class or social structures of the human world. Like Yank, he sits in a cage and perhaps wonders how he can join the rest of society and like his human counterpart, imitates what humans define as thought. The Ape, by sharing this habitual body position reflects on Yanks own animalistic state—his mode of thought is no more advanced than the ape's.
Look at O'Neill's stage directions. How are they important to one's reading of the play?
Describe the language of Senator Queen's speech. What specific imagery and phrases might appeal to Yank? Why?
In your opinion, does Yank finally find a sense of "belonging"? Is "belonging" possible? How does Yank define "belonging"? Does this change throughout the text?
Mildred Douglas' father is said to work for two different steel companies. Why do you suppose O'Neill added this detail? How does is comment thematically?
How might the Transatlantic Liner be representative of a specific worldview?
How do characters feel about Hell? Pick two characters and compare their views on hell and how this is indicative of their class status.
Why would O'Neill describe Paddy as "extremely monkey-like"? What does this say about Paddy's character and history? | <urn:uuid:e7366253-5130-4829-82e0-1075e8243136> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | http://www.sparknotes.com/drama/hairyape/study.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698540798.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170900-00424-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958091 | 944 | 3.671875 | 4 |
While Google Earth can be extremely useful - not to mention a lot of fun - it now has some competition in the form of Pix4D. Instead of satellites, the imaging system uses a small, relatively inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to acquire several hundred 2D photographs of a given geographical area. Those photos are then merged into one image, which users can explore in three dimensions on a computer screen.
The UAV (which the user has to provide) flies back and forth across the town, field, or other area, taking pictures as it goes - essentially, it's acting as an airborne scanner. The still images it collects are then loaded onto the Pix4D software. The system automatically detects "interest points," which are items with high visual contrast, or that are otherwise visually distinct. By comparing the orientation of these same interest points in photos taken from a variety of angles, it is able to build a three-dimensional photographic representation of that item, along with everything around it.
It's the same principle that allows our brains to take slightly differently-angled images of the same scene from each of our eyes, and combine them into one 3D image.
Pix4D then proceeds to build a sparse 3D model of the entire area by combining all the images, using GPS tags on each photo as a guide. That's followed by a dense 3D model, to which texturing is finally added. The entire process (not counting the initial fly-over) varies with the size of the area, although in one example, 412 photos were combined into one 3D aerial image in less than one hour.
Users can choose between a high-speed cloud-based service, a private server based within a network, or a light version of the program that can run on a laptop.
The technology was developed at Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and the Pix4D company is a spin-off of that project. Below is a video of a 3D image of the town of Lausanne, created using the technology.
Source: New Scientist
See the stories that matter in your inbox every morning | <urn:uuid:8312d1b2-8604-454f-ac68-1d83d86abc98> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.gizmag.com/pix4d-3d-aerial-images/18766/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257828010.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071028-00291-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951542 | 443 | 3.28125 | 3 |
by Yvette Depaepe
1x is proud to have many Aurora photographs taken by skilful members in it's gallery. They keep on coming till today. I discovered this stunning list of earlier published images made by Javier de la Torre.
Not that recent but surely more than worth to share with you today.
Everybody wants to see at least once in a life time the Aurora Borealis.
But what causes the Aurora Borealis and where can on see them?
The Aurora is an amazing light show caused by collisions between electrically charged particles released from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere and collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. The lights are seen around the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. Auroral displays can appear in many vivid colours, although green is the most common.
In North America, the north western parts of Canada, particularly the Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Alaska are favourable. In Europe, Scandinavia, particularly the Lapland areas of Norway, Sweden and Finland is very good for aurora viewing. Iceland and the southern tip of Greenland are also good places.
Did you know that auroras are visible from space?
Satellites can take pictures of the aurora from Earth's orbit — and the images they get are pretty striking. In fact, auroras are bright enough that they show up strongly on the night side of the Earth.
Cameras see it better. Auroras are relatively dim, and the light is often at the limit of what human retinas can pick up. Cameras are often more sensitive, and with a long-exposure setting and a clear dark sky you can pick up some spectacular shots.
Legends about the Lights - "Northern Lights Center, Canada"
'Aurora borealis', the lights of the northern hemisphere, means 'dawn of the north'. 'Aurora australis' means 'dawn of the south'. In Roman myths, Aurora was the goddess of the dawn. Many cultural groups have legends about the lights. In medieval times, the occurences of auroral displays were seen as harbingers of war or famine. The Maori of New Zealand shared a belief with many northern people of Europe and North America that the lights were reflections from torches or campfires.
The Menominee Indians of Wisconsin believed that the lights indicated the location of manabai'wok (giants) who were the spirits of great hunters and fishermen. The Inuit of Alaska believed that the lights were the spirits of the animals they hunted. Other aboriginal peoples believed that the lights were the spirits of their people. | <urn:uuid:18118c5e-5170-476c-9e83-a32e9d88bc60> | CC-MAIN-2019-51 | https://1x.com/magazine/aurora-borealis-the-icy-sky-at-night-7955 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-51/segments/1575540499439.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20191207132817-20191207160817-00426.warc.gz | en | 0.957975 | 548 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Gamma-ray detectives close in on 30-year-old mystery
Cold War intrigue, international politics, and hi-tech astronomy were the key ingredients for one of the most amazing and mysterious scientific discoveries of all time, which took place exactly 30 years ago.
Discovered in 1973, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most energetic explosions in the Universe and, even today, astronomers have still not found out what is triggering them. However, the situation is not exactly the same as it was three decades ago - ESA's space missions Integral and XMM-Newton are closing in on the answers.
In 1963, the world's superpowers signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which prevented the tests of nuclear weapons underwater, in the atmosphere or in outer space. To make sure the Treaty was not being violated, the United States launched a series of military satellites, called Vela, equipped with X-ray, gamma-ray and neutron detectors. All three types of emission are expected from a nuclear blast.
The Vela satellites did not detect any violations, but they did detect something unexpected — sixteen blasts in the gamma-ray range, but without the characteristics of a nuclear weapon. Registered between 1969 and 1972, they did not even come from the Earth's surface. This puzzled the scientists, as these 'bursts' must either be very close or very powerful. In 1973, Ray W. Klebesadel and his colleagues published the famous 'discovery paper', Observations of Gamma-Ray Bursts of Cosmic Origin, but without a convincing explanation for the events.
The mystery excited astronomers as over 200 distinct theories were soon proposed to explain the bursts. However, there was an obvious lack of data — it was not even possible to determine whether the blasts happened in our own Galaxy, or thousands of millions of light-years away.
Only when more gamma-ray satellites were launched did things begin to improve. NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was launched in 1991, to which European scientific institutes and ESA contributed with the Imaging Compton Telescope. Since then, this satellite has discovered one GRB happening randomly almost every day, coming from any direction in space and lasting for a few seconds. The uniform distribution of GRBs across the sky convinced astronomers that they most likely occur outside the Milky Way. If they were inside it, they should be seen mainly near the spiral arms, where stars are more numerous.
This idea was supported in the late 1990s when apparent counterparts to these GRBs were identified in distant galaxies. If GRBs are so far away, however, their energy release must be gigantic, with the intensity of millions and millions of Suns. Thus the core mystery is not yet solved: what kind of astronomical object could explode so catastrophically?
Thanks to missions like ESA's telescopes Integral and XMM-Newton, the solution is now closer. Integral, launched in October 2002, is today the best-prepared telescope for an in- depth study of GRBs. When a GRB occurs in the centre of Integral's field of view about once a month, four different instruments 'dissect' the event simultaneously. XMM-Newton complements Integral's work by aiming at the 'scene of the crime' as quickly as possible, to analyse the afterglow of the burst in X-ray wavelengths.
These and other observations have recently helped astronomers to select two favourite hypotheses for GRBs. They could be generated by colliding neutron stars (ultra-dense dead stars) or they could be caused by the explosions of supermassive stars at the end of their lives, so-called 'hypernovae'. Recent results provide further evidence that at least some GRBs are associated with hypernovae explosions.
Christoph Winkler, ESA's Integral Project Scientist, said, "The hypernova model sounds convincing, but others cannot still be ruled out. Of course the situation of GRB research has changed dramatically in the last decade, but we still need many more measurements to reach a final answer to what is causing these events."
Fred Jansen, ESA's XMM Project Scientist, agrees on the need for both more statistics and cooperative work and said, "We try to follow Integral announcements as quickly as we can, because we know that the solution to the mystery will come from observations with different telescopes."
With such detectives on this case, no doubt the depths of space won't be able to keep their secret for long. It's just a matter of time… | <urn:uuid:08e8f811-f937-4c70-8afe-95eca2541508> | CC-MAIN-2015-32 | http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Extreme_space/Gamma-ray_detectives_close_in_on_30-year-old_mystery | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-32/segments/1438042987402.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20150728002307-00062-ip-10-236-191-2.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961212 | 920 | 3.75 | 4 |
Is your child at risk of sepsis?April 6, 2017
Tragic stories of children losing their lives to sepsis seem to be constantly in the news at the moment. These deaths are particularly sad as if the condition had been treated in time those children should have made a full recovery.
Whilst quite rare, the condition still affects a lot of people. According to The UK Sepsis Trust, every year in the UK there are 150,000 people affected by sepsis, of which around 10,000 are children. Sadly, of the 150,000 people affected, around 44,000 people die.
What exactly is sepsis?
Sepsis is a condition resulting from a complication of an infection. Normally your immune system tries to keep an infection in one place while it deals with it and to do this it will causes nearby tissues to swell.
However, while this inflammation is helpful when localised, if the infection is severe this inflammation can spread throughout the body with serious consequences.
Not only can it damage tissue, it can also interrupt blood flow. This can lead to a drop in blood pressure, stopping oxygen from reaching tissues and vital organs. If not treated this can lead to organ failure and death.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
A child with sepsis can demonstrate a range of symptoms. Children under 5 years of age may go off food, vomit continuously and not wee for more than 12 hours. You might also notice them breathing very quickly or their skin turning mottled, bluish or pale.
They may also be unusually cold to the touch or particularly sluggish and difficult to wake.
More obvious symptoms also include convulsions or fits. In some cases, you may even find that they have a rash that does not fade when you press it.
When is a child likely to develop sepsis?
According to The Sepsis UK Trust, people are most likely to have sepsis after they have had a chest or water infection, an issue in the abdomen such as a burst ulcer, or a cut or bite on the skin.
NHS Choices also mentions other infections associated with sepsis, including meningitis, pneumonia, flu and infections following surgery.
What should you do if you think your child has sepsis?
If you think your child might have sepsis you should seek medical advice straight away. If your GP thinks your child is showing early symptoms they will refer them to hospital for diagnosis and treatment.
Of course, if you are concerned that your child is very ill already, then don’t hesitate to take them to hospital straight away, as severe sepsis or septic shock is a medical emergency and needs to be dealt with quickly.
In fact, recent guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says that anyone at risk of sepsis should be seen by senior hospital staff and given antibiotics and fluids within an hour.
This guidance comes after an inquiry in 2015 found that 40% of patients with sepsis who arrived in Accident & Emergency had not been reviewed by senior doctors quickly enough.
Hopefully, this article has gone some way to helping you understand the dangers of sepsis.
However, nothing could be more powerful than this video from Melissa Mead, whose son William sadly died of sepsis just a few days after his first birthday. Please click here to view – then spread the word! | <urn:uuid:8a36b4a0-928f-40ce-a44b-042619544ef6> | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | http://theconsciousparent.co.uk/is-your-child-at-risk-of-sepsis/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267165261.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20180926140948-20180926161348-00251.warc.gz | en | 0.974473 | 706 | 2.828125 | 3 |
“This is how voter intimidation worked in 1966: White teenagers in Americus, Ga., harassed black citizens in line to vote, and the police refused to intervene. Black plantation workers in Mississippi had to vote in plantation stores, overseen by their bosses. Black voters in Choctaw County, Ala., had to hand their ballots directly to white election officials for inspection. This is how it works today: In an ostensible hunt for voter fraud, a Tea Party group, True the Vote, descends on a largely minority precinct and combs the registration records for the slightest misspelling or address error. It uses this information to challenge voters at the polls, and though almost every challenge is baseless, the arguments and delays frustrate those in line and reduce turnout. The thing that’s different from the days of overt discrimination is the phony pretext of combating voter fraud. Voter identity fraud is all but nonexistent, but the assertion that it might exist is used as an excuse to reduce the political rights of minorities, the poor, students, older Americans and other groups that tend to vote Democratic. ... On the day of the recall election of Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, the group used inaccurate lists to slow down student voting at Lawrence University in Appleton with intrusive identity checks. Three election “observers,” including one from True the Vote, were so disruptive that a clerk gave them two warnings, but the ploy was effective: many students gave up waiting in line and didn’t vote. True the Vote, now active in 30 states, hopes to train hundreds of thousands of poll watchers to make the experience of voting like “driving and seeing the police following you,” as one of the group’s leaders put it. (Not surprisingly, the group is also active in the voter ID movement, with similar goals.) These activities “present a real danger to the fair administration of elections and to the fundamental freedom to vote,” as a recent report by Common Cause and Demos put it. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits intimidation or interference in the act of voting, but the penalties are fairly light. Many states have tougher laws, but they won’t work unless law enforcement officials use them to crack down on the illegal activities — handed down from Jim Crow days — of True the Vote and similar groups.”—
From an editorial in the New York Times, “Voter Harassment, Circa 2012.”
It’s simply astounding that voter ID cases make it as far as they do in our nation’s courts and yet when’s the last time you heard these courts take on cases of voter intimidation?
In New York State, the law states that one cannot undertake electioneering activities near polling places. Technically we can call the police if we see it taking place, and technically police can enforce these laws. I don’t know about you, but if you’re from a politically-rooted group, and you’re at a polling site specifically to influence votes, then you’re electioneering to the extreme.
But there are simply too many polling places for police to patrol, and groups like True The Vote are counting on exactly that allowing them to carry out their nefarious cause: to get you, you and you off the voter rolls.
Democracy, right-wing style.
“Teresa Sharp is fifty-three years old and has lived in a modest single-family house on Millsdale Street, in a suburb of Cincinnati, for nearly thirty-three years. A lifelong Democrat, she has voted in every Presidential election since she turned eighteen. So she was agitated when an official summons from the Hamilton County Board of Elections arrived in the mail last month. Hamilton County, which includes Cincinnati, is one of the most populous regions of the most fiercely contested state in the 2012 election. No Republican candidate has ever won the Presidency without carrying Ohio, and recent polls show Barack Obama and Mitt Romney almost even in the state. Every vote may matter, including those cast by the seven members of the Sharp family—Teresa, her husband, four grown children, and an elderly aunt—living in the Millsdale Street house. The letter, which cited arcane legal statutes and was printed on government letterhead, was dated September 4th. “You are hereby notified that your right to vote has been challenged by a qualified elector,” it said. “The Hamilton County Board of Elections has scheduled a hearing regarding your right to vote on Monday, September 10th, 2012, at 8:30 A.M. . . . You have the right to appear and testify, call witnesses and be represented by counsel.” “My first thought was, Oh, no!” Sharp, who is African-American, said. “They ain’t messing with us poor black folks! Who is challenging my right to vote?” The answer to Sharp’s question is that a new watchdog group, the Ohio Voter Integrity Project, which polices voter-registration rolls in search of “electoral irregularities,” raised questions about her eligibility after consulting a government-compiled list of local properties and mistakenly identifying her house as a vacant lot. The Sharp household had first been identified as suspicious by computer software that had been provided to the Ohio Voter Integrity Project by a national organization called True the Vote. The software, which has been distributed to similar groups around the country, is used to flag certain households, including those with six or more registered voters. This approach inevitably pinpoints many lower-income residents, students, and extended families.”—JANE MAYER, writing in The New Yorker, “The Voter-Fraud Myth”
900 Voters Cast Ballots in Precinct 93, Where There Are Only 7 Registered Voters
But no matter what, voter fraud is not real! 12,857% more votes than existent voters is not a problem!
22 Signs That Voter Fraud Is Wildly Out Of Control And The Election Was A Sham
The following are 22 signs that voter fraud is wildly out of control and the election was a sham…
#1 According to the Election Protection Coalition, voters across the United States reported more than 70,000 voting problems by 5 PM Eastern time on election day.
#2 There were 59 voting divisions in the city of Philadelphia where Mitt Romney did not receive a single vote. In those voting divisions, the combined vote total was 19,605 for Barack Obama and 0 for Mitt Romney.
#3 The overall voter turnout rate in Philadelphia was only about 60 percent. But in the areas of Philadelphia where Republican poll watchers were illegally removed, the voter turnout rate was over 90% and Obama received over 99% of the vote. Officials in Philadelphia have already ruled out an investigation.
#4 According to WND, one poll watcher in Pennsylvania actually claims that he witnessed voting machine software repeatedly switch votes from Mitt Romney to Barack Obama…
It was in Upper Macungie Township, near Allentown, Pa., where an auditor, Robert Ashcroft, was dispatched by Republicans to monitor the vote on Election Day. He said the software he observed would “change the selection back to default – to Obama.”
He said that happened in about 5 percent to 10 percent of the votes.
He said the changes appeared to have been made by a software program.
Ashcroft said the format for computer programming has a default status, and in this case it appeared to be designating a vote for Obama each time it went to default.
#5 Somehow Mitt Romney won 55 out of the 67 counties in the state of Pennsylvania and still managed to lose the entire state by a wide margin because of the absurd vote totals that Obama ran up in the urban areas.
#6 Barack Obama received more than 98 percent of the vote in 10 out of the 50 wards in the city of Chicago.
#7 Prior to the election, voters in the states of Nevada, North Carolina, Texas and Ohio all reported that voting machines were switching their votes for Romney over to Obama.
#8 There were more than 50 precincts in Cuyahoga County, Ohio where Mitt Romney received 2 votes or less.
#9 There were more than 100 precincts in Cuyahoga County, Ohio where Barack Obama received more than 99 times the votes that Mitt Romney did.
#10 Barack Obama also received more than 99% of the vote in a number of very important precincts down in Broward County, Florida.
#12 Ten counties in the swing state of Colorado have a voter registration rate of more than 100%.
#13 Barack Obama did not win in a single state that absolutely requires a photo I.D. in order to vote.
#14 In Ohio, two election judges were caught allowing unregistered voters to cast ballots.
#15 Many Ohio voters that showed up at the polls on election day were surprised when they were informed that they had already voted.
#16 In fact, there were reports all over the nation of people being unable to vote because records showed that they had already voted.
#17 According to U.S. Representative Allen West, there were numerous “voting irregularities” in St. Lucie County, Florida on election day…
“The thing that spurred our curiosity in our race was the fact that at 1 o’clock in the morning on Election Night, all of a sudden there was a 4,000-vote swing that took me from being ahead to put the lead into my opponent’s hands.”
#18 In Wisconsin, there were allegations that Obama voters were actually being bussed in from out of state…
The Democrats stationed a self described “BIG Chicago pro bono attorney” as one of their two observers at this small polling place. He remained at the polling place from 7:00 a.m. until well after 8:p.m. …..A high priced CHICAGO attorney, sitting in a Sheboygan WISCONSIN polling place, observing wards comprised of 1500 voters? …. WHY???
Why would someone from Chicago be observing in Sheboygan Wisconsin? And WHY at such a small polling place? Finally, isn’t it interesting that this would occur at the VERY polling place in which all of the above described events ALSO occurred? AGAIN WHY WOULD A CHICAGO ATTORNEY BE OBSERVING AN ELECTION POLLING PLACE WITH FEWER THAN 1500 VOTERS IN IT, IN SHEBOYGAN WISCONSIN? Of all the places where there has been suspected voting irregularities, and OUTRIGHT FRAUD throughout the ENTIRE United States, WHY HERE? WHY SHEBOYGAN? WHY THIS SMALL WARD?
This lawyer spent the day running in and out making, and taking calls, which coincidentally then coincided with influxes of groups of individuals by the van and bus loads, coming in to register, AND VOTE, using what appeared to be copied Allient energy bills. These individuals often did not have photo I.D.’s, could not remember their own addresses without looking at the paper, and became easily tripped, confused and annoyed when questioned.
Many of these same individuals, just so happened to be dressed in/wearing CHICAGO BEARS apparel, and whom openly discussed “catching busses back to Chicago” with each other, with poll workers, via their cell phones in the lobby area just outside the polling place, as well as in the parking lot, both before and AFTER registering and voting.
One woman was dressed head to toe in CHICAGO BEARS apparel including perfectly manicured BEARS fake fingernails!
She complained because registering was taking too long and she had to hurry up to catch her bus back to Chicago.
We have photos of these people in vehicles with plates from different states, photos of them leaving the polls, and other irregularities.
#19 Prior to election day, an Obama for America staffer was caught on video trying to help someone register to vote in more than one state.
#20 It is being alleged that unions in Nevada have been registering illegal immigrants and pressuring them to vote.
#21 According to townhall.com, there was a systematic effort by the Obama campaign to suppress the military vote because they knew that most military votes would go against Obama…
Aiding Obama’s win was a devious suppression of the conservative vote. The conservative-leaning military vote hasdecreased drastically since 2010 due to the so-called Military Voter Protection Act that was enacted into law the year before. It has made it so difficult for overseas military personnel to obtain absentee ballots that in Virginia and Ohio there has been a 70% decrease in requests for ballots since 2008. In Virginia, almost 30,000 fewer overseas military voters requested ballots than in 2008. In Ohio, more than 20,000 fewer overseas military voters requested ballots. This is significant considering Obama won in both states by a little over 100,000 votes.
#22 According to the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, it appears that thousands of military votes from this election will never be counted at all.
So what do you think about all of this?
Do you still believe that elections in America are fair and honest?
Who Created the Voter-Fraud Myth?
In this week’s issue, Jane Mayerwrites about the man behind the myth that American elections are threatened by fraudulent voters. Many election experts say that Hans von Spakovsky, a conservative Republican lawyer who served in the Bush Justice Department, and is now a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, has played an “improbably large” part in fanning fear about voter fraud. Click-through to read “The Voter-Fraud Myth.” | <urn:uuid:50b2a1b8-334a-4e2e-8a83-ea7d76061aa0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/voter%20fraud | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705957380/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120557-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97123 | 2,855 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome
- myalgic encephalomyelitis
Chronic fatigue syndrome, abbreviated as CFS, is a poorly understood condition that results in severe fatigue and other symptoms.
What is going on in the body?
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not known, although many theories have been offered. It is a chronic condition with an unpredictable course. It can only be diagnosed if other medical conditions that cause fatigue have been excluded. Treatment is limited by a lack of understanding of the disease process itself.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown. It is most likely that a combination of factors, rather than one single factor, brings about CFS in an individual. The list of possible factors includes the following:
Low blood pressurecaused by the autonomic nervous system may cause CFS. It is more prevalent in people with CFS than in the general population.
- Immune disorders, such as
allergiesor an autoimmune disorder, may cause CFS. An autoimmune disorder is a condition in which the person creates antibodies against his or her own tissue.
- Infection alone does not cause CFS. However, an infection may be one of multiple causes that bring about CFS in an individual.
- Nutritional deficiencies may play a role in causing CFS. However, there is no definitive proof.
Stressstimulates centers in the brain, known as the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis. These centers produce cortisol and other hormones. Overstimulation from stress may influence the immune system to bring on CFS.
What can be done to prevent the condition?
There are no known effective measures to prevent chronic fatigue syndrome.
How is the condition diagnosed?
The most important part of the diagnosis of CFS is to rule out other causes for fatigue. There are many medical illnesses that can cause fatigue. These include infections, hormone imbalances, immune system diseases, and many different kinds of cancer.
To rule out other conditions, a medical history and physical exam are performed. Multiple blood tests and a urine test are then done. Further tests, such as X-ray tests, may be ordered. There is no one test that can make a diagnosis of CFS. The diagnosis of CFS is generally made when no other cause can be found for a person's fatigue and other symptoms.
Long Term Effects
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
The long-term effects of CFS relate to the person's severe fatigue. Affected people may be unable to work or go to school. They may lack the energy to form or keep relationships with other people. This can result in depression and a feeling of hopelessness. Friends and healthcare professionals sometimes have a negative attitude toward a person with CFS.
What are the risks to others?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is not contagious and poses no risks to others.
What are the treatments for the condition?
Treatment must be tailored to fit each person with chronic fatigue syndrome, depending on symptoms and response to different therapies. There are two types of therapy: behavior therapy and drug therapy.
Behavior therapy may include:
- attending support group meetings
caffeineand alcohol cognitive behavioral therapy, to help the person change perceptions and beliefs about his or her health status
- eating a balanced diet
- moderate exercise, being careful to avoid overexertion
- receiving regular, individual counseling
- relaxation methods, such as meditation,
biofeedback, and hypnosis
Drug therapy may include:
- antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (i.e., Prozac, Sarafem), sertraline (i.e., Zoloft), paroxetine (i.e., Paxil, Pexeva), venlafaxine (i.e., Effexor), and bupropion (i.e., Wellbutrin)
- antihistamines, such as astemizole (i.e., Hismanal) and loratadine (i.e., Alavert, Claritin)
- blood pressure medications, such as fludrocortisone (i.e. Florinef) and atenolol (i.e., Tenormin)
- decongestants for nasal or sinus congestion
- muscle relaxing medications to relieve muscle spasms
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also called NSAIDs, such as naproxen (i.e., Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan), ibuprofen (i.e., Advil, Motrin), and piroxicam (i.e., Feldene)
- tricyclic medications to relieve pain and promote sleep, including doxepin, amitriptyline, desipramine (i.e., Norpramin), and nortriptyline (i.e., Pamelor, Aventyl HCl)
Because chronic fatigue syndrome is difficult to treat and the course of the disease is unpredictable, many people with CFS use alternative therapies to relieve or reduce symptoms. Some of these therapies have included:
acupuncture chiropractic treatment craniosacral therapy, which addresses the flow of cerebrospinal fluid within the body hydrotherapy, which is also called water therapy massage therapy
- tai chi, which combines exercise and balance
- therapeutic touch
What are the side effects of the treatments?
NSAIDs can cause stomach upset and
allergic reactions. Antidepressants may cause problems sleeping, headaches, or stomach upset.
What happens after treatment for the condition?
The course of CFS is very difficult to predict. Fortunately, most people eventually get better with or without treatment, though a cure is often not possible. People may return to normal activities whenever they feel able.
How is the condition monitored?
Affected people are in the best position to monitor the condition. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare professional.
Conn's Current Therapy, 2000, Rakel et al. | <urn:uuid:437a8848-37b9-4716-b4ce-7891cbea4bb9> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | https://www.activeforever.com/articlelist-all/a-chronic-fatigue-syndrome | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464053379198.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524012939-00129-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924464 | 1,289 | 3.59375 | 4 |
IRIS Center Module:
Accessing the General Education Curriculum
are some important steps in interpreting data from high stakes assessments?
data and determining information such as which types of accommodations were used,
how many alternative assessments were taken, and which scores were not included
in the school’s improvement index, educators should examine the data to
identify expected results, unexpected results, and common errors among
students. The educators should determine how many students with disabilities
took standardized tests and evaluate their scores. The educators should also
consider more detailed information such as how many students with certain
categories of disabilities were tested and how many students received
accommodations in each category of disability. Comparison of scores throughout
a single year at each grade level, in a single grade across several years, or
in multiple groups in multiple years can provide valuable information to show
the areas in which students are improving or struggling. Educators must address
challenges in interpreting data that include small changes causing large
impacts within small groups of students, the lack of clear differentiation of
scores in state score reporting, and the transfer of students between general
and special education. The final step in interpreting data is the creation of
teams of teachers that will develop strategies for future improvement based on
the students’ performance.
does the law say about the instruction and assessment of students with
According to the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), educators must create an
individualized education program (IEP) for students with disabilities. Since
students with special needs are required to have access to the general
curriculum, the IEP describes how the student will be involved in general
education. The IEP includes information such as the student’s current
performance and needs, goals to be measured on an annual basis, progress data,
and a description of the student’s participation in extracurricular and
curricular activities alongside children with and without disabilities.
Students with exceptionalities
must be included in assessment programs but may be provided with accommodations
as necessary. States and local districts should create accommodation policies
that include guidelines for alternate assessments for students with
disabilities who are unable to take part in general assessments. Scores of
students with disabilities must be reported along with the students’ peers.
is it important that students with disabilities have access to the general
education curriculum? What are some ways to help these students to access the
general education curriculum?
education curriculum follows specific content standards and subject matter, and
students with disabilities have the right to access the same standards. Through
accessing this curriculum, students with disabilities move towards learning the
same critical information and abilities taught to all students. If the state
has mandated that certain content is important for students to learn, this
content is also important for students with disabilities to learn. Providing
these students with access to general education benefits these students and helps
create high expectations for students with disabilities. While some students
with disabilities may need no changes to the general curriculum, other students
may access the general education curriculum with assistance outlined by their
IEPs in the form of accommodations, modifications, or alternate assessments.
are accommodations? Modifications? Alternate assessments? When should each of
these be used?
supports the student and helps the student access the subject matter and
instruction so that he or she can demonstrate what he or she knows.
Accommodations do not alter the content of instruction or expectations. For
example, a student with motor, sensory, or information-processing deficits
could benefit from accommodations such as sign language interpreters, Braille
materials, or tape-recorded books. These accommodations “level the playing
field” for students with exceptionalities.
If all potential
accommodations have been considered and students need additional assistance,
modifications provide students with a change to the assessments or instruction.
For example, assignments could be reduced in length or the student could read a
text at a lower reading level.
assessments are used for a small percentage of students who have more
significant cognitive disabilities and who cannot participate in general
assessments. Students who take alternate assessments often follow a curriculum that
focuses mainly on life skills. An example of an alternate assessment could be a | <urn:uuid:d4de47d0-fb62-467c-a0f7-93d57ea60b34> | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | https://virtualsierra.com/callie-of-students-with-disabilities-according-to-the-individuals/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570986688826.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20191019040458-20191019063958-00057.warc.gz | en | 0.941661 | 901 | 3.875 | 4 |
China's "baby hatches" provide a safe environment for people to anonymously abandon infants
Supporters say the program significantly improves mortality rates of abandoned infants
Some critics see hatches as band-aid to overall problems with China's welfare laws
The number of China’s so-called “baby hatches” – places where mothers can leave newborn babies anonymously – is set to increase as the government tries to protect more of the country’s abandoned infants.
The hatches, which were first introduced in Shijiazhuang, the capital of China’s northeastern Hebei province in 2011, consist of a temperature-controlled room equipped with a baby’s cradle and an incubator. Once dropped off anonymously, an alarm is sounded and a welfare worker attends to the child minutes later.
There are currently 25 baby hatches in 10 provinces across China, and the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) told state media agency Xinhua that more will be set up, in a further 18 regions.
A Mr. Zhou from the Beijing Civil Affairs Department told CNN that they plan to open a baby hatch within the year and the project is one of the department’s top priorities.
Children are often given up due to disability or severe illness – largely to parents without the necessary means to provide for their offspring – and historically, due to the sex of the child in a country where boys are traditionally favored and strict one-child policies have put pressure on families to produce male heirs.
While statistics point to a largely even split between boys and girls, almost all the infants given up at baby hatches suffer from disabilities or severe illness.
Proponents of the system say that the “baby safety islands”, as they are officially known in China, significantly reduce the mortality rates of abandoned babies, providing a safe, warm environment with immediate care and improving on the wretched conditions that infants are often left in.
According to the code of conduct released by Ministry of Civil Affairs, the facilities should issue an announcement to look for the baby’s parents. The baby will be adopted into a child welfare institution – a state orphanage – if it is not claimed by parents or legal guardians after the announcement has expired.
The baby hatch system is not without its detractors, however. Some in the country criticize the policy, saying that it could encourage parents to give up unwanted infants.
The practice is also used in various countries around the world, including in Europe. In countries like Germany “babyklappe” are also considered controversial – and inhabiting a legal gray area thanks to new laws that protect children’s rights to know their mother’s identity – but have been used relatively infrequently.
Since opening in late January, a baby hatch in the southern city of Guangzhou has received almost 80 infants, according to a Xinhua report cited in the party-funded English-language People’s Daily.
A China National Radio report said a baby hatch in Nanjing was “crowded with visitors.” The owner of a nearby convenience store told CNR that she saw parents drop babies off at the facility every day.
Li Bo, head of the CCCWA, says that there is no evidence to show that baby hatches lead to an increase in child abandonment, and that the service should be viewed as a practical move.
“Laws emphasize prevention, while baby hatches focus on rescue after the laws are broken,” he said.
The original baby hatch in Shijiazhuang reported a comparable number of infants abandoned in 2009-10 to that recorded since the service was established in June 2011.
“I don’t think the baby hatches would encourage people to abandon their babies,” population expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Fuxian Yi said.”Nanjing is an individual case. The story has been exaggerated. Its impact is waiting to be seen, it’s too soon to judge.”
The efficacy of the baby hatches aside, the number of abandoned infants in China does, for some critics, point to deficiencies in China’s welfare system, especially for children born with illnesses or disabilities.
A comprehensive system that goes far beyond the immediate care offered by baby hatches should be a priority, according to Tong Lihua, who runs a Beijing legal aid and study center for adolescents.
“We need a comprehensive system to better protect them,” he is quoted as saying. CCCWA’s Li says a medical insurance system, reinforcing other support mechanisms, should be implemented.
Recent moves to relax China’s strict one-child policy may also positively affect abandonment numbers in the country.
The program is attracting debate on Chinese social media as well. “It’s good for the babies, but the most important issue now is where would they go when they grow up,” said one Sina Weibo user.
“Is it a sign to legal[ize] abandoning babies?” asked another.
CNN’s Dayu Zhang contributed to this report | <urn:uuid:0bfb736e-e3b1-4282-bced-88e1e86e83ae> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/17/world/asia/china-baby-hatch/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585186.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20211018000838-20211018030838-00498.warc.gz | en | 0.956982 | 1,063 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Could You Start a Business?
This lesson plan will teach high school students the importance of financial management for a small business. It will help students learn the concepts of business costs, positive cash flow, credit, and proper financial management in running a business. Students will learn the tools for basic financial analysis, and will investigate why the business in the video segments was not successful. As an extension activity, they can brainstorm ideas for a model new business, given what they have learned about the financial needs of a new business.
3 classes at 45 minutes per class
Math, Finance, Economics
- Understand the components of a budget
- Learn financial management
- Learn the nature of opportunity costs in financial decisions
- Understand the challenges of entrepreneurship
- Have an introduction to the use of credit
- Learn cost-benefit analysis
- Learn the meaning of revenue, expenses, profit
1. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
Number and Operations
- Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems;
- Understand meanings of operations and how they relate to one another;
- Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates.
- Build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving;
- Solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts;
- Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to solve problems;
- Monitor and reflect on the process of mathematical problem solving.
- Recognize and use connections among mathematical ideas;
- Understand how mathematical ideas interconnect and build on one another to produce a coherent whole;
- Recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics.
2. Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL)
- Create and use representations to organize, record, and communicate mathematical ideas;
- Select, apply, and translate among mathematical representations to solve problems;
- Use representations to model and interpret physical, social, and mathematical phenomena.
Benchmarks for Economics
1. Understands that scarcity of productive resources requires choices that generate opportunity costs.
3. Understands the concept of prices and the interaction of supply and demand in a market economy.
This lesson was prepared with the support of Citi Foundation.
Written by: Melissa Donohue | <urn:uuid:986c4c7d-a256-4db5-a002-4c8d74fbdc82> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/fe_start/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464051342447.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524005542-00146-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.881647 | 462 | 4.3125 | 4 |
Jasper National Park spans over 11,000 km2 of the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Alberta. It shares parts of its western border with Mount Robson and Hamber provincial parks, in British Columbia, and part of its southern border with Banff National Park, in Alberta. Directly north of Jasper National Park is Willmore Wilderness Park, also in Alberta. The town of Jasper is located within the park’s boundaries.
During the Precambrian age, 1 billion years ago, the mountains that make up Jasper National Park did not exist. The entire Rocky Mountain System, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, was flat. Gradually, this area began to sink below sea level and fill with sea water. Over millions of years sediments such as mud, silt and sand were deposited into this inland sea from nearby rivers. As more and more sediment was added, the bottom of the sea continued to sink, creating layers of sediment thousands of metres deep.
About 75 million years ago, forces within the Earth pushed the sediment above sea level, compressing the rocks so that they folded, buckled and broke, forming the Rocky Mountain System. Erosion, from forces such as rain, running water and glaciers, continued to shape the mountains into their current formations.
Flora and Fauna
Jasper National Park can be divided into three vegetation zones: montane, subalpine and alpine. In the montane zone, which includes the valleys between the mountains, Douglas fir and lodgepole pine are numerous, and trembling aspen, balsam poplar, black cottonwood, white birch and white spruce are also found. Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine and subalpine fir make up the forests of the subalpine zone, which grow along the mountainsides. While there are no trees in the alpine zone, many wildflowers grow along the park’s mountaintops. These flowers include the purple saxifrage and purple-flowered beardtongue, the pink blooms of the moss campion, and the white and yellow blooms of the mountain avens.
The park is also home to elk, moose, mule and white-tailed deer, woodland caribou, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Carnivorous animals include coyotes, wolves, cougars, lynx, black bears and grizzly bears. Three hundred and five species of birds have been identified in Jasper National Park, including the golden eagle, the white-tailed ptarmigan and the gray jay. There are 16 species and subspecies of fish native to the park, including the longnose sucker, burbot, spoonhead sculpin, mountain whitefish and bull trout.
Jasper National Park is located on the traditional territory of a number of Indigenous peoples; there is evidence of human occupation dating as far back as 10,000 years ago in the Athabasca valley. Prior to the arrival of White settlers, several Athabaskan-speaking groups lived on what is now the eastern side of the park, namely the Sekani, Dane-zaa and Tsuut’ina nations. The Secwepemc, an Interior Salish nation, lived on the western side. These groups were nomadic, making seasonal trips to the valleys between the mountains to hunt elk and other hoofed animals. By the mid-1600s, the Cree were established in the area, and by the late 1700s the Stoney-Nakoda. As Indigenous and non-Indigenous people began to inter-marry, a Métis population also grew in the region.
Historians assert that Indigenous people were forcibly removed or barred from most national parks in Canada. In the case of Jasper National Park, several Métis families were homesteading in the area as plans formed for the park’s creation. These families were considered by park administrators to be squatters, and the government worried they would hinder their efforts to create a pristine tourist destination. In addition, new park regulations prohibited the hunting and trapping the homesteaders relied on for food. In August and September of 1909, the Métis families were served eviction notices and given until March 1910 to leave.
In 1810-11, explorer David Thompson became one of the earliest Europeans to discover a northern route through the Rocky Mountains at Athabasca Pass, on the western side of Jasper National Park. The pass became an important part of the North West Company’s fur trade route. In 1813, they built Jasper House (now a National Historic Site in Jasper National Park) as a place where fur traders could stock up on provisions before traversing the mountains through Athabasca Pass, or refuel if they had just completed the journey. In 1821, the Hudson’s Bay Company took control of the North West Company and posts such as Jasper House. Jasper House closed in 1884.
In 1872, Sandford Fleming surveyed the area of Jasper National Park looking for a way for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) to pass through the Rocky Mountains. While he deemed Yellowhead Pass (at the park’s western boundary) the best route, this idea was abandoned in 1881 in favour of Kicking Horse Pass (located to the south, in present day Yoho National Park).
Because the CPR was built in the south, two companies, the Grand Trunk Pacific and the Canadian Northern railways, successfully lobbied the government to build another, more northern railway. Both these companies chose Yellowhead Pass as their route through the Rocky Mountains. Surveying and construction began in the early 1900s.
Creation of Jasper National Park
With two transcontinental railways about to pass through the Athabasca valley, the federal government decided to set aside land for a forest reserve. In 1907, they created the Jasper Forest Reserve, named for Jasper Hawse, a former operator of Jasper House. The reserve received national park status in 1930.
During the First World War, the federal government interned 8,579 Canadians as prisoners of war in camps across the country. Known as “enemy aliens,” they originated from the countries Canada was at war with, namely Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria. Four of these camps were set up in national parks: Banff, Jasper, Mount Revelstoke and Yoho. The Jasper camp opened in February 1916 and closed seven months later. During that time, the prisoners were primarily tasked with building a road to Maligne Lake.
Facilities and Activities
Visitors to Jasper National Park can hike, ski, snowshoe, bike, canoe or kayak, among other activities. They may also visit the Miette Hotsprings, or one of the park’s five National Historic Sites: Athabasca Pass, Jasper House, Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House, Jasper Park Information Centre, and Yellowhead Pass. | <urn:uuid:d9944400-bd87-4145-8cb2-d16f71622c82> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jasper-national-park | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145941.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20200224102135-20200224132135-00120.warc.gz | en | 0.959971 | 1,424 | 3.6875 | 4 |
Jackson, L. Charles
In this convenient biographical collection, Dr Millar gives us a look at the lives of ‘the Six Johns’ of the Scottish Reformation. We have all heard of the life of John Knox, and deservedly so, but now we get to know the other leading lights of the Scottish Reformation. John Willock, John Winram, John Spottiswood, John Row and John Douglas all played and major part in establishing reform in Scotland and in the composition of the Scots Confession of Faith, 1560, which is conveniently appended at the back of the volume. This was still used as the set confession of the Church in Scotland until 1647, when the Westminster Standards replaced it.
Dr. S. J. Millar is an Elder in Bethel Free Church (Continuing,) Ayr, and Chairman of the Scottish Reformation Society. | <urn:uuid:31563d56-ccb4-4045-9f34-269857245712> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/the-six-johns-of-the-scottish-reformation-millar.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347390448.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20200526050333-20200526080333-00359.warc.gz | en | 0.928292 | 182 | 2.609375 | 3 |
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org.
English (or Language Arts)
A typical English curriculum will focus on important works of British and American literature and poetry, and also will build your vocabulary, writing ability, reading comprehension, and analysis. It’s important that you take at least one English offering each year.
Though many high schools only require three years of science to graduate, top colleges will want to see one science course per year. A strong college transcript includes courses in biology (sometimes called “living environment”), chemistry, physics and a fourth science class of your choice. Many high schools offer special science electives like microbiology, forensics, astrophysics or anatomy as well as the traditional science classes. And the more courses you can take with labs, the better.
Most high schools offer a math “track,” in which students take 1-2 years of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, precalculus and calculus. Wherever you begin this track (some kids enter high school with some algebra under their belts, some take algebra and geometry in a different order, and some combine trigonometry with precalculus), it’s important to take at least one math class per year. The more math courses you can take—ideally, finishing trigonometry, precalculus or calculus by graduation—the stronger your transcript will be.
“Colleges will want to see that you’ve taken the most challenging classes available to you.”
Social Studies (or History)
Most high schools require a year each of American history and global history. In addition, some states have requirements for special classes such as American government, economics or geography. Ask your guidance counselor what your social studies requirements are. Whichever combination of courses you take, make sure you take one social studies or history class every year.
Spanish, French, Latin or German—see what your high school offers, and take whichever language is most interesting to you. Colleges want to see you commit to learning one language (so, don’t suddenly switch languages in 11th grade); though most high schools only require two years of a foreign language, colleges will want to see three or more.
This can include music, drama, creative writing, choir or studio arts (painting, drawing, etc.)—check out the course offerings at your school. The arts may seem unimportant since they aren’t core classes, but colleges know that they foster creativity and help you develop your thinking in unique ways.
Make sure you are fulfilling your high school requirements for gym and health classes, which usually fall under the same category. Sometimes you can fulfill these requirements by participating in after-school sports; check with your guidance counselor for specifics.
Besides looking at which subjects you’re taking, colleges will want to see that you’ve taken the most challenging classes available to you. If honors classes are available, or if your school has an Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) program, find out if you’re eligible to take those classes. Advanced courses will not only bolster your transcript by showing what a serious student you are, they’ll also help you develop a deeper knowledge of the subjects, which will help you tackle college-level classes later on.
Remember: Getting a “B” in an honors or other advanced class is better than coasting with an “A” in a standard class; it shows the colleges that you’re hardworking and up for a challenge. | <urn:uuid:de0a7c3c-abd2-4815-85fe-bf377453a3bd> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://imfirst.org/2012/12/29/courses-for-college-entry/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590348502097.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20200605143036-20200605173036-00121.warc.gz | en | 0.938138 | 749 | 3.265625 | 3 |
In poetry, a line break is the end of a line in a poem. The poet chooses to break each line in a specific location for a specific purpose (or multiple purposes).
There are two main types of line breaks: end-stopped and enjambed. An end-stopped line generally ends where a phrase or sentence in the poem ends. They tend to be marked by periods (the true end-stopped line, being a full stop) or other punctuation marks. This technique provides a good deal of emphasis, and often makes the sentences used seem factual. It can also make a poem seem harsh and choppy, with a heavy, serious rhythm.
Take, for instance, the first lines of John Berryman's Life, friends, is boring. We must not say so.
Life, friends, is boring. We must not say so.
After all, the sky flashes, the great sea yearns,
we ourselves flash and yearn,
Berryman seems to take the first line as the premise or even thesis of his poem; the rest of the poem discusses these ideas in detail. The break itself makes the line seem factual; it makes it definite. Berryman can then go on to play with the meaning of such statements in the following lines, which then take the form of evidence, and in the poem as a whole.
An enjambed line, in contrast, lets phrases spill over into new lines wherever they choose. This provides a feeling of movement throughout the poem; it propels the reader forward. It hurries you to the next line; often the first words after an enjambed break are more important than those after which the previous line actually broke. It makes the division between lines more subtle (as opposed to being battering rams yelling LOOK AT ME!, as end-stopped lines can become if you aren't careful). It can obscure a rhyme scheme or even a full sonnet structure.
Back with Berryman, we see that an enjambed line is every bit as useful as an end-stopped:
and moreover my mother told me as a boy
(repeatedly) "Ever to confess you're bored
means you have no
Inner Resources." I conclude now I have no
inner resources, because I am heavy bored.
The line break (and stanza break) preceding "Inner Resources" make these resources a prime focus for the reader's attention. The previous lines were all building toward it: these Inner Resources must be every bit as important as the capital letters in the mother's voice indicate.
Thus end-stopped and enjambed lines may work together to create a series of emphases on key points in the poem. A skillful poet may manipulate them so as to create exactly the impression he or she wants to portray. | <urn:uuid:062d7dea-58da-479a-b264-9d1aac4a4f7b> | CC-MAIN-2016-40 | http://everything2.com/title/Line+break | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-40/segments/1474738663308.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20160924173743-00265-ip-10-143-35-109.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961737 | 582 | 3.921875 | 4 |
Guides and Practices
Practical measure to keep children safe during COVID 19: COVID19 has reached children and families far beyond those it directly infects. With school closures and social distancing put in place, the limited provision of education and human interaction strains on to their health, safety, nutrition and well-being. UNICEF UK has produced technical guidance to provide governments and protection authorities with an outline of practical measures that can be taken to keep children safe during these times.
Digital 5 a day: With children spending more time at home as a result of school closures, the Children’s Commissioner of England have produced a simple framework, based on the NHS’s evidence-based ‘‘five steps to better mental wellbeing’. It can be used by parents and carers to make the most of their children’s time online and find a well-balanced digital diet.
Psychologists working with children and young people using online video platforms: With more clinical work being taken online particularly during the pandemic, the British Psychology Society have provided guidance for psychologists to meet the developmental requirements of young children (children through teenagers) through online video platforms.
Statement of policy in relation to family reunion of unaccompanied children seeking international protection in the EU or the UK: The UK government is continuing their commitment to support vulnerable children and is pursuing an arrangement with the EU which would allow unaccompanied children to seek international protection in either the UK or the EU to join, when it is in the child's best interests.
Data and tools
Children living with parents in emotional distress (March 2020 update) : Children with parents who experience emotional distress may experience anxiety and depression. PHE has published an update to four indicators reporting the proportion of children living with either one or both parents reporting symptoms of emotional distress. The data showed an increase in the proportion of children that lived with at least one parent reporting symptoms of emotional distress between 2016-17 and 2017-18. Data has been reported by family type and work status and reports the trends between 2010 to 2011 and through to 2017 to 2018.
Impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable children in temporary accommodation in the UK: This is a comment published by the Lancet Public Health and speaks about the direct and indirect health, social, and educational consequences for children and families that are experiencing homelessness. It emphasises the importance of not further marginalising this vulnerable group.
What research questions should the next generation of birth cohort studies address? An international Delphi study of experts: Using a 3-round Delphi survey with interdisciplinary experts from HICs and LMICs, the study aimed to explore what research questions should be prioritised for the next generation of birth cohort studies (BCS). Identifying the roles of family/environmental factors and social disadvantage in a child's development were deemed particularly important. Moreover, studies should be designed in a way to inform the development of interventions.
Effectiveness of indicated school-based interventions for adolescent depression and anxiety - a meta analytic review: This paper aimed to provide a meta‐analytic review of randomised controlled trials of psychological interventions for young people aged 10–19 with elevated symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. While interventions were effective immediately post-intervention, there is little evidence of the long-term effects. Longer follow-up periods in high quality RCTs are required to justify investments.
Association of video game use with body mass index and other energy-balance behaviours in children: Childhood obesity is a significant public threat in the UK. This secondary analysis of cohort data in the UK showed a small (however not clinically significant) association between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and regularity of bedtimes with higher body mass index among children with greater video game use early in childhood (age 5). The paper recommends future interventions to incorporate health promotion in mainstream video games for children who are at high risk. | <urn:uuid:7171dba6-c808-4039-ad05-4f1df08d140b> | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | https://www.bacaph.org.uk/blog/144-bacaph-bulletin | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780053918.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20210916234514-20210917024514-00243.warc.gz | en | 0.943037 | 795 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Dr. Denise Su is an expert in paleoecological reconstruction and currently serves as the Gertrude Haskell Britton Chair of Education and Curator of Paleobotany and Paleoecology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Her research is revealing the environments in which our most ancient human ancestors lived and will ultimately provide insight into whether environmental factors shaped the trajectory of hominin evolution.
Paleoecology casts a broad net across many scientific disciplines to reconstruct ancient ecosystems. Every fossil, small or large, plant or animal, can yield important information. In addition to paleontological information, Su reviews data about a site’s geology, sedimentology, fossil pollen, and anything else relevant. In some cases, she’ll also draw on research into analogous contemporary animal or plant populations.
In 2000, Su began doing field research as a member of the Eyasi Plateau Paleontological and Geological Project at Laetoli in Tanzania. This site has rock exposures between 3.6 million and 3.85 million years old, the time when Australopithecus afarensis (“Lucy”) walked the Earth. Based on the project’s work at the site, Su has pieced together enough evidence to reconstruct the patterns of forests, grasslands and other habitats that prevailed there during that time period.
Su is also co-leader of the Zhaotong Paleontological Project at Shuitangba in Yunnan Province, China. Since 2007, this project has been excavating an exposure of Late Miocene sediments approximately 6.1 million years old. Paleoecological evidence from this location, which includes numerous plant and animal specimens, promises to provide a picture of an ancient ecosystem outside of Africa but concurrent with early hominin evolution.
Su continues to analyze the data from Laetoli and Shuitangba as part of her work as a Museum curator, a position she has held since 2012. She is further refining the picture of what these ancient ecosystems were like, and plans to expand her research by locating another field site. With enough analysis in place, she will be able to address the larger questions concerning the influences ancient ecosystems may have had on human evolution.
Jablonski, N. G., Ji, X., Kelley, J., Flynn, L. J., Deng, C., & Su, D. F. (2020). Mesopithecus pentelicus from Zhaotong, China, the easternmost representative of a widespread Miocene cercopithecoid species. Journal of Human Evolution, 146, 102851. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102851
Wang, X., Grohé, C., Su, D. F., White, S. C., Ji, X., Kelley, J., . . . Yang, X. (2018). A new otter of giant size, Siamogale melilutra sp. nov. (Lutrinae: Mustelidae: Carnivora), from the latest Miocene Shuitangba site in north-eastern Yunnan, south-western China, and a total-evidence phylogeny of lutrines. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 16(1), 39-65. doi:10.1080/14772019.2016.1267666
Haile-Selassie, Y., Melillo, S. M., & Su, D. F. (2016). The Pliocene hominin diversity conundrum: Do more fossils mean less clarity? Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(23), 6364-6371. doi:10.1073/pnas.1521266113
Su, D. F., & Harrison, T. (2015). The paleoecology of the Upper Laetolil Beds, Laetoli Tanzania: A review and synthesis. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 101, 405-419. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2014.09.019
White, T. D., Ambrose, S. H., Suwa, G., Su, D. F., DeGusta, D., Bernor, R. L., . . . Vrba, E. (2009). Macrovertebrate paleontology and the Pliocene habitat of Ardipithecus ramidus. Science, 326(5949), 87-93. doi:10.1126/science.1175822 | <urn:uuid:25ffa930-5f56-49e2-ad89-aba9a7fc271f> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://anth.la.psu.edu/research/research-labs/jablonski-lab/dr-denise-su/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103626162.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20220629084939-20220629114939-00437.warc.gz | en | 0.847678 | 943 | 3.09375 | 3 |
One way to answer the question of how long small businesses survive is to determine the probability of survival based on predictable factors. Geographic location, type of industry, size and age are some useful factors in predicting how long a business stays active. Other, unforeseen, factors can also affect the survival of a business, including general economic conditions, as well as market influences such as the number and size of competitors and new entrants.
The probability of survival is defined as the percentage of new firms that continue to operate when they reach a given age. Table 4 presents survival rates for the 1994 cohort of start-ups that are microenterprises (those with fewer than 5 employees) and other small businesses (those with between 5 and 99 employees) by sector. As shown in Table 4, the majority of start-up firms do not operate for very long. For example, 72 percent of micro-enterprises that entered in 1994 survived for one year, 54 percent survived for two years and 46 percent survived for three years.
The percentage of new firms that remain in business declines rapidly over the first three years. In other words, failure rates for micro-enterprises and other small businesses are high the first three years but decline more slowly over time. There is little difference in survival rates between micro-enterprises and other small businesses, although micro-enterprises were somewhat more likely to survive their first full year, whereas other small businesses were slightly more likely to survive after that.
Table 4 also shows survival rates by goods-producing industries, service-producing industries and public industries. Although sectors generally follow the same trends as the industry aggregate over time, there are differences across sectors. Firms in public industries had the highest survival rates among micro-enterprises; among other small businesses, firms in public industries had slightly lower survival rates than other sectors for the first two years and had higher rates after that. Firms in this sector typically operate in industries that are sheltered or completely free from competition. Goods-producing industries had the lowest survival rates in both size categories, likely because the high capital investments usually required in these industries may strain a business' cash flow.Table 4: Survival Rates of Micro-Enterprises and Other Small Businesses (Employer Businesses Only) by Sector and Size (Percent), 1994–2003
|Duration (years)||Micro (1–4 employees)||Other Small (5–99 employees)|
|Industry Aggregate||Goods- Producing Industries||Service- Producing Industries||Public Industries||Industry Aggregate||Goods- Producing Industries||Service- Producing Industries||Public Industries|
Source: Statistics Canada, special tabulations of data from the Longitudinal Employment Analysis Program (LEAP), 1994–2003. | <urn:uuid:63983d6a-3ded-4d7d-ac72-e0b5fcc52e18> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.salespider.com/bt-171/how-long-do-small-businesses-survive | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999640676/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060720-00094-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929701 | 556 | 3.28125 | 3 |
A Study Guide for Henrik Ibsen's "the Wild Duck"Book - 2016
A Study Guide for Henrik Ibsen's "The Wild Duck," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Drama For Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Drama For Students for all of your research needs.
Publisher: [United States] : Gale, Cengage Learning : Made available through hoopla, 2016.
Branch Call Number: eBook hoopla
Characteristics: 1 online resource | <urn:uuid:f76a962b-6b45-4040-878a-eefdf1b02208> | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | https://austin.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1699186067 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267159470.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20180923134314-20180923154714-00300.warc.gz | en | 0.823074 | 128 | 3.40625 | 3 |
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This chapter is a lamentation (Eze 19:1) that Ezekiel is to take up. With this he expresses God’s sorrow for Jerusalem. The lamentation has two parts. In the first part (Eze 19:2-9) the mother of the princes of Judah is compared to a lioness. It is about the fate of the last kings of Judah. In the second part (Eze 19:10-14), the princes of Israel are represented in the familiar picture of a vine. In it we hear the lamentation over the fall of those princes.
The lamentation is to be taken up “for the princes of Israel” by which is meant the kings Jehoahaz and Zedekiah (Eze 19:1). They are indeed kings of Judah, but since Judah alone is left – and people from Israel also went to Judah over time – their kingship applies to all Israel.
The “mother”, the “lioness” (Eze 19:2), represents the royal tribe of Judah. The Lord Jesus is “the Lion from the tribe of Judah” (Rev 5:5). In a direct sense, it is about Hamutal, the mother of Jehoahaz and Zedekiah (2Kgs 23:31; 2Kgs 24:18; Jer 13:18). “The lions” between which the “mother” lies are the nations surrounding Israel. “The young lions” are the princes of those nations. “Her cubs” are her sons Jehoahaz and Zedekiah. “One of her cubs” (Eze 19:3) whom she reared and who becomes a young lion is Jehoahaz. His short reign is wicked (2Kgs 23:30-32). He is a bloodthirsty king, one who is guilty of violence. He exploits the people, he devours them.
The surrounding nations hear about him (Eze 19:4). Following the imagery of how one catches lions – in pits camouflaged with branches – Pharaoh Neco captures Jehoahaz. Neco brings Jehoahaz as an exile to Egypt, where he dies (2Kgs 23:33-34; Jer 22:10-12).
“She”, the mother, Hamutal, takes Zedekiah, “another of her cubs”, and makes him king (Eze 19:5). She does this after the capture and taking away of Jehoahaz. Zedekiah may have been made king by Nebuchadnezzar, but it may have been done through the intercession of Hamutal. She puts all her hope in him. It is a great evil when we put our hope in something or someone other than the Lord. This chapter is the chapter of false hope.
This Zedekiah goes around proudly among the surrounding peoples (Eze 19:6). He, the young lion, let not himself to be impressed by the other young lions. The same testimony sounds of him as of Jehoahaz (Eze 19:3).
Zedekiah is also a morally reprehensible man who has sexual intercourse with widows (Eze 19:7). His life bears the character of violence and destruction. His reign of terror, which is compared to the roar of a lion, paralyzes the land. Led by the king of Babylon, the surrounding nations come to him and take him captive (Eze 19:8). Like Jehoahaz, he is imprisoned (Eze 19:9). Jehoahaz goes into exile in Egypt and Zedekiah goes into exile in Babylon. Thus his voice, the roar of the lion Zedekiah, comes to an end.
The Withered Vine
In the second parable, Israel, “your mother”, is compared to a vine (Eze 19:10; Jer 2:21). It is a lush vine. The “strong branches” recall mighty rulers who have reigned on the throne of David (Eze 19:11). Zedekiah is the branch that rises up among the many branches. He is raised to the position of king above the princes of the house of David who surround him and shines in the midst of them. He seems to have a future because of the sons born to him, “the mass of his branches”.
However, the anger of the LORD kindles against him because of his wickedness (Eze 19:12). Therefore, he is taken away with wrath from kingship. This is done by “the east wind”, which is the Babylonians, who are the instrument of the wrath of God. That “east wind” causes all the fruit of the vine to dry up, that is, all the prosperity of the land to disappear.
The remnant of Israel is “planted in the wilderness”, that is, it is taken away to Babylon, “a dry and thirsty land” (Eze 19:13). Babylon is a fertile land at that time, but for the Israelite it is figuratively a land without fruit.
The fire that goes out from the branch (Eze 19:14) is an allusion to Zedekiah’s rebellion. That fire, however, consumes himself and those under his influence, “its shoots [and] fruit”. The result is that it is over and done with the reign of the house of David: there is “not … a strong branch” left in it.
Ezekiel sings this lamentation when judgment has not yet come upon Zedekiah. However, he sees in faith this end of the kingship and has deeply lamented over it. The course of events confirms his prophetic outlook and makes this lamentation in faith – “this is a lamentation” – become a lamentation about reality – “and has become a lamentation”.
Kingcomments on the Whole Bible © 2021 Author: G. de Koning. All rights reserved. Used with the permission of the author
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de Koning, Ger. Commentaar op Ezekiel 19". "Kingcomments on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20 | <urn:uuid:6a0a9eed-19c4-4824-ad74-761e50971b4a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/kng/ezekiel-19.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573623.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819035957-20220819065957-00026.warc.gz | en | 0.951287 | 1,387 | 3.140625 | 3 |
(Credit: Keplinger Research Group and Science/AAAS) Humanoid robots like Sophia, granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia, and Atlas, which backflips like a boss, are rigid, strong and rather bulky. They’re made to look like us; they’re not designed after us. But researchers are working hard to give robots a softer touch without losing strength. Two new studies released Thursday in Science and Science Robotics showcase new moving robotic parts, called actuators, that are advancing soft robots, making them more adaptable, flexible and strong. With the help of these new designs and other work being done by scientists in the field, soft robotics could benefit many sectors, including industrial and medical industries. Not only that, but since the robots are made of soft materials they are less likely to harm us, which means we could find ourselves interacting with squishy robots more in the future.
Flex For Me
These new parts, called hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuators (HASEL), can contract with precision and force similar to mammalian muscles, even outperforming humans at times. These “muscles” can lift baseballs and even delicate items like a raspberry or raw egg. "We draw our inspiration from the astonishing capabilities of biological muscle," said Christoph Keplinger, senior author of both papers in a news release. "HASEL actuators synergize the strengths of soft fluidic and soft electrostatic actuators, and thus combine versatility and performance like no other artificial muscle before." The bare bones of these moving parts: a stretchy pouch-like shell filled with a vegetable-based transformer oil (acts as an electrical insulator that can be polarized with a charge) and hydrogel electrodes. Once voltage is applied, they flex. Researchers tested doughnut- and sheet-shaped HASEL actuators, which completed 1 million and 158,000 reps, respectively (Ron Burgundy would be impressed), while lifting more than their own weights, as outlined in the Science paper.
Building off of those designs, researcher Nicholas Kellaris and team created Peano-HASEL actuators, which are described in the Science Robotics paper. This design consisted of three connected rectangular pouches filled with liquid that could move at speeds faster than human muscles. You may have noticed that self-healing is included in the full HASEL name. If something goes wrong, say there’s an electrical overload (or a deep, deep burn), these "muscles" can repair themselves. | <urn:uuid:ff56f6d3-0a95-4b20-861a-8382314344ad> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/robots-are-flexing-stronger-more-flexible-muscles | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655937797.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20200711192914-20200711222914-00421.warc.gz | en | 0.944922 | 519 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Stretching hundreds of miles, Southern California and the peninsula of Baja California house an ample diversity of climatic zones. Ranging from Mediterranean in the North becoming arid in the central regions and evolving into sub-tropical towards the South, this rich region offers an ideal home to a colorful array of birds. California Gnatcatchers and California Towhees feeding in brushy landscapes. Purple-neck Costa’s give way to bright-magenta Anna’s Hummingbirds and mingle with frisky Xantu’s Hummingbirds and Vermilion Flycatchers. In the semi arid North, skies are darkened by flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, while smaller groups of Lesser Goldfinches and Oak Titmouse inspect the land. Solitary Wrentits inhabit prickly deserts where Gila Woodpeckers and Gilded Flickers peck on imposing Cardons. Verdins and secretive Gray Thrashers hide in the brushy flora. The sub-tropical South sees a Caracara in search of carrion. The endangered Belding’s Yellowthroat hides behind his black mask perched on a Palm tree aside a tame Yellow-eyed Junco. Thousands of miles of coastline allure an immense variety of birds: Blue footed Boobies, Clapper Rails, American and Black Oystercatchers, Snowy and Wilsons Plovers, Elegant, Royal and Least Terns, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Least Grebes, Brant Geese, Neotropic, Brandt’s and Pelagic Coromorants, and many more. | <urn:uuid:6e4bade2-c315-496f-87f3-398c635a9b5b> | CC-MAIN-2018-47 | http://andiamo-travel.com/?id=birding | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-47/segments/1542039747665.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20181121092625-20181121114625-00177.warc.gz | en | 0.833127 | 341 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Many of the words and phrases we use every day are things we take for granted in terms of what they mean now. But what did they originally mean? What is the origin of "gibberish," "spill the beans," "best man," or "loophole?" What are the origins of these everyday phrases and terms? Some of these might surprise you.
If you are looking for the origin of common phrases, read up! You never know the next time someone may ask you about the origin of a popular phrase. And when that happens, you, my friend, will be ready.From ancient castle features to the dangers of having your bride stolen on your wedding day, these common phrases have their origins from some interesting sources. Below you will find out such interesting things as the jibber jabber origin, stool pigeon origin, and the etymology of common phrases and sayings. Learn where the phrases and terms you use everyday came from with this list of origin of phrases and expressions.
In feudal days, weddings were rife with the possibility of a rival lord trying to break up your wedding ceremony and steal your bride for political reasons. To prepare for a possible battle, the groom would ask a friend with fighting skills to stand with him during his marriage and act as his Best Man, helping to defend his bride from possible kidnapping.Often, grooms would convince multiple friends and relatives to stand with him, and several peasant "maids" would be persuaded to stand with the bride, in the hope that if invaders came to disrupt the ceremony, they would be confused by the number of girls in party clothes, and possibly kidnap the wrong one.
The origin of this phrase goes back to when pigeons were considered a good food source. Hunters would take a tame pigeon and tie it to a stool in order to attract its wild brethren. Because the pigeon that was tied to the stool was used to trap others of its kind, the term "stool pigeon" became used to describe anyone used to sell out his friends.
Spill The Beans
In ancient Greece, some voting was done with beans. White and black beans were used to determine the nature of your vote. Citizens would cast their votes with the bean color for their choice and drop it in a jar to be counted by the officials later. However... as one might expect... on a few occasions a clumsy voter would knock over the jar and reveal the beans and the outcome of the vote. The phrase came to refer to someone who reveals the truth or hidden secrets.
Today, this word implies a way to get out of a contract. The origin goes all the way back to the Middle Ages and, believe it or not, a defensive architectural feature of castles. Up at the top of the fortifications, designers put in small, usually oval windows that were tapered to be wider inside and narrower from the outside (also called a "murder-hole"). This made the window difficult to hit from the outside by attacking enemies, but a good spot from which to fire arrows.This opening was called the loophole and later, the term came to represent any opening that gave an advantage to one side in an argument or contract. | <urn:uuid:97d54688-6b06-438e-b499-eec8d2573a46> | CC-MAIN-2018-34 | https://www.ranker.com/list/the-origins-of-15-common-words-and-phrases/analise.dubner | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-34/segments/1534221215284.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20180819184710-20180819204710-00130.warc.gz | en | 0.979831 | 647 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Two avenues of huge standing stones lead out of Avebury linking the giant stone circle with other important sites in the wider landscape.
On a massive scale: Avebury and the Avebury Avenues
Probably the most extraordinary thing about Avebury is the sheer scale of the monument. Not only does it incorporate the largest of all Britain’s stone circles but the ditch and bank around the stone circle ‘may be the largest surviving earthwork of this age anywhere in the world’ (Pitts 2000).
To continue the mega theme, the monument sits within a landscape of archaeological sites that is truly enormous in scale. This includes two Avenues which snake out of the southern and western sides.
Avebury henge, the ditch and bank with it’s stone circles, has four gaps in its circumference at the cardinal points. Leading out of at least two of these were pairs of massive stones that marched off into the landscape connecting it to other sites. In the aerial photograph above one of these avenues, The West Kennet Avenue, heads from the gap in the bank at the top of the circle and follows the line of the road running along the yellowy-green strip that leads towards the top of the picture. Before reaching the trees it probably veered off along the fence line before leaving picture left to continue its course to another late Neolithic monument known as The Sanctuary.
In his book Exlporing Avebury – The Esssential Guide Steve Marshall suggests that the avenue led to West Kennet Spring and that, in effect, a new avenue then led away from here to The Sanctuary. He makes a very convincing argument for water playing a crucial role in the Avebury complex.
The Avebury Avenues – The West Kennet Avenue
The West Kennet Avenue is one of the best known features in the Avebury landscape. It runs some 2.4km from Avebury’s southern entrance in a winding south easterly direction and terminates at The Sanctuary on Overton Hill. Best interpreted as some form of processional or ceremonial route The West Kennet Avenue once comprised about 100 pairs of standing stones or megaliths.
The avenue is about 15m wide with stones set every 20 to 30m and standing between 1.5m and 3m tall, the heaviest weighing over 20 tons. Like everything else in the Avebury landscape it is of ambitious proportions. Built at the end of the Neolithic period, probably between c.2600 and 2300BC, the stones were erected by people using little more than antler picks, hide ropes, brute strength and community cooperation. It is, like so much else in this landscape, a remarkable concept and achievement.
Reconstructing West Kennet Avenue
When Alexander Keiller bought Avebury in 1934 he decided he wanted to put it back into its ‘original state’. This meant clearing the great banks and ditches of trees and rubbish, demolishing unwanted or derelict buildings within the Avebury henge and most spectacularly re-erecting fallen megaliths transforming ‘a relatively little-known archaeological site…(into) a public park’ (Pitts 2000). He concentrated his first efforts on the West Kennet Avenue where only four stones remained standing and in 1934 and 1935 erected 27 along the first third of its length and more again in 1939. This means we now have an impressive 37 pairs of megaliths to wander along giving us an excellent feel for its ancient form.
It is most commonly believed that the West Kennet Avenue terminates (or, more likely, begins) at The Sanctuary. All the stones of the timber and stone monument that once stood here were removed in the early eighteenth century, the timbers having rotted away thousands of years earlier. The original positions of all the timber posts and stones have been located through excavation and concrete markers now show where they once stood. You can see four pairs of these running towards the gate in the photograph above, the proposed beginning of West Kennet Avenue.
Interpreting the Avenue
Some think the stones represented ancestors lining the ceremonial pathway. What was the pathway used for though? If it was a processional route from the Sanctuary to the Avebury henge who was it for? It doesn’t run in a straight line so does it symbolise the tricky route from adolescence to adult hood? Did young men or women have to pass between the stones that bore witness to this important journey? The best place to discuss this is as we follow the route ourselves which is my favourite way to approach Avebury.
The Avebury Avenues – The Beckhampton Avenue
The Beckhampton Avenue however has a very different recent history. Very similar in form it runs, or rather ran, about 1.7km south-west from Avebury’s western entrance. In the aerial photograph, heading out to the right of picture through the trees and buildings. No work was done here by Keiller or anyone else and as a result out of about two hundred stones only two remain standing. These stand a few metres apart at the furthest end of the avenue from Avebury and are named locally as Adam and Eve or the Longstones.
It is now known that Adam (weighing c.62 tons!) was once part of a cove of four massive stones, a structure similar to the three stone cove in the northern inner circle at Avebury. Eve, however, is the last survivor of the Beckhampton Avenue. Surprisingly these facts have only been recently ascertained.
A certain William Stukeley claimed the existence of the Beckhampton Avenue when he was documenting the area around Avebury in the early 18th century; one of his drawings includes the sinuous line of its route. However since that time all the stones apart from Eve were either removed, buried or broken up on site for building materials and the avenue’s memory soon faded. In fact Stukeley was ridiculed for his suggestion by archaeologists of the late 19th and 20th centuries who didn’t believe such an avenue had ever existed. (Pollard and Reynolds 2002)
It was only in 1999 and 2000 that some targeted excavations by Mark Gillings and Josh Pollard confirmed the avenue’s existence and the roles Adam and Eve played. Gillings and Pollard also demonstrated the existence of an oval enclosure c.140 by 110m first spotted in an aerial photograph in 1997 by Ros Cleal, National Trust archaeologist and curator of the Alexander Keiller Museum in Avebury. This enclosure, dating from 2650-2500B, has a form reminiscent of the much earlier one on nearby Windmill Hill, its broad circuit marked by a shallow flat-bottomed ditch about 2m wide and 1m deep. (Pollard and Reynolds 2002).
As the possible starting point of the Beckhampton Avenue it is interesting that this Longstones enclosure had, like The Sanctuary at the end of the West Kennet Avenue, been a site of feasting. The fact that its ditches had been filled in by the time the stones were erected doesn’t detract from that situation in my mind: it is a widely held belief that the erection of the stones along the avenues at Avebury probably monumentalised already well-established processional, ceremonial routes.
One twist is that Stukeley claimed that the Beckhampton Avenue went beyond this point to an area called Fox Covert on the nearby gallops. Could he be right? Perhaps the avenue stops and restarts which is why it hasn’t been re-discovered. After all as I mentioned earlier in Exploring Avebury: The Essential Guide Steve Marshall believes that the West Kennet Avenue similarly has a gap in it about half way along its length.
There is not much to be seen here now except for Adam and Eve looking rather sheepish in a field but with the knowledge gleaned from the recent excavations it is now possible to conceptualise the scale and extent of the monuments that once stood proud in this landscape and to theorise about their purpose.
The Avebury Avenues – Rites of Passage
One theory I propose is that ceremonies in the Avebury landscape might have included rites of passage: coming of age or inter-tribal betrothal ceremonies. As far as we know there are only two avenues leading out of the henge and there is no simpler way to divide human society than into the sexes. Within Avebury henge there are two inner circles each with an extraordinary central feature, the huge obelisk in the southern circle and the monumental three-stone cove in the northern.
It has been suggested that the large number of arrowheads found at The Sanctuary ‘perhaps acted as symbols of male identity, being employed in strategies of display and formalised combat’ and that such timber circles could be ‘places where the categorisation of people, things and relations was reaffirmed’. In this reading The Sanctuary would have acted as the departure point for the male initiates. Here evidence has been produced for feasting on cattle and pig, meat-rich elements ‘implying that partially butchered carcasses or joints of meat were brought onto the site for consumption’ (Pollard and Reynolds 2002).
Progressing down the West Kennet Avenue they would have ended up at the southern circle with its phallic obelisk while the female initiates arrived from the Beckhampton Avenue at the northern circle where it has been suggested The Cove might have associations with the womb. Some also believe that the stones that survive in the West Kennet Avenue are paired as masculine and feminine stones: each pair as you progress along the avenue consists of a pillar on one side (male) and a diamond shaped stone on the other (female) although for me ‘the jury is out’ on this point as not enough conform to the rule for me.
This coming of age theory would also fit well with the regular renewal of the timber posts at The Sanctuary as recently suggested by Mike Pitts’ excavations – it might have been an annual event. See Pitts’ book Hengeworld for an excellent account of his work in the area.
Of course this is all conjecture and might be well wide of the mark but it is fun to try and bring the huge Avebury complex to life and after all similar ceremonies take place in most societies around the world and are likely to have always done so. The single burial at The Sanctuary is one of an adolescent (sex undetermined) while other burials (all male) have been found at the foot of stones along the northern third of the West Kennet Avenue (Pollard and Reynolds 2002). A further burial was also found at the base of ‘Adam’ in the Beckhampton Cove.
Why not come and try your hand at interpreting the landscape. We can walk the West Kennet Avenue, interpret the rings at the Sanctuary and visit Adam and Eve as well as Avebury henge itself and its museum full of artefacts. There is even a cafe and a pub on site. | <urn:uuid:1871e91f-bc33-4147-8e6c-16873a3eaa88> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://oldburytours.co.uk/location-guides/west-kennet-avenue/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474808.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20240229103115-20240229133115-00620.warc.gz | en | 0.963932 | 2,257 | 3.328125 | 3 |
Yes, everyone knows that ice floats - but you can actually make heavy ice that sinks to the bottom by using heavy water.
The key to the trick is heavy ice. Many terms shouldn't be taken literally—a red quark isn't red, a peanut is neither a pea nor a nut—but heavy water is exactly what it sounds like: water that weighs more than normal. This is possible because elements occur in several different forms, or isotopes, made up of atoms with the same number of protons and electrons (which determine their chemical properties) but a variable number of neutrons (which contribute weight but not much else).
Hydrogen atoms always have one proton and one electron, but only one in every 6,400 has a neutron that nearly doubles the atom¹s mass. Using a complex process called H2S, it¹s possible to isolate this heavy hydrogen, also known as deuterium (D), creating water that¹s about 10 percent heavier than normal.
Chemically, D2O—as it's written—is real water. Algae can grow and thrive in pure heavy water. Specially raised mice have contained as much as 25 percent heavy hydrogen; beyond that level, subtle biochemical reactions make the heavy mice sick. (Researchers used mice because they are small. Raising a heavy cow would be expensive.) | <urn:uuid:6b709047-6aae-4ca2-bb05-29999569b9b1> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://www.neatorama.com/2006/07/07/ice-that-sinks/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806225.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20171120203833-20171120223833-00612.warc.gz | en | 0.959422 | 279 | 3.796875 | 4 |
Concerto delle donneArticle Free Pass
A valuable description of the “luxuriant style” of madrigal composition and song, together with presentation and analysis of the music for the concerti delle donne, is included in Anthony Newcomb, The Madrigal at Ferrara, 1579–1597, 2 vol. (1978). An account of the concerto delle donne in Ferrara, with a biography of Laura Peverara, is available in Isabelle Putnam Emerson, Five Centuries of Women Singers (2005). Iain Fenlon, Music and Patronage in Sixteenth-Century Mantua, 2 vol. (1980–82; reissued 2008), offers an analysis of the activities of female singers in Mantua. The concerto delle donne in Florence is described in Tim Carter, Jacopo Peri, 1561–1633: His Life and Works (1989); and in Warren Kirkendale, “Caccini,” in The Court Musicians in Florence During the Principate of the Medici (1993). An important reevaluation of the cultural significance of professional female singers in this era is Bonnie Gordon, Monteverdi’s Unruly Women: The Power of Song in Early Modern Italy (2004, reissued 2009). Noel O’Regan, “Italy ii: 1560–1600,” in James Haar (ed.), European Music, 1520–1640 (2006), pp. 75–90, contains an overview of the madrigal in Italy in the late 16th century. | <urn:uuid:8ac4a0f4-a5fa-445b-9359-9f1aa92f978f> | CC-MAIN-2014-42 | http://www.britannica.com/topic/1881142/bibliography | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-42/segments/1414119646425.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20141024030046-00036-ip-10-16-133-185.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.865823 | 333 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Helen Keller's lesser known work as a lefty socialist: Helen Keller was famous for flourishing as a deaf and blind woman. She was well known for her work advocating for the physically disabled. As she discovered that those who are poor were more likely to be disabled, she began her journey towards a leftist, socialist ideology. Much of her political and social activism has been erased from history. This article offers a more complete look at her body of work. [more inside]
The Photographic History of the Civil War (10 vols.; 1911) offered context for thousands of striking images from the American Civil War: 1 - The Opening Battles; 2 - Two Years of Grim War; 3 - The Decisive Battles; 4 - The Cavalry; 5 - Forts and Artillery; 6 - The Navies; 7 - Prisons and Hospitals; 8 - Soldier Life / Secret Service; 9 - Poetry and Eloquence of Blue and Gray; 10 - Armies and Leaders. It was also a capstone in the intriguing career of a little-known popular historian and silent era filmmaker. [more inside]
A very special South Korean version of "The Miracle Worker" (Part 1, Part 2), featuring music purloined from the shows Bat Boy and Legally Blonde.
Helen Keller: A Living Lie? A fascinating New Yorker piece by Cynthia Ozick that explores Helen Keller's writing career and all the questions of authenticity it raises. She was charged with being a "fraud, a puppet, a plagiarist" and she was defended by the likes of Mark Twain and Alexander Graham Bell. Ozick ultimately asks the question: "Do we know only what we see, or do we see what we somehow already know?" | <urn:uuid:64442495-42f2-452e-a80f-2ddf2ba8977b> | CC-MAIN-2015-32 | http://www.metafilter.com/tags/helenkeller | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-32/segments/1438042988305.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20150728002308-00322-ip-10-236-191-2.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966981 | 355 | 2.5625 | 3 |
208 THE MONTESSORI METHOD
ber of trials, and experiments, with a view to finding out more about the muscular capacity of young children. She has made many trials with the pianoforte, observing how the children are not sensitive to the musical tone, but only to the rhythm. On a basis of rhythm she arranged simple little dances, with the intention of studying the influence of the rhythm itself upon the co-ordination of muscular movements. She was greatly surprised to discover the educational disciplinary effect of such music. Her children, who had been led with great wisdom and art through liberty to a spontaneous ordering of their acts and movements, had nevertheless lived in the streets and courts, and had an almost universal habit of jumping.
Being a faithful follower of the method of liberty, and not considering that jumping was a wrong act, she had never corrected them.
She now noticed that as she multiplied and repeated the rhythm exercises, the children little by little left off their ugly jumping, until finally it was a thing of the past. The directress one day asked for an explanation of this change of conduct. Several little ones looked at her without saying anything. The older children gave various replies, whose meaning was the same.
" It isn't nice to jump."
" Jumping is ugly."
" It's rude to jump."
This was certainly a beautiful triumph for our method!
This experience shows that it is possible to educate the child's muscular sense, and it shows how exquisite the refinement of this sense may be as it develops in relation to the muscular memory, and side by side with the other forms of sensory memory. | <urn:uuid:2aa71aad-2611-4b9e-8980-1ab4a29af5c9> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | http://www.childrensnursery.org.uk/montessori-method/montessori-method%20-%200308.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320301592.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20220119215632-20220120005632-00533.warc.gz | en | 0.981523 | 344 | 3.109375 | 3 |
A trade secret is information that is important to the business or company and is not known to the public. It is a term often used to cover information that has commercial value. A trade secret can include, for example, a method or technique that would give a business or company an edge over its competitors.
The law on the protection of confidential information protects ideas and information not in the public domain, including trade secrets. Thus, the law on trade secrets is really about the protection of confidential information.
Under the law, such information is protected as a secret from everyone except certain key individuals within the business or company. If someone reveals this secret information to others, especially if he is aware that it is a secret, legal action can be taken against him.
Protection of trade secrets
No registration procedures are involved for protection of a trade secret, and there is no specified time limit within which the secret may be protected. When a trade secret is leaked out, this breach of confidence is an action that may be taken in court, as this leak of the secret is unfair to the business/company, and may have harmful consequences.
However, not all information can be considered a trade secret. The court will consider the following when determining whether there has been a breach of confidence:
How to protect trade secrets
The following are some useful pointers for protecting the confidentiality of information:
The relationship between patents and confidential information
As a general rule, it is not possible to maintain a patent and ensure non-disclosure of confidential information for the same invention. This is because, in return for obtaining a 20-year monopoly to exclude others from making, using or selling the invention, the owner of the invention will have to make a full disclosure of the invention during the patent application process.
The relationship between copyright and confidential information
Confidential information with copyrightable material will be protected by both copyright law and the law regarding confidential information. For example, an individual who develops a computer software programme will be able to commercialise it but still keeping confidential the underlying architecture, algorithm and source code of the software programme.
Protection of confidential information outside Singapore
Protection of confidential information varies from country to country. In some countries, trade secrets are protected under separate laws. There are also laws in the EU and the US that govern data protection and privacy. However, the protection of trade secrets is a principle that is widely acknowledged by the World Trade Organization.
Page/Section owned by Rosel Tan. Questions? Drop us an email here. | <urn:uuid:38c25ae7-0d34-459a-8cc3-d633a813606f> | CC-MAIN-2014-41 | http://www.ipos.gov.sg/AboutIP/TypesofIPWhatisIntellectualProperty/Whatisatradesecretconfidentialinformation.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-41/segments/1410657132646.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20140914011212-00169-ip-10-196-40-205.us-west-1.compute.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935996 | 512 | 2.953125 | 3 |
The cause of most AFB occurrences
One basic understanding underlies all successful beekeeping management techniques designed to reduce and eliminate AFB. The understanding is simple and straightforward, but nevertheless tends to be either down-played or dismissed by some beekeepers.
This understanding is as follows: Most hives become infected because a beekeeper has put bees, honey or equipment into it from another hive that had AFB. Most AFB infections in honey bee colonies are the result of the beekeeping practices that are carried out on those colonies.
What is the incidence of AFB?
If the incidence of AFB in a beekeeper’s hives is remaining stable, then the beekeeper is probably infecting clean colonies at the same rate that diseased colonies are being found and destroyed. If the incidence is increasing, then the beekeeper is infecting more colonies than are being found and destroyed. To alter the situation, the beekeeper can take either one or both of the following approaches:
- Modify the number and effectiveness of disease inspections to find more AFB hives earlier
- Change management practices to slow the spread of the disease.
The most effective ways to combat American foulbrood disease in any beekeeping outfit are to:
Conduct a complete brood inspection before anything is removed from a hive; and
Reduce the exchange of equipment between colonies as much as possible. | <urn:uuid:8f21d417-9732-478f-9410-c28672f6e2c1> | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | http://www.afb.org.nz/eliminating-afb-in-beekeeping-outfits | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891812579.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20180219091902-20180219111902-00008.warc.gz | en | 0.9602 | 276 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Erosion Controls part 1
by Hans G. Jepson, assistant agricultural engineer, Soil Conservation Service
Originally appeared as PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF GULLIES
Farmer’s Bulletin No. 1813, Issued September 1939, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
NOTE: Some common practices and specific procedural and specie recommendations back in 1939 have fallen from favor in recent years. For example, in many parts of the southern U.S., Kudzu is seen as an accursed problem. We present this reprint unedited so that you may pick and choose how it might apply to your understanding and problem solving palette. We trust that you will make pertinent and intelligent inquiries in your region with regard to plant varieties and procedures.
It is a common conception that gully control means building check dams, planting trees, plugging gullies with brush, or directly applying to a gully some other individual control measure. This way of thinking focuses attention on devices that stop gullies rather than on ways of farming that prevent gully erosion. It overlooks the limitations of trying to check gullies by some individual control measure and neglects the necessity of properly coordinating means of control. Uncoordinated individual control measures frequently lead to wasted effort, unnecessary expenditures, and disappointment in the performance of the controls used.
A broad, coordinated attack is in general necessary to keep gully erosion under control. A farmer who wishes to keep his fields free from gullies must give first consideration to proper land use and conservation farming on areas that contribute run-off to the gullies. He must have an understanding of the best way to take care of the run-off from those areas. He will make wide use of vegetation in replanting gullies and will therefore need information on the selection of vegetation best suited to local field conditions. He will want to know the particular uses to which plants can best be put and how vegetation can be successfully maintained.
To provide general information useful in such an approach to gully control is the purpose of this bulletin. It describes various types of treatment and states the principles that should be considered in selecting and using these means of saving the land from gullying. It shows how gully-control measures can be used effectively in coordination with recommended soil and water conservation practices.
WHAT GULLIES DO
“Since the achievement of our independence, he is the greatest patriot who stops the most gullies.” If this was true 150 years ago, when Patrick Henry made this statement, it is doubly true today. For gullies are now destroying land in every State. They have eroded many fields so badly that it has been necessary to discontinue the cultivation of areas that were good farm land only a few years ago. Year after year fields are abandoned as the old gullies take more of the land and new ones form.
When lands are gullied, the fertile soil is carried away, and unproductive soil may be deposited on rich bottom lands. Reservoirs and channels are also silted up, which then have to be dredged at great expense. Gullies that cannot be crossed readily by teams and farm machinery divide fields into smaller units and thus increase the cost of cultivation. As gullies tend to drain adjacent soil of its moisture, fields dry out much more rapidly near the gullies. This reduces crop yields on these fields. As these gullies become larger they branch out over the fields; and if they are allowed to develop unchecked, entire fields may have to be abandoned.
Gullies encroach upon public highways; undermine fills, bridges, and culverts; increase maintenance costs; and make travel unsafe. Livestock grazing near the edge of undermined gully banks is endangered. Gullies occasionally extend through a farmstead, undermining the farm buildings and making it necessary to remove them. The unsightly appearance of a gullied farm reduces its market value. These destructive and unsightly ditches have already caused damage that amounts to millions of dollars-much of it a needless loss, had attention been paid to the things that give gullies their start.
HOW GULLIES START
Before we destroyed the native timber, plowed up the virgin sod, and allowed large herds of sheep and cattle to overgraze the range erosion was not a serious problem. Under nature’s cover of vegetation the soil absorbed much of the rainfall and was protected from excessive erosional losses.
In order to make way for the production of crops the land was cleared and plowed. No precautions were taken against loss of soil. On sloping fields the rows were run regardless of the direction of the slope. As a result the amount and velocity of run-off increased until it readily carried away large quantities of soil. At first the soil was removed from the surface in very small rivulets. They gradually became larger, and eventually gullies were formed, which enlarged with each succeeding rain that produced run-off.
Wherever the natural protection of the land is destroyed, the soil is made more vulnerable to erosion. Natural drainageways covered with vegetation once carried the run-off from the land. Stripping these drainageways of their natural cover and cultivating across them (fig. 1, A) or subjecting them to other undesirable farming practices is the beginning of many gullies. Steep slopes cleared for cultivation (fig. 1, C) will soon be badly gullied.
Poorly placed or poorly protected outlets for farm-drainage systems or improperly designed irrigation channels are points where many gullies begin. Improper location and protection of drains for farm roads or highway systems are an invitation to a gully to take the adjacent land. Trails or ruts over sloping fields (fig. 1, B), also contribute to some extent to the formation of gullies. The diversion of run-off into drainageways that are not well enough protected to carry the additional load is one of the surest ways to give gullies a start.
TYPES OF GULLYING
The careless use of land makes it possible for gullies to form. Gullying proceeds by waterfall erosion, channel erosion, erosion by alternate freezing and thawing, or a combination of these three types. Each type of gullying has a characteristic form (fig. 2), which may be modified to a considerable extent by local soil characteristics. If the underlying soil materials are soft and easily incised, deep, straight-walled gullies are formed; if the subsoil consists of plastic, resistant clays, the gullies are relatively shallow with sloping banks.
Water falling over the edge of a gully or the bank of a ditch forms deep and very rapidly extending gullies. Their characteristic form is a U-shaped cross section (fig. 2, A).
A small vertical overfall usually develops in the lower reaches of a drainageway, and water falling over it undermines the edge of the bank, which caves in, and the waterfall moves upstream. As the overfall advances up the slope its vertical height increases, since it usually leaves a relatively flat slope below. This undermining goes on rapidly, particularly if the surface soil is underlain by sand or easily eroded subsoil.
In this manner gullies often start in the bank of natural watercourses that have been eroded to a great depth. They extend back into the drainage area and grow deeper up the slope, often attaining depths of 50 to 60 feet or more. As they extend backward and cross lateral drainageways or natural depressions, waterfalls are in turn formed in the sides of these depressions, and branch gullies develop. This branching may continue until a network of gullies covers the entire drainage area. Their growth is dependent mainly on soil characteristics, depth of overfall, and the size of the contributing drainage area rather than on the slope of the land. They may extend very rapidly even through almost level land. They frequently grow at a rate of 30 to 50 feet a year, depending on the amount of run-off and the character of the soil. Some of them have been known to advance several hundred feet during a single heavy rain.
In the Pacific Southwest some of the larger gullies formed in this way are known as barrancas; in the Northwest they are called coulees; in the Colorado Basin they are commonly referred to as arroyos or washes.
Channel, or ditch, erosion is essentially a scouring away of the soil by concentrated run-off as it flows over unprotected depressions. Gullies formed by channel erosion usually have sloping heads and sides (fig. 2, B). In fact, these gullies are often referred to as V-gullies. As the scouring continues the gully becomes longer, deeper, and wider. V-gullies often attain lengths of 1 mile or more and depths and widths of 20 to 40 feet. The extension in length is usually much faster than the widening of the gully because a greater volume of run-off passes over the gully head than over the sides. Usually the gully does not advance beyond the divide of the drainage area, but it may continue to widen and deepen for years. The rate at which the gully deepens is very rapid on the upper part of the area, where the slopes are comparatively steep, and generally it decreases in the lower reaches as the slope decreases. Silting, rather than erosion, may occur if the channel or ditch emerges into a wide, flatbottom drainageway. The increased volume of water, however, may offset the effect of moderate changes in slope along the lower reaches.
Channel erosion and waterfall erosion are commonly found in the same gully. The extension of the vertical head is usually by waterfall erosion; and the scouring of the sloping bottom and sides by channel erosion extends the depth and width. Gullies frequently start by channel erosion, and as an overfall develops at the head of the gully, the gully continues to develop by waterfall erosion. Gullies formed by channel erosion alone are often a series of closely spaced, parallel, V-shaped gullies in the upper reaches of drainage areas, where slopes are fairly steep and the contributing area small. Channel erosion is usually present in gullies caused by waterfall erosion, except those newly formed.
EROSION BY ALTERNATE FREEZING AND THAWING
Erosion by alternate freezing and thawing is prevalent in parts of the South, where alternate freezing and thawing temperatures are common in the winter and precipitation is generally in the form of rain. Alternate freezing and thawing loosens the soil, which sloughs off and is then carried away by heavy rains. This occurs on all slopes of a gully bank (fig. 2, C), and particularly on southern exposures. Gullies formed in this way may extend in all directions, as the direction of growth is not determined by the slopes of a field. Gully erosion by alternate freezing and thawing usually supplements waterfall and channel erosion, particularly in the Southern States. It may continue for years as the only form of erosion in gullies that are near a drainage divide and have little or no contributing drainage area.
In certain localities, during or immediately following prolonged rains, and especially following periods of alternate freezing and thawing, mass movements of soil in the form of slides, earth flows, and slumps take place on steep slopes. A considerable number of gullies have their beginning in these disturbed or galled areas, particularly where the displacement exposes highly erodible subsurface material. These mass movements usually develop conditions that are conducive to gullying.
PREVENTION OF GULLIES
This bulletin deals with the control of gullies that begin as a result of man’s abuse of the land. We can prevent these gullies. To prevent the formation of a gully is much better and easier than to control it once it has formed. We can never prevent erosion entirely because natural deterioration will continue as long as there is action by wind, water, or frost. But this natural geologic erosion is generally so gradual and moves at so slow a pace that it does no appreciable harm.
It is the erosion that arises from improper land use and methods of tillage that those who work the land can control. If a farm is free of gullies (fig. 3) it will usually be found that the operator, under a well-developed land use program, uses good farming methods and is constantly on the alert against gullying. Wherever and whenever he finds a danger spot he immediately takes steps to prevent the formation of a gully. It is easy to stop a gully when it has just begun to form, but if the gully is neglected for some time it can usually be checked only with considerable work and at no little expense. It should not be assumed, however, that just because no gullies are visible on a field no erosion is taking place. There may be considerable sheet erosion, which is a forerunner of gullying unless it is checked.
Constant vigilance is necessary to forestall gullying that starts from some practice that may seem of no consequence. The thoughtless driving of a wagon up or down a slope in a field made soft by rain leaves a deep rut that may develop into a large gully unless it is in some way filled in immediately. Filling the rut with straw or manure, or even spading it full, will usually prevent further damage.
Many farms have deep gullies because the feed lots were not properly located or because the stock trails cut deep into sloping pasture lanes (fig. 1, B). Such gullies can usually be prevented by shifting fences as need arises and by rotating feed lots if gullies should begin to form. Care should be used in the location and protection of drainageways, of watering places for livestock, and of roads or trails.
Unless caused by such minor things as drain outlets or stock trails, gullying is usually preceded by sheet erosion. A close examination of sheet erosion shows that the soil is not removed in strictly uniform sheets or layers, as is so often supposed, but that numerous small rivulets are formed, which might be classified as miniature gullies. They are so small and close together that this process of soil removal is usually spoken of as sheet erosion. When water from several of these rivulets collects, larger depressions are formed, and they may finally become gullies. It thus is evident that where heavy sheet erosion has been under way for a period of time, gullying is probably imminent. Little sheet erosion occurs on a farm if its steep slopes are covered with trees and shrubs, its flat land and moderate slopes farmed according to approved cropping and tillage practices, and intervening areas reserved for permanent grasses (fig. 4).
The first step in preventing gullies is to plan or replan the farm so as to get the best possible use of the land. This will include the retirement to permanent cover of such areas as are definitely too steep to farm; the utilization of the better agricultural land for cultivated crops; the placing of moderately sloping and eroded areas in meadow or pasture, if such areas cannot be economically tilled. Good land use may require that the general field pattern be considerably changed and only the most suitable areas used for crops. In many instances fences will have to be reset and field roads rerouted to get the best arrangements.
The best known methods of controlling erosion on those slopes that must be tilled are crop rotations, cover crops, strip cropping, and contour cultivation, alone or in combination with terracing where it is required. These practices are discussed in Farmers’ Bulletins 1776, Strip Cropping for Soil Conservation; 1758, Cover Crops for Soil Conservation; and 1789, Terracing for Soil and Water Conservation. Insofar as the methods of farming described in these bulletins control erosion they aid directly in preventing the formation of gullies. The use of fertilizers and the conservative grazing of pasture or range also protect the land from erosion.
One of the most important considerations in land use that prevents gullies is the proper disposal of excess run-off water from the fields. Every farm has its own natural drainage patterns, which, in general, it is difficult to change. This pattern includes all water-conveying depressions or channels of either continuous or intermittent flow. Except for minor variations it should be followed in planning fields and, especially, in locating outlets for terraces or diversion ditches. Natural drainageways should be used, wherever possible, and they should be left in sod in order that they may continue to carry water without gullying. The extra ground that may be cropped by farming these drainageways can in no way compensate for the damage that will occur if severe gullying is begun by cultivating the drainageways with the rest of the field.
If the general drainage pattern is not considered or followed in planning for land use, either a very expensive artificial system to dispose of surplus run-off will be required or the water must be concentrated in undesirable locations that will eventually gully. If a natural drainage unit is not complete on one farm, but covers two or more farms, a better water-disposal plan can be worked out if the farms are considered collectively.
If the results of careless cultural practices could have been foreseen or if just a little time had been spent in checking the beginning of a small gully, many of the present large gullies would never have formed. Once the gullies have formed and prevention is too late, it is still possible to stop serious erosion in the gullies and cover most of them with vegetation.
PLANNING GULLY CONTROL LAND USE AND CONTROL COSTS
The size of both the gully and its drainage area are of great importance in planning the control of gullies. In order to avoid confusion as to what will be considered large or small gullies, it seems desirable to classify them. The differences of opinion as to size groupings makes such classification difficult. A large gully in the northeastern part of the United States may be considered a medium-sized gully in the Southeast. The following classification of gullies according to size is suggested for general use. The range of these groupings is necessarily wide in order to accommodate the wide variations in field conditions.
- Small gully: Less than 3 feet deep.
- Medium-sized gully: Three to 15 feet deep.
- Large gully: Over 15 feet deep.
It is recommended that gullies be further classified according to the size of their drainage area. A small drainage area is 5 acres or less; a medium-sized drainage area, 5 to 50 acres; and a large drainage area, over 50 acres. According to this classification a small gully with a medium-sized drainage area is a gully less than 3 feet in depth with a watershed of 5 to 50 acres.
If a gully directly menaces a building or a highway structure it is a rather simple matter to determine how much money may be spent to protect this property as its value is usually known or can be readily estimated. Estimating the damage of gullying in a field or the justifiable expenditure for checking it is not so easy, as it is much more difficult to determine the true value of the land and the exact extent of present and ultimate damage.
“How much am I justified in spending?” This is the first question every farmer asks himself when he plans to stop gullying on his land. If a gully has already advanced within a short distance of its drainage divide it may be unwise to spend very much in controlling the gully because it can do only a little more damage. After a gully has eaten its way to the head of the watershed it usually ceases to be active, and if it is protected from livestock, natural revegetation will reclaim it over a period of time. If a gully has advanced only a short distance into the watershed there is more justification for establishing immediate control (fig. 5).
The actual acreage of the land surface destroyed by a gully may be relatively small, but this gully may so dissect a field or threaten adjacent areas as to hamper or endanger farming operations on the entire watershed, either immediately or in the future. And just one badly gullied field on a farm creates an unsightly appearance that reduces the value of the entire farm. The value of a farm on which gullying is active may therefore decrease much more rapidly than the present state of gullying would indicate.
Although severely gullied land has little immediate value some control measures are usually warranted on all such areas if only to protect adjacent lands. But it is well to determine what is the most economical and suitable protection for each gullied area. The cost of controlling a gully and the type of protection should always be considered in relation to the use that can be made of the gullied land as well as the protection to adjacent areas that such control will afford.
For example, a badly gullied field that could not be restored to usefulness as cropland except at too great expense may be retired to woodland, for which purpose it may have considerable value. If this is done, little expenditure for gully control need be made because a protected plantation over the larger part of the drainage area will ordinarily prevent further gullying.
Less seriously damaged areas may be used for permanent pasture or meadow, provided a suitable cover can be established and the cost of controlling the gullies can be kept commensurate with the returns to be expected from the land. Land that is to go into permanent pasture or meadow often requires considerable treatment to provide a satisfactory grass cover and to facilitate future farming operations.
More expensive gully treatment is usually required on gullied land to be retained for crops, but the fertility or value of the land may justify it. In general, however, it may be said that complete, immediate reclamation of gullies is too costly unless the gullies are still so shallow that they can be crossed with machinery or terraces. The expense of installing the control measures necessary to check gullies on highly erodible areas to be kept in cultivation is frequently considerable. On these areas it is usually more economical to check active erosion within the larger gullies and then reclaim the gullies over a period of years through the use of vegetation.
There is a special type of treatment in gully control that is peculiar to the arid and semiarid parts of the United States. It has been used on large barrancas and arroyos in locations where land values are high or where it has been found necessary to protect reservoirs and irrigation systems from excessive silting. For example, where a large gully is biting into valuable orchard land it may be justifiable to fill the gully completely through the use of one or more silt-retention dams. These dams can also be used if silt deposits are being carried into irrigation systems by an actively cutting gully, even though the gully head may be under control. The silt load can be materially reduced by placing large multiple-lift, overpour dams in the alluvial-fill valleys. These structures are located at sites where the grade of both the gully and valley floor is mild and where the valley floor is sufficiently broad to permit the spreading of water. When properly located, these dams serve to stabilize active lateral cutting and they will gradually rebuild the gully by collecting silt. They often serve the twofold purpose of holding back silt and providing water for supplemental irrigation.
TREATMENT OF GULLIED DRAINAGE AREAS
Complete gully control includes proper treatment of the drainage area as well as of the gully itself. If the control treatment is applied only to the gully, it is likely that all control efforts are being directed at the results and the cause neglected. Neglecting the drainage area usually makes it much more difficult, if not impractical, to control a gully satisfactorily and often leads to the formation of new gullies faster than the old ones can be checked. For example, if an eroding field is terraced and nothing further is done to control erosion on adjacent fields it is likely that gullies will gradually encroach upon the terraced field and damage it.
If a drainage area is gullied, it will require more complete treatment than if the gullies were not present. For example, regular cropping and tillage practices that conserve the soil may permit the safe production of farm crops on an ungullied drainage area, but if gullies are present it may be necessary to put a permanent cover of vegetation on the area. Or a relatively flat, ungullied drainage area may be cropped without excessive soil and water losses if only crop rotations, contour tillage, and strip cropping are practiced, whereas the presence of a few gullies on that area would make it necessary to use terraces in addition to these other conservation practices if the same crops were to be produced without excessive soil loss and further gullying checked.
The plan of treatment for gully control, in order to be complete, should thus include treatment of the drainage area based on good land use and soiland water-conserving practices such as strip cropping, contour tillage, crop rotations, and cover crops. These should be combined with terracing or contour furrowing where applicable. Only in this way is it possible to achieve a measure of success in the control of gullies or any assurance that such control will be more than short-lived.
A soil can absorb rainfall up to a certain rate. When this rate is exceeded some of the water begins to run off. That is why heavy and rapid downpours are much more likely to cause harmful erosion than equivalent amounts of rain that fall over longer periods. This fact is so generally understood that special terms have come into use to express this relation. For example, a slow, steady rain is ordinarily called a “ground soaker,” and a dashing downpour is commonly referred to as a “gully washer.” The more rapid the rate of rainfall, other conditions being the same, the greater the proportion of rain lost as surface run-off.
It is the run-off that loosens the soil and carries it away. Without run-off there would be no gully erosion. Furthermore, the degree of gullying is directly associated with the rate of run-off. A high rate is usually more destructive than a low rate. The rate of run-off is generally a more accurate indication of the probable damage that run-off will cause than the amount of run-off. The rate of run-off is dependent on the size, shape, and slope of the drainage area; the extent, nature, and condition of the soil and cover; the intensity and duration of the rainfall; and the slope and condition of the drainage channels. High rainfall intensities of long duration, poor plant cover, saturated, frozen, or impervious soils, and steep slopes all contribute to high run-off rates.
One must estimate the probable rate and amount of run-off from a particular drainage area before it is possible to design structures to control the run-off or even to know what structures can best be used. Run-off rates are generally of more significance than the total amounts of run-off discharged in computing required discharge capacities for control structures. A possible exception would be where control is obtained through run-off retention or absorption, in which case the amount of run-off may become the deciding factor rather than the maximum rates. Terraces, diversion ditches, drainageways, and spillways must have sufficient capacity to carry the run-off resulting from the maximum rainfall intensities likely to occur during the probable life of the control structure. This period is generally from 5 to 10 years for small check dams, terraces, and diversion ditches and from 20 to 50 years for the more expensive soil-saving dams. The maximum rainfall intensity that is likely to occur during a period of 5 years is usually spoken of as having a frequency of 5 years, and similarly for any other number of years. For example, a dam designed with sufficient spillway capacity to handle the run-off resulting from a rainfall intensity that the records show will probably occur only once in 10 years is said to be designed on a 10-year rainfall intensity-frequency.
It is evident that considerable experience is required to estimate run-off from a drainage area. An inexperienced man is apt to be considerably in error in his estimates. Table 1 is included for the convenience and use of those inexperienced in making run-off determinations. Unless an individual is entirely familiar with the procedure of estimating run-off rates it is suggested that he use this table in arriving at run-off values for gully-control structures. Its use will insure reasonably safe design values for even the more adverse conditions that may be encountered in the field. The run-off rates given in table 1 should not be used for the design of large or expensive permanent dams, which are usually designed for a rainfall intensity-frequency exceeding 10 years.
Suppose it is desired to know the probable run-off from a rolling cultivated field comprising about 35 acres, located in southern Iowa. In table 1 find “rolling cultivated.” Southern Iowa is in group 2, so follow the line from the “2” opposite “rolling cultivated” across the page to the column headed 35 acres. The figure here is 132. It indicates that the probable rate of run-off on a 10-year frequency from this 35-acre drainage area will be about 132 cubic feet per second. It is important that the drainage areas be properly classified according to location in group 1, 2, or 3, as it can be seen that there is considerable variation in the run-off rates in each of these groups.
It frequently occurs that a drainage area is a composite of pasture, woods, and cultivated land. In order to arrive at the run-off from such an area, the run-off from the several units should be estimated in this way. Suppose a drainage area (located in group 2) consists of 60 acres of land with slopes of between 10 and 30 percent, which is classified as “hilly,” 30 acres, or one-half of this drainage area, is in timber, and the remainder is in pasture. From table 1 the run-off from 60 acres of hilly timber is found to be 75 cubic feet per second, one-half of which would be 37 ½ cubic feet per second. The run-off from 60 acres of hilly pasture would be 148 cubic feet per second, one-half of which would be 74 cubic feet per second. Adding these, the total probable run-off is found to be 111 ½ cubic feet per second. It is important to note that the proper figure is computed in this manner and not by adding the runoff from a 30-acre watershed of timber and a 30-acre watershed of pasture.
Applicable methods of handling the run-off to facilitate gully control differ for various types and sizes of gullies and drainage areas. Other important factors that in part determine the best method to be used are soil types and climatic conditions. From the standpoint of economy and practicability, the methods should be considered in the following order:
- Retention of run-off on the drainage area.
- Diversion of run-off above the gullied area.
- Conveyance of the run-off through the gully.
In field practice, local conditions often prohibit the use of certain of these methods, but they should always be given consideration in the order named. No method should be discarded as impractical until thorough investigation has proved it to be so. Frequently the most practical solution will be the use of a combination of the three methods. It should be kept in mind that, wherever practical, vegetation should be reestablished in gullied areas. The methods of controlling run-off are to aid in such establishment and are not to be considered as substitutes that will make unnecessary the use of vegetation on either the drainage area or in the gully.
Whatever the method of run-off control used, it should be carefully planned and executed. Haphazard work will lead to disappointment and may actually aggravate rather than alleviate the conditions being treated. Any work that is done should further the general plan for control of the gullied area.
RETENTION OF RUN-OFF
Keeping the soil and moisture on a gullied field by means of proper land use and approved cropping and tillage practices lessens considerably the amount of run-off to be carried away through the gully and thereby reduces the amount of treatment needed in the gully itself. If these practices still permit so much run-off to enter the gully that vegetation cannot be established there, the use of subsoiling, contour furrows or ridges, listing, level terraces with closed ends, or earth fills to impound water may also be advisable. These erosion controls are not difficult to construct, and they retain considerable moisture for crops. If they can be applied over the entire drainage area of small gullies or even of medium-sized gullies that have small to medium- sized drainage areas on which the soils are absorptive, the slopes moderate, and rainfall low, little or no control may be necessary in the gully itself.
On areas having absorptive soils, subsoiling small watersheds above gullies to a depth of 1 to 2 feet has proved effective in reducing the run-off sufficiently to permit satisfactory establishment of a vegetative cover in the gully. Subsoiling requires the use of a special subsoiling machine. Machines of various widths may be used, depending on the power available. The chisel points are usually spaced on 1- to 2-foot centers, depending on the depth of penetration desired. Subsoiling should be done on the contour and may be either in strips or continuous on the field, depending on the amount of absorption required. It is frequently used in conjunction with contour ridges or absorptive-type terraces. A small subsoiled strip immediately above contour ridges or terraces will open up the soil so that much more run-off can be absorbed.
CONTOUR FURROWS AND LISTING
Contour furrows or ridges are primarily small ditches or ridges constructed across the slope with a plow, lister, or terracing machine (fig. 6). Their storage capacity is dependent on their water cross-sectional area and their spacing. Various storage capacities can be obtained by regulating the size and spacing of the furrows.
The storage capacity for contour furrows or ridges with various spacings and water cross-sectional areas is given in table 2. If, for example, it is desired to store 2.5 inches of run-off in contour furrows having a water cross section of 1.25 square feet, the furrows should be spaced about 6 feet apart. The storage capacity of the furrows given in table 2 does not include the water that seeps into the soil. The ends of the furrows or ridges are usually turned uphill and the channels blocked at occasional intervals so that, in the event of a break, all the water cannot drain from the furrow and thus encourage gullying. Lister furrows (fig. 7) have been used extensively on cultivated land in the Great Plains to keep rainfall on the fields. On gullied watersheds they can be used to keep water out of the gullies.
Absorptive-type terraces are constructed larger than contour ridges, and they provide more storage capacity, are spaced father apart, and can be farmed over if necessary. Their ends can be left partly or completely open, depending on the necessity for some drainage as a factor of safety against overtopping. Where these terraces are to be depended upon to retain all of the excess rainfall, they should be used on only moderate land slopes (generally less than 2 percent) and pervious soil types. It will usually be necessary to provide storage for at least 2 to 4 inches of run-off in areas of low rainfall, and a capacity of as much as 6 to 7 inches may be necessary in areas with high rainfall. The expense and difficulty of providing a storage capacity of 6 to 7 inches usually makes the use of adequate retention measures impractical in areas where rainfall is high. Furthermore, if crops are to be grown on a field containing these terraces, the retention of an excessive amount of water may damage the crops before the water can be absorbed by the soil.
On cultivated areas with absorptive soils, small- or medium-sized gullies with small watersheds can sometimes be reclaimed by placing a series of earth fills across the gullies. Their spacing is dependent on the slope of the gullies. The use of this method is limited to areas where sufficient storage capacity can be provided above the earth fills to retain the major portion of the run-off that is commonly discharged from the drainage area. The earth fills are extended above the ground level, and short diversion ditches or spur terraces are sometimes used to lead overflow away from the end of the fills in order to prevent damage by erosion. Where a series of earth fills are used and the overflow is diverted from alternate sides, somewhat of a sirup-pan retention is effected. The diverted water is finally either impounded in the gully or absorbed by the soil. The use of this or similar methods requires considerable attention. As the storage capacity of the small reservoirs is gradually reduced by silt deposition, the amount of overflow will increase and may start erosion unless sufficient plant cover has become established to afford protection.
On fields where the measures discussed in this section do not provide sufficient storage capacity to retain the run-off and keep it out of the gullies, drainage-type terraces or diversion ditches may also have to be used to divert part of the run-off. | <urn:uuid:3833932c-95da-4a8b-8cd7-bdde7ffa18af> | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | https://smallfarmersjournal.com/erosion-controls-part-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570986703625.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20191020053545-20191020081045-00085.warc.gz | en | 0.951561 | 7,819 | 3.140625 | 3 |
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if you do, he may confer with your primary care physician about which
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If you are hospitalized for an infection, or acquire an infection while
hospitalized, Dr. Diego will follow and help direct your hospital care.
In some cases, he may continue to see you after you go home from the hospital.
Dr. Diego also specializes in treating patients with infections due to
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS. If you are considering
treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV), Dr. Diego will be able to help.
Along with his specialized knowledge comes a particular insight into the
use of antibiotics and their potential adverse effects. Dr. Diego also
has additional training in immunology (how the body fights infection),
epidemiology (how infections spread) and infection control. | <urn:uuid:8e6e8d61-2678-4fa2-a9c5-4496f8753d46> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://www.mymhp.org/services/nephrology-and-infectious-disease/infectious-disease/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949181.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20230330101355-20230330131355-00648.warc.gz | en | 0.923876 | 383 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Gazette Article by: Connie Heaton Goddard
Appeared in the Gazette: Fall 1999
That Crow Island School, with its slender chimney and off-center clock, draws attention from students of architecture worldwide is well-known. Of equal renown were the father and son pair of architects who were chiefly responsible for the school’s distinguished design and compatibility with its function.
“Brick, stone, wood, and steel are the materials of building. Ideas and ideals are the materials of architecture,” Lawrence Perkins once wrote, borrowing a comment made by his father Dwight. Likewise, the common brick and pine used to build Crow Island 60 years ago are not the primary elements of its distinction; it is the ideas those materials represent: simplicity, social consciousness, and form that follows function.
These ideas and many others that went into the design of Crow Island were gathered from the atmosphere of architectural and educational innovation that abounded in Chicago around the turn of the century. First given form in school buildings by Dwight Perkins while he was chief architect for the Chicago Board of Education from 1905 until 1910, they were more fully developed through the remarkable collaboration led by his son that resulted in Crow Island. Through his father’s friendships, young Larry not only had the opportunity to design a school for Winnetka’s progressive superintendent, but he was also able to bring in the famed Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen as a collaborator.
Dwight Perkins, born in 1867, lived just long enough to see Crow Island completed. His son Larry, who died in December 1997, was born 90 years earlier, an event commemorated by family friend Jane Addams in a 1908 note to his parents. Larry’s mother, Lucy Fitch Perkins, was a personage in her own right whose children’s stories appeared for many years on the best-seller lists.
Dwight is known for dozens of Chicago schools throughout the city, notably Carl Schurz High School on Milwaukee Avenue at Addison. Known to most Winnetkans are the original sections of Greeley and Hubbard Woods schools and the Gates Gymnasium at New Trier High School. Even casual observers remark on the gymnasium’s detailed brickwork, high windows, and elaborate eaves which yield a distinguished yet welcoming building.
“His buildings were safer and better places to teach than those that had gone before,” Larry Perkins said of the schools his father designed. Before Dwight Perkins, school buildings tended to have all the warmth and visual appeal of warehouses. Among his innovations were maximizing the availability of natural light, bathrooms on every floor (previously, they had been located only in basements), setting school buildings in open, landscaped spaces, and auditoriums that could double as public gathering places.
What the son said of his father’s schools is true of his own as well. Larry Perkins incorporated some of these ideas into his plan for Crow Island – an entrance that welcomed parents and students, lots of natural light in hallways and classrooms alike, bathrooms now in each classroom, and accessible areas for children’s outdoor activities.
In creating Crow Island, progressive ideas about education, codified in Carleton Washburne’s Winnetka Plan, went hand in hand with progressive ideas about architecture. So harmoniously did the building suit its purpose that it served for decades as the model for elementary schools throughout the country. School architecture became the specialty upon which Larry and his partners built the firm of Perkins & Will, still among Chicago’s leading firms and the firm responsible for Winnetka’s Washburne School as well.
Both Dwight and Larry Perkins stood high in their contributions; they achieved lasting stature by never standing too tall to help a child.
Editor’s Note: Connie Heaton Goddard attended Crow Island in the 1950s and is the author of The Great Chicago Trivia and Fact Book. | <urn:uuid:80c67a7a-9a41-4e37-a7fb-265fb4d19c1f> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://www.winnetkahistory.org/gazette/dwight-and-larry-perkins-architects-for-winnetkas-schools/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400201826.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20200921143722-20200921173722-00266.warc.gz | en | 0.981084 | 807 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Authors, lecturers & broadcasters:
Barker, Thomas (1722-1809), author (see Rutland Astronomers).
Grosseteste, Robert (c.1170-1253), Bishop of Lincoln (1235-1253), may have used his small manor house at Liddington in Rutland for study and probably also for housing his translators of ancient Greek texts (ODNB; see Lincolnshire).
Robert of Ketton (fl. 1141- 1157), astronomer and translator, was based in Spain and translated several astronomical, astrological and Islamic texts from Arabic. The identification of Ketton is based on the form Rodbertus Ketenensis and the toponym is usually identified with Ketton in Rutland. He is thought to be identical to Robert, archdeacon of Pamplona [Burnett]. According to his co-worker, Hermann of Carinthia, Robert made available the tables and other materials of Albeteni (al-Battani, the C10th astronomer from Baghdad). It was with some reluctance that Robert performed the translation of astrological and other non-astronomical texts, as astronomy and geometry were his main interests and Robert makes this clear in the preface to his translation of al-Kindi’s Judicia [‘Astrological judgements’] (ODNB).
Vincent Wing (1619-1668), see Rutland Astronomers.
John Wing (bap. 1662-d.1726), surveyor and almanac maker, was the nephew of Vincent Wing (1619 -1668); John Wing’s father was Moses Wing, Vincent Wing’s brother. John Wing was a surveyor at North Luffenham and in 1683 he moved to Pickworth, Rutland, where he practised and taught surveying, all branches of mathematics and music, and was also a farmer. He published Heptarchia mathematica (1693), a textbook of pure and applied mathematics, which was aimed at a broad audience including masons, carpenters, glaziers, astronomers and others. He also compiled a series of almanacs, which he also used as a means to popularize astronomy; he explained and defended Copernicanism and wrote brief essays on tides, gravity, periodicity of comets and plurality of worlds – the possibility of other planetary systems as well as inhabited planets within the universe (see Vincent Wing [1619-68] ODNB).
Tycho Wing (1696-1750) was an astronomer, philosopher, teacher of mathematics and music, as well as serving as coroner of Rutland (1727 – 1742) [Twickenham Museum]. He practised as a surveyor and boarded pupils to whom he taught mathematics, surveying and navigation. He continued his father’s almanac, initially under the name John Wing until 1739, though Tycho signed the prefaces; certainly by 1741 they appeared under Tycho Wing’s own name [Library Company of Philadelphia]. He was a friend of the antiquary Rev Dr William Stukeley. In his later years, Tycho worked with his elder son, John Wing (1723-1780) in partnership (see Vincent Wing [1619-68] ODNB).
Tycho Wing (1726 – 1776), see Telescope/equipment manufacturers. | <urn:uuid:61fbb2d8-5553-49e7-9f09-575ed9ad6bc8> | CC-MAIN-2020-45 | https://shasurvey.wordpress.com/assoiated-people-rutland/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-45/segments/1603107911792.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20201030212708-20201031002708-00326.warc.gz | en | 0.969536 | 707 | 2.625 | 3 |
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical.
damalisk(dăm`əlĭsk'), name for African antelopes of the genus Damaliscus, closely related to the hartebeest. Damalisks are slenderly built and rather horselike in form; they are common grazing animals of the African grasslands. They vary in color from deep reddish brown to tan; many have black markings on the face and body. The horns sweep back, up, and inward, in the form of a lyre. Different common names are applied to the different species and races. The tsessebe or sassaby, D. lunatus, is a large damalisk, standing nearly 4 ft (120 cm) at the shoulder; it is found in N South Africa. The tiang is a D. lunatus subspecies found in central and E Africa. The three subspecies of D. korrigum, considered by some authorities to be subspecies of D. lunatus, are known as the korrigum, topi, and coastal topi, and are respectively found in W Africa, central and E Africa, and E Africa. Blesbok and bontebok are names for the two subspecies of the small S African damalisk, D. pygargus; both stand under 3 1-2 ft (105 cm) tall and are deep red with white patches on the face and rump. Both the blesbok and the bontebok are extinct in the wild but are preserved on farms and in parks. The hirola, Beatragus hunteri, was formerly considered a damalisk species, D. hunteri, and is also known as Hunter's hartebeest. It has a long, narrow face resembling that of the true hartebeest. The hirola is now restricted to a small area of Kenya and Somalia, and is endangered. Damalisks are classified in the phylum ChordataChordata
, phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief internal skeletal support at some stage of their development. Most chordates are vertebrates (animals with backbones), but the phylum also includes some small marine invertebrate animals.
..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae. | <urn:uuid:df5635cf-e0ac-4ef4-8ec5-2ae1a2fbc23a> | CC-MAIN-2018-43 | https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/damalisk | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-43/segments/1539583512460.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20181019212313-20181019233813-00315.warc.gz | en | 0.923732 | 516 | 3.109375 | 3 |
In 2014, there is a place for both biopesticides and traditional agrochemicals in virtually all areas of agriculture. Researchers involved in fruit and vegetable, greenhouse, and row crop production say these two forms of crop protectants can be used solo or in tandem, depending on the situation. In either case, however, planning ahead is required.
In general, the biggest difference between these two classes of materials is selectivity. Most biopesticides are highly targeted in the pests they kill, and as a result have less impact on beneficials or natural enemies. Traditional agrochemicals, on the other hand, are often considered to be broad spectrum products.
Defining Biopesticides And Their Benefits
Virtually everyone in agriculture understands the definition of a traditional crop protectant. The term “biopesticide,” however, may be a little murkier to most people.
As defined by EPA, biopesticides fall into three major classes:
• Microbial pesticides consist of a microorganism (e.g., a bacterium, fungus, virus, or protozoan) as the active ingredient.
• Plant-Incorporated-Protectants (PIPs) are pesticidal substances that plants produce from genetic material that has been added to the plant.
• Biochemical pesticides are naturally occurring substances that control pests by non-toxic mechanisms.
According to Shimat Joseph, IPM entomology advisor at the University of California, no matter which class a biopesticide falls into, the product generally provides several benefits to specialty crop growers including a fast breakdown of the residue and a reduction in non-target exposure or impacts. In addition, some products, such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), act on specific pests at specific life stages.
In fact, Shimat says biopesticides are often a better fit for growers if used when the pest populations are below the economic threshold or at least the action threshold for traditional materials. In the case of Bt, early season applications to combat caterpillar pests when pressure is low can provide economic benefits by reserving applications of some of the more expensive conventional products for later in the production cycle. Biopesticides’ complex modes of action also serve as an effective resistance management tool.
Angus Catchot, an entomologist at Mississippi State University, says row crop farmers can see many similar benefits with biopesticides. In particular, he says products containing a virus often are successful at suppressing pests, such as bollworms, and reducing non-target exposure, as well.
“Once [the virus] infects larvae, those larvae become a source of the virus, and it just keeps working and working,” Catchot explains. “These products actually take some of the pressure off the traditional insecticides from a resistance management standpoint.”
Where Agrochemicals Have An Edge
In spite of their challenges regarding impact on non-target insects, traditional agrochemicals have numerous benefits.
Often a single-use active ingredient can suppress multiple pests such as thrips, aphids, or worms, Joseph says. Plus, they have longer residual activity, are likely to provide persistent control under field conditions, and the activity of the active ingredient is not likely to be affected by environmental factors, such as low humidity or high temperature.
In addition, Joseph says traditional chemicals help manage most active life stages of a pest, something most biopesticides can’t claim.
“For example, Bt is most effective on first and second instars of moth larvae,” he says. “If the larvae get bigger, Bt is no longer as effective. And, fewer numbers of sprays are required than with biopesticides. If a grower goes with synthetic pyrethroids, he just needs one or two applications. This saves money.”
Reduced cost is another positive. “Off-patent insecticides are cheaper than biopesticides or newer reduced-risk materials and provide relatively consistent results,” Joseph says.
Working In Tandem
In spite of the apparent cost benefits of off-patent traditional chemicals, using both kinds of products, sometimes in tandem, can help with resistance management, preserve beneficials, and offer a better environmental fit.
According to Catchot, often biopesticides can be rotated with other products for a cycle, reducing the chance for resistance to develop. The timing is earlier than for traditional products, however.
“Put them out earlier and on a lower pest population, particularly if [the biopesticide] is some kind of virus,” he explains. “You want to give [the virus] time to infect, sporulate, and spread.”
Raymond Cloyd, a professor in the department of entomology at Kansas State University who focuses on insecticides and miticides in greenhouse vegetable, fruit and floral production, says biopesticides and traditional agrochemicals can be used in tandem to target all stages of an insect’s life. For example, he says applying Bt early in the season will kill young caterpillars. If a second generation develops later in the season or larger caterpillars are present, a traditional material, such as a pyrethroid, can be used.
No matter the product, however, Cloyd says timing is critical.
“You want to time applications to kill the most susceptible life stage. That goes back to knowing the biology of the insect and mite pests, their behaviors, and understanding the pesticide you are using because some products are more effective on adults and some are more effective on eggs and nymphs. Make applications when the predominant life stages are susceptible to the material.”
Joseph says it is equally important to know the products’ properties. For example, biopesticides typically won’t disrupt other beneficial organisms.
“Some act on certain pests, certain life stages of the pest, function only during a given humidity/temperature range, and translocate within plants or act only by contact,” he explains.
Joseph says once growers know how the products work and interact, both traditional agrochemicals and biopesticides can be used more strategically and effectively. He adds that preferred products will have activity against the pest, attack the vulnerable life stage, and have lower residual activity.
By combining biopesticide products with these strengths and traditional chemicals that can fill in the gaps for other stages or environmental conditions, growers are, in effect, adding a whole new set of tools to their crop protection tool box. | <urn:uuid:645750aa-ecc8-4068-ac09-edd0286bf9a6> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | http://www.growingproduce.com/crop-protection/biopesticides-and-traditional-agrochemicals-there-is-a-place-for-both/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464049278244.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524002118-00184-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940653 | 1,378 | 3.453125 | 3 |
A recent study presented at Technology-Related Educational Research has looked at modern online learning materials that make answers viewable to students in an attempt to encourage learning. The purpose was to discover whether students will make a real attempt at answering the questions without simply looking at the solution.
Researchers looked at data from 550 students in four classes, at a four-year public research university, a four-year public teaching college, and two community colleges.
The study, “Will Students Earnestly Attempt Learning Questions if Answers are Viewable?” found that 84% of students to make a real, honest attempt at answering the questions before clicking the button to view the answer. Of that group, 89% made an earnest attempt to answer 60%-100% of the questions, while 73% made a good attempt at 80%-100%. Only 1% of students were found to “cheat the system” by trying to answer just 20% of the questions.
Researchers concluded that students typically do take advantage of learning materials at their disposal in an attempt to truly understand the material rather than just quickly earning points.
The findings did suggest that student earnestness decreased with course progression. Researchers attribute this to being tired or another student factor rather than the increasing level of difficulty in the course material. In addition, analyzing per-question earnestness was found to help those who write the questions determine which are poorly written.
The paper also discusses the style in which the questions were written, including how they complement text, teach instead of test, take just a small amount of time to complete, include explanations, avoid the “drill/kill” model, or seek to “trick” students on occasion to dispel common misconceptions. In addition, it was noted that each question tries to teach students a unique concept. It is through this design that the authors suggest that the students feel the questions are worthy of their time and effort, causing more students to try to answer them on their own.
The authors go on to discuss methods that could cause students to not try as earnestly including the assignment of excessive work.
Study authors include Joshua Sai Yuen, Dr. Alex Daniel Edgcomb, and Professor Frank Vahid, all of the University of California at Riverside.
The full study will be made available to the public on July 29, 2016 after the completion of the 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
Founded in 1893, the American Society for Engineering Education is a nonprofit organization of individuals and institutions that seek to further education in engineering and engineering technology. Policies and programs are developed by ASEE that increase professional opportunities for engineering faculty members, as well as promotes activities that hope to increase student enrollment in engineering and engineering technology colleges and universities.
In addition, ASEE supports communication between corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions. The organization boasts over 12,000 members, including deans, department heads, faculty members, students, and government and industry representatives. In total, 400 engineering and engineering technology colleges and affiliates are included as members, as well as over 50 corporations, government agencies, and professional associations. | <urn:uuid:ba7cdad6-ea8e-409f-a2ee-50fb46a99416> | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | https://www.educationnews.org/online-schools/viewable-answers-online-dont-keep-students-from-trying/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578633464.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20190424054536-20190424080536-00149.warc.gz | en | 0.972345 | 634 | 3.125 | 3 |
* This product is not available for expedited shipping.
Poetry offers small portions of words that are engaging and accessible, providing a fantastic context to help struggling readers. Organized into broad topics-animals, performance poems, imagine! poems, science poems, and more-mini-lessons are designed to help teach esspeical aspects of literacy. Teach key reading skils, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing through these fun children's poems from a variety of books; additional poetry suggestions, teaching ideas, and extending learning activities are also included. Reproducible graphic organizers are included in the back. 160 reproducible pages, softcover. Grades 1-3.
Format: Paperback Number of Pages: 160 Vendor: Scholastic Trade Publication Date: 2010
Dimensions: 10.88 X 8.38 (inches) ISBN: 0545156823 ISBN-13: 9780545156820 Availability: Available to ship on or about 04/11/14.
You have a handful of studentsor maybe the majority of your classwho are struggling to learn to read. Some children may lack rich background experiences in literacy, while others are learning a second language. Still others simply can’t seem to unlock the letter-sound code. Whatever the needs of your students, poetry is a powerful ally in your quest for practical, research-based strategies to teach them in joyful and motivating ways. We can think of no better way to engage even the most reluctant reader than with an enticing poem. This book provides the classroom-tested poems themselves, along with the lessons and strategies that you need to help all your young readers soar For use with Grades 13.
Ed Young, Jo Beth Young, Michael Duncan M.D., Richard Leachman M.D.
Availability: Available to ship on or about 04/11/14. You may order this item now and we will ship it to you when it arrives. If you are charging this purchase to a credit card, you will not be charged for this item and its portion of your shipping charges until it is shipped. | <urn:uuid:65230f8d-12b4-44b4-ab38-8c79249476b1> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.christianbook.com/teaching-struggling-readers-with-poetry/maria-walther/9780545156820/pd/156820?event=CF | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394678680766/warc/CC-MAIN-20140313024440-00037-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921043 | 435 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Two Little Apples
Read this poem called Two Little Apples. Then read it again and do the hand motions.
Way up high in the apple tree,
(hold both arms up)
Two little apples smiled down at me.
(point to self)
So I shook that tree as hard as I could.
(shake hands back and forth)
Down came the apples!
(hands flutter down)
Ummmm, ummmm, they were good!
Click here to read today’s book. When you visit this website tomorrow there will be a new book for you to enjoy. Visit your local library to take home a copy of this book or click here to find your local public library. Check here to see what books are coming next or look back on what we’ve read so far this year.
What is your favorite fruit? How many kinds of fruit can you name?
Help your child list or draw a fruit for each color in the rainbow.
Sesame Street: Eat Your Favorite Fruits
Fruits & Veggies More Matters
– This in-depth website has recipes, planning ideas, and ways to get your kids involved in eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. | <urn:uuid:6e8105fc-53e2-49fc-94d3-7ce8de312a73> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | http://daybydayny.org/january-4/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676596204.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20180723090751-20180723110751-00082.warc.gz | en | 0.934761 | 252 | 2.890625 | 3 |
The SeaWiFS sensor aboard the OrbView-2 satellite captured this true-color eastward looking image of Hurricane Frances on September 3, 2004 at 17:20 UTC (1:20 PM EDT). Florida is just barely visible at the top center of the image, while Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola line up vertically along the left. At the time this image was taken Frances was a category 3 storm with winds of 115 mph and was moving towards the west-northwest at 9 mph.
Provided by the SeaWiFS Project,
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE | <urn:uuid:a3aa55d4-ebf1-4f3c-980c-7d90280505bb> | CC-MAIN-2018-47 | https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/13793/hurricane-frances | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-47/segments/1542039742981.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20181116070420-20181116092420-00357.warc.gz | en | 0.946948 | 125 | 2.609375 | 3 |
I am sharing information from www.internationalsos.com on the recent epidemic ravaging some parts of West Africa.
Find details below as shared on their site.
An uncontrolled outbreak of Ebola virus is currently underway in several countries in West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone). This is the largest Ebola outbreak ever reported, both in terms of case numbers and geographical spread. It's also the first time the disease has affected large cities. Capital cities of these nations are affected.
The disease is spreading person to person, causing significant international concern and disrupting both the health and economy of these countries as well as neighboring nations. in late July, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Grade 3 emergency, its highest level of any emergency response. In early August, they declared it an Public Health Emergency of International Concern, meaning it is a serious public health event that endangers international public health.
An outbreak begins: the first round
This outbreak began in Guinea. The first case there occurred in December 2013, though it was not reported to the World Health Organization/identified as Ebola until March 2014. This significant delay means that control measures were not enacted for months, allowing the virus to take hold in the community. Soon after the disease was brought to international attention, cases were also reported in neighboring Liberia. This progression was upsetting but not unpredictable: borders in the affected area are often porous, with people walking from one nation to another on a daily basis.
Control measures were enacted in both countries, and seemed effective. By the beginning of April, disease activity slowed. It looked like the outbreak was heading to its end.
A false sense of relief
However, unexpectedly, cases spiked again in late May. New areas were affected. Ebola struck people in areas that had never had an Ebola infection before. The disease also intensified in places where people had previously been infected.
The disease also began actively spreading for the first time in Sierra Leone in late May. New cases continue in all three affected countries and beyond: Nigeria reported the first imported case in late July, in a man who had flown internationally.
Epidemic is not under control
The World Health Organization stated in July that there is a high risk that the outbreak will spread to other countries that border Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (the three countries initially affected by the outbreak). Indeed, the disease was imported into Nigeria that month. WHO states there is a moderate risk that other countries in the West African subregion will be affected. Infrastructure limitations will contribute to international spread, as it is difficult to implement health measures at border points or to effectively trace and monitor contacts of Ebola patients. People may travel from one area to another to seek healthcare, which is limited in some places.
This Ebola outbreak is not under control. Resources and personnel are stretched in trying to handle the situation. Cultural concerns also play a role: some people in these countries do not believe Ebola is an actual disease. Others are unethically selling a counterfeit “vaccine” to protect people (there is no vaccine for Ebola). Conspiracy theories circulate. Misinformation and mistrust make it difficult to implement national and international health measures – which are critical to bringing the disease under control.
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola situation to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in early August. The statement confirms that countries in which Ebola is spreading form person to person should declare a national emergency, and consider temporarily stopping mass gatherings. All affected countries are also instructed to screen exiting international travellers with, at minimum, a questionnaire and temperature measurement. Anyone who has Ebola or symptoms of Ebola should not travel. Contacts of Ebola cases should be monitored on a daily basis, and should not travel nationally or internationally for 21 days after exposure. WHO expects countries to ensure airline crews have "appropriate medical care" when operating in affected countries, and have mechanisms for contact tracing travellers. WHO again reiterated there is "no general ban on international travel or trade", however Ebola cases and their contacts should only travel if "the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation".
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Emmanuel Oluwadunsin Ayeni's Expert Author Email Alerts
Sign up to receive email alerts of Emmanuel Oluwadunsin Ayeni's latest articles from EzineArticles.com! | <urn:uuid:5cb13af4-e3ad-4383-97d4-bbbbec98806c> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | http://www.emmanuelayeni.com/2014_08_09_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662512249.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20220516204516-20220516234516-00750.warc.gz | en | 0.949051 | 1,068 | 2.640625 | 3 |
'Late Preterm' Babies Face Surprising Risks
There's some disturbing new information out today about babies that are born too early, a trend that has been increasing in the United States: A new study found that babies born prematurely are at much greater risk for serious neurological problems such as cerebral palsy, even if they are just a few weeks early.
Joann Petrini of the March of Dimes and her colleagues studied more than 140,000 babies born in northern California between 2000 and 2004 found that the earlier babies were born the greater their risk for problems. For example, babies born between 30 and 33 weeks of gestation were nearly eight times as likely as full term babies to have cerebral palsy.
But even those born just four to six weeks before a mother's due date -- so-called "late preterm" babies--were more than three times as likely as full-term babies to be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. They were also at increased risk for developmental delays and mental retardation, according to the study published online today along with an editorial by The Journal of Pediatrics.
More than half a million babies are born too early each year in the United States, and the rate of premature birth has been rising, causing increasing concern among doctors. That's because preterm babies are at increased risk for a host of health problems, including breathing and feeding problems, jaundice, delayed brain development and death. Late preterm babies account for more than 70 percent of all preterm births, and for most of the increase in preterm birth rates in the last two decades.
There are a variety of reasons why more babies are being born too early. Part of it is due to the fact that more women are waiting to have children--older women are more likely to give birth early. In addition, an increase in IVF and other infertility treatments has increased the number of twins, who also tend to be born early. Also, doctors are more likely to induce labor at any sign of problems, and more women are asking their doctors to induce labor or schedule Caesarean sections, sometimes just to make their deliveries more convenient or predictable.
The new findings, the researchers say, provide powerful new evidence for why women and their doctors should try to do whatever they can to carry their babies to full term.
Anyone care to share their thoughts about scheduling C-sections?
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The comments to this entry are closed. | <urn:uuid:5ce31f9d-c802-41bb-8c08-381ce5c8c971> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2008/12/late_preterm_babies_face_surpr.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676590314.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20180718174111-20180718194111-00134.warc.gz | en | 0.981016 | 650 | 2.734375 | 3 |
A physiotherapist is a medical professional who treats people who have problems related to disease, injury, or disability. This profession helps patients maintain their health throughout life and promotes development and recovery. For example, patients may need therapy for pain management or to prevent disease. In addition, physiotherapy aims to improve mobility, promote recovery, and promote overall development. The field uses a holistic approach and involves the patient in the care process. To learn more about the profession, read on.
Physiotherapy is a science-based profession.
Physiotherapists are medically trained professionals who help people with injuries, illnesses, and disabilities. They treat various conditions and work towards improving physical function, restoring function, and maintaining general health. They use exercise, manual therapy, and movement to help patients recover from injury or disease and maintain their health. This type of care promotes patient participation and education. In addition to helping people recover, physiotherapists also provide education on various health conditions and wellness issues.
The field of physio Adelaide physiotherapy is an extremely scientific one. Physiotherapists research to further their understanding of human movement and disease. Their findings are the result of extensive observation and scientific research. Various bodies regulate the profession of physiotherapy. Many physiotherapists are now employing evidence-based practice, ensuring that the outcomes of their research are consistent across the field. There are rigorous training requirements for physiotherapists, and many continue their studies after obtaining their diplomas. Learn more here at kineticrehabilitation.com.au.
It focuses on neurological conditions.
Physiotherapy from physio Adelaide is a health care profession that uses movement, manual therapy and exercise to help patients overcome various physical problems. Neurological conditions involve diseases of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. These disorders are often life-changing and cause people to lose function and mobility. Physiotherapy for neurological conditions helps patients regain full function and mobility. If you or a loved one is suffering from neurological symptoms, you should contact a physiotherapist as soon as possible.
Physiotherapy for neurological conditions is often referred to as neuro-physiotherapy. The profession is focused on movement disorders, especially those involving the spinal cord and brain areas that host essential nerves involved in daily movement. Physiotherapists specialise in these rehabilitation techniques because they have specialised knowledge of the neurological networks in the body and how motor control can aid a person’s recovery. This type of treatment aims to help patients regain strength, independence, and function.
It uses manual therapy.
Manual therapy is a form of physical therapy that focuses on the treatment process’s mechanical, biochemical, and psychological aspects. This therapy works by restoring the range of motion to stiff joints, and it helps reduce pain by easing tension and tightness in surrounding tissues. This type of therapy is particularly beneficial for acute back pain, as a lack of range of motion can lead to significant discomfort and make daily tasks difficult. Manual therapy uses irregular forces to target tight tissues and restore range of motion. Learn more here at kineticrehabilitation.com.au.
The use of manual therapy can make physical therapy exercises more effective. It helps to reduce swelling, loosen muscles, and improve circulation. Manual therapy can also help rebuild muscle tissue resulting from inactivity. Combined with passive stretching, it can be an essential component of a comprehensive rehabilitation program. In addition to being a complementary therapy, manual therapy is a great complement to PT. Manual therapy can help improve your range of motion, reduce pain, and restore mobility to a limited body area.
It uses dry needling.
Physiotherapy from physio Adelaide uses dry needling to address specific muscle pain conditions. This method uses sterile, single-use needles to target trigger points that may affect the mechanics of muscles and motor patterns. Needles may range from 0.5 inches to 2.5 inches and in diameter from 0.16mm to 0.3mm. Although dry needling is generally viewed as painless, needles should be sterile and stored in a certified sharps container.
The effectiveness of dry needling relies on the therapist’s skill, who must have kinaesthetic awareness of anatomical structures to accurately target the specific trigger points. However, dry needling may decrease trigger point pain, improve range of motion, and normalise motor endplate dysfunction. Ultimately, dry needling can help patients with a range of muscle pain and fibromyalgia.
Physiotherapy is a form of physical therapy that helps patients improve their flexibility, mobility, and performance. It uses various methods, including joint mobilisation and massage, to treat various conditions. For example, soft tissue release helps patients regain their normal flexibility and reduce pain, while Joint Mobilisation helps improve a patient’s ability to participate in physical activity. Physiotherapy can help prevent injury as well. However, not all physiotherapists treat neurological conditions. | <urn:uuid:58488cab-f30e-4f41-8fe6-c68c23ab3981> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://www.301original.com/author/administrator/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652663016853.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220528123744-20220528153744-00296.warc.gz | en | 0.940771 | 1,004 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Women in Kazakhstan remain unprotected from various forms of violence and harassment in the workplace.
I urge civil society and the private sector to support the achievements of women, acknowledge existing challenges and pay more attention to issues of women’s rights and gender equality in the workplace.
Kazakhstan’s legislation does not define sexual harassment, and women are not protected from them in public places. According to the UN, the trend is that “25 percent of outside observers of such situations would not have taken any action if they had witnessed sexual harassment in a public place.”
Despite the fact that 44.2 percent of small and medium-sized businesses in the Republic of Kazakhstan are headed by women, according to the World Bank, women are heads of large corporations in only 4.2 percent of cases. The gender pay gap is 33 percent. Women usually do work different from what men do and take places at lower levels of the labor hierarchy.
According to the UN, the level of female unemployment in Kazakhstan remains high compared to male unemployment. 70 percent of employees in the health, education, and social services sectors are women. Many women work in the informal sector as domestic workers, and this “domestic labor market is almost entirely functioning on the basis of verbal agreements between the employee and the employer and does not protect domestic workers socially.”
The main problem is domestic discrimination, characterized by the fact that the duties performed at home, raising children, all lie with the woman. Although a woman can be engaged in social work on a par with a man. There is hidden discrimination, that is, the restriction or infringement of the rights and freedoms of women in hiring, promotion on the career ladder, and dignity on the basis of sex.
Kazakhstan’s gender policy is at the peak of implementation. Thus, women and men should not be considered on the basis of gender, namely, as a human resource, a person who has potential in the political, economic and sociocultural direction, and which subsequently can bring the necessary contribution and benefit to the prosperity and development of the state.
Alina Levchenko – 2-nd year student of the Faculty of Journalism and Political Science | <urn:uuid:4f3bdaa1-641b-43a0-b94f-d7e8a990ae1d> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | http://infotimes.kz/en/discrimination-of-women-in-kazakhstan/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347394074.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20200527110649-20200527140649-00547.warc.gz | en | 0.958147 | 449 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Grandparents: The relationship between life satisfaction and the grandparenting role
In recent years there has been an increase in divorced working and single-parent families, and family mobility. Ties between grandparents, their adult children and grandchildren have been weakened and sometimes severed. As a result there is an increasing need to reestablish relationships between children, who need effective role models, and grandparents who have much to offer them.^ The present investigation measured the grandparenting role and the relationship between grandparents' life satisfaction and grandparenting roles. Residents in one of two metropolitan retirement communities and members of one of two senior centers were asked to fill out a questionnaire packet. This packet consisted of a Grandparenting Role Questionnaire (GRQ), the Life Satisfaction Scale-Index Z (LSI-Z), and the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised (MAACL-R), which described how one generally feels. Means, standard deviations, t-tests, pearson product moment correlations, and bonferroni corrections with the confidence level determined through linear regression were used to assess these relationships.^ Grandparents cited bonding, discipline, education, protection and general welfare, responsivity, sensitivity, caring, and baby-sitting as part of the grandparenting role when asked in a free response format. Results showed that there were gender differences for bonding, and age differences for bonding, responsivity, and sensitivity. There were no apparent differences based on life satisfaction. Bonding was viewed as very important at all stages of child development. At the various stages of child development, there were differences for bonding and sensitivity in relation to gender. Age differences occurred for responsivity and sensitivity at the infant/toddler, preschool, elementary, and adolescent stages and at the adult level for responsivity and the late adolescent level for sensitivity. Life satisfaction differences were apparent at the elementary stage of child development for bonding. ^
Gerontology|Psychology, Social|Psychology, Developmental|Sociology, Individual and Family Studies
Lainie Kasman Kreindler,
"Grandparents: The relationship between life satisfaction and the grandparenting role"
(January 1, 1995).
ETD Collection for Pace University. | <urn:uuid:e84ef9d0-c0ea-41f1-9fe6-6e9c14873dc9> | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | http://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI9528081/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218189734.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212949-00143-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943077 | 453 | 2.625 | 3 |
Renewable Energy Global Status Report
A recent report by Renewables Global Status confirms that 2016 was a bumper year for renewable technology, notably solar energy. According to the RGS report, the total amount of solar energy produced in 2016 amounted to 303 GW, up 75 GW for the year. Compared to non-renewable sources of energy such as coal and oil, solar is going at a rate of knots.
This pattern has been in play for 5 years. Installed renewable power capacity is dominated by solar energy, which now accounts for some 40% of all new capacity added. What is equally interesting is carbon dioxide emissions which have remained steady for the past 3 years in a row, even while the global economy has grown by 3%.
The Renewables Global Status Report confirms that more renewable sources of energy are being added to the global power capacity than all non-renewable sources like petroleum, coal, and others combined. Naturally, the rapid growth in renewable energy sources such as solar needs to be coupled with infrastructure growth and development. This requires high levels of investment, for distribution networks, sector coupling, and various options to balance supply/demand considerations. These enabling technologies will facilitate widespread growth of solar energy utilization.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Solar Energy
Solar energy can reduce electricity bills by as much is 80%, and studies have shown that solar energy can increase a home’s value by up to 20%. Since these solar panels are designed for long-term cost savings, they are an investment in the future. Solar energy generates clean power from UV radiation (the sun). The costs of this energy transmission mechanism are substantially less than the rates charged by utility companies. Plus, the clean power from the sun and the solar panels leaves a minimal carbon footprint on the environment.
Solar energy has been shown to reduce monthly bills, and it is an investment that more than pays for itself over time. There are several options available to homeowners with regards to solar energy panel installation and usage. A buy option or a lease option is available, and both present affordable ways to reconfigure your electricity requirements. A study commissioned by North Carolina State University found that the average cost savings on energy bills ranges between $44 and $187 with solar energy panels. Solar panel quotes are quick and easy to obtain, and they cost nothing. Customers can source all the requisite information they need to understand what benefits they can enjoy – environmental and cost savings – by using solar energy panels to power their homes.
Is It Likely That Solar Energy Will Decrease in Cost over Time?
Solar energy companies are going mainstream with production facilities, network expansion, and infrastructure capacity. If the industry develops into an economy of scale, it is possible that costs will drop somewhat. However, the costs of solar energy are partially offset by a 30% federal solar tax credit. There are also state tax credits and incentives that are available to homeowners looking to install solar energy panels. As more people adopt solar energy, it is unclear whether federal and state regulations will continue supporting an incentivised scheme. Between 1960 and 2017, there has been little change in the efficiency of solar energy panels.
While costs have certainly come down in recent years, experts remain divided on just how far prices can fall. Consider that solar energy costs have been slashed in half since 2009, and some 1 million US homes now lay claim to solar energy. Several states have been phasing out subsidies and prices have flattened in recent years. However, it is the soft costs that comprise the bulk of solar energy pricing for residential homes. In European countries like Germany, solar systems are a lot easier to sell because the cost savings are so much bigger. In the US, state-by-state legislation is a bugbear to the effective functioning of a widescale solar energy network.
An EDF report confirmed that some 208,000 people are currently employed in the solar energy industry, and the industry is growing x 12 faster than the economy of the US. For the 1-year period ending November 2016, the solar industry created 2% of all new jobs in the US. One thing is certain: The solar energy industry is growing at a healthy pace, and it is creating cost savings and job opportunities for Americans across the board. | <urn:uuid:9cdc846d-6ac1-408f-8862-478883893b36> | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | https://wall-street.com/solar-companies-sizzling-hot/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578534596.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20190422035654-20190422061654-00303.warc.gz | en | 0.959115 | 857 | 2.75 | 3 |
one cause of global warming
Margaret Thatcher - founder of the IPCC
factory gases can cause global warming
- Some researches indicate that the majority of the warming we have seen over the last few decades probably arose from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. So says the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC. Ongoing research should either confirm or deny these initial conclusions. It has been tough because of so many contributions from so many types of sources.
Industrial emissions are one cause of global warming; what other things lead to global warming? Cars, animals, the ocean, volcanoes, fires, orbital cycles...THE SUN. Here are a few other causes of global warming.
Many people attribute it to air pollution. Anthropogenic air pollution, with little regard to natural sources of unusual substances in the air. Let's explore the effects of air pollution on climate
in a bit more detail.
The single biggest culprit purported in the news is carbon dioxide,
with lesser regard given to nitrous oxide, methane and water vapour.
I hope these ideas above give you some more help with your research. Thanks, Raven, for expressing an interest in the subject. I hope other readers will throw in their two bits on this sensitive, controversial subject.
If you need a bit more information, search
this site for more information now. | <urn:uuid:9a91b9f0-4434-49ff-ab56-6765c4503baf> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://www.stuffintheair.com/one-cause-of-global-warming.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662522741.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20220519010618-20220519040618-00492.warc.gz | en | 0.893966 | 289 | 2.78125 | 3 |
The recent decision of the central government to ban NDTV India has raised concerns regarding the rights of free press in India. Mostly, people are using the ‘freedom of speech & expression’ interchangeably with the rights of a free press.
But are both one and the same?
The constitution of India guarantees freedom of speech and expression to all its citizens under Article 19, which deals with protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc. Clause (1) (a) of Article 19 states, “All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression.” Article 19(1) (a) draws inspiration from the first amendment to the United States constitution, which says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
However, the Indian news press enjoys the freedom to engage in the business of disseminating news to audience under the right to carry out any profession, occupation, trade, industry or business, guaranteed under Article 19(1) (g).
Complications arise when Article 19(1) (a) and (g) are read to be one and the same and even the oversight and restrictions in the interest of the ‘general public’ contemplated under Article 19(6) are ignored because of this obfuscation.
Entities such as NDTV engaged in the business of news/media are a prime source of information, helping people to cultivate opinions on the political, economic and social situation in the country. The traditional print media still retains influence and television is widely popular, but public opinion, especially of the youth, can be gauged through social networking platforms and the so-called ‘new media’.
In this way, the media continues its role as a kind of non-formal educator, helping citizens to make… | <urn:uuid:d7356c57-9615-49cd-98a3-486b4715394e> | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | http://www.hammurabisolomon.in/news/debating-freedom-of-press-and-expression/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027331485.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20190826085356-20190826111356-00202.warc.gz | en | 0.932259 | 412 | 3.1875 | 3 |
As the stars make up nearly all of the mass outside of our solar system that we can actually observe, it is very important that we understand why they are visible. Why are they so bright? What is making all of that light – or alternatively, where is all that energy coming from?
Before we get too far, I’ll let They Might Be Giants give you an introduction;
Now that that’s stuck in your head, let’s forge on!
As alluded to in song, stars must generate energy, but why? What if they didn’t?
In order to stay a happy shining star, and not a violent explosion, stars must remain in hydrostatic equilibrium. This means that while a star is pulled together by gravity, something must be pushing against gravity to keep the star from collapsing. In average or ‘main sequence’ stars, the thing that pushes back is thermal gas pressure and energy from nuclear fusion.
Thermal pressure is easy to imagine. Gases with higher temperatures exert more pressure on their surroundings. You can imagine the molecules in the gas moving around a lot and constantly hitting things – this force of the molecules running into a surface results in an amount pressure from the gas. If you filled a balloon with air and then put that balloon in the freezer what would happen? Originally the air in the balloon would be exerting a pressure against the balloon to keep it inflated (if it didn’t, atmospheric pressure – or the pressure of the air around us – would compress the balloon). However – if you put the balloon in the freezer, the air inside the balloon gets colder. The molecules are now moving slower, and hitting the sides of the balloon less frequently and with less force. This results in the pressure inside the balloon dropping and so now it’s smaller!
Inside a star, something similar is happening. Instead of atmospheric pressure, it’s gravity that is trying to collapse the star. In order to remain stable, the gas inside the star must be really hot to have enough pressure to combat gravity.
Some of this energy can be generated because the star is being squished together by gravity [compressing a gas makes it’s temperature go up]. However for the majority of the star’s life time, the core needs to generate its own energy another way: nuclear fusion.
So – what is nuclear fusion? Why does it produce energy? If we return to the idea of a very hot gas, these molecules [or in the case of the core of a star – they’re mostly protons!] are moving around very quickly and can run into each other. When this happens the two protons produce something different! [an electron, a neutrino and deuterium] A chain of collisions like this can produce a new element*. This is what they mean be “Hydrogen fuses into Helium”.
Now, why does this produce energy? To ponder this we need to consider the now famous expression;
E = mc^2
This describes the rest energy of something. If you had an awesome machine that took an object and just converted it into energy, it would produce energy equal to its mass times the speed of light squared. For example, an electron has a rest energy of
E = m_e c^2 = (9.11 x 10^-31 kg )(3 x 10^8 m/s)^2 = 82 x 10^-15 Joules
That’s the same energy has rolling a golfball 4 millionths of a foot every second. At that rate, it would take 2.6 days to move a foot!
The trick of nuclear fusion is that when you smash to things together, the mass of what they make is actually slightly smaller than the combined mass of the initial two objects. This extra energy usually escapes as a photon, some form of light. The important part is that if you have a lot (and I mean, A LOT** ) of these fusions you add a significant amount of energy to the gas! This energy warms the gas up, the molecules move faster and are able to push against gravity; preventing the star from collapsing!
Now that we know why the star doesn’t just collapse on itself, where does the light come from? It’s just that little bit of extra energy that escapes during fusion. The light from fusion at the core makes its way to the edge of the star and makes it shine brightly.
Now all of this is rather general and simplified. There are a lot of things going within stars to keep them stable and shining happily [multiple types of fusion, convection, diffusion]. One of the generalizations is that the core of the star is a ‘gas’ of protons and electrons. The sun is actually a plasma.
They Might Be Giants have a bit to say about that…
*The actual path is;
- proton + proton = electron + neutrino + deuterium
- deuterium + proton = photon + He_3
- He_3 + He_3 = He_4 + 2 protons
This is called the proton-proton chain. There are two other variations of this chain that can be done inside stars with high temperatures and lots of pre-existing Helium.
**How much is a lot?
In our sun, approximately 3.6 x 10^38 protons collide and are converted into Helium per second. This creates 3.86 x10^26 joules of energy per second. [3.86 x10^26 joules is enough energy to push the moon at a speed of 162 mph. ] Every Second! | <urn:uuid:c6bffb56-3d37-4c92-8349-d1d6d6e58a2c> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | http://teawithtesla.com/2017/03/why-do-stars-shine/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030337339.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20221002181356-20221002211356-00450.warc.gz | en | 0.937708 | 1,181 | 3.984375 | 4 |
-LEAF FRIENDS- Our Kinder-2nd graders took a walk around Newcastle to find leaves that we could make into our friends! It was a beautiful, sunny day and at this point, it was a little early to find leaves on the ground but we worked with what we could find. We even found some pinecones to make into friends!
-PALETTES & PUNCH- Kinder-2nd grade had separate days to paint and sip on some yummy cider punch. We give the kiddos a theme, but they are welcome to paint whatever their heart desires! We put on some music and let them paint away!
Hello Lion Club Families! We hope your transitions back to school have been successful and the kiddos are starting to get the hang of their routines. Here are some of the awesome activities the K-2 kiddos participated in this month!
Taco Tuesdays: Each Tuesday this month we made some type of taco concoction. We made taco bites, taco pizza, and our very own taco seasoning to take home! Our taco seasoning creations really put our measuring skills to the test! We hope you got to enjoy some tacos at home using the seasoning we made!
Rainbow Paper: Using clear nail polish, we were amazed to see rainbows show up on back paper! In a bowl of water, we dropped some clear nail polish on the surface, then dipped a black piece of cardstock paper and pulled out rainbows!
Paper Circuit Cards: We explored circuits by creating our own simple circuits on cardstock. We used LED diode lights, 3V coin batteries, and copper tape. Their first challenge was to figure out how to make the light turn on with just the diode and the battery. The next challenge was to create a circuit on the cardstock to light up their diode. It was quite difficult for some to figure out how to make their light turn on, which was a great opportunity to practice our problem solving skills.
We got the chance to make bagels from scratch and boy was it an experience! The whole process took patience and some muscle to complete! We had to wait for the dough to rise, and then really had a tough time coloring the dough to really make the colors vibrant! After we formed our bagels, we boiled them and then baked them. They turned out beautiful and delicious!
To welcome spring, we made our own spring rolls! We cut up all the veggies; red pepper, cucumbers, avocados, carrots, and boiled rice noodles. We prepared the rice paper by soaking it in warm water for a few seconds and everyone had a chance to pick what they wanted in their roll and rolled it up to enjoy with sweet chili or peanut sauce. Yummy and fresh!
Iron Chef: French Toast
We tried a new cooking competition at Lion Club this week... Iron Chef! While Iron Chef usually has an ingredient that must be featured in a variety of dishes, we had a dish that was featured- french toast!
Our teams worked hard on their french toast recipes and did all the cooking from start to finish. Our winner was the Black Team with their Strawberry Surprise French Toast- the surprise was melted chocolate and marshmallow on the inside! Delicious!
This November we had our first Turkey Trot! We had Miss Amanda and Mr. KJ dress up as "turkeys" (shirts with feathers taped on the back). The kids chased the turkeys around the field and plucked the turkey's feathers- if they got one with a number on it, they got a component of a thanksgiving dinner to take home!
We had such a great time and hope to make this a tradition at Lion Club for years to come!
Today was probably a great day for the K-3. In celebration of Wreck it Ralph 2 coming out we got some "Materials" to recreate Vanellope's Candy Car. The kids got to use many different kinds of candy to create their OWN version. I was actually surprised the so many of the them looked like cars you might see in the movie. Yes they got to eat the car after they were done. However we did not let them eat ALL of it. Some of the kids couldn't even if they wanted to.
MUSTACHE DAY During our mustache day this year, we all wore silly mustaches, had a chance to make our own, made mustache krispies, and tried our best to guess the 'stache!
I love doing cooking with all ages but 3-5 is unique- they can typically receive a recipe and ingredients and do the cooking on their own.
I gave my girls a recipe for Lemon Coconut Cupcakes and let them go for it! One group was making frosting while the other tackled the trickier cupcake batter.
FRIENDSGIVING This year, we chose two soups to make for everyone at Lion Club to serve for snack. The 3rd-5th graders worked hard making the soups from scratch and how to make grilled cheese sandwiches! We were so impressed with the final products and not a tummy left snack empty! Lion Club is so thankful for all of the families we get the opportunity to serve every day! Thank you all for being part of our family! Have a happy holiday season!
...so I ended up with a slew of pink-handed first graders!
No matter how hard they tried, the food coloring wouldn't wash off their hands...
Because it is still Spooktober and I was running out of scary-ish things to do I decided to have the older kids to a sort of water balloon toss BUT with fake body parts! Before I came out with the body parts I soaked the body parts in baby oil to make it harder to hold onto/catch. So when I handed them their parts they were clearly disgusted. The kids enjoyed the challenge of trying to hold onto them and just the fact that it was gross. So after the Toss we also decided to play some Football with the Arm (Still covered in baby oil) One of our boys also decided that it would be fun to play tag with the arm! So we did. Was strange to see kids with a fake arm running around trying to tag people but they had fun.
During our Fear Factor day, we challenged kiddos to pick "lice" out of a hair styling mannequins' hair (the lice was actually cooked rice), eat "dog food" (refried beans with the label swapped for a dog food label), taste interesting foods while blindfolded and combine those interesting foods together for a super tasty treat! As you can tell from these photos, our brave Lion Clubbers had a difficult time stomaching some of their foods, but ultimately they prevailed!
Another favorite was the Spooky Science Laboratory. We got in the Halloween spirit with some slimy, spooky and foggy science experiments! We made toxic waste slime, attempted to make dry ice bubbles,played with "vampire vein" slime and
Even some of our staff wanted to play! It was pretty Intense! Check it out Below!
Until next time!
We learned an important lesson... the difference between teaspoons and cups. My lovely bakers accidentally added 1.5 cups of baking soda instead of 1.5 teaspoons. Unfortunately, this lesson came at a cost- our precious cupcakes (and Miss Laura's dignity as she scrubbed out the oven)! We ended up with a bubbly mess in the oven instead of fluffy and delicious cupcakes.
I brought the girls in to see what happens when we mix up measurements. Baking is a science that requires precision. I think they learned that lesson, and I learned to keep a closer eye on my chefs and bakers, at least while we're starting out with a new group of 3-5s.
The bright side- they still got to try some of their frosting, which turned out super delicious!
When the ball is in the middle of the air stream, The air from below (collision force) counteracts Gravity! At the right altitude the two forces cancel each other out and the ball will remain at that altitude. If the ball starts to low and the collision force is stronger it will rise until the collision force is reduced to the same strength of gravity!
Equal Opportunity Notice The Issaquah School District complies with all applicable federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities, or employment related matters, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees are designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Executive Director of Human Resources, District Title IX Coordinator, Section 504/ADA Coordinator or Compliance Coordinator for 28A.540 and 28A.642 RCW, in writing or by telephone. The Issaquah School District will also take steps to assure that national origin persons who lack English language skills can participate in all educational programs, services and activities. For information regarding interpretation and translation services or transitional bilingual education programs, contact Kathy Connally in writing or by telephone. For general information or to be directed to a specific department, please contact the ISD Receptionist at 425-837-7000. Amanda Dorey, Title IX CoordinatorStacey Zachau, District HIB Coordinator Amanda Dorey, Civil Rights Compliance Officer Pam Ridenour, Section 504 Coordinator 425-837-7000 5150 220th AVE SE, Issaquah, WA 98029 Accessibility noticeVisit us on FacebookVisit us on TwitterVisit us on YouTubeReport a problem | <urn:uuid:023f2219-cbae-4997-a08e-7ceefccfaede> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://www.bascisd.com/lion-club-blog-2019-2020/archives/04-2021 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585653.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20211023064718-20211023094718-00161.warc.gz | en | 0.964931 | 2,036 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Airway management including tracheal intubation (TI) is a common and integral part of the care provided to critically ill patients. Critically ill patients have minimal physiological reserves, leading to a physiologically difficult airway and predisposing them to an increased risk of complications. Furthermore, anatomic and logistical difficulties with airway management are also very common in these situations. In a recent prospective observational study evaluating intubation practices in critically ill patients across 29 countries, adverse events occurred after intubation in 45.2% of patients, including cardiovascular instability in 42.6%, severe hypoxaemia in 9.3%, and cardiac arrest in 3.1% (Russotto et al. 2021). This baseline physiologic risk is often further exaggerated when more than one attempt at tracheal intubation is required (De Jong et al. 2020a). Therefore, the goal of tracheal intubation in the critically ill patients is to have a first pass success without adverse events. A recent prospective observational study in 1513 emergency tracheal intubations showed that first pass success without adverse events was reduced to a similar extent in patients with anatomically and physiologically difficult airways, highlighting the importance of physiological optimisation along with the use of strategies and tools to overcome anatomical difficulty (Pacheco et al. 2021).
Challenges Associated with Airway Management in Critically Ill Patients
The incidence of an anatomically difficult airway in ICU patients has been estimated to be around 10% (Griesdale et al. 2008; Jaber et al. 2006; Schwartz et al. 1995). Patients who might have been intubated with ease in the operating rooms (ORs) tend to be harder to intubate in the ICU with antecedent complications (Taboada et al. 2018). Furthermore, airway assessment in such scenarios can be sub-optimal; there may not be enough time to perform an airway assessment, or the patient may not cooperate for an airway exam.
An airway is considered physiologically difficult when the physiologic derangements place the patient at a higher risk of cardiovascular collapse with intubation and conversion to positive pressure ventilation (Mosier et al. 2015). Critically ill patients often have conditions such as hypoxaemia, hypotension, severe metabolic acidosis and right ventricular dysfunction, that predispose them to a physiologically difficult airway. Table 1 lists some of the causes of physiologic challenges that providers might face in these circumstances as well as strategies to prevent associated complications.
Along with the anatomic and physiologic challenges, it is also important to take into account the situational or logistical challenges that accompany airway management in the ICU. These situationally difficult airways can arise due to infrastructure, personnel and/or equipment related concerns. Space and lighting limitations and poor access to the patient’s head are some of the infrastructure related issues that exist. Personnel related limitations pose significant challenges as the airway team may be working at the bedside with members that are inexperienced and often times, expert help may not be readily available. Similarly, appropriate airway equipment and drugs may not be available in all situations and circumstances.
Planning and Preparation
Considering the high rates of complications associated with tracheal intubation in critically ill patients, adequate preparation during the peri-intubation period is essential. After assessing for potential anatomic, physiologic, or situational challenges that may be present, preparation and optimisation of the patient as well as the team is important. Ensuring availability of necessary equipment and personnel, maximising preoxygenation, and haemodynamic optimisation can prevent complications. Whenever feasible, a thorough discussion with the patient (or their surrogate) on the acceptance of intubation and mechanical ventilation should be held.
Clinical history and examination
A thorough review of the patient’s medical record for clinical history, relevant laboratory investigations and imaging reports along with a focused physical exam is vital in tailoring the approach to airway management including the choice of drugs, to avoid associated complications. Bedside point of care ultrasound (POCUS) exam may be very helpful, not only to help assess the haemodynamic status of the patient, but also to assess for increased aspiration risk. The protocolised use of a handheld POCUS device can improve the accuracy of diagnosis and outcomes in patients with acute respiratory or circulatory failure (Zieleskiewicz et al. 2021), and its utility in ICU airway management needs further evaluation.
Identifying a potentially difficult airway is crucial; however, current bedside screening tests are limited by their poor sensitivity and specificity (Shiga et al. 2005). A history of difficulty with airway management described by the patient or documented in the patients’ medical record is important. Similarly, the time of last oral intake, contraindications to use succinylcholine or other drugs, drug allergies, history of sleep apnoea, presence of dentures, etc. is important to assess. Amongst the bedside airway assessment tests, the upper lip bite test has the highest sensitivity (Roth et al. 2018), and the combination of mallampati (MP) score and thyromental distance (TMD) provides the most accuracy at predicting difficult intubation (Shiga et al. 2005). Many of these methods are often not feasible in this setting where the patient may be uncooperative, sedated, agitated, unstable or delirious (Levitan et al. 2004). Automated face-analysis approach to predict a difficult airway may help overcome some of these limitations, though further studies are needed to validate this approach before it becomes part of routine assessment (Cuendet et al. 2016).
While recognising the anatomically difficult airway is one part of the pre-intubation assessment, the anticipation of physiologic challenges prior to airway management is equally important. The MACOCHA score (Mallampati score III or IV, sleep Apnoea syndrome, decreased Cervical mobility, mouth Opening <3cm, Coma defined by a Glasgow score <8, severe Hypoxaemia, and if the practitioner is not an Anaesthetist) that combines anatomic, physiologic, and operator characteristics is simple to perform, may be more suitable for use in critically ill patients and was recently validated in a multicentre study (De Jong et al. 2013).
Equipment and personnel
Considering the unpredictability associated with these situations, we suggest preparing for airway management in a way that assumes that every step might fail. The patient should be appropriately monitored and continuous EtCO2 monitoring should be utilised. It is reasonable to make the monitors, especially pulse-oximetry loud and audible to everyone in the room. Next, it is important to ensure that necessary equipment is on hand and functional. A cart with all of the necessary supplies to facilitate tracheal intubation, rescue oxygenation and haemodynamic support is essential to avoid the need for securing essential equipment at the last minute. If deemed necessary and time permitting, a flexible intubation scope should be brought to the bedside to assist in intubation. Considering that blood and vomitus in the airway are common in this situation and may predict a difficult airway (Gaither et al. 2014), availability of functioning high-efficiency suction devices should be ensured.
Tracheal intubation is an aerosol generating procedure and can impact the transmission of respiratory virus illnesses such as COVID-19 (Brown et al. 2020). Hence, as recommended by national organisations, providers involved with TI in patients with or suspected to have a respiratory viral illness should adhere to full contact and airborne personal protective equipment (Cook et al. 2020). Also, in such circumstances, intubation should be performed in an airborne infection isolation room by an experienced provider, with additional help available outside the room.
Elucidating the skill level of available staff and establishing clear roles and responsibilities of the team members before proceeding for TI is essential. Closed-loop and clear communication among the team members about the airway concerns, airway plan, backup plan etc. is essential in such stressful situations and can help prevent medical errors, as well as increase speed and efficiency. The presence of two airway operators, with at least one being experienced has shown to reduce complications during tracheal intubation (Jaber et al. 2010).
Instituting a checklist for non-OR airways may help ensure the necessary preparations and precautions have been taken. Pre-intubation checklist is especially effective in less experienced hands, and it was found that the implementation of an intubation bundle can reduce life-threatening complications associated with emergency airway management (Jaber et al. 2010). The key is to keep the checklist simple and succinct, thus improving compliance and acceptance. A randomised trial evaluating the use of a written checklist prior to tracheal intubation in ICU compared with usual care found no difference in lowest oxygen saturation and lowest systolic blood pressure (SBP) from induction up to two minutes after TI between the groups (Janz et al. 2018). However, the checklist did not include interventions aimed at physiological optimisation [e.g. non-invasive ventilation (NIV), fluid load, early use of vasopressors], thus explaining why the selected outcomes did not improve with the use of checklist. A pre-intubation checklist, which includes interventions to enhance oxygenation and haemodynamic optimisation, may be effective in less experienced hands, as observed by reduction in peri-intubation complications following the implementation of an ICU intubation bundle (Jaber et al. 2010).
Tracheal Intubation Procedure
Optimal patient positioning during TI should strive to optimise both anatomic and physiological parameters and is essential to increase the success of intubation and avoid complications. The ramped position reduces the risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents and of desaturation by maintaining the patient’s functional residual capacity. The debate about whether the sniffing or ramped position may be more appropriate still persists. Pulmonary fellows experienced increased intubation difficulty with intubations performed in the ramped position compared with the sniffing position (Semier et al. 2017), whereas patients intubated by emergency department residents showed improved first-attempt success with ramping compared with supine (Turner et al. 2017). Also while an obese patient would significantly benefit from a ramped position, a frail patient with limited neck range of motion may not. Thus, in the absence of clear cut evidence favouring one versus the other, it is suggested that positioning should be individually tailored to patient characteristics, as well as the skillset of the intubating provider (Myatra 2019).
Preoxygenation and apnoeic oxygenation
For majority of patients that require airway management in the ICU, life-threatening hypoxaemia during the procedure is a major concern. Adequate preoxygenation is essential to better prepare such patients for intubation and should be an integral component of all emergent airway interventions. It is important that oxygen therapy be initiated immediately on arrival while preparations are underway to maximise the duration of preoxygenation. Oxygen delivery can be achieved using a simple face mask, standard or high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), NIV mask or a combination of these devices. NIV or HFNO should be considered over conventional oxygen therapy for preoxygenation for TI in critically ill patients (Bailard et al. 2006; Frat et al. 2019; Guitton et al. 2019). In patients with moderate to severe hypoxaemia, NIV may be superior to HFNO. Apnoeic oxygenation should be continued during attempts at TI and gentle mask ventilation should be considered during rapid sequence intubation (RSI) to prevent or treat hypoxaemia (De Jong et al. 2020b).
Rapid sequence intubation
Critically ill patients may have gastroparesis associated with critical illness or may not be fasted at the time of TI and hence, an RSI technique is often used in this setting. The main objective of the technique is to minimise the time interval between loss of protective airway reflexes and TI. Despite the technique's widespread use, there is still no agreement on how it should best be performed especially with regards to manual ventilation and application of cricoid pressure (CP) or Sellick’s manoeuvre. Avoidance of manual ventilation before TI was traditionally recommended to avoid gastric insufflation, but recent evidence suggests that bag mask ventilation between induction and endotracheal tube placement may be well tolerated (Casey et al. 2019). In patients with physiologically difficult airway, mask ventilation may be lifesaving, and providers should balance the perceived risk of aspiration versus life threatening complications related to desaturation. The Sellick’s manoeuvre has been shown to have a questionable benefit. While there is evidence that gastric insufflation can be prevented by this manoeuvre (Rice et al. 2009), there are concerns that application of CP can result in an increased risk of aspiration by decreasing the lower oesophageal sphincter tone (Tournadre et al. 1997) and may impair the laryngeal view and thereby delay intubation and increase the potential for aspiration (Haslam et al. 2005).
Neuromuscular blockade versus maintenance of spontaneous ventilation
Neuromuscular blockade can improve mask ventilation, improve intubating conditions, abolish upper airway muscle tone including laryngospasm, optimise chest wall compliance and overall improve the first-attempt success with tracheal intubation in the ICU (Mosier et al. 2015). Also, the avoidance of paralytics during TI in the ICU has been found to be associated with difficult face mask ventilation and severe oxygen desaturation (Heuer et al. 2012). As a result, the use of paralytics as part of TI is recommended in critically ill patients by various national guidelines (Higgs et al. 2018; Quintard et al. 2019). However, apnoea after institution of muscle paralysis, may result in rapid desaturation, thus emphasising the importance of preoxygenation and apnoeic oxygenation. The fear of inability to mask ventilate after giving neuromuscular blockade is also one of the reasons providers are reluctant in using these agents.
Intubation in critically ill patients is technically more challenging than elective intubation performed in the OR with worse glottic visualisation, increase in moderate or difficult intubation, lower first-attempt success, and a higher rate of complications (Taboada et al. 2018). Video laryngoscopy (VL) improves visualisation of the glottic opening; however, difficulty with navigating the endotracheal tube to and beyond the larynx is a concern and requires training. A recent meta-analysis that included nine randomised controlled trials with over 2000 critically ill patients, found that the use of a video-laryngoscope (VL) did not improve first-pass success, even when evaluating the studies according to the experience of the operator (Cabrini et al. 2018). Thus, the routine use of a VL for tracheal intubation in ICU remains controversial, but it clearly improves glottic visualisation as compared with direct laryngoscopy making it an important tool for difficult airway management (Jaber et al. 2019). Future trials will better define the role of a VL in ICU. Nonetheless, a video-laryngoscope should always be available as a backup tool to rescue difficult intubation and/or unsuccessful first attempt at DL in all ICU TIs.
Supraglottic airways (SGAs) can be utilised for establishing an airway in critically ill patients and are usually used after failed intubation as a rescue device in these situations (Shavit et al. 2018). They are relatively easy to insert and provide some protection against aspiration. If successful oxygenation can be achieved with a SGA, then this can be maintained until expert help arrives. An SGA may be used as a primary airway device and an intubation conduit in situations where an anatomically difficult airway is predicted. The endotracheal tube introducer (Bougie) is also a useful tool when the epiglottis is visible but vocal cords cannot be seen with a significantly higher first attempt intubation success reported in emergency situations (Driver et al. 2018). Hence, a bougie may be used for TI in the ICU by providers who have experience with its use.
Haemodynamic optimisation and pharmacologic management
Hypotension or cardiovascular collapse is common during and following TI in critically ill patients. In fact, cardiovascular instability was observed in 42.6% of all patients undergoing emergency intubation in a large multinational observational study and was found to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality (Russotto et al. 2021). This haemodynamic instability possibly results from a combination of pharmacologically induced sympatholytic action, conversion from negative-pressure to positive-pressure ventilation as well as the amelioration of the hypoxia and hypercarbia associated sympathetic drive. There is limited prospective data on optimal strategies for haemodynamic support during emergency airway management. Administration of a fluid bolus prior to intubation has been shown to be of minimal benefit (Smischney et al. 2020) and may actually cause harm and lead to postintubation hypoxaemia in non-volume responsive patients (Janz et al. 2019). It could be helpful in patients that are hypovolaemic and assessment of fluid responsiveness by a quick passive leg raising test or bedside point of care ultrasound (POCUS) exam may help identify the suitable candidates for a fluid bolus. Another widely used intervention to avoid peri-intubation hypotension is the use of bolus or push-dose vasopressors and/or continuous infusion of vasopressor agents either during or immediately after intubation (Jaber et al. 2010; Weingart 2015). This prophylactic use of vasopressors may be an alternative and needs further investigation.
Amongst the induction agents, ketamine preserves the patient’s respiratory drive, and can be used for delayed sequence intubation (optimising airway preparation and preoxygenation in an otherwise uncooperative or agitated patient). Caution should be exercised with its use in patients in whom excessive sympathetic stimulation could be detrimental, such as those with acute myocardial infarction or acute cerebrovascular event. The combination of ketamine and propofol (ketofol) may offer an acceptable haemodynamic profile when used for intubation in critically ill patients (Smischney et al. 2019). Etomidate is frequently used in emergent intubations in critically ill patients, as it tends not to cause hypotension on induction. However, it is a selective adrenocortical 11 beta-hydroxylase inhibitor and causes transient adrenal insufficiency, the clinical implications of which are debatable. No difference in morbidity has been observed with the use of ketamine or etomidate for emergency endotracheal intubation of critically ill patients (Jabre et al. 2009). Propofol can have a profound effect on the haemodynamics, especially in patients with hypovolaemia and/or impaired cardiac function and is rarely used for TI in critically ill patients. Titrating the dose, using smaller doses, pre-emptive or concomitant administration of vasopressor agents and judicious fluid administration may avoid significant haemodynamic perturbations. With a lack of consensus on an ideal induction agent, either etomidate or ketamine could be used as the first choice induction agent based on specific scenarios. The use of propofol should be limited to situations where TI is required for airway protection in the absence of cardiopulmonary compromise.
Succinylcholine, which is a depolarising neuromuscular blocker, provides a rapid onset and short duration of action. Its major side effects include malignant hyperthermia and acute hyperkalaemia in susceptible patients. Rocuronium does not carry the same risk of malignant hyperthermia or acute hyperkalaemia, but the onset and duration of action is highly dependent on the doses used for intubation. While meta-analyses have reported that the intubating conditions are better with succinylcholine (Perry et al. 2003; Tran et al. 2017), a recent study showed that clinician grading of intubating conditions was similar with both these drugs, and intubation-related complications occurred more often in the succinylcholine group (Guihard et al. 2019).
Future research is required to find interventions to reduce the high incidence of cardiorespiratory complications associated with TI in critically ill patients. These interventions should be aimed at improving first-pass tracheal intubation success while optimising the patient’s cardiorespiratory status. Although significant work has been done to enhance the actual process of TI in critically ill patients, there is still limited knowledge on appropriate management of a physiologically difficult airway. The use of POCUS prior to TI can help assess the patient’s cardiovascular status, facilitate rapid screening for difficult laryngoscopy, and assess for increased aspiration risk. Its routine use and its impact on outcomes needs validation. Studies investigating patient positioning, techniques for preoxygenation and the role of RSI/Sellick’s manoeuvre based on patients’ physiologic derangements would be beneficial. Future work should also address device development, including different blade shapes, angles, lengths and cameras as well as stylet modifications. The optimum choice of drugs for induction of anaesthesia as well as muscle relaxation based on patients’ physiological alterations also needs further evaluation.
Conflict of Interest
AKK is funded with a Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) NIH/NCTAS KL2 TR001421 award for a trial on continuous postoperative haemodynamic and saturation monitoring. | <urn:uuid:72492570-6b65-4b8d-8867-8a3e4f240103> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://healthmanagement.org/c/icu/IssueArticle/airway-management-in-critically-ill-patients-striving-to-improve-outcomes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323587854.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20211026072759-20211026102759-00615.warc.gz | en | 0.910107 | 4,622 | 2.515625 | 3 |
The "color complex" has remains a source of great controversy and pain in the African American community and across much of the African Diaspora. As one of the leading voices and scholars on Black racial identity, Drexel University assistant teaching professor of Africana Studies Yaba Blay continues her arduous, groundbreaking work on the topic. Her One Drop Project has been featured on CNN’s Black in America series and expanded the discussion around how Blackness is defined in today’s society.
EBONY recently sat down with Dr. Blay to delve into the history behind colorism and how it has helped to shape Black racial identity in the United States.
EBONY: In the Black community, we seem to continue the tradition of lighter skin and straighter hair being 'better.' Why is the train of thought still prevalent in our collective mindset?
Yaba Blay: I definitely think it’s something we’ve internalized. Historically, just through observation we’ve seen that people with more European aesthetics and phenotypes were getting more privileges in this society. And again, for me, it’s really about us thinking about the framework from which we’re operating, like where are these ideas coming from and being able to acknowledge that they operate from outside of our community. These are conceptualizations that have been projected onto us and we see those things being affirmed in our society. It’s been called “the White ideal.” So — it constructs a spectrum of sorts where if I look at you and I can see that you potentially have European blood, I can assume that in comparison to someone who has darker skin, kinkier hair, and a more African phenotype that you’re better than them. It’s the idea that European genetics are your saving grace.
It is something we’ve internalized historically, but it’s something that is continuously affirmed within our society. When we look at print media, internet, and television media, who are the Black people that are in positions of power? Who are the anchors? And we see for the most part, particularly women, are lighter skinned with more European phenotypes. Who are the women who are positioned as beautiful love interests in movies and music videos that we’re watching? More often than not, they’re lighter skinned. When we look into the context of politics in the Black community, who has historically been in the positions of leadership—including the President of the United States— so it’s this visual coding going on that we don’t even have to think about. You make these observations and you see who is in power and you make the connections of what phenotype is more powerful and valuable in this society. It’s one of those things that we didn’t create, but we continue to operate from it.
EBONY: What are some of the discussions that can be conducted inside and outside of the classroom about the color complex to bring a greater understanding to why this continues to a problem in our society?
YB: Well, as an educator, what’s important for me to do in the classroom is to facilitate critical thinking. So – the ways I do that when I talk about colorism is to situate it within a history. Before we can start talking about the contemporary realities, you’ve got to talk about where this idea comes from in a historical sense to make this issue even possible. You must begin with the context of enslavement, the ways in which light skin has been valued in this society, and give them the foundation so they can move forward. Once you’ve achieved that, you can get to a space where you can begin asking questions to help them connect the dots. For example, when I’m teaching, I’ll put on a video and I’ll ask them ‘Why do you think the light skinned woman is positioned as the object of interest?’ and getting them to connect it to a larger framework because often times students will say things like ‘Oh, I don’t see a problem because that’s just someone’s preference.’ But it’s getting them to see that there’s a fine line between preference and pathology. So how did you come to formulate this is a preference?
On the one hand, we talk about this age old cliché that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but who is training that eye? You got that from somewhere. You get them to see that we’re people of African descent and much of our culture is connected to African cultural ideas and evaluations. Showing them pictures of what beauty looks like in various African cultures whether it’s dark skin, natural hair or women with particular body modifications and saying ‘How do we go from this to this?’ It’s almost like that Malcolm X speech where he said, ‘Who taught you to hate yourself?’ It’s getting them to see that you’ve been taught these things. They’ve been bombarded with these images from media sources that are so-called Black. This is just a start, but we have to start having honest conversations.
EBONY: How do we begin the process of healing and loving the skin and hair we’ve been given and overcoming colorism?
YB: It’s a challenge. There’s a frustration that people feel especially with my work because it’s like, ‘Here she goes again. She’s talking about colorism. How long are we going to talk about this?’ When I check social media and see the different links that people are sharing, even with the Black in America documentary, it’s the idea that people don’t want to talk about this anymore because there’s no solution. I get it. It’s frustrating, but for me, I don’t have a solution other than for us to talk about the issue. We have to talk about it in different ways.
We’re all Black and we’re all having an experience inside a racialized society that teaches us many things about our own value and our own skin color whether we’re light skinned or dark skinned. For me, it’s about having a different kind of conversation because while we’re pointing the finger at each other, White supremacy gets off scot-free. When people think of solutions, they tend to say ‘How do we get rid of White supremacy?’ That’s not really my framework or the direction I’m going in. We’re in a space now where we can’t avoid living in a White supremacist society. We can’t control White supremacy, but what we can control is our participation within it. It’s about learning how to ask different questions. We can’t ever stop talking about colorism. We have to stop internalizing and imploding and start holding other people accountable.
EBONY: What are some other projects you’re working on focusing on colorism?
YB: As part of my work on skin bleaching, I'm co-producing a documentary on transnational skin bleaching. The documentary will be directed by Terence Nance, award-winning director of An Oversimplification of Her Beauty. The doc will examine skin bleaching in West Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and the United States, and will pay particular attention to the economic dimensions of the phenomenon via manufacturing and export/import policies and practices.
Chris Williams is an internationally published writer. You can follow him on Twitter @CWmsWrites. | <urn:uuid:ca154283-23eb-49ff-86d6-9a87f61b95d3> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://www.ebony.com/news-views/colorism-the-war-at-home-405/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934804724.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20171118094746-20171118114746-00110.warc.gz | en | 0.954494 | 1,613 | 2.703125 | 3 |
The military accident that created the Hanbury Crater on November 27, 1944 was, at the time, the largest non-nuclear explosion ever to have occurred in the world. It occurred when some 3,500-4,000 tones of bombs, shells and rifle ammunition exploded at RAF Fauld, a bomb dump in a disused gypsum mine.
The resulting crater was 100 feet deep and 400 yards across (some report more than double these figures). Not all of the bombs exploded and it has been too dangerous to recover the unexploded ones from the crater—they remain as a potential threat to this day.
The cause of the explosion was said to be someone using a brass chisel to remove a detonator from a bomb, although these days the idea of returning unused bombs to a bomb dump still containing their fuses would seem ludicrous.
The effect was devastating. Nearby, an entire farm was obliterated. Water released by the destruction of a 450,000 cubic metre reservoir added to the damage and 37 people were drowned. About 70 people were killed in the incident including RAF personnel and six Italian prisoners of war who were working at the site.
Another remarkable fact is that much of the mine and much of the stored ordnance survived the explosion and the facility continued to be used by the RAF until 1966. Until recently it had been possible to enter the underground facilities (probably illegally) but all entrances are now sealed. Visitors are not permitted to enter the crater but it’s scale can be clearly seen from its perimeter. A memorial has been constructed close to the site, and there another at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. | <urn:uuid:682406f6-e771-4524-afa0-ead6b6dceee4> | CC-MAIN-2021-10 | https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-hanbury-crater-staffordshire-england | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178367183.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20210303165500-20210303195500-00418.warc.gz | en | 0.980322 | 338 | 3.484375 | 3 |
Words matter to all of us, as it is arguably our ability to communicate that enabled the human race to progress as far as we have. I am very much a words person. Even though I do photography, spoken/written communication is very important in my life, particularly professionally. One of my treasured possessions is a 2-volume Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, which I received as a gift nearly 30 years ago. I like word games. Scrabble is the benchmark; Bananagrams is a new favorite.
Although I work with words all day every day, there is still the potential for confusion, annoyance and surprise …
I could go on endlessly about abuse of language. Why do people write [but not say] “loose” when they mean “lose”? [Actually, I know why, but I will not bore you with my theory.] The use of phraseology like “very unique” drives me wild, as it is meaningless and potentially damaging to the language. But I digress. I am about to go on a short vacation and I am in a much more positive state of mind …
The English language has numerous homonyms – pairs of words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. An obvious example is “there” and “their” – here the different meanings are clear enough. But what about the phrase “plain sailing”? This is commonly used in a metaphorical sense to suggest that the way forward to easy and clear of obstacles. The word “plain” clearly means featureless or simple. I was fine with that until I discovered that there is another term: “plane sailing”. This is a simplified means of navigation of a ship, where the surface of the sea is assumed to be flat [i.e. a plane] instead of curved as it is in reality. So which is correct?
Another expression which sounds vaguely nautical is “under way”, which is used to indicate that something has started and is making progress. I have always assumed that it should be written “under weigh”, as a ship, when setting off, needs to pull up – or “weigh” – the anchor. Again, which is correct?
Philosophically, I do wonder if these spellings actually matter. After all, when speaking there is no confusion, even though the words sound identical. There are also words which have numerous meanings with just one spelling – like “set” – and again, no confusion occurs.
Although I worry about misuse or – worse – abuse of English, as I mentioned, I do recognize that the language is a living thing and will evolve. Hence my proposal regarding spelling of homonyms. I am also fascinated by the appearance of new words, a couple of which have caught my attention recently:
A common expression is to say something has “got a green light”, which means that any necessary authorization has been obtained. A neatly compressed was of saying this the word “greenlit”. This might be used thus: “The project is greenlit and ready to go.”
Most people will know what an acronym is – a word formed from the initial letters of words that make up an expression. A good example is LASER, which comes from Light Amplification from Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The other day I saw some discussion about the programming language Perl. Someone said that it should be written “PERL” as it is an acronym for “Practical Extraction and Reporting Language”. Someone else responded by pointing out that it was actually a backronym – the expression was created later to fit the letters of the word. This is a strong example of a new word, as the context told me immediately what it meant. | <urn:uuid:253023ea-65df-4cfa-91a8-7c7c8beeaf2e> | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/embedded-software/2014/07/16/words-new-old-and-odd/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710941.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20221203212026-20221204002026-00171.warc.gz | en | 0.972594 | 796 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Growth, expansion and social change rapidly followed the end of the War of 1812. Many an enterprising American pushed westward. In the new western states, there was a greater level of equality among the masses than in the former English colonies. Land was readily available. Frontier life required hard work. There was little tolerance for aristocrats afraid to get their hands dirty.
The west led the path by having no property requirements for voting, which the eastern states soon adopted, as well.
The Common Man always held a special place in America, but with Jackson, he rose to the top of the American political power system.
In the campaign of 1828, Jackson, known as "Old Hickory," triumphed over the aristocratic, reclusive and unpopular incumbent President John Quincy Adams.
John Quincy Adams
The first six Presidents were from the same mold: wealthy, educated, and from the east. Jackson was a self-made man who declared education an unnecessary requirement for political leadership. Indeed, Jackson launched the era when politicians would desperately try to show how poor they had been.
The election of 1828 was a rematch of the election of 1824 between John Quincy Adams and Jackson. In the earlier election, Jackson received more votes, but with no candidate having a majority, the House of Representatives chose Adams. Four years later the voices of the people were finally heard.
Jackson's inauguration in 1828 seemed to many the embodiment of "mob rule" by uneducated ruffians. Jackson rode to the White House followed by a swarm of well-wishers who were invited in. Muddy hob-nailed boots trod over new carpets, glassware and crockery were smashed, and chaos generally reigned. After a time, Jackson ordered the punch bowls moved outside to the White House lawn, and the crowd followed. Naturally, Jackson's critics were quick to point to the party as the beginning of the "reign of King Mob."
No one who was at Washington at the time of General Jackson's inauguration is likely to forget that period to the day of his death. To us, who had witnessed the quiet and orderly period of the Adams administration, it seemed as if half the nation had rushed at once into the capital. It was like the inundation of the northern barbarians into Rome, save that the tumultuous tide came in from a different point of the compass. The West and the South seemed to have precipitated themselves upon the North and overwhelmed it. On that memorable occasion you might tell a 'Jackson man' almost as far as you could see him. Their every motion seemed to cry out 'Victory!'
– Arthur J. Stansbury, Jacksonian contemporary
As a military hero, a frontiersman, and a populist, Jackson enchanted the common people and alarmed the political, social and economic elite. A Man of the People would now govern the nation — America did not disintegrate into anarchy. | <urn:uuid:497ab329-77c6-4ae2-9552-7de0eef461af> | CC-MAIN-2018-13 | http://dev.ushistory.org/us/24a.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-13/segments/1521257644271.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20180317035630-20180317055630-00651.warc.gz | en | 0.97649 | 599 | 3.734375 | 4 |
Click the arrow to the right of each letter to expand a list of terms used within the Countywide Plan that begin with the corresponding letter. Last updated on October 27, 2020.
Accommodate. To make room for or provisions for something that is specifically intended to occur.
Action (Community Action Guide). Suggested, measurable step to be taken to implement an Action Statement. Actions are found in the Action Plan of a Community Action Guide, along with potential leaders for each step and a timeline of when it should occur in the process. In the context of the Community Action Guide, the activity is typically to be undertaken by a member(s) of the community, although some activity by a broader public entity (such as the County) may also be involved.
Action (Implementation Plan). A specific, measurable step that needs to be taken to meet stated objectives. An action is not mere compliance with the law or a commonly adopted or accepted practice or protocol. An action is short in duration and is meant to be updated and replaced once action has been taken. In the context of the County Implementation Plan, the activity is typically to be undertaken by the County or another public entity.
Action Plan (Community Action Guide). A set of focus statements, action statements, and actions (detailed or suggested outline), intended for community members and stakeholders to use in improving their community.
Action Statement (Community Action Guide). Measurable statements providing critical information on a program, initiative or project to complete.
Advocate. To openly support and promote an action, objective, or goal; also to speak on behalf of an individual or group.
Adaptive reuse. A method by which a building is adapted/modified to a different use from its original use, while its general physical form is retained. See also historic rehabilitation for historical buildings.
Agency. A governmental entity, department, office, or administrative unit responsible for carrying out regulations.
Agriculture. Use of land for the production of food and fiber, including the growing of crops and/or the grazing of animals on natural prime or improved pasture land.
Agricultural preserve. An agricultural preserve defines the boundary of an area within which a local government will enter into contracts with land owners. Only land located within an agricultural preserve is eligible for a Williamson Act contract. Preserves are regulated by rules and restrictions designated in the resolution to ensure that the land within the preserve is maintained for agricultural or open space use. See also Williamson Act.
Allow. To be open to something occurring but without any particular effort to make it happen.
Always. The action will apply to future decisions without exception.
Annexation. The means by which an incorporated city or town extends its corporate boundaries. Annexation of unincorporated land into an incorporated city or town is initiated by a petition of affected land owners or registered voters, or by resolution from the incorporated city or town. The process of annexation is overseen by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).
Analyze. To methodically examine the desirability or feasibility of something, with a view toward letting the evidence determine the appropriate level of commitment.
Aspirations statement (Community Action Guide). A written narrative illustrating the community’s desired look and function once the Community Focus Statements and Action Statements are fully implemented. This is a long term view of 10 to 20 years. The Aspirations Statement serves as a foundation for developing Community Focus Statements and Action Statements.
Aspire. To direct one’s ambitions toward achieving something.
Augment. To add to something that is already in place to make it more desirable, functional, or beneficial.
Automatic aid. Automatic aid is assistance that is dispatched automatically by a contractual agreement between two emergency service departments, communities, or districts when an emergency occurs. It differs from mutual aid, which is arranged on an as-needed and requested basis.
Avoid. To not enable something that will lead to an undesirable outcome.
Bicycle facilities. On- and off-street spaces delineated for safe use by bicycles, designated in one of four classes:
- Class I (shared use or bike path). A bikeway physically separated from any street or highway. Shared Use Paths may also be used by pedestrians, skaters, wheelchair users, joggers, and other non-motorized users.
- Class II (bike lane). A portion of roadway that has been designated by striping, signaling, and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists.
- Class III (bike route). A generic term for any road, street, path, or way that in some manner is specifically designated for bicycle travel regardless of whether such facilities are designated for the exclusive use of bicycles, or are to be shared with other transportation modes.
- Class IV (separated bikeway). A bikeway for the exclusive use of bicycles and includes a required separation between the bikeway and the through vehicular traffic. The separation may include, but is not limited to, grade separation, flexible posts, inflexible posts, inflexible barriers, or on-street parking.
Buffer / buffer zone. An area of land, structure, feature, or design treatment separating two uses that acts to soften or mitigate the effects of one use on the other.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A state law (California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.), requiring state and local agencies to regulate activities with consideration for environmental protection. If a proposed activity has the potential for a significant adverse environmental impact, an environmental impact report (EIR) must be prepared and certified as to its adequacy before taking action on the proposed project.
California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC). The governor-appointed nine-member commission charged with identifying and cataloging places of special religious or social significance to Native Americans and known graves and cemeteries of Native Americans on private lands. The NAHC also performs other duties regarding the preservation and accessibility of sacred sites and burials and the disposition of Native American human remains and burial items.
Capital Improvements Program (CIP). A program, administered by a city or county government that schedules permanent improvements, usually for a minimum of five years in the future, to fit the projected fiscal capability of the local jurisdiction. The CIP is generally reviewed annually for conformance to and consistency with the Policy Plan.
Capacity. The ability to provide a service or fulfill an obligation in the desired manner or at a desired level of service.
Cluster. Residential development in which a number of dwelling units are placed in closer proximity than usual, or are attached.
Collaborate. To intentionally, willingly work together toward a common objective or goal.
Community action guide. A set of potential actions community members (within a specific community planning area or CPA) can take to remain and become the type of community that current and future residents desire. The guides include action plans that place a focus on self-reliance, grass-roots action, and implementation, allowing the community to take the lead in moving actions forward.
Furthermore, the guides frame these potential actions in a set of community-driven values and aspirations generated based on public input from community members and stakeholders. While some actions will require coordination with, approval from, or assistance by the County, many others can be undertaken without County involvement. The guides may also be augmented by a set of generalized actions presented in a Community Development Toolkit.
Community assets. Public libraries, public museums, arts and cultural facilities, community/senior centers, and similar facilities open to and for the benefit of the public.
Community character / community identity. The history, culture(s), natural features, and human-built features that a community’s residents value and wish to celebrate and maintain. Community character can also be defined as the sum of attributes and assets that make a community unique and establish a sense of place for its residents. Some attributes and assets are tangible, like a unique main street area, while others are intangible, like a general sense of tranquility associated with the natural environment.
Community facilities district (CFD). A special funding and financing mechanism that is formed when the property owners in a geographic area agree to impose a special property tax on the land to fund public improvements and services. Based on future tax revenue, CFDs (aka Mello-Roos) seek public financing through bonds. A Mello-Roos tax must be approved by 2/3 of the voters in a proposed district.
Community planning area (CPA). A planning area identified by the County of San Bernardino as an area where policies, standards, and guidelines may vary, based on local context and community character. A CPA is also used to define the boundaries for community action guides. See also Community Planning Continuum and the types of CPAs.
Community Planning Continuum (CPC). The CPC is a system of community planning activities and documents intended to guide local expectations for County services and set a clear direction for the future of unincorporated communities. The CPC is implemented by both County government (Policy Plan and Implementation Plan) and community residents and stakeholders (Community Action Guide and Community Development Toolkit). The resulting plans, guides, maps, and tools are web-based, living documents that will be updated periodically to reflect progress and change. The CPC includes a hierarchy of community planning areas (CPAs) that will ensure that planning details, tools, and resources match the conditions and needs of each community:
- Detailed CPAs. Includes communities that contain, or have the potential for, a variety of housing opportunities and supporting uses, such as commercial and industrial businesses, schools, a library, parks and recreation facilities, and religious and civic organizations.
- Framework CPAs. Includes communities that are primarily characterized by single-family residential properties and a limited number of supporting uses, such as a school, post office, and commercial businesses.
- Foundation CPAs. Includes communities that are primarily characterized by single-family residential properties. Residents of these communities typically drive to nearby towns or cities for employment, shopping, entertainment, education, and recreation opportunities.
- Fundamental CPAs. Includes communities that are primarily characterized by open space or agriculture with a scattering of residential homes and/or highway commercial uses, or an area where growth is constrained by adjacent land ownership, such as federal lands and state lands.
Community services district (CSD). A special funding and financing mechanism that is formed as an independent, self-governed entity that can provide locally adequate levels of public facilities and services, an effective form of governance for combining two or more special districts that serve overlapping or adjacent territory into a multifunction special district, a form of governance that can serve as an alternative to the incorporation of a new city, and a transitional form of governance as the community approaches cityhood.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). A plan developed in the collaborative framework established by the Wildland Fire Leadership Council and agreed to by state, tribal, and local government, local fire department, other stakeholders, and federal land management agencies managing land in the vicinity of the planning area. A CWPP identifies and prioritizes areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments and recommends the types and methods of treatment on Federal and non-Federal land that will protect one or more at-risk communities and essential infrastructure and recommends measures to reduce structural ignitability throughout the at-risk community. A CWPP may address issues such as wildfire response, hazard mitigation, community preparedness, or structure protection.
Compatible. In relation to use, the ability for two or more uses to coexist without conflict, with minimal conflict that can be mitigated, or in a beneficial manner. When used in relation to a structure, indicates that the structure is built so that its appearance is similar to that of the principal unit to which the structure is accessory or to the general character of the neighborhood or community with regards to color, materials, construction, lighting, signs, or the emission of sounds, noises and vibrations. See also incompatible.
Complete streets network. A system of on- and off-street facilities (e.g., sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails), that enable all users of all ages and abilities to navigate within or through a community area, with an emphasis on mobility focus areas. The system can consist of one or more facility type based on the intended users and access requirements. Individual facilities may overlap or not, serve all or just some users, and be contiguous or disconnected. Complete streets facilities and improvements are subject to physical constraints presented by the local context and financial feasibility limitations.
Comply with. To follow specified existing ordinances, regulations or procedures.
Complement / complementary. Combining or coexisting (e.g., two buildings or land uses) in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other.
Concurrent. Services, facilities, activities or other things that are provided or are occurring at the same time as something else.
Consider. To remain open to and evaluate a range of possible actions or outcomes as part of a decision.
Consistent. To be or act in harmony or aligned with something; see also inconsistent.
Consolidate. To bring together aspects, features, or components of a system or locale that can serve better in a consolidated form, compared to existing or provided separately.
Construct. To build something: buildings, roads, channels, etc.
Context. Local or regional environmental, social, and economic conditions.
Context-sensitive. An approach, design, standard, or practice that is sensitive to and varies according to the local or regional environmental, social, and economic conditions.
Contiguous land administration. Parcels that share a border and are under the ownership or administrative authority of a single entity, enabling more effective and efficient use, preservation, and/or management of the land and its resources and relationship to surrounding lands and resources.
Continue. To maintain and/or resume an action.
Cooperate. To work in a positive effort with another entity toward a mutually beneficial end. Such work may take the form of direct action, passive support, or even inaction.
Coordinate. To work in a positive effort with another entity in the process of conducting individual actions or initiatives that relate to each other and that can benefit from concurrent or cooperative activity.
County service area (CSA). Separate legal entities authorized by California laws and formed by the County Board of Supervisors to fund the County’s provision of services, capital improvements and financial flexibility. They are formed and tailored to meet the specific needs of an area so that the property owners only pay for the services they that they want. Some of the unincorporated areas within San Bernardino County are exclusively serviced by these CSAs. CSA’s in the County are generalized characterized by small and remote service areas with primary customers being single family residential parcels.
Critical and essential facilities. Public safety and services sites, structures and institutions that, if negatively impacted by an emergency, could exacerbate the problem, reduce a (generally public) entity’s ability to respond, or present a significant secondary problem or a problem greater than the original emergency.
Cultural humility. An approach to public service (particularly medical and social services), where the professional service provider embraces a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and lifelong learning about the cultures of their clients, working to learn with and from their clients to better serve individuals and defined populations.
Dedicate. To offer or set aside for a specific program, action, or use; when in the context of land dedication, the land is generally set aside for public ownership, use, and/or operation or maintenance.
Density (dwelling units per acre or du/ac). The number of residential units allowed per acre for a given area of the unincorporated county based on the Policy Plan land use category. The permitted Policy Plan density guides the maximum density for corresponding zoning designations as described in the Development Code and applied to a specific property.
Design. To conceive in advance the size, shape, qualities, appearance, open space and other attributes of a proposed development, building and related improvements, generally rendered in graphic forms that communicate the anticipated outcome.
Determine. To calculate in advance the nature or outcome of an anticipated action, situation, or proposal.
Development Code. Title 8 of the San Bernardino County Code, intended to implement the County Policy Plan by classifying and regulating the uses of land and structures within unincorporated San Bernardino County; by preserving and protecting the County’s important agricultural, cultural, natural, open space and scenic resources; and by protecting and promoting the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of residents and businesses in the County.
Discourage. To openly deter (or attempt to deter) an individual, group, or organization from doing something.
Discretionary. An action taken by a governmental agency that calls for the exercise of judgment in deciding whether to approve and/or how to carry out a project.
Dwelling Unit. A room or group of rooms (including sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation facilities, but not more than one kitchen), which constitutes an independent housekeeping unit, occupied or intended for occupancy by one household on a long term basis.
Earthquake fault zone / Alquist Priolo (AP) earthquake fault zone. Earthquake fault zones are regulatory zones around active faults. On the Earthquake Fault Zone Maps, the zones are shown as polygons that encompass mapped fault traces. The zones vary in width, but average about one-quarter mile wide.
Economic development service providers. State, federal, utility, education, and not-for-profit organization partners that help fund economic development activities; and public, private, and not-for-profit organizations that provide assistance to businesses such as small business development centers.
Economic value (mining). A mineral resource has economic value if it is financially feasible to extract and sell the mineral resource in the current market.
Encourage. To promote, support, or champion a concept or action; such support may be in terms of political support and coordination, staff resources, and/or financial resources.
Enhance. To improve existing conditions in quality, value, or characteristic.
Environmental Justice Focus Area. See focus area.
Equitable. A condition or treatment that is fair and impartial.
Establish. To bring something into being that does not currently exist.
Explore. To search for or examine the nature of a possibility before a commitment is made. Similar to analyze.
Expand. To increase in detail, extent, number, volume, or scope.
Facilitate. To make an action or process easier or to help bring about.
Fair share. An allocation of resources, costs, or fees considered equitable and proportional to the needs, impacts, or activity of an existing or proposed project.
Farmland, Important. Refers to four of the eight classifications of land mapped by the California Department of Conservation.
- Prime farmland. Land other has the best good combination of physical and chemical characteristics for the production of crops. It must have been used for the production of irrigated crops within the four years prior to the Important Farmland Map date produced by the State Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program.
- Farmland of statewide importance. Land other than prime farmland that has a good combination of physical and chemical characteristics for the production of crops. It must have been used for the production of irrigated crops within the four years prior to the Important Farmland Map date produced by the State Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program.
- Unique farmland. Land that does not meet the criteria for prime farmland or farmland of statewide Importance, that has been used for the production of specific high economic value crops at some time during the two update cycles prior to the Important Farmland Map date produced by the State Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program. It has the special combination of soil quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high quality and/or high yields of a specific crop when treated and managed according to current farming methods.
- Farmland of local importance. Farmlands that include areas of soils that meet all the characteristics of prime, statewide, or unique and which are not irrigated. It also includes farmlands not covered by above categories but of high economic importance to the community.
Fault / active fault. A fracture in the crust of the earth along which rocks on one side have moved relative to those on the other side. Most faults are the result of repeated displacements over a long period of time. A fault trace is the line on the earth’s surface defining the fault. For the purposes of the Alquist Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act, an active fault is one that has ruptured in the last 11,000 years. See earthquake fault zone.
Feasible. Capable of being done, executed, or managed successfully taking into consideration social, physical, environmental, and/or economic factors.
Feasible, technically. Capable of being implemented because the industrial, mechanical, or application technology exists.
Feature. A noticeable or important characteristic, attribute, or aspect of something.
Fire hazard severity zone. A designated area in which the type and condition of vegetation, topography, fire history, and other relevant factors demonstrate an increased possibility of uncontrollable wildland fire. As part of CAL FIRE’s responsibilities, it assigns fire severity—moderate, high, and very high—to areas in California for fire planning and suppression purposes.
Fire responsibility areas. California’s wildlands have been divided into three zones or responsibility areas, depending on the agency with primary financial responsibility for addressing the prevention, suppression, and postfire recovery of fire. These include local responsibility area (LRA), state responsibility area (SRA), and federal responsibility area (FRA).
- Local responsibility areas (LRAs). The areas of California where local jurisdictions (e.g., county or city/town fire departments, fire protection districts, and by CAL FIRE under contract to local government) are responsible for the prevention and suppression of wildfires.
- State Responsibility Areas (SRAs). The areas of California where the State of California is financially responsible for the prevention and suppression of wildfires. SRA does not include lands within incorporated city/town boundaries or in federal ownership.
- Federal Responsibility Areas (FRAs). The areas of California where the federal government has the primary financial responsibility for preventing and suppressing fires. These lands are generally protected by a variety of federal agencies.
Finding(s). The result(s) of an investigation and the basis upon which decisions are made. Findings are used by government agents and bodies to justify action taken or a decision made by the entity.
Fiscal sustainability. The County’s capacity to operate and maintain public facilities and to provide public services with a reasonable level of service using the revenue generated for the service or facility or revenue generated by the users or beneficiaries of the service or facility. Fiscal sustainability exists when the County has the financial capacity to operate and maintain public facilities and to provide public services in the short term and over the long term.
Determination of the fiscal impacts of a project, program, policy, or other decision must account for:
- Initial capital investments and startup costs;
- Ongoing operations and maintenance over the long term;
- Reasonable levels of service and expected or desired levels of service over the long-term;
- Set-aside capital reserves for replacement, maintenance, and upgrades; and
- Impacts to existing uses in incorporated and unincorporated areas, which may have secondary fiscal impacts.
Fiscal or financial resiliency is related to fiscal sustainability and refers to the County’s capacity to continue providing reasonable levels of service for the operations and maintenance of public facilities and for the provision of public services during periods of economic and financial stress and during emergencies. Fiscal resiliency is typically achieved by minimizing the use of debt, maintaining adequate dedicated reserves, maintaining an appropriate level of unrestricted fund balance, long-term financial planning, disaster planning, and comprehensive risk management.
Flood. Refers to the rising and overflowing of a body of water onto normally dry land that is often caused by storm events or breaches of flood control infrastructure. While there are many different types of flooding that are recognized for communities, the three common types of flooding in the county are alluvial fan, riverine, and urban flood:
- Alluvial flood. Alluvial flooding occurs on the surface of an alluvial fan or similar landform that originates at the apex, and is characterized by high-velocity flows, active erosion, sediment transport, and deposition; and unpredictable flow paths. Alluvial fan flooding is depicted on a Flood Insurance Rate Map as Zone AO, with a flood depth and velocity.
- Riverine flood. Riverine flooding occurs when excessive rainfall or heavy snow melt causes water to rise and overflow the edges of a river, bank, or channel. Flash flooding, a type of riverine flood, is characterized by an intense, high velocity torrent of water, often accompanied by debris, which occurs in a river channel with little to no warning.
- Urban flooding. Urban flooding is caused when heavy rainfall creates a flood independent of an overflowing water body, such as when intense rain overwhelms the capacity of an urban drainage system. An urban flood is more common in areas that lack or have undersized drainage systems.
Flood zone / flood hazard area. The Policy Plan displays and/or refers to the following simplified categories on flood hazard maps and in policies:
- FEMA 100-year flood zone. An area mapped on a flood insurance rate map (FIRM) where a storm with a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year can cause flood conditions. FIRMs are mapped under the Federal Agency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
- DWR 100-year flood zone. An area mapped by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) that identify 100-year flood hazard areas using approximate assessment procedures. These floodplains are identified simply as flood prone areas without specific depths and other flood hazard data; they are not FEMA regulatory floodplain maps. The state conducts an Awareness Floodplain Mapping project to identify all pertinent flood hazard areas for areas that are not mapped under FEMA’s NFIP, and to provide the community and residents an additional tool in understanding potential flood hazards currently not mapped as a regulated floodplain.
- FEMA 200-year flood zone. An area mapped (currently in limited areas) by DWR where a storm with a 0.5 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year can cause flood conditions
- FEMA 500-year flood zone. An area mapped on a FIRM where a storm with a 0.2 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year can cause flood conditions. FIRMs are mapped under FEMA’s NFIP.
Flood insurance rate map (FIRM). The official map on which FEMA has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the community. Flood hazard areas identified on the FIRM are identified as a special flood hazard area (SFHA). SFHAs are defined as the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 1-percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood. SFHAs are labeled as Zone A, Zone AO, Zone AH, Zones A1-A30, Zone AE, Zone A99, Zone AR, Zone AR/AE, Zone AR/AO, Zone AR/A1-A30, Zone AR/A, Zone V, Zone VE, and Zones V1-V30.
Moderate flood hazard areas, labeled Zone B or Zone X (shaded) are also shown on the FIRM, and are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (or 500-year) flood. The areas of minimal flood hazard, which are the areas outside the SFHA and higher than the elevation of the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood, are labeled Zone C or Zone X (unshaded).
While the FIRM displays the above detailed flood hazard zones, the Policy Plan displays and refers to the following simplified categories from the FIRM on Policy Plan flood hazard maps and in policies: 100-year flood hazard and 500-year flood hazard.
Floodplain. The area, adjacent to a watercourse or other body of water, subject to recurring floods. Floodplains may change over time as a result of natural processes, the characteristics of a watershed, or the construction of bridges or channels. Floodplain can also serve as a reference to areas subject to flooding and mapped under FEMA’s NFIP.
Floor-area-ratio (FAR). The ratio of floor area to total net parcel area. FAR restrictions are used to limit the maximum floor area allowed on a site (including all structures on the site, except as excluded by the Development Code). The maximum floor area of all structures (measured from exterior wall to exterior wall) permitted on a site (excluding carports) shall be determined by multiplying the FAR by the total net parcel area of the site: FAR x total net parcel area = maximum allowable floor area.
Focus area. A location where the County seeks to encourage and facilitate public improvements and private investment that lead to one of the following: increased mobility, community- and/or tourist-serving shops and services, employment opportunities, or the reuse and/or intensification of industrial development. The boundary of a focus area (excluding commercial focus area/franchise-restricted and environmental justice focus areas), is intended to convey the general location, but the actual boundary may be somewhat larger or smaller as determined during implementation efforts.
- Commercial focus area. An area where the County seeks to encourage and facilitate public improvements and private investment that lead to increased community- and/or tourist-serving shops and services.
- Commercial focus area/franchise-restricted. A defined commercial focus area where franchise businesses are not permitted. See franchise business.
- Employment focus area. An area where the County seeks to encourage and facilitate public improvements and private investment that lead to increased commercial, office, or industrial employment opportunities (consistent with the Policy Plan and as permitted by the adopted Land Use Categories).
- Environmental justice focus area. An area that is disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation. Such areas are determined by CalEnviroScreen composite scores in the upper quartile (census tracts with composite scores ranking above the 75th percentile). The term “environmental justice focus area” is to be interpreted the same as the term “disadvantaged community” and is understood in the context of Senate Bill 1000 (2016).
- Industrial redevelopment focus area. An area where the County seeks to encourage and facilitate public improvements and private investment that increase reuse, redevelopment, and/or intensification of industrial development (consistent with the Policy Plan and as permitted by the adopted Land Use Categories).
- Mobility focus area. An area where the County seeks to encourage and facilitate public improvements and private investment that lead to increased non-motorized accessibility and public safety. Mobility focus areas have a core with a high concentration (typically along corridors and/or at nodes), of two or more of the following: pedestrians; bicyclists; transit; retail, service, and office businesses; or medium density residential or higher.
Focus statement (Community Action Guide). General direction towards realizing a community’s aspirations; a focus statement also helps to organize the Action Plan.
Food insecurity. The state of being without reliable access to sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
Franchise business. All businesses in the retail trade, accommodation and food services, and other services as defined in the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS), that have 11 or more establishments worldwide under the same trademark, service mark, or company brand name, regardless of ownership. Such establishments maintain two or more of the following features: a standardized array of merchandise, a standardized facade, a standardized decor and color scheme, uniform apparel, standardized signage, a trademark or a service mark. See commercial focus area/franchise-restricted.
Fugitive dust. Small solid particles or liquid droplets (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometers or less or PM10), that come primarily from the earth’s soil and are suspended in the air by wind action and human activities.
Fund. To make money available for a prescribed purpose; may be a one-time, periodic, or ongoing commitment.
Funding and financing mechanism. A legislatively authorized public revenue tool covering a distinct geographical area in which revenues may be generated by properties to fund various public facilities and services. Many of these mechanisms also allow for the issuance of debt. Examples of funding and financing mechanisms can include: assessment district, contractual assessment district, business improvement district, community facility district, community services district, multifamily housing district, lighting and landscaping maintenance district, parking district, community revitalization and investment authority, and enhanced infrastructure finance district.
The use of funding and financing mechanisms must be complemented with the establishment, collection, and use of development impact fees.
The term funding and financing mechanism does not include the use of county service areas as these divert property tax revenues that would otherwise go to the County General Fund. The term also does not include the use of home/property owners’ associations.
Grazing land. Land on which the existing vegetation, whether grown naturally or through management, is suitable for grazing or browsing of livestock. This classification does not include land otherwise designated as prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, unique farmland, or farmland of local importance; or heavily brushed, timbered, excessively steep, or rocky lands that restrict the access and movement of livestock.
Greenhouse gas (GHG). Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere. State law identifies seven greenhouse gases for which the California Air Resources Board is responsible to monitor and regulate in order to reduce GHG emissions: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
Goal. A statement of desired future conditions regarding a particular topic; a goal paints a picture of how something will be in the future. A goal in and of itself is not sufficient to understand its intent, extent, or context. A goal itself is kept simple, with policies, objectives, and implementation actions providing further definition.
Greywater / graywater. Wastewater that is generated in residential buildings, excluding sewage, such as gently used water from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines. The wastewater generated by toilets, kitchen sinks, and dishwashers is called blackwater due to its larger organic load (fecal or organic matter).
Groundwater. Water under the earth’s surface, often mapped as basins and confined to aquifers capable of supplying wells and springs.
Groundwater recharge. The natural process of infiltration and percolation of rainwater from land areas or streams through permeable soils into water-holding rocks that provide underground storage in aquifers. This process can also be conducted artificially by capturing and injecting surface water or recycled water into aquifers.
Habitat linkages. Landscape-scale open space areas that provide a natural habitat connection between at least two larger adjacent open spaces or habitat areas. Habitat linkages provide a large enough area to support, at a minimum, a natural habitat mosaic and viable populations of smaller terrestrial species and allow for gene flow through diffusion of populations over a period of generations. Habitat linkages also allow for jump dispersal for some species between neighboring habitats. Habitat linkages may be large tracts of natural open space that serve as resident species habitat or habitat linkages may serve primarily as landscape connections (i.e., for dispersal movements or travel). See also wildlife corridors.
Harden. The use of site design and materials to make a building or site able to withstand the onset or severity of damage from an event such as a fire, earthquake, flood, or other similar event.
Hazardous materials. Materials or wastes that either cause or contribute to an increase in mortality, serious illness, or otherwise pose a substantial treat to human or environmental health when improperly managed; see Division 10 (Definitions) of the County Development Code.
Hazardous waste facilities. Carefully designed off-site facilities accepting hazardous wastes for storage or treatment; see Division 10 (Definitions) of the County Development Code.
Health professional shortage area (HSPA). A geographic area, population, or facility with a shortage of primary care, dental, or mental health providers and services. The US Health Resources and Services Administration and California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development work together using public, private, and state-provided data to determine when such a shortage qualifies for designation as a HPSA.
Historic resources. Buildings, structures, sites, or districts that are considered of particular historical and/or cultural significance. Generally, such resources are listed on a local, state, or federal register.
Historic treatment. The memorialization, preservation, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or restoration of a historic resource.
- Historic memorialization. Permanent recognition of an important historical resource through such means as a physical plaque or official designation.
- Historic preservation. A treatment for a historic building or landscape that focuses on the maintenance and repair of existing historic materials and retention of a property’s form as it has evolved over time.
- Historic reconstruction. A treatment for a historic building or landscape that re-creates vanished or non-surviving portions of a property for interpretive purposes.
- Historic rehabilitation. A treatment for a historic building or landscape that acknowledges the need to alter or add to a historic property to meet continuing or changing uses while retaining the property’s historic character.
- Historic restoration. A treatment for a historic building or landscape that depicts a property at a particular period of time in its history, while removing evidence of other periods.
Holistic approach. An approach that addresses the factors that lead to a condition or behavior as well as the treatment of symptoms or enforcement of laws, in order to prevent a condition or behavior.
Impact. Generally, the result of an action or inaction; when the term is used in the context of an environmental analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the term “impact” refers to how a proposed project may directly or indirectly effect specific environmental, infrastructure, and public service factors; a negative impact damages those environmental factors or increases burdens on selected facilities and services).
Identify. To determine characteristics or facts without any predetermination regarding future commitments; gather information only.
Include. To make a part of a consideration or issue under public scrutiny.
Incompatible. To be so opposed in character as to be incapable of existing together without causing conflicts or harm upon one or all parts; conflicting; see also compatible.
Incorporate. The same as include.
Inconsistent. Varying to the point of conflict or contradiction; see also consistent.
Infill development. Development that is constructed on land that has direct access to existing public services and infrastructure.
Innovative. Methods or approaches that are new and original, often (but not always) more advanced.
Install. To put in place at a specified time or place or in a particular sequence.
Integrate. To blend new and existing projects or activities together in a compatible fashion.
Intensity. For non-residential land uses (such as commercial or retail development) the amount of square footage built on a given site. Expressed typically as floor-to-area ratio (see FAR). The maximum intensity permitted in an area of the unincorporated county is determined by the Policy Plan land use category and corresponding zoning designation.
Inundation area. A defined area downstream from any dam, basin, or impounded body or source of water (including reservoirs, large above ground water tanks, lakes, etc.) that could be flooded in the event of a sudden or complete failure of the structure. The inundation area or zone can also include levees that are breached or compromised, causing water to flood adjacent areas.
Investigate. To examine the accuracy of information provided in support of a proposed project, process, or program.
Land use category. Reference term for the classification of generally permitted land use type and intensity as directed by the County Policy Plan; also commonly referred to in other jurisdictions as general plan land use designations. The land use categories are implemented by land use zoning districts, which contain more specific regulations on land use and building standards.
Land use zoning district. Reference for the classification and regulation of land use type and intensity in the County Development Code. The land use zoning districts implement the land use categories of the Policy Plan. See also zoning.
Land Use Map. Reference term for the Policy Plan Land Use Map showing the distribution of land use categories across the unincorporated county.
Land Use Plan. Reference term that consists of the Policy Plan Land Use Map and tables describing the nature and intensity of development allowed in each Policy Plan land use category.
Land Use Plan amendment. A proposed change by an applicant or the County in the land use category(ies) of a parcel or set of parcels. Such change requires approval by the County Board of Supervisors.
Land Use Plan amendment, comprehensive. An evaluation by the County of the appropriate quantity and distribution of that land use category in the entire area (community planning area, unincorporated sphere of influence, or, when outside of such boundaries, the local context defined by the County).
Landscape-scale conservation. A holistic approach to conservation, concerned with biodiversity and local economies, cultural heritage, agriculture, eco-tourism, geodiversity and the health and social benefits of the environment. Landscape-scale conservation contrasts with site-based conservation and is not merely large-scale conservation.
Legacy community. In accordance with state law and guidance provided by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and San Bernardino County Local Area Formation Commission, the County used the following criteria to identify disadvantaged unincorporated legacy communities (consistent with Senate Bill 244, 2011):
- Located outside of city/town limits and spheres of influence of any city/town;
- Inhabited and has been for at least 50 years (also referred to as a legacy community);
- Consists of at least 10 dwelling units in close proximity (approximately 1-mile radius); and
- Median household income for the census tract less than 80% of the statewide median.
The County must conduct a high level evaluation of the potable water, wastewater treatment, stormwater drainage, and structural fire protection service needs and resources for legacy communities.
Level of service (LOS) (standard). A qualitative measure describing the delivery of service based on the needs and/or desires of customers or users. A LOS standard also generally factors in financial constraints (e.g., amount of user fees or taxes), as well as physical constraints (e.g., topography or distance). In measuring traffic conditions, it is the measurement and categorization of traffic flow based on vehicle speed, density, congestion, and other elements.
Limit. To confine a project or activity within prescribed specifications or performance criteria.
Link. To connect a project, area, function, or activity to another feature or features that would be mutually beneficial and reinforce desired functions.
Local park. Publicly-owned land designed and maintained to serve the recreation needs of people living or working in close proximity to the park. Neighborhood parks are small (~1 to 15 acres) and offer developed and programmed space and facilities such as playgrounds, picnic areas, fields, community centers, and sports fields for those within approximately one-half mile radius of the park. Community parks are larger (~16 to 99 acres) and are intended to provide recreation opportunities beyond those supplied by neighborhood parks, serving residents from throughout a community or jurisdiction.
Local trail. A trail typically built, operated, and maintained by a single jurisdiction, district, or agency for access by residents and visitors within a single community or jurisdiction.
Locate. To place an improvement, function, or use in a particular locale, on property with certain characteristics, or in proximity to specified features to bring about benefits and/or efficiency.
Master planned communities. A residential development that also includes recreational and commercial amenities, and can also include local retail stores, businesses, and other employment opportunities. Master planned communities are typically built in phases with coordinated transportation and infrastructure improvements, a variety of housing types, and long-term public and private funding mechanisms.
Maintain. To keep a system, facility, area, or activity in continuously sound condition, as defined by approved standards.
May. To offer the possibility but not the probability or promise of a certain commitment of resources or support; associated with action or activity that is often desirable and allowed, but implementation of such action or activity is often conditional.
Military activity / operations. Testing, training, or other activities conducted by the military (personnel or equipment) within or outside of a military installation.
Military installation. The land and facilities within a specific boundary identified by the US Department of Defense. The five military installations in (wholly or partially) San Bernardino County are: Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center/Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force Training Command (MCAGCC/MAGTFTC), Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, and Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Barstow.
Mines, legacy abandoned. Mines that ceased operation before state and federal laws required reclamation of mined land.
Minimize. To reduce something to the smallest amount or degree feasible.
Ministerial. An action taken by a governmental agency that follows established procedures and rules and does not call for the exercise of judgment in deciding whether to approve a project.
Mitigation bank. A wetland, stream, or other aquatic resource area that has been restored, established, enhanced, or (in certain circumstances) preserved for the purpose of providing compensation for unavoidable impacts to aquatic resources permitted under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act or a similar state or local wetland regulation. A mitigation bank may be created when a government agency, corporation, nonprofit organization, or other entity undertakes these activities under a formal agreement with a regulatory agency.
Monitor. To track the performance of a particular physical condition, activity accomplishment or aspect of change, with a view toward using the results to inform County determination of its appropriate commitments.
Mutual aid. Mutual aid is assistance that, based on a contractual agreement, is dispatched on an as-needed and requested basis between two emergency service departments, communities, or districts when an emergency occurs. It differs from automatic aid, which is dispatched automatically.
Never. Something (e.g., action or land use) will not take place or occur under any circumstance.
New development. On land in the unincorporated area, any construction of new buildings or construction of new structures that are the primary use, and any subdivision or change in zoning classification.
New lot. On land in the unincorporated area, any lot that is created (recorded) after the adoption date of the Policy Plan. The term applies to lots created through a parcel map or subdivision map.
Notify. To advise a specified party or parties regarding an event or change for which there is an obligation to inform or need to know.
Objective (Business Plan). Something that an individual’s, group’s, or organization’s efforts are intended to attain; something designed to achieve specific results.
Overdraft. The condition of a groundwater supply in which the average annual amount of water withdrawn by pumping exceeds the average annual amount of water replenishing the aquifer in any ten year period, considering all sources of recharge and withdrawal.
Overdraft, critical. A groundwater basin is subject to critical conditions of overdraft when continuation of present water management practices would probably result in significant adverse overdraft-related environmental, social, or economic impacts. Groundwater basins “subject to critical conditions of overdraft that are assigned a high or medium priority by the State Department of Water Resources must be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan by January 31, 2020. Groundwater sustainability plans, or their equivalent, must be established for all other high and medium-priority basins by January 31, 2022.
Partner. To join with another entity in conducting an activity or building a facility that would be mutually beneficial and add value more efficiently than if pursued independently; does not necessarily require financial commitments. Similar to “cooperate”.
Periodically. The action will take place or apply to future decisions at specified intervals or times.
Policy. A statement that guides decision-making and specifies public commitment. A policy defines and directs how the County intends to achieve goals.
Policy Plan. A compendium of long-term goals and policies intended to guide decision making regarding the improvement and planning of the county unincorporated areas, as well as the provision of regional and local services and facilities. The Policy Plan also provides the high-level direction for implementing programs and ordinances, such as the County Development Code.
The Policy Plan legally functions as the County’s general plan. A general plan is a legal document required of each local agency by the State of California (see Government Code Section 65300 et seq.). In California, a general plan must address at least eight mandatory topics (land use, circulation, housing, conservation, noise, open space, safety, and environmental justice), and may include any number of optional topics (such as air quality, economic development, and health and wellness).
There is no requirement that the County refer to the document as a general plan, and other jurisdictions may refer to their general plan as a comprehensive plan. The County opted to refer to its general plan as the County Policy Plan to reflect its expanded topical and geographic coverage.
Prevent. To keep a particular use, condition, activity, or circumstance from occurring; it does not imply complete (100 percent) avoidance or elimination.
Preserve. To maintain something in its original or existing state (verb). An area dedicated to the protection and conservation of biological resources and/or landscapes (noun).
Prioritize. To intentionally direct discretionary investments or actions to one area ahead of other areas. The act of prioritizing is an ad-hoc process that considers a variety of relevant factors. State and federal law and agency requirements, court orders, and County-declared emergencies take precedent over the prioritization direction in the Policy Plan
Principle. An assumption, fundamental rule, or doctrine that guides Policy Plan policies, proposals, standards, and implementation measures.
Prohibit. To absolutely disallow something from happening or being built.
Promote. To actively stimulate the likelihood and desirability of something happening; does not require investing public resources in its direct development.
Protect. To shield from damage to people or property.
Provide. To make something available, typically to a community, organization, or business; it does not imply that the thing is being made available at no cost.
Public infrastructure. Capital facilities that are owned and maintained by public entities, including but not limited to: flood control, water, sewer, transportation, parks, law and justice, fire prevention and protection, public health, and facilities for parks, recreation, and other community services.
Public water system. A system for the provision of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances that has 15 or more service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year, or as otherwise defined in the California Health and Safety Code. The three main types of public water systems are: community, transient-noncommunity, and nontransient, noncommunity.
Pursue. To strive to obtain or to seek to accomplish something, often through direct actions, partnerships, or indirect assistance. See also support.
Ranged activities or projects. Civilian activities or projects that can exert impacts beyond a project’s boundaries and create compatibility issues with military activity.
Recidivism. A person’s relapse into criminal behavior; a subsequent criminal adjudication or conviction while on probation supervision.
Recycled water. Water which, as a result of treatment of waste, is suitable for a direct beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur and is therefore considered a valuable resource. A form of water reuse that includes primary, secondary and tertiary treatment of wastewater to produce water suitable for a variety of non-potable applications, most notably for landscaping irrigation and industrial uses. Recycled water is synonymous with “reclaimed water,” “Title 22 Water” (water that conforms to the Uniform Statewide Recycling Criteria), and “treated wastewater.”
Redevelopment, significant. The addition or replacement of 5,000 or more square feet of impervious surface on an already developed site, including, but not limited to: expansion of a building footprint; addition of a building or structure; addition of an impervious surface, such as construction of a new parking lot that is not part of a routine maintenance activity; and replacement of imperious surfaces, buildings or structures when 5,000 or more square feet of soil is exposed during replacement construction. It does not include routine maintenance activities conducted to maintain original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or the original purpose of a facility.
Reflect. To embody or represent (something) in a faithful or appropriate way.
Region / regional. A geographic area; or pertaining to activities or economies at a scale greater than that of a single jurisdiction, and affecting a broad geographic area. In the Countywide Plan, the term may refer to the Inland Empire (generally considered San Bernardino and Riverside counties), Southern California, or to San Bernardino County subareas with similar features or characteristics (e.g. Valley, Mountain, North Desert, and East Desert regions).
Regional park. A park typically 100 acres or larger focusing on activities and natural features not included in most other types of parks and often based on a specific scenic or recreational opportunity. A regional park may have any combination of developed, undeveloped, programmed, and unprogrammed space. A regional park is primarily intended to serve residents within an hour’s drive, although it may also serve the entire county in some capacity.
Regional trail. A trail typically extending for very long distances across multiple jurisdictions, with operation and maintenance often coordinated and funded by multiple jurisdictions and/or agencies.
Report. To provide public information on a subject or condition.
Require. To absolutely impose an obligation or standard.
Resiliency. The ability to adapt to changing conditions and prepare for, withstand, and rapidly recover from disruption or disasters.
Respect. To give due regard for something or to hold something in high regard.
Rural. Development patterns characterized predominantly by very low density housing development and limited amounts of low intensity commercial buildings in proximity to large natural areas or open space. Rural development often has limited infrastructure (e.g., onsite septic, onsite wells, unpaved roads, etc.).
Safe yield. The maximum quantity of water that can be annually withdrawn from a groundwater aquifer without resulting in overdraft, without adversely affecting aquifer health, and without adversely affecting the health of associated lakes, streams, springs and seeps or their biological resources. The safe yield of an aquifer can be increased by management actions such as artificial recharge, including infiltration and other similar actions.
Sensitive land uses. Types of facilities that the California Air Resources Board recommends being protected from sources of air pollution. Sensitive land uses include residences, childcare centers, educational institutions, medical facilities, senior care facilities, and parks and recreation facilities.
Shall. Will always be carried out or required; no exceptions.
Shared parking. A land use strategy that optimizes parking capacity, reduces the amount of land developed, and promotes connectivity by allowing complementary land uses to share parking spaces, rather than producing or requiring separate spaces for separate uses.
Should. Will be carried out or required most of the time, unless a very good reason is identified why an exception is acceptable.
Social capital. An intangible resource that community members can draw upon to solve collective problems. It consists of social trusts, norms, and networks that can alleviate societal problems. Civic engagement encourages feelings of reciprocity between community members and facilitates coordination, communication, and collaboration. Social capital can also be understood by examining community events, organizations, facilities, and participants.
Sometimes. Will apply to future decisions under specified conditions or circumstances.
Specify. To establish distinct requirements.
Sphere of influence (SOI). The probable physical boundary and service area of a local agency, such as an incorporated city or town or a special district, as determined by the local agency formation commission (LAFCO). SOIs are planning tools used to provide guidance for individual proposals involving jurisdictional changes, and are intended to encourage the efficient provision of organized community services and prevent duplication of service delivery. A territory must also be within a city or district’s sphere in order to be annexed.
While a city/town SOI can include both incorporated and unincorporated lands, the unincorporated lands remain within the jurisdictional control of the county until such time that the land is annexed into the city/town. A city/town is obligated to consider its unincorporated SOI in its general plan, although the county’s planning authority remains in place.
Strive. To make great efforts or devote serious effort to achieve or obtain something.
Sufficient buildable area. Able to conform to current development standards and requirements from local, state, and federal agencies.
Suburban. Development patterns characterized predominantly by a mix of very low to medium density single family housing and multifamily housing development, interspersed with retail, office, industrial, and public or quasi-public facilities. Suburban development is often supported by investments in water, sewer, and roadway infrastructure.
Support. To provide assistance or promotion; see encourage.
Sustainable. Able to use a resource or conduct activity at a desired rate or level without depleting resources (e.g., financial or natural) to a point where others cannot rely upon or use them in the future; in some context the term can refer to the long-range viability of the environment, economy, and social equity (referred to as “the three E’s of sustainability”).
Truck traffic, truck trips, or trucking-intensive business. In the context of defining truck traffic or a trucking-intensive business, a truck is a vehicle identified by the Federal Highway Administration vehicle as Class 5 or higher, with the exception of dually trucks and recreational vehicles. A trucking-intensive business is a permitted use that includes the frequent use of trucks as part of its primary activities. Examples include truck yards, logistics facilities, hazardous materials or waste facilities, container storage, and container parking. Excluded from this definition is commercial vehicle storage in residential areas as permitted in the County Development Code.
Upstream issues. Conditions, such as food insecurity, that exist prior to and contribute to a person’s undesirable medical, social, financial, or legal circumstance.
Urban. Development patterns characterized by higher density residential and/or nonresidential development served by frequent transit service and public infrastructure.
Value (Community Action Guide). A shared asset, principle, standard, social more, and in the judgement of the community, what is important in the lives of its residents and businesses.
Vulnerable population or community. Populations or communities that experience heightened risk and increased sensitivity to natural disasters, emergencies, or severe weather events or conditions; and have less capacity and fewer resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such events or conditions.
Watermaster. A board or committee appointed by a court to oversee an adjudicated water basin, fulfilling the obligations set forth in a stipulated judgement containing a declaration of rights of the water users and other entities for a specific groundwater basin.
We (Community Action Guide). The collective of community residents, business owners, property owners, service providers, and other stakeholders; distinct from the usage of “we” in the Policy Plan.
We (Policy Plan). The County of San Bernardino government body; distinct from the usage of “we” in the Community Action Guides.
Wildlife corridor. A wildlife corridor can be defined as a linear landscape feature of sufficient width to allow animal movement between two comparatively undisturbed habitat fragments. Wildlife corridors are similar to linkages, but provide specific opportunities for animals to disperse or migrate between areas. Adequate cover is essential for a corridor to function as a wildlife movement area. It is possible for a habitat corridor to be adequate for one species yet, inadequate for others. Wildlife corridors are significant features for dispersal, seasonal migration, breeding, and foraging. Additionally, open space can provide a buffer against both human disturbance and natural fluctuations in resources.
Williamson Act (WA). Also known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, the WA creates an arrangement whereby private land owners contract with local governments to voluntarily restrict land to agricultural and open-space uses. The vehicle for these agreements is a rolling term 10-year contract (i.e., unless either party files a “notice of nonrenewal” the contract is automatically renewed annually for an additional year). In return, restricted parcels are assessed for property tax purposes at a rate consistent with their actual use (which is typically very low based on agricultural or open space usage), rather than potential market value.
Contracts may be exited at the option of the land owner or local government by initiating the process of term nonrenewal. Contract cancellation involves a comprehensive review and approval process, as well as a fee equal to 12.5 percent of the full market value of the subject property. Other circumstances and processes may also apply.
See also agricultural preserve.
Wind erosion hazard area. Wind erosion is the process of detachment, transport, and deposition of soil by wind. Wind erosion potential is determined based on the type of soil present in an area and the area’s average wind speed. A wind erosion hazard area is an area where the potential for wind erosion is categorized as medium-high or high, and is therefore an area where wind-blown soil could be a hazard for buildings and other structures. | <urn:uuid:fc07df2f-63ee-4bfa-b252-496130aaa7e4> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://countywideplan.com/glossary/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030333541.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20220924213650-20220925003650-00011.warc.gz | en | 0.927747 | 13,082 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Drivers in West Virginia have probably noticed that their evening commutes are more and more shrouded in darkness. The end of daylight saving time comes with an increased risk of wildlife-related accidents because many wild animals are most active between dusk and dawn. Deer are especially active since autumn is their peak mating season, and bears will be looking for food before hibernation.
The Colorado Department of Transportation receives, on average, 3,300 wildlife collision reports every year. The department stated that more reports are filed in November than in any other month. The vehicle damage that results from these accidents, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, costs each driver an average of $3,400.
Experts have several tips that drivers should follow to prevent wildlife collisions. Wherever wildlife poses a danger, which is typically indicated by signs posted by transportation authorities, drivers should watch out for movement and shining eyes on the side of the road. Drivers should maintain moderate speeds; that way, they can decrease their reaction time should an animal cross the road. When one does, drivers should stop and either honk the horn or flash the headlights, or do both, in order to keep other animals from following. Seat belts are essential; they reduce the risk of serious injuries and death by half in case of an accident.
Negligent driving can become especially deadly when wildlife enters the equation. Swerving out of the way of wildlife and into the other lane, for example, can lead to a head-on collision. Victims of such accidents may wish to consult with an attorney about filing a claim. A lawyer could bring in investigators and other third parties to reconstruct the accident scene and determine how negligent both parties were. The lawyer may be able to negotiate for a settlement or litigate if negotiations fall through. | <urn:uuid:0d004fad-e9a2-48ff-97df-e624969d4b32> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://www.farmerclinecampbell.com/blog/2017/11/with-daylight-standard-time-risk-for-wildlife-crashes-goes-up/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030334987.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20220927033539-20220927063539-00092.warc.gz | en | 0.963223 | 358 | 2.640625 | 3 |
3 Answers | Add Yours
"Mentally challeneged" is a fairly broad term. I will assume you are asking about learning disabilities. Learning disabilities can have an organic cause or they can be a matter of inattention. Take Down Syndrome for example, a chromosomal problem exists in which the person has too many copies of chromosome 21. This organic cause can have definite impacts on the ability to learn. Mild to moderate mental impairment may be present.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, on the other hand is a problem that is rooted in a biologic basis, but bouts of inattention are the driving force in some children (and adults) that interfere with some forms of learning. Hyperactivity also contributes because if the child can't sit still for an extended period of time, they might have difficulty learning some things. ADHD children can learn, and some are very smart, but they can't pay attention long enough to hear their lessons.
Even with todays developments in brain studies it is difficult to say in absolute clear terms the difference between a 'healthy' brain and a brain that belongs to a mentally challenged person. Mentally challenged -- this class is a wide one and could be of genetic, social or cognitive impairments. Being a complex organ that is not only culturally controlled but also chemically and electrically, the changes in the brain are found not always in the morphological structure or cortical areas, but in the nature of neural firings.
A mentally challenged person is one suffering from a condition of subnormal intellectual and social development. IQ of such a person ranks significantly below average person. Also the person is less competent in social functioning as compared to to persons of same age group and cultural background.
A person may become mentally challenged due to many diverse causes. Generally condition of most such persons results from a combination of such factors, that none of which could have produce the condition by itself. The contributing factors include things like poverty, poor physical health, malnutrition, insufficient educational advancement, and basic mental capacity.
In a few cases the condition of a mentally challenged person may result from a single cause that may be genetic or environmental. The genetic causes include the presence of an extra chromosome or an abnormal chromosome in the cells.
Environmental causes may occur before, during, or after birth of the mentally challenged person. For example it can be caused by improper mental development of he affected person due to mother catching some types of diseases or encountering other health problems during pregnancy. Premature birth, injury during birth, or failure of new born baby to breathe properly may also cause improper development or damage to the brain resulting in the person becoming mentally challenged. During childhood brain may be damaged by causes such as as brain infection, head injury, prolonged high fever, swallowing or breathing poisonous substances.
We’ve answered 318,001 questions. We can answer yours, too.Ask a question | <urn:uuid:fb1b05ab-c555-4279-a521-9d037d05bd71> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/whats-scientificallywrong-with-persons-brain-when-190577 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988725451.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183845-00397-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95236 | 588 | 3.5625 | 4 |
9. Haga Castle (Shiso City, ☆☆)
Haga Shichiro built the original fortification on this site around the year 1261. It was taken over by the Nakamura Clan, who ruled over the area until the end of the Sengoku Period (1467-1590). In 1580, the castle fell to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was abandoned.
This castle is best reached by private transportation. There's a nice little park and a beautiful view of the valley below. The turret in the pictures is a mock yagura, however.
8. Sumoto Castle (Sumoto City, ☆☆)
A castle was first built at this site on Awaji Island in 1526 by Atagi Haruoki. When the Awaji area was conquered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he assigned Sengoku Hidehisa as lord of the castle.
In 1585, Wakisaka Yasuhara was reassigned from Takatori Castle to Sumoto Castle, and he renovated much of the castle during his 24-year reign.
In 1615, Awaji came under the control of the Tokushima domain, and Hachisuka Yoshishige became the new lord. The castle lordship was passed to Inada Shigetane, a retainer of the Hachisuka, in 1631, and the Inada continued to rule until the Meiji Restoration (1868).
These pictures don't do it justice, but Sumoto Castle has many impressive stone walls. It's a bit difficult to get to on public transportation, but would be a worthwhile trip for anyone living in the Kansai area or castle fans with some extra time. The reconstructed "main keep" is really just a simple lookout tower to provide nice views; it should not be considered historically accurate nor representative of any castles.
7. Sasayama Castle (Sasayama City, ☆☆☆)
From the top of Mount Takashiro to the southeast of Sasayama Castle, the Hatano Clan ruled over the Tanba area from Yagami Castle.
But Yagami Castle fell to attacks by Akechi Mitsuhide in 1579, and in 1608, Tokugawa Ieyasu's son Matsudaira Yasushige became lord of Yagami Castle. The following year, Ieyasu initiated the construction of Sasayama Castle while dismantling Yagami Castle as part of his plan to better control Osaka Castle, the Toyotomi, and the other lords of western Japan. The castle was designed by Todo Takatora and completed in only six months. It's famous for having an intact gate type called umadashi.
The structures of this castle were torn down after the Meiji Restoration (1868), with the exception of the Oshoin Palace, which was burned in a fire in 1944. However, the palace was reconstructed from original pictures, and also by making reference to the Ninomaru Palace at Nijo Castle.
Sasayama sits in a basin surrounded by mountains on all sides. When visiting this location it's easy to get caught up in the castle and castle town in such an isolated spot in the mountains. Even though there are almost no structures remaining of the castle today, one can easily imagine what it was like during the Edo Period (1603-1868). There are also a museum and samurai homes to tell the story of samurai in this area.
There are few tourists during the off season, though you can expect more crowds during cherry blossoms season in the spring and during the summer festival period. The area is also famous for a kind of black bean and wild boar meat. These Tanba-area beans are large and sweet, with excellent flavor.
6. Tatsuno Castle (Tatsuno City, ☆☆☆)
Tatsuno Castle is actually made up of the mountaintop castle that sits atop Mount Keirozan and the castle at the base of the mountain. The mountaintop castle was constructed around 500 years ago by Akamatsu Murahide, and was controlled by four generations of the Akamatsu.
In 1577, the Akamatsu turned over this castle to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had by then conquered the Chugoku region. At this point, a new castle was constructed at the base of the mountain as a subordinate castle to Himeji Castle.
Until Wakisaka Yasumasa became lord of the castle in 1672, it changed hands several times, leading to the degradation of both the castle and the surrounding castle town. The castle and town were reinvigorated under Wakisaka, and his descendants continued to rule over the region until the Meiji Period (1868-1912).
The famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi trained at Enkoji Temple and taught his disciples here in Tatsuno. The current Honmaru Palace, gates and yagura (turrets) are wooden reconstructions.
Situated just 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from Himeji in the southwest of the Harima region (southwestern Hyogo), Tatsuno has thrived since the old days due its location near the Ibo River and convenient transportation. The town itself is rather small, but as you walk its narrow streets among the houses you can see old samurai homes and temples while enjoying the historic atmosphere. It has also been called the "little Kyoto" of Harima.
The extensive remains around the mountaintop are an easy hike, and well worth the time for castle fans. There are many terraced baileys up on the way to the honmaru (central bailey).
The hiking path may be a bit difficult to find. Look for a wooden box on a post with maps inside. It's around the back and to the left of the palace, near the Koraimon gate. Then you need to open and close the small gate next to the box of maps. You can also ask for directions and a map at the museum.
Down the opposite side of the mountain on the way back, you can also see the terraced remains of many samurai homes and gardens.
5. Arikoyama Castle (Izushi Town, ☆☆☆)
Yamana Suketoyo built this castle in 1574 after his Konosumiyama Castle (此隅山城) was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Arikoyama Castle is just 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) southeast of Konosumiyama Castle. Since konosumi-yama sounds like ko-nusumi-yama, which means "mountain of the stolen child," he named his new castle Arikoyama Castle (有子山城)—literally, "mountain where the child is"—as a play on words.
Arikoyama Castle was attacked by Hideyoshi in 1580, when Suketoyo's son Akihiro was lord of the castle. After it fell to Hideyoshi, Maeno Nagayasu and then Koide Yoshimasa became lords of Arikoyama Castle.
After the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), the Koide Clan fortified the foot of the mountain as Izushi Castle and abandoned the mountaintop castle entirely. The Edo Period (1603-1868) saw a more stable government with no local conflicts, so many provinces moved from mountaintop castles to lower castles and put their efforts into building up the surrounding castle towns instead.
4. Izushi Castle (Izushi Town, ☆☆☆)
After the Battle of Sekigahara, Japan's political climate became significantly more stable, with less need for castles as defensive positions. Because of this, Koide Yoshimasa's son Yoshihide decided to fortify the area around the foot of their clan's mountaintop castle, Arikoyama Castle, and built Izushi Castle in 1605. As a result, Arikoyama Castle was abandoned and Izushi Castle became the main castle for the Tajima Domain under the "One Domain, One Castle" law of 1615.
A main keep was never built at Izushi Castle, but it was well fortified with several baileys, moats and yagura (turrets). Four main baileys start at the base of the mountain and go up in steps. The highest bailey, Inari Kuruwa, is thought to have been the location of the lord's palace for Arikoyama Castle.
The castle town was also designed for defense of the castle. The samurai quarters surround the outside of the castle, and several temples were strategically placed near main roads and entrances that could also be used for defense if needed.
The Koide ruled until 1697, when Izushi was transferred to the Matsudaira. In 1706, Matsudaira Tadanori was transferred to Ueda Castle and Sengoku Masaaki, lord of Ueda Castle, was moved to Izushi Castle. The Sengoku Clan continue to rule over Izushi Castle until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
3. Akashi Castle (Akashi City, ☆☆☆)
Ogasawara Tadazane (former lord of Matsumoto) moved into this area in 1617. In 1619, under orders from Tokugawa Hidetada, he built Akashi Castle in just one year for the purposes of watching over the western lords and building up Tokugawa defenses in the region. He accomplished building this castle in so little time mainly because he used materials from castles in the area that were decommissioned under the one-castle-per-domain law.
The castle deftly makes use of the natural terrain in a three-tiered compound. Ogasawara's father-in-law, Honda Tadamasa—who also directed the construction of Himeji Castle—assisted with the construction of Akashi Castle. Even though they built a foundation for a large main keep, no main keep was ever built. In its place, the honmaru (central bailey) had four large, three-story yagura (turrets), two of which are still standing today.
Eventually, Ogasawara Tadazane was moved to Kokura Castle, and the lordship of Akashi Castle changed hands several times until it was taken over by Matsudaira Naoakira in 1682. The Matsudaira continued to ruled until the coming of the Meiji Restoration (1868).
While you mostly only see pictures of the two main yagura for this castle, many stone walls and well-defined baileys still exist as well.
2. Ako Castle (Ako City, Hyogo, ☆☆☆☆)
Ukita Hideie built a branch or subordinate castle of Okayama Castle here in 1573. When Asano Naganao came in 1648, he was instructed by the Tokugawa government to build a new castle.
If you look at a map of the castle, you'll see that the outline looks very unique. It employs a lot of corners and arrowhead-type structures. This was a very modern idea to improve firing range near the castle and increase its defensive ability. You also see such structures very clearly at Goryokaku in Hakodate.
There's a main keep foundation at Ako Castle but the main keep wasn't built because the Tokugawa government never granted permission to do so. Ako Castle was dismantled in 1873 under the Castle Abolishment Law.
1. Takeda Castle (Asago City, Hyogo, ☆☆☆☆)
Takeda Castle was built on this site in the path of aggression between the Harima (southwestern Hyogo), Tanba (eastern Hyogo and central Kyoto Prefecture) and Tajima (northern Hyogo) regions as a stronghold of Izushi Castle. It was built by Otagaki Mitsukage, a retainer of Yamana Sozen, lord of the area, in 1441. Otagaki, whose family had been military commanders of the Yamana clan for five generations, became lord of the castle.
Takeda Castle was conquered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in his Tajima campaign of 1577. Hideyoshi placed it in the control of his younger brother, Hidenaga, who moved to Izushi less than two years later. Akamatsu Hirohide, the last lord of the castle, fought on the side of the Western Forces for Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara (1600). Hirohide served valiantly in the battle, but was accused of arson. Later that year he committed seppuku and Takeda Castle was abandoned.
This is a truly impressive castle. Despite being only ruins, the location, stone walls, design and view easily make it worth four stars. It's amazing how they built such extensive stone walls on top of the mountain, and you won't find fences or shrubs along the steep drop-offs along the edges of the stone walls like you might see at other castles.
There are few trains running to Takeda, and you'll want at least 90 minutes at the castle (depending on how much you take pictures), so plan accordingly. There is a bit of historic atmosphere of the old castle town and temples near the station as well, and there are also nice views looking down on the castle from a nearby mountain. | <urn:uuid:2ce4e443-c8ee-4be9-8387-0c8be5e61541> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://allabout-japan.com/en/article/2910/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100448.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20231202172159-20231202202159-00545.warc.gz | en | 0.972663 | 2,819 | 3.109375 | 3 |
|Period||Nara period, 8th century|
|Materials and techniques||Handscroll, colour on paper|
Ingakyō (Past and Present Sutra of Karma) is a sutra comprising four volumes depicting Sakyamuni’s life and the story of his previous incarnation. E-ingakyō is the illustrated version with pictures added in the upper half of each scroll. The depiction of the robes and the scene structure are reminiscent of the style of the Six dynasties period of China, which was its model, but in the detailed depiction and the facial expressions the mild sensitivities of a Japanese artist are evident. It is a precious example of Nara period painting, of which not many remain. | <urn:uuid:b5f4e091-8f20-465b-966c-551e9850fd37> | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | http://www.moaart.or.jp/en/collections/012/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917122720.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031202-00088-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92993 | 148 | 2.65625 | 3 |
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