Monday, 20 August 2018 13:33
Radical Sacrifice
Written by
Radical Sacrifice
Other articles in this section of Culture Matters have dealt with the revolutionary strands and meanings, often deeply buried, in various religions. Here, Sean Ledwith reviews Terry Eagleton's latest book, which focuses on radical strands in the Catholic religion. The image above is Marc Chagall's White Crucifixion, 1938, in which Chagall identifies Jesus with the suffering Jews of Nazi Germany. It is Pope Francis's favourite painting.
In last year's British general election, the campaign was twice suspended in the aftermath of Islamist attacks on London. ISIS-inspired individuals have targeted France even more in recent years with horrifying incidents in Paris, Nice and other locations, characterised by a conspicuously disregard for any loss of life, including their own. Terry Eagleton's latest intervention in contemporary politics, Radical Sacrifice, might initially appear to the casual reader to be motivated by a desire to analyse the clearly sacrificial mentality of the perpetrators of these incidents.
This most obvious form of sacrifice in the modern world, however, forms a surprisingly small part of Eagleton's focus here. Apart from noting such attackers are 'falling prey to a spuriously existentialist cult of action for its own sake' (89), the author avoids any lengthy speculation of the causes and consequences of this headline-grabbing form of sacrifice. Instead, Eagleton seeks to critique the manner in which contemporary theorists such as Agamben and Badiou have sought to integrate the concept into secular intellectual systems that aspire to explain the nature of 21st century societies. Alongside these expositions, Eagleton dissects how thinkers in the ancient world such as Plato and St Paul made sacrifice a core constituent of their world-views.
Beyond that purpose, the author develops a typically sophisticated, if not always convincing, case that Marxism itself would benefit from reconsidering its traditionally sceptical view of the utility of the concept of sacrifice. As such, this volume represents another example of the quasi-religious phase of the 'later Eagleton'. In other works written in this decade such as Reason, Faith, Revolution, and On Evil, the author has effectively come full circle in his intellectual evolution. Eagleton has creatively sought to synthesise the leftist Catholicism with which he first emerged as a critical force in the 1960s, with the sober and yet stubbornly optimistic brand of Marxism he has clung onto in recent decades. In characteristically unapologetic style, he defends the legitimacy of trying to identify common threads in what most commentators would regard as two incompatible belief-systems. In his view: 'a great many secular views of the Judaic and Christian lineages are as grossly prejudiced and abysmally ill-informed as those, say,for whom socialism is simply a matter of the Gulag, or feminism the calamitous consequence of women throwing their natural modesty and decorum to the winds' (x).
Eagleton's formulations are delivered in the breezily amusing and erudite style that typifies his recent output. There is the usual dazzling range of references to figures as diverse as Virgil, Aquinas, Beckett and Woody Allen, along with welcome additions to the growing collection of 'Eagletonisms'; that is to say, those memorable asides which litter his texts, making a telling point about an aspect of theory but in a down-to-earth manner. Here for example, he muses on the reasons why Christmas Day with Jacques Derrida might not have been a lot of fun, and 'that if God exists, he must be hopelessly in love with Donald Trump' (102).
In a more serious vein, Eagleton's desire to reclaim a putatively progressive version of Catholicism leads him into a number of discussions of what he perceives as the emancipatory and subversive kernel that exists within the conservative shell of his long-lost religious faith. The crucifixion of Jesus, as the historical foundation of the entire Christian tradition, is laden with liberatory significance according to Eagleton. It was the Nazarene's political agenda, contends the author, that ultimately led him to his fate at Calvary: 'His solidarity with those who dwell in the borderlands of orthodox society, men and women whose existence signifies a kind of non-being, prefigures the non-being to which he himself is brought on the outer edge of the metropolis. In the person of Jesus, those whom Paul calls the filth of the earth are in principle raised up to glory' (27).
The Procession to Calvary Pieter Bruegel the Elder 1564
The Procession to Calvary, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1564
Even some of the more abstruse elements of Catholic doctrine, Eagleton further argues, are decipherable in terms to which modern socialists can relate. He co-opts Walter Benjamin and Jacques Lacan to re-conceptualise the Eucharist as a ritual that resonates with revolutionary potential concerning the transformation of the class-ridden present into a future post-class society. Christ's transubstantiation of his body and blood into the bread and wine of the Last Supper (perhaps the most enigmatic of all Catholic shibboleths) becomes, in Eagleton's terms, the eruption of a revolutionary force of world-shattering proportions into the quotidian mundanity of the everyday: 'In commemorating a revolutionary Passover from death to life, turning back to the site of the primordial trespass, the Eucharist brings that saving event to bear on the present as the promise of an emancipated future' (153).
Similarly, Eagleton regards Christ's subsequent resurrection, according to the biblical account, as primarily a political event with layers of meaning that reverberate through all following generations. The miracle of the rolled stone, he suggests, 'breaks into the disciples' defeatist gloom after Calvary with all the illogicality of a Dadaist happening, inaugurating the unimaginably avant-garde reality of the kingdom of God' (29). He further posits that this occurrence is a prime example of Badiou's celebrated conceptualisation of the 'Event', one of those 'moments of pure rupture or primordial beginnings which are out of joint with their historical sites, in excess of their contexts, sprung as it were ex nihilio from empirical situations that could not have pre-calculated them' (29).
Badiou's explicit commitment to Marxism might appear to imply Eagleton is on relatively solid ground here, trying to draw parallels between a cornerstone of Christian belief and the necessity for revolutionary transformation in the world of late capitalism. He is also surely right to revisit elements of religious faith and practice with a more sympathetic eye than prominent anti-theists such as Richard Dawkins and Martin Amis whose critiques of religion adopt a sneering tone that looks down on believers as ignorant dupes. Eagleton's sensitivity to the dual nature of religion is truer to the spirit of Marx's pioneering analysis in 1844 which included not just the famous allusion to the 'opium of the people' but also the equally important highlighting of its role for millions as 'the heart of a heartless world and the soul of the soulless conditions'.
The danger for Eagleton, however, is going too far in the other direction and underplaying the role religion plays in sustaining the mystification and obfuscation that remains crucial to the ideology of class society. His explorations of the subversive potential of aspects of Catholic liturgy are stimulating and indubitably played a major role in his own personal journey towards Marxism. The stark reality, however, is that most people who sit through these rituals on a Sunday morning are unlikely to follow him on the path to revolutionary politics. The minority that do, will be there more likely due to experiences of alienation and exploitation in the workplace, rather than in a church. Catholics in the modern world have contributed courageously to movements from below that have fought against despotic regimes, notably in South America and Eastern Europe; but adherents of the faith have just as often played a reactionary role in perpetuating repressive ideologies, as witnessed in Ireland's recent gay rights and abortion referenda.
There are also inherent problems involved in the notion of adopting Badiou's concept of the Event as a useful addition to Marxism. In the definition referred to above, such an occurrence takes place outside 'empirical situations' and represents a rupture with the process of historical development. Assuming Eagleton wishes to retain the dialectical nature of the Marxist perspective (otherwise, his frequent references to the term would be anomalous), tendencies in history and society such as the transformation of quantity into quality have to be an integral part of theorisation.
The cornerstone of the Marxist case for a transition to socialism is that quantitative changes in capitalist society, such as the ever-expanding numerical weight of the proletariat and the centrality of socialised sectors of the economy such as education and health, make a qualitatively different mode of production not just desirable but feasible.
Whatever one makes of Badiou's understanding of the Event, its reliance on ex nihilo occurrences is utterly incompatible with the traditional Marxist account of revolutions being rooted in existing contradictions of the system. Eagleton rightly wants to remind us (and the complacent elite) that the possibility of overturning entrenched power remains genuine and that history is littered with examples of the oppressed striking down their masters. However, for this aspiration to be more than a heartfelt instinct, it needs to be backed up with empirical analysis of objective trends in the currently existing social and economic system that are taking us towards a crisis.
Apart from hopefully anticipating the death of the entire capitalist system, Eagleton also ruminates on


text:
NounModificarWikipedia Morphology (countable and uncountable; plural morphologies)
- (uncountable) A scientific study of form and structure, usually without regard to function. Especially:
- (countable) The form and structure of something.
- (countable) A description of the form and structure of something.
a scientific study of form and structure
the form and structure of something
a description of the form and structure of something
biological study of the form and structure
geological study of the form and structure
linguistic study of the form and structure
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
el:morphology fa:morphology fr:morphology ko:morphology io:morphology id:morphology it:morphology hu:morphology no:morphology ru:morphology simple:morphology fi:morphology ta:morphology th:morphology tr:morphology vi:morphology zh:morphology
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
|The Field Description of Igneous Rocks, Second Edition|
|by ||Dougal Jerram|
|Year Published: ||2011|
|Total Pages: ||256|
|Product Code: ||ROCKS|
|The Second Edition of this unique pocket field guide has been thoroughly revised and updated to include advances in physical volcanology, emplacement of magmas and interpreting structures and textures in igneous rocks. The book integrates new field based techniques (AMS and geophysical studies of pluton shape) with new topics on magma mixing and mingling, sill emplacement and magma sediment interaction. Part of the successful Field Guide series, this book includes revised sections on granitic and basaltic rocks and for the first time a new chapter on the engineering properties of igneous rocks.
The Geological Field Guide Series is specifically designed for scientists and students to use in the field when information and resources may be more difficult to access.
Many editions have been updated for 2011 and the guides are:
- Student-friendly in design and cost

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
Tumor rates among catfish in the Anacostia River are down, according to a new report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Biologists with the agency's Chesapeake Bay Field Office have studied the brown bullhead catfish for decades as an indicator of habitat status and the success of cleanup efforts. The bottom-dwelling fish is sensitive to contaminants that accumulate in the mud in which it finds its food, often developing liver and skin tumors after exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.
Image courtesy USDA/Wikimedia Commons
Brown bullheads in the Anacostia River once had the highest rates of liver tumors in North America, but recent USFWS surveys show that tumors in the fish have dropped. While the rate is still higher than the Bay-wide average, this improvement could indicate that exposure to chemical contaminants is on the decline.
Liver tumors in fish are caused by exposure to sediment that is contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. PAHs can be found in coal, oil and gasoline, and enter rivers and streams from stormwater runoff, waste sites and the atmosphere.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) have coordinated a number of recent cleanup efforts to lower PAH contamination in the watershed, from improved stormwater management and more frequent street sweeping to the targeted inspection of local automobile repair shops to lower loadings of oil and grease.
Read more about Tumors in Brown Bullhead Catfish in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers.
I bristle when I hear people refer to stormwater utility fees as a "rain tax." In fact, these fees generate critical funding for green practices that mitigate the effects that roads, parking lots and rooftops have on our environment.
Businesses and residents have been adding impervious surfaces to the landscape for decades, preventing rain from percolating into the ground, where it would otherwise recharge groundwater and provide base flow for nearby streams. Instead, these impervious surfaces increase the volume and velocity of rainwater, causing flooding, damaging property and destroying local waterways. I am not trying to fix blame, but to inform folks about the problems associated with stormwater management and the best ways to correct them.
We are learning how to better manage stormwater by mimicking natural processes. We have found, for instance, that by directing rainwater from our roofs, sidewalks and parking lots into rain barrels or rain gardens, we can keep it out of our storm drains, reducing pressure on aging stormwater infrastructure. On large commercial and institutional properties, we can construct green roofs to absorb the rain so it doesn't need to be discharged to a concrete system that is expensive to build and maintain. Green roofs can even increase the life of roofing systems and provide insulation, reducing heating and cooling costs.
Stormwater utility fees provide an equitable means for generating revenue based on the amount of impervious surface. The revenue can then be used to make these improvements. Most utilities also provide exemptions from these fees for homeowners or businesses that adopt these green practices. By promoting these practices, the costs of property damage associated with flooding are reduced, which can reduce the overall tax burden as well. Mother Nature teaches best and, in the end, it costs less.
Over the last three years, estimates indicate that communities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed have made big reductions to the pollution they are sending into rivers and streams.
As part of the Bay's "pollution diet"—or Total Maximum Daily Load—the six Bay states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have curbed the amount of nutrients and sediment running off of land and into local waters. According to data released today by the Chesapeake Bay Program, simulations show that partners have achieved more than a quarter of their overall pollution reduction goals.
Excess nitrogen and phosphorous can fuel the growth of harmful algae blooms that create "dead zones" and suffocate aquatic life. Excess sediment can block sunlight from reaching underwater grasses and suffocate shellfish.
But a number of land-based actions can reduce nutrient and sediment pollution. Towns and cities, for instance, can make technological upgrades to wastewater treatment plants and "green" roofs, sidewalks and parking lots to better capture stormwater runoff. Homeowners can install rain gardens in their backyards or plant big trees to boost forest cover in their neighborhoods. And farmers can protect streams from livestock and plant cover crops to hold soil in place.
Read more about reducing nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment in the Chesapeake Bay.
Over the past decade, smallmouth bass in five Chesapeake Bay tributaries have suffered from fish kills and perplexing illnesses—and nutrient pollution could be to blame.
According to a new report from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), excess nitrogen and phosphorous in our rivers and streams could be behind two of the leading problems affecting smallmouth bass: first, the rapid growth of fish parasites and their hosts, and second, the expansion of large algae blooms that can lead to low-oxygen conditions and spikes in pH. When paired with rising water temperatures and ever more prevalent chemical contaminants, nutrient pollution seems to have created a "perfect storm" of factors that are making smallmouth bass more susceptible to infections and death.
Image courtesy Mr. OutdoorGuy/Flickr
In a media call, CBF President Will Baker called the smallmouth bass "the canary in the coal mine for the Bay's rivers." Because the fish is sensitive to pollution, problems within the population could indicate problems within the Bay.
Smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna, Monocacy, Shenandoah, Cowpasture and South Branch of the Potomac rivers have seen a string of recent health problems, from open sores and wart-like growths to abnormal sexual development. In the Susquehanna, smallmouth bass populations have plummeted so far that Pennsylvania has made it illegal to catch the fish during spawning season.
"Our fish are sick, our anglers are mad and my board and I—protectors of our [smallmouth bass] fishery—are frustrated," said John Arway, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. "Our bass, and our grandchildren who will fish for them, are depending on us to fix the problem."
Image courtesy CBF
While specific causes of smallmouth bass fish kills and illnesses remain unclear, CBF has called on state and local governments to accelerate their pollution-reduction efforts in hopes of improving water quality and saving the driving force behind a $630 million recreational fishing industry. The non-profit has also called on the federal government to designate a 98-mile stretch of the Susquehanna as impaired, which would commit Pennsylvania to reversing the river's decline.
"This is the moment in time to save fishing in our streams and rivers, as well as the jobs and quality of life that are connected to it," Baker said.


text:
One set of the 9 standard Reading Helpers
The READING HELPER is available in yellow, red, green, blue, aqua, pink, purple, orange and clear. The yellow and blue READING HELPERS are available in 3 sizes. The standard window (8mm) is used for tracking 1 line while the wide window (16 mm) is used for larger print as well as tracking 2 or 3 lines at a time. They are both 7" in length. The standard long READING HELPER is 8.5" in length with an 8 mm window and is used with wider pages.
|Standard = 8mm window –
7" long (all 9 colors)
|Wide = 16mm window –
7" long (Yellow and Blue only)
|Standard Long = 8 mm window – 8.5" long
(Yellow and Blue only)
To determine which color works best, place one colored READING HELPER on a page of print. Ask the student if this color helps to see the words better. Repeat the procedure with other colors until you receive a positive response.
|Copyright 2011 Reading Helper, Inc. All rights reserved|


Binghamton Homepage
Spring Weather Sponsored by
When Do Kids Form Their First Memories?
New research challenges the notion that very young children do not form memories, finding that they do but that the memories often fade over time.
May 11, 2011 -- New research challenges the notion that very young children do not form memories, finding that they do but that the memories often fade over time.
Most adults remember little before their third or fourth birthdays, and the thinking has been that prior to this age children do not have the cognitive or language skills to process and store events as memories.
But psychology professor Carole Peterson, PhD, and colleagues from Canada's Memorial University of Newfoundland confirmed in earlier research that this is not the case and that even very young children can recall past events.
Now they report that young children's earliest memories tend to change over time, being replaced with "newer" earliest memories until around age 10. As this happens, memories occurring in the preschool years tend to be lost.
"As young children get older their first memories tend to get later and later, but around age 10 their memories crystallize," Peterson tells WebMD.
Checking Children's Memories
In an effort to better understand how children form memories, the researchers asked 140 kids between the ages of 4 and 13 to describe their earliest memories and then asked them to do the same thing two years later.
On both occasions, the children were also asked to estimate their age at the time of each memory, and parents were questioned to confirm that the events happened.
The researchers found that children between the ages of 4 and 7 during the first interview showed very little overlap between the memories they recalled as "first memories" during the first question session and those they remembered two years later.
"Even when we repeated what they had told us two years before, many of the younger children would tell us that it didn't happen to them," Peterson says.
Conversely, a third of the children who were age 10 to 13 during the first interview described the same earliest memory during the second interview. More than half of the memories they recalled were the same at both interviews.
The researchers are now studying why children remember certain events and not others.
Peterson says traumatic or highly stressful events made up only a small percentage of the earliest memories reported by children in the study.
Cultural Differences Influence Early Memory
Earlier research suggests that culture plays a big part in early memory.
When Peterson and colleagues compared early memories in groups of Canadian and Chinese children, they found that the Chinese children's earliest memories tended to be a year or more later than the earliest memories of Canadian children.
Emory University child memory researcher Robyn Fivush, PhD, found the same thing in a study comparing Chinese and American children.
Fivush tells WebMD that Western children tend to have stronger early memories because their dialog with parents and other adults tends to be more autobiographical.
"As we know from watching Oprah and Dr. Phil it is perfectly OK to talk about yourself in this culture. But in China it is less appropriate to talk about yourself or call attention to yourself," Fivush says. "It is more appropriate to talk about events in the context of the group."
She cites studies finding that children who are asked a lot of questions about their personal experiences and feelings by their mothers tend to develop memory skills earlier. Since dialog among Chinese mothers and their children tends to be less child-centered, memory may develop later.
"In return Chinese children tend to develop other skills, such as a better ability to pay attention," she says. "Of course there are huge individual differences within cultures in how mothers relate to their children."
Page: [[$index + 1]]
comments powered by Disqus
Top Stories


solar installer in brisbane
Find out how much you could be saving with your own solar system.
Step 1. Energy Usage
Typically a family of 3-4 occupants who use a moderate amount of electrical appliances at home such as a home office, oven or a clothes dryer. May use air condition or electrical heaters occassionally.
Step 2. Solar system size
Step 3. Savings over time
Powerbill without solar
Powerbill with solar
Powerbill savings
Select a solar system


text:
Investigating the Charleston Bump
August 2 16, 2003
Off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia exists a unique feature called the Charleston Bump, which rises off the surrounding Blake Plateau from 2,000 ft deep to a depth of about 1,200 ft. The rocky, erosion-resistant Charleston Bump impedes the flow of the Gulf Stream, deflecting it offshore and creating a zone of gyrating eddies and swift, narrow currents. The combination of rocky, high-relief bottom and strong currents creates a complex habitat consisting of scour depressions, mounds of deep-water corals and rubble, and steep scarps that are deeply undercut with extensive caves.
During this exploration, researchers investigated how fishes and invertebrates adapt to the variety of bottom habitats, and how they tolerate the strong and shifting currents. The investigators also sought new and unique species. Much of the work was conducted using the Johnson-Sea-Link II manned submersible, which was outfitted with digital video, still cameras and other instruments to record information about the surrounding waters. The submersible also collected samples of rocks and sediments, as well as specimens of fishes and invertebrates such as sponges and deep-water corals. Little was known about the creatures that inhabit "the Bump" and the surrounding Blake Plateau, making this a true mission of exploration.
Background information for this exploration can be found on the left side of the page. Daily updates and logs that summarize expedition activities are posted below and to the right.


text:
The tumult of the Spanish Inquisition, which began over 500 years ago, has echoed down through the generations of people living on the Iberian peninsula in a remarkable way. A new genetic study has revealed that many current Spaniards have Sephardic Jewish or North African heritage, indicating that their ancestors converted to Christianity during the religious upheaval of the 15th century in order to remain in Spain. The study showed that one in ten Iberians has a North African ancestor, while one in five had Jewish forebears.
This melting pot probably occurred after centuries of coexistence and tolerance among Muslims, Jews and Christians ended in 1492, when Catholic monarchs converted or expelled the Islamic population, called Moriscos. Sephardic Jews, whose Iberian roots extend to the first century AD, received much the same treatment. "They were given a choice: convert, go, or die," says Mark Jobling, a geneticist at the University of Leicester, UK. Some of those that became Christian would have ended up contributing genes to the Iberian pool [New Scientist].
For the study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics [subscription required], biologists analyzed the Y chromosomes of 1,140 men living on the Iberian peninsula. They developed a genetic signature of Sephardic men from communities founded by Jews who migrated from Spain after 1492, as well as one for Moroccan men; then they looked for those genetic traces in the Iberian population. Because most of the Y chromosome remains unchanged from father to son, the proportions of Sephardic and Moorish ancestry detected in the present population are probably the same as those just after the 1492 expulsions [The New York Times].
Researchers say the findings offer a glimpse back into Spanish history, and helps refute the creed presented by generations of Spanish monarchs: that Spanish civilization is fundamentally Catholic and that other religious and ethnic groups left few traces. Studies such as the new one "tell the true history of everyone's ancestors and not just the history book lessons of kings and queens," says James Wilson, a population geneticist [Science News].
80beats: Ancient Phoenicians Left Their DNA in the Mediterranean Gene Pool
80beats: To Tell an Englishman From an Irishman, Look at Their Genes
Image: Wikimedia Commons


Scouting Tips
1. Find your Huntables
Huntables are one of the fastest sources of Food available. When the match starts, try and find your nearby Huntables and kill them with your scout (they don't decay!). You can then bring your Villagers and build a Storehouse next to them and start gathering Food.
For the most efficient gathering possible, try and spread your Villagers so that you have one on each Huntable animal.
2. Scout your opponent's Base
Once you are done killing your Huntables, send your Scout towards your opponent's base. See where their resources are located, if they are gathering from Huntables or Berries, if they are making early Military Units, etc.
Knowing what your opponent is doing is extremely important in making your next decisions. Keep on Scouting!
3. Check the opponent's Stone
Keep an eye on your opponent's Stone deposit. If they are mining Stone, it is likely that they are going for an early 2nd Town Center. Knowing this can help you make a decision whether you want to respond with a Town Center of your own, or to try a more aggressive strategy.
Be careful, though! If your opponent only has 1-2 Villagers on Stone, it may mean that they are going for an aggressive Tower Rush strategy! In that case, make sure to opt for a more defensive strategy and be prepared for a Tower Rush.
4. Build Watch Posts
Watch Posts are very useful for getting vision on key parts of the map. Use your Scout to build them in strategic places (such as where your opponent might send a group of units to attack you, or a Gold Deposit that your opponent might start gathering from soon) so you're always one step ahead.
In case your Scout dies, you can still use your Villagers to build Watch Posts. Preparation is key!


5m Africans, Carribeans and Asians who fought in WW1 and WW2: Spotlight on Madagascar's 60,000
Share this
The role of African people is often overlooked in both the World Wars. At the time of the World Wars, Africa was split between the British, the Germans and the French, with all three countries colonizing large parts of the population. Naturally, Africa was dragged into both World Wars, though its role in helping win the war for the Allies in underappreciated.
One such nation which contributed a large number of troops to the war efforts is Madagascar. Their efforts are underlined here, but have been ignored by many in the West, who see the World Wars as Europe based, ignoring the many sacrifices of people from Africa and Asia, to save the Allies during the War.
Pre-World War
In 1897, the French launched an expedition to depose the Queen of what is now Madagascar. Through force, and some little diplomacy, they imposed a protectorate treaty on the population. Due to a popular uprising against French rule, pacification operations had to be held, which involved modernizing the country. However, they give no real representation to the local people who were treated as second class citizens in their own country.
First World War
When the World War begun, the British and the French started enlisting the colonized people into their armies. In the four years of the war, 45,000 Malagasy men served the French Army, out of which 41,000 were assigned into specially dedicated Malagasy infantry units. The other 4,000 included administrative staff and nurses.
In addition to this, nearly 5,000 Malagasy were summoned to France to work in munition factories for the French. These people played a huge role in keeping the war machine going.
The Malagasy troops fought with great valor and bravery. Two thousand four hundred men died in battle while around 1800 more were wounded. The Malagasy 12th infantry battalion was cited three times as 'magnificent' during the operations in 1918. For their bravery, the battalion received the Croix de guerre, with a silver star, exemplifying their bravery in the war.
However, despite their service, these troops were not given the same respect as the French troops. The Malagasy who died during the battle for France were buried primitively at the military cemeteries in Frejus. It was only later in 1966 that they were reinterred with proper honor.
Second World War
Despite all the promises given in World War 1, not much changed. While the French continued modernizing the island, there were not many administrative changes. However, despite all these broken policies, 10, 500 men responded to the French call and enlisted for the French Army. A third of these would die in battle. However, the 3rd and 11th artillery along with the 42nd Malagasy infantry units earned a reputation for their bravery, and unwillingness to back down. They entered the war on the side of the allies.
Malagasy troops captured by the Germans were summarily executed and depicted as black savages who showed no mercy to the enemy.
After the armistice between the French and the Germans, the Vichy Government retained control of the Island. With the Vichy government still retaining control of the land, this placed the Malagasy on the side of the Axis Forces. This was not, however, due to support of the Germans, but because of the Vichy French Government.
With Japan entering the war, the British decided to invade the Island to retain control of the Indian Ocean. This was dubbed Operation Ironclad. The English landed on Diego-Suarez and defeated the Vichy French forces who were forced to retreat.
It was here that the Malagasy French Forces truly played their part. Familiar with the terrain, the majority Malagasy forces launched a vigorous defense of their Island, which lasted up to 2 months The Governor finally surrendered on 5 November 1942, but these battles shook Madagascar.
They were finally handed back to the French in December. This placed them back on the side of the allies. Those prisoners who had escaped from German Imprisonment were more than eager to fight back against the enemy and fought bravely.
Post Vichy France
Madagascar would remain in the hands of the Allies after this victory in 1942. With the war in Asia and the Middle East raging on, it would become an important place for shipping lines to pass through and link the war efforts with Western Europe. Diego Suarez, where the British landed, was heavily defended from Japanese Submarines, and more and more Allied Ships were docked there to take control of the Indian Ocean.
In the hands of the Free French Forces, a Commissioner was appointed to take control of the area. The Germans did not give up hope of reclaiming the Island, as U-Boats continued to operate around Madagascar. Around August 1944, three U-Boats sunk 8 Merchant ships that were en route to Madagascar in the Mozambique Channel. A few weeks later, a Greek Freighter would be sunk off the coast of Madagascar. This prompted even more Allied Ships to Madagascar, as it was considered highly important to the war efforts.
With the importance of the area growing, French treatment of Madagascar would soon improve. Charles De Gaulle, the President of France in the World War gave representation in the National Assembly to Madagascar. This was to prevent rebellion, as more and more Malagasy were wondering if they might as well gain independence from the French.
This would lead to continued support from the Malagasy Armed Forces in the World War, and they played their part in the defeat of Hitler. They remain underappreciated however, as the French have still not given them the recognition, they deserve for their valor in both World Wars.
Monuments to the War Efforts
In Monthermé, Ardennes, there lies a monument to the 42nd Malagasy Infantry Units mentioned above. They died fighting in France, defending the crossing of Meuse from the German invaders.
Another monument to the brave soldiers from Madagascar lies in Laxou. This commemorates those who were executed by the Germans, who depicted them as savages. When they complained of not been given food, seven of them were killed on the spot. Their bodies lie in Laxou, as a testament to the bravery of the men, in fighting for France.
Madagascar in WWs - Monuments
After the World War
With Representation in the National Assembly, it was only a matter of time before they submitted a bill to gain Independence. This was rejected by France, and with the return of the Malagasy troops, led to further demands of independence. With them being treated as second class citizens, despite having risked their lives for the French, this angered the Malagasy. This led to an uprising that would eventually lead to independence in 1960.
Richard E. Osborne, World War II in Colonial Africa: The Death Knell of Colonialism (Published in 2001).
Riebel-Roque PubISBN 978-0-_PHONE_-5-1. Ian M. Malcolm (1 July 2013
Leave a Reply
by Editorial Team time to read: 4 min


text:
Watchable Wildlife Sites
Fish Slough is a lush oasis amid an otherwise arid landscape - with less than six inches of rain, and summer temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The unusual surface water supply provides for varied plant and animal life, from unique and sensitive species such as Owens pupfish and Owens tui chub, to resident and migrating birds, and small mammals.
Haiwee Deer Winter Range
This area on the edge of the Owens Valley in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains was designated as a Watchable Wildlife site because it offers outstanding opportunities to view a portion of the East Monache mule deer herd. As winter moves in, deer move down from the mountains to the valley bottom, at about 4,000 feet above sea level. Here they can forage on diverse grasses and forbs and find water in hidden springs.
Desert Tortoise Natural Area
For three million years, the desert tortoise survived and adapted to changing climates in what is now the California Desert. But in recent years, their numbers have been greatly reduced. This public land in the northwestern Mojave Desert in northeastern Kern County, is managed to protect a unique habitat in its natural state.
Most of Harper Lake is a dry lake bed that lies under the flight area of Edwards Air Force Base. But in its southwest corner, water runoff from nearby farms has created what is probably the largest marsh in the Mojave Desert. This oasis attracts resident wildlife and thousands of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds, making this a prime birdwatching spot.
One of the only places where the Mojave River flows above ground all year round. This unusually reliable Mojave Desert water source provides bounty for many animals. More than 180 species of birds have been spotted, and bighorn sheep can now find water here, thanks to habitat restoration efforts. The area also hosts various turtles and lizards, and desert tortoises.
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
Big Morongo Creek rises to the surface for just three miles between the Mojave and Colorado deserts, before it disappears underground again. The resulting canyon oasis has gained a national reputation among birdwatchers as "a usual spot to see the unusual." At least 235 species of birds have been observed here - including several rare species - along with desert bighorn sheep, mule deer and smaller mammals, lizards and more.
Southeastern Great Basin and Mojave Desert
1- Fish Slough
2- Haiwee Deer Winter Range
3- Desert Tortoise Natural Area
4- Harper Lake
5- Afton Canyon
6- Big Morongo Canyon Preserve


text:
You are hereHome » Teaching in a Time of Crisis
Teaching in a Time of Crisis
Translation of content on this website is performed by Google™ Translate, which performs automated computer translations that are only an approximation of the original content. The translations should only be used as a rough guide. MSU does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy of the translations generated by Google™ Translate.
At times of national, international, or campus community crises, students welcome time to share their responses and concerns in class. The resources below provide guidelines and suggestions for faculty in leading classroom discussions at these times and integrating these issues whenever possible into the context of the course or discipline.
Teaching in a Time of International Crisis: Focus on Haiti (Michigan State University, Office of Faculty and Organizational Development).
Provides resources for responding to the Haiti earthquake and its aftermath.
"Teaching in a Time of Crisis: Focus on Hurricane Katrina" (Michigan State University, Office of Faculty and Organizational Development).
Contains online resources specific to dealing with Hurricane Katrina in the classroom, but also links to more general resources on teaching in a time of crisis, such as a crisis booklet from Western Kentucky University.
Discussion Guidelines (University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching).
This site contains links to guidelines for classroom discussions about the tragedy of September 11, 2001, the war in Iraq, the Tsunami in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and other controversial or tragic incidents. Guidance and suggestions for classroom activities are general enough to provide valuable resources to draw on during any time of crisis that impacts the classroom.
Teaching in Times of Crisis (Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching)
More guidelines and resouces for classroom discussions of a local, national, or international crisis.
"In the Eye of the Storm: Students' Perceptions of Helpful Faculty Actions Following a Collective Tragedy" by Therese A. Huston, Seattle University, and Michele Di Pietro, Carnegie Mellon University. In To Improve the Academy, Vol. 25, September 2006, 207-224
Surveys of faculty actions and student's preception are followed by analysis of most helpful reactions and implications for dealing with future crises.
Guidance for Instructors Leading Classes in the Wake of 9/11/01 (Ohio State University, Faculty and TA Development).
Although designed for discussions of 9/11, the strategies on this web page offer useful methods for guiding discussions about other crises as well.
"Tragedy in the College Classroom: A Reference Guide for Faculty" (Western Kentucky University, Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching).
This site deals with tragedy that affects the classroom community such as the death of a student or faculty member. Links to other sites provide guidelines for dealing with students' distress. WKU Faculty Reports describe ways faculty and students dealt with two different classroom tragedies.
Guidelines for Class Participation (Center for Research on Learning and Teaching at the University of Michigan).
This link provides guidelines that can be used to develop an atmosphere of mutual respect and collective inquiry when discussions are held in times of crisis as well as other occasions.
Responding to Crises (Professional and Organizational Development Network)
Resources and useful links gathered by the POD Network for faculty dealing with classroom responses to campus and national crises.
Guidance for Instructors Concerning Class Discussions About the War in Iraq (University of Michigan Center for Research on Learning and Teaching)
Useful information about how to assess if unplanned discussion is appropriate, issues to consider, suggestions for a planned discussion, and links to further resources on the war.
Responding to the Tragedy at Virginia Tech: Identifying and Responding to Students in Crisis (MSU Office of Faculty and Organizational Development)
This site contains links to MSU resources for faculty dealing with students in distress.
Campus Emergency Response, Communication, and Classroom Safety (MSU Multi-Lilly Workshop October 11, 2007)
Prepared by the Emergency Management Unit at Michigan State University, this PowerPoint presentation contains information on police response to emergencies at MSU and explains what faculty should do if they are involved in an emergency situation.
H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)
Information and Frequently Asked Questions regarding the H1N1 flu virus.


text:
This post is written in response to query from a reader. If you have any query, please contact me on email id: _EMAIL_, or message me on facebook. We will try to answer your query within discussed time.
Children, the future of country, are the creatures of curiosity and diversity. In their eyes, every dream is possible and each task is accomplish-able. They are encouraged by parents to achieve new goals every day in different fields like academic, extra-curricular and sports activities. Debate, extempore and stage performances have become part and parcel ofContinue reading "Dreams of Children: Give wings to the future"


text:
We have used a scanning tunneling microscope to measure the density of electronic states (DOS) in the vicinity of step edges and twin boundaries on the surface of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ. We find that 90° twin boundaries do not perturb superconducting DOS at all; however, near step edges, within a coherence length in the direction perpendicular to step, we find strong filling-in of the energy gap in the DOS. In this region of suppressed superconductivity, for step edges oriented at a 45° degree relative to the CU-O bond direction, the spectra show evidence for the formation of an Andreev bound state, which results in a resonance in the DOS at the Fermi level.
|Original language||English (US)|
|Number of pages||4|
|Journal||Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics|
|State||Published - Sep 1 2002|
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics


1. ITV Report
Help needed for boy with serious medical conditions
Three year old Reece requires constant care Photo: Jane Hesketh
Three year old Reece is a lovely, happy little boy. He enjoys going to nursery and playing with his friends. But he also has some serious medical conditions, which means he needs 24 hour care.
He's been living with his foster family in Leicester since he was 11 months old, after his mother had to reluctantly ask social services for help.When he was born he had trouble breathing, so he had a tracheostomy tube put into his neck. He also has difficulties eating and has a tube in his stomach.
Reece's mum Sara Credit: Jane Hesketh
Reece can't talk, but he can communicate usingsign language.None of his disabilities have stopped him from growing and developing and having fun. All those around him know he may not live for many more years, and so try to make as many memories for him as they can.He's bright and inquisitive and everyone who meets him, loves him.
Reece can only communicate using sign-language Credit: Jane Hesketh
But even his foster parents, Yvonne and Eric need a break from the round the clock care a disabled child like Reece needs. Social Workers are looking to recruit more carers for children with severe medical conditions to give foster families the odd break.
For more information contact


text:
I switched my plan to a visualization of individual tweets on top of something like Nasa World Wind, but as I began to investigate it, I found it very useless. A visualization of an individual tweet isn't nearly as cool as a visualization of many tweets over time, which brought me to my final idea (with the help of Tim)...
I think I'm going to do a visualization of twitter geographical data on top of google maps (or google earth). This way I'm aggregating the data before showing it to the user, which should be much easier to understand. My plan is as follows:
- Divide the map up into a grid. For starters I will just do this on a single major city.
- At different zoom levels the data will be regrouped. This way when a user is looking at the entire city it should show them a set of grids and as they zoom, the grids will become more detailed.
- Provide (in tooltips or based on click events) details about the data in the grid they're selecting.
- Provide some kind of coloring of each grid so that a user can tell where the most tweets are coming from.
- Weight the tweets based on how old they are (e.g. a tweet from yesterday doesn't influence the coloring as much as a tweet from today).
This should provide an aggregation of data that shows where the most geo-coded tweets come from. The plan is to architect this in a way that if it works well that I could expand my search to include a larger area.


Heatwaves In Pakistan: Threats, Effects & Causes
It's hard to think of summer in Pakistan, without any negative connotation attached to it. This merciless season is made better only with the arrival of fruits such as mangoes and watermelon, and the monsoon rain. However, in the last couple of years, Pakistani summers have grown troublesome for most people because of increased temperatures that seem to be climbing up each year. Experts note that this is caused by heatwaves; a natural phenomena that occurs due to 'trapped air' which heats up to unprecedented levels through sunlight. Heatwaves in Pakistan have become common since the summer of 2015 when more than 2,000 people as well as zoo animals in southern Pakistan died due to heatstroke and dehydration. With heatwaves in Pakistan becoming a seasonal occurrence, this is all you need to know about this phenomenon.
Heatwaves In Pakistan
Heatwave is caused by when air gets trapped
This year, Pakistan's summer approached slowly, with much of April and May relatively pleasant. However, as soon as June began, the temperatures started to increase exponentially, reaching 47 to 48°C in Central Punjab, and parts of Sindh, whereas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir the temperatures have risen past 34°C. But the temperature keeps increasing.
While the Pakistan Meteorological Department had predicted hot and dry weather in most parts of the country, the heatwave in Pakistan 2021 has taken a serious toll on citizens. Let's explore all the latest updates to find the most affected areas by heatwave.
Central Punjab
Starting from 31st May, temperatures have been on a continuous rise in cities of Central Punjab, crossing 47°C during the first ten days of the month. With little to no wind and breeze, the trapped heat has wreaked havoc, especially in the recently-opened schools.
On June 9, more than 25 school-going students reportedly fainted in a single day in Islamabad with nose bleeds due to the sweltering heat. As Punjab is the main region from where most of our fresh produce and high-yield crops come from, the drastic changes in climate have raised concerns for the farmers who use this time for transporting their fresh produce to markets.
In the scenic valley of Kashmir, the temperatures have crossed 34°C. This has never happened before, and in a region which is primarily known for its beautiful valleys, green landscapes, and pleasant weather, most of the houses too are built without electrical fans and do not have air conditioners.
The uncharacteristic increase in temperatures have made it harder for people to adapt.
Sindh & Balochistan
In Sindh, temperatures in cities like Sukkur can climb to 44 to 46°C during summer months, however, the coastal city of Karachi the sea breeze helps in regulating the temperature. But since 2015, summer temperatures in this coastal city have maintained their upwards trajectory. This year too a high of 43°C was recorded during the last week of May, with very little wind.
In Balochistan's belt of Nokkundi, Dalbandin, Noorpur Thal 48°C, Dadu, and Bhakkar reach almost 49°C.
However, the impact of the heatwaves is not limited to Pakistan. Environmental experts have predicted that this will be the hottest summer around the world as countries will experience one of the highest temperatures ever. You can protect yourself from the adverse effects of a heatwave, such as severe dehydration and/or heatstroke by following tips in this blog. Let's try to understand why the world is heating up.
Causes of Heatwaves
The earth heating up or heatwaves are a phenomena of global warming, which humans are battling on every front. This is caused by:
Environmental degradation
Mangroves in Sindh and Balochistan
Pollution, climate change and deforestation are the biggest challenges faced by mangrove forests
As much as we need a healthy ecosystem and environment to survive, our actions have proved to be dangerous for our ecosystems. Deforestation, pollution of rivers, carbon dioxide emissions in the air have all contributed towards the natural balances. As a result of this, the mechanism behind land and sea breezes have been disturbed and the presence of hydrocarbons in the air creates a natural greenhouse which traps the heat, rather than reflecting it back.
The most adverse effect of this has been due to a drastic decrease in forest cover, throughout the world. These Earth's lungs help purify the air and regulate temperature, but when forests are cut, primarily for construction activities, there is little that they can do for protecting the environment and human life.
Urban heat jungles
The effect of urban heat jungles is a common feature of towns and cities, and occurs as a result of concrete structures. These concrete structures have a tendency to absorb heat. This coupled with heat generated by transport, shops, and industry gets trapped and is unable to escape to the atmosphere, significantly raising the city's temperatures, as well as its surroundings. This can increase the temperature in urban areas by 3 to 4°C, leading to a vicious cycle of increased demand for energy consumption such as for cooling etc. This causes higher fossil fuel consumption, leading to the release of pollutants in the air.
These are the main reasons that scientists posit for global warming. Increased temperatures, such as those being experienced in Pakistan currently are a direct result of such human activity. With heatwaves, there are numerous risks involved; primarily related to health and agriculture.
Construction activities
Construction activities are being carried out in fertile land
Construction activities are causing environmental problems
As the demand for housing increases, and so does the need for expanding business activities, catering to increased energy consumption; construction activities also increase. This is something that is closely related to a country's pace of modernization.
However, the way we construct is not sustainable or environmentally friendly. This is with regards to the construction material we choose, as well as the sites. Turning fertile and agricultural land into sites for industrial complexes is one of the many ways human actions have adversely contributed towards environmental degradation.
Threats Posed by Heat Waves
Effects of heatwaves in a country like Pakistan are two-fold; in agriculture and on human health.
Higher temperatures contribute to heat-related deaths and heat-related illnesses such as respiratory difficulties, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Deaths due to heatstroke have become a serious concern for Pakistani authorities as in 2015 alone, 2,000 people died due to increased temperatures. Most of the deaths occurred in Karachi as the sea breeze completely stopped, and the 'heat islands' further exacerbated the problem.
In such a calamity, sensitive populations, such as children, older adults, and those with existing health conditions, are particularly at risk. It is therefore advised to avoid going out in the sun unnecessarily, avoid exertion, and consume foods that will keep you cool and prevent dehydration.
Agricultural land can become infertile due to heat
Agricultural land can become dry due to extended exposure to heat
Increased temperature also causes flooding due to melting of glaciers, and erratic rain patterns. This is a problem for agricultural produce, which can be uprooted in the process. In addition to this, increased temperatures also soak up the moisture from the earth, rendering an agricultural land as infertile.
Increased temperatures can also dry up rivers, the main source of water for agricultural produce. In addition to this, it can also kill crops or rot fresh vegetables and fruits.
Heatwaves are becoming a common feature of the summer season. However, in recent years they have caused widespread devastation.
Heatwaves around the globe
Some of the most devastating effects of heat waves are:
Australia's Bushfire Crisis
Australia's Bushfire Crisis began in June 2019 and lasted till May 2020. This long period of devastation in which almost 1 billion animal species died is also known as Black Summer. While bushfires are a cyclical event in Australia, the devastation caused by these was something never seen before in the country's history, and was something that could not be easily balanced by the ecosystem. The fires burnt 46 million acres of land and killed 34 people. This crisis prolonged primarily because of delayed rainfall and persistent high temperatures.
Australia's Bushfire Crisis 2019-2020 was caused by hot and dry weather
Australia's Bushfire Crisis 2019-2020
California Wildfires 2020
Wildfires in California 2020 swallowed 4 million acres of land, displacing people and killing 33. More than 20,000 firefighters worked to extinguish 8,200 fires but it was only when rains began that the catastrophe was finally over. These were caused by persistent hot and dry weather.
This year too, the authorities have already issued a red warning, the highest alert for fire which also signals evacuation.
Melting of ice caps
Polar ice caps are melting due to increased temperature
Increased temperature causing polar ice caps to melt
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate of 9% per decade, whereas the thickness of Arctic Ice has overall decreased by 40% since the 1960s.
The melting of ice caps increases sea levels which causes flooding in low-lying coastal regions. In addition to this the higher sea levels and rising temperatures cause hurricanes and typhoons, which are natural disasters that devastate all forms of life.
It is essential that you protect yourself and others from heatwaves, while also being conscious of the choices you make in terms of its impact on the environment. You can also share your tips at _EMAIL_. To find out more about what's happening in Pakistan, keep checking Zameen Blog, Pakistan's


text:
Grungni is one of the ancestor gods, said to be carved by time from the rocks of the first mountains. In Dwarven legend, he led the Dwarfs away from the increasing perils of the upper world and into the safety of the earth. He is generally portrayed as a male Dwarf clad all in chainmail, with a forked iron-gray beard reaching almost to his feet.
Dwarfs consider Grungni to be the most important of all gods, for it was he who first discovered the knowledge of mining and smelting ores, which he then passed on to the earliest Dwarfs. He is credited with inventing iron and steel, so enabling the Dwarfs to destroy their foes with superior weaponry. Grungni is worshiped most by the miners, smiths and engineers who work the rock and metal of the mountains and his greatest shrine is in the hold of Karak Azul, which is famous for its excellent armories and weaponsmiths.
|The Dwarf Gods|
|Grimnir • Grungni • Valaya|


text:
Turning Dissent Into Dialog
Differences of opinion don't have to erupt into full-blown conflict. BridgeBuilders has helped districts discover how to turn community frustration into the kind of civil conversation that can build bridges between diverse groups and help fashion a stronger school district.
Whether it's frustration over HIV/AIDS curriculum, holiday celebrations, math programs or school reform, many communities are learning how to create the environment that allows constructive dialogue between diverse members of the community to forge a district-wide consensus that will enhance the mission of public education.
While BridgeBuilders offers special expertise in dealing with religious-based concerns and helping districts create a genuinely religious-neutral environment, we are also applying the same strategies to other parent and community issues with wonderful results.
We can help you develop strategies for your own community, or facilitate the kind of civil conversations in your community that will help diverse groups
Here are just a few of the resources that might interest you. Next time your district needs to build some bridges in your community, let us show you how we can help.
Back to Resource Page


Monday, February 08, 2016
Expected Similarity Estimation for Large-Scale Batch and Streaming Anomaly Detection
Another use of Random Features: Streaming Anomaly Detection
Expected Similarity Estimation for Large-Scale Batch and Streaming Anomaly Detection by Markus Schneider, Wolfgang Ertel, Fabio Ramos
We present a novel algorithm for anomaly detection on very large datasets and data streams. The method, named EXPected Similarity Estimation (EXPoSE), is kernel-based and able to efficiently compute the similarity between new data points and the distribution of regular data. The estimator is formulated as an inner product with a reproducing kernel Hilbert space embedding and makes no assumption about the type or shape of the underlying data distribution. We show that offline (batch) learning with EXPoSE can be done in linear time and online (incremental) learning takes constant time per instance and model update. Furthermore, EXPoSE can make predictions in constant time, while it requires only constant memory. In addition we propose different methodologies for concept drift adaptation on evolving data streams. On several real datasets we demonstrate that our approach can compete with state of the art algorithms for anomaly detection while being significant faster than techniques with the same discriminant power.
No comments:


text:
Chrysanthemum indicum L.NWSUAF
Name Submitted: Chrysanthemum indicum
Name: Chrysanthemum indicum
Match: Chrysanthemum indicum L.
Plant names were updated using the Taxanomic Name Resolution Service (_URL_)
Note: There may be other accepted names for a species not displayed here
The graphs are built from data from all publications in the database with this species name. In some cases this results in data from more than one variety included in the graph. In other cases the same species may have multiple graphs because of differences in names recorded for the plant.
View 0 Datasets


text:
|You might also like:||Food Groups: Other Food||Draw and Write: My Plate for Lunch||My Plate Food Groups: Grains||My Plate Food Groups: Protein||My Plate Food Groups: Dairy||Today's featured page: Harriet Tubman Printout/Quiz|
|Our subscribers' grade-level estimate for this page: 3rd - 4th|
|Go to the Answers
Or go to a pdf with the quiz and the answers.
"My Plate" Page
"My Plate" Quiz Printout
|Food Theme Page|
This is a thumbnail of the USDA Food "My Plate". The full-size printout is available only to site members.
To subscribe to Enchanted Learning, click here.
If you are already a site member, click here.1. The US Deptartment of Agriculture food plate suggests the proportion of various food groups in our diet. The left side of the big plate indicates that about half your diet should consist of _______________________ and _______________________.
2. In which food group do apples belong? ____________________________________
3. In which food group does peanut butter belong? ____________________________
4. In which food group does milk belong? ________________________________
5. In which food group does eggplant belong? _______________________________
6. In which food group does rice belong? _________________________________
7. Name two vegetables: ________________________ and ________________________
8. Name two fruits: ___________________________ and __________________________
9. Name two proteins: __________________________ and _________________________
10. Name two grains: __________________________ and __________________________
11. Name two dairy foods: ________________________ and ________________________
12. Some foods are not very nutritious and are not mentioned in "My Plate". Name two of these foods: __________________________ and __________________________
|Search the Enchanted Learning website for:|


text:
New research is driving at an environmentally friendly use of scrap automobile tires beneath golf courses.
A University of Wisconsin (UW) engineer says the tires can be ground up into chips and placed beneath greens to absorb fertilizers and pesticides used to keep the greens, well, green.
"Tires are a waste material, and we need to have safe ways to dispose of them," says Jae Park, a UW professor of environmental engineering. Park's work indicates that ground-up tires provide a safe way to help prevent groundwater contamination.
Sand-based root zones, typically used for golf course putting greens and athletic field construction, lack sufficient cation (an ion that carries a positive electrical charge) exchange capacity to restrict nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) migration through the root zone and into subsurface drainage systems.
Park, along with colleagues John Stier and Robert Lisi, studied the absorptive properties of tire rubber for retaining N and P when applied as a distinct subsurface drainage or intermediate layer in golf course putting greens. His results show that a significant reduction in the total concentration of nitrate in leachate was achieved by replacing traditional pea gravel with equally sized granulated tires for the drainage layer media.
"The results indicate that using granulated tires as a drainage layer or fill material beneath sand-based root zones does not compromise the function of the profile or quality of the vegetation while creating an environmentally-beneficial and value-added option for scrap tire reuse," he says.
Just how the rubber manages to mitigate nitrate pollution remains unclear.
"We don't know exactly how the process of absorption works, but it may result from chemical bonding between the surface of the rubber and the contaminant," Park says.
Rubber contains 80 percent carbon that attracts organic compounds. Nitrate is probably removed by ion exchange or simple physical adsorption, he adds.
Fear that the rubber will eventually become saturated with contaminants doesn't seem to be an issue. The rubber chips, which are typically 2 to 10 cm diameter, are believed to have an unlimited capacity to absorb.
"Sorbed chemicals will be biodegraded by microorganisms after a long acclimation period, regenerating sorption capacity naturally," Park says.
MAY THE COURSE BE WITH YOU
There are plenty of tires to go around. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates about 242 million tires are discarded every year — one tire for every person in the United States.
Many states have laws preventing old tires from being dumped in landfills. Instead, used tires are collected by the millions in unsightly piles, which compounds the environmental threat because the tires collect rainwater, creating enormous breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The primary concern of tire piles, though, is the tires' tendency to catch fire, which has not only proven difficult to extinguish but results in the release of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
Tire pile fires can last for weeks, cost millions of dollars to fight, require the evacuation of neighborhoods and cause significant environmental damage from toxic soot fall-out and the run-off of oil from melting rubber.
Ground-up tires are already used in the soles of sneakers and beneath some football fields, including UW's Camp Randall Stadium.
Park has been working on removal of organic compounds by shredded tires in landfills since 1990 when he found that rubber gasket material can adsorb almost 100 percent of their initial weight when exposed to gasoline, and 40 percent of their initial weight when exposed to mineral spirits.
Park says the idea of applying the concept to golf courses came while he was playing golf with some of his students.
"During the round, we saw a warning sign that pesticides had been recently applied," Park says. "In passing, I mentioned the advantages of using scrap tires for pesticide removal."
One student became interested enough to conduct laboratory and field experiments to prove the concept.
"We have also proposed the use of crumb rubber and shredded tires in drainage systems in golf courses," he says.
Park is currently working on temperature profiles in various rubber layers in an attempt to better understand flora growth periods. Because crumb rubber provides such excellent insulation (shielding the ground from cold and keeping in warm), he postulates that the use of rubber chips may promote better growth during the harsh weather conditions during spring and fall — which could even extend playing periods in the cold weather regions.
PAR FOR THE COURSE
Park's idea has raised a few eyebrows in conservation circles.
"Using tires to enhance the sand that exists under greens is not moving toward more ecological and lower risk golf course conditions," says Diana Post, VMD, executive director of the Rachel Carson Council, an environmental group promoting alternative, environmentally benign pest management strategies.
"Assuming that the tire material remains inert and does not itself give off toxic by-products, pesticides are not uniform," Post says.
Pesticides have different structures and degrees of binding to organic matter. They could be expected to have different affinities for the tire material, she says.
The life-span of such a system would also need to be determined, and it would need to be tested under various environmental conditions, such as a high water table or areas with heavy rain and flooding.
An environmental impact report would probably provide answers to these questions and should take place before any implementation occurs. In addition, there should be data supporting the removal of specific pesticides, she says.
Park says he is aware that crumb rubbers cannot remove all pesticides.
"However, crumb rubbers can remove pesticides having solubilities < 10,000 mg/L based on evaluation of molecular structures and polarity," he says. "We did establish empirical relationships between sorption and octanol-water partition coefficient with crumb rubbers. This allows us to predict the removal efficiency of crumb rubbers for untested organic compounds."
Scientists cannot test all manmade chemicals so they commonly use this type of approach.
"Most pesticides fit into this range of < 10,000 mg/L, so we believe pesticides can be removed significantly by crumb rubbers," Park says. "Our paper deals with only nitrate, but I have been working on removal of organic compounds using crumb rubbers for over 15 years."
Previous research has reported that ground or shredded tires can absorb water contaminants such as benzene, O-xylene and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Park reported in 1996 that tire chips can absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and suggested that tire chips could be used in landfill barriers, soil-bentonite slurry walls, and in wastewater treatment to remove VOCs.
Park said pesticides are removed actually more in the vapor phase than in the aqueous phase; therefore, phase is not an issue.
The reaction rate is relatively fast so that when pesticides dissolved in rain, for example, percolate into crumb rubbers, they are easily sorbed into crumb rubbers, allowing a worst case of less than 10 percent of the pesticides to pass through, he said.
"We are not claiming 100 percent removal," Park says. "If we can take out most pesticides and let microorganisms biodegrade them, crumb rubbers will maintain relatively effective sorption capacity."
USGA's 1993 standards for sand-based golf course putting green construction specify a gravel drainage layer beneath the root zone mix for improved water management.
Park has shown that scrap tires can be granulated to the specifications for the drainage material and applied in putting green construction without hindering traditional performance standards while improving water quality.
"Using crumb rubber as a lighter drainage material or fill has advantages over traditional aggregates in construction of recreational areas such as golf course putting greens and athletic fields on soft foundations as well as potentially reduced labor needs for installation," he says.
In full-scale tests performed at UW's Turf Grass Research Center, crumb rubber did not introduce adverse effects on turfgrass establishment, density, quality or color, nor was water movement impeded by profiles containing a crumb rubber intermediate or drainage layer compared to a USGA standard putting green.
Right now, Park is hoping to see his idea implemented first on campus, when the university builds a new golf course in the near future.
"When the proposed green construction method is used for an 18-hole golf course, approximately 72,000 tires are required," he says.
If shredded tires are used as a drainage pipe backfill and embankment material, the number of tires used in golf construction may increase by over 100 percent.
Crumb rubber used as a drainage layer material beneath sand-based root zones may be a value-added reuse of scrap tires.
Douglas Page is a freelance writer who lives in Pine Mountain, Calif.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2013 Penton Media Inc.


text:
After graduating from Harvard with a master's in design engineering in 2018, Zeerak Ahmed '13 didn't stop working on his master's thesis. Even after taking a job as a senior designer at Amazon, he's continued his project to develop an functional Urdu keyboard.
While most who grow up in Pakistan speak a local language as their native tongue, Ahmed spoke Urdu during his childhood in Lahore. He hopes the keyboard can help better represent non-Western languages in technology.
When he began the project three years ago, Ahmed faced early challenges with displaying the keyboard properly: Urdu contains 39 letters written in Arabic script, making it difficult to fit on a smartphone screen designed for the 26-letter Roman alphabet.
"That gets fairly clunky pretty quickly," he says. "We got the keyboards ready pretty quickly. The thing that got really hard is to get these layouts to work — the only way to get smartphone keyboards to work really is to have good autocorrect."
While many everyday smartphone users view autocorrect as an occasionally annoying feature, Ahmed says it forms the basis of a solid keyboard. Because of the small size of smartphone keys, users often make mistakes when typing without even realizing they've done so. As a result, a functional keyboard needs to be able to predict the intended word.
"Basically you can expect that if you're typing the wrong word, the keyboard has to be able to guess what the right word was," he says.
Essentially, the keyboard has to "learn" a corpus of text so that it understands how the language functions. In addition to the challenge of keyboard design, Ahmed has also struggled to find Urdu text that can establish an accurate autocorrect, particularly with the large number of keys needed for an Urdu keyboard.
"In our case, we had to work with a lot of organizations to donate journal text to us. Most of these texts are written in this kind of archaic word-processing format," he says, adding that they have chosen literary texts so they can build the autocorrect using linguistically correct samples. Once they perfect the feature, they hope to run distributed trials of the new keyboards.
Currently, Urdu speakers usually type with the Roman alphabet because Arabic script keyboards are cumbersome, so Ahmed's project solves an important functional problem. But for him, creating a workable Urdu keyboard holds broader cultural significance.
"In very basic terms, it means that most people find it super hard to type in Urdu. So if they choose to type at all, they will type it in [Roman script]," he says. "So we are losing a large scriptural tradition."
Beyond its functional purpose for Urdu speakers, Ahmed also believes the keyboard can help ensure that Urdu speakers will be, as he puts it, "fully represented in software."
"If you want to get into the modern world and deal with technology, you have to learn to speak English and sort of deal with Western normality," Ahmed says. He wants to "get people to believe that good design and good technology can come out of a very local sense or very Pakistani sense or South Asian sense of what people need."


text:
The Great Lakes winter ice cover has dropped dramatically over the past 40 years, according to a new report. On average, peak ice has fallen by 71 percent; Lake Michigan's ice cover has shrunk even more than that.
Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) compared satellite photos dating to 1973. Jia Wang, a NOAA ice climatologist, said the changes are stark. In a year like 1979, ice covered about 94 percent of the lakes in the coldest months of that winter. "This winter the maximum ice cover is about five percent," Wang said. "It's the lowest ever since the satellite era." The drop in ice cover is largely a result of rising temperatures due to climate change. There are also other factors at play this year in particular, such as El Nino weather patterns. According to Wang, such a loss of winter ice can cause several problems for the Great Lakes ecosystem. For example, it can accelerate wintertime evaporation from the lakes, which could reduce water levels. The trend could also stimulate more and earlier algae blooms, which damage water quality and habitat. Additionally, it leaves the shoreline more exposed to waves, exacerbating erosion.
The changes in the Great Lakes could make them a dead zone. According to the University of Michigan's Don Scavia, "By end of the century, Illinois will feel like Texas. And Michigan will feel like Arkansas." Scavia, who leads the university's Environmental Sustainability Institute, laid out a disconcerting list of changes already taking place in the Great Lakes region as the result of climate change. According to Scavia the changes include the last frost in spring occurs earlier and earlier, while the first frost in fall is later and later. This is extending the growing season, as well as changing what plants and crops can grow in the region. Storms are more intense, and major weather events happen more frequently.
The most alarming potential scenario is the possibility that the Great Lakes to become a dead zone, a body of water that lacks oxygen and no fish or plants can survive. This happened to Lake Erie in the 1960s, resulting from algal blooms caused by industrial pollution, human waste and farm run-off. Lake Erie's devastation led to the passage of the federal Clean Water Act in 1972. Oxygen levels in the lake improved in the 1980s, but worsened again in the 1990s. Recent studies have shown that algae in Lake Erie is returning.
Although lakefront residents may enjoy the more temperate beachfront this year, ice is crucial in maintaining coastal wetlands and water depth. The wetlands act as an incubator for wildlife in the Great Lakes basin. Wetlands — the marshy shorelines that harbor numerous plants and animals — require the constant variation of the seasons and Great Lakes water levels. The lack of substantial ice coverage results in greater evaporation, which leaves water levels across the Great Lakes lower over the long term.
"Having low water levels next year doesn't make me nervous. Having low levels over the last 10 years makes me worry," said Donald Uzarski, director of Central Michigan University's Institute for Great Lakes Research. "We'll see what happens with respect to the water levels. When the water level's lower, the coastal wetlands stretch out towards the water's edge," out into exposed shoreline areas that are usually under water.
Rather surprisingly, extreme summer and winter temperatures are actually considered good for wetlands. These conditions can feed the growth of wetlands, which are "very dynamic and very responsive to water levels," according to Kurt Kowalski of the United States Geological Survey. Climatologists studying lake ice have noticed a steadier pattern of temperatures within the last 10 years. "The frequency of mild winters has been on the increase. We're certainly in a trend for milder winters now," said Ray Assel, a retired climatologist, recently of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
According to the Canadian Ice Service, ice cover on the Great Lakes for the week of March 5, 2011 was approximately 36 percent and close to the historical average of 38 percent. By contrast, ice cover for the week of March 5, 2012 has been exceptionally low and is only about 12 percent.
Writing on the earthsky.org website, Deanna Conners says that "In fact, ice cover has been so low this year on Lake Erie that officials began removing the ice boom that prevents large chunks of ice from flowing out into the Niagara River on February 28, 2012. This is the earliest date for removal since the boom was first installed in the mid 1960s. The ice boom acts to prevent ice damage to hydropower intake equipment. Early boom removal is our harbinger of an early spring in western New York. Dare I say that I think the groundhog was wrong this year?"
Another sign of the times comes from the Daily Great Lakes Seaway Shipping News, which notes that "Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 3,587,016 net tons in January, an increase of 24 percent over a year ago, and 57 percent ahead of the month's five-year average". In typical winters when the Great Lakes have a more widespread ice cover, the billion dollar shipping activity comes to a virtual halt. Click on this link to view a map of the extent of Great Lakes ice during the cold and snowy winter of 1979, the last time the Great Lakes were more than 95 percent frozen over.


text:
Most Active Stories
- Four Concerts Scheduled In Expanded, Larger Back Porch Music Series In Durham
- Why Do Political Activists Burn Out?
- First Openly Lesbian Presbyterian Pastor, One Year In
- As Costa Concordia Sank, Newlyweds Allowed Others To Take Life Boats First
- Duke Professor Carries On Tradition Of Black Radical Poetry
Hosts, Reporters and Producers
Mon February 27, 2012
Study: Climate Change Altering Bird Migration
There's more evidence that climate change is altering bird migration patterns. A new study from UNC-Chapel Hill finds some species along the east coast are migrating three-to-six days earlier than they were just ten years ago. Allen Hurlbert is an assistant professor of biology at UNC. He says birds face problems if they get the timing wrong.
Allen Hurlbert: Individuals arriving too early may face adverse conditions weather-wise, they may arrive and there are very limited resources there for them to eat. But individuals that arrive too late, they may face disadvantages in establishing breeding territories or finding high quality mates.
Hurlbert says the study also found some species are better at adapting than others. He says species that struggle to adjust could face threats to their populations.


Calling 911
What to Expect When You Call 911
The Jefferson County E-911 Communications Center stands ready to assist the citizens of Jefferson County. The following information is designed to help you understand the processes involved in making reports, giving descriptions and what to expect when you call 911.
When you call a friend or family member, you usually know what you are going to say. But when you need a response from the public safety personnel, it's hard to know what to say. Our Telecommunicators will ask you a lot of questions that you may think are unnecessary.
Those questions are asked for a good reason. Telecommunicators are not with you, physically, and can't see what is happening. We need to ask those questions so that we can get all the information for the public safety personnel. It will help tremendously if you answer the questions as they are asked, avoiding any temptation to anticipate questions or interrupt the Telecommunicator. Telecommunicators and public safety personnel depend on you to be their eyes and ears.
Describing a Person
Example of a Good Description:
Telecommunicators will ask many questions, but some of the most important relate to descriptions. We can't see or hear what you, the caller, can. We need you to paint a picture with words; a picture that we can relay to the public safety personnel.
When describing a person, always remember to start with race, sex and approximate age of the person. For example, "White Male, about 30." Then describe the person's height and weight. For example, "Approximately six foot, 200 pounds." Then describe the person's clothing from the head and go to the feet.
Description Items
Head-to-Toe Survey
This is sometimes referred to as the "Head-to-Toe" survey. Start with the hair color, or if the person is wearing a hat describe the hat. Next describe the person's eye color. Then describe the person's complexion. For example, "Fair" or "Dark" etc. Then lastly, describe the person's distinguishing marks, such as scars, marks or tattoos.
Describing a Vehicle
There are certain questions that a Telecommunicator will ask regarding vehicle descriptions. These descriptions are then passed on to the public safety personnel so that they can identify the vehicle should it leave the scene of a crime.
We use the acronym CYMBOLS when describing a vehicle.
 - Color (blue, or if two-tone, white top color over red the bottom color)
 - Year (1996)
 - Make (Dodge)
 - Body style (2 door, 4 door, pick up truck, extended cab)
 - Other attributes (this would include damage or other marks that make the vehicle unique)
 - License plate (CCC-9111)
 - State (Georgia)
Reporting a Fire
When you should call for assistance:
 1. When you smell natural gas
 2. You see a trash can or dumpster on fire
 3. You see a house on fire
 4. There is a person trapped in an elevator
 5. You see grass or woods on fire
 6. You see a vehicle accident
Fire Fighters
Telecommunicator may ask these questions when you call:
 1. Where is the fire?
 2. What is on fire?
 3. Is there anyone trapped or injured?
 4. How close is the fire to another building or structure?
 5. How fast is the fire burning?
 6. What size is the fire?
 7. Did you see anyone start the fire on purpose?
 8. What did they look like?
 9. Are they still there?
 10. Which direction did they leave?
Fire Department/EMS Cooperation
Some fire departments also respond to calls with EMS. An example of this would be someone having a heart attack. Those fire departments that are dispatched to medical calls have specific training and equipment to help citizens in an emergency medical situation. Sometimes the fire department response time may be several minutes faster than the EMS because they are usually closer. This can make a difference in life or death!
Gold Cross Ambulance
Telecommunicator Questions & Instructions
Please remember to listen for the Telecommunicator's questions and answer them as accurately as possible. Also, remember to listen for and act on any instructions the Telecommunicators may give you, such as "Evacuate the building!"
Telecommunicators routinely handle hundreds of calls for service each day. Their dedication, professionalism, and experience provide them with the background to render aid and comfort callers from our community. Each and every call for service is important.
Call Process & System
The Jefferson County E-911 Communications Center uses the Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) system that was developed by Dr. Jeff Clawson in the 1980s. You may have seen this system being used on the TV show "Rescue 911."
After the initial 911 call-taking process discussed earlier, the Telecommunicator will ask other questions to obtain more information.
911 Telecommunication System
By using the EMD system to prioritize medical calls, the Telecommunicators have to ask a series of questions according to information that you tell us (what's wrong with the person).
This system also provides the Telecommunicators with the instructions that will be given to you so that you can provide emergency medical assistance to the victim of a medical emergency until the public safety personnel can arrive. For example, the Telecommunicators can give you instructions in CPR, childbirth, choking, etc.


3 Ways To Profit Through Insurance Billing
Grow your practice, your people, your purpose, and your profit by following this model of taking insurance
The Cost of Billing Insurance in Private Practice
The expenses related to insurance and medical billing has reached $282 billion every year according to the Center for American Progress.
Anyone interacting with the U.S. health care system is bound to encounter examples
of unnecessary administrative complexity—from filling out duplicative intake forms
to transferring medical records between providers to sorting out insurance bills. This
administrative complexity, with its associated high costs, is often cited as one reason
the United States spends double the amount per capita on health care compared
with other high-income countries even though utilization rates are similar.
This reality is no different in the world of private practice for mental health providers. In fact, the Practice Solutions team sees this on a daily basis. In one circumstance, a biller working with a group practice in Michigan spent 6 hours on the phone with a large insurance company in Michigan arguing with representatives about the credentialing status of a clinician that had been in-network for 8 months.
The biller was able to get $4,000.00 worth of claims paid.
Imagine though, had the provider spent that time on the phone with the insurance company.
Here is a list of things that the therapist could have done with those 6 hours:
 - Seen 5 patients
 - Read a book on their preferred method of therapy to be a better clinician
 - Engage in self-care
 - Take a nap
 - Focus on their family
 - Spend time focusing on building their practice instead of working in it
 - Traveling
Each year, health care payers and providers in the United States spend about $496 billion on billing and insurance-related (BIR) costs, according to Center for American Progress estimates presented in this issue brief. As health care costs continue to rise, a logical starting point for potential savings is addressing waste. A 2010 report by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) estimated that the United States spends about twice as much as necessary on BIR costs. That administrative excess currently amounts to $248 billion annually, according to CAP's calculations.
This is an incredible statistic!
Think about this for a moment: According to Business Insider, the life expectancy of Americans has decreased for the third year in a row. What are the top causes of the decrease in life expectancy?
Here are the top reasons why the life expectancy in the United States has decreased for the third year in a row:
 1. Suicides
 2. Drug overdoses
 3. Alcohol-related diseases
This is quite a counterintuitive trend. A first-world country that spends more on privatized healthcare than any other affluent country in the world is dying at higher rates due to mental health-related causes. The need for mental health providers can hardly be overstated, but one of the biggest barriers to solving this problem is maintaining profitability in private practice by taking insurance and billing private and public healthcare.
Imagine if private practices and healthcare organizations operated so efficiently that they were able to take that $500 billion worth of waste and actually impact the overwhelming mental healthcare need in the United States? We believe that by educating around best revenue cycle management practices that we can see a meaningful difference in people's lives.
Understanding the Biggest Costs of Taking Insurance
The first place to look to understand billing and insurance-related costs is part of the administrative overhead that is insurance premiums and providers' reimbursements. It includes the overhead costs for the health insurance industry and providers' costs for claims submission, claims reconciliation, and payment processing. The health care system also requires administration beyond billing and insurance-related activities, including medical record-keeping; business management; initiatives that monitor and improve care quality; and programs to combat fraud and abuse.
To date, few studies have estimated the systemwide cost of healthcare administration extending beyond billing and insurance-related activities. In a 2003 article in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers Steffie Woolhandler, Terry Campbell, and David Himmelstein concluded that overall administrative costs in 1999 amounted to 31 percent of total health care expenditures or $294 billion—roughly $569 billion today when adjusted for medical care inflation. A more recent paper by Woolhandler and Himmelstein, which looked at 2017 spending levels, placed the total cost of administration at $1.1 trillion.
At this point you might be thinking, "Okay, this is very interesting, but how does this apply to my private practice?" That is a great question. Thanks for asking!
According to the same study, the researchers found that about 50% of your administrative costs will be billing and insurance-related.
In Figure 2, you can see that providers and hospitals have a significant amount of money going to the billing and insurance-related expenses of their business. You might look at that figure and think that this is a huge problem, but really this is a huge opportunity for you to think about how to improve your practice, your people, your processes, and your purpose.
It is likely that you did not become an expert on human behavior and the treatment of mental health disorders for your own edification, but likely to make a big impact in the lives of individuals and families.
This is a huge blessing to our society!
It is important that we think together about the various ways that you can continue to make a profit and help as many people as possible in your private practice. There are really three ways to take insurance and maintain your profitability in the long-run. This blog is not for the private practice owner that is looking to scale as quickly as possible and then sell their private practice. No, this blog is for the private practice owner that lives and breathes helping people and is looking to build a legacy for their community, their staff, and for their family.
Here are the three ways that we have seen private practice owners take insurance and maintain their fiscal health while helping people at scale!
3 Ways to Take Insurance and Be Profitable
Each of these three ways to take insurance and be profitable have a couple of assumptions.
The first assumption is that you are a provider in private practice that is in-network with at least 1 insurance company.
The second assumption that we are making is that you might be feeling like you are treading water or feel as though you are not making as much profit as you ought to be given your busy schedule and the level of clients that you are seeing.
The third assumption that we are making is that you might have a wide range of processes and procedures in place to handle billing and insurance revenue.
With those in mind, let's begin looking at the three ways that you can take insurance and be profitable in your private practice.
The First Way to Take Insurance and Be Profitable
The first way that you can take insurance and be profitable is to take the smallest amount of in-network payers as possible with the highest level of reimbursement. What does this mean?
This means that you have evaluated the highest paying insurance companies in your area and you are only going to engage with that 1 or 2 insurance companies in your area. This could mean that you are only in-network with one commercial payer and one government payer or just one commercial payer.
What are the benefits to this way to take insurance?
The first benefit is that you are going to automatically exclude a certain number of people that don't have that insurance. This is a tough truth to grasp, but the benefit is that the time you do spend with insurance-based clients will be of maximum benefit to your business. The contrast is that you have lower paying insurance clients compared to a higher paying insurance client. In terms of time, you make less per hour with some clients than others, but this particular strategy means that you are maximizing your time per patient.
The second benefit of this way to take insurance means that you will have less credentialing hurdles as you scale up. Let's say you are starting to want to scale in terms of clinical staff. It is much MUCH easier to credential 10 clinicians with 1 insurance than 10 clinicians with 10 insurances. This benefit can be better understood by looking at the math in terms of individual panels that you credential therapists with.
Let's say you have 1 insurance company that you are in-network with. You have a 1 to 1 ratio in terms of credentialing. If you are in-network with 10 insurance companies, you now have a 10 to 1 ratio, which becomes a multiplication problem. In one circumstance you will engage in credentialing 10 providers 1 time with 1 insurance company. In the other circumstance you will actually be conducting 100 credentialing activities to get 10 clinicians in-network with 10 panels.
Your expenses will obviously increase if you have to engage in 100 credentialing activities versus 10 credentialing activities. If you are a group practice this becomes even more important because the complexity of credentialing and paneling only increases as you grow.
The third benefit of this strategy for taking insurance is that by limiting the number of insurances that you take means that your overall billing processes are leaner and simpler than your counterparts. Remember above that the billing and insurance related costs for a private practice owner revolve around claims submission, claims reconciliation, and payment processing.
By engaging one insurance company on an in-network basis you lean your processes to the simplest common denominator around these three areas. The delays and reduces your administrative burden and allows you to operate as simply as possible.
The downside here is that you limit the number of highly-clinical clients that you take and that can rub against your "why" in getting involved in private practice, which is why there is a second strategy to take insurance and remain profitable.
The Second Way to Take Insurance and Be Profitable
This strategy