text:
A recent study at the University of Alabama (UAB) shows that the protective effect of garlic is related to the amount of polysulfides in garlic. Garlic compounds known as polysulfides interact with red blood cells to produce hydrogen sulfide, which relaxes blood vessels. By adding garlic to your diet you can reduce blood pressure naturally.
Using fresh garlic, the UAB researchers found that hydrogen sulfide production from garlic could cause up to a 72 percent blood vessel relaxation in the arteries of rats. Relaxing the blood vessels is a major step in lowering blood pressure.
The lead of the research group David Kraus Ph.D. said "When these garlic compounds are metabolized to hydrogen sulfide in the vascular system, the hydrogen sulfide targets membrane channels and causes smooth muscle cells to relax. So a garlic-rich diet has many good effects, and hydrogen sulfide may be the common mediator,".
A separate study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine showed that hydrogen sulfide protects the heart from the tissue and cell damage often seen in heart attack patients. Researchers suspect that hydrogen sulfide somehow prevents oxidative damage to cells.
This has been explained clearly by Kraus in the following sentence "The role of garlic compounds in preventing platelet aggregation, which can trigger a heart attack or stroke, and in limiting cancer growth and the progression of several diseases is well documented,".
Fatty plaques is formed in the artery walls when platelet aggregation happens. Formation of fatty plaques is stopped when platelet aggregation is prevented and garlic prevents platelet aggregation. Thickening of blood is allowed by aggregation of platelet. But aggregating to much may lead to clotting of blood. These fatty plaque deposits effectively increase the size of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. Blood clots can also result in stroke and heart attack.
Too keep ones heart healthy and to maintain the levels of hydrogen sulfide one should regularly eat garlic. Hydrogen sulfide is produced by the body naturally, as the body starts to get aged the production of hydrogen sulfide decreases.
Platelet aggregation can also be prevented by onions and this will naturally lower blood pressure. Garlic and onion bothe comes from the allium family.
Platelets combined together is a quick manner after a no onion hi fat meal when compared to meal containing hi fat with onions. This has been proved by a study made by Queen Elizabeth College of London University. This shows that onion has the substance to neutralize the effect of a high fat meal on platelet aggregation.
If you have high blood pressure, eat garlic every day to lower blood pressurenaturally. It's easy to cook with garlic. Add a crushed garlic clove to pasta sauces, soups, vegetables, and meats. Garlic will add favorable flavor to almost any meal.
Relaxation exercises like meditation and yoga do come in handy. If you are suffering from high blood pressure then walking is the best exercise you can get. You can try walking for 30 minutes 5 days a week. Alternative you can lower blood pressure through physical exercise apart from eating garlic.
Christian Goodman is a well known health researcher and writer of many outstanding ways to heal natural blood pressure. One of his best known breakthroughs is his method to reduce blood pressure. You can know more about Christian on his Natural Health Blog.


Halo Alpha
Halo Alpha
CMA Arabia was a Charon-class light frigate under the command of the Colonial Military Administration.
Operational History[]
Arabia was part of Battlegroup 4 led by Captain Veredi of CMA Heracles that was sent to Harvest to find out what happened to the scout ship CMA Argo and Harvest. The battle group consisted of the destroyer CMA Heracles and the frigates Arabia and CMA Vostok. They were sent to discover the fate of the colony on the planet Harvest, where contact had recently been lost with the local populace. The battle group encountered a Covenant vessel holding station in Harvest orbit and Arabia was destroyed almost instantly by the Covenant's superior firepower. All hands were lost aboard the vessel.[1][3]
Its partner ship, Vostok, was destroyed at the same time and Heracles was forced to retreat after sustaining heavy damage.
The CMA Arabia had one meter of armor plating.[2]
 1. 1.0 1.1 Halo: The Fall of Reach - Pages 96-99
 2. 2.0 2.1 Halo: The Fall of Reach - Page 121 (Digital)
 3. Halo Wars: Genesis - Pages 1 & 2


text:
Tag: bastille day
This post is part of a series, written by Jim Zeender, devoted to letters written by the Founding Fathers in their own words and often in their own hand. Jim is a senior registrar in Exhibits. On July 14, 1789, the U.S. Ambassador to France, Thomas Jefferson, was a witness to the events of a [...]
Posted by Hilary on July 13, 2012, under Letters in the National Archives.
Tags: bastille day, Benjamin Franklin, Founding Fathers, france, in their own words, John Jay, letters, Marquis de la Fayette, Paris, Thomas Jefferson, Versailles
In 1924, a group of eight Army airmen set out to be the first humans to ever circle the globe by air. On their journey over Arctic mountain passes and vast Indian deserts, they would lose half their planes and set numerous records to become what were dubbed the "Magellans of the Sky." Listen as [...]
Posted by Rob Crotty on August 4, 2010, under - Exploration, - World War I, Rare Videos.
Tags: 1924, aerial circumnavigation of globe, air force history, army air corps, aviation history, bastille day, early aviation, flight history, lowell thomas, magellans of the sky, NARA, national archives, Pieces of History, pilots
Gen. J.J. Pershing at Paris with World Fliers. Left to right: Lieuts. Ogden, Arnold, Smith,Gen. Pershing, Lieuts. Wade, Nelson, Harding (US Air Force Pre-1954 Official Still Photography Collection) In 1924, a group of Americans were welcomed by thousands of Frenchmen in Paris on Bastille Day. There was no war, but General Pershing requested a meeting [...]
Posted by Rob Crotty on July 14, 2010, under - Exploration, - World War I.
Tags: 1924 olympics, aerial flight, bastille day, Circumnavigation of the Globe, douglas world cruiser, first world flight, france, General Pershing, legion of honor, magellans of the sky, NARA, National archives and records administration, Prologue magazine

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


LAGATLAT is a word in Cebuano with its meaning in English.
lagatlat a for corn grits to be wet and unevenly cooked.
v [B6; c1] for corn grits to come out lagatlat.
Mulagatlat ang linung-ag ug daghan ang túbig ug kúwang sa káyu, Corn grits come out wet and unevenly cooked if you use too much water and not enough fire.
Words for further learning
English: maybloom
English: stercoranist
English: reticence
English: print
English: dimming
Hiligaynon: kamohanon
English: read
English: ululation
English: bellycheer
English: rust
Cebuano: tambal
Cebuano: bilbiki
English: bibliomancy
Waray: tuhod
English: intermittence
English: stintless
English: dissoluble
Hiligaynon: honhon
English: horal
English: crutched
English: discerning
English: periEnglish: thermotension
English: empoison
English: animalcule
English: gird
English: smoldering
Cebuano: hikap
English: irk
English: transmit
English: yachtsmen
Hiligaynon: matukub
English: vaudoux
English: favoring
Hiligaynon: kabati
English: laryngology
English: water
English: ultimation
English: area
English: cotter
English: pharmacognosy
Hiligaynon: sagnoy
English: coliseum
English: clamp
English: earlock
English: quadruple
Cebuano: balahak
Hiligaynon: mamahi
English: mummer
English: serpent
English: ericolin
English: under
Hiligaynon: udlon
Cebuano: ibidinsiya
English: pimple
Hiligaynon: malihion
English: bay
English: jeopardize
English: interventor
English: plea
English: incognita
Hiligaynon: hakmal
Hiligaynon: italal-us
English: faded
English: floret
Cebuano: tinyinti
English: disgracer
English: bumped
English: galingale
English: tile
Hiligaynon: tilad
English: inflective
Hiligaynon: libo-libo
English: honey
English: quote
English: odylic
English: shrift
English: counterpoised
Hiligaynon: tiglapak
English: smooth
English: discoveries
English: meniver
Waray: masuliaw
Ilokano: supnet
English: wincing
English: staminodia
Hiligaynon: sing-it
Hiligaynon: mansister
English: antithetical
Cebuano: saligbay
English: shotgun
English: thronged
English: godwit
English: correctable
English: idoloclast
English: sing
English: sanitary
English: handbreadth
Ilokano: usang
English: ridicule
English: uncharge
Ilokano: bisngit
Ilokano: sumbat
English: bodily
English: immartial
English: libellulid
Cebuano: liwayway
English: following
English: driver
English: slapped
Tagalog: tadtad
English: piscine
Hiligaynon: bungay-bungay
Hiligaynon: endono
Cebuano: silingan
English: coextension
English: spring
Cebuano: layat
Hiligaynon: libtug
English: wend
English: looping
English: periergy
English: pelegrine
English: wild
English: mediterranean
English: knacker
English: available
English: steepen
Cebuano: lasu
Hiligaynon: pahagyon
Hiligaynon: padaso-daso
English: pleased
Ilokano: bumbero
English: interline
English: exeunt
English: relegated
English: hot-mouthed
English: aped
English: frock
Hiligaynon: mama
English: northman
Hiligaynon: himutad
English: cloudiness
English: move
English: epicedium
English: in
English: suppress
English: tribunitian
Cebuano: kalap
English: inwork
English: cashier
English: lordship
English: official
English: tuneless
Cebuano: galyita
English: hank
English: chloridic
English: funest
English: alluvial
English: extraforaneous
English: anteflexion
Ilokano: dasi
English: splenish
English: cloistering
English: mammer
Tagalog: sipa
English: wode
English: donkeys
English: pulselessness
English: cocaine
English: overhandle
Hiligaynon: sursir
Hiligaynon: pak-an
English: senonian
Cebuano: duna
English: fascia
English: scincoidian
English: edema
Hiligaynon: olikid
Hiligaynon: batitis
Hiligaynon: kuskus-balonos
Cebuano: gitib
English: slit
Hiligaynon: unud
Cebuano: lagaw
English: replica
Hiligaynon: banhog
English: recreating
English: brake
Hiligaynon: garabahan
English: pippin
Ilokano: dilig
English: timbre
English: vibrative
English: zopilote
English: wirbled
Cebuano: taliadlaw
English: elaboration
Cebuano: suna
Ilokano: karut-om
English: whored
English: phonotypist
English: moorband
Ilokano: kala
English: form
English: pickle
English: chalcographist
English: caprylic
English: symmetrical
English: coadventure
English: cassareep
Hiligaynon: sumpa
English: literature
English: game
English: koolslaa
English: commit
English: hellenistically
English: hydraulics
Cebuano: sustansiya
English: celandine
English: foveola
Cebuano: amung
English: workroom
English: pulsate
English: relinquishing
English: chop
English: agone
English: tax
English: insurable
English: forslack
English: dislodgment
English: gonangium
English: favor
English: galvanize
English: leach
English: else
Ilokano: ipus
English: cochineal fig
English: germ
English: conjunctional
English: kythe
Hiligaynon: habhab
English: defrayal
English: stave
English: atlantic
English: arm
English: lamaic
Cebuano: balinsayaw
English: equiseta
English: coucher
English: killdeer
Hiligaynon: taul
English: counter-couchant
English: delight
English: point
English: fractionally
Tagalog: lihim
English: brook
Cebuano: alabutun
Tagalog: hipag
Hiligaynon: kahuya
English: sieve
English: empearl
English: dodge
English: immutable
English: flexural
English: re-formation
English: parhelia
English: revenge
English: phocal
English: flag
English: pan
English: clavy
English: devil bird
English: indulgency
English: elenchus
English: disestablishment
English: pleonastically
English: reflector
English: somnolism
English: solitary
English: joss
Hiligaynon: tipolon
English: commorant
English: present
Hiligaynon: bungsod
Hiligaynon: kisom
Hiligaynon: komod
English: endothelia
English: marl
English: mucosity
English: quibbler
English: sweep
English: siniate
English: well
English: esthetics
Tagalog: sabong
English: carouse
English: acrodont
English: paleotherian
English: calumnies
Cebuano: apay
English: stipitiform
English: march
English: weanling
English: collocation
English: trepang
Hiligaynon: nonoy
English: descendible
English: spirally
English: dreamless
English: livery
Cebuano: gapnud
Cebuano: uksidyn
English: nickeline
English: whimsy
Tagalog: hinang
English: seed
English: decker
English: clout
Cebu


Skip to definition.
Noun: kaki kaa-kee
 1. Small deciduous Asiatic tree bearing large red or orange edible astringent fruit
 - Japanese persimmon, Diospyros kaki
 2. Blackish stilt of New Zealand sometimes considered a colour phase of the white-headed stilt
 - Himantopus novae-zelandiae
Derived forms: kakis
Type of: Himantopus stilt, longlegs, long-legs, persimmon, persimmon tree, stilt, stilt plover, stiltbird
Part of: Diospyros, genus Diospyros, genus Himantopus, Himantopus
Encyclopedia: Kaki, Iran


text:
Healthcare Disparities within priority populations
View a LIVE demo here: _URL_
You're looking at data of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Specifically, you're looking at data on disparities within 'priority populations', which are groups with unique healthcare needs or issues that require special attention. This visualization has been created for the Visualizing.org Health Disparity Visualization Challenge.
For each group the data is collected into a single set. This will result in a question that can be answered for each individual table: "how does this group as a whole perform compared to the other groups?". For instance, if 'less than highschool' scores low on every other element (race, ethnicity, income level, etc.), then the average of this group will be low, and thus one can conclude that this group as a whole performs badly. Visually this is shown by ordering the groups and elements of the groups by average, where the worst performing group or element of a group is shown on top.
The groups and elements within a group requiring most attention are always on top. All elements of a group are ordered from'most attention required' on top, and 'least attention required' at the bottom. The elements are sorted by the white lines, which represent the average for this element. If you check the'show grouped' checkbox, the groups will also be ordered themselves by'most attention required' on top, and 'least attention required' at the bottom. The groups themselves are sorted by the black lines, which is the group average and again showing the'most attention required group' on top. The thick bars represent the standard deviation: near 70% of all values for this element fall within this range. The thin bars represent the range for this element: from minimum value to maximum value.


text:
Definition of Satureia montana
1. Noun. Erect perennial subshrub having pink or white flowers and leathery leaves with a flavor of thyme; southern Europe.
Terms within: Winter Savory, Winter Savoury
Generic synonyms: Savory
Satureia Montana Pictures
Click the following link to bring up a new window with an automated collection of images related to the term: Satureia Montana Images
Lexicographical Neighbors of Satureia Montana
Literary usage of Satureia montana
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The New International Encyclopædia edited by Daniel Coit Gilman, Harry Thurston Peck, Frank Moore Colby (1904)
"Winter savory (Satureia montana), a sub-shrub with prickly pointed leaves and larger flowers, is used in the same way. Summer savory is propagated by seed..."
2. The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture: A Discussion for the Amateur, and by Liberty Hyde Bailey (1914)
"Savory* Winter (Satureia montana). Labiate. Perennial. Uses: Seasoning. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, layers and division...."
3. Old-fashioned Gardening: A History and a Reconstruction by Grace Tabor (1913)
"... officinalis Marjoram Origanum vulgare (perennial) Origanum Majorana (annual) Savory Satureia montana (winter; perennial) Satureia hortensis (summer;..."

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
Neurons growing in a cell culture
These time lapse animations use phase contrast microscopy to show neural stem cells in a nutrient medium for 4 hours. They reveal the dynamic growth and recycling of dendrites and synapses as neurons establish relationships with each other. The social behavior of these cells creates the incredible properties of the mind and brain.
Credit: University of Victoria Medical Sciences


text:
Wonkido Visual Organizer
The Wonkido Visual Organizer addresses the area of Teaching and Learning, with a parent outreach component. Successful teaching and learning needs to include support from the home.
Children today are growing up in an information age. Access to technology is assumed and having the skills to use technology in the future is implied. Children need to learn at an early age the benefits of technology and how to responsibly integrate it into their lives for more than social communication. Teaching children early is important to establish guidelines about technology and how it is used.
The Wonkido Visual Organizer is an individualized learning tool designed to teach children executive functioning skills such as organization and planning, while collaborating with other educators and parents. The executive functioning skills make up the operating manual to time management and organization, skills both children and adults need for better life management. The Wonkido Visual Organizer, utilizes the power of cloud computing and mobile technology, to both teach important executive functioning skills as well as collaborate with parents and educators working together to help children succeed.
Individualized learning is the future of education and Wonkido empowers children to learn how to independently manage their own time while still receiving guidance and oversight by parents and teachers. The Organizer uses eye-catching visual displays for a customized personal schedule and daily organization with images to retain focus and aid comprehension, as well as allowing a child to add to their own schedule teaching planning and prioritizing. The program offers a customized goal oriented rewards program to help motivate children who need additional incentives for behavior. As educators, it is essential to introduce and practice these skills with children early so they have a grasp on organizing their time and activities as they continue to higher education.
Another great feature the Visual Organizer offers is a system for communication between parents and teachers. The Organizer allows for teachers to view schedules, assign homework, and communicate with parents through a message system. This feature of the organizer creates a successful learning environment because everyone is in constant communication. Parents and teachers can avoid waiting to hear back from one another about unanswered questions. Teachers can easily access and respond to any problem the parents or students are having!
Teachers are able to manage groups of students, assigning a single activity to a child's schedule, and viewing activity reports to compare the time it takes each student to complete the same task. Wonkido allows for class discussion both anonymously as well as with a child's name to allow easier social comments regarding an activity. All visible by other teachers and parents to stay coordinated and involved in what happens at school. Learning doesn't have to stop when school is over, and the cloud base of the Wonkido Organizer allows a student to stay organized and connected 24/7.
The Wonkido's Visual Organizer is perfect for teaching children critical executive functioning skills, like organization, time management, and goal setting. It provides early success for children who have the opportunity to develop skills for an easier transition at school and as life becomes more challenging.
The Wonkido Organizer was just released October 2012 on iTunes. In just the month since the release The Wonkdio Organizer is already being used by therapist and teachers at public and private school nationwide.
- Category: Education
- Released: 09 October 2012
- Version: 01
- Age: Preschool-Adult
- Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 5.1 or later.
by Wendy Marshall, Appy Lady Admin – completed Nov 26, 2012
What I Liked About This App:
. The app targets exactly what it intends – organisation, independence, time management skills.
. It best suits students who are able to complete daily tasks, but just need help with completing them independently or within a certain time frame.
. For organisational skills, the child is helped to:
- Follow multiple steps in a sequence,
- Complete a task to completion,
- Stay on task independently.
. You can coordinate tasks across multiple environments. This helps to make the child's progress transparent to everyone involved in the child's program – you can link different people to be able to view your child's progress.
. This app helps your child take more responsibility for achieving organisation and independence goals.
. It also helps the adults be honest with what everyone is expecting from your child. In addition, it helps to see what the child needs to do over the whole day, across home and school for example, so the child is not overloaded.
. Rewards can be earned – you can set the number of points per activity. Higher points might be given to help motivate your child complete more challenging or high priority tasks.
. All adults can view the child's progress.
. A message board facilitates easy communication between people involved.
. The child can use the organiser in any environment – home, therapy, school. It's one consistent system that can apply to their whole day, irrespective of environment.
. The physical arrangement is appealing and easy to follow.
. This system will save a lot of time in printing off schedule pictures. The activities can be saved and used at any time.
. You can set a timer for tasks – fantastic for those kids that can do the task but lack the intrinsic motivation to complete the tasks in a timely manner. The timer gives great motivation!
. You can log-in from a range of devices, such as the iPad and / or the computer! This offered great flexibility. I found the computer to be the best way to set-up the system.
Things That I Found Tricky:
« Becoming familiar with the program. It took some time to navigate through the different components of the program but this time investment is well worth it.
« The images filter by words used in the instruction. Perhaps having a greater number of images available per view would save some time scrolling through. There are some cultural differences for vocabulary and images so perhaps in future updates these might be included. You can add your own images, but this feature did take a little extra time than expected.
« The video tutorials were good, but the sound quality wasn't always clear. There appear to be some more recent updates that provide pop-up prompts and these look great.
Some Tips On Use:
– When you first start programming the activities and schedule I found it helpful to:
- Spend the first few days programming activities and instructions as I was actually doing the activities with my child. This way the programming occurred in the moment and I knew exactly what needed to go into the schedule and instructions.
- By taking the iPad with me, I could take photos of the activities and / or items so these were already in my photo library so it was simpler and easier to add these to the schedule in my 'programming days'.
– Start with key activities that occur frequently over the days or weeks. I might have only one or two activities each day, but this made it easier to get to know the app / program. As I became familiar with the app I added more activities and tasks.
– Start with short, simple instructions. Then combine two shorter instructions to form one longer instruction, e.g., "Make your bed" + "Pack your bag" = "Make your bed, then pack your bag". Gradually add harder 'time' words, e.g., "First, make your bed, then pack your bag", "Make your bed before you pack your bag".
– By using different wording, but keeping the meaning / sequence the same, you can teach different language concepts. When these are mastered, use more complex terms that change the order of the sequence.
– As your child becomes more independent with routine, everyday tasks, give less points or rewards for these.
– Give more points or rewards for new or challenging tasks.
– Add social praise and encouragement in your instructions for activities, e.g., "Make my bed", "Pack my Bag", "Great getting ready for school!", "Brush my teeth".
– Write the instructions from your child's perspective – this can help map your child's internal dialogue to themselves so they can begin to internalise the instructions and sequences, and increase independence away from the visual reminders eventually.
Overall, I really like this app and would recommend it to others. Great job Wonkidos!!
Why did you decide to develop this app?
This app has a huge range of children who would benefit from using a visual schedule and organization. I have found that for children with visual learning or developmental learning needs, the Wonkido Organizer plays a huge part in helping their motivation as well as organization. A teacher said it best when she said that for students with special needs the Wonkido Organizer is need to help a student succeed, however their is a huge benefit for all students regardless of development. Every child needs to learn organization and how to manage their own schedule. Most of the time we expect a child in middle school to know how to manage their workload, yet they have not been taught or given a tool in which they can learn from. Students from 5 – 15 would greatly benefit from the use of the organizer.
Thank you so much for sharing your insights into your new app. I hope this has helped people understand our wonderful this app is.


Holistic development in Children
Darryl Bachmeier
Aug 23, 2019
Every child is different and requires a different development approach. Similarly, every parent adopts different treatment with every child. The overall mental, physical and emotional development of a child comes under the heading of holistic development. Parents being the primary educators, strive to focus the holistic learning in the initial phase of childhood.
Holistic Development among children; how to go about it?
All those educators and parents who have had an idea about the holistic approach find it easier to exercise the concept in the child's education. Here holistic approach balance between child's environment, his home and growth pattern.
Main areas which require development are:
Social growth
It states how a child talks, interacts and communicates in his social circle and the outside world
Intellectual growth
It involves creativity (out of the box thinking), cognition and acquiring skills essential for learning
Personal and physical development
It is about oneself, i.e., all about the personal aspect of a child, personal growth and learning capabilities
Emotional understanding
It includes capabilities to deal with adversaries and difficult situations
Environment Values
It tends to show a child's affection and care towards the outside world It is pertinent to mention that the first three years are very crucial for the overall growth and development of any child. If the holistic program is properly designed, it can lead to the happy, integrated and healthy life of a child.
Designing the Holistic Development Plan for a Child
Some ways can help parents devise a holistic model for their children development.
Plan for Social development
Interact, interact and interact. Parent need to indulge children in social activities by engaging them with other children (apart from family) and adults. They not only get a chance in moving out of their comfort zone but also get a chance to share, toys, meals, stories and empathize with others. Also, they get a chance to develop a sense of making friends and interacting with people outside their clan and social circle.
Plan for Intellectual growth
In the early years, a child needs to play more. This enables them to develop cognitive skills because they are exposed to different activities. Kids are normally seen playing at home when free and make judgements about different activities. Sometimes they are also seen to imitate and learn through role-plays. When they participate more, it fosters mental growth and they learn fast. Apart from this, reading also encourages a child to concentrate and learn vocabulary. Children also develop an interest in different stories, improves reading and their creativity is enhanced.
Plan for Personal and Physical development
Parents need to set a physical milestone for children to achieve. The development of motor skills is different for different age groups and similarly, their requirement is also different. Normally, the development of motor skills starts with a child holding pencil and playing with sand. Also, playdough is yet another activity which is being used in many educational institutions as well for better development of both physical personal health. Besides this a child jumping, sitting, running, climbing means he is exploring and engaged in the development of motor skills.
Plan for Emotional Understanding
It means to empathise and putting yourself in the shoe of other children. Parents first need to understand the emotional requirements of their children. This starts at home. Emotions vary from a child to a child. Some children tend to be extra emotional and need a cushion to cry on, while others tend to show strong emotional balance. Parents need to share stories, sometimes real-time experiences having moral at the end.
Plan for Environmental Values
Child needs to know the environment he lives in. When moving out of their comfort zone, he needs to be aware of the outside world. The development of the outside world starts at home when they learn to move into the outside world and interact with outside people. Normally, school is the first outside world every child experiences. Thus, parents need to engage and interact with their child with the outside world so they could adapt easily.
Holistic development doesn't happen in Isolation
Indeed, the overall holistic development doesn't take place in isolation, rather it is an amalgamation of many activities, including many individuals. For Instance, a picnic is not just an outdoor recreation plan which parents make. It is a full package, which involves the development of physical activities, cognitive development, social interaction, environment knowhow and emotional understanding. The just one trip can help a child explore, learn, interact, socialize, communicate, adapt and learn.
Streamline the Holistic development among Children
The parents need to give time, liberty and build confidence in their child. There are indeed some limitations to this aspect as well because not all activities lead to holistic development. In nutshell, parents first need to study the learning requirements and capabilities of their children and then develop a complete set of activities and plan to keep in view the above-shared areas. This way the objective of achieving the desired result will be possible while attaining overall holistic development.
2020 © Zenbo Services Ltd. All rights reserved.


Intoeing & Out-Toeing
Intoeing – Learning to Walk with Turned Toes
First steps are an important milestone. They mark a new stage in children's ability to move and interact with the world around them—and begin the development of mobility that will serve the child for the rest of his or her life. So it is understandable why parents might be concerned when they notice a gait abnormality like intoeing in their baby.
Why Toes Point Inward
Intoeing is a fairly common gait problem in small children. The toes turn inward when your child stands or walks, creating a "pigeon-toed" look. While this usually isn't harmful, it can concern many families and does need to be monitored. Occasionally, intoeing does cause some issues—your little one can trip on his or her toes, or develop discomfort from pushing off of the wrong part of the foot when walking. Several underlying, congenital issues can cause the toes to turn inward: metatarsus adductus, tibial torsion, and femoral anteversion.
Metatarsus adductus is a curve in the middle of your baby's foot. This can be a flexibility problem of a rigid deformity, depending on the severity of the issue. Tibial torsion is a natural twist in the lower leg bones, which rotates the foot so it appears to point inward. Usually it's most noticeable once your child starts walking. Femoral anteversion is excessive rotation in the hip bones that twists the whole leg inward. It's most apparent around school age.
Growing out of Gait Problems
Any child with intoeing should have their growth monitored by a children's foot care specialist like Dr. Sanjay Patel. Our team will examine your little one's feet to make sure that no developmental issues are related to the problem, and that your child isn't struggling with pain. For most of these issues, the best treatment is waiting to see how they develop.
All of these problems can self-correct as your child grows older. For metatarsus adductus, however, you can take steps to straighten out the feet. Before your child begins walking, the feet are stretched and exercised to strengthen them. If the foot is rigid, the lower limbs may need to be braced or casted into the correct position so that the feet straighten as they grow.
For tibial torsion and femoral anteversion, braces and special shoes are not effective in correcting the twist of the bones. However, bones naturally rotate outward somewhat as they grow; typically this corrects the gait abnormality before the teen years. If the problem persists past ten years old, your child may need surgery to correct it.
Out-Toeing in Children
As any parent is bound to know, a child's first steps are never perfect. They wobble, they weave, and they ultimately fall over before starting to get the hang of things. Once children get moving at a steadier clip, that walk may still not look exactly as one expects. Several different gait abnormalities may develop, but we will concentrate on the feet turning outward, or out-toeing.
Turned-out Toddling
Out-toeing and its close relative in-toeing are the most common abnormalities in walking that cause parents to consult medical advice. It is a rather obvious condition to spot simply from looking at the way a child walks. It rarely shows any other symptoms, and it rarely causes a child any pain.
In most cases, out-toeing will correct itself naturally as a child's bones continue to develop. Surgery, custom-made orthotics, braces, and other treatments are typically not needed. The vast majority of children who grows out of out-toeing naturally should have no disadvantages in motion or performance against children who did not grow up with the condition.
Causes of Curving
The most common cause of out-toeing in a young child is a small twist in the bones of the upper or lower legs. The lower leg bone, or tibia, is the most common to blame. If it rotates outward, then a child's toes will point outward as well.
It is not fully certain why most gait abnormalities of this type develop. A great number of experts believe that one's family history can play a role. If out-toeing runs among a family line, the odds of a child also having it might be higher. Another theory involves the position in which a child grows in the womb. In certain cases, developing bones might rotate slightly to make the most of available room in the uterus. After birth, it may take some time for these bones to revert back to a standard position.
What to Do
In the case of a rotated tibia (tibial torsion), the bones will tend to correct themselves by the age of 4. In some cases out-toeing will persist longer.
The best practice when discovering your child is out-toeing is to see an expert for a check-up. Dr. Sanjay Patel can rule out potential causes for concern. Periodical examinations can help ensure development is happening smoothly and the condition is not persisting.
Out-toeing that is still present after 3-4 years of age might be more of a concern, and a gait abnormality accompanied by pain most definitely is. If you notice limping, one foot turning out more than the other, a worsening of the condition or other delays in development, then a closer look at the problem is crucial.
If you have concerns about your child's intoeing or out-toeing, you are far from the only parent. Just like you, we at Family Foot Care & Surgery would rather cover all bases and make sure any potential problems are caught before they become something more difficult to handle. Call _PHONE_ for our Milford office or _PHONE_ for our office in Hamden.


text:
- THE MAGAZINE
What can be said about a glaze? Plenty! We have all been in the position of trying to describe our favorite glaze to another potter or to ourselves. If the actual glaze is not present, the verbal account can leave a lot to the imagination, which can produce an inaccurate image. The glaze description language is an agreed-upon meaning to the many characteristics found in glazes. It uses several key words and phrases to define a glaze. The idea, as with all languages, is that everyone understands what is meant by the standardized terms that classify a glaze. The glaze description language allows the listener or reader to formulate an accurate mental image of how the fired glaze looks and functions.
One area of potential error occurs when writing or describing glazes. Many potters still refer to a glaze formula by its popular name. For example, we have all called glazes Randy's Red or Bob's Blue. While there is a certain personal and informal quality in referring to glazes in such a manner, it can lead to numerous inaccuracies in exchanging or understanding glaze formulas. Just referring to a glaze by its common name does not tell us enough about its characteristics, such as color, texture or light transmission. As an added potential for error, the actual glaze formula for Randy's Red could have changed many times since Randy developed the glaze. Identifying glazes only by their names is an inaccurate attempt to transfer information and can indicate a potter's lack of knowledge about glaze formulas.
Even potters who know better are still drawn into the easy habit of referring to a glaze only by its name. However, there is another method that can transfer information with greater accuracy. Once the vocabulary is known, it makes the task of explaining how a glaze looks much easier, faster and more accurate. We're not talking about deciphering Sanskrit or Egyptian hieroglyphics; just a few simple categories can add to the enjoyment of making and describing ceramic glazes.
Keep in mind there are no set rules about the number of terms to use in describing a glaze. However, it is critical that any terms used have some universal understanding among potters. In addition, too many descriptive terms can be overly cumbersome to use in actual practice. Many potters choose only those descriptions that accurately focus on their particular glaze. Listed are several characteristics that will define a glaze in specific terms.
Firing Temperature: c/06, c/6, c/9
The firing temperature or pyrometric cone rating is critical in the description of any glaze. The three most common temperature ranges used today in ceramics are c/06 (1830°F), c/6 (2232°F) and c/9 (2336°F). Most clay body and glaze formulas have been developed around these temperature ranges. Published glaze and clay body formulas also fall within these widely used pyrometer cone and temperatures.
Preparation: Frit or Raw Oxides
Frits are manufactured from specific raw oxides, which are calcined or fired in a molten mass, cooled and then ground into a fine powder. Frits are frequently used in low-, mediumand some high-temperature glazes, acting as a major flux or glass former. A raw glaze is composed of non-fritted ceramic materials such as feldspars, clays, dolomite, whiting, zinc, talc, magnesium carbonate, and other naturally occurring raw materials.
Composition: Lead, Alkaline and Alkaline Earth
The composition of any glaze can determine its surface texture, light transmission, viscosity when molten, and color development when used with stains or metallic coloring oxides. The major (but not only) ingredients in glazes fall within three broad categories: lead-based glazes containing lead; alkaline-based glazes containing feldspars and/or frits; and alkaline earth-based glazes containing calcium, magnesium, barium, strontium and beryllium.
Texture: Gloss, Satin Matt, Dry Matt
The fired glaze can develop gloss, satin matt or a dry surface texture. A gloss surface is shiny and smooth to the touch. A satin matt surface is similar to a satin ribbon, with a semi-smooth surface texture, while a dry matt glaze can have a gritty surface. The surface texture of the glaze is not to be confused with its light transmission qualities.
Light Transmission: Transparent, Semi-Opaque, Opaque
The ability of light to penetrate the glaze layer determines whether the glaze is transparent, semi-opaque or opaque.
Color: Green, Yellow, Red, Blue, etc.
Glazes can be formulated in any color using stains or metallic coloring oxides. Color is often one of the major defining characteristics in describing any glaze.
Special Effects: Wood, Soda, Salt, Raku, Luster
Glazes can be developed for wood, soda, salt, luster, Raku or any number of applications or firing techniques.
Application: Sprayed, Dipped, Brushed
A glaze can be sprayed, dipped or brushed on the ware. The application method can also play a part in the total fired glaze effect.
Atmosphere: Oxidation, Neutral, Reduction
A glaze can be fired in an oxidation atmosphere (more air than fuel present in combustion), a neutral atmosphere (equal amounts of air and fuel), or a reduction atmosphere (more fuel than air present in combustion). The kiln atmosphere can alter any of the above glaze characteristics depending on the particular glaze formula and kiln firing cycle.
Glaze Hardness: Soft, Hard
While not typically a glaze characteristic that is noted, some fired glazes can be described as either hard or soft in their resistance to abrasion or solubility.
While it is not necessary (or, in many instances, required) to use every glaze description characteristic, an example would be: I am currently firing a c/9, fritted, alkaline, gloss, transparent, blue, soda-fired, sprayed glaze in a reduction atmosphere, and it has a hard-fired surface. More frequently, a description of this same glaze would be stated as: I am currently firing c/9/reduction, gloss, transparent blue, soda-fired glaze.
Standardization in describing glazes leads to accuracy in talking and writing about glazes, all of which can create a greater understanding of ceramic materials. Disseminating accurate glaze information to other potters will also prevent many glaze defects that are caused by the misidentification of glaze characteristics.


Latest News
As a South African Post Office union, we have lots of postal workers that makes sure that you receive your mail in time. Our SAP Union would like to share what exactly every postal worker does.
Mail is received and sorted, dispatched and distributed through all the employees working at the Postal Service and without them, we won't be able to send or receive any mail or items. postal service has the following staff:
Postal workers
Service Clerks - Sells stamps and help people pickup packages, as well as assist with any other services.
Mail sorters - These employees are in charge of sorting out the mail so that it can go the correct places
Mail carrier - Can also be called a mail carrier, mailman, postal carrier, postman/postwoman or a letter carrier. This person is an employee of the postal service who delivers mail to residences and / or businesses.
A postmaster is the head of a particular post office. Responsibilities includes management of a centralised mail distribution facility, establishment of letter carrier routes, supervision of letter carriers and enforcement of an organization's rules & procedures.
Postmaster General
Also called a chief executive officer of the postal services of that particular country and oversees all the postmasters. A Postmaster General is responsible for an entire mail distribution organization which is usually sponsored by the national government. In 1609, the postmaster general authorised certain persons to carry and deliver letters (mail) and it could only be delivered by them. Benjamin Franklin in the United States was the first appointed postmaster general in 1775, serving longer than 15 months.


Pathfinder Reference Document
Pathfinder Reference Document
School divination (scrying); Level bard 3, cleric 5, druid 4, sorcerer/wizard 4
Casting Time 1 hour
Components V, S, M/DF (a pool of water), F (a silver mirror worth 1,000 gp)
Range see text
Effect magical sensor
Duration 1 min./level
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
You can observe a creature at any distance. If the subject succeeds on a Will save, the spell fails. The difficulty of the save depends on how well your knowledge of the subject and what sort of physical connection (if any) you have to that creature. Furthermore, if the subject is on another plane, it gets a +5 bonus on its Will save.
KnowledgeWill Save Modifier
Secondhand (you have heard of the subject)+5
Firsthand (you have met the subject)+0
Familiar (you know the subject well)–5
ConnectionWill Save Modifier
Likeness or picture–2
Possession or garment–4
As with all divination (scrying) spells, the sensor has your full visual acuity, including any magical effects. In addition, the following spells have a 5% chance per caster level of operating through the sensor: detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, detect law, detect magic, and message.
If the save succeeds, you can't attempt to scry on that subject again for at least 24 hours.
Scrying, Greater
School divination (scrying); Level bard 6, cleric 7, druid 7, sorcerer/wizard 7
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Duration 1 hour/level
This spell functions like scrying, except as noted above. Additionally, all of the following spells function reliably through the sensor: detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, detect law, detect magic, message, read magic, and tongues.


text:
Yerba buena or hierba buena is a name of Spanish origin used for a number of aromatic plants, most of which belong to the mint family. The Spanish name yerba buena translates as "good herb". The specific plant species regarded as yerba buena varies from region to region, depending on what grows wild in the surrounding landscape, or which species is customarily grown in local gardens. Perhaps the most common variation of this plant is spearmint (Mentha spicata). The term has been (and is currently) used to cover a number of aromatic true mints and mint relatives of the genera Satureja or Micromeria. All plants so named have medicinal properties, and some have culinary value as tisanes or seasonings as well.
Local variants
In the western United States, yerba buena most often refers to the species Micromeria douglasii (which is sometimes classified as Clinopodium douglasii or Satureja douglasii), but may also refer to Eriodictyon californicum, which is not a member of the mint family.
In parts of Central America yerba buena often refers to Mentha citrata, a true mint sometimes called "bergamot mint" with a strong citrus-like aroma that is used medicinally and as a cooking herb and tea.
In Cuba, yerba buena generally refers to Mentha nemorosa, a popular plant also known as large apple mint, foxtail mint, hairy mint, woolly mint or, simply, Cuban mint.
In Peru the name is sometimes applied to a shrubby aromatic marigold, Tagetes minuta also known as "huacatay" or "black mint"; in this case, despite some similarities of flavor, the herb in question is in the Sunflower family and is quite unrelated to any of the mints or mint-relatives with which it shares a name.
- "Huacatay - Ingredient - CHOW". CHOW food and entertainment website. CNET Networks. Retrieved 2007-12-19.


text:
Research in Control and System Theory
by Jan H. van Schuppen
Current and recent research in control and system theory are briefly discussed as well as the role of the ERCIM Working Group Control and System Theory in ERCIM.
Where does an ordinary citizen encounter control? Control is experienced in processing of telephone calls, in car steering, in modern forms of information and control of motorways, in stabilization control of air planes, in orbit control of satellites for hand held phones and tv channels, etc. Almost all engineering products operate properly only because control is used to safeguard their proper operation and to optimize their performance. In the last two decades motivating control problems have arisen in control of high-performance communication networks, of motorway traffic, in air traffic control, of chemical plants, and in finance and insurance to name only a few areas. Control and system theory are highly relevant to the functioning of the Western industrialized societies.
At about half of the ERCIM institutes research in this research area is carried out in designated research groups while at other institutes control is sometimes integrated in research of computer science.
Problems of Control and System Theory
What is control? Engineering systems require command signals such that controlled variables remain at a specified setpoint say. This function is called control. Control is also the name for a research area in which the design of controllers is studied at the engineering level and in which synthesis of controllers is studied at a theoretical level. System theory is the research area in which study is made of mathematical models for control and signal processing. Besides engineering, mathematics and computer science are the main academic disciplines used in control and system theory.
A system is a mathematical model of an engineering phenomenon that involves an input signal, an output signal, and a state function. The input can be commanded by a controller. The output refers to that part of the state function that can be observed and as such is available to the controller. At any time the current state and the current input value determine the dynamics of the state and the current output value. Systems are usually classified according to the spaces involved and to the equations that specify the dynamics. Thus there are linear, bilinear, polynomial, and stochastic systems depending on the character of the transition map.
Control is based on the principle of feedback. In the closed-loop system the output of the system is used by the controller to determine the input to the system. The control problem for a system is then to synthesize a controller such that the closed-loop system meets the control objectives. General control objectives include: stability of the state function, optimization of performance, robustness with respect to noise signals and poorly modeled dynamics, and avoidance of unsafe states. The engineering constraint of a controller that can be implemented with finite memory is essential.
Control and signal processing require mathematical models in the form of a system with finite memory. Consider a map from input signals to output signals. A realization is a system in a prespecified class such that the associated map from inputs to outputs associated with the system equals a considered map. The realization problem is to establish conditions for the existence of a realization. Furthermore, it also includes the classification of all such realizations. The system identification problem for a pair of observed input-output signals is to determine a system such that the input-output signals approximate the specified input-output signals.
Current and Recent Research
There is a large body of literature on control of linear systems. In the last decades much attention has been given to robust control of linear systems. Currently there is attention for control of systems with saturations and with space constraints such as linear systems for artificial neural nets. Motivated by coding theory, linear systems on groups are receiving renewed interests. Primarily motivated by mechanics, control of nonlinear systems has developed within a differential geometric framework. Other engineering areas lead to bilinear systems and to polynomial systems. Control of stochastic systems has led to a body of results for filtering and stochastic control. Optimal stochastic control with an exponential type cost function has led to results on robust control and to interpretations of large deviations. Problems of detection and failure diagnosis for stochastic systems and for discrete event systems motivated by engineering problems have led to theory and algorithms that are applied in wide ranging fields.
Realization theory has started with the work of R.E. Kalman for linear finite-dimensional systems. Since then it has been generalized to other classes of systems and from input-output maps to input-output trajectories. The behavioral approach to realization theory concerns the distinction of observed signals into input and output signals. Stochastic realization theory has been developed for Gaussian systems and finite-stochastic systems. For system identification of linear systems and of Gaussian systems there is a well developed theory for single-input-single-output systems. For multi-input-multi-output systems algorithms based on stochastic realization theory and on the singular value decomposition of numerical linear algebra are quite effective. The approximation problem of system identification takes inspiration from stochastic complexity theory which in turn is based on Kolmogorov complexity. Adaptive control of linear and Gaussian systems is well developed for single-input/single-output systems but there remain difficult conceptual problems for the multi-input/multi-output case. The interaction of control, state estimation, and parameter estimation needs more fundamental thinking.
Motivated by the use of computers for control, there has been developed a control and system theory for discrete-event systems. Modeling formalisms used include automata, Petri nets, process algebras, and linear systems over the (max,+)-algebra. This research benefits from interaction with theoretical computer science. Results concern control synthesis, hierarchical control, and failure diagnosis. Applications have been made in control of communication networks, manufacturing, chemical process control, road traffic, and air traffic control. Research for the class of hybrid systems is primarily motivated by the use of computers for control of engineering systems. The interaction between the discrete and the continuous dynamics is in some models so tight that these must be treated jointly.
Control of motorway traffic
The traffic intensities in motorway networks in European countries is so high that traffic queues are a daily phenomenon. Governments now promote the use of control measures to alleviate the most recurrent congestion. Control measures currently used or planned include: warning upstream traffic about traffic queues, ramp metering (access control on on-ramps), dynamic adjustable speed limits, information provision about the state of the network, routing control, and dynamic lane control. Routing control has been investigated at CWI as part of a European project in cooperation with road agencies, research institutes, and universities. Design of routing control requires fundamental thinking about the interaction of prediction and control. The appropriate formulation in terms of control theory is that of a dynamic game with the Nash equilibrium concept. Because of the complexity of the problem, approximations of the control law must be considered. A control algorithm for routing control has been formulated and evaluated by simulation at CWI. Actual implementation requires further development by the national road agency.
ERCIM Working Group Control and System Theory
During a workshop at SZTAKI in Budapest, Hungary in November 1995 the participants decided that it was advantageous to their contacts to constitute an ERCIM working group. The organizational structure consists of teams at several of the ERCIM institutes and of a Steering Committee. The activities of the working group consist of bi-annual workshops, contacts about the ERCIM Fellowship Programme, and informal contacts on research. The achievements are the increased contacts between the teams on ERCIM matters and on research. Five of the nine teams of the ERCIM Working Group also participated in a series of EU sponsored research projects in system identification.
A list of the teams with their Steering Committee members follows:
CNR - LADSEB Systems Theory Group in Padova, Italy (Andrea Gombani)
CRCIM Institute for Information Theory and Automation (UTIA) in Prague, Czech Republic (Vladimir Kucera)
CWI Research Group System and Control Theory in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Jan H. van Schuppen)
INRIA Research Group Meta2, Rocquencourt, France (Jean-Pierre Quadrat)
INRIA Research Group MIAOU, Sophia Antipolis, France (Laurent Baratchart).
INRIA Research Group on Signals, Models, and Algorithms, Rennes, France (Francois Le Gland).
INRIA Research Group CONGE, INRIA Lorraine, Metz, France
SICS Division of Optimization and Systems Theory, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (Anders Lindquist).
SZTAKI Systems and Control Laboratory, Budapest, Hungary (László Gerencsér).
Research in linear systems is likely to focus attention on systems with space constraints and on systems in algebraic structures. Research in positive linear systems is expected to receive relatively more attention. It is motivated by modeling in biology, environmental modeling, and economics. Control and system theory of nonlinear systems will develop further with differential geometry and algebra. The class of polynomial systems is likely to develop with computer algebra packages. Control and filtering of stochastic systems is expected to grow in hidden Markov models and for stochastic systems with exponential families of probability distributions. Adaptive stochastic control needs further conceptual progress. Applications of stochastic control are likely to occur in mathematical finance and in communication networks. Control of discrete-event systems is likely to progress in hierarchical and decentralized control so as to deal with complexity issues. Control of hybrid systems is expected to develop the interaction between the discrete and the continuous dynamics.
There is likely to be increased efforts in the development of software tools more so than in the past, not only for numerical computations but also for computer algebra or symbolic computations for linear systems, for control of discrete-event systems, and for hybrid systems.
The ERCIM Working Group will be most effective if the research leaders can have regular in-depth discussions on future research directions of their teams.
Jan H. van Schuppen - CWI
Tel: +31 20 _PHONE_


text:
Farming in the Middle Ages
Written by Simon Newman
History - Middle Ages
Farming in the Middle Ages was done by peasants and serfs. Peasant farmers made just enough money to live on while serfs had no rights and were all but slaves to the lords whose land they lived on. Some serf farmers eventually earned rights in exchange for back-breaking work seven days a week and on-command service to their lord.
Farming Methods and Tools
Lands were farmed using a three field agricultural system. One field was for the summer crop, another for winter crop, and the third layfallow, or uncultivated, each year. The fallow land was reserved to regain nutrients for the next year.
Farmers only had a rudimentary knowledge of fertilizers. Thus, each year only an average of twothirds of a farmer's land was usually cultivated. The other third of the land lay uncultivated or fallow. The average yield of an acre of farming in the Middle Ages was eight to nine bushels of grain.
Some farmers did have methods for fertilizing their soil. A common fertilization technique for farming in the Middle Ages was called marling. For marling, farmers spread clay containing lime carbonate onto their soil. This process restored the nutrients needed to grow crops. Farmers also used manure as fertilizer, which they got from the livestock they raised.
There were not many tools used for farming, and the tools available were rather useless. The wooden ploughs used for farming in the Middle Ages barely scratched the ground. Grain was cut with a sickle and grass mown with a scythe. It took an average of five men per day to collect a two acre harvest. Harrowing, or burying seeds, was done with a hand tool resembling a large rake.
As scientific breeding had not yet begun, farm animals were small and often unhealthy. The size of a full-grown bull reached the size slightly larger than a calf today, and the fleece of an entire sheep weighed an average of two ounces. Other common livestock included sheep, pigs, cows, goats and chickens.
The most important livestock animal, an ox, was unavailable to most farmers. Oxen were referred to as "beasts of burden" because of the amount of physical labor they could handle that humans could not. Horses also were sometimes referred to as "beasts of burden." Villages or towns often pooled money together to buy a few oxen because they were so vital to completing important farm work. The oxen were rotated between members of the community, who looked after each other and made sure that, especially during ploughing time and harvesting time, important farm work was always finished by everyone.
Common crops produced in the Middle Ages included wheat, beans, barley, peas and oats. Most farmers had a spring and a fall crop. The spring crop often produced barley and beans while the fall crop produced wheat and rye. The wheat and rye were used for bread or sold to make money. The oats were usually used to feed livestock. The barley was often used was used for beer.
Farmers used a crop rotation system which is still used today. The way crop rotation works is that different crops are planted on the same field in alternating years. For instance, one year the farmers may plant oats and the next year they decide to plant beans. Because these two crops use different nutrients, the nutrients used by one crop (say oats) will be absorbed while that crop is growing. Those nutrients are used up when the oats finish growing. The next year, the farmers plant beans in that field, because beans use up different nutrients in the soil. Because those nutrients were not used up in that field the previous year, the field is primed for the beans.
Farming in the Middle Ages was controlled by the weather. One night of bad frost could mean a whole year of bad crops. Certain rituals and procedures also had to be performed throughout the year to ensure a satisfactory crop. A farmer's crop, no matter the season, always had to be monitored.
A farmer's year:
- In January, farmers hoped for rain. They focused on making and repairing tools as well as repairing fences.
- In February, farmers hoped for rain. They focused on carting manure and marl.
- In March, farmers hoped for a dry month with no severe frosts. They focused on the ploughing and spreading of manure.
- In April, farmers hoped for a mixture of rain and sunshine. They focused on sowing the spring seeds and harrowing them.
- In May, farmers hoped for a mixture of rain and sunshine. They focused on digging ditches and started their first ploughing of the fallow fields.
- In June, farmers hoped for dry weather. They focused on hay making, sheep shearing, and did a second ploughing of the fallow fields.
- In July, farmers hoped for a month in which the first half was dry and the second half was rainy. They focused on hay making, sheep shearing, and crop weeding.
- In August, farmers hoped for warm, dry weather. They focused on harvesting.
- In September, farmers hoped for rain. They focused on threshing, ploughing and pruning fruit trees.
- In October, farmers hoped for dry weather with no severe frosts. They focused on their last ploughing of the year.
- In November, farmers hoped for a mixture of rain and sunshine. They focused on collecting acorns for pigs.
- In December, farmers hoped for a mixture of rain and sunshine. They focused on making and repairing tools and slaughtering livestock.
Women's role in farming in the Middle Ages
Farmer's wives often helped raise the smaller livestock, such as chickens. These livestock were then killed and eaten by the family or possibly sold for extra money. Farmer's wives also prepared and preserved all of the family's meals. They made useful household food items such as butter and cheese as well. Some farmer's wives also earned extra money for the family by spinning thread or learning another "stay-at-home" trade, such as brewing ale.


text:
Real Science for Real People
What Playing In The Mud Can Reveal
Editor's note: Beth Ravit has been contributing science-related articles to Hackensack Tidelines for years. In light of her recent achievement—the attainment of her doctorate degree in environmental science—she was asked to focus this issue's "Real Science" on her own Meadowlands research.
By Dr. Beth Ravit
(aka The Mud-slinger)
I love to play in the mud. During the past four years I have been an environmental science graduate student at Rutgers University, and on June 30, 2004, I successfully defended my Ph.D. thesis. Since the majority of my thesis research took place in the Hackensack Meadowlands, I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you about my work.
I am very interested in ecosystem functions such as the movement of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) through the environment [sort of like how water moves through the water cycle]. These cycling processes are critically important due to the global increase in the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and N. Salt marshes are important components of these cycles.
Plants absorb CO2, which is used in photosynthesis to produce more biomass (living tissue). In salt marshes, over 50% of the plant biomass is below ground in the root system. When the plant dies, microbes living in the sediment decompose the root tissues. These decomposition processes release (CO2) and methane (CH4), both of which are potent greenhouse gases. However, also living in the sediments are different microbes that are able to take up these greenhouse gases, and so under natural conditions the C cycle remains in balance. Salt marshes are also important in N cycling because under the anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions that are found in flooded sediments, microbes transform nitrate (a form of nitrogen) to inert N2 gas. The N2 gas is then released back into the atmosphere.
My research addressed two questions: 1) Are there different sediment microbial communities associated with Phragmites versus Spartina grasses? and 2) Are there differences in sediment microbial communities in a disturbed marsh ecosystem versus an undisturbed marsh ecosystem?
I analyzed sediment microbial community structure (which microbes live there) and function (what can they do), and had some very interesting results. Using sediment taken from both disturbed and undisturbed systems, I added a brominated flame retardant contaminant (see Tidelines, Winter 2004) and then incubated the samples anaerobically in the laboratory. Spartina sediments from both sites biotransformed the contaminant more quickly than either Phragmites sediments or unvegetated mud. We're not exactly sure why this happens, but I am setting up new experiments to try and find out what is different about the Spartina root zone.
I also found differences in how the sediments responded to the addition of C and N compounds. Sediments from the undisturbed salt marsh systems (Mullica and Maurice River estuaries) had more microbial activity related to C and N cycling than did the sediments from the Meadowlands. We think this is because the Mullica and Maurice Rivers drain the Pinelands, which is a low nutrient system. Under low nutrient conditions the microbial community would respond quickly to nutrient inputs. The lower response in Meadowlands sediments suggests that nutrient loads are higher in the Hackensack than in the Mullica or Maurice Rivers.
I hope that the work I'm doing can ultimately be incorporated into salt marsh restoration projects, so when we restore damaged estuarine systems we set goals for the sediment restoration as well as for above ground habitats. It is in the mud that critical microbial processes are occurring, and these processes have the potential to affect the cycling of C and N, which at this point in time has global consequences.
Previous Article | Next Article
Return to News Page


text: Lactococcus lactis has great potential for high-yield production of mannitol, which has not yet been fully realized. In this study, we characterize how the mannitol genes in L. lactis are organized and regulated, and use this information to establish efficient mannitol production. Although the organization of the mannitol genes in L. lactis was similar to that in other Gram-positives, mtlF and mtlD, encoding the Enzyme IIA component (EIIAmtl) of the mannitol phosphotransferase system (PTS), and the mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase, respectively, were separated by a transcriptional terminator, and the mannitol genes were found to be organized in two transcriptional units: an operon comprising mtlA, encoding the Enzyme IIBC component (EIIBCmtl) of the mannitol PTS, mtlR, encoding a transcriptional activator, and mtlF, and a separately expressed mtlD. The promoters driving expression of the two transcriptional units were somewhat similar, and both contained predicted catabolite responsive elements (cre). Presence of carbon catabolite repression was demonstrated, and was shown to be relieved in stationary phase cells. The transcriptional activator MtlR (mtlR), in some Gram-positives, is repressed by phosphorylation by EIIAmtl, and when we knocked-out mtlF we indeed observed enhanced expression from the two promotors, which indicated that this mechanism was in place. Finally, by overexpressing the mtlD gene and using stationary phase cells as biocatalysts, we attained 10.1 g/L mannitol with a 55% yield, which is the highest titer ever reported for L. lactis. Summing up, the results of our study should be useful for improving the mannitol producing capacity of this important industrial organism. Importance Lactococcus lactis is the most studied species of the Lactic Acid Bacteria, and it is widely used in various food fermentations. To date, there have been several attempts to persuade L. lactis into producing mannitol, a sugar alcohol with important therapeutic and food applications. Until now, to achieve mannitol production in L. lactis, with significant titer and yield, it has been necessary to introduce and express foreign genes, which precludes the use of such strains in foods, due to their recombinant status. In this study, we systematically characterize how the mannitol genes in L. lactis are regulated, and demonstrate how this impacts on mannitol production capability. We harness this information and manage to establish efficient mannitol production, without introducing foreign genes.


text:
No, I wouldn't say that "most" applications of algebraic and complex geometry to number theory are limited to the case of spaces of complex dimension 1. A more detailed answer follows:
1) Classical algebraic number theory and classical algebraic geometry both fit under the aegis of scheme theory. In this regard, there is an analogy between the ring of integers Z_K of a number field K and an affine algebraic curve C over a field k: both are one-dimensional, normal (implies regular, here) integral affine schemes of finite type. (The analogy is especially close if the field k is finite.) My colleague Dino Lorenzini has written a very nice textbook An Invitation to Arithmetic Geometry, which focuses on this analogy. I might argue that it could be pushed even further, e.g. that students and researchers should be as familiar with non-maximal orders in K as they are with singular curves...
2) Algebraic number theory is closely related to arithmetic geometry: the latter studies rational points on geometrically connected varieties. To do so it is essential to understand the "underlying" complex analytic space, and it is undeniable that by far the best understood case thus far is when this space has dimension one: then the theorems of Mordell-Weil and Faltings are available. Greg Kuperberg's remark about mixing two things which are in themselves nontrivial is apt here: it is certainly advantageous in the arithmetic study of curves that the complex picture is so well understood: by now the algebraic geometers / Riemann surface theorists understand a single complex Riemann surface (as opposed to moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces) rather well, and this firm knowledge is very useful in the arithmetic study.
3) In considering a scheme X over a number field K, one often "gains a dimension" in thinking about its geometry because key questions require one to understand models of X over the ring of integers Z_K of K. For instance, the study of algebraic number fields as fields is the study of zero-dimensional objects, but algebraic number theory proper (e.g. ramification, splitting of primes) begins when one looks at properties not primarily of the field K but of its Dedekind ring of integers Z_K.
A consequence of this is that in the modern study of curves over a number field, one makes critical use of the theory of algebraic surfaces, or rather of arithmetic surfaces, but the latter is certainly modeled on the former and would be hopeless if we didn't know, e.g. the classical theory of complex surfaces.
4) On the automorphic side of number theory we are very concerned with a large class of Hermitian symmetric domains and their quotients by discrete subgroups. For instance, Hilbert and Siegel modular forms come up naturally when studying quadratic forms over a general number field. More generally the theory of Shimura varieties is playing an increasingly important role in modern number theory.
5) Also classical Hodge theory (a certain additional structure on the complex cohomology groups of a projective complex variety) is important to number theorists via Galois representations, Mumford-Tate groups of abelian varieties, etc.
And so forth!
Addendum: An (only a few years) older and (ever so much) wiser colleague of mine who does not yet MO has contacted me and asked me to mention the following paper of Bombieri:
MR0306201 (46 #5328)
Algebraic values of meromorphic maps.
Invent. Math. 10 (1970), 267--287.
32A20 (10F35 14E99 32F05)
He says it is "an extreme counterexample to the premise of the question." Because my august institution does not give me electronic access to this volume of Inventiones, I'm afraid I haven't even looked at the paper myself, but I believe my colleague that it's relevant and well worth reading.
Edit: He is now a MO regular: Emerton.


text:
PAO: Policy Activities » Briefing (November 2, 2011)
Using Science to Improve Flood Management
On November 2, 2011, ESA sponsored a congressional briefing: "Using Science to Improve Flood Management." Emily Stanley (University of Wisconsin, Madison) and Jeff Opperman (The Nature Conservancy, Ohio Field Office) addressed the function of floodplains and managing rivers as systems and for multiple benefits.
Emily Stanley's presentation focused on the work of rivers and the function of floodplains. Industry, transportation, and recreation all constitute work done by rivers. Less well known and valued is the work done by floodplains, responsible for such desirable services such as flood attenuation, fish production, improved water quality and groundwater recharge. Stanley noted that aging US levee and other infrastructure provide an opportunity to move beyond structural flood control and take greater advantage of the functions of floodplains.
Jeff Opperman's presentation focused on the logic of managing rivers as a system and for multiple benefits. These include risk reduction for people and infrastructure as well as benefits such as water storage during droughts and increased fisheries production. Opperman said that because the Mississippi River is managed as a comprehensive system, the recent flood was far less damaging than that of 1927 even though a greater volume of water passed through the system in 2011. Opperman also pointed to the success story of California's Yolo Bypass, which has reduced flood risk while increasing goods and services.
To view the complete presentations, please click on the links below:


Летние мастер-классы в Исландии
Летние мастер-классы в Исландии
Поймайте в объектив всю красоту исландской природы в свете полуночного солнца и улучшите ваши навыки фотосъемки, присоединившись к этим увлекательным летним фототурам.
Место встречи
Выберите период путешествия
Выберите путешественников
2 путешественники
Средний рейтинг
54 отзывов
54 отзывa
Путешествуйте стильно и с комфортом
Гарантия лучших цен
Бесплатные обучающие видеоматериалы
Часто задаваемые вопросы
When is summer in Iceland?
The summer months in Iceland occur between May and August. This is the high season, during which the most people travel to Iceland for landscape photography tours.
What is the Midnight Sun?
 Find out why Iceland is the perfect place for Midnight Sun photography.The Midnight Sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs during the summer months, from around June to July. During this period, there is daylight even at midnight, with the sun being visible for almost 24 hours. Find out why Iceland is the perfect place for Midnight Sun photography.
What is the temperature in Iceland during summer?
What is the weather like for photography during summer in Iceland?
The weather in Iceland can be very fickle. One second, it may be sunny and then raining the next. Conditions are generally mild, though it can get windy at times. Find out the best time to visit Iceland for photography.
What is there to photograph during summer in Iceland?
Summer is when the magnificent landscapes in Iceland come alive with blooming wildflowers and lush green moss. The glacial rivers are at full flow and you'll be able to see a variety of wildlife, including puffins, Arctic foxes, whales and seals. Not to mention countless Icelandic horses and sheep wandering through the fields! We've put together a wildlife photography guide to help you take great pictures of the animals in Iceland.


text:
Monocular 3D Object Detection
This technology is a novel end-to-end trainable Grouped Mathematical Differentiable NMS (GrooMed-NMS) for monocular 3D object detection.
Modern 3D object detection methods have immensely benefitted from the end-to-end learning idea. However, most of them use a post-processing algorithm called Non-Maximal Suppression (NMS) only during inference. Although there have been attempts to include NMS in the training pipeline for other tasks such as 2D object detection, they have been less widely adopted due to a non-mathematical expression of the NMS.
Description of Technology
This technology formulates NMS as a matrix operation and then groups and masks the boxes in an unsupervised manner to obtain a simple closed-forms expression of the NMS. GrooMeD-NMS addresses the mismatch between training and inference
pipelines and therefore forces the network to select the best box in a differentiable manner. GrooMeDNMS achieves state-of-the-art monocular 3D object detection results on the KITTI dataset performing comparable to monocular video methods.
- This technology enables a end to-end trainable closed-form mathematical differential Non-Maximal Suppression..
- GrooMeD-NMS addresses the mismatch between training and inference pipelines prevalent in monocular 3D object detection and therefore forces the network to select the best box in a differentiable manner.


%0 Journal Article %A Schenk, Anita %A Aragno, Michel %T Bacillus schlegelii, a New Species of Thermophilic, Facultatively Chemolithoautotrophic Bacterium Oxidizing Molecular Hydrogen %D 1979 %J Microbiology, %V 115 %N 2 %P 333-341 %@ _PHONE_ %R _URL_ %I Microbiology Society, %X A thermophilic, facultatively chemolithoautotrophic bacterium oxidizing molecular hydrogen has been isolated. It formed round, terminal endospores and had a multilayered cell wall. Although growth rates were highest under autotrophic conditions, certain organic chemicals, including short-chain fatty acids, some amino acids, 1-propanol and phenol, could serve as sole carbon and energy sources; ammonium ions, urea and l-asparagine could serve as sole nitrogen sources. The hydrogenase was membrane-bound and did not reduce NAD(P). The guanine + cytosine content of its DNA was 67 to 68 mol%. Based on its morphological and biochemical features, the organism belongs to Bacillus, but differs from any of the previously described species attributed to this genus. It is therefore proposed as constituting a new species, Bacillus schlegelii, named after the German microbiologist H. G. Schlegel. The type strain of B. schlegelii, strain MA48, has been deposited with the German Collection of Microorganisms, Göttingen, under the accession number DSM 2000. %U _URL_


Conducting a Temperature Reading
Negative mindsets and instances are so easy to fall into, and it can be difficult to see the positive in things. By using the "temperature reading" technique, a completely attitude and outlook turnaround time can be achieved in very little time. Learn this easy method for improving your mindset.
Software projects can be chaotic and stressful. A temperature reading is a simple yet powerful method to help your team achieve, maintain, or regain a positive mindset.
During the hectic workday, software professionals can easily fall into a pattern of noticing and reacting to what has gone wrong, while missing or ignoring all that has gone well. If you'd like your team to achieve, maintain, or regain a positive mindset, consider running periodic temperature readings.
A temperature reading is a powerful, yet simple, tool created by Virginia Satir, a family therapist whose models and tools are being used with great success in software organizations. This tool can help teams reduce tensions, solidify connections, and surface important information, ideas, and feelings-enabling team members to interact more constructively and productively. For teams that work together under demanding or deadline-driven circumstances, it's a superb technique to use at project milestones or during team meetings.
Best of all, you don't need a hefty manual, a three-day class, or an outside consultant in order to learn how to run a temperature reading. Simply follow these guidelines:
Setting the Stage
A temperature reading consists of five segments, each one taking as much time as the group would like to spend on it. A full temperature reading takes from fifteen minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the group and its circumstances.
A facilitator guides the group through the temperature reading, ensuring that adequate time is allowed for each segment. Any member of the group can serve as facilitator. In some organizations, team members rotate the responsibility so that each can gain experience at it.
The Five Segments of a Temperature Reading
1. Appreciations. This first segment is the most important of the five. If time doesn't permit a full temperature reading, concentrate on appreciations and skip the rest.
In this segment, everyone who would like to can express an appreciation to one or more of the others. An appreciation can be for anything, whether critical to the project ("I appreciate you for helping me find that pesky bug.") or simply a kind gesture ("I appreciate you for bringing donuts to our meeting.")
An appreciation takes a specific form:
"I appreciate you because..."
"I appreciate you for..."
In other words, speak directly to the person ("I appreciate you"), rather than to the team about the person. This approach is very different from what I think of as "thankyouless" thank yous. For example, I once attended a company event where the software director invited each team member in turn to the front of the room. Then, instead of looking at the person and saying, "Tom, thank you for your work in analyzing requirements," he focused on the audience and said, "Tom's role was to analyze requirements." Don't follow that model; express your appreciation directly and personally.
If you aren't accustomed to giving appreciations, you may be surprised at how satisfying it is to do so. Seeing people light up in response to your recognition is an uplifting experience, as is the discovery that something you did was more important to others than you realized.
Of course, you needn't wait for a temperature reading to give an appreciation. There's no wrong time to acknowledge the support, guidance, or kindness of others. If we each do this once, and then again, and then again, others will soon start doing the same, and together we will be setting the stage for a more caring and productive workplace.
2. New Information. This segment is for information sharing. Often, members of a team have information that other team members may
About the author
AgileConnection is one of the growing communities of the TechWell network.


5875 Cook: The bless your heart bacteria | Opinion - Columns | Times Free Press
Cook: The bless your heart bacteria
Cook: The bless your heart bacteria
December 7th, 2012 by David Cook in Opinion Columns
David Cook
Photo by Ashlee Culverhouse/Times Free Press.
I suspect that when it's all said and done, they'll find a lot of cornbread crumbs and fried chicken.
Having already explored Mars and mapped the human genome, scientists are now venturing into new territories.
The mysterious American gut.
"The gut is the area that defines your health," said Dr. Jack Gilbert, a leading microbiologist behind the American Gut Project. "It's the link between your diet and what you get out of your diet."
Like the Vols secondary, your gut is the difference between heartburn and happiness.
Before reaching its final destination, all the food we eat must pass through our gut (it's like the Atlanta airport of the gastrointestinal world), where bacteria there identify, process and remove all the valuables (kind of like TSA agents!) from your food before sending it on its way.
The American Gut Project wants to catalog the guts of 10,000 Americans in order to learn how different diets and the trillions of microbes and bacteria within our midsection can affect our health, weight and lives.
"Obesity. Diabetes. Long-term health," listed Gilbert, a microbiologist and University of Chicago professor.
To pull this off, the American Gut Project (_URL_ needs volunteers (I think I'm going to do it). For $99, you mail in a skin, stool or oral sample and, within weeks, after being added to the gut library, receive a report detailing your own bacteria and how it compares to others in the study.
The Chardonnay-sushi-smoothie-diet of an Orange County housewife. Folks in Chicago who eat pizza slices as big as a Sunday paper. The beef on every Midwestern plate.
Like micro-climates, each type of diet can create different communities of bacteria within the gut. If he's worth his grits, Gilbert will realize the Southerner's gut contains bacteria found nowhere else on the planet.
The Bless Your Heart bacteria.
A grandmother wiping white flour from her hands onto her apron. Sopping up pot liquor with the last bite of cornbread. The second slice of pecan pie. The third glass of buttermilk. The fourth pass of mashed potatoes around the table.
Within the gut of many Southerners are generations of bacteria born from lazy Sunday afternoon meals. Our region has a food tradition unlike any other. Tables covered in bowls of green beans, sweet potatoes, corn, deviled eggs and biscuits. Somewhere, a chitlin.
And it's not a meal until someone, at some point, says those four holy words.
Well, bless your heart.
The Tailgate bacteria.
Season after season of Saturday afternoons have produced legions of bacteria feeding off that lovely blend of $2 beer, barbecue sauce and anything fried.
Sure, other people in America tailgate. But not like here.
(A side bet: Researchers will discover that gut-bacteria in Vols fans are unique to all others. They tend to turnover a lot.)
"Bacteria are the engine of the gut," Gilbert said.
Know how some folks eat fattening foods and never gain an ounce? Others who grow pant sizes just by looking at food? Gilbert said gut-bacteria could play a role in this, and suggested the possibility of transplanting gut-bacteria from the former crowd into the latter.
"They would not be susceptible to obesity," he theorized.
Sweet Little Debbies! You're saying we could eat anything we want and never gain weight?
"You can't just transform someone's gut and hope you eat as much fried food as you want," he cautioned, adding that diet influences the body beyond the stomach.
"Eating a lot of fried chicken could influence your heart," he said.
He already sounds like a Southerner, doesn't he?


text:
Harvested from the gardens at Monticello, the seeds of this common annual represent the species or wild form of French Marigold as it appears naturally in South America. The plants have a uniquely sprawling habit, are four feet in height, and the single yellow flowers bloom through the summer. Jefferson likely grew both African and French Marigolds at Monticello.
French marigolds are the easiest of flowers to grow. Sow the seeds in a well prepared, sunny site after the last spring frost date, and thin or transplant the seedlings so they are two feet apart. The plants will create a dazzling display until the first frost in the fall.
Approximately 20-25 seeds per pack.


text:
What Does Underexposure Mean When Talking About Photography?
If too little light is recorded when capturing an image the image is said to be 'underexposed'; The imaging medium i.e. film, or sensor has not been exposed to light for long enough to capture a sufficiently bright image. Underexposure of an entire image occurs when the combination of shutter speed, aperture and ISO chosen to capture an image have not been chosen correctly by the shooter, or metered correctly by the camera. Underexposure in dark areas of some scenes is unavoidable if the dynamic range being captured is too high, for example shooting a subject backlit by bright sunlight, but can be compensated for using techniques such ass fill flash or exposure stacking. Underexposure can also be corrected in post processing but is done so at the risk of introducing unwanted noise to an image.


Taking the stress out of your child's annual celebrations!
Posts tagged 'magic'
The Magic of the Party Entertainer: That's the way to do it!
It's something I hear quite often in my work as a London children's party entertainer: " How do you do it?" I heard it asked of me today at a lovely local party for a sweet five year old girl, it was followed by, "Do you have magic powers or something?".
Magic powers? Maybe, if you consider energy to be magic powers.
Let me explain.
The mummy in question was intrigued at how I managed to have a bunch of five year old boys and girls sitting patiently waiting for a puppet show. There was no fighting, no screaming, no chaos, just calm anticipation and a big buzz of excitement going around the room too.
This question is asked of me often.
It is a wonderful feeling for me to walk into a party full of excited children and have them quickly sitting down, calm and focused and eager to participate in silliness and stories.
Do I have magical powers?
Not in the Harry Potter sense, no.
What I do have to my advantage is what I call 'Stranger Power' plus a certain calm assertive energy that is useful for leaders and dog owners!
Stranger power is something I've observed whilst I've been entertaining children over the past 18 years. What do I mean by it? Well, when I walk into someone's home, I am expected to take control of the party. I become a stranger with a position of authority over the children. They see me as fun, ( I'm often found lying down with the children playing Sleeping Bunnies
See the little bunnies sleeping
as well as hopping up and down ) but they're not totally sure of who I am. Therefore they regard me with caution, rather than pushing the boundaries of someone that they are familiar with. So, if I ask the children to do something in a certain assertive tone, like magic they cooperate.
Children view me with a certain positive suspicion. My attire ( ribbons in my hair and very bright sparkly clothes)
Silly ribbons but serious about partying.
suggest a fun, possibly silly person, they see Party Entertainer/ storyteller/ puppeteer when they look at me, which gets their playful juices flowing, but then they meet my energy. After encountering the wonderful Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan on the television ( and becoming a total disciple) I've worked on maintaining a calm assertive state when attending children's parties. This works totally in my favour as I am able to direct the proceedings of the party in a calm but fun way.
No one needs chaos. No one likes chaos.
Today I face painted butterflies and vampires on the faces of five year old's.
The vampires ( boys in this instance) decided to chase the butterflies ( girls). Screams ensued as well as a little bit of chasing round the garden. I continued to paint faces until I heard the tone of the screams turn from excitement and fun to hysteria, then it was time to change the energy before the fun turned to tears.
I used my calm assertive energy ( and my god-given booming voice) to gather the children to sing happy birthday and calm was restored once more without the vampires feeling they had been reined in.
The secret is keeping control without the children being aware that that is what you are doing. Walking that tightrope between keeping things calm and becoming a party pooper can sometimes be tricky, but I think I've got it down to a fine art now.
If that makes me magical, then so be it!
The Magic of Puppets
Most birthday party entertainers do some magic.
I don't. Why is that?
I'm a terrible liar.
Watching Mr Punch, age 5
Off to the beach with mummy.
Basil Brush
Image via Wikipedia
Then along came Thunderbirds.
That show messed with my head.
Now that's the sort of magic I love.
Tag Cloud