text:
our RDD into a dataframe - a table-like data structure, composed of columns of fixed datatypes. By and large, the dataframe is the fundamental data structure for data science investigations, inherited from statistical programming. Much of data science is about quantifying associations between features or predictor variables and variables of interest. Modelling such a relationship is typically done by comparing many examples of these variables, and rows of a dataframe are convenient places to store these examples.
The final call to the display function in the above code block is important. This is the default (and powerful) way to view and visualise your data in Databricks. We'll come back to this later on.
So we have our raw data converted into a dataframe, but we still need to understand the data that actually comprises this table. Databricks is a great platform for this kind of work. It allows iterative, traceable investigations to be performed, shared and modified. This is perfect for understanding data - a process which must be done step-by-step and is often frustrating to document or interpret after the fact.
Firstly in our step-by-step process, all of our data are currently strings. Clearly this is not suitable for some items, but it's easily fixed.
The printSchema method indicates that our dataframe now contains time stamps and decimal values where appropriate. This dataframe has, for each row:
- creationDate: the time the record was written
- startDate: the time the observation began
- endDate: the time the observation ended
- sourceName: the device with which the observation was made
- type: the kind of biometric data observed
- unit: the units in which the observation was measured
- value: the biometric observation itself
So we have a structure for the data, but we haven't really looked into the substance of the data yet. Questions that we should probably first ask are "what are the kinds of biometric data observed?", and "how many observations do we have to work with?". We can answer these with a quick summary. Below we find how many observations exist of each type, and between which dates they were recorded.
We see that some of the measures of energy burned have the most observations:
- Active Energy Burned has over 650,000 observations between December 2015 and November 2018
- Basal Energy Burned has over 450,000 observations between July 2016 and November 2018
- Distance Walking/Running has over 200,000 observations between December 2015 and November 2018
- Step Count has about 140,000 observations between December 2015 and November 2018
- Heart Rate has about 40,000 observations between December 2015 and November 2017
- Other kinds of observations have less than 30,000 observations
This tells us that the most rich insights are likely to be found by studying distance travelled, step count, heart rate and energy burned. We might prefer to consider observations that are measured (like step count) rather than derived (like energy burned), although it might be an interesting analysis in itself to try to find how these derivations are made.
Let's begin by looking into how step count might relate to heart rate. Presumably, higher step rates should cause higher heart rates, so let's see whether this is borne out in the data.
I've chosen to convert the data from a Spark dataframe to a Pandas dataframe to take advantage of some of the datetime manipulations available. This is an easy point of confusion for a starter in PySpark: Spark and Pandas dataframes are named the same, but operate differently. Primarily, Spark dataframes are distributed so operate faster with larger datasets. On the other hand, Pandas dataframes are generally more flexible. In this case since we've restricted our analysis to a subset of our original data that's small enough to be confident with a Pandas dataframe.
Actually looking at the data now, one problem appears: the data are not coherent. That is, the two kinds of observations are difficult to compare. This manifests in two ways:
- Heart rate is a point-in-time measurement, while step count is measured across a period of time. This is a similar incoherence to the one in economics surrounding stock and flow variables. To make the two variables comparable we can assume that the step rate is constant across the period of time the step count is measured. As long as the period of time is fairly short this assumption is probably quite reasonable.
- Heart rate and step count appear to be sampled independently. This means that comparing them is difficult because at times where heart rate is known, step count is not always known, and vice versa. In this case we could assume that both types of observation are sampled independently so we can restrict our comparisons to observations of heart rate and step rate that are reasonably close.
Once we have some observations of heart rate and step rate, we can compare them:
On the vertical axis we have heart rate in beats per minute and on the horizontal axis we have pace in steps per second. Points are coloured so that older points are lighter, which allows us to see if there is an obvious change over time. The graph shows that Etienne's usual heart rate is about 80 bpm, but when running it increases to between 120 and 180. It's easy to notice an imbalance between usual heart rate observations and elevated heart rate observations - the former are much more prevalent.
There appears to be at least one clear outlier - the point where heart rate is under 40 bpm. There are also a small amount of observations that have normal heart rate and elevated pace or vice versa - these may be artifacts of our imperfect reconciliation of step count and heart rate. We could feed this back to improve the reconciliation process or re-assess the assumptions we made, which would be particularly useful with subject matter expert input.
The graph above shows the observations of step rate over time, with black indicating observations that have elevated heart rates. There are a few interesting characteristics - most obviously, observations are far more dense after July 2016. Also, rather alarmingly, there are only a small number of clusters of observations with elevated heart rates, which means that we cannot treat observations as independent. This is often the case for time series data, and it complicates analysis.
We could instead compare the progression of heart rate changes with pace by looking at each cluster of elevated heart rate records as representative of a single exercise events. However, we would be left with very few events. Rather than attempt to clean up the data further, let's pivot.
Transformation (Iteration 2)
Data doesn't reveal all of their secrets immediately. Often this means our analyses need to be done in cycles. In our first cycle we've learned:
- Data have been collected more completely since mid-2016. Perhaps we should limit our analysis to only the most recent year. This means we should not perhaps attempt to identify long-term changes in the data.
- Heart rate and step rate are difficult to reconcile because they often make observations at different times. It would be better to focus on a single type of biometric.
- There are only a small number of reconcilable recorded periods of elevated heart rate and step rate. Our focus should be on observations where we have more examples to compare.
Instead of step count and heart rate, let's instead look at patterns in distance travelled by day since 2017. This pivot answers each of the above issues: it is limited to more recent data, it focuses on a single type of biometric data, and it allows us to compare on a daily basis. Mercifully, distance travelled is also one of the most prevalent observations in our dataset.
You'd be right to say that this is a 180 degree pivot. We're now looking at an entirely different direction. This is an artifact of our lack of a driving business problem, and it's something you should prepare yourself for too if you commission the analysis of data for the sake of exploration. You may find interesting insights, or you may find problems. But without a guiding issue to address there's a lot of uncertainty about where your analysis may go.
Stepping down from my soapbox, let's transform our data. What I want to do is to record the distance travelled in every hourly period from 8am to 10pm since 2017. Into a dataframe "df_x", I've placed all distance travelled data for 2017:
In the above we tackle this in three steps:
- Define a udf (user defined function) which returns the input number if positive or zero otherwise
- Use our udf to iteratively prorate distance travelled biometrics into the whole hour between 8am and 10pm that they fell into, naming these columns "hourTo9", up to "hourTo22".
- Aggregate all distances travelled into the day they occurred
This leaves us with rows representing individual calendar days and 14 new columns representing the distance travelled during a hour of the day.
Visualisation (Iteration 2)
This section is not just an exploration of the data, but an exploration of Databricks' display tool, which allows users to change the output from a code step without re-running the code step. Found at the bottom of every output generated by the display command is a small menu:
This allows us to view the data contained in the displayed table in a graphical form. For example, choosing "Scatter" gives us a scatterplot of the data, which we can refine using the "Plot Options" dialogue:
We can use these plot options to explore the relationship between the hourly distance travelled variables we've created. For example, given a selection of hours (8am to 9am, 11am to 12pm, 2pm to 3pm, 5pm to 6pm,


Processes can be designed, drawn and viewed in FullyInControl. Process steps in the process diagram can be linked to parts that are managed in FullyInControl, such as risks, information systems, functions, etc.
The process diagrams work interactively. By clicking on a process step, all linked information is displayed via an information bar and you can "click through" to the desired linked part. Work instructions can also be added and improvement options can be recorded and managed. New versions of the processes with work instructions can also be created. First as a proposal and later final. This way, the future, current and previous situation is quickly and easily visible and available.
The functionality is, just like in the entire platform, location independent, so that several people can work simultaneously in a process. Handy if you are discussing a process with several people or if you want to collaborate remotely. Where necessary, the module works integrally with the other FullyInControl modules. In this way you immediately inventory the process risks and link the supporting information systems.
 Discover how your organization comes into control


text: This project explores the perception of space. Visual sense enables us to recognize a space through the detection of light present in space. The visual perception of space by the eye is complemented by the use of the camera obscura, a system consisting of a box that, by means of an opening in space, is penetrated by light, thus creating an inverted image of the exterior. The object used in order to combine both systems is a helmet, acting as a viewfinder. It reveals the rays of light that create the flipped image of space that, outside of the helmet, is perceived by the visual organs. This interaction created a portable and personal system for the perception of space and the reflection of what we usually see.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Everything You Need to Know About Suing an Airline for Compensation for Personal Injury or Death
By Dennis Sullivan, In Aviation Accidents, 0 Comments
Many people have a fear of flying. The thought of getting on a massive aircraft that speeds through the air makes them incredibly uncomfortable. This fear might be great for lining the pockets of therapists, but in reality, flying is one of the safest ways to travel.
That safety record is what makes it all the more upsetting when you have injured onboard a plane or as a result of the flight crew's negligence. You paid to get safely to your destination and that did not happen. Thankfully, there are options available to recover from your injuries.
So how do you succeed when you're using an airline? We've got you covered. Read on to learn everything you need to know about aviation litigation.
Where Were You Injured?
There's no one way to fly. In fact, there are many different types of planes that fly for many different reasons. As a result, there are different laws that govern aviation.
The Federal Aviation Administration is the primary agency in charge of aviation safety in the United States. In addition to the FAA, there is the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB is charged with investigating civil aviation accidents within the United States.
Commercial Carriers
Commercial airlines are governed by the Federal Aviation Act. This legislation mandates that airlines exercise a high standard of care in relation to their passengers. A standard of care is basically all the measures that the airline and its employees must take in order to make sure that passengers are not injured.
The Federal Aviation Act is also what the court will look to when deciding whether your injury was caused by the negligence of the airline and its employees. If the court finds that the carrier didn't follow its standard of care and you were injured as a result, then you can recover from your injury.
Private Carriers
Private carriers are also subject to the Federal Aviation Act.
Private carriers that fly aircraft with fewer than 20 seats are subject to the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994. GARA places time limits on when passengers can file lawsuits against aircraft manufacturers. Once an aircraft, and its component parts, have been in service for 18 years, then the manufacturer is no longer liable for accidents and injuries.
What Type of Injury Did You Suffer?
There are different processes and laws that apply to claimants depending on the type of injury they suffered. In the eyes of the law, there are two types of injuries someone can suffer: physical injuries and financial injuries.
If you suffered a physical injury as a result of flying, then the airline is subject to the Federal Aviation Act. In addition to this, if you were injured flying on an aircraft that had space for fewer than 20 people, then the previously mentioned General Aviation Revitalization Act applies as well.
What Caused the Injury?
Any time you are injured as the result of another person's actions, the court is going to look at all the circumstances surrounding the injury in order to determine fault.
In law, there are certain factors that reduce your chances of success or that limit the amount you can recover as a result of the injury. If the court finds that your actions contributed to the accident, then it may reduce the amount of money you can recover proportionally or bar recovery altogether. This operates differently depending on the jurisdiction.
What If I'm Injured Before Boarding?
If you're injured prior to boarding the aircraft, then who you sue depends on where you were and the circumstances of the injury. For example, if you slip and fall in the airport bathroom, then the airport is liable. But if you are injured by an airline employee at the airport, then it's possible you can recover from the airline, or both the airline and the airport if there are other contributing factors.
Should I Hire an Attorney in Texas?
Hiring an attorney is essential to finding success with your claim.
Self-representation is referred to as pro se litigation. This means you represent yourself at all stages of the process, from filing the claim to going in front of a judge. Unfortunately, navigating the legal system is complicated, and many pro se litigants get tripped up in the process before going before a judge.
Self-representation might be okay for very small claims, but when you file a claim against a major airline or an airport, you'll be going head-to-head against an experienced corporate lawyer whose job it is to minimize claims like yours. The good news is that there are attorneys out there who specialize in fighting back against those airlines. They have an in-depth knowledge of the law and the process, and they can help maximize the amount of money you receive for your injury.
Contemplating Suing an Airline?
Traveling via airplane has a lot of benefits. You get where you're going sooner, and it's a significantly safer way to travel. That doesn't mean that it's not without its risks accidents, both physical and financial will always occur.
That doesn't mean you have no recourse for your injuries, however. Retaining the help of a knowledgeable attorney will help you get the compensation you deserve and increase your chances of success with your claim when you're using an airline.
Have you injured onboard a plane or at the airport? Stepp & Sullivan, P.C can help you. Contact us today for a consultation!
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Valves for abrasive materials
What's the Best Slide Gate or Diverter Valve for Handling Coal, Frac Sand, and Fly Ash?
Many of our customers come from industries where conveying abrasive material is a recurring challenge. Configuring the right slide gates and diverter valves for those customers is a challenge in its own right. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the key factors that influence the decision of which slide gate or diverter valve works best for handling these abrasive materials.
Different Level of Material Hardness Cause Different Levels of Wear
Abrasion occurs where the metal components of a valve are worn down through friction as the material handled impacts those components. Prior to considering what type of gate or diverter is required, special consideration has to be given to the characteristics of the material and how it is being conveyed.
Minerals are categorized into a Mohs hardness scale. The scale characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals by how a harder material can scratch a softer material. Softer materials like talc have a hardness rating of 1, while harder materials like diamonds have a hardness rating of 10. When selecting metal valve components, it's best to select the proper construction materials that match the hardness of the material handled.
Material Shape Has an Impact on the Effects of Abrasion
The shape of the material being handled is another important consideration. Sand can have a Mohs hardness rating of 7. Sand exists in a variety of shapes. Some sand particles can be round while others can be angular. An angular particle will abrade valve components much faster than a rounded one.
How the material is handled is yet another consideration. For example, is the material being gravity fed through the valve or is the material being conveyed pneumatically through a conveying system at 3,000 feet per minute? Talc, one of the softest minerals, can eventually chisel its way through a substantial metal plate if given a small exit hole and considerable force behind it.
Hard Metal Wear Liners can Alleviate Component Breakdown
Utilizing hard metals or metal alloys for the wear areas is always a consideration. Valves may be manufactured incorporating abrasion resistant plates, chromium carbide overlays, or metals like Hastelloy® to reduce wear from abrasion. Diverters may be manufactured with replaceable wear liners that are constructed of the above-mentioned materials.
Replaceable Abrasion Resistant LinersOver time, worn liners may be replaced with new ones to extend the life cycle costs to the valves. In some instances, an added feature as simple as an interior rock box might be added to address abrasion and prolong valve life. A rock box is an area within the valve that is designed to trap a small amount of the material handled. Subsequent material traveling through the valve impacts on the trapped material as opposed to abrading a liner or plate. When cross contamination of the material is not an issue, this feature is extremely effective.
Manufacturing Experience with Abrasives is Critical
Companies that deal with abrasive products are cognizant of the fact that new equipment begins to wear out starting day one. Equipment installed in these environments needs to be continually maintained. Sourcing valves from an established supplier with the ability to provide support after the installation can help lift the burden of dealing with challenging applications. Their expertise can address the many factors experienced in a particular application and assure the purchase of the best slide gate or diverter valve for handling abrasive materials.


Title: Experimental investigations on controlled auto-ignition combustion in a four-stroke gasoline engine
Authors: Oakley, Aaron John
Advisors: Zhao, H
Issue Date: 2001
Publisher: Brunel University School of Engineering and Design PhD Theses
Abstract: The effects of air and exhaust gas dilution on the CAI combustion of a range of fuels including three gasoline compositions, four primary reference fuels, and two alcohols are experimentally investigated using a single cylinder research engine. Two of the three gasolines tested are manufactured from standard gasoline during engine operation by a novel fuel system, designed to improve the performance of both controlled autoignition and spark ignition engines. A series of experimental tests are performed to establish the satisfactory combined air and exhaust gas dilution regions for each fuel. Detailed in-cylinder pressure and exhaust gas speciation measurements are taken, and the fuels are compared and contrasted for their performance in terms of power output, fuel consumption, and harmful exhaust emissions. Results show that alcohol fuels are superior to hydrocarbon fuels for controlled autoignition combustion because their autoignition characteristics are less affected by the presence of exhaust gas species. Furthermore, the timing of autoignition is shown to be of minor importance for achieving efficient and stable controlled autoignition combustion, contrary to widely held beliefs. In addition, the novel fuel system is developed and commissioned for use on a single cylinder research engine operating with a spark ignition system. The two gasoline fuels produced by the system are evaluated individually for their knocking combustion characteristics over a range of compression ratios and spark advances. Results from these tests indicate that the fuel system used in conjunction with a specially modified production engine may allow the normal compression ratio of that engine to be increased by up to 1.0, increasing its efficiency.
URI: _URL_
Appears in Collections:Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Dept of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering Theses
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text:
Continents that lost the most large grazing herbivores over the past 50,000 years have seen the biggest increases in grassland and savannah fires
25 November 2021
From the giant armadillo to the giant bison, many large plant eaters have been wiped out in the past 50,000 years. Now a study has found that the continents that lost the most of these grazing megafauna had the biggest increases in wildfires in grasslands and savannahs.
"There's evidence today that herbivores can limit fire by reducing fuel load," says Allison Karp at Yale University. In fact, some advocates of rewilding argue that restoring large herbivores can help reduce wildfires.
A few studies have already found that there were more fires in specific regions after the loss of megafauna during the past 50,000 years. Karp and her colleagues decided to look at the global picture by analysing two existing databases.
One, called HerbiTraits, has information on all herbivores larger than 10 kilograms lived that have lived in the past 130,000 years.
The other, called the Global Paleofire Database, has records of charcoal deposited in lakes from 160 sites worldwide, which reveal changes in fire activity nearby.
The team found that the biggest increases in fire activity were in the continents, such as South America, that lost the most big herbivores, with lower increases where there were fewer extinctions, such as in Africa.
However, Karp didn't find a strong link between the loss of browsers – tree feeders – and fire activity in woody regions.
"The relation between extinctions and changes in fire activity was only really strong if you looked at grazer extinctions, so herbivores that eat grass," she says.
Karp says her study cannot tell us anything about the effects of this increased fire activity. But other studies suggest that they were dramatic. After humans wiped out Australia's megafauna, for instance, increased fire activity may have transformed the continent's vegetation.
The reasons for the loss of so many megafauna around the world during this period are still debated. It is clear that many were hard hit by climate changes related to the last ice age, but human hunting may have been the killer factor in most cases.
Journal reference: Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.abj1580
More on these topics:


The other Princess of Cambridge
If Kate Middleton has a baby girl, she won't be the first to be a Princess of Cambridge. Princess Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth of Cambridge, born in 1833, also held the title. She shared the title with her older sister, Princess Augusta, who was born in 1822.
They were the daughters of Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge and Princess Augusta of Hesse-Cassel, as well as being the granddaughters of King George III. The former Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also had a son named George, who was styled similarly to his sisters until he inherited the dukedom on his father's death. The siblings grew up in Hanover where their father served as the kingdom's viceroy in lieu of King George VI and King William IV.
William and Kate
All of William and Kate's children will be Princes and Princesses of Cambridge
Of the two girls, Mary was the most colourful. Like Princess Diana, she was affectionately known as the 'People's Princess', and was one of the earliest royals to support a wide range of charitable organisations, much like Kate herself.
Unfortunately for Mary, she was predisposed to weight gain, earning her the nickname 'Fat Mary'. She had a large build, which she enjoyed draping in fine fabrics and jewellery.
She did not marry until the age of 33, remaining single for a long time, reportedly due to her unattractive appearance, lack of income and advanced age. Her royal rank meant she had to marry someone of royal blood.
Princess Mary
Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge loved food and jewels in equal measure
She married Prince Franz of Teck in June 1866 in Kew, Surrey. The Prince was of lower rank than Mary and had no succession rights to the throne of Württemberg, but he had royal blood nonetheless. They became the Duke and Duchess of Teck.
The couple had four children: Princess Mary, Prince Adolphus, Prince Francis, and Prince Alexander. Mary became the wife of George V and was the grandmother of the current Queen.
Queen Mary
Her eldest daughter Mary married George V and was the current Queen's grandmother
Mary Adelaide and her husband lived in London in some style. Despite a generous grant from Parliament for carrying out royal duties, they tended to live beyond their means, throwing lavish parties and splurging their money on extravagant clothing. They soon built up large debts and were forced to flee into exile in 1883 to avoid their creditors. They stayed with relatives in Germany and Austria and hid out in Florence, Italy.
The family returned from exile in 1885 to their residence at White Lodge in Richmond Park. Queen Victoria was fond of the eldest daughter of the family, Princess Mary, also known as Princess May. She became engaged to Prince Albert Victor, also known as Eddy, who was Victoria's grandson and second in line to the British throne. The eldest son of Prince Edward VII and his wife Alexandra, he suddenly died of pneumonia at the age of 28. Queen Victoria persuaded his brother, Prince George to marry her instead.
Princess Mary Adelaide died in October 1897 at her home in Richmond Park. After Queen Victoria's death in 1901, Edward VII became King and George was made Prince of Wales. After his father's death in 1910, George and Mary were crowned.
Princess Augusta
Mary Adelaide's sister Princess Augusta of Cambridge who died in 1916
In line with royal tradition, Mary Adelaide's great-great-great-grandson Prince William was granted the Dukedom of Cambridge on his marriage in 2011.
William's uncles both received titles on their wedding days. Prince Andrew became the Duke of York, while Prince Edward as a younger son was created the Earl of Wessex, a lower rank. Should Prince Harry wed, he is likely to receive a peerage too.


text:
A variation of the pointed cross, the heraldic
dagger is a common sign
in printed texts.
In typography the sign, along with and, is used as a sign for note, i.e. an amendment to the main text.
In botany the dagger means poisonous, in chess, check! In timetables it is sometimes used for Sunday or holiday. In genealogy it is used for deceased or dead. In dictionaries it can indicate an obsolete word, and again in botany it may mean a once cultivated but now wild growing plant.
This sign is the second in series of reference marks and as such called obelisk or obelus. See reference marks in the word index for the other signs.
The dagger is also sometimes used preceding a death date, that is meaning dead or died.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


Forskning og utvikling
Wastewaterderived Data
Data from municipal wastewater treatment plants: An exploration of the utility to public health, environment, climate and security.
Municipal wastewater is said to mirror society. The water contains a mixture of most that occurs in a city. The food we eat, the medicines we take, the chemicals used in our homes and at work, bacteria, viruses and everything that washes off the streets when it rains, ends up at the local municipal wastewater treatment plant.
As Norway's largest wastewater treatment plant, Veas cleans wastewater corresponding to delivery from 770,000 people in Oslo, Bærum, Asker and Nesodden. Daily data from this water could provide near real-time data and trends that can be useful in managing the community.
Examples of data that can be extracted from wastewater are:
 - Health observatory based on trends of drug use or chemical exposure
 - Communicable disease tracking system (i.e. COVID-19)
 - Environmental surveillance system: release of pollutants in our environment
 - Defence and security: trace organic explosives detection in wastewater
NIVA and Veas are working on the development of an ecosystem consisting of members from multi-disciplinary sectors to exploit wastewater-derived data funded by the Regionale Forskningsfond Hovedstaden. At this stage, our main purpose is to show the potential of sewage chemical information monitoring (SCIM) technology to engage the potential partners from the public sector or research institute area (aim 2). Find below the aims of the ongoing project:
 1. Collect a selection of demonstration wastewater-derived datasets.
 2. Engage in targeted meetings/interviews with potential partners
 3. Identify unanswered questions for which wastewater may provide solutions
 4. Provide "ad hoc" analysis with demonstration dataset
 5. Work with the partner to formulate future collaboration and/or innovative research
Økonomisk prosjektstøtte
Wastewaterderived Data er støttet med forprosjektmidler fra RFF HOVED på inntil 750 000 kroner.
Norsk institutt for vannforskning, NIVA.


text:
A simple dinosaur craft for younger children to make and paint.
Green and yellow paint
Strip of green card
Glue (or stapler)
Paint the middle of your plate and the lower half of the rim green. Paint the top half of the rim in yellow or your preferred other colour. Leave to dry.
Using the photos as a guide, cut out the head, legs and the start of the tail out of the green-painted section of the plate. Do not cut into the flat part of the plate.
Now, using our photos as a guide, cut into the yellow rim to form the spikes. Again, do not cut into the centre of the plate. Save the scraps of yellow!
Cut a tail from the green card, and stick to your plate. Use the yellow scraps that you cut off the plate to add spikes to the tail.
Draw on a face.
This craft is reprinted courtesy of Activitiy Village.


Cheese baskets are used to drain fresh, soft cheeses. They come in various sizes from small individual servings to large party-sized ricotta baskets. You can often use a sieve or colander lined with cheesecloth instead of a basket when making ricotta, however feta baskets give feta, haloumi and paneer cheese their classic shape (and can be lightly pressed by 2kg for example).
 Cheese baskets are flexible, softer plastic than cheese moulds and will be damaged if used in a cheese press. Cheese baskets make a pleasant pattern on the cheese when serving and can often be used to store your freshly made soft cheese in the refrigerator by covering with a lid or plastic wrap.
 Also known as cheese moulds, cheese hoops are used to form curds into a firm pressed cheese in the desired shape and density. They are firmer and thicker than cheese baskets and don't flex as easily. Cheese moulds are sanitised, lined with cheesecloth or muslin and then filled with curds. Then fold over the cloth to cover the curds, add the follower (a plastic disk that covers the cheese surface) and press. The cheesecloth helps to wick away the moisture as the cheese is pressed. Excess whey is drawn out the sides of the mould through the numerous holes and through the base of the cheese. Removing the cheese from the mould, unwrapping and flipping the cheese between every pressing stage helps to remove the whey evenly.
 Historically, certain sizes and shapes are used for specific types of cheese. The height, width, surface area and weight of the cheese will affect the ripening, handling and final flavour of the cheese. i.e. a semi-hard cheese such as Colby that matures from the outside to the middle, may not age properly if it is too thick or too wide/too big to handle.
Plastic items should not be soaked in boiling water. Rinse with boiling water instead to sterilise and prevent warping. You can also use a commercial steriliser, but ensure the steriliser is rinsed off completely before use. Some brands of cheese hoops may be dishwasher safe, but hand rinsing is the best option to prolong the life of your cheese baskets and moulds.
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text:
There's another overlay to the history of The Dr. James Murray House in Annapolis, Maryland that places it in the historic context of the colonial days, and this too deserves to be shared with our readers. We discussed the house, now let me share with you me of the characteristics of the house which you may very well find intriguing.
Much of the materials used to build the house came from England. Since Annapolis was an early colony at the time, it had few resources at its beginnings, and most of its activity consisted of trading, but not manufacturing. The bricks and lumber were most probably used as ballast on ships from England which were deposited here in Annapolis and then replaced with trade items brought back to England.
The exquisite crown moldings in the living room and dining room are still very much in beautiful condition. They are a mixture of plaster combined with horse hair which was used as a binding agent. The ceiling medallion in the living room above the chandelier is also original and beautifully preserved as well.
In the cellar of the house leads an entrance and exit of the Underground Railroad Tunnel. This particular tunnel originates at the State House and runs down Prince George Street and ultimately to the water's edge. Annapolis is actually honeycombed with these tunnels. They were constructed for two very different reasons. In colonial days we all remember from our elementary school American history classes that the colonists smuggled items in and out of the country in order to avoid taxation by England. The tunnels were built to help serve that purpose. Also, it was deemed to be very inappropriate in colonial days for slaves to be seen entering and exiting their masters' homes visibly. These tunnels were used by slaves to run many of their errands around town without being seen. By the time that the abolitionists came into existence, these tunnels were already in place and easily accessible. It's amazing to think that our basement was once a holding pen for slaves who were kept there until nightfall when they would be led to ships that would be waiting to transport them north of the Mason Dixon Line.
Until next time,
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We're excited about starting this blog for The Annapolis Inn, and we hope you enjoy reading it. So many of you, our guests and visitors, have asked us to share with them information about our home and Inn, our own backgrounds and histories, and this blog will give us the opportunity to provide you with exactly that type of information. You've been more than guests to us, you've been our extended family, and we know that your interest in everything about us is genuine and important to you, so let us know what you think of our blog. Please feel free to make comments, ask questions or add and share your own insight, experience with us or any other information that you believe will elaborate or enrich a part of the story.
The history of our Inn, as a piece of colonial architecture, has been recorded by the Historic Maryland Trust, and we were provided with a copy which we will share with you. So, here we go: Once upon a time….
The core of these two residences started as a double-pile, center-passage dwelling erected in the 1780s. With the growth of Annapolis in the late 19thcentury, a number of lots and dwellings in the older section of the city were subdivided to provide more housing and commercial stock. Such was the case for this two-story brick dwelling in the mid-1880s as the owner added an entrance bay to the northeast and partitioned the old section of the house to create two side-passage residences. The break in the brickwork caused by this radical reconfiguration of the house was masked on the exterior by stucco which obscured the header bond of the original section.
In the years immediately following the Revolution, Thomas Rutland constructed a 50 by 32 foot, five-bay, brick dwelling on the northeast side of Prince George Street. The front elevation was laid in header bond while the rear and side walls were faced in English bond, a mid to late 18th-century decorative fashion characteristic of the region. The division between the first and second floors is demarcated by a four-course header bond belt course along the rear façade, a treatment that was almost certainly repeated originally on the front as well. The two-story walls rise above an English bond foundation with a stepped water table.
The original plan consisted of a center stair passage with a pair of flanking rooms on each side. Unlike many Annapolis houses of this scale, the two principal entertaining rooms faced the street front while the two smaller rooms were located to the rear. Internal chimneys located on the gable walls heated all four rooms. Little is known of the original finish of these rooms as they were completely renovated by a subsequent owner in the second quarter of the 19th century. The only surviving interior element from the first period of construction is an enriched plaster cornice in the stair passage similar in style to other late colonial examples in the city. The cymatium features an egg-and-dart band while the soffit of the corona consists of alternating modillions and pateras. The bed molding as a fret and rope motif along with a torus-shaped picture molding.
Rutland apparently faced financial reserves and was forced to sell the house to Dr. James Murray in 1785. The 1798 Federal Direct tax assessed Murray $1,200 for this lot which contained the dwelling, a one-story brick kitchen measuring 16 by 32 feet, a 16 foot square brick medical shop, and an 8 by 10 foot brick smokehouse.
James Iglehart, Jr. purchased the house in 1848 and by the late 1850s had made substantial changed to the exterior and interior. The new owner added the two-story porch at the end of the house facing the harbor, lowered the window openings and inserted stone lintels, replaced the old windows with new 12-light sash, and installed a new front door surround. The interior was nearly completely gutted and refurbished in the Greek Revival style. Stone mantelpieces, symmetrical door and window architraves, and other woodwork conform to the new aesthetic. Although the plaster cornice of the central passage was retained, Iglehart replaced the original stairway with a new one. Following the fashion of the period, he created double parlors between the front and rear rooms which opened into one another by a pair of large folding doors.
A generation later, Ann Waddell, Iglehart's daughter, transformed the character of the house by subdividing the building into two separate domiciles. She closed the doors on the left side of the old center passage and constructed a one-bay entrance and stair passage at the northeast end of the house. Perhaps the most distinctive element in this addition was the polychrome flooring with its alternating pattern of dark walnut and light oak floorboards. Presumably it was Waddell who stuccoed the entire façade of the extended building to hide the distinct periods of brickwork. She patterned the new front door surround after her father's Greek Revival handiwork. On the inside of the new tenement, doorways were cut through the old brickwork of the former gable-end wall to connect the new stair passage with the two ground-floor parlors and upper-floor bedchambers. These new apertures were embellished with large Greek-inspired corner blocks and symmetrical moldings similar in scale and detail to the previous generation of trim.
Changes in the late 19th and 20th centuries to both sections of the Murray House have been mainly concentrated in the back with the addition and rebuilding of rear winds perpendicular to the main block. However, little has been done to obscure the mid-19th century finishes in the older section, which provides one of the best opportunities to examine trim detail and finishes of the Greek Revival period in Annapolis.
Until next time,
Innkeeper, Annapolis Inn
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AsedaSciences® provides multi-parametric, high content, high throughput phenotypic screening services to the biopharmaceutical and chemical industries. Our unique platform utilizes the inherent strengths of flow cytometry, automated processes and sophisticated data analysis to deliver high value information that allows chemists to approve, improve or remove compounds far earlier in the drug discovery and development process. Our goal is to help the chemical producing industries predict risk of toxicity at the earliest stages of the research and development process to prevent the significant costs of downstream failures and to reduce the safety risk for animals and humans.
SYSTEMETRIC® Cell Health Screen
Description: Multi-parametric, human cell based phenotypic screen
Concentration Range: 10-step dose response, range from 100 uM down to 5 nM
Parameters Measured: Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP), Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS),
Glutathione (GSH), Cytoplasmic Membrane Integrity (CMI), Nuclear Membrane
Integrity (NMI), Cell Cycle (CC), Morphology (Morph)
Compound Volume Required: 20 ul of 10 mM stock in DMSO
Analytical Method: Flow Cytometry
Analysis: Automated analysis using proprietary machine learning algorithms
Analytical Output: Color coded risk score based on comparison to known compounds in database
Visualization: Cloud based SaaS platform, 3RnD®


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KONTI-IT-Cryostats are continous flow cryostats with integrated liquid helium tank. It can be operated either as a bath cryostat or as an evaporator. For most applications, this cryostat type has a central sample chamber, which is accessed from the top „top loading". In normal operation, the cooling fluid (liquid or gaseous) comes out of the heat exchanger through a sintered diffusor into the sample chamber and floods the sample. This way, the maximum cooling power can be reached, since the sample is located directly in the gas flow. For particular applications requiring the sample to be kept outside the cooling fluid, a separate tube can be used. In this case, the cooling occurs via contact gas (helium). For special cases, were the sample has to remain in vacuum other designs are possible too. These systems can reach temperatures down to 1,2 K.
The cryostats are made of stainless steel, manufactured according to the actual rules and equipped with all required safety installations at the various tanks.


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|BSC - Correspondence Course for PO/Clerk Exam in Bank (Revised & Updated)|
BSC, the leader in classroom courses in India for Bank PO/Clerk Exams, also brings you the most comprehensive Correspondence Course for Bank PO/Clerk Exams.
The correspondence courses are aimed at those students who prefer to prepare on their own – for various reasons, such as:
- They stay far off and cannot attend classroom courses.
- Their work/academic commitments do not leave them enough time to attend classes.
BSC Correspondence Course is the closest that one can get to a classroom programme for BANK PO preparation. This course has been prepared based on our, more than two decades in successfully training thousands of students for Bank PO and other Entrance exams. The well-researched course material in our Correspondence Course ensures comprehensive coverage of all basic concepts, with solved examples, short-cuts and strategies for improvement of performance. The basic concepts that are taught in the classroom sessions, covering various test areas, are put together in the form of booklets that will ensure that you derive the same benefits as from the classroom programme. You are given a lot of practice tests, on different topics, covering all the test areas. Our study material and test papers are prepared after carefully researching test papers of previous years, ensuring that you get the best and most relevant course material. This is also revised and updated over time to ensure that you get material that accurately reflects the latest paper pattern. Our course material is widely acknowledged by students as the most exhaustive and update in the market.
Course Content :
The course enables the students to learn at a pace that is convenient to them. The material is comprehensive and developed with great care to ensure phased learning. Every module has been developed keeping in mind the various patterns and question types that have appeared over several years. Developed by experts, the study material coherently helps the student develop the skills required in different areas. The large number of practice exercises creates test conditions and also provides vital practice. These exercises are supplemented by detailed explanations.
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"Let's go to the gym and work up a sweat".
So, does this mean that if you don't get "sweaty Betty", you may as well not have bothered going?
Definitely not! You can still burn energy/fat and not perspire!
Perspiring is your body's way of cooling itself, similar to the fan on a car cutting in. If this didn't happen, you'd overheat and collapse (just like the cars you see at the side of the road steaming). Cool temperatures keep perspiration down but your heart can be beating just as high as if you were out in the tropics!
Who sweats more – the 'fit' or the 'unfit'?
We'll use the word "perspire" as it sounds much better than "sweat" but in essence, it's the same. Depending on age, fitness level, gender and the environment, perspiration is different from person to person. You therefore cannot compare and say he/she is not fit because they sweat a lot or don't sweat at all. We all sweat at our own rate. That said, the fitter you get, the quicker and more you will sweat from your own base level.
The body does not like its internal temperature to change, and as you increase your fitness the body becomes better at maintaining its internal temperature by sweating sooner and more, thereby dissipating the increased heat from exercise faster and more effectively. So more sweat is a sign of fitness (but only when compared to your 'base' sweat level).
Furthermore, exercising in air conditioned rooms or cold air means you will not perspire as much because your body does not get as hot and the air will evaporate any "water". With the science "hat" on, this is known as radiation – heat "radiating" out of the skin when the air around you is cooler than your body. However, in humid climates, the perspiration can't evaporate and that's why it drips off you (nice!).
So, it's important to note that the amount you perspire depends more on the conditions you are exercising in (outdoor sin the hot sun versus indoors in an air-conditioned room) than on the energy you're burning – when you exercise, you are sweating all the time, but it is evaporating more or less depending on what conditions you are in.
Did you know…
- Perspiration is made up of water, potassium and salt? It varies in every person.
- The average person has 2.6 million sweat glands
Losing excessive amounts of water makes you dehydrated, so ensure you're taking enough water on board when you exercise. Also, due to the loss of the salt and other minerals, it is important to replace salt in your diet. This is not just any salt or any salt you buy from supermarkets. Salt, found naturally and unprocessed, contains many trace elements including potassium and sodium chloride. Trace elements are important for the body but get stripped out of processed salt and sold to the vitamin companies. Adding real salt to your diet (salt that is still grey and damp) will give your body all it needs. Click here for a site about real, natural salt.


-bar lift, is a mechanised system for transporting skiers, snowboarders, etc. uphill. It is only used in low capacity situations in large resorts and small local slopes servicing skiers numbered in the dozens rather than in the hundreds or thousands. The T-Bar lift have an aerial steel cable loop running over a series of wheels, powered by an engine at one end. Hanging from the rope are a series of vertical recoiling cables attached to a T-shaped bar, about a meter in both dimensions, that is placed behind the skier's or snowboarder's buttocks. This pulls the passenger uphill while they slide across the ground. A single T-bar transports a maximum of two people per T-bar unit.
Tail The back of a ski.
Terrain Pod A contiguous area of land deemed suitable for ski lift and trail development due to its slope gradients, exposure and fall line characteristics.
Tillers are mounted on the rear of a grooming tractor and is driven hydrostatically. A tiller typically requires deep snow conditions and is used to break up compacted snow surface, to reduce snow and ice chunks, and to mix old and new snow. The tiller itself is similar to a garden roto-tiller and consists of a rotating shaft (cutter bar), which has multiple tines that are typically three to five inches (7.6 to 12.7 cm) in length that condition the snow when operated at a high RPM, and a plastic comb or "snow finisher" The tractor's horsepower must be sufficiently large to operate the tiller.
Top Elevation This is the elevation at the top terminal of the ski lift.
Torque The twisting movement of a ski. The amount it will twist along its length will affect its performance. Generally, the stiffer the torque, the higher will be the ski's performance.
Trail means an alpine ski run, cross country ski trail, or other trail shown in or contemplated by the Resort Master Plan.
Trail designation system that categorizes ski and snowboard slopes by difficulty has been set up since the 1960s, in mountain resorts throughout North America (and much of the world). It uses green circles, blue squares and black diamonds to indicate the difficulty of the slope.
Trail System Each trail must have generally consistent grade within a given ability level to provide an interesting and challenging ski experience for the ability level for which the trail is designed. Optimum trail widths should vary depending upon topographic conditions and the caliber of the skier being served. The trail network must minimize cross-traffic and should provide the full range of ability levels consistent with market demand. The trails must be designed and constructed to minimize off fallline conditions and to avoid bottlenecks and convergence zones, which might produce skier congestion.
Turning Radius: A function of sidecut, the turning radius equals the natural circle that a pair of skis or a snowboard can make on edge. The more dramatic the sidecut, the tighter the turning radius.
Unweighting Turning a ski by taking weight off it. An unweighting movement is generally executed by pivoting the tails of the skis around the tips although occasionally a ski can be pivoted around the centre (as in the Wedel turn or learning in the bumps).
Upper body The torso
Uphill turning Making a downhill turn away from the fall line, and thus decreasing the angle of descent.
Vertical Demand is the amount of vertical terrain that skiers/riders can be expected to ski over the course of a day (typically a six to seven hour period). This figure is calculated separately for each skill class. The average vertical demand has been increasing for all skill levels.
Vertical rise This is the difference in elevation between the top and bottom terminals of a ski lift.
Vertical Transport Feet Per Hour (000) - (VTF/Hour) - The number of people lifted 1,000 vertical feet per hour (vertical rise of a lift, times the lift capacity per hour, divided by 1,000). An area's total VTF, is the sum of VTF for all ski lifts.
Warm Bed A classification of bed units that refers to frequent occupancy, typically accommodation that encompasses public, rental bed units that are available for short-term rental through covenants placed on the property.
Waist, the narrowest point of the ski.
Weight The application of weight on to a ski is gauged by the pressure applied by the soles of the feet. As a general rule weight is kept on the middle of the foot, and seldom moves more than an inch or two either backwards or forwards to get the desired result. The distribution of weight between the two skis can vary from all on one ski to an equal spread between the two.
Wire rope is a type of rope which consists of several strands of metal wire laid (or 'twisted') into a helix. Initially wrought iron wires were used, but today steel is the main material used for wire ropes.
Also see
Return to Freestyle Skiing
Personal tools


text: An integrated modeling system is developed to simulate the far-field dispersions of concentrate discharges along the Saudi coast of the Red Sea. It comprises the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model for simulating the atmospheric circulations, the MIT general circulation model (MITgcm) for simulating the large-scale ocean conditions, and the Connectivity Modeling System (CMS) for tracking particle pathways. We use the system outputs and remote sensing altimetry data to study and analyze the atmospheric and oceanic conditions along the Saudi coast of the Red Sea and to conduct particle tracking experiments. The model simulations show distinctive patterns of seasonal variations in both the atmospheric conditions and the large-scale ocean circulation in the Red Sea, which are also reflected in the salinity and temperature distributions along the Saudi coast. The impact of this seasonality on the far-field dispersion of concentrate discharges are illustrated in seasonal dispersion scenarios with discharging outfalls located at the northern, central and southern Saudi coasts of the Red Sea.


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Currently TCExam support four question types:
- MCSA (Multiple Choice Single Answer)
The test taker can only specify one correct answer (radiobutton).
- MCMA (Multiple Choice Multiple Answer)
The test taker may select all answers that apply (checkbox or radio).
- ORDER (Ordering Answers)
The test taker has to select the right order of the alternative answers.
- TEXT (free-answer questions, essay questions,
subjective questions, short-answer questions)
Answer can be a word, phrase, sentence, paragraph or lengthy essay. Essay questions are scored manually. Short-answers are automatically graded.


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SNAP Benefits Prevent Hunger During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The outbreak of a new virus negatively affects the economy and people's well-being. There is a great number of families who suffer from a shortage of money and cannot afford to buy necessities and food. In the situation of economic instability, it seems to be crucial to support low-income households and individuals. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a federal program that provides nutrition benefits to support needy citizens. This paper aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the program implementation and consider how it can help people to improve their nutrition.
At a time when the whole world is fighting with the new virus and its consequences, it is of paramount importance to protect the most vulnerable population groups – children, older adults, and deprived families. The implementation of social distancing measures has substantially raised the specter of hunger (Dickinson, 2020). In response, the government began to allocate money to prevent hunger and lift its citizens out of poverty.
The emergency funding measures include the raise in SNAP benefit levels. This program provides households with money that they can spend only on groceries (Hastings, & Shapiro, 2018). It should be mentioned that the program places certain restrictions on purchases. For instance, one cannot use a benefit for buying alcohol, as the purpose of the program is to supply people with healthy food. Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, a number of families in America did not have access to healthy food due to a poor financial state. SNAP, previously known as FSP, was first implemented during World War II, and for this time, it has proved to be effective in reducing food insecurity and boosting the economy. SNAP Benefits Prevent Hunger During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Another benefit of SNAP is that by allocating money to healthy nutrition, the government might spend less money on healthcare. There is a clear connection between a balanced diet and people's health. If families receive enough food of good quality, it influences their psychological and physical well-being and reduces the number of medical issues. During the pandemic, it becomes even more important to provide low-income households with high-quality food, as a proper diet helps to maintain immunoresistance. Consequently, the SNAP policy implementation may cut the number of patients in hospitals, and make more beds available for the seriously ill.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Malnutrition exerts a negative impact on a health condition, and, in the first place, it concerns children. Proper nutrition is vital for children and adolescents, as it helps to prevent the risk of developing various diseases in the future. Food insecurity is the main cause of cognitive and physical illnesses, and even short periods of undernourishment can lead to long-term implications (Fry-Bowers, 2020). As such, children in low-income families should receive enough food, and their meals should be well-balanced and healthy. It appears that participating in SNAP will boost children's health and reduce food insecurity.
On the other hand, SNAP may also negatively influence children's health. Apart from this program, America has special nutrition assistance strategies that focus on providing free meals in schools. Dunn et al. (2020) state that the problem is that SNAP "places few limits on allowable purchases, so relying more heavily on this program may inadequately address children's nutritional needs" (42). Indeed, children tend to make unhealthy choices when they are on their own, and some parents cannot monitor their children due to lack of time. That is why, instead of buying fruit, vegetables, and dairy products full of vitamins and proteins, households spend benefits on chips, fast food, and fizzy drinks. As a result, the shift from school meals to nutrition programs as SNAP may lead to an unhealthy diet and cause weight gain among students.
However, SNAP is one of the possible ways out in the current situation, and it provides assistance to low-income families and children. Schools deliver meals for students during the school year, but when they close, some children from low-income families are deprived of the opportunity to eat balanced meals. Hence, food costs fall on families, and some of them cannot afford to supply healthy meals to their children. Increased financial burdens may force families to reduce food consumption or waive other necessities, such as utilities, rent, and medication (Dunn et al., 2020). Increasing SNAP expenditures appears to be an effective solution to the problem of food insecurity during the school closures and an economic recession caused by the pandemic.
All in all, when the whole world is suffering from the harmful consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program appears to be a useful tool in struggling with food insecurity and economic downturn. It seems that increasing the benefit levels will exercise a good influence on people's health and will mitigate the negative economic effects of the pandemic. The policy's implementation will help the government lift people out of poverty and prevent the development of serious health issues caused by the lack of food. Moreover, it may also reduce the government's expenditures on healthcare, as the health condition is closely connected with proper nutrition.
Dickinson, M. (2020). Food frights: COVID-19 and the specter of hunger. Agriculture and Human Values.
Dunn, C. G., Kenney, E., Fleischhacker, S. E., & Bleich, S. N. (2020). Feeding low-income children during the Covid-19 pandemic. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(18), 40.
Fry-Bowers, E. K. (2020). Children are at risk from COVID-19. Journal of Pediatric Nursing.
Hastings, J., & Shapiro, J. M. (2018). How are SNAP benefits spent? Evidence from a retail panel. American Economic Review, 108(12), 3493-3540.SNAP Benefits Prevent Hunger During the COVID-19 Pandemic


WCC, ACT Alliance, Middle East Council of Churches Appeal for Addressing Needs in Lebanon
World Council of Churches
Sept. 4, 2020
GENEVE, Sept. 4, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a joint statement, the World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, and Middle East Council of Churches appealed to address the most urgent needs in the wake of the catastrophic explosion that ripped through the heart of Beirut on 4 August.
"We stand in solidarity with the bereaved, the injured, the displaced and the suffering," reads the appeal. "On behalf of the international ecumenical community, ACT Alliance is launching an appeal as part of the international humanitarian response to this disaster, and we join in calling on the international community for a comprehensive humanitarian mechanism of coordination and collaboration with Lebanese civil society."
The three organizations also recognize and lift up the swift and effective actions taken by Lebanese civil society to respond and to alleviate the suffering of those affected. "The civil society response to the disaster is a significant sign of hope, strengthening people's capacity to overcome this enormous crisis and to restore hope in the society for the future of the nation," reads the statement. "There must be real accountability for this disaster, through an independent investigation."
The organizations call on the international community, through the UN, to ensure that the causes of this disaster are investigated and established by a credible independent process, that those responsible are brought to justice, and that impunity is avoided.
"While immediate humanitarian assistance is essential and fundamental, ensuring long-term resilience is crucial for Lebanon's sustainable recovery from multiple shocks – bringing together humanitarian, development and peace and human security components in a comprehensive systemic approach," the statement reads. "The explosion and its consequences compound a deep pre-existing economic and social crisis, with 50% of Lebanese people living under the poverty line and 400,000 suffering displacement."
The statement urges a comprehensive, detailed and sustained engagement to ensure lasting positive impact.
"This is a critical and historical existential moment for Lebanon - a haven for religious and social diversity in the Middle East - and as such, we are all concerned and called upon to help ensure Lebanon's survival," reads the statement. "With all the tragedies and challenges of its past and present, Lebanon stands as a sign and symbol of living together in diversity."
Read full statement
Solidarity with churches in the Middle East
SOURCE World Council of Churches
CONTACT: Media Office +41 79 _PHONE_, _EMAIL_
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Nacha launches ACH messaging campaign and microsite
Source: Electronic Payments Association
The Electronic Payments Association today announced the launch of a new industry resource, its microsite.
The microsite - a supplement to the main site - was created to help all payments industry participants develop a common understanding of ACH payments, the NACHA Operating Rules, and the value of the ACH Network.
Launched today as part of a "New Year, New Messaging" campaign with the Regional Payments Associations (RPAs), the messaging microsite is a comprehensive, centralized industry resource containing communications tools and information to drive industry adoption and usage of consistent messaging, terminology, and phrasing to explain the attributes and benefits of the ACH Network and ACH payments.
NACHA's ACH Messaging resource site was developed as a result of an industry-inclusive process that engaged Network participants to ensure that the right terminology and messages are being used to explain the electronic movement of money and information via the ACH Network. Based on this research, NACHA developed specific language to define the ACH Network, generated terminology to explain ACH payments, and created distinctive phrasing to convey the role of the ACH Network and its characteristics. The final results of this initiative and how to apply them within unique organizations are available on the microsite.
" provides the necessary tools for all financial institutions and businesses to more consistently communicate about their use of the ACH Network and ACH payments," said Janet O. Estep, NACHA president and CEO. "We encourage all Network participants to review the resources available and begin incorporating the messages, terminology, and phrasing into their communications."
Numerous tools have been developed to help organizations describe ACH payments with terminology that both consumers and businesses will better understand. Using these resources can help avoid confusing payment terminology that may be misinterpreted by those using the ACH Network. Businesses and financial institutioons can start using tools such as customer letters and emails, website banners and graphics, and incorporate the terminology and phrasing into appropriate materials today.
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- parree (obsolete)
From earlier parree, from Middle English *parree, *paree, from Old French paree ("preparation, ceremony, parade"), from Medieval Latin parāta ("preparation, parade"), from Medieval Latin parāre ("to ward off, guard, defend, prepare, get ready"). More at pare. The English verb to parry is taken from the noun.
- To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.).
- 2011 September 28, Tom Rostance, "Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos", in BBC Sport:
- Wojciech Szczesny was then called into action twice in a minute to parry fierce drives from Djebbour and Torossidis as Arsenal's back four looked all at sea.
parry (plural parries)
- A defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying.
- (fencing) A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade.
- (combat sports and martial arts) A defensive move intended to change the direction of an incoming strike to make it miss its intended target, rather than block and absorb it. Typically performed with an open hand in a downward or sideways slapping motion.


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The South China sea project: Establishing a regional system of fisheries refugia
MetadataShow full item record
Details are given of activities carried out within the framework of the UNEP/GEF project 'Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand', considering in particular the integration of fisheries and habitat management through the establishment of a regional system of fisheries'refugia'. This project is unique in that it represents the first attempt to develop regionally coordinated programmes of action designed to reverse environmental degradation, particularly in the areas of coastal habitat degradation and loss, halt land-based pollution and address the issue of fisheries over-exploitation. The key themes emerging from the fisheries component of the project relate to the important role that coastal and marine habitats of the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea play in sustaining regional fisheries, and the general low level coordination between fisheries and environmental management in the region. The partner network created through this project provides an ideal basis for efforts to improve the integration of environmental and habitat considerations into regional fisheries management, and the project activity of establishing a regional system of fisheries'refugia' aims to provide a conduit for this. This latter activity is being implemented in close collaboration with SEAFDEC. Countries participating in the project have a useful foundation for the identification and evaluation of approaches to fisheries management at both the national and regional level.


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Stretching from Céadaoin an Spiaire to Máirt Chásca, there are enough special days surrounding Easter to give a specific Irish name for each day of the week. Since there are already several forms for each day, aside from Easter usage, let's look at them grouped together in a chart. That will enable us to focus on changes like initial mutation (séimhiú, urú), h-prefixation, and endings (an tuiseal ginideach)
Even for ordinary purposes, each day has at least two forms, one for the day as a subject or concept (like "An Luan," Monday, lit. "the" Monday) and one used to say when something is happening (like "Dé Luain," lit. "on the day of" Monday).
This chart has four columns, the first one giving forms that would rarely occur on their own. For these, I have followed the linguistic practice of putting a réiltín in front of them. It's not that these forms are completely hypothetical (as we might find in historical linguistic reconstruction), it's just that they would almost always be part of a two-word phrase, sometimes an even longer phrase. From this "root," we get the subject form (An Luan), and, by following genitive case rules, we get the preposition form (Dé Luain). Hmmm, you might ask, why genitive case (possessive) rules when using a preposition phrase? It's because "Dé," when preceding a day of the week, functions as a preposition but is really a noun. This "Dé" comes from the word "dia" (note lower-case), which is an alternate word for "day" in Irish, now somewhat archaic, or, we could say, fossilized. This process is much like what happens with "cois" in the phrase "cois na tine," where "cois" (from "cos," foot, leg) is really a noun but functions like a preposition, resulting in the meaning "by the fire" (lit. "at the foot of the fire").
Some of the words in the chart will also be changed if they're in a prepositional phrase starting with "ar an," as in "ar an gCéadaoin" (lit. on "the" Wednesday). Ulster Irish will have lenition in these cases (Chéadaoin).
Unlike "lá," which seems to be unique in the Indo-European panorama of languages (except for Scottish Gaelic "latha" and Manx "laa"), the word "dia"/"dé" is a cognate to other European words for "day," such as "dies," "dydd," "tag," and even "day" itself (plus, less directly, "jour" from Latin "diurnus"). So, somewhat unusually, the word "lá" isn't used in the names of the days of the week. But you probably noticed that already!
The "dia" form of "day" also shows up in the old spellings of the Irish words for "today" and "yesterday," which are "indiu" and "indé."
So here's the chart. Hope you find it helpful. There are additional notes for three of the terms below.
|"Root"||Subject Form||"Dé" Form (w "tuiseal ginideach" ending)||"ar an" Form||Easter Terms|
|*Domhnach||An Domhnach||Dé Domhnaigh||ar an Domhnach||Domhnach Cásca|
|*Luan||An Luan||Dé Luain||ar an Luan||Luan Cásca|
|*Máirt||An Mháirt||Dé Máirt||ar an Máirt, alt., ar an Mháirt (U)||Máirt Chásca (2)|
|*Céadaoin||An Chéadaoin||Dé Céadaoin, or alt., Dé Céadaoine (U)||ar an gCéadaoin, alt. ar an Chéadaoin (U)||Céadaoin an Spiaire, (? Céadaoin Naofa) (3)|
|*Déardaoin||An Déardaoin||Déardaoin (1)||ar an Déardaoin, ar Déardaoin||Déardaoin (na) Mandála|
|*Aoine||An Aoine||Dé hAoine (h-prefix)||ar an Aoine||Aoine an Chéasta|
|*Satharn||An Satharn||Dé Sathairn||ar an Satharn, alt. ar an tSatharn (U)||Satharn Cásca|
1) Although it's not often explicitly stated, "Dé" is not needed before "Déardaoin" because it's already built into the word. Having said that, a recent Google search brought up about 300 hits for "Déardaoin" with "Dé" in front of it! Either the usage is changing, or these are all just slip-ups. Bhur mbarúlacha, a léitheoirí?
2) I noted last year (_URL_ that I found no instances of "Máirt Chásca" being used online for "Easter Tuesday," but, interestingly, this year I found three hits. The three are duplicates (sigh!) and all refer to the founding of the Kilkenny branch of the Gaelic League in 1897. However else the phrase may be used or not used, it's interesting to note this designation as opposed to just saying "April 20th," which was the date of Easter Tuesday in 1897, if _URL_ serves me right. Go raibh maith agat, a Choinín Cásca! An ceann ponc com, that is!
Of course, there is a long-standing tradition in both Irish and British writing of dating certain events by referring to a holiday, instead of a date, as in the réamhráite of "An Fear Eagair," in Myles na gCopaleen's parody An Béal Bocht being written on "Lá an Ghátair" [Day of Distress] and "Lá an Luain" [Day of Doom]. Or, more straightforwardly, the preface to C. S. Lewis's That Hideous Strength, dated "Christmas Eve, 1943." It's not a practice I've seen used much in American literature.
As for the general significance of Easter Tuesday, as noted last year, I still see it listed as a public holiday in just one place, An Tasmáin. There it is described as a "restricted public holiday currently observed by certain awards/agreements and the State Public Service (_URL_ Suimiúil! A New Zealand site (_URL_ discusses Easter Tuesday as a potential holiday for employees of New Zealand Educational Institute, but they must have served 10 years and they must incorporate it into their annual leave. I don't quite get that last bit, but I guess it doesn't really matter. Suffice it to say that Easter Tuesday may have greater recognition elsewhere than seems apparent in 21st-century America. Many American school districts simply make their Spring Break surround Easter and avoid all discussion as to whether the break has anything to do with Easter at all.
3) There are plenty of references to the Wednesday before Easter being called "Céadaoin an Spiaire" (Wednesday of the Spy) in Irish, but for "Céadaoin Naofa" (the presumed form for "Holy Wednesday"), my search online turned up one questionable reference (in a very mixed-up hybrid site) and in dictionaries I found nothing. As I understand it, the term "Spy Wednesday" has been changed to "Holy Wednesday," but I simply don't find much evidence of this usage in Irish and I also can't find an exact year for the change. Vatican II? If it were that long ago, I'd expect to find more evidence of "Céadaoin Naofa" online. Maybe I'm just barking up the wrong tree, but between Google searches, online dictionaries and hard-copy dictionaries, I usually find some evidence of what I'm looking for, vocabulary-wise. Of course, I always try to build on what I've heard and read in everyday usage for years, but I do like to check these sources for more specific information. Btw, I also found nothing under the old spelling, which would be "Céadaoin Naomhtha," but of course, the formal date of the change, assuming there is one, might preclude that. Hmmm. Lenited and eclipsed versions of the above? Amas ar bith! (No hits) and no luck in dictionaries. Sin sin go dtí an bhliain seo chugainn, is dócha.
And, last but not least, a bit of Google-based trivia that some of you may find amusing as I did. When I tried searching for "Máirt Chásca" without comharthaí athfhriotail and without sínte fada, the first hit (of 7,360,000!) that came up was for the K-Mart in Chaska, Minnesota. Wonders never cease! On that bemused note


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Proposed in the late 19th century by the Marginalist group of economists, who used differential calculus to study the impact of small changes in economic quantities, marginal utility refers to the additional satisfaction a consumer derives from the consumption of one extra unit of a product.
Thus, an individual's demand for a product is determined not by the total utility of it but by its marginal utility. Therefore, the greater the supply of a product, the smaller its marginal utility.
The Marginalists rejected the labor theory of value which had previously been central to classical economics.
R D Black, A W Coats and C D W Goodwin, The Marginal Revolution in Economics (Durham, NC, 1973)


Top 10 Most Beautiful Birds in the World
All Time Most Beautiful Birds in the World You Would Love To See
There are over 10,000 different species of birds on our beautiful planet. And, although they are mostly charming, some birds are examples of pure beauty. The proof with these 10 increasingly rare birds considered to be the all-time most beautiful in the world.
Top 10 Most Beautiful and Incredible Birds in the World
1. The Blue Jay
The blue jay is a small passerine bird found in the forests of North America but also in the Gulf of Mexico. Beyond its magnificent blue plumage, this bird is known to take ant baths in order to get rid of parasites.
2. The Golden Pheasant
The golden pheasant is famous for its sublime multicolored plumage and golden crest that it proudly wears on the top of its head. Originally from China, it corresponds in every way to the description we have of the legendary phoenix. A solitary and omnivorous bird, it prefers to move on the ground rather than to fly.
3. The Blue-Headed Lorikeet
The blue-headed lorikeet is a very colorful parrot known to be very loud. Indeed, it has a wide range of calls and other twitterings. Endemic to Oceania, this diurnal bird has a brush-shaped tongue that allows it to suck nectar from flowers.
4. The Flamingo
The flamingo lives in groups and has plumage that can range from pale pink to red. It owes its coloring to the crustaceans it feeds on. This bird, which has a lifespan of 30 years in the wild, is known to be able to stand on one leg, especially when sleeping.
5. The Keeled Toucan
Found in South America, the keel-billed toucan, also called the rainbow toucan, is easily identifiable thanks to its long, colorful banana-shaped beak. It lives in tropical lowland forests and feeds mainly on fruits, but also on insects and eggs. This bird has the particularity of being endowed with a very playful character.
6. The Peacock
The peacock wheel is famous around the world. And for good reason, to seduce females, this bird from India does not hesitate to deploy the feathers of its tail, giving rise to a breathtaking spectacle.
7. The Hyacinth Macaw
The Hyacinth Macaw lives in South America and is admired for its incredible blue plumage but also for its size. Indeed, it is considered the largest parrot in the world since it can reach a wingspan of 1.50 meters in adulthood.
8. The Royal Crane
Present only in Africa, the royal crane measures on average 1 meter high for a weight of 3.5 kilos. She is easily recognizable by her crest of golden feathers that stands on top of her head.
9. The Horned Pheasant
Also called tragopan satyr, the horned pheasant is found in South Asia, more specifically in the Himalayan region. This colorful bird with orange plumage and a blue head lives in pairs in highland forests. It spends most of its time foraging on the ground and only perches at night to sleep.
10. Mandarin Duck
Native to Northeast Asia, the male mandarin duck owns a plumage colored inbreeding. At the end of spring, it, therefore, loses its colors to take on the same appearance as the female, whose colors are duller. Symbol of loyalty, this bird is famous for living with the same partner throughout its life.
Also Read: Top 10 Birds with Spectacular Beaks
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The first successful cloning of a gaur in 2000 by Advanced Cell Technology involved the cells of two animals: an egg cell from a domestic cow and a skin cell from a gaur. The researchers extracted the egg cell from the ovary of the domestic cow and the skin cell from the skin of the gaur. First, the researchers performed nuclear transplantation on the egg cell of the cow, during which they removed the nucleus of the egg cell. The mitochondria of the egg cell remained intact inside the cell.


text: lose the extremely important dark, night hours used to get far away from shore (Pilcher, 2001). When they are released out to sea it is often in the early morning hours of dusk when many predators are about and this limits their chance of survival (Pilcher, 2001). In addition to the threat of being released during dusk the hatchlings are also often too weak to gain a swift and long distance movement from shore due to the expended energy lost in the incubator after hatching (Pilcher, 2001). These results have lead many to believe that hatcheries are ineffective and should only be used as a last resort (Pilcher, 2001). There is no extensive research showing the survival rate of the hatchlings after they are released to sea but one study proclaimed a possible 50% loss after release (Pilcher, 2001).


Red-bellied Tamarin
Red-bellied Tamarin
Saguinus labiatus
Red-bellied Tamarin at Tayto Park
About Me
Red-bellied tamarins, also known as white-lipped tamarins, are mostly dark brown in colour with red marks on their belly and chest and a white "moustache" around the nose and mouth. They are monomorphic, with all individuals looking alike. They are relatively small primates from the New World monkeys. They are diurnal animals and live in social groups of 4-15 individuals but usually consisting between 2 and 8. The group itself is made up of a breeding male and breeding female, along with their offspring and other male helpers. In the wild this species is known to form associations with other callitrichids such as Goeldi's monkeys. This gives both species a stronger defence of their home-range. It equally ensures there is no competition of nesting sites or food as both species mainly forage in different forest layers.
They are a monogamous species with all juveniles in the group coming from the breeding pair. Helper individuals may leave the group during an intergroup encounter in order to become a breeder. They generally mate in spring and after a gestation period of 160 days before giving birth to 1 or 2 offspring. After 1 to 2 years the juveniles become independent.
Conservation Status:
Least Concern
There is no evidence for any major threats but forest destruction and fragmentation may have negative impacts on some of its range.
More Mammals
Conservation at Tayto Park


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Journal of Moral Education 27 (2):191-207 (1998)
|Abstract||Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore the differences and similarities in values held by early adolescents in Mainland China and Taiwan. Samples of seventh graders (N = 707) were drawn from two cities in Mainland China and as many cities in Taiwan. The instruments for this study included the Rokeach Value Survey (RVS) and the Chinese Value Survey (CVS). Many significant differences were found between adolescents in Mainland China and Taiwan, and between boys and girls. Early adolescents in Mainland China tend to prefer values that are related to competence and personal effectiveness. In contrast, their counterparts in Taiwan are more people?orientated and value interpersonal relationships more. The two groups also emphasise different aspects of collectivism. The subjects in Mainland China prefer more task?orientated values which aim toward service to society and country. The subjects in Taiwan, on the other hand, focus more on family?related values. Significant differences between the sexes are also found. Girls demonstrate more concern for relationships than do boys. Similarities in value preferences are also found. Adolescents in both Mainland China and Taiwan show concern for the world, country, family, friends and virtues related to interpersonal relationships. They are also similar in showing little concern for some traditional Chinese values such as reputation and respect for tradition. Implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature|
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In the current issue (Spring 2009) of The Tradition journal is Luís' the article "Comet Lulin: nasty little green thing". This post is an addendum to that article.
The African country of Guinea-Bissau was shaken to its foundations last week, when two of its leaders – João Bernando 'Nino' Vieira, the country's president, and General Batista Tagmé Na Waié, his political rival – were brutally murdered. Both men died within a short period of time. General Waié was assassinated on 1st of March late at night when a bomb exploded in his office; president Vieira met a violent end a few hours later when armed men invaded his house and hacked him to death with machetes. Besides the obvious political motivation of these murders, there is also an underlying motive of personal revenge, as the two men were long-term rivals. (more details here)
This violent crime can be linked directly to the comet's traditional significations which are: "death of kings and Grandees, Nobles such as chief rulers", as mentioned in the article published in The Tradition journal. It was also pointed that: "a comet in Scorpio indicates 'abundance of war and rebellion', 'detriment and damage to soldiers', 'contemptions among great men', 'death of some eminent men'. (…) Its effects should be noticeable quite quickly because it is oriental of the Sun."
In this case the "contention" between two powerful men ended with the assassination of one of them, the top military chief, General Waié, and the subsequent revenge taken by his soldiers on his rival, President Nino Vieira. This fits the description of the comet's significations accurately.
The article also referred to areas where its effects might be felt:
"Its declination ranged from approximately 15ºS to 18ºN, thus in geographical terms its effects will have more emphasis on the equatorial and tropical areas of the planet which have around the same value of latitude. This would suggest Africa (particularly the North) as the place where its effects will be felt most strongly and because that is an area ruled by Scorpio and the rest of the Water triplicity." As comet Lulin was first spotted in this sign, it is no wonder that its effects were felt in this area of the globe. As we can see on the map, Guinea-Bissau is situated just south of Mauritania, and therefore in an area ruled by Scorpio according to Ptolemy and with a range of latitudes between 11ºN and 12ºN40'.
The comet's path, during its period of visibility, period crossed the Zodiac from Scorpio to Leo and on the day of the murders it was moving away from a conjunction of Regulus, a star usually related to kings and chiefs.
Let's now take a quick look to the event chart. According to diplomatic sources quoted on the news, the murder of President Vieira, occurred on the 2nd March at around 5:30 AM:
The human sign of Aquarius rises, and its ruler Saturn is placed in the house of death in the human sign of Virgo. Mercury, ruler of the 8th house, is on the 1st in exact conjunction with Mars, showing a violent death by "human hands" (see William Lilly, Christian Astrology, p.646: "Humaine Signes, denote death by a Man, as by Armes or Violence"), in this case by soldiers (Mars). Mars also signifies the President (as ruler of the MC/10th house) meeting his death, because Mercury is the ruler of the 8th house from the 10th.
The Mercury-Mars conjunction seems to be the key element in this event, and the nature of the comet Lulin is also Mercury-Mars (see full article in the The Tradition for details). At this time the comet would have been opposing the conjunction and squaring the Moon. In fact, the murders occurred within a few hours of the exact Mercury-Mars conjunction, as we can see in the timeline:
– 1st March late night (exact time not found), general Waié is murdered in a bomb attack;
– 2nd March, 03:05 am, the Mercury-Mars conjunction perfects (this was the third conjunction of a series of three, due to Mercury's recent retrogradation from Aquarius to Capricorn);
– 2nd March, around 05:30 am: President Vieira is hacked and shot to death in his mother-in-law's house, after a siege which lasted at least one hour.
There is also a possible interaction with the Presidents nativity – Nino Vieira was born on 27th April 1939 (time unknown). Despite the unfortunate lack of a birth time, the natal Moon would be posited between 9º and 23º of Leo, therefore close to the opposition of the Mercury-Mars conjunction degree. This area of the Zodiac was also the place of the two last eclipses (a solar eclipse at 6º Aquarius, and a lunar at 20º Aquarius-Leo).
These were the almost immediate effects of comet Lulin – a shocking and violent crime, as it would be expected judging by its nature. Let us hope this was Lulin's darker side and from here on its effects become dimmer.


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Last week, I had the pleasure of witnessing the birth of a collecting society in the Gambia. Contrary to my previously held assumptions, collecting societies aren't delivered by storks or the result of divine intervention. Instead, collecting societies are forged through the agreement and input of a variety of stakeholders. The trip raised a lot of questions, so let's look at the economics of collecting societies and consider what this means for the new Gambian society.
|Workshop with NCAC|
Collecting societies, or as they are sometimes known as, copyright collecting societies (CCS) or collective management societies (CMS), are organisations that manage the rights of many holders. The standard economic argument in favour of collecting societies is that, given the high transaction costs of managing rights, collective management is efficient. Think of how difficult it would be for each musician to collect a small amount from every hairdressers in the world playing the musician's music. Somehow, I don't see Lady Gaga doing Pay This Way tours. By working with a larger repertoire of rights, collecting societies benefit from the economies of scale that make licensing these rights efficient. This function is important as it allows copyright holders to receive remuneration from the array of copyright users.
Economists Towse and Handke discuss this, "Transaction costs are particularly problematic where copyrighted works have a relatively small value to many users. Such a constellation requires many transactions and sometimes transactions costs might even exceed the market price for a licence to use a copyrighted work." In this situation, collecting societies serve a vital role in the current marketplace. Towse and Handke further point out that collecting societies are likely natural monopolies as a single society will have lower costs than multiple, smaller societies. Given the small size of the Gambia, the rights holders there are planning a single society for all creative sectors as it is unlikely that many, smaller societies would be economically viable.
|No monopsony for cat treats|
The economics at play within a collecting society are also of interest. Each collecting society must negotiate amongst its diverse members on fees, practices and royalties. Towse and Handke point out that less established members will want looser enforcement practices in the interests of increasing the distribution and promotion of the works. More established members may benefit from discriminating against newer members. Kretschmer, Klimis and Wallis note that European "collecting societies have been threatened with a withdrawal of repertoire in order to obtain better terms." They also argue that the differing incentives of members make collecting societies "extremely fragile constructions."
An interesting prediction is that Digital Rights Management (DRM) could spell the end of collecting societies (there is even a book with such a title.) Digital technologies and the internet are good at lowering transaction costs and making transactions too expensive in the analogue world, feasible. However, consumers typically don't like DRM and, so far, DRM does not appear to be replacing collecting societies. Yet, as one music industry employee interviewed by Kretschmer et al argued in 1999, "10 years from now, the music industry will look essentially the same." If this has proven not to be true for the rest of the industry, what does the future hold for collecting societies? And what will this mean for new societies like the Gambian one?
Finally, a quick kat-tip to Kingsley Egbuonu of Afro-IP and Tim Katlic (feline friendly surname!) of oAfrica for their wealth of information on the Gambia and Africa.