text:
(MNN.com) -- My dog has a preference for shoes, but some dogs and cats have a knack for finding and consuming more dangerous items, in spite of our best efforts to deter that behavior. When those things get stuck, pets often need a trip to the vet for emergency removal.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), more than 5,000 pets received treatment at the group's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York.
Many of the cases resulted in costly treatment for preventable conditions. The group's top five are dental disease, urinary tract disease, pyometra, foreign body ingestion and high-rise syndrome, with veterinary bills ranging from $400 to more than $3,000. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
1. Dental disease (Estimated cost: $400 to $1,000)
"Picture what would happen if you literally never brushed your teeth," says Dr. Louise Murray, vice president of the Bergh animal hospital. "With proper dental care, dental treatments are shorter, less complicated, less invasive and less uncomfortable for your pet."
Set a goal of brushing your pet's teeth at least three times a week, which can extend the periods between veterinary dental procedures. Finger toothbrushes make quick work of the task, but Murray says wet gauze wrapped around your finger will do the trick.
Rub the outside surfaces and avoid human toothpaste, which is toxic to pets. Don't miss this video on what happens during veterinary dental procedures. It will make you want to grab a toothbrush, fast.
Chew toys also can help promote good dental health and prevent destructive behavior. ASPCA dog trainer Kristen Collins recommends investing in a variety of chew toys -- ranging from hard to soft -- to keep pets entertained.
"Supervise your dog really closely the first few times that she is chewing anything," she warns. Broken pieces can present a choking hazard. "If you have a power chewer, make sure those 'indestructible' toys are really indestructible."
Some pet toys, such as the Kong line, contain hollow centers that can be filled with peanut butter or other treats that may prove more enticing than your shoes. As pets age, their teeth can become more brittle, so consider softer gear.
Planet Dog has a line of Toys for Old Souls, and SmartBones digestible chew toys are made from dried chicken breast, an alternative to rawhide.
2. Urinary tract disease/obstruction (Estimated cost = $1,500+)
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) typically leads to inappropriate urination outside a cat's litter box. According to Murray, this common condition affects male and female cats and can be avoided by increasing their water intake.
"Cats evolved in the desert; their ancestors developed to produce a very concentrated urine," she says. "Cats' prey in the wild was 80 percent liquid. We give dry food and the urine becomes incredibly concentrated. Tons of studies show more liquid in diet can help."
Canned food, pouches or homemade moist diets contain more water than dry kibble. If your cat is finicky about food, start by adding a tablespoon of water to her kibble and increase the amount over time. Patience is key.
Murray notes that it can take months for cats to adjust to the change. During the transition, Collins recommends water fountains for dehydrated pets. "A lot of cats will consume water if they can play with it," she says.
Murray adds that stress can trigger FLUTD, so stock up on interactive toys, scratching posts and window perches to keep cats busy.
3. Pyometra (Estimated cost: $2,000)
Chronic exposure to hormones can cause female cats and dogs to develop cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH), thickening of the uterine tissue. This condition can predispose the animal to pyometra, a bacterial infection within the uterus.
Emergency surgery is costly, and Murray notes that both medical conditions are 100% preventable.
"Spay your pet," she warns. "Don't wait for this to happen. Instead of a spay that costs $200 or $300, now you have $2,000 ICU emergency bill."
4. GI foreign body (Estimated cost: $2,000)
While pets can ingest anything, Murray says that stringy items such as dental floss, ribbons and shoestrings can be particularly harmful for cats and dogs. Once ingested, these objects can become entangled and actually rip an animal's intestines. Keep these dangerous items out of reach.
Pet toys that become damaged can present hazards as well. Avoid toys that are small enough for pets to swallow, and remove toys that become torn or broken. Bones are strictly off limits.
"Do not give them bones, period, end of story," Murray says. "I can't tell you how many bones I've taken out with the endoscope or doctors have taken out surgically. Anything that's super hard will break their teeth."
Collins likes teaching dogs the "drop it" command to help people and pets avoid potentially dangerous items. If your dog has something it its mouth, say "drop it" and show a high-value treat.
As soon as your dog drops the item, offer praise and give the treat. Repeat this step a few times and then move on to the next stage of saying the command without showing the treat each time.
"Train them well and you can use 'drop it' with various items," she says. "I used to live in Manhattan and used to walk dogs for friends and neighbors; 'drop it' is the best cue you can have. It can save their lives."
Of course, cats don't respond well to bribery, so Collins says to be vigilant about keeping their environment safe. Remove items they are likely to find chew-worthy and stock up on cat grass or other alternatives. Since boredom can lead to destructive behavior, interactive toys help in this area as well.
5. High-rise syndrome (Estimated cost: $1,500 to $3,000)
Tall buildings and curious cats can be a dangerous combination. Each year, Bergh animal hospital treats quite a few ruptured lungs and broken limbs that result from cats falling from tall buildings. Make sure windows are tightly framed and avoid letting cats free on the balcony.
"People think cats have good instincts and won't jump or fall from the balcony," Murray says. "A cat has no way to know how high they are. They came up in an elevator."
© Copyright 2011 Mother Nature Network


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General Laws
Section 20D. A witness who is called or who may be called to testify before a grand jury or in a criminal proceeding in the supreme judicial court, appeals court or superior court may, in the manner provided in section twenty E, be granted immunity in any proceeding or investigation involving the following crimes: abortion, arson, assault and battery to collect a loan, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, assault to murder, breaking and entering a dwelling house or a building, bribery, burning of a building or dwelling house or other property, burglary, counterfeiting, deceptive advertising, electronic eavesdropping, embezzlement, extortion, firearm violations, forgery, fraudulent personal injury and property damage claims, violation of the gaming laws, gun registration violations, intimidation of a witness or of a juror, insurance law violations, kidnapping, larceny, lending of money or thing of value in violation of the general laws, liquor law violations, mayhem, murder, violation of the narcotic or harmful drug laws, perjury, prostitution, violations of environmental control laws (pollution), violations of conflicts of interest laws, consumer protection laws, pure food and drug law violations, receiving stolen property, robbery, subornation of perjury, uttering, or any felony, being an accessory to any of the foregoing offenses and conspiracy or attempt or solicitation to commit any of the foregoing offenses.
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Children's books are a fascinating blend of simplicity and life lessons. They're like security blankets — all warm and fuzzy on the outside, but deeply symbolic on the inside. They can be funny, touching, deep, dark, poignant, or charming, but in the end, they're just the books we love. That's why they so often stay with us well into adulthood. My name is Katrina Denise and I have a wonderful book store that provides diverse books which help children learn to believe in the power Inside.
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Question: How Often Should You Bathe A 4 Year Old?
Why don't they bathe babies right away?
Is it OK for child to sleep with parents?
What age should you stop bathing with child?
around five years"The general rule of thumb is by the time children reach school age, around five years old, they shouldn't be showering with you," says Dr. Richard Beyer, a licensed psychologist in Arcadia, California. "That's the conventional wisdom, the general cutoff line."
How often should a 5 year old shower?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends bathing children age 6-11 once or twice a week or when: They get dirty from playing outside. They finish swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean. They get sweaty or are dealing with body odor.
Can you leave a 4 year old in the bath?
When should you start bathing your baby every day?
Can I give my 6 week old a bath every day?
Can I bathe my baby once a week?
Bathe Your Baby Every Day Dr. Sears says that parents should bathe their babies once or twice a week, at most. Bathing your baby too often can wash off the natural moisturizing layer of oil on his or her skin, leaving it cracked, dry and red with eczema.
Why you shouldn't kiss your child on the lips?
At what age should a child sleep in their own bed?
Do 4 year olds need a bath every day?
How often should a child take a bath?
Children ages 6 to 11: Guidelines for bathing If your child is in this age group, taking a daily bath is fine. Children in this age group, however, may not need a daily bath. Children aged 6 to 11 need a bath: At least once or twice a week.


Position, Orientation and Coordinate Transformations
To represent the relative pose (position and orientation) of one rigid body with respect to another, coordinate frames are attached to each body. Then the geometric relationship between these two coordinate frames is specified.
The position of the origin of one frame with respect to another frame can be described with a translation vector (3x1):
\[\begin{split}\boldsymbol{t} = \begin{bmatrix} x \\ y \\ z \end{bmatrix}\end{split}\]
The orientation of one coordinate frame relative to another frame can be described with a rotation matrix (3x3):
\[\begin{split}\boldsymbol{R} = \begin{bmatrix} r_{11} & r_{12} & r_{13} \\ r_{21} & r_{22} & r_{23} \\ r_{31} & r_{32} & r_{33} \\ \end{bmatrix}\end{split}\]
A homogeneous transformation matrix (4x4) can simultaneously represent the position and orientation of one coordinate frame relative to another:
\[\begin{split}\boldsymbol{H} = \begin{bmatrix} \boldsymbol{R} & \boldsymbol{t}\\ 0 & 1\\ \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} r_{11} & r_{12} & r_{13} & x\\ r_{21} & r_{22} & r_{23} & y\\ r_{31} & r_{32} & r_{33} & z\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\\ \end{bmatrix}\end{split}\]
A rigid body possesses at most three rotational degrees of freedom. This means that an arbitrary rigid body orientation can be represented using only three independent quantities. One such minimal representation of orientation is the roll-pitch-yaw representation, defined by roll (\(\phi\)), pitch (\(\theta\)), and yaw (\(\psi\)) angles:
\[\boldsymbol{R}(\phi, \theta, \psi)\]
The advantages of roll-pitch-yaw representation is that it requires only three values. These values are also geometrically easy to understand compared to other representations. The disadvantages are:
 - The values are not continuous.
 - The final orientation depends on:
 - The order of the rotations.
 - Whether the rotations are applied about moving axes (intrinsic rotations) or fixed axes (extrinsic rotations).
The roll-pitch-yaw representation is common among robot vendors. However, not all assume the same convention, and understanding the convention, i.e. order of rotations and whether they are intrinsic or extrinsic, is necessary for converting roll-pitch-yaw angles to other representations.
Axis-Angle / Rotation Vector
Axis-angle representation describes the following:
 - A rotation by a unit vector (\(\boldsymbol{u}\)) indicating the axis of rotation direction.
 - An angle (\(\theta\)) describing the magnitude of rotation about the axis.
There are four parameters in total. To minimize the number of parameters, it is common to multiply each element of the unit vector with the angle, the result of which is the rotation vector (\(\boldsymbol{r}\)):
\[\boldsymbol{r} = \begin{bmatrix} r_x & r_y & r_z \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} u_x \theta & u_y \theta & u_z \theta \end{bmatrix}\]
The advantage of the axis-angle representation over roll-pitch-yaw angles is that it is free from continuity and rotational sequence issues. However, it is hard to match between the physical orientation and the numerical values of the rotation vector. Another disadvantage is that it is impossible to apply the rotation directly on a 3D point; doing this requires conversion to a different representation.
Unit Quaternion
Unit quaternions represent a simple but robust method to encode the axis-angle representation with four parameters.
\[\boldsymbol{q} = \begin{bmatrix} q_{w} & q_{x} & q_{y} & q_{z} \end{bmatrix}\]
Unit quaternions are considered to be the best method of representing orientation between two coordinate frames. This is because they are more compact, more numerically stable, and more efficient than rotation matrices. Compared to roll-pitch-yaw representation, unit quaternions do not suffer from gimbal lock (impossibility to uniquely represent orientation), and unlike axis-angle representation, they can be directly applied to 3D points.
Coordinate Transformations
Any coordinate transformation of a rigid body in 3D can be described with a rotation and a translation. For example, a point (or a point cloud) can be transformed from one coordinate frame to another coordinate frame. This can be performed with a rotation matrix and a translation vector:
\[p_{1} = \boldsymbol{R} p_{0} + \boldsymbol{t}\]
The same can be done with a homogeneous transformation matrix describing the pose between the two frames:
\[p_{1} = \boldsymbol{H} p_{0}\]


text:
Teton Science Schools emphasize Six Innovative Programs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Six Innovative Programs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Teton Science Schools have offered quality educational programming in Grand Teton National Park since 1967, utilizing the wild lands of Yellowstone National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest and the National Elk Refuge. No matter the season, our great variety of residential and day programming provides place-based, experiential education opportunities for all ages all year long, from fostering leadership skills to building awareness of sustainability issues. Whether we cover geology, ecology, weather or plant and animal adaptation, you will leave the program with a deep understanding and appreciation for the ecology and unique natural history of the Greater Yellowstone Geo-ecosystem. Teton Science Schools' model for experiential learning fosters hands-on/minds-on learning in the outdoors, and our professional staff can adapt programs to meet the goals of your group.
The Sustainability Initiative at Teton Science Schools is the process of educating about and monitoring Teton Science Schools' natural resource use. This process helps Teton Science Schools understand its environmental, economic, and community impacts and make informed decisions regarding energy use, resource consumption and waste.
Journeys School of Teton Science Schools
Journeys is a Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade independent school in Jackson Hole, Wyoming engaging college-bound students with an innovative and challenging curriculum that cultivates lifelong learning. Our program consists of four critical pillars that act together to empower students to change the world. Our students accept academic challenges and ask hard questions in a balanced, open-minded, and reflective manner.
Solar Energy Production
A demonstration photovoltaic system totaling roughly 6.4 kwdc (4% of total campus energy use) has been tied into the power grid, permitting power to flow back into the grid at times of low onsite use. Current data for solar array one and solar array two is available online for student use in science and math classes.
High-Performance Design Features
A few examples of the environmentally intelligent building solutions that were applied to the Journeys School and Jackson Campus include:
Buildings were sited to take advantage of site issues such as solar gain, late day shading in summer and building "into" the site. Narrow building footprints are oriented to maximize daylight, passive solar gain and natural ventilation.
Thermal Analysis Software computer modeling was used to locate window openings for maximum cross-ventilation, eliminating the need for air conditioning. Indoor air quality is controlled with outside air using Heat Recovery Units that recover heat from exhaust air.
Concrete containing up to 40% fly ash (a byproduct of power generation) was used as a substitute for cement.
Metal roofs, wall panels and fiber cement siding were used to provide durable, fire-resistant exterior cladding.
Most building materials were left untreated to reduce volatile organic compounds and off-gassing that might occur due to toxicity of finishes. This also eliminated ongoing re-finishing and maintenance. Structural systems such as roof panels, wood shear walls, and concrete slabs were left exposed on the interior, eliminating the need for extra finish materials.
Natural gas boilers and radiant-heated concrete floors were installed to provide a high-efficiency, low-maintenance heating system.
Only carpeting with 100% recycled-content backing was used. Low-flow sinks and showers reduce annual water use by a target of 20-25%.
Untreated plywood and oriented strand board, made from smaller trees and chips, were used to cover many of the interior surfaces. Engineered lumber structural systems used smaller diameter trees for production.
The sustainability committee at Teton Science Schools was developed to address sustainability issues within the organiation. The committee consists of board members and staff/faculty from all program areas within the organization. The comittee's purpose is to develop and initiate a plan for sustainability at Teton Science Schools. The plan will incorporate and prioritize ownership for staff, faculty and board members around sustainability initiatives. Integrating educational opportunities, improving infrastructure and reducing consumption and waste will focus the committee's efforts.
Solar Energy Production
Teton Science Schools' Jackson Campus has two solar arrays that serve as educational models for visitors to the campus. The photovoltaic panels produce 4% of the total energy on campus. The panels are grid-tied to take advantage of net metering in the state of Wyoming.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Humanities LibreTexts
8.2: Exploring Types of Support
 - Page ID
 - Learning Objectives
 - Understand how speakers can use statistics to support their speeches.
 - Differentiate among the five types of definitions.
 - Differentiate among four types of supportive examples.
 - Explain how narratives can be used to support informative, persuasive, and entertaining speeches.
 - Differentiate between the two forms of testimony.
 - Differentiate between two types of analogies that can be used as support.
 Now that we've explained why support is important, let's examine the various types of support that speakers often use within a speech: facts and statistics, definitions, examples, narratives, testimony, and analogies.
 Facts and Statistics
 As we discussed in Chapter 7 "Researching Your Speech", a fact is a truth that is arrived at through the scientific process. Speakers often support a point or specific purpose by citing facts that their audience may not know. A typical way to introduce a fact orally is "Did you know that...?"
 Many of the facts that speakers cite are based on statistics. Statistics is the mathematical subfield that gathers, analyzes, and makes inferences about collected data. Data can come in a wide range of forms—the number of people who buy a certain magazine, the average number of telephone calls made in a month, the incidence of a certain disease. Though few people realize it, much of our daily lives are governed by statistics. Everything from seat-belt laws, to the food we eat, to the amount of money public schools receive, to the medications you are prescribed are based on the collection and interpretation of numerical data.
 It is important to realize that a public speaking textbook cannot begin to cover statistics in depth. If you plan to do statistical research yourself, or gain an understanding of the intricacies of such research, we strongly recommend taking a basic class in statistics or quantitative research methods. These courses will better prepare you to understand the various statistics you will encounter.
 However, even without a background in statistics, finding useful statistical information related to your topic is quite easy. Table 8.3 "Statistics-Oriented Websites" provides a list of some websites where you can find a range of statistical information that may be useful for your speeches.
 Table 8.3 Statistics-Oriented Websites
 Type of Information
 Bureau of Labor Statistics provides links to a range of websites for labor issues related to a vast range of countries.
 Federal Stats provides information on the US federal government.
 Bureau of Justice Statistics provides information on crime statistics in the United States.
 US Census Bureau provides a wide range of information about people living in the United States.
 National Center for Health Statistics is a program conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It provides information on a range of health issues in the United States.
 STATS is a nonprofit organization that helps people understand quantitative data. It also provides a range of data on its website.
 Roper Center for Public Opinion provides data related to a range of issues in the United States.
 Nielsen provides data on consumer use of various media forms.
 Gallup provides public opinion data on a range of social and political issues in the United States and around the world.
 Adherents provides both domestic and international data related to religious affiliation.
 Pew Research Center provides public opinion data on a range of social and political issues in the United States and around the world.
 Statistics are probably the most used—and misused—form of support in any type of speaking. People like numbers. People are impressed by numbers. However, most people do not know how to correctly interpret numbers. Unfortunately, there are many speakers who do not know how to interpret them either or who intentionally manipulate them to mislead their listeners. As the saying popularized by Mark Twain goes, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." [1]
 To avoid misusing statistics when you speak in public, do three things. First, be honest with yourself and your audience. If you are distorting a statistic or leaving out other statistics that contradict your point, you are not living up to the level of honesty your audience is entitled to expect. Second, run a few basic calculations to see if a statistic is believable. Sometimes a source may contain a mistake—for example, a decimal point may be in the wrong place or a verbal expression like "increased by 50 percent" may conflict with data showing an increase of 100 percent. Third, evaluate sources (even those in Table 8.3 "Statistics-Oriented Websites", which are generally reputable) according to the criteria discussed earlier in the chapter: accuracy, authority, currency, and objectivity.
 Imagine that you gave a speech about the use of presidential veto and your audience did not know the meaning of the word "veto." In order for your speech to be effective, you would need to define what a veto is and what it does. Making sure everyone is "on the same page" is a fundamental task of any communication. As speakers, we often need to clearly define what we are talking about to make sure that our audience understands our meaning. The goal of a definition is to help speakers communicate a word or idea in a manner that makes it understandable for their audiences. For the purposes of public speaking, there are four different types of definitions that may be used as support: lexical, persuasive, stipulative, and theoretical.
 Lexical Definitions
 A lexical definition is one that specifically states how a word is used within a specific language. For example, if you go to and type in the word "speech," here is the lexical definition you will receive:
 1. the faculty or power of speaking; oral communication; ability to express one's thoughts and emotions by speech sounds and gesture: Losing her speech made her feel isolated from humanity.
 8. a field of study devoted to the theory and practice of oral communication. Lexical definitions are useful when a word may be unfamiliar to an audience and you want to ensure that the audience has a basic understanding of the word. However, our ability to understand lexical definitions often hinges on our knowledge of other words that are used in the definition, so it is usually a good idea to follow a lexical definition with a clear explanation of what it means in your own words.
 Persuasive Definitions
 Persuasive definitions are designed to motivate an audience to think in a specific manner about the word or term. Political figures are often very good at defining terms in a way that are persuasive. Frank Luntz, a linguist and political strategist, is widely regarded as one of the most effective creators of persuasive definitions. [2] Luntz has the ability to take terms that people don't like and repackage them into persuasive definitions that give the original term a much more positive feel. Here are some of Luntz's more famous persuasive definitions:
 - Oil drilling → energy exploration
 - Estate tax → death tax
 - School vouchers → opportunity scholarships
 - Eavesdropping → electronic intercepts
 - Global warming → climate change
 Luntz has essentially defined the terms in a new way that has a clear political bent and that may make the term more acceptable to some audiences, especially those who do not question the lexical meaning of the new term. For example, "oil drilling" may have negative connotations among citizens who are concerned about the environmental impact of drilling, whereas "energy exploration" may have much more positive connotations among the same group.
 Stipulative Definitions
 A stipulative definition is a definition assigned to a word or term by the person who coins that word or term for the first time. In 1969, Laurence Peter and Raymond Hull wrote a book called The Peter Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong. In this book, they defined the "Peter Principle" as "In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His [sic] Level of Incompetence." [3] Because Peter and Hull coined the term "Peter Principle," it was up to them to define the term as they saw fit. You cannot argue with this definition; it simply is the definition that was stipulated.
 Theoretical Definitions
 Theoretical definitions are used to describe all parts related to a particular type of idea or object. Admittedly, these definitions are frequently ambiguous and difficult to fully comprehend. For example, if you attempted to define the word "peace" in a manner that could be used to describe all aspects of peace, then you would be using a theoretical definition. These definitions are considered theoretical because the definitions attempt to create an all-encompassing theory of the word itself.
 In an interpersonal communication course, one of our coauthors asked a group of random people online to define the term "falling in love." Here are some of the theoretical definitions they provided:
 I think falling in love would be the act of feeling attracted to a person, with mutual respect given to each other, a strong desire to be close and near a person,...and more.
 Being content with the person you are with and missing them every minute they are gone.
 Um...falling in love is finding a guy with lots of credit cards and no balances owing.
 Meeting someone who makes your heart sing.
 Skydiving for someone's lips.
 Definitions are important to provide clarity for your audience. Effective speakers strike a balance between using definitions where they are needed to increase audience understanding and leaving out definitions of terms that the audience is likely to know.


text:
The National Bank of Serbia (Serbian: Народна банка Србије / Narodna banka Srbije) is the central bank of Serbia. Founded in 1884, the responsibilities of the bank are: monetary policy, sole issuer of Serbian banknotes and coins, protection of price stability and promotion of stability of the financial system within Serbia.
Core functions of the National Bank of Serbia include determining and implementation of the monetary policy, as well as that of the dinar exchange rate policy, management of the foreign currency reserves, issue of banknotes and coins, and maintenance of efficient payment and financial systems. The current governor of the bank is Jorgovanka Tabaković, as of August 6, 2012.
The bank was originally established on July 2, 1884 as the Privileged National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia. It was modeled after the National Bank of Belgium, considered at the time to be at the forefront of modern banking institutions. The first governor of the bank was Aleksa Spasić. Following the First World War, the bank underwent several changes as the country expanded and eventually became Yugoslavia. It wasn't until 2003 that the last remnant of Yugoslavia disappeared and the bank returned to minting Serbian currency.
Head office building, 12 Kralja Petra St. Belgrade
- Privileged National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia (2 July 1884 - 20 January 1920)
- National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovens (20 January - 3 October 1929)
- National Bank of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (3 October 1929 - September 1946)
- National Bank of Yugoslavia (September 1946 - 19 July 2003)
- National Bank of Serbia ( - since 19 July 2003)
NBS headquarters, 17 Nemanjina St. Belgrade (since 2006)
Coordinates: 44°48′13″N 20°27′53″E / 44.80361°N 20.46472°E


Film projects
Before focusing on my academic endeavours, I also worked as a freelance writer and researcher for documentary film makers. Two of the projects I participated in made it to the television screen.
Im Rausch der Steine
The thrill of stones – resource hunters in the mountains of Canada. 43 min, premiere: 16 June 2010, TV network: ZDF/arte.
This documentary film directed by Stefan Pannen is part of the documentary serial „Bei Auftrag Entdeckungen" („Discovery on call"), which was produced for the television station „arte" and its programming slot „arte – Entdeckung". The issue „The thrill of stones – resource hunters in the mountains of Canada" focuses on the work of resource hunters who set out for discovering potential new raw material exploitation sites for mining companies in the mountains of Canada.
I developed the treatment and provided background research for the project.
20.000 Kabel unter dem Meer
Twenty thousand cables under the sea. Internet and the physics of fiber optics. New Documentary film, 43 min, premiere: 11 June 2010, TV network: arte.
The internet and the world economy depend on overseas data cables. What happens when somebody types an internet address? When a data cable breaks in the ocean? How can they repair it? How are the cables produced and laid and what ideas do scientists have for sending even more data through the fibre optic cables in the same time?
I developed a treatment in collaboration with Gerhard Widmer and provided background research. The documentary was nominated for the Ernst-Schneider-Preis für Wirtschaftsjournalismus.


ICA talk for Critical Waves
Looking forward to taking part in a Critical Waves conference at the ICA March 26th.
This conference aims to inspire researchers to consider strategies for presenting their research that are more innovative than simply reading papers aloud. Artists and academics will discuss how they use the voice as a creative material in their work, touching on how the voice can enhance or disrupt content, the politics of the voice and authorship, and what it might mean to speak with someone else's voice.
Speakers include Sam Belinfante, Iris Garrelfs, Magz Hall, Marc Herbst and Aura Satz.


text:
Research Motivating Problem:
Transient disturbance may cause safety critical situations. Two problems for passenger vehicles are studied:
- Aerodynamic disturbance while overtaking a large vehicle.
- Disturbances from a 1st impact, affecting the post impact motion and the risk for secondary events.
Driving simulator is used as the primary tool in this project.
- How does the driver react to, and how safety critical is, the aerodynamic disturbance while overtaking a large vehicle cause safety?
- How does the driver react to a 1st impact, and how much does an automatic motion control reduce the risk for secondary events?
- 1 VehDyn PostDoc (+2 PostDocs, at Fluid Dynamics and Human Factors)
- Vehicle models for aerodynamic disturbances and violent post‐impact motion

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
Monteiro 2013 Thesis
|Monteiro Siqueira C (2013) Avaliação de medicamentos homeopáticos para gripe humana por ensaios in vitro, pré-clínico e clínico. Dissertation p152.|
Abstract: Influenza viruses have been responsible for highly contagious acute respiratory illnesses with high mortality, mainly in the elderly and immune compromised patients, which encourages the development of new drugs for the treatment of human flu. The biotherapics are medicines prepared from biological products, which are compounded according to homeopathic procedures indicated for infectious diseases with known etiology. The purpose of the present study is to develop biotherapics prepared from the intact and inactivated influenza A virus (A/Aichi/2/68 and A/Victoria/3/75), at 12DH and 30DH potencies, and evaluate its in vitro, pre-clinical and clinical effectiveness. The intact biotherapic was prepared according to Roberto Costa's technique and the ultrastructural aspects of viral particles prepared at the potency of 1DH in two solvents (water and alcohol 70%) were evaluated. Transmission electron microscopy images indicated that the viral particles remained intact and completely lysed in the presence of water and alcohol 70%, respectively. The in vitro experiments showed alterations in important enzyme activities and in the maximum respiratory capacity when MDCK were treated with intact biotherapic 30DH. In contrast, biochemical and cell alterations were not detected in the macrophages tested (J774G8 e RAW 264-7). The preclinical study was carried out in Balb-c mice, and the results indicated that the intact and inactivated biotherapic at 30DH was not able to induce pathogenetic effects and/or immune alterations, when the animals were challenged with influenza antigen, after 21 days, using the biotherapic ad libitum. In contrast, in the second set of experiments with intact biotherapics 12DH and 30DH, some important cell alterations induced by 30DH were detected, namely: B and non-B cells increased, B2 cells decreased, B1 and CD4+ increased. These alterations indicated that the treatment with biotherapic 30DH was able to stimulate the immune response when the animals were challenged with influenza antigen. The clinical trial done in partnership with Roberto Costa Institute and Brazilian Public Health System in Petropolis/RJ proved that homeopathic medicines (intact biotherapic 30DH and IRA) have a prophylactic effect against flu and acute respiratory infection symptoms, when compared to placebo. This clinical trial, pioneer in the literature, evaluated a significant number of children (600) ranging from 1 to 5 years of age, by a triple blind, randomized and placebo controlled protocol, bringing robustness and reliability to this investigation. The set of results obtained in this study provide strong evidence of the therapeutic and prophylactic potential of the intact biotherapic 30DH against infections caused by influenza viruses.
- Keywords: Biotherapic, Nosode, Influenza, Homeopathy, Human flu • Bioblast editor: Kandolf G
Labels: MiParea: Respiration, Pharmacology;toxicology
Organism: Dog Tissue;cell: Kidney Preparation: Intact cells
Coupling state: LEAK, ROUTINE, ET Pathway: CIV, ROX HRR: Oxygraph-2k


fluid. High amounts of carbon indicate thermal degradation of the fluid and a probable coking/sludge problem on the heat exchanger/heater surfaces or fluid oxidation. Coke and sludge can adversely affect a system's heat transfer efficiency by heat transfer surface fouling. An insolubles level of 50mg solids /100ml fluids can sometimes indicate problems.
High and Low Boilers
High and low boilers are formed when heat transfer fluids are heated to a high temperature and certain molecular bonds begin to break or thermally degrade. Some of the new materials that form have a lower molecular weight and typically a lower boiling point than the original fluid: These are low boilers. Other compounds resulting from thermal degradation will polymerize into higher molecular weight and higher boiling point molecules than the original fluid: These are high boilers. High and low boilers seen in components may not have the heat transfer efficiency and thermal stability of the original heat transfer fluid molecules. This measure of the charge in chemical composition to determine the presence of high and low boilers can be determined by two tests performed for cross reference. The first is an atmospheric or vacuum distillation; the second is a simulated distillation using gas chromatography (GC). The atmospheric or vacuum distillation test accurately detects high boilers, and in this test, the fluid is completely distilled. By comparison, the GC completes the run at a specific final temperature. GC analysis is extremely accurate detecting low boilers, especially aromatics, up to the initial boiling temperature of the fluid.
This test measures certain fluid flow characteristics per unit time. It can be used as an indicator of thermal degradation since low boilers will tend to reduce viscosity while high boilers will increase it. Viscosity changes also affect the overall heat transfer capabilities of the fluid.
GC Scan
This test gives a signature of the components of heat transfer fluids, degradation products (highlow boilers) and often can detect contamination. This information is cross-referenced with the atmospheric boiling range test to confirm levels of high and low boilers as well as the presence or absence of outside contaminants.
Flashpoint (Cleveland Open Cup)
This test provides a means of determining the fire/flashpoint of a fluid. Low boilers created as a result of thermal degradation will lower of the flashpoint. Outside contaminants may have a similar effect. As such, a low flashpoint serves to indicated the presence of thermal degradation products/outside contaminants.
Putting the tests to use
Preventive maintenance analysis of heat transfer fluids can aid in maintaining high level heat transfer system performance at minimum cost through proper interpretation of the sample data. Some of the common tests serve as primary indicators of fluid condition while others serve to confirm these primary indicators. The primary tests are: Moisture [ASTM D1744 (Karl Fischer)] Percentage of high/low boilers (ASTM D86 or ASTM D1160 and ASTM D2887) Insolubles [ASTM 893 (Modifies)] Each of these tests defines a major area of fluid quality and system performance. The secondary tests – specific gravity, acid number, viscosity and flashpoint – then can be used to confirm the interpretations reached with the data generated by the primary tests. The moisture content, as defined by ASTM D1744 (Karl Fisher), generally is a primary indicator of the integrity of a water/fluid interface. Two examples of this interface would be water-cooled heat exchangers or reactor jackets in which water is a component of the product being processed. Although some moisture from humid air may be drawn into the fluid through improperly blanketed expansion tanks in liquid-phase systems or during the cooling phase of sample collection, moisture levels in excess of 500 ppm (0.05%) or the presence of free water in a sample generally indicate a failure at a water/fluid interface. Initially, such failures usually are not dramatic. Generally, the leak is of the "pinhole" variety, and in fact, depending on the type of fluid in use, system pressures may not be noticeably affected at the onset. Sample frequency should be increased to confirm and monitor the situation, and plans should be made to examine or repair the appropriate heat exchange surface at the next scheduled shutdown. Should moisture levels in subsequent samples increase, or the system begin to excessively pressurize, more immediate action may be required. High/low boiler content as defined by ASTM D86 or ASTM D1160 and ASTM D2887 serve as an indicator of heat transfer fluid thermal degradation or outside contamination. ASTM D86 and D1160 are initialand final-boiling point determination distillations. ASTM D1160, a vacuum distillation, is used when the boiling points are too elevated to make atmospheric distillation practical (d86) or the product being tested thermally degrades at its atmospheric boiling point/range. ASTM D2887 is a gas chromatography-simulated distillation, which also defines the initial and final boiling points of products being tested. In each case, once the initial and final boiling points of virgin products are known, used fluid may be tested to determine if high/low boilers are present. Heat transfer fluids gradually degrade during normal use with the rate of thermal degradation increasing as the fluid approaches the high end of its bulk fluid operating temperature. Experience indicates that under normal conditions, most fluids with 5% low boilers or 10% high boiler levels call for reprocessing or replacement to maintain heat transfer capabilities. In the case of a dramatic increase in high or low boiler levels from the previous sample, and with the fluid still operating within its maximum bulk operating temperatures, either outside contamination, heater malfunction or decreased fluid flow rate may be assumed to be the cause. The presence of other outside contaminants can be determined by an examination of the ASTM D2887 GC trace of the sample and a comparison of that with the virgin product trace. One caution: With petroleum-based fluids, the contaminant, depending on molecular weight, may sometimes be masked within the characteristic bell-shaped petroleum CG trace. However, the contaminant usually will thermally degrade, and its components may be seen as high or low boilers. In either case, the product being processed by the system should be the first candidate as the outside contaminant. If the identity of the contaminant is confirmed to be product under process, a leaking product/heat transfer fluid interface should be suspected. The solution is similar to that of high moisture: Increase sample frequency to monitor the situation while making provision for repair. In some cases, the nature of the contaminant or the size of the leak may require immediate action. A rapid increase in high/low boiler also may be indicative of heater malfunction. Either flame impingement on a tube and/or excessive tube carboning can cause abnormally high film temperatures, resulting in increased thermal degradation. A low fluid flow rate due to circulation pump wear or a restriction to flow in the system may contribute to the problem, especially in systems operating at maximum bulk fluid/film temperature. Again, increased sampling is warranted, the process pump flow rate and heater should be checked and provision made for heater tube wall examination during the next scheduled shutdown. Insolubles, as defined by ASTM D893 (modified) primarily measures pipe slag, metal fines, hard carbon and other inorganic contaminants. Insoluble solids measurements in excess of 50mg solids/100ml fluids, and especially in excess of 250mg solids/100ml fluids of particles above 10pm, call for installation of slip-stream filtration in the system where a modest pressure drop is available to filter a low flow slip stream (less than 1% of the main flow rate). This will minimize wear on mechanical components such as pumps and valves. The presence of metal fines may indicate process pump, mechanical seal, or valve wear. Pipe slag, bits of welding beads, sand, etc. are commonly found in new systems after systems after startup or in older systems that have not been filtered. The presence of hard carbon may confirm heater tube fouling, degraded process material for contamination and often, insoluble fluid oxidation products. Of note, the presence of hard carbon also may indicate heat exchange surface fouling that will decrease production capabilities. A simple ashing test or solvent-washing and vacuum-drying solids collected from the system will determine if the solids are inorganic (mill scale, sand, etc.) or organic (fluid oxidation products or carbon from over heating) in origin. High ash content indicates the solids are inorganic in nature while a low ash content indicates the origin of the solids was from an organic material. These changes in solids content may lead to heat exchange surface fouling and result in increases in production times of only a few seconds per day. However, over the course of years, a significant reduction of production capability may occur almost unnoticed. As a result, if excessive hard carbon is present, heat exchange surfaces should be checked periodically to determine if fouling and its resultant production loss is present. Preventive maintenance analysis of high temperature heat transfer fluids greatly reduces the unpredictability of heat transfer system performance. Proper interpretation of the data allows early identification of potential system problems. Planned maintenance based on the used fluid analysis reduces unscheduled system downtime caused by system upsets. In addition to these cost reductions, fluid costs are reduced since fluid changeouts or reprocessing can occur on a scheduled basis, maximizing fluid life and heat transfer capabilities.
Cost Effective Alternatives to Changing Thermal System Fluid
By Michael R. Damiani, Radco Industries Inc. During normal operation, heat transfer fluids can degrade due to thermal stress or oxidation. Fluids can also become contaminated through heat exchanger leaks. Often, degradation and contamination lead to a significant decrease in heat transfer fluid efficiency, increasing production time and costs. In many cases a full fluid change-out may be required to restore system performance, but many times these other cost-effective alternatives listed below can extend fluid life and maximize system performance: Fluid Reprocessing. Degraded or contaminated fluid


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The Microsoft Data Science Team invites you to an in-depth 3-day workshop on using Microsoft R. Location: München, Germany. December 19 - December 21, 2016.
# About the Course The course is designed to help analysts integrate Microsoft R Server (MRS) into their data science toolbox, and integrate it with other tools in Azure and the Cortana Intelligence Suite. After completion, participants will be able to: * Explore and visualize data with R * Manipulate data that is too large to fit into memory with MRS * Train and test statistical models with high performance parallel external memory algorithms * Access data stored in Azure Blob Storage using Microsoft R Server (MRS) * Deploy Models as AzureML web services In these sessions, you'll gain hands-on experience with conducting scalable data analysis with Microsoft R Server. You will learn the fundamentals of R, and understand how Microsoft R Server addresses the major scalability and operationalization challenges associated with open source R. # Prerequisites There are a few things you will need in order to properly follow the course materials: * There are a few things you will need in order to take full advantage of the course: * An Azure subscription * A terminal emulator with openSSH or bash, e.g., Putty, or Cygwin/MobaXterm * I use MobaXterm and the Ubuntu Bash Subsystem within Windows * Some R IDE. Some reasonable choices: * RStudio * Visual Studio 2015 with RTVS (Community Edition is sufficient) * Jupyter/JupyterLab with IRKernel * Microsoft R Server 8.0.3 or later * Installation instructions * I will assume you have already taken the following courses, or have the background provided by these courses: * Implementing Real-Time Analytics with Hadoop in Azure HDInsight (or general knowledge of the Apache Hadoop ecosystem and HDInsight) * Data Science and Machine Learning Essentials (or general understanding of machine learning and predictive modeling) * Introduction to R for Data Science * Intermediate knowledge of R would be ideal, at the level of either of the following two courses: * Programming with R for Data Science * R for SAS Users Course * I will not assume any background knowledge about Microsoft R Server, but for those that are eager, you can find an online video series about MRS here: * Course Website * Video Lectures on Channel 9 * Lab Exercises * A useful overview and comparison of MRS and MRO is available here. # Modules The course is divided into the following modules: 1. Each Training Module guides you through a logical progression with hands-on tasks in do-verb form. Each day is broken up into 1-4 hour Modules, where you will learn and perform labs on your own. Some material that is out of scope for hands-on labs will instead be demonstrated by instructor led labs. Participants will receive a copy of the lab material to try on their own, but are not required to run the analysis during the training time. The modules, broken up into a general agenda are as follows. The specific modules may bleed across sessions depending on engagement of the audience 2. Part I - Functional-Object Based Computing with R 3. Day One - Morning Session 4. Overview of the R Project and CRAN 5. Exploring the Microsoft R Data Stack 6. Functional Programming for Data Manipulation with the dplyr package 7. Day One - Afternoon Session 8. Understanding dplyr's symantics and the magrittr pipe 9. Data Visualization and Exploratory Data Analysis 10. Using the broom package for Modeling and Summarization 11. Part II - Breaking the Memory Barrier with RevoScaleR 12. Day Two - Morning Sesion 13. Overview of the Microsoft R Data Ecosystem 14. Modeling and Scoring with High-Performance ScaleR Algorithms 15. Data Manipulation with the dplyrXdf Package 16. Day Two - Afternoon Session 17. Summarizing Data with RevoScaleR 18. Performance Considerations with RevoScaleR 19. Parallel Computing and Disributed Computing with Microsoft R Server 20. Deploying R and ScaleR algorithms to Azure with the AzureML package 21. Part III - Microsoft R Server with Spark 22. Day 3 – Morning Session 23. Overview of the Apache Spark Project 24. Ingesting Data into Azure Blob Storage 25. Creating Spark DataFrames and Spark Contexts 26. Manipulating HDFS data with the sparklyr package 27. Day 3 – Afternoon Session 28. Creating Distributed eXternal DataFrames in HDFS 29. Preparing Data for Modeling with Microsoft R Server 30. Training Statistical Models with Microsoft R Server and the Spark Compute Context 31. Scoring and Deploying Models 32. Performance Considerations on Hadoop # Concepts Covered * Functional-Object Based Computing with R * Breaking the Memory Barrier with RevoScaleR * Microsoft R Server with Spark # Technologies Covered * Microsoft R Server


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For much of its history, the Appalachian region has lagged the rest of the nation in measures of economic prosperity, health, education, and infrastructure. The region, especially central Appalachia, has been rich in natural resources like coal, timber, oil, and gas. Much of the wealth generated by these resources, however, left the region. As such, much of Appalachia has undergone a process of "growth, without development" that resulted in intense poverty and economic struggles that made Appalachia "a region apartgeographically and statistically."
In the late 1950s, these challenges led the governors of Appalachia to push for the creation of a new regional development program and federal agency to address the need for economic diversity, more infrastructure, better health and education, and more jobs. These efforts culminated in the creation of the Appalachian Regional Commission in 1965. The purpose of the ARC is to make substantial investments in the region to improve infrastructure, reduce dependency on natural resource extraction, and enhance the ability of the region to achieve economic prosperity. The ARC has been underfunded for decades, hampering its ability to accomplish its ambitious agenda. This could change!
President Biden's FY 2022 Budget Proposal includes an additional $55 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). On top of this request, Biden's American Jobs Plan includes an additional $1 billion for the ARC's Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative over the next five years. Most recently, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) and Representative David McKinley (WV-01) introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide an additional $1 billion in funding for the ARC's POWER Initiative, which provides federal resources to help communities affected by job losses in the coal industry.
Despite significant progress since the 1960s, much of the region still lags behind the rest of the country in economic and social development. A substantial increase in funding is essential if the ARC is to accomplish its mission and bring Appalachia on par with the rest of the country. An increase in funding of $255 million in FY 2022 is a good step toward the kind of investments that are needed in Appalachia.
Download the full report here.


›› Convert kilogram-force to megapond
›› More information from the unit converter
How many kgf in 1 megapond? The answer is 1000.
We assume you are converting between kilogram-force and megapond.
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The SI derived unit for force is the newton.
1 newton is equal to 0.10197162129779 kgf, or 0.00010197162129779 megapond.
Use this page to learn how to convert between kilograms-force and megaponds.
›› Quick conversion chart of kgf to megapond
1 kgf to megapond = 0.001 megapond
10 kgf to megapond = 0.01 megapond
50 kgf to megapond = 0.05 megapond
100 kgf to megapond = 0.1 megapond
200 kgf to megapond = 0.2 megapond
500 kgf to megapond = 0.5 megapond
1000 kgf to megapond = 1 megapond
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›› Common force conversions
kgf to zeptonewton
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kgf to centinewton
kgf to gram
kgf to kilopond
›› Definition: Kilogram
The deprecated unit kilogram-force (kgf) or kilopond (kp) is the force exerted by one kilogram of mass in standard Earth gravity (defined as exactly 9.80665 m/s²). One kilogram-force is equal to exactly 9.80665 newtons.
›› Definition: Megapond
So 1 megapond = 106 ponds.
›› Metric conversions and more


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TreeQinetic - Elastometer Measure Strain
The Elastometer measure strain (compression and tension) of the marginal fibers of the tree trunk. The latest version "Elastometer 3i" is capable to measure both strain and inclination at the point of its installation along the trunk. Having both information the bending line and curvature of the trunk can be calculated. This supports the analysis of defects in the trunk that may occur at old grafted trees and at old pruning wounds.
- Resolution: 0,1 µm
- Accuracy: 1 µm
- Measuring range: +/- 2 mm
- Duration of operation (accu): ~ 10 h at 20°C (radio connection to PC)
- Distance between measuring tips: 198 – 202 mm
- Diameter of measuring pins: 2 – 4 mm


What are the advantages of getting married to a foreigner? If you think you are ready to tie the knot with a overseas national, you are at the appropriate place. This post will tell you the huge benefits of getting wedded to an individual outside your country. It will likewise help you understand what the drawbacks would be if you choose to get married in another country.
The first advantage is that you can save your lot of money by simply not having to undergo the expense linked to marrying someone from your own race or religious beliefs. This is an amazing thing because you will never discover how much your new spouse will probably be willing to bargain when it comes to religious beliefs. You should also consider the differences in taxes. In case you live in a different sort of country, you could have different taxes implications than someone residing in your personal country. These differences can add up quickly, especially if you include children. To be able to ensure that you as well as your spouse do not have to worry about taxation, you have to proceed cautiously and consider every aspect prior to you proceed while using marriage.
The 2nd advantage that may be very important to consider before you get committed is that it will help you learn a foreign language. There are many Americans who become extremely fluent in Chinese and also other languages. If you would like to continue to master a vocabulary so that you can connect to other residents of the world, you should think about marrying foreign people who speaks a language you happen to be not familiar with. You will see a lot more in regards to a culture's norms and philosophy just by sitting down and conntacting someone in whose native tongue is not your local tongue. This could be the biggest benefits of all, especially if you are both serious about communicating together.
The third gain is that you may have the opportunity to improve your family. Marriages between American citizens and foreigners are often established as a way to grecian women have kids, and those kids often increase up to be considered a great advantage to the the community. If you want to expand your business and take care of a household at the same time, afterward getting married into a foreign countrywide can provide you with both the as well as the trouble by simply getting married. Anyone with limited in any respect when you get married to another person because you could have more than one other half.
The fourth biggest advantages of marrying a foreigner is the fact you will be subjected to new friends from a variety of different cultures and countries. If you want to enlarge your business, and you simply want to satisfy a variety of persons from international countries, consequently meeting a foreign national can become a wonderful way to do that. When you both was raised in the same country, then you certainly have a lot in common and can easily speak to a foreign nationwide of their lives, their very own culture, their very own language, and so forth If you simply know the native vocabulary, then you will be limiting your self in order to expand your business' horizons.
The fifth and final edge is that you can find probably an effective chance that you will find other advantages that you would not even understand that you could get via getting married into a foreign countrywide. This is because there are many different positive aspects available to you when you get married to someone who is mostly a different customs and region from where you stand right now. Often times you may find that you come to discover a whole new world when you marry to an person from a different sort of background. This kind of opens up a world of opportunities for you, and you could find that you may have more for you to help your loved ones, that you just would never have been able to just by living in similar country you happen to be currently in. This is absolutely something to consider if you want to expand your business and take care of your loved ones all at once.


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While it's possible to file your taxes months in advance, it's commonplace to procrastinate and not get to the task until the last minute—increasing the chances of making mistakes and overpaying while you're at it. According to surveys, tax procrastinators have been known to overpay by hundreds due to mistakes that came as a result of rushing the process and making last minute changes, and they fork over roughly double the amount that early filers pay just to get their taxes done. Understandably, procrastinators are also much less comfortable with their often-frantic filing methods they're forced to employ as the clock is ticking. So why is it that so many of us stall so much when it comes to filling out 1040s?
There are many benefits to filing early, starting with that it would shorten our misery and just get the whole thing over with. Also, many people expect to get a refund, and whether it's $5 or $5,000, that's money you'd have sooner in your pocket rather than in the government's coffers.
Making matters worse, procrastination actually increases the odds of paying more—in tax payments and tax preparation alike. According to a survey conducted by H&R Block, the average tax procrastinator overpaid by about $400 due to mistakes that came as a result of rushing the process and making last minute changes. In another data roundup by TechBargains, on average early filers (January and February) paid $87 to do their taxes, compared to $163 for procrastinators who file in April or later. And while 89% of early filers feel positive about their method of filing taxes, only 62% of procrastinators can say the same.
So why do so many people procrastinate on taxes? Actually, 20% of the adult population engages in chronic procrastination on all sorts of everyday tasks, and while taxes may be accompanied by a special level of stalling, it's not all that different from procrastination in general. To get to the heart of why people put off completing their taxes, we need to understand what causes the more generic, run-of-the-mill procrastination. There are seven basic reasons why we procrastinate:
1. No obvious penalties. Many people procrastinate for the simple reason that they've gotten away with it in the past. The government doesn't care whether you file early or not, so if you get your return in just before the deadline there's no harm, no foul. Not officially anyway. But doing your taxes at the last minute is likely to lead to mistakes, and mistakes can lead to an ugly audit, which includes the possibility of very real penalties.
Generally speaking, it's often hard to see how procrastination can do damage to one's career and relationships. Family, teachers, and bosses may get a little agitated if you chronically put things off until the last minute, but the people around you may be too nice to confront you every single time a deadline nears and the job's not done. Such politeness is a backhanded way of rewarding procrastination. Unless you actually lose a job or fail a class because of habitually missing deadlines, there's little incentive to change behavior. Yet if and when such a severe consequence occurs, the last bit of procrastination may seem like an isolated incident, rather than the straw that broke the camel's back that it truly is. Some procrastinators must realize that, even if they're not immediately apparent, harm can and probably is being done by putting things off.
2. Excuses, excuses, excuses. You can always justify procrastination by blaming the circumstances. Excuses tend to be of the self-serving variety, and if other people engaged in the same procrastination as you, you'd be skeptical if not downright convinced that they were fudging the truth. Things are different when it's you who is making the excuses. Self-serving biases fall into the general category that psychologists call the "fundamental attribution error." Through this process we're blinded to our own flaws and forgive ourselves for all sorts of mistakes and imperfections, including tardiness, with any number of excuses conveniently helping the cause.
(MORE: The Jobless Generation)
3. Perfectionism. Though seeking perfection may seem like a desirable quality, it can actually leave people incapable of moving forward on high-stakes tasks, such as doing their taxes. For perfectionists, the fear of making a huge goof—paying too much, or screwing up so badly you'll wind up in serious legal trouble—can be paralyzing. People with a strong need to have everything just so may have all the work on their taxes done months ahead of the deadline, but put off filing because they want to make sure they haven't made any errors. They may also wait in hopes that they'll find a new angle that will save them money. In the meantime, the tax process is torturing them, and the government is holding onto a refund that could already be in the perfectionist's bank account.
4. Waiting = excitement. Originally developed by DePaul psychologist Joseph Ferrari, the concept of "arousal procrastination" was originally met with skepticism. However, a 2011 study of college students (procrastinators par excellence) revealed that for certain individuals, procrastination produces the "kickstart" needed to put them in high gear. Researchers found that undergraduates high on the quality of extraversion (outgoingness) were more likely to fit into this pattern of procrastination. Extroverts, by definition, seek stimulation from outside of themselves. Waiting until the last possible moment to tend to an important task can actually give these people a powerful emotional high.
5. Grace under pressure? Hardly. Plenty of people operate under the misconception left over from their school days: a totally irrational and unfounded theory that they do their very best work when a deadline is rapidly approaching. The majority of people are actually less effective and more prone to making mistakes if they wait until the last minute, but myths learned in the past are hard to correct. Our faulty memories of the past lead us to remember the times we came through in glory racing through the finish line. We tend to gloss over the times when we embarrassingly tripped or failed to finish the race, though.
6. Laziness, disorganization, lack of discipline. Psychologists avoid terms like "laziness" to describe our fellow humans, so instead we use more neutral phrases such as "failure to self-regulate." People who procrastinate not only have trouble self-regulating, but are also convinced that they aren't up to the challenge and just can't ever get organized. So they often don't even try. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy, in which a person has trouble completing tasks partially because he believes he's unable to get the job done, and done well, on time. Such a frame of mind leads to throwing up one's hands and giving up before ever really giving the task at hand their best effort.
7. Shoot-in-the-foot syndrome. There's an assumption that everyone wants to perform well. However, due to a conscious or unconscious fear of success, some especially neurotic individuals want exactly the opposite. By irritating other people, turning in lackluster work, missing deadlines, and procrastinating at every turn, they seem determined to put themselves on the road to failure. When it comes to tasks such as tax filing, many procrastinators are well aware that their last-minute filing greatly increases the chances they'll do something wrong. In the worst case scenario, they'll get audited and penalized as a result of sloppy errors that could have easily been corrected. But some people can't help themselves.
If you're feeling guilty as charged, you can't do anything now to reverse the clock. By understanding why you procrastinate, however, there's a chance that at this time next year, you'll be cashing that refund check.
Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., is a professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her most recent book is The Search for Fulfillment, and she writes the Fulfillment at Any Age blog for Psychology Today.


What is SMART Recovery?
What is SMART Recovery?
What is SMART Recovery?
What is SMART Recovery?SMART Recovery is an intuitive approach to rehab and detox that resonates well with the modern culture of San Diego and encourages self-empowerment and recovery. As the world keeps changing, evolving, and becoming more interconnected, we're seeing cultures blend and merge. As we've seen these changes resonating within our own community, we've had to take a close, hard look at the traditional way of doing recovery and how programs like our SMART recovery and rehab in San Diego can offer an inclusive recovery experience for a more diverse modern population.
The Traditional Rehab and the SMART Rehab
The 12-step is a timeless program that's been invaluable for thousands of communities across the globe. The strong focus on faith resonates with many communities, but can also detract people of differing beliefs. SMART Recovery is a newer but proven method of recovery that can be catered to meet individual needs, values, and beliefs. Whereas the 12-step evokes traditional Christian values of faith and spiritual community, SMART focuses more on leading a fulfilling and balanced lifestyle that evokes self-love and follows the values that matter most to your ideal life. Once we understand the values that matter most to our lives, it becomes easier to understand how our own mindset can be detracting us from our ideal life. That is the underlying theme in SMART Recovery.
The ABC's of SMART Recovery
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a common treatment in rehab, focusing on learning to identify changes in our body, such as anxiety and stress, and defuse those feelings in a healthy way. In SMART Recovery, a particular style of CBT is used, called Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). REBT takes the concept of CBT and boils it down to its bare bones. We learn that humans react to life events based on their current mindset, called the ABC model. A– Something happens (Activating event). B– Our Beliefs shape our opinion and emotional reaction to the event. CConsequences happen because of our belief.
Let's say a bad thing happens at work, a customer yells at you. As you can imagine, having a positive Belief in this situation, such as "Angry people have a problem that I can solve" or "I'm a good employee, and haven't done anything wrong" can have a very different outcome than a belief like "I can't lose an argument at any costs," and the resulting Consequence will be very different.
SMART Recovery on Irrational Thinking and Life Acceptance
We react poorly to life events when we hold unrealistic expectations about ourselves, others, or how life should be. Although we might have a particularly tough or stressful day, and have moments of weakness, our overall emotional responses to life stressors should be rational, with a specific goal in mind. Understanding REBT can help us make healthy, progressive decisions with the right emotional values.
SMART recovery takes these basic understandings and uses them to craft a "4-point plan" to hold motivation, overcome urges, maintain healthy thoughts and feelings, and lead a balanced life. The ultimate goal of SMART recovery is to overcome addiction by learning to accept yourself, accept others as they are, and accept life as it is, and approach life with the right mindset to handle the world as it is.
If you're interested in learning more about SMART rehab and recovery in San Diego and how it could help you overcome urges and addiction, call us at _PHONE_.
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National Dog Biscuit Day
National Dog Biscuit Day
National Dog Biscuit Day is nothing to turn your nose up at. After all, if it wasn't for this national day, your dog may not know "biscuits or "treats" as he knows them today. National Dog Biscuit Day is celebrated annually on February 23rd
Dog biscuits were not always called "biscuits". In fact, way back in the 1800's, biscuits or treats as we now know them, were referred to as dog bread. The name came to fruition due to the fact that dogs were indeed served bread. Not just any bread though, dogs were given the bread that was deemed not edible for human consumption. Day old, hard, moldy ….well, you get the picture. So, the bread was quite literally thrown to the dogs! They took what they could get, but one very important person came along that would change what was thrown to the dogs altogether.
"Necessity is the mother of invention" ~ Plato
James Pratt created the very first dog biscuit after a sad sight on a fateful trip to England. It all began in the middle of the 1800's. He saw the suffering of stray dogs in search of any old scraps of left of food. These poor dogs were literally scavengers. James Pratt was compelled to created edible, made for consumption cake-like biscuits. These biscuits were made of meat, grains and vegetables. He called these early biscuits "Meat Fibrine Cakes". He began selling these cakes to Englishmen for dogs, specifically sporting dogs. He then began to market his cakes at dog shows in America. Interestingly enough his biscuits dog cakes were given to army dogs during World War I. Now, the bone shaped biscuits that dogs have come to know love, milk bones, were created in 1907. Milk Bone was eventually bought out by Nabisco in 1931 and subsequently taken over by Genera Mills in 1950.
The Biscuit Industry has Exploded
Now more than ever, the market for dog biscuits has exploded. Dogs everywhere are begging for more and their pet parents are giving right in! Varieties of dog biscuits exist for every possible reason and taste bud. Every texture and every flavor can be found in pet shops across the world, but why?
Most domesticated dogs no longer have to scavenge for "bread" or "biscuits", but present day biscuits, or treats, are used in a variety of ways.
 1. Chewing is a natural way for dogs to get their energy out. Many treats are made specifically to keep your dog occupied and focused for a period of time. We all have experienced just what happens when a dog becomes bored! He will find something to chew on and it's usually not one of his own belongings.
 2. Similarly, chewing does mimic the brushing action of a tooth brush. This means your dog can chew on a treat and have his teeth cleaned at the exact same time. Two for the price of one! These treats are specifically marketed as dental chews although, many treats or chews can achieve the very same result.
 3. Dog treats of biscuits are also used for training. Pet parents everywhere learn early on the power of their pet's favorite treat. Most dogs will do exactly as you say if they know that the potential for a treat exists. Learning basic commands and tricks all of a sudden becomes relevant for a dog that has experienced receiving treats as a reward!
 4. Just because! If you have never given your dog a treat just because he's cute and you love him more than just about anything else then, well, you're lying! Just as our dog openly expresses his love to us, we do our best to do the same and often time that means giving treats, toys, and snuggles "just because". The only downfall with this is that some dogs end up a little too pudgy for their own good. Moderation is key!
How will you celebrate National Dog Biscuit Day this year?
Why not celebrate by giving a nod to Mr. James Pratt? Dogs in need everywhere would love a good treat. Reach out to your favorite shelter, rescue or pet sitter and donate treats. Often times in our effort to donate, we always send things that dogs need. Why not add treats to that list because most dogs in shelter or rescue situations could use a little boost and what a great way to do so.
After you donate, why not try your hand at baking just like James Pratt. You won't need to start from "scratch" either (no pun intended). Treat recipes can be found all over the internet and in book stores these days. Many recipes are easy to whip up and require only a few ingredients. It doesn't get much easier. In fact, many treat recipes are "no bake". Just mix the ingredients and freeze or refrigerate. Well, what are you waiting for?
We hope you never look at dog treats the same again! Now, go give your dog a treat!
Speak Your Mind


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Most of us have heard of IFSC codes. We have used it to make money transfers and many might have even noticed the codes printed on bank cheque books. While IFSC codes are commonly used now, do you know why it was set up and what the code system aims to fulfill? Here's a bit of background on IFSC codes –
What are IFSC codes?
IFSC essentially stands for 'Indian Financial System Code' and forms an essential part of the Indian banking infrastructure. An IFSC code is a unique identification code that is used to identify the bank and branch of any particular bank account, and are used in bank transfer systems like NEFT, RTGS and IMPS.
Every code contains 11 alphanumeric characters. The first four characters are alphabets and used to identify the bank name; the last six characters are numeric or alphanumeric and used to indicate the branch code. The fifth character in the code is zero and always remains constant for all codes.
Here's an example:
IFSC Code: PUNB 0 392500
The first four characters are PUNB, refers to Punjab National Bank. The last six characters refer to the particular branch of the bank, which in this case is Mahalakshmi Layout Branch, Bangalore
IFSC codes are allotted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and these codes are unique, meaning that no two banks or branches can have the same code.
Interesting facts about IFSC Codes
- 130,000 codes – Currently there are around 130,000 IFSC codes assigned by the RBI to various banks and branches.These codes help in the clear identification of banks and branches so as to ensure that the money transfers are made to the right beneficiary at the right bank branch. The RBI maintains a database of IFSC codes and continually reviews, makes additions and deletions to the list based on requirements. You can view the complete list of IFSC codes by the RBI here.
- Sublet Branches – All major banks and their branches are allotted individual IFSC codes and are easily identifiable by their codes; for example – SBIN0003357, refers to a branch of the State Bank of India or SBI). Sublet branches refer to small banks, like co-operative banks who are not assigned IFSC codes that are easily identifiable by bank names. For instance YESB0NCCB01 could be easily mistaken for a branch of Yes Bank, while in reality, the code is used by The Nawada Central Co-operative Bank. These small banks, essentially piggyback on bigger banks for processing IFSC codes.
- IFSC codes for Payment Banks – Payment Banks are a new banking model introduced by RBI, earlier this year. Payment banks are allowed to do certain banking functions like accepting deposits (upto Rs 1 lakh) and provide facilities like Net banking, mobile banking, debit cards and ATM facilities to its customers. However, any form of lending (or issuance credit cards) are not allowed. Currently there are 4 players (Airtel, India Posts, PayTM and Fino) who have been awarded Payment Bank licences. And in the context of IFSC codes, Payment banks are allotted their own individual IFSC codes. For eg, Airtel Payments Bank has only one branch registered so far –
"Bank": "AIRTEL PAYMENTS BANK LIMITED" "IFSC": "AIRP0000001" "Branch": "AIRTEL PAYMENTS BRANCH" "Address": "AIRTEL CENTER, PLAT NO-16, UDYOG VIHAR PHASE-4 GURGOAN" "City": "Gurgaon" "State": "Haryana"
Razorpay's IFSC Toolkit
Handling a multitude of payments on an everyday basis, we discovered that we needed to process, validate and query several financial details, one of them being IFSC codes. We needed a system that could, easily, quickly and accurately validate codes in order to ensure smooth payments processing. Without any complete API that suited all our requirements, we decided to build our own IFSC toolkit and even make it open source to help others in the industry.
Here's exactly how we built the IFSC Toolkit:
- Get all the data from the RBI website
- Parse the data
- Export it
- And, finally release the updates, like this one below:
The IFSC toolkit includes an API, the dataset downloads, and the source code to generate the entire dataset from the RBI website. You can find all these details at ifsc.razorpay.com. We have written more about why we made this toolkit earlier on this blog.


Edibles are a great way to find relief from a wide variety of ailments. These products offer a discreet delivery system paired with a stronger, longer-lasting effect. But not all edibles are created equal.
In the late 90s and early 2000s states around the U.S. began to legalize medical cannabis programs. The creation of these programs was the beginning of cannabis-related healing coming into mainstream American culture. Many people who suffer from chronic medical conditions began to experiment with cannabis and found therapeutic relief from their ailments. One product line in particular that many found helped with ailments were edibles. Prior to legalization edibles were made by infusing butter or another oil with cannabis. At the time, effects were inconsistent because there was no way of knowing how much cannabis each edible contained.
Now, there are a variety of edibles formulated to decrease onset time and create specific effects for the consumer. In today's market, not all edibles are created equal. We are here to help you understand the difference between how products are made.
weed brownies cannabis not all edibles are created equal
Ingestion & Digestion
First, it is important to understand how edibles work in your body. As we discussed in Five Things to Know Before Trying Edibles and Bioavailability and Consumption Methods, edible products travel through the gastrointestinal tract where they are broken down by the liver. During this process the delta9-THC molecule undergoes a transition where the chemical makeup is changed to 11hydroxy-THC. This change creates a much more intense psychoactive effect that can last from 4 to 8 hours. However, it can take 1 to 2 hours to take effect.
Traditionally, edible products were made using an infused butter or oil. Since the start of legal cannabis, extracts have taken over as the main ingredient to infuse cannabis edibles. In the past couple of years, distillate has become the extract of choice for many edible manufacturers. When cannabis oil is distilled, the THC molecule is isolated and all other components are stripped away. This leaves you with an odorless, tasteless, fully activated, translucent oil that is highly potent. Due to these characteristics, distillate works very well for formulating edible products; but the onset time for a distillate infused product is still around 1 to 2 hours. Many companies in the market have recognized that the prolonged onset time is an issue and have begun to use pharmaceutical delivery systems to cut down the onset time of their edible products.
Nano encapsulation THC bioavailability not all edibles are created equal Nano-encapsulation is a process where a compound is broken down into the individual molecule and encapsulated in a substance that changes the way it interacts with other chemical compounds. Naturally, cannabinoids are hydrophobic compounds, meaning they are not water soluble. Through the use of nano-encapsulation, THC and CBD become water soluble allowing them to be absorbed into your bloodstream. This delivery system is faster than traditional edible products (15 – 30 minutes onset). As discussed a previous blog, Bioavailability and Consumption Methods, the bioavailability of these products is increased due to the use of nano-encapsulation in their formulation. This means more of the cannabinoids are making it into the bloodstream as opposed to being broken down in the gastrointestinal tract. Having a greater bioavailability creates a more robust effect for the consumer.
1906 products
Know Before You Buy
Two excellent brands found in the Colorado market Stillwater and 1906 are implementing new technology to quicken the felt effects of their edible products. These two brands have created products that are more consistent, have greater efficacy, and have an accelerated onset time through the use of nano-encapsulation. When purchasing edible products, talk with your budtender about the experience that you are looking to achieve. Ask them about the different delivery systems these products use and chose the one that fits your needs. The budtenders will be able to help guide you into the product lines that are right for you. Because remember: not all edibles are created equal!
Continue your education on how cannabis can enhance human relationships in our next blog, Cannabis In Relationships


Tagged: goto c
The goto Keyword in C Language 15
goto statement in C Language
goto statement in C programming language is used for unconditional jump from one part of the program to another part of the program. It is always suggested not to use goto statement as this reduces the readability of the program. Using goto statement in C programming language is considered as poor programming approach. The goto statement consists of two parts: label and goto keyword. Example: /*use of goto statement*/ _TAG_ _TAG_ void main(){ int a; goto label; a = 10; printf("%d", a); label: a = 20; printf("%d", a); } Output: 20 When goto label is encountered, control goes to the...
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Writing Challenges
Year 6 pupils will be given Writing Challenges to complete through KidBlog every 1-2 weeks.
Writing Challenge 8
Monday 10th May - 24th May
2 week challenge
Write a story/diary from the perspective of a Victorian child.
It is up to you what you write your story about.
Your child could be:
- A royal
- Rich
- Poor
- An orphan
- Work in a dangerous factory or for a rich family
Minimum 700 words
Pob Lwc
Use the following link to access your very own Writing Page. You will then need to LOG IN to access your account.
Year 6 Boys:
Year 6 Girls:


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In 1996, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) was commissioned to create an award to recognize and honor outstanding scientists and engineers at the outset of their independent research careers. The NSTC was established to coordinate the multiagency science and technology policy-making process, and to implement and integrate the President's science and technology policy agenda across the federal government.
The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) embodies the high priority placed by the government on maintaining the leadership position of the United States in science by producing outstanding scientists and engineers and nurturing their continued development. The Awards identify a cadre of outstanding scientists and engineers who will broadly advance science and the missions important to the participating agencies.
The PECASE Awards are intended to recognize some of the finest scientists and engineers who, while early in their research careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of scientific knowledge during the twenty-first century. The Awards foster innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, increase awareness of careers in science and engineering, give recognition to the scientific missions of participating agencies, enhance connections between fundamental research and national goals, and highlight the importance of science and technology for the nation's future.
The PECASE Award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers. The awards are conferred annually at the White House following recommendations from participating agencies. To be eligible for a PECASE Award, an individual must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident. Each Presidential award winner receives a citation, a plaque and funding from their agency for up to five years to advance his or her research. Individuals can receive only one PECASE award in their careers.
The agencies participating in the PECASE Awards program are:
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Defense
- Department of Energy
- Department of Education
- Department of Health and Human Services: National Institutes of Health
- Department of Interior
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Science Foundation


text: This Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Edition™ includes a glossary and reader's notes to help the modern reader contend with Hawthorne's complex approach to the human condition. Arguably Nathaniel Hawthorne's most famous novel, The Scarlet Letter probes the very root of the age-old question, "What is good?" Can there be redemption in a society where the only good is the avoidance of sin? Through the characters of the beautiful and independent Hester Prynne, the pious yet guilt-ridden Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and the vengeance-obsessed Roger Chillingworth, Hawthorne explores the range of human response to sin and the deadly consequences of the inability to forgive oneself and others. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne peers into the shadows of the soul to reveal the doubt, fear, and guilt that, try as we might to deny them, form the foundations of our existence.


text: The use of wooden barrels to store and transport liquids dates back to 2690 B.C., when ancient Egyptians during the Early Dynastic Period began replacing clay vessels with wooden casks in order to meet the demands of their sprawling civilization. The advantages of wooden barrels were evident - not only were they less fragile than clay vessels, but their cylindrical shape allowed them to be rolled rather than carried across short distances. As settlers along the Nile quickly realized, however, barrels made from wooden staves imparted a unique color and flavor profile to the liquids stored within. Buck 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is matured for a minimum of eight years in new American oak casks under the intense Kentucky sun. As a result of this maturation process, the bourbon has a caramel color, along with an aroma of vanilla, dark fruits, creme brÃ»lée and honey. The aroma gives way to notes of cherries, maple syrup, waffle cones and wood spices on the palate, and leads to a finish accented by touches of caramel, charcoal and cocoa. The bourbon earned the Bronze Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and earned a score of 91 points from the Beverage Testing Institute. Pick up a bottle today!


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Concept of excise
As a rule, the state imposes an excise tax goods with inelastic demand, i.e., independent of changes in value. This, for example, tobacco, alcohol, gasoline. This is the difference between the excise tax and collection costs of turnover.
Goal-setting excise taxes can be an economic and fiscal. In the latter case we are talking about the increase of increasing the budget due to the withdrawal of profits from the manufacturers of highly profitable products. The excise tax may be established for the indirect protection of the goods-substitutes or national manufacturers. For example, in the country-the manufacturer of beer may be set higher excise tax on wine.
The types of excisable goods
In Russia the list of excisable goods includes:
- ethyl alcohol and alcohol-containing products;
- alcoholic products;
- tobacco products;
- gasoline and diesel fuel;
- engine oil;
- straight-run gasoline;
- furnace household fuel.
The procedure of calculation and payment of excise duty
Excise taxes are recognized manufacturers of excisable goods, irrespective of their ownership form (organizations or individual entrepreneurs). Excise sales excise goods. Turnover is the total value of sold excisable goods without VAT. Date negotiable transaction shall be the shipment or the actual payment.
The amount of excise taxes payable by the taxpayers to decide based on the cost of goods and established tax rates. They are paid in the budget such as daily or quarterly. In Russia, the excise tax is paid monthly not later than the 25th day of the month following the expired tax period. For example, for July should be paid by August 25.
The amount of excise duty equal to the excise tax multiplied by the tax base. In Russia distinguish solid and the combined rate of the excise tax.
An example of a fixed rate of 15 p. per 1 liter of beer sold. If the organization implemented a beer in the amount of 100 thousand l, respectively, the excise tax, which is payable to the budget will amount to 1.5 million rubles (100000*15).
A combination bet combines an ad valorem (percentage) and a fixed rate. For example, the sale of cigarettes the excise duty is levied at 8% from the maximum retail prices of cigarettes sold plus 550 p. for every 1000 pieces. If the organization sold 100 thousand packs of cigarettes (2 million units) at a price of 40 p per pack, it turns out the amount of excise tax payments will be (100000*40*8%+_PHONE_/1000*550)= 1.42 million R.
To control the correct amount of calculations taxpayers submit to the tax authorities the calculations of excise taxes on form and in the terms established by law.


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A search of "empirical grounding" in my small personal article database showed more results in test validation than in qualitative (though this could be a personal bias: I'd be curious what kinds of articles your search brought up). Searching this term in the university database brings up a large variety of results, really highlighting the diversity of the use of the term (from policy to measurement).
Additionally, a reading of the Eisenhardt and Graebner article makes it clear to me that their definition of "empirical grounding" is primarily focused on the thought that the theory is grounded in the data, and not as its own distinct methodology. In their sense, this could be viewed as an aspect of grounded theory (when done correctly, it is grounded in data).
Based on this, I would say that empirical grounding is not its own method (or, if it is, certainly not a standard/well-known method). To address the second part, I do think that the term has meaning independent of grounded theory: specifically, as its name implies, it is the practice of grounding theory/methods/conclusions within data (and this has a range of applications). In my understanding, "empirical grounding" is almost an epistemology in terms of its practice and scope. Thus it could, in the larger sense, be considered a broad methodology, under which traditional grounded theory (and perhaps all of quantitative) could fall.
I did find the below article that discussed the broadening of grounded theory from "empirical grounding". They, however, seem to come to this term merely by similar processes as Eisenhardt and Graebner (simply trying to communicate that the method is grounded in data) and do not seem to view it as its own proper method or name.
Goldkuhl, G., & Stefan, C. (2010). Adding Theoretical Grounding to Grounded Theory: Toward Multi-Grounded Theory. International Journal Of Qualitative Methods, 9(2), 187-205.
In example of the multiple uses, below is an article where Messick uses "empirical grounding" to mean "trustworthiness" regarding score interpretation (a pretty well known article and author in the measurement sphere).
Messick, S. (1980). Test validity and the ethics of assessment. American Psychologist, 35(11), 1012–1027. _URL_
All in all, for the purposes of your question: no, it doesn't appear that this is a well known or accepted methodology distinct from grounded theory. It seems to have many definitions in many contexts. Based on the Eisenhardt and Graebner article, it seems to a desirable outcome of a grounded theory. Based on definitions in the Goldkuhl and Stefan article, it is a piece of multi-grounded theory (and appears to capture the goals of traditional grounded theory).