text:
We welcome our second international presenter, Juliette Galonnier. Galonnier is an Assistant Professor at CERI, Sciences Po. She teaches Qualitative Methods and Introduction to Islam in Europe on the Menton and Paris campuses. Her research investigates the social construction of racial and religious categories, and how they frequently intersect. Empirically, her work has been mostly focusing on Muslim minorities across various national contexts (India, France, the United States).
People of Sub-Saharan African descent make up roughly 10% of the French Muslim minority. Because of demographics and past historical trajectories, Islam is strongly associated with North Africa in French representations. Within the Muslim community itself, religious authority is often conflated with Arab culture, and the boundary between orthodoxy and heterodoxy can at times be policed along ethnic and racial lines. Relying on a collective study based on interviews with French Muslims of Sub-Saharan or Comorian descent (imams, chaplains, activists and "ordinary" believers) as well as observations in mosques, Sufi brotherhoods and other Islamic events, we examine how Muslims of African descent build religious authority while being a minority within the Muslim minority. This talk describes the various repertoires of justification they use to assert their religious legitimacy, from color-blind appeals to universal Islam to the assertion of ethnic and cultural specificities. This occurs in a context where the French State actively seeks to regulate Islam by coopting Muslim leaders in order to promote a "good", "enlightened" Islam – of which "African Sufi Islam" is supposed to be an instance. With the colonial category of islam noir (Black Islam) looming large and in a context of counter-radicalization policies geared towards the Muslim minority, these institutional interventions complicate the politics of Muslim leadership. By exploring the complexity of Black Muslims' positionings within the French Islamic landscape, this talk analyzes how religious and racial categories are coproduced by the State, religious actors and researchers alike and investigates the multiple uses, reinventions and disputes that the contested category of "Black Islam" generates.


text:
Awesome LEGO learning activities and ideas for kids that includes math, science, literacy, fine motor, art, and STEM with free printable activities too. Also pick up your copy of the Unofficial Guide to Learning with LEGO!
LEGO Learning Pages and Free Printables! Printable LEGO activities for math, literacy, science, challenges, emotions pages, coloring Sheets, and search and find pages. Printable LEGO learning pages for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary age kids.
Lego learning games - exploring Lego and play dough. This is a great activity for sensory play, imaginative play, letter recognition and sight words. This would be great to use in an autism classroom while learning long vowel sounds with silent E.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Disclaimer: This description is completely unofficial, Epson even does not know about its existance. Most of the informaion presented here is discovered by me, Eugene Crosser, while snooping the serial line and by trial and error. I never had an official protocol description, have never seen any related software source code, and have never done reverse engineering of any related software. This description may be incomplete, inaccurate or completely wrong. You are warned.
Some information is taken from 'camediaplay' package by Jun-ichiro Itoh and from other (open) sources and not checked by me.
Serial Protocol of Some Digital Cameras
Several models of digital cameras, namely Epson, Sanyo, Agfa and Olympus cameras, seem to use the same protocol for communication with the host. Follows the description of the high-level protocol they use over the serial line.
Protocol Basics
The host and the camera exchange with data packets and individual bytes. Serial line paramaters used are: 8bit, no parity. No flow control is used. All arithmetic data is transmitted in the "network order" - least significant byte first.
Protocol Elements
The elementary units of the protocol are:
Initialization ByteNUL 0x00
Action Complete NotificationENQ 0x05
Positive AchnowledgementACK 0x06
Unable to Execute CommandDC1 0x11
Negative Acknowledgement,
also Camera Signature
NAK 0x15
PacketVariable length sequence of bytes
Termination Byte
Packet structure
The packet has the following structure:
01Packet type
11Packet subtype/sequence
22Length of data
Known packet types are:
0x02Data packet that is not last in sequence
0x03Data packet that is last in sequence
0x1bCommand packet
Data packets that are sent in responce to a single command are numbered starting from zero. If all requested data fits in one packet, it has type 0x03 and sequence 0.
Command packet has subtype 0x43 or 0x53. Only the first command packet in a session has subtype 0x53.
Maximum length of data field in a packet is 2048 bytes, which yields in 2054 total packet length.
Checksum is a simple 16 bit arithmetic sum of all bytes in the data field. As already mentioned above, length and checksum values are transmitted least significant byte first.
Flow of Control
A communication session flow is as follows:
Port speed set to 19200 baud
Host sends init byte 0x00
Camera responds with signature 0x15
Host sends command packet with subtype 0x53 and "set speed" command
Camera sends ACK 0x06
Port speed set to the new value
Host sends command
Camera responds with either ACK plus optionally "action taken" notifier or data packet sequence
Host sends ACK to every data packet
... Command - reply cycle repeated...
Camera sends 0xff and resets after a few seconds (value is model-dependant) of inactivity
If the camera does not respond to a command in reasonable time, or responds with a NAK, the command can be resent. If the camera does not provide a complete data packet in reasonable time, or the data packet is corrupt (checksum does not match), the host can request resending of the packet by sending NAK instead of ACK.
Command format and codes
Command is a sequance of bytes sent in the data field of a command packet. Command format is as follows:
01Command code
11Register number or subcode
2variableOptional argument
Five command codes are known:
0int32Set value of integer register
1noneRead value of integer register
2vdataTake action unrelated to registers
3vdataSet value of vdata register
4noneRead value of vdata register
Commands 1 and 3 are replied with a single ACK 0x06. Command 2 is replied with an ACK 0x06 followed by an "action complete" notifier 0x05. Commands 1 and 4 are replied with a sequence of data packets, each of them must be ACK'ed by the host.
Command 0 must be issued with a 4 byte argument containg the new value for the register (bytes in network order). Command 2 typically is issued with a single zero byte as an argument. Command 3 is issued with an argument of variable number of bytes. If this is a printable string, it should not include the trailing zero byte.
Camera replies to the command 1 with a single data packet containing 4 bytes of a 32bit integer (in network order). Camera replies to the command 4 with a sequence of data packets with variable number of data bytes. Note that if a printable string is returned, it is terminated with a zero byte, and thus may be safely printed or otherwise treated as a normal C language character string.
The following registers are known (read/writablity info is inaccurate):
1int32R/WResolution: 1 - Std, 2 - Hi, 3 - Ext
2int32R/WClock in UNIX time_t format
3int32R/WShutter speed (microseconds)
4int32 WCurrent frame number
5int32R/WUnknown (5)
6int32R/WColor mode: 1 - Color, 2 - B/W
7int32R/WFlash mode: 0 - Auto, 1 - Force, 2 - Off, 3 - Anti RedEye
8int32R/WUnknown (128)
9int32R/WUnknown (128)
10int32R No. of frames taken
11int32R No. of frames left
12int32R Length of current frame *
13int32R Length of current thumbnail *
14vdataR Current frame JFIF data *
15vdataR Current thumbnail JFIF data *
16int32R Battery capacity percentage
17int32 WCommunication speed 1 - 9600.. 5 - 115200
18int32R Unknown (1)
22vdataR/WCamera I.D.
23int32R/WAutoshut on host timer (seconds)
24int32R/WAutoshut in field timer (seconds)
25vdataR/WSerial No. (string)
26vdataR Version
28int32R Available memory left
29vdataR/WUpload image JFIF data to this register
30vdataR Unknown ("")
31vdataR Unknown ("\0")
32int32R Put "magic spell" 0x0FEC000E here before uploading image data
33int32R/WLens mode: 1 - Macro, 2 - Normal
34int32R Unknown (0)
35int32R LCD brightness 1 to 7
36int32R Unknown (3)
37vdataR Unknown ("\0")
38int32R LCD autoshut timer (seconds)
39int32R Protection state of current frame *
40int32R Unknown (0)
41int32R/WDate format (?)
* Note: registers 12 thru 15 and 39 only become useful for reading after setting register 4. If value of 0 assigned to register 4, subsequent retrieval of picture data gives the "live preview".
For command 2, the second byte is action code not register number. The following action codes are known:
1single zero byteErase all picures
2single zero byteTake picture
4single zero byteFinish session immediately
7single zero byteErase current frame *
9single byteSet protection state of current frame to the value of parameter (binary 0 or 1)*
11single zero byteStore freshly uploaded image into NVRAM
* Note: actions 7 and 9 only useful after setting register 0x04.
Unknown things
Please mail your corrections/additions to
See _URL_ for possible updates.


text:
Background: Mefloquine and doxycycline are the two drugs recommended for prophylaxis of malaria for visitors to areas where Plasmodium falciparum is resistant to chloroquine.
Objective: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of mefloquine with those of doxycycline as prophylaxis for malaria.
Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled field trial of chemoprophylaxis of malaria.
Setting: Northeastern Irian Jaya, Indonesia.
Participants: 204 Indonesian soldiers.
Intervention: After radical curative treatment, participants were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg of doxycycline per day and mefloquine placebo; 250 mg of mefloquine per week (preceded by a loading dose of 250 mg/d for 3 days) and doxycycline placebo; or placebos for both drugs. Prophylaxis lasted approximately 13 weeks.
Measurements: The primary end point for efficacy was the first occurrence of malaria, as documented by a positive malaria smear. Malaria smears were obtained weekly and when patients had symptoms suggesting malaria. Reported symptoms were recorded daily, and an exit study questionnaire was conducted.
Results: In the placebo group, 53 of 69 soldiers developed malaria (9.1 person-years), resulting in an attack rate of 5.8 cases per person-year (95% CI, 4.3 to 7.7 cases per person-year). Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 57% of cases, and P. vivax accounted for 43% of cases. No malaria occurred in the 68 soldiers (16.9 person-years) in the mefloquine group; thus, the protective efficacy of mefloquine was 100% (CI, 96% to 100%). In the doxycycline group, P. falciparum malaria occurred in 1 of 67 soldiers (16.0 person-years), yielding a protective efficacy of 99% (CI, 94% to 100%). Both drugs were very well tolerated.
Conclusions: Mefloquine and doxycycline were both highly efficacious and well tolerated as prophylaxis of malaria in Indonesian soldiers.


text:
Microform includes both film and fiche. Microfilm comes in roll form. It was developed more than 100 years ago as a part of conventional photographic technology. Early microfilm seems to have been generally stable. If microfilm has a quality polyester film base, is exposed and processed to international standards, is housed in stable protective enclosures, and is stored under the appropriate conditions, it will last for a minimum of 500 years. The longevity issue is vitally important, as it delineates the main difference between microfilm and other reformatting technologies such as digital imaging.
Microfiche usually replicates multiple individual pages in single fiche sheets. It can be made up of strips of film cut from rolls and placed in polyester jackets, or made by filming with a "step and repeat" camera, with images imposed directly onto a single sheet of film.
Microfilm is available in 16 or 35 millimeter widths with 35 millimeters the norm for preservation filming. Microform is now available as silver-gelatin, diazo, and vesicular.
Silver-gelatinSilver-gelatin is the only type recognized for preservation or "archival" purposes. The image is captured by exposing silver compounds to light. Wet-processed silver film is the only type that can be recognized as archival, as dry silver film is not fixed by chemical processing and washing.
DiazoDiazo refers to the diazonium salts used in the coating layer. The salts are combined with dyes to produce the image. Because diazo is strongly affected by ultraviolet radiation, especially in a reader machine, this type of film can fade.
VesicularThe word vesicular derives from vesicles, or bubbles that form when an image is developed through heating, which causes nitrogen from diazonium salts to expand. Ultraviolet is then used to decay the salts. Pressure on the film can damage the image-bearing bubbles, and faulty processing can cause the bubbles to burst, resulting in damage to the image.
Other typesOther microform types include color and continuous tone. Color film is notoriously vulnerable to light fading. Although the Image Permanence Institute of the United States has tested one type, Iflachrome, which may have a life of up to 500 years in the absence of light, the testing is still incomplete, and color film cannot be recognized as a preservation medium. Continuous-tone film techniques can produce gray tones not captured by the high-contrast film used for normal filming. Continuous tone can be produced by various methods. These include processing silver-gelatin film by varying exposure time, and processing with a low-contrast developer (see _URL_ for more detailed discussion).
StandardsAn influential longevity estimate is stated in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, especially ISO 18901-2002. This standard refers also to other ISO standards that establish requirements affecting the longevity of microfilm. The 500-year estimate is based on independent laboratory tests using artificial aging techniques and observation of film over a considerable time. (ISO standards are available at _URL_, or may be purchased in paper from the ISO offices in Geneva.) The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) also has stringent standards for the production and storage of microfilm; they may be accessed through _URL_.
Another important document that describes longevity is in the context of U.S. National Archives procedures. The information in this document also addresses issues relating to the use of dry silver film as opposed to wet-processed silver-gelatin film. Dry silver film is never "fixed" (with light-sensitive silver salts removed), and it can be developed for an indefinite period of time. Thus if dry silver film is exposed to temperatures exceeding 50°C, it will continue to develop and turn black.
The storage of microfilm is an especially vital issue, and one that has been difficult to address in developing countries, although there are standards available. In 1998 a detailed survey of master microfilm negatives in one Southeast Asian country demonstrated that poor storage conditions had resulted in the loss of the textual content of most master microfilms filmed less than twenty years before. Fortunately, because positive copies of the microfilm had been deposited in other countries, it will be possible to reconstruct the negatives, albeit at a reduced level of quality and a high cost. It will be difficult to persuade a funding agency to invest in recreating these negatives.
Standards exist for every aspect of microfilm production, housing, and storage, and producers of preservation microfilm must honor these standards, whether the work is to be performed in house or by a vendor. With microfilm vendors, it is imperative that standards be incorporated in a "request for proposal" (RFP) and embedded in contracts. Knowledge of standards and evidence that they are followed are important points to make in seeking external funding to support microfilming projects.
View a select list of standards content (will open a new window) from ANSI and ISO.
Film GenerationsPreservation microfilm is intended to be permanent, and for this reason, three generations are produced: the camera or master negative, the print master negative, and the positive-use copy.
Camera negativeThe camera negative should be regarded as the archival generation, and it should be used to produce one other negative for printing or reproducing positive copies. The archival storage of the master negative is important, as it ensures that the camera-negative quality is not reduced by generational loss or the making of multiple copies. The camera negative must be stored in a secure place remote from other film generations, and under consistent environmental conditions.
Print master negativeThe print master negative is used to create the original positive copy and any additional copies requested by outside libraries. Under no circumstances should the print master negative, or the camera negative, be used by readers.
Positive copyThe positive copy is what readers use. If the copy is of a popular work, such as a national newspaper, it can suffer considerable damage through careless handling and poor storage. Review of the positive copy is important so that new copies can be made from the print master when necessary. Some institutions are able to support the cost of their microfilming efforts through the sale of positive microfilm copies.
Preservation Microfilming Training MaterialsThe National Library of Australia has produced a detailed and extremely useful manual on setting up and operating a microfilming operation. (See _URL_
Under its IFLA-PAC program, the National Library of Australia is currently publishing a new resource for microfilming professionals in the Asia/Pacific region. These preservation microfilming training materials, written by Heather Brown, preservation manager at the State Library of South Australia, are the result of a survey into the microfilming needs of Asia and the Pacific. Heather Brown has extensive experience in microfilming, and her manuscript has been reviewed by a number of practitioners.
The training materials have been written to conform to the accredited Australian preservation microfilming curriculum and, when delivered by an accredited agency, may be used for formal qualification or to recognize "competencies." The materials serve as a guide to basics for those not wishing to undertake formal training. They are expected to be available by the end of 2002 and will cover a variety of topics, everything from splicing microfilm and duplicating microform to microfilming project management. For further information about the training materials, contact:
National and International Preservation Activities (NIPA)
StorageAs noted, the storage of microform is critical to ensuring its longevity. Even if the film base, capture procedures, and processing conform to standards, substandard storage can rapidly negate all the care taken. Master negatives are used only when the other generations of film are exhausted from use, and it is devastating when they are found to be unreadable because of poor storage. One of the basic lessons is to duplicate and distribute film copies to avoid the possibility of complete loss. Ideally, master negatives should be stored in a safe, fireand flood-proof environment with a constant temperature of 18°C and relative humidity of 35 percent. The air filtration system in the storage facility should remove harmful chemical pollutants and provide adequate air circulation.
To repeat, the camera negative must be stored far from the other film generations. In the United States, research libraries store their camera negatives in very stable underground storage complexes such as the National Underground Storage/Iron Mountain facility in Boyers, Pennsylvania. (See _URL_ for services available.) Such storage opportunities are rarely available in developing countries, so some consideration should be given to inter-institutional cooperation in securing facilities.
The enclosures in which film is housed should also be taken into account when trying to extend the life of preservation film. If the storage facility is acceptable, high-quality acid-free, buffered board/paper boxes are the best and most economical way to house film reels. There is some evidence that sealed, nonferrous metal or certain plastic containers might slow down the process of deterioration in unsatisfactory storage conditions, but not for acetate film. One type of enclosure that can combat industrial pollutants is made from a MicroChamber board, which uses zeolite to absorb and neutralize most pollutants (see _URL_
Microfilm ProductionGenerally, before microfilming a book, newspaper, or collection, it is important to discover whether or not the title has been filmed by some other institution. If the library belongs to a consortium, has access to an interactive bibliographic database such as OCLC or RLIN, can access an up-to-date list of master microforms for the region, or has printed lists of filmed titles, some careful checking should be done before the risk of duplicate filming is taken. However, given the generally poor standard of microfilm storage, claims by other institutions of

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
The two-room bungalow, the birth place of Pakistan's only Nobel laureate, today stands empty, testament to the indifference, bigotry and prejudice surrounding the country's greatest scientist.
Professor Abdus Salam, the child prodigy born to a humble family on the sun-blasted plains of Punjab who won accolades all over the world for his ground-breaking research in theoretical physics, is all but forgotten.
He was the trailblazer who helped pave the way to the recently hailed discovery of the "God particle" — one of the greatest achievements in science for the last 100 years — but as the world went into overdrive, Pakistan stayed largely silent.
Not even boasting from India, whose late physicist Satyendra Nath Bose also contributed to the discovery, snapped Pakistan out of lethargy.
And the reason? Because in the eyes of the law, Salam was a heretic.
"Our people are not educated. They just know this is the house of Dr. Salam, who was a scientist, and they, including me, are unaware of his contributions. They also know he was Ahmadi," said local resident Kamran Kishwar, 23.
One of the most religiously polarized towns in Pakistan, Jhang, 188 miles (300 kilometers) southwest of Islamabad, is home to thousands of Ahmadis and tensions run high between the community and mainstream Muslims.
Ahmadis, who believe their founder was the messiah after Prophet Mohammad, were declared non-Muslims in 1974 as part of Islamization that has made the Pakistani state one of the most religiously intolerant in the world.
In 1984, they were banned from calling themselves Muslim. They are banned from preaching and even from traveling to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. Their publications are prohibited.
Ahmadi mosques have been shut down. Others have reportedly been desecrated. In May 2010, suicide bombers killed 80 people at two mosques during Friday prayers.
Salam's portrait hangs in his old school and he paid for a block to be built in his father's name in the 1970s, but locals are still fighting to have any connotations with him wiped from the premises.
"Elements are still trying to remove Dr. Salam's name from the school," said Rana Nadeem, an Ahmadi who lives near Salam's house.
It wasn't like that when Salam was born in 1926, under British rule. The entire town turned out to welcome him after he scored the highest marks ever to get into the University of the Punjab.
After a PhD at Cambridge, he returned home to teach and determined to set up a center to encourage world-class science from the developing world.
But his dreams were dashed. Associates say ignorant bureaucrats rubbished his ideas and to pursue an international career he returned to Britain in 1954.
In 1957, he was made professor of theoretical physics at Imperial College, London and in 1964 set up the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste in an effort to advance scientific expertise in the developing world.
He continued to advise Pakistan on science and atomic energy, and was chief scientific adviser to the president from _PHONE_. But after the law changed in 1974, he found an increasingly hostile reception on visits home.
After winning the Nobel prize for physics in 1979 with American scientists Steven Weinberg and Sheldon Lee Glashow, he was banned from lecturing at public universities under pressure from right-wing students and religious conservatives.
'Victim of narrow-mindedness'
On the other hand, he was given a rapturous welcome in Bangladesh and India.
"Dr Salam is a great hero and possibly the most famous Pakistani in the world but he became victim of the narrow-mindedness of our society," says Hassan Amir Shah, head of the physics department at Government College, Lahore.
Even in 1989, the world's first Muslim woman prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, who herself knew prejudice, refused to meet him, recalls nuclear physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy.
"That day I was with Salam in his hotel in Islamabad and he had come all the way from Trieste. Salam was very disappointed when her personal assistant rang up to say the prime minister did not have the time," he told AFP.
Although Salam's achievements far outstrip those of A.Q. Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb and a Muslim, it is he who is revered as a national hero, despite Khan's alleged role in nuclear proliferation.
"Ninety-eight percent of people in this country are Muslim but still they are insecure and intolerant to the two-percent minority," said Shah.
It took until 2000 for Government College to establish a physics chair in his name. The university has also named one of its halls after Salam.
Salam's colleagues also wanted to get the National Centre for Physics in Islamabad named the Abdus Salam Centre for Physics, whose first director had been a PhD student of the Nobel laureate, but Hoodbhoy said the authorities refused.
The Ahmadiyya community certainly feels he was betrayed.
"Even after he was buried, local administration asked the Ahmadi community to remove the word 'Muslim' from the inscription on the grave which said 'the first Muslim Nobel laureate," said Shah.
The word has been painted over, leaving just: "the first Nobel laureate."


The Art of Transformational Voice
Posts tagged 'humming'
Humming on nasal consonants can be very useful to access more resonance in the openings in the face and head. Because of the way it stimulates the brain as well as other organs and glands, humming also has a great effect on the entire physical and personality system.
[m] helps us feel vibrations in the forward resonators, especially the mouth. It is especially beneficial when the sound lacks brilliance and clarity. In combination with vowel sounds such as [i], the IPA* symbol for a long "ee" sound like in the word "feet" or [a] like in the word "hat" we can learn how resonance adds acoustical efficiency and volume without having to put pressure on the vocal cords. This is a great combination for transforming shyness, sadness or other qualities that cause the voice to be held within and quiet.
[ng] increases sensation and resonance in the throat at the back of the mouth. Accessing the inside spaces behind the larynx, mouth and nose can add more warmth to the sound. We can feel and hear this even more when it is used in combination with vowels such as [o] like in the word "note" or [u] like in the word "shoe." This is a useful combination to bring calm and gentleness to the entire system, to transform anger or impatience.
[n] is in the center and can be used to bring balance and integration of both front and back resonators. Using it in combination with the vowel [α] like in the word "paw" heightens our sense of activating both front and back resonators together. It is a useful combination for bringing stability and strength to the entire physical and personality system. It is great for accessing qualities like acceptance and endurance.
Working different combinations reveals different ways of transforming and balancing the voice and its effects. Try [m] with [o] or [ng] with [a]. You will find some combinations increase flexibility while others add power. Some make high notes easier to access while others bring more clarity to low notes. The particular combination that is most effective changes from one situation to the next. After a while you will start to have a sense of how the nasal consonants work with you. Until then, it's valuable to just play around with the different sounds and enjoy what they bring to your expressive artistry.
* IPA stands for International Phonetic Alphabet
Some people like traditional prayers that are found in formal religions. Others don't identify with praying at all. I think praying is deeply personal and whatever prayers likes it that way. In fact, there are likely as many ways of praying as there are people who do it.
I learned from Esther Cohen that one way to pray is just to say "Amen" a lot. It reminds me that life is its own prayer and I don't have to get all fancy and ritualistic. I can just wake up to a sense of sacredness in any moment.
Rosy is dancing. Amen.
Randy shoveled the snow off my walks. Amen.
I sang at my friend's funeral. Amen.
I feel tenderly toward the neighbor's cat that is lonely and crying. Amen.
9 months post treatment I'm cancer free. Amen.
I'm both grateful and grieving. Amen.
The impulse my body has to inhale is the source of creation breathing me to life. The impulse to exhale is that source wanting to bring something to life through me. Following my breath is praying.
A subtle but relentless thought about someone is a prayer entering my willing heart. I dial the phone and learn that Sandy's cat just died in her arms. Another day I call and Aidan says he broke his ankle. Practicing singing increases my tendency to tune into these subtle promptings.
My own broken heart is a petition spilling all over the day to call someone else to experience being the answer to prayer.
There's an old Christian saying, "Singing is praying twice." The reason religions often chant rather than speak prayers is because of all that happens for us as we chant:
 - The regular rhythm entrains and slows breathing and heart rates, encouraging deeper states of relaxation and concentration.
 - The vibrato is the same rate as in certain states of meditation and lucid dreaming, encouraging a deeper sense of connection with spirit.
 - The increased overtones stimulate the brain and immune system enhancing energy and focus.
It is possible to use the speaking voice in a way that generates all of these qualities, but most of us don't do that. If we don't want to chant, starting our day with a little humming can help. Breathing practices aimed at balancing and regulating the breath can also help.
The miracle of creation and the potential for love is in every breath, in each sensation, thought and feeling. Using our voice as prayer is a way to open to love.


text:
Be careful what you touch, and what you eat. Some vegetation can snuff out your life as surely as a venomous snake. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of poisonous plants in the world, and some of them are deadly.
Here are 10 of the world's deadliest plants. We run down the chemicals, toxins, and microscopic needle-shaped crystals they contain, and how they can spell doom for anyone unfortunate enough to ingest or come in contact with them.
Top image: Brian Chase/Shutterstock.
You already know about deadly plants in science fiction and fantasy, but what about the ones out there in real life?
10) Conium (aka Hemlock)
Let's start with something you're likely to have heard of. If we're going to talk about poisonous plants, then right at the top of the list should be hemlock, don't you think? Widely known for its uses in ancient Greece as a means of execution, hemlock's most famous victim was the philosopher Socrates, who suffered the effects of the plant's most potent toxin, coniine.
Ingestion of even small amounts of coniine (6—8 leaves, or an even smaller dose of the seeds or roots, usually does it) causes death by disrupting your body's neuromuscular junctions, resulting in what is known as "ascending muscular paralysis." The paralysis typically begins in a person's legs, and ascends up the body until in reaches the respiratory muscles, resulting in death.
9.5) Hemlock again: Cicuta (aka Water Hemlock, death-of-man, poison parsnip)
Members of the genus Cicuta belong to the same family of plants as the hemlock that did in Socrates; and their toxic effects are so harrowing they warrant an appearance on this list as well.
There are four species belonging to the genus, and all of them are extremely poisonous. The plants contain a compound called cicutoxin, a chemical that is most concentrated in the plant's root system. These roots, when pulled freshly out of the ground, are often mistaken for edible plants like parsnip.
Eating the plant, however, is a decidedly awful idea, as cicutoxin is a potent neurotoxin that operates by overstimulating the central nervous system, leading to nausea, abdominal pain, respiratory impairment, kidney failure, irregular heartbeat, tremors, seizures, and death. The neurotoxin is also incredibly potent; ingestion of the plant has been known to lead to death in cattle in as little as 15 minutes.
9) Nerium oleander (aka Oleander)
This shrub is one of the most dangerous on the list, which is bizarre on account of how widely it's used as a decorative shrub. This bush pops up in parks, schools, and back yards all over the country, especially in the southern and western regions of the US. And while it might be nice to look at, don't go chewing on any part of it — its leaves, flowers, and fruit all contain chemicals known as as cardiac glycosides, which, while therapeutic in precise doses, can put you into cardiac arrest if ingested unsystematically.
8) Aconitum (aka monkshood, wolfsbane, and devil's helmet)
The poisonous properties of members of the Aconitum genus have been known for generations; several species of the plant, for example, have long been used in preparing poison-tipped arrows for purposes of hunting and warfare. In humans, accidental ingestion can be fatal; the plants contains appropriately named aconitine neurotoxins and cardiotoxins, which lead to gastrointestinal complications, motor weakness, and heart and lung paralysis.
7) Ageratina altissima (aka White Snakeroot)
White snakeroot is so potent that just drinking the milk or eating the meat of a cow that's ingested the plant can lead to severe sickness and even death. The plant contains a toxin called tremetol, which, when ingested by humans, can lead to trembling, vomiting, and serious intestinal troubles. The illness brought on by secondary tremetol ingestion was so widespread in the early 19th century that it became known as "milk sickness," and is estimated to be responsible for thousands of deaths at the time — including that of Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln.
6) Brugmansia (aka Angel's Trumpet)
Botanists will tell you that members of the genus Brugmansia get their nickname, "Angel's Trumpet," from their large, hanging, trumpet-shaped flowers, which can measure up to 50cm long and 35cm wide at their openings. But we like to think it's named for the trumpeting angels that will herald your arrival in the afterlife. Ingestion of the plant, which contains dangerous levels of the chemicals scopolamine and atropine, is often fatal.
5) Dieffenbachia (aka Dumbcane)
Members of the genus Dieffenbachia are made up of cells containing microscopic needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate called raphides, shown here at 600x magnification.
When leaves of the Dieffenbachia plant are chewed, these tiny spears of calcium oxalate typically lead to oral irritation, excessive drooling, and swelling. In rare cases, however, irritation becomes so severe that the tongue, mouth, and throat are effectively immobilized, while tissues become so swollen that the airways are blocked, leading to death.
4) Abrus precatorius (aka Jequirity, Crab's Eye, Rosary Pea)
Abrus precatorius is native to Indonesia, where its vibrant black, red, and white beads are often used in the region's percussion instruments. But the seeds are also highly poisonous on account of their abrin content. Abrin, which is chemically similar to the ricin found in castor seeds (see below), sabotages your body's functions at the cellular level by inactivating ribosomes, the molecular machines in your body responsible for synthesizing proteins. The abrin content of just one seed is said to be fatal to humans.
3) Hippomane mancinella (aka Manchineel, manzanilla de la muerte ["little apple of death"])
The Manchineel tree does not like company. If you brush up against the tree, the white sap it produces is liable to produce a violent allergic reaction on your skin. Standing beneath the tree during a rainstorm will cause any skin that comes in contact with runoff from the tree to blister.
These epidermal effects are caused by the powerful irritant phorbol, just one of the many toxins found in the tree's milky sap. Ingesting the tree's fruit, pictured here, is often fatal on account of its physostignmine content, which can lead to complications involving naseau, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. Basically, don't mess with the manchineel; there's a reason it's called "the little apple of death." You won't like it, and it definitely doesn't like you.
2) Cerbera odollam (aka The Suicide Tree)
This species of tree belongs to the same family as Oleander, and is also quite toxic to humans. The seeds of the Suicide Tree contain a toxin called cerberin, a potent compound capable of disrupting calcium ion channels in heart muscle, which can lead to an irregular heart beat that is often fatal if the toxin is ingested in high enough quantities.
The plant has been referred to by some as the perfect murder weapon. Getting someone to ingest the cerberin in the suicide tree is purportedly pretty easy to do, as its flavor can be disguised by spices when served in food. The toxin is also notorious for being overlooked as a cause of death in autopsies.
It may not come as a surprise, therefore, that a team of French forensic toxicologists concluded that Cerbera odollam is used by more people to commit suicide and murder than any other plant, having identified more than 500 cases of fatal Cerbera poisoning between 1989 and 1999 in the south-west Indian state of Kerala alone.
1) Ricinus communis (aka the Castor Oil Plant)
Much like oleander, Castor oil plants can be found in houses and gardens all over the world, despite the fact that their seeds are actually very dangerous — so dangerous, in fact, that the plant is the current holder of the Guinness Book of World Records title for world's most poisonous plant.
The seeds harbor an incredibly toxic chemical called ricin, and a lethal dose is considered to be in the range of 4 to 8 seeds. Ingestion of the seeds can lead to burning sensations in the mouth and throat, intense abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea within 36 hours, and can lead to death within 3-5 days if left untreated.


text: Polarization state is of fundamental importance in electromagnetic scattering from periodic and random systems. Here we demonstrated that electromagnetic wave can be perfectly and achromatically transformed into its orthogonal polarization state by utilizing the huge anisotropy of meta-surface. More importantly, it is proved that the phase shift between two coherent inputs can be utilized to dynamically tune the polarization states of output waves. Depending on the phase difference, the outputs can be y-polarization, left handed polarization and right handed polarization for x-polarized inputs. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


What Plastic Surgery Procedures Can Fix my Asymmetrical Face?
The right side of my face is fairly different in size to the left side. Pretty much everything is asymmetrical. Eyes, ears, cheeks, etc. I am severely depressed because of this.
I just want to know why this happened and if it can be fixed. I did not notice it as a child. It seemed to occur during puberty.
Could this be caused by growing up with a cat when I am allergic? Can it be caused by mold in my home? Can it be caused by wearing a baseball cap too tight?
Doctor Answers (2)
Asymetry is normal
Your degree of asymmetry is relatively normal and I generally would not recommend that you consider correction due to the high risk of over correction or undercorrection.
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 41 reviews
Treating facial bone asymmetry
No, it is not caused by any of the above. Asymmetry is part of nature; no 2 sides of the body are exact mirror images. However, when the asymmetry is more severe, people routinely search for a more symmetric appearance. The asymmetry was likely always present but became magnified with the growth of the bones after adolescence.
In your case, the right side has more bone and soft tissue than the left. The answer would then be remove some bone from the right, add to the left or a combination of both. You might try shaving the corner of the jaw on the right and placing a cheek implant on the left. Whatever you do you need to realize perfect symmetry is not physically possible but a more symmetrical look is achievable.
Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon


text:
LaVision's SprayMaster inspex systems measure spray pattern and spray plume geometries of spray and aerosol generating devices. The light sheet based imaging systems use eye-safe LED lamps for illumination or lasers in case of very fast pulsed sprays.
High performance multi-cone fuel sprays up to single cone household sprays are tested in-line or on-line with automated spray parameter recording and test protocol generation. Axial spray profiles are recorded applying shadow imaging when a line-of-sight arrangement is better suited for a given spray test arrangement. The highly reliable imaging modules are field changeable following the highest industrial standards. The modular system design allows flexible solutions for even demanding customization requirements.
A comprehensive spray image analysis software tool kit generates in real-time process relevant data from the spray image, builds up a statistical data base, executes a quality criteria for spray acceptance including a feedback signal to the production/process line together with a customized test protocol for data traceability. Algorithmic based spray image processing guarantees fast, repeatable and operator independent results.
Global spray imaging on a light sheet can be combined with local droplet size and velocity measurements at a predefined location within the light sheet. Such a combined spray pattern and spray droplet imaging system for a comprehensive spray nozzle test is shown as an example of a highly integrated spray imaging solution.


text:
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Audio (US) (file)
aftertaste (plural aftertastes)
- A taste of something that persists when it is no longer present.
- The persistence of the taste of something no longer present.
- Many people think certain artificial sweeteners have an unpleasant aftertaste.
- Of wine, finish.
The persistence of the taste of something no longer present
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.


Question: How Long Does It Take To Replace A Timing Chain?
How much does replacing a timing chain cost?
Replacing the timing chain is a complicated job, and the labor costs can be quite high.
For most cars, a timing chain replacement costs between $413 and $1040, or you can order the parts themselves for $88 and $245..
Do you have to remove engine to replace timing chain?
In short, no; you don't have to remove the engine to replace a timing cover gasket or water pump on a 2000 Ford Taurus. You should remove ancillary components such as the radiator and some other parts in order to have easier access to complete this job.
Can you drive without a timing chain?
With that said, the vehicle is likely not going to run at all without it. You should not attempt to start the vehicle because the chain or belt inside can cause damage to the components around it. The vehicle's damage will need to be accessed when the timing belt is changed.
What happens if timing chain is off by one tooth?
Usually, off by one tooth is not all that critical, and you should not bend valves. You may have a bit more low rpm or a bit more high rpm responsiveness, depending on whether it's advanced one tooth or retarded one tooth.
What are the symptoms of a bad timing chain?
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Timing ChainEngine misfires or runs poorly.Metal shavings found in the oil.Engine won't start or fails.Check Engine Light is on.Engine rattles while idling.
Can a timing chain be tightened?
Timing chains can be adjusted to either loosen or tighten the timing chain so that it runs smoothly along with the timing chain tensioner.
Can low oil cause rattling?
Low Engine Oil Level If the oil level gets too low, you can have a situation where the oil pump sucks air into it and the air gets pumped through the engine along with whatever oil is remaining. This can cause a rattling or ticking noise from within the engine.
How many hours does it take to change a timing chain?
In general, if the timing chain is replaced by a mechanic having all their replacement supplies and parts easily accessible, the job itself should not take more than 5 to 8 hours total. Again, it depends on the location of the job and accessibility of tools and supplies.
Will a new timing chain improve performance?
Replacing them with new components can give the false feeling of increased performance when the truth is the engine has just been returned to the correct state of operation. No timing belt will give an increase in performance – it's just not possible. Its main job is to keep the timing in check.
Which is better timing chain or belt?
Belts are quieter and because of their material, less expensive to produce. Timing chains are housed within the engine and receive lubrication from engine oil and can last a long time, while timing belts are located outside of the engine and tend to dry out and crack.
How do you know when timing chain needs replacing?
Symptoms of a failing timing chain include:Timing chain noise.Engine misfire and poor performance.Difficulty in starting the vehicle.Illuminated check engine light.Engine vibration or shaking when idling.Engine won't start.
Will a car start if timing is off?
Engine Won't Start: If the engine timing belt has broken, it won't be able to start. … On occasion, the engine timing belt will slip from the camshaft. This will cause one of the cylinder to open and close sooner than it should, aka misfiring. If the engine timing belt isn't replaced soon, catastrophic damage can result.
Is it worth replacing a timing chain?
A timing chain runs inside the engine, as it needs to be lubricated by the engine oil. A timing belt typically needs to be replaced between 40,000 and 100,000 miles depending on the vehicle. … A timing chain doesn't need to be replaced unless there is a problem with it.
What causes timing chain to break?
A timing chain can break with either too much or not enough tension. If the chain does not have enough tension, it can develop slack. This can result in the chain "slapping," leading to premature fatigue. A chain with too much tension can also fail, as it is placed under excessive stress.
What does a bad timing chain sound like?
Under normal conditions, the engine should have a consistent, smooth sound that indicates everything is running as it should. However, when the timing chain is loose, it may cause a vibration inside the motor and will be indicated by a rattling noise as the engine idles.


text: The Dadia – Lefkimi – Soufli Forest National Park is located in the center of the "Evros" prefecture and covers an area of 428 km2, 72.9 of which are strictly protected. It's geographical position is very important, being at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa and close to the easternmost migration route flyway of many bird species. Man's mild land use throughout the centuries has led to the formation of a landscape mosaic. Grazing, logging and a wildfires of low extent and intensity in the past have contributed to the formation of clearings that provide easier access for the birds of prey to their food resources. In the area, 360-400 plant species have been recorded, 25 out of which are orchids. There have also been observed 104 butterfly species, 12-13 amphibian species, 29 reptile species and 60-65 mammal species 24 out of which are bats. Furthermore, the relief such as rocky outcrops, streams and rivers, along with the geological formations and the endemic plants of the area are of great ecological value. In 1970 European scientists recognized the importance of the Dadia forest, in 1980 the area was declared as protected and since 2006 it has been characterized as a National Park. Currently, it is one of the few refuges for rare birds of prey in Europe, while it is home to the only breeding population of Black Vultures in the Balkans.


text:
Sustainable Startups in the Netherlands: A Complete Guide
Sustainability is a hot topic in the business world right now. Consumers, investors and others are looking for businesses that operate in a sustainable manner. So what does it mean to be a sustainable startup? What are the common industries that sustainable startups are operating in? What are some promising sustainability startups in The Netherlands?
We will answer these questions for all the green startup job seekers reading this guide.
There are many reasons why sustainability is becoming an increasingly important focus for businesses. Here are some of the most common ones:
Consumers are increasingly interested in sustainable products
The Global Sustainability Study 2021, conducted by global strategy and pricing consultancy Simon-Kucher & Partners, revealed that sustainability is an essential purchase criterion for 60% of consumers. Moreover, 1/3 of consumers are reportedly willing to pay more for sustainable products.
This number will continue to grow as more and more people become aware of the impact their purchasing decisions have on the planet. Thus, the study reveals that companies should opt for sustainability, as it will become the norm and not the exception in the future.
Sustainability is good for the bottom line
Sustainability is often labeled as an unwise investment for organisations. However, according to insights on successful sustainability initiatives provided by Harvard Business School, Professor Rebecca Henderson explains that the intersection of "doing good" and "doing well" (known as the creation of shared value) is rather highly lucrative.
This is likely due to various factors, including lower costs (e.g. reduced resource consumption), higher employee productivity, and increased customer loyalty.
Sustainability is a crucial driver of innovation
As the world becomes increasingly aware of the need to reduce its environmental footprint, there is a growing market for sustainable products and services. This provides a massive opportunity for startups that can innovate in this space.
Moreover, sustainability can be a significant source of inspiration for new product and service ideas. As the world looks for ways to reduce our environmental impact, sustainable startups are in a unique position to provide solutions that meet this demand.
Sustainable startups vs Sustainability within startups
There is a crucial distinction between sustainable startups and startups that operate sustainably. Sustainable startups are businesses founded with the express purpose of being environmentally and/or socially responsible. They often have a product or service focused on sustainability, such as renewable energy, organic farming, or green construction.
On the other hand, sustainability within startups might not be their primary focus. Nevertheless, these businesses strive to operate sustainably, for example, by offsetting their carbon emissions or investing in energy-efficient technologies.
What is a sustainable startup?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the definition of sustainability can vary from startup to startup. However, there are some general characteristics that most sustainable startups have in common.
- Environmentally conscious. Sustainable startups are typically focused on reducing their environmental impact. This may include using energy-efficient technologies, sourcing sustainable materials, or offsetting their carbon emissions.
- Socially responsible. In addition to being environmentally conscious, sustainable startups are also typically focused on social responsibility. This means that they consider the impact of their business on society, and they strive to make a positive difference in the community.
- Efficient in resources. Sustainable startups are often focused on efficiency, which means they use resources (e.g. energy, water, materials) sustainably.
- Positively impactful. Ultimately, the goal of sustainability is to have a positive impact on both the community and the environment. Sustainable startups are typically the most effective at achieving this goal.
What is sustainability within startups?
While sustainable startups are focused on sustainability as their primary business model, startups that operate sustainably are not. Instead, these businesses often have practices and initiatives in place that help them reduce their environmental impact.
Some common examples of sustainability within startups include:
- Carbon emissions offset. Many startups offset their carbon emissions by investing in clean energy or planting trees.
- Sustainable materials. Startups that use sustainable materials, such as recycled paper or bamboo can help reduce their environmental impact.
- Energy-efficient technologies. Startups that invest in energy-efficient technologies, such as LED lighting or low-energy appliances can help reduce their carbon footprint.
Car sharing. Car sharing is an excellent way for startups to reduce their environmental impact, as it eliminates the need for individual drivers to own cars.
Common industries for sustainable startups
There are several industries in which sustainable startups operate. Renewable energy is prevalent with businesses focusing on solar, wind, and hydropower. Other common industries include organic farming, green construction, and recycled materials.
Let's explore some of these common industries in more detail.
Renewable energy is a rapidly growing industry, and it's no surprise that sustainable startups are at the forefront. These businesses are often focused on solar, wind, or hydropower. Solar startups, for example, are businesses that focus on the development and deployment of solar technologies. Wind startups are businesses that focus on developing and deploying wind technologies. And hydropower startups are businesses that focus on developing and deploying hydropower technologies.
Another industry in which sustainable startups are prevalent is organic farming. These businesses often use sustainable practices, such as organic fertilisers and crop rotation, to minimise their environmental impact.
Sustainable startups are making a difference with green construction. These businesses often focus on the development and deployment of green building technologies. Green building technologies are designed to be more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional construction methods.
Recycled materials are another area in which sustainable startups are making an impact. These businesses often focus on the development and deployment of recycled materials technologies. Recycled materials technologies are designed to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing by using recycled materials instead of raw materials.
Transportation & Mobility
The transportation and mobility industries are also seeing a rise in sustainable startups. These businesses often focus on the development and deployment of green transportation technologies. Green transportation technologies are more environmentally friendly than traditional transportation methods.
Promising sustainability startups in the Netherlands
There are several promising as well as inspiring sustainability startups in the Netherlands.
Some of the most notable include:
- Fruitleather — fruit waste turned into leather-like materials for fashion and furnishings.
- Buurman — wood workshop & store for reclaimed buildings and other materials
- Dick Moby — guilt-free recycled sunglasses
- Fairphone — old recycled phones
- Coffee Based — biobased products from coffee grounds
- Mud Jeans — ethical and environmentally friendly jeans
- Pieter Pot — package-free shopping
- Kromkommer — unwanted vegetables repackaged into soup
- BlueCity — a playground for circular startups helping combat waste
- Wasteboards — handmade skateboards from recycled bottle caps
- Vibers — high tech & natural fibers from elephant grass
- Bluehouse World — platform to find ethical producers
- Gerrard Street — wireless headphones with a lifetime service
- Ioniqa — creating value out of PET waste
- Umincorp — disruptive plastic recycling
- Better Future Factory — sustainable plastic products
- Fairm — 100% natural insulation material
- Loop — biodegradable coffins
Contributing as an employee at a sustainable startup
A sustainable startup must promote a green culture among its employees if it wants to succeed. And fortunately, there are many ways for employees to get involved and contribute to a sustainable startup.
Some of the most common ways for employees to contribute to sustainability include:
- Encouraging sustainable practices among co-workers (e.g. carpooling, recycling at the office)
- Educating others about sustainability issues (e.g. via social media)
- Working remotely to reduce energy consumption
- Pitching in on sustainability projects (e.g. working on the company's recycling program)
There are many ways for employees to contribute to a sustainable startup, and they need to find one that best suits their interests and skills.
The future of sustainable startups is looking bright. With the ever-growing concerns about climate change and the environment, these businesses are well-positioned to make a difference. If you're interested in starting a sustainable startup, you can choose from a number of booming industries. So whether you're interested in renewable energy, organic farming, green construction, or recycled materials, there's something for everyone.


You are downloading Advanced Key and Mouse Recorder. Start download again, if it didn't start automatically within 5 seconds.
Product NameVersion
Macro Expert
Automatically complete the task that you can do on your PC.
4.1 learn how to type
GS Typing Tutor
Learn to touch type with amusing and effective ways.
2.99 typing software
GS Typing Tutor Network
1.0 learn to type


text:
Book Title : Mechatronics Principles and Applications
Author(s) : Godfrey C. Onwubolu
Publisher : Elsevier
Edition : First
Pages : 664
Size : 4 Mb
Mechatronics is a core subject for engineers, combining elements of mechanical and electronic engineering into the development of computer-controlled mechanical devices such as DVD players or anti-lock braking systems. Mechatronics Principles and Applications eBook by Godfrey C. Onwubolu book is the most comprehensive text available for both mechanical and electrical engineering students and will enable them to engage fully with all stages of mechatronic system design.


text:
St. Therese of Lisieux - Carmelite nun
St. Therese of Lisieux (_PHONE_), Carmelite nun
Teresa was born at Alencon, Normandy. In 1886 she underwent a religious conversion and thereafter dedicated herself to monastic life. Entering the Carmelite convent at Lisieux at fifteen, she was appointed assistant novice mistress in 1893. One year before her death (1897) from tuberculosis, she volunteered to join the Carmelite missionaries in China.
Her devotional book, The Little Way, was widely acclaimed, as was her autobiography The Story of a Soul. Miracles of healing and prophecy soon were attributed to her name, and an account of these was appended in 1907 to the autobiography.
Teresa was beatified in 1923 and canonized in 1925. One year later a basilica was erected in her honor at Lisieux. In 1929 she became patroness of foreign missions, and in 1947 she was named patroness of France, together with Joan of Arc. Churches and shrines dedicated to her memory often bear the title "Little Flower", reflecting the subtitle of her autobiography.


Innovators impeded by restrictive laws
If Americans are serious about solving the innovation crisis, they would be best served by addressing immigration, because immigrants have demonstrated that they are leading innovators in the modern economy, say Marshall Fitz and John Halpin in The Atlantic.
Categories: General
John de Rosier
3 Responses
 1. RolloMartins says:
 The great problem with our immigration is two-fold: We waste our energy and money on a non-problem with illegals (who are a net positive on our economy and according to studies do not pose a crime risk above average); at the same time we ignore the greater issue: not allowing enough smart, young, entrepreneurial immigrants to stay in our country and build job-creating enterprises. The GOP (I am a Republican) loves to tout the job-creators, but they have pointed the finger in the wrong direction. Billionaires are not job creators. Immigrant entrepreneurs are the job creators.
 2. Victor Blackthorne says:
 If you travel in the South West you will find that shopping requires a facility with Spanish. You might want to consider how the term immigrant came to be applied to those who do not want to learn the local customs.
 3. RolloMartins says:
 Shopping whilst encountering Spanish! Heaven forbid! Why has this been allowed to continue? Do they expect us to *learn* a foreign tongue? Don't they know we are Americans and Americans do not feel it necessary to learn foreign languages? Our household hosted a Korean exchange student last year. She speaks Chinese, Japanese, English (better than Americans, naturally), and of course her native Korean. Oh and a smattering of Spanish. Foreigners seem to believe that encountering foreign languages is an opportunity, not a curse.


text:
Awesome Monogram Font Generator – Monogram is any different graphemes or actually a theme. Monograms are a branding element that showcase family style or your personal. Earmarked for the privileged, the monogram is a decorating tool that every one can use. The monogram of an individual is frequently a very elaborate artwork such as example luggage, such as embroidery on clothing, and so forth employed for stationery. These monograms might have three letters or two. A enduring and popular part of monograms is the using letters found to make acronyms.
Fashion businesses have a monogram for a symbol, Athletes have been proven to brand product with their monogram logo. Engaged or married couples can use two-letter monograms of these initials. People may also cause monograms incorporating the initial of these surname that is shared. Where they are sometimes found in several of distinct positions, monograms can be found on custom dress shirts. Some personal monograms recognizable to many and have become famous symbols within their very best.
Roger Federer Logo Font from monogram font generator, source: fontmeme.com
Round Monogram 4 Letter Sport Vector Font 4 letter alphabet from monogram font generator, source: etsy.com
Additional that a monogram is a form of personal branding composed of 1 or more letters, an average of initials, that could possibly be intertwined including those that you see from marriage designs and crests. It may be simple or complex, fun or elegant. It's a great way to catch your personality. Here we have compiled some Monogram Designs which can inspire you. Let us check them out!


Take the 2-minute tour ×
I have a 256 bin histogram of an 8 bit image.
Is it possible to calculate the Median, Variance and Standard deviation of the image from the given histogram?
If yes, then what is the procedure?
Thank you.
share|improve this question
3 Answers 3
up vote 2 down vote accepted
You can't calculate any of them exactly because all you have is the interval of values that they belong to and not their exact values. It is the mode and not the median that is in the tallest bin. You can determine which bin the median is in and thus know the two end points of its bin are values that it falls betweem. To find where the median is you just total the number of data points in each bin starting from the left unit the get to the integer equal to (n-1)/2 when n is odd and (n+1)/2 if (n-1)/2 and (n+1)/2 are in the same bin. If (n+1)/2 is in a higher bin then (n-1)/2 you can't be sure which bin the median is in but you know it is near the boundary separating the two adjacent bins.
You can calculate grouped mean and grouped variances which may be rough approximations to the actual sample means and variances but not exact.
share|improve this answer
Since the image is 8-bit, there are 256 discrete intensity levels (the integers from 0 to 255), so the histogram actually gives an exact representation of the data set. Having the histogram is equivalent to having the list of all pixel intensities, so the median, variance, etc. can be calculated exactly. – Matthew Conroy Sep 25 '12 at 18:56
Since you have exactly all the pixel values and their occurrences, you could reorder them in an array in O(n) – with n the number of pixels – and simply pick the value in the middle of the array.
int* histogram(Image& img)
 int hist[256] = {0};
 int i,j;
 for (i=0; i


Seven Things Writers Get Wrong About Language
Bridge crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation
In the Star Trek universe, computers translate unheard languages without any data.
If you're a writer of fantasy and scifi, language is literally indispensable. And because it's something we use every day, many authors think they can change it up without doing any research. I'm all for experimentation, but knowing the essentials of how language works can make your writing much better. To that end, I'll cover a few misconceptions I see in spec fic media and give you some advice on how to get it right.
1. Language Is Tied to (Moral) Character
An orc from the Hobbit films shouting.
This is a pretty huge one: lots of books draw a logical connection between a character's language and some fundamental aspect of their character, usually morality. This most often takes the form of "bad guys" speaking a "bad-sounding" language (more on that later), but it can be more abstract as well.
Tolkien, whose achievements as a conlanger and scholar can't be overstated, was actually pretty bad about this. For example, the language created by Sauron to be spoken in Mordor, Black Speech, is described in morally coded, value-judgment terms: while Sauron and the Nazgul speak ancient and "pure" Black Speech, the form spoken in Barad Dur is described as "debased" or "corrupted" by lowly Orkish influences.
Plus, the orcs in Tolkien's works speak only a "pidgin" of elements from various languages unless Black Speech is imposed on them. The way Tolkien describes Orkish is pretty deterministic: their languages "diversify" because they hate each other so much that orc communities reject the idea of a common tongue. But even allowing that orcs don't feel the human impulse for interconnectivity, language is used to communicate: it naturally develops based on who the speaker has contact with. If orc languages are diverse, it is because their communities are isolated from each other, not the other way around.
Generally speaking, drawing strong connections between the language a character speaks and their implicit moral character smacks of prejudice and leaves little room for nuance. It encourages assumptions about a person based on the language that they speak, beyond where they're from or where they were educated. If you have the impulse to use language as a shorthand for morality in your story, stop and think why first – why couldn't the bad guys speak the same language as the good guys? Are they really so different?
2. "Bad" Languages Sound a Certain Way
Worf and two other klingons performing the deal howl. Klingon is mostly yelling, admittedly.
Moving directly on from my last point, describing the language spoken by a bad guy as harsh, rasping, guttural, or otherwise difficult to listen to is outdated in the same way that the ideas behind phrenology are outdated. Speaking from a purely phonetic standpoint, it's actually very hard to draw sweeping conclusions about how a language sounds.
For instance, what exactly does "guttural" mean? Does the language involve lots of uvular fricatives or trills, like Arabic? Is it highly glottal, like Scottish English? What does "rasping" mean? Does the language heavily aspirate some or all of its consonants, like Thai? Are there a large number of voiceless fricatives, like Toda, indigenous to southern India? If there are "difficult" sounds, how have they been preserved? Languages change to maximize ease of pronunciation.
Furthermore, "difficult to pronounce" or "harsh" are extremely subjective concepts. Sounds that are unpleasant or difficult for Arabic speakers will be very different from sounds that are difficult for Vietnamese speakers. It can be easy to fall into this descriptive trap with existing languages (like German), which is an excellent way to alienate bilingual readers.
3. Certain Types of Communities Speak Certain Types of Languages
If you try speaking to these folks in ye olde Englishe, they'll be confused in Polish. Biskupin Villiage by Globe Master used under CC BY 3.0
This is connected to the linguistic determinism of the previous section. I encountered this idea most recently in Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind. The book has a scene where the protagonist, Kvothe, encounters an old herdsman he needs to get information from.
Kvothe has never been to the guy's home village, and they've exchanged only a few words at this point in the story. Yet somehow he buddies up to the herdsman by speaking in a dialect that sounds… hokey? Backwoodsy? Supposedly, it sounds something like how the herdsman speaks, based on the fact that he's from an isolated community. Kvothe gives some kind of explanation that the herdsman speaks the way people used to speak.
The problem with this is that there's absolutely nothing unique about the herdsman's social circumstances or environment that determines how his language might sound.* There's no such thing as a universal "archaic" dialect, a "country" dialect, or a way people "used to speak." The herdsman's language might be less exposed to outside influences and therefore might change less rapidly than another, more widely spoken language. However, that isolation would make it less easy to guess how the language sounds, not more. That brings me to my next point.
4. "Old" Languages Are Different From "Young" Languages
This ancient cuneiform tablet is a long complaint about poor quality copper.
Whoo, boy. I see this sentiment echoed a lot, especially in fantasy books where ancient languages are used in spells. In Western culture, we venerate Latin and ancient Greek as paragons of linguistic elegance, progenitors and carriers of "high culture." They are often used in spells because we think they sound cool and esoteric. Ironically, ancient languages are often venerated by the same people who think modern-day languages spoken by indigenous or non-industrial societies are "primitive."
We generally think of dead or "ancient" languages as fundamentally different than the languages we speak today. After all, people's lives were different from how they are now, so why shouldn't their languages be? The problem is that, while the possible variations in human living conditions are nearly infinite, languages are constrained by human physiology. There are only so many contortions the human tongue and vocal cords are capable of, so this limits the possible sounds available. Human brains are only capable of processing information organized in a limited number of ways, which limits possible variations in word order.
Furthermore, there's a constant push-pull in language between ease of use and expressiveness. This means that speakers are always coming up with new ways to make language easier to use.* However, ideas need high levels of variation to be expressed efficiently, so we're always inventing new words, too. This push-pull drives language change and can be affected by cultural and historical circumstances to make languages change faster or slower. So while human technology moves from less to more advanced, what is "advanced" in language is not so easy to define, and the two don't map onto each other easily. Languages spoken in the past were neither more nor less complex than the languages we speak today.
5. Language Can Be Learned Without Data
In Naomi Novik's Temeraire books, dragons are intelligent beings that come out of the egg already speaking and understanding the languages being used around them. This is an important plot point a few times, and I'm extremely biased in Novik's favor, so I'm willing to suspend disbelief in this instance.* But generally speaking, language does not work this way.
Language is learned only when the learner is exposed to lots of data. Very young children, lacking language, are like sponges for linguistic data. They use lots of observation to learn rules and extrapolate outward until they are fluent. Limiting the amount of linguistic data a young child is exposed to can do serious harm to their ability to communicate later in life.
In essence, language learning requires the learner to be exposed to both a thing and the word for a thing before that bit of language can be learned. Just hearing how a language sounds, looking at an ancient scroll, or receiving a waveform of an alien transmission is not enough to learn or decipher a language! The Rosetta Stone wasn't deciphered until someone who could understand part of it looked at the rest. So while I'm willing to allow that a dragon in the shell might learn the words for, say, hot and cold, the dragon wouldn't be exposed to enough data to come out of the shell knowing words for abstract concepts.
6. All Grammatical Systems Work the Same Way
An air vehicle approaches a cliff-side city
I've most recently encountered this mistake in Ada Palmer's Terra Ignota series, which is really an exceptional work of science fiction in nearly every other sense. This series takes place in the year 2454, on an Earth that has done away with geographical nations in favor of supranational governments called hives, which citizens join by choice. This system, and the worldbuilding in these books in general, is incredibly well-developed, but it plays fast and loose with language in one essential way.
Part of the ambiguously utopian future of Terra Ignota is that there is a strong taboo against using gendered language. The books are written in English, but hives have different official languages, so speech at the narrative level in different languages is marked with different styles of quotation marks, i.e. square brackets, arrows, etc. No matter what language the characters are


text:
Definition - What does Supervening Cause mean?
A supervening cause is a cause of an injury, or of damage that comes after the initial set of events has already been put into place, but without which the harm could not have taken place.
In the context of the law, the person responsible for the supervening cause can be liable for the harm as opposed to the person who created the proximate cause.
Justipedia explains Supervening Cause
Often, there are multiple causes that go into harm being caused. For example, if a truck driver doesn't tie his load down and the products start spilling onto the highway, this could be a proximate cause. However, if a person behind the truck swerves unnecessarily far into oncoming traffic and causes an accident, this would be a supervening cause. In order to find out who would be fully liable for the damage caused by the accident, a court case would most likely have to ensue.


text:
The new owners want to remove the listed cranes in front of the Power Station in order to use the jetty for the removal of spoil from tunnelling the Northern Line Extension ( NLE ). While it might be necessary to dismantle the cranes in order to restore there is no need to tie the timetable to the NLE works. The NLE will take years to complete even if it happens. Like the Euston Arch there is a real danger once removed they will never be put back. There is half a mile of river front where a more suitable purpose built jetty could be situated. It looks like yet another ploy to slowly clear the site of any historic or heritage obstacles to maximising profitssee demolition by stealth.
Coal was usually brought to the Battersea Power Station by collier ships, and unloaded by cranes, which are still intact on the station's riverfront. These two cranes were used to unload coal from barges for Battersea Power Station, and despite 25 years of disuse are in remarkably complete condition. But obviously the owners of the Battersea Power Station don't care much about that. They've already got permission to take the cranes down.
The jetty facilities used two cranes to offload coal, with the capacity of unloading two ships at one time, at a rate of 480 tonnes an hour. Coal was also delivered by rail to the east of the station using the Brighton Main Line which passes near the site. Coal was usually delivered to the jetty, rather than by rail. A conveyor belt system was then used to take coal to the coal storage area or directly to the station's boiler rooms. The conveyor belt system consisted of a series of bridges connected by towers. The coal storage area was a large concrete box capable of holding 75,000 tonnes of coal. This had an overhead gantry with a conveyor belt attached to the conveyor belt system, for taking coal from the coal store to the boiler rooms
Now, the cranes will be facing demolishing. Even though they're part of the listed Battersea Power Station and mentioned in the listing description:
"Subsidiary features: To the N on a jetty parallel to the river wall there are two cranes which were used to unload coal from collier boats. While of lesser significance, they were integral parts of the original complex and are now rare riverside features."
The cranes complement the Battersea Power Station and help to explain its purpose and function. Other industrial archeology has already been lost, notably the travelling coal conveyor (dismantled by Parkview in 1995) and the raking conveyors into the building.
They should receive extra protection given these other losses.


text:
Make a "Who's Who" List of ESP
As you make your list of who's who in your school and district, don't forget to find out about your Educational Support Professionals (ESP).
Make it a New Year's resolution to get the answers to the following questions:
- Who does what in the front office? If there's more than one secretary, find out who tracks attendance, who calls parents, who takes phone messages and who controls the copier.
- Who works with you in the classroom? You probably know this already but have you had a conversation with your paraeducator about his/her responsibility in the classroom? How he/she can best help you?
- Who watches the students in the cafeteria or on the playground? Find out what you can do with your students to make the job of these ESP easier. Know what power they have in terms of disciplining students.
- Who fixes things? Something as simple as a broken pencil sharpener can make your day a nightmare. Know how to get help.
- When are the floors washed, waxed or vacuumed? If you or your students are planning on leaving projects or materials out over a period of days, will it impact the custodian's job? Know whom to call if you need spills cleaned up or accidents attended to.
- Who drives the buses? Elementary teachers may have a better handle on this question but, regardless, all teachers should know how to make arrangements for a field trip, what regular bus safety rules need to be reinforced in the classroom and how bus drivers handle discipline on their buses.
- Who provides school security? In this day and age, knowing what the safety procedures are in your building and knowing who is responsible for enforcing safety rules is crucial to the survival of you and your students.


text:
The Division focuses on preventive measures for curbing child labour, and trafficking as well as facilitate different rescue operations. The Division is also responsible for tracking of rescued children, their compensation, and the rehabilitative mechanisms. To read the complete mandate of the Division, kindly click here.
Projects and Initiatives
Some of the most prominent projects/initiatives undertaken during Financial Year 2020-21 are mentioned:
1. Rescue of children from Child Labour
The non-wavering commitment of the Commission to eliminate child labour resulted in rescue of 331 children in the year 2020-21 in comparison to a total of 202 children being rescued in the preceding 3 years. Belonging to different age groups, the youngest of the rescued children was 10 years old and were rescued with the help of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Delhi Police, Labour Department, ChildLine and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) from different places such as factories, bakery units, kharat machine units and auto center units, as well as residential colonies where the children were working as domestic servants.
2. Rehabilitation of the rescued child labourers
Rescuing children from hazardous employment situations acts as an immediate relief for them but does not guarantee their long-term safety and the chances of them falling back into the clutches of labour remains. Therefore, the Commission ensures end-to-end rehabilitation of the rescued children in the following manner:
- a. Restoration: restoring a child with their parents and family is a critical first step as it gives the child an environment of care and love. The Commission has ensured the restoration of 90% of the rescued children, and is in the process of restoring everyone at the earliest.
- b. Backwages: Compensation for the rescued children under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 has been a consistent challenge, with only 50% of the rescued children having received their back wages.. While CWCs have been doing their job in ensuring that the backwages are retrieved and deposited in the child's account, the interdepartmental coordination has led to consistent bottlenecks. The Commission is apprised of such cases and the concerned officers from the Revenue and Labour department are taken in loop to speed up the process of retrieval.
- c. Enrolment in Schools: By enquiring about the rescued children's enrolment in schools and their families' involvement in different government schemes that might help them with some income, food and other basic necessities ensure that the families children are not pushed into labour. DCPCR has put in efforts to identify the possibility of linking such families to relevant social schemes. 30% of the children rescued from Delhi are not yet enrolled in any education institution, thus the process to counsel them and get them enrolled in the vocational course has been initiated.
3. Stakeholder Investment
The challenge of child labour can only be tackled if there is investment within the system (like Labour department, Revenue department etc) along with the citizens, both adults and children. To sensitize children from the privileged backgrounds about the hardships faced by children who are forced into labour and to encourage them to have conversations about the same within their families, a painting competition was organized with the Private School Association for the same which had some amazing paintings depicting deep insights from the children regarding the cause. The best works were also awarded.
Multiple NGOs were also encouraged to sign a pledge to report any instance of child labour that would come to their notice and also committing that no member in the organization would engage in it at individual level. Similarly, the Chairpersons of the Mandi Associations across Delhi also pledged the same and made visits to ensure that their mandis were child labour free.
4. Intervention to prepare an SoP for child labour rescue operations and common performa for inter-departmental co-ordination
The process of planning and executing rescue operations needs coordination and liaisoning between various departments and stakeholders. Without comprehensive SoP that defines the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder, there can be breakdowns in the process. The Commission is in the process of preparing a standard operating procedure including a standard format /performa to gather information of the reduced child and offending employers that will better enable inter-departmental coordination and tracking of children till they are rehabilitated.
5. Tracking District Task Force Meeting:
The Commission, in its efforts to plan for preventive strategies for child labour, identified District Task Force meetings as one of the leverages. Being mandated to be held monthly under the CLPRA Amendment Rules, 2017, the Commission started to monitor these meetings and advised the DMs to use these meetings to discuss and plan preventive and proactive interventions along with planning of rescue operations. 12 meetings across 5 districts in the last 6 months have already been conducted despite the challenges of the pandemic.
The Commission is also working with Revenue department to ensure that these meetings include identification of the vulnerable areas, act on pending information of trafficking/child labour, examine the rehabilitation efforts, review processes, and plan forward. The Revenue department and the Labour department are also made aware of Rule 2(b)(2) of the CLPRA Amendment Rules, 2017 which says that information of children who were absent in schools for consecutively 30 days is shared with the nodal officer and efforts be made to track those children.


text:
We have previously written an article on Powers of Attorney and the importance of these in later life financial planning. In this piece we address here specifically the issues that may apply to pensions.
There are currently 850,000 people in the UK suffering from dementia and this is expected to increase to 1m by 2025 and a staggering 2m by 2051 (source: Alzheimer's Society). So there will be a significant growing number of people that will be living longer but suffering from mental incapacity.
The following are situations with pensions which may become difficult to address without a Power of Attorney in place:-
- inability to switch between funds. This may be important, for example, to protect gains by transferring into lower risk rated funds such as cash and avoiding future stockmarket volatility;
- inability to reduce, increase or stop the level of income being drawn. For example, a reduction in income may be required because this was not being spent or was pushing the client into the higher rate tax band. An increase in income may be needed to help pay for healthcare;
- inability to nominate or revise existing beneficiaries to receive death benefits;
- inability to switch between pension providers to access, for instance, a plan which will offer flexible retirement options.
Pensions are generally a major asset for clients along with property as they enter their retirement years. If mental capacity was lost it could cause problems for the nearest and dearest without a Power of Attorney in place or, in absence of one, recourse to the Court of Protection.


Block Your Kid's Phone When They're Driving
AT&T's new safe-driving initiative is more than a little creepy: it's developing software that parents can use to remotely turn off text messaging and voice calls on their children's mobile phone when they're out driving.
The app is revealed in the publicity video above. While it's still in development, it looks kind of clever, in a dictatorial kind of way. Seemingly it can be used to block all kinds of mobile phone communication on a child's phone: internet, SMS, MMS and phone calls.
It also promises to offer GPS updates of their location so you can see where they're headed, as well as providing email alerts when a child speeds and updates about dangerous driving behaviours such as late-braking. In other words, it'a domineering parent's wet dream.


text:
Stereo-B Triangle UFO
An odd triangle shaped object captured on video December 27 – 29 by NASA's Stereo- B spacecraft is the latest video which UFO hunters and conspiracy theorists believe depicts an enormous triangle UFO in outer space heading towards Earth. NASA's Stereo-B spacecraft is one of two probes parked on either side of the sun which together produces a 360 view of the inner solar s system.
UFO hunters claim that the video depicts Venus, Earth and on the opposite side heading towards Earth; a mysterious huge triangle shaped UFO. According to the claims of the UFO conspiracists, in comparison with the planetary objects within view the actual size of the UFO would be immense.
This is not the first time that UFO hunters have discovered what they believed to be a gigantic UFO among images captured by these stereo probes. However, this time the team of scientists at NASA who work with the data from the probes decided to address the claim directly.
In a nutshell, the scientists at NASA explained the UFO seen on the on the video is actually just a trick of light. The NASA scientists wrote, at the same time as the strange looking feature (UFO) starts becoming visible, the very bright planet Venus enters the field of view from the lower left.
The scientists emphasized that Venus and the triangle seen opposite each other across the middle of the field remain in step as they move and this is because the strange triangle shaped object is actually an internal reflection of the planet Venus within the telescope optics.
In this optical phenomenon, incoming light reflects back and forth both off lenses and mirrors inside the telescope. The shapes of artifacts produced by the scattered light typically are triangles and circles of various sizes depending on the relative orientations of those lenses and mirrors within the telescope. In fact, this effect has been observed many times before, according to scientists and NASA. So what do you think was the ufo real?


text:
One of my more recent co-authored research articles has been selected as 'Editor's Choice' in The Applied Ecologist's Blog. The paper, Maintaining ecosystem properties after loss of ash in Great Britain by Louise Hill et al, focusses on the importance of using plant functional traits to predict potential changes to an ecosystem, following the loss of a key species.
"With an impressive data set at hand across whole of Great Britain, Hill et al. developed and applied an innovative analytic approach, Analytical Hierarchy Process (a tool borrowed from the social sciences), and used plant functional traits, which allowed them to predict changes in ecosystem properties due to ash loss (the ecology part), optimized by a hierarchy of traits' importance. From this they could offer recommendations to managers and decision makers about how to avoid the disappearance of ash and the ecosystem services it provides. Here, plant functional traits are essential in the link between biodiversity and ecosystem properties."
The Editor's Choice for issue 56:2 is written by Associate Editor, Alex Fajardo.
Read the full article at Editor's Choice 56:2 – A trait-based approach for forest ecosystem management


text: Fluorescence anisotropy decay microscopy was used to determine, in individual living cells, the spatial monomer-dimer distribution of proteins, as exemplified by herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP). Accordingly, the fluorescence anisotropy dynamics of two fusion proteins (TK27GFP and TK366GFP) was recorded in the confocal mode by ultra-sensitive time-correlated single-photon counting. This provided a measurement of the rotational time of these proteins, which, by comparing with GFP, allowed the determination of their oligomeric state in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. It also revealed energy homo-transfer within aggregates that TK366GFP progressively formed. Using a symmetric dimer model, structural parameters were estimated; the mutual orientation of the transition dipoles of the two GFP chromophores, calculated from the residual anisotropy, was 44.6 +/- 1.6 degrees, and the upper intermolecular limit between the two fluorescent tags, calculated from the energy transfer rate, was 70 A. Acquisition of the fluorescence steady-state intensity, lifetime, and anisotropy decay in the same cells, at different times after transfection, indicated that TK366GFP was initially in a monomeric state and then formed dimers that grew into aggregates. Picosecond time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy microscopy opens a promising avenue for obtaining structural information on proteins in individual living cells, even when expression levels are very low.


text:
Curriculum Resource Center
The Teacher Curriculum Center (TCC), located in the basement of Twilight Hall, Room B-12, is a facility open to teacher education students, liberal arts students, and K-12 teachers and administrators. Access privileges can be obtained by contacting the Director of Education Studies, Gregg Humphrey.
The resources in the Teacher Curriculum Center have been acquired through generous support from Middlebury College, Middlebury College Education Studies, the Middlebury College Library, Goals 2000 grants, and the Addison Central Supervisory Union.
The Teacher Curriculum Center contains books, videos, journals, and other resource materials on state and national standards, teacher education, educational reform and leadership, assessment, multicultural education, curriculum and instruction, language and literacy education, special education, educational foundations, philosophy, educational psychology, and educational technology.
The TCC also contains teacher guides, professional development videos, science and mathematics kits and materials, and art education supplies. The TCC maintains two networked computers, two printers (Epson Stylus Color 777, networked HP LaserJet 4050N), and two scanners.