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July 6, 2007, 2:13 pm
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The Widerdonum
Princess Reisha
Plot Description
Set between the end of the First Rose War, and the Thorne Rebellion, is the story of Princess Reisha, the Nechteran Revolt, and the Widerdonum.
The Nechteran Revolt
A smaller kingdom bordering the Middle Kingdom, Nechtera is considered to be a snd rate power and not generally a threat to the great power of the Middle Kingdom. Yet events in Nechtera will threaten to plunge most of the continent into a bloody struggle that could take decades to be fought out. The Revolt begins as a basic peasant uprising caused by a combination of taxation and several years of moderate drought. As the peasants muster and throw out the tax collectors, there is a build up of levies and militia soldiers on the side of the Nechteran nobility. In most cases, such a revolt would be easily put down and end as a minor footnote in the ledgers of history, but such would not be the case.
A traitor in the Royal Court does the unthinkable, he assassinates most of the entire royal family. The King of Nechtera, Thetavra the Wise suffers the most painful death as he is horrificly and slowly mutilated with a ceremonial sword of his King's Elite Guard. The rest of the royal family and most of those in line for the throne of Nechtera die from poison. The Poinson Tasters never knew that their vessels were treated with the antidote to the poison, thus protecting them while the unadulterated poison went on to slay those of noble blood.
This Revolt then took on a new aspect as the death of most of the Royal family shook the morale of the Royalists, and gave new fire to the rebels. It seemed that the commoners would rise up to eclipse the divine mandate of the nobility to rule. Many of the nations and Kingdoms that bordered Nechtera made plans to invade the small kingdom and put down the peasant revolt with their own troops, but faltered. Such an act of war would be nothing more than an act of war and might galvanize their own peasantage to rise up as the Nechterans had. Instead, the various nobles and the Blue faction of the Middle Kingdom's court produced an heir and avatar of their faction; Princess Reisha.
Now only 2nd in line to the throne, and with the first person missing and presumed slain, she had a right of succession to return to Nechtera and assume control of the nobility that remained. As a symbol of her right to rule, she carried an heirloom of the Nechteran Kings, a Dwarven Bow of sublime craftsmanship and unequalled power. This bow had been passed down from generation to generation, tracing it's way back to the first King of Nechtera and their ancient alliance with the dwarves of the mountains.
The Staging Point
Most of the events above will take place before the PCs become involved and will be backstory elements. Much of it may be well known, such as the peasant revolt, and the assassination of at least the King of Nechtera. Those with better connections might know the full extent of the assassin's attack. Those with political connections and noble influence might know that several other Kingdoms have begun to muster loyal forces to put down the Nechteran revolt if it threatens to spill out of the small kingdom, though at the moment their hands are tied by a grudging respect for the law and fear of causing the revolt to spread even faster than it already has.
Princess Reisha has arrived in the border city of Menethor, less than half a day from Nechtera. The mood in the city is tense, and the main tavern of the city is a simmering pot of apprehension and anxiety. In addition to reports of rebels siezing and burning Noble carvans and wagons, their are also reports of looting, pillage, and murder pouring out of Nechtera, along with a good stream of refugees who only wish to escape the fighting with their lives and a bit of their prosperity. On the other side, a full division of footmen have gathered under the tenative command of the Princess, as well as several dozen knights of the Blue and Green noble factions.
The Princess doesnt wish to agitate the matter any further and feels that if her intelligence is correct, the remaining Royalist forces can put down the revolt with a minimum of bloodshed or outside assistance. She doesnt wish to she her homeland ravaged by any more conflict than it has already faced. To this end, she is taking a small group of highly skilled professionals (IE the PCs) with her to assist in the operation and will send for the bulk of her forces only if dire need presents itself. As a symbol of her desire to rejoin the estranged peasantage and the nobility, she has since requisitioned and donned the armor of the folk hero and knight Errant, Huran.
A Bitter Homecoming
Crossing into Nechtera with the PC party and perhaps a dozen other mounted warriors, mostly green and blue knights, but a single yellow garbed advisor as well, they encounter signs of battles. There are refugess on the road, bandits are operating more openly and brazenly then ever, and there might even be a combat heavy encounter with an outrider band of Peasant Marauders. The scene in the capital is bittersweet. The locals cheer for the return of their loved princess, but there are signs that the city itself has seen heavy fighting, and the Royalist forces remain demoralized and lack any sort of strong leadership.
The Campaign that follows consists of gathering the Royalist Troops and rallying them under Princess Reisha and her cadre of professionals and knights. The first orders of conflict are clearing the roads of bandits, a task that she might send for her Middle Kingdom troops to take care of under the auspice of the bandits raiding across the border. The next order of action involves the PCs leading elements of the Royalist forces against rebel strongholds, and doing search and destroy missions against the more mobile forces of the Rebels. Eventually the campaign should end with a siege of the Rebel's last stronghold with the final goal being the capture of the rebel leaders and the end of the revolt.
The Revolt is more than a simple peasant uprising against what is percieved to be noble excess in a time of near famine. The conditions were right, and various members of the Yellow Faction, growing weary of Reisha and her Green's interference and outrage over her turning the rule of the Middle Kingdom over to the Viceroy after the First Rose war, inflamed the conflict. Using their merchant contacts, the Yellow faction funneled cheap weapons and armor into Nechtera, along with discrete mercenary advisors to train the peasantage into a half-way functional force that might overthrow the hide-bound aristocracy of Nechtera. The end goal was for a radical change in Nechtera's political alignment, bringing them away from the traditional viewpoint of the blues with strong Green tendancies firmly into the progressive clutches of the Yellow faction.
It is also the Yellow faction that has done much work to keep other kingdoms at bay while their experiment boils furiously. Discovering that Princess Reisha herself is going to attempt to quell the affair has them almost giddy. with the Princess away and heading into a danger zone, the Yellows are freed from higher level of scrutiny. To take advantage of this, they secretly have an assassin or two hired to attempt to kill the Princess in the field, but it has to look like she was killed in combat.
Expanding the scenario
The quelling of the Nechteran Revolt is a look into the dichotomy of Noble right to rule versus the radical idea of rule by the people. While Reisha will wish to support and protect the common people, she does so out of Noblesse Oblige, not out of a democratic spirit. It is the duty of the noblity to protect the common people, and to be worthy of their fealty, just as the common people have the duty of serving the nobility and being worthy of their protection. The entire campaign has a heavy military and combat theme, with the two factions squaring off across the kingdom.
Once Reisha is in charge, and the Royalists rallied under her and the PCs (now military advisors and leaders) the battles will quickly turn against the revolting peasants. The Royalists are better trained, better armed, and more experienced. The Peasants have larger numbers, but almost non-existant discipline and lack morale in large scale battles. The end of the campaign should have the peasants surrendering in large numbers, a few fighting a slowly failing guerilla war against the Royalists and an increasingly pressed strongpoint for the remaining rebels.
If the PCs are very successfull in routing the peasants, and preventing the last stronghold from becoming a siege situation, they should be able to secure agents of the Yellow Faction before their escape. If a siege results in taking the last rebel city/fortress, the Yellow agents will escape and aside from the standard espianoge and court back-stebbery no one will be the wiser to their machinations. Unless the siege turns into an absolute abattoir or lasts more than a year, they will find a prisoner being held since the


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Yesterday the Missouri Senate voted to roll back Proposition B, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act and, thus, said the heck with Missouri voters who approved the measure in November.
Lawmakers approved Senate Bill 113 sponsored and introduced by Senator Mike Parson who, ironically, titled the bill, the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. Key points of the bill include:
- No limit on the number of breeding dogs.
- No requirement of ground level cages with access to the outdoors.
- No requirement that the dogs be sheltered from extreme weather and temperatures.
- No annual hands-on vet examinations will be required.
- Two visual inspections of dogs by veterinarians will be required.
- Depending on the number of dogs sold, breeders would pay fees ranging up to $2,500 instead of the current maximum of $500.
- Breeders would pay $25 per year to generate funds for additional state inspectors
- Breeders in violation would no longer be subject to prosecution for the misdemeanor crime of puppy mill cruelty. Instead, courts could assess civil fines or prosecutors could file misdemeanor charges of canine cruelty against repeat offenders.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


marked" this clip as being "good."
P – This means this particular clip has a proxy file attached to it. Proxies can be generated by some of the P2 cameras if the optional AJ-YAX800G Proxy Card is installed. The HPX500 and HVX200 cannot generate proxy files.
T – This means this particular clip has at least one Text Memo marker attached to it. You can view the contents of the Text Memos in P2 Viewer, P2CMS or in a P2HD camcorder by selecting CLIP PROPERTIES for this clip.
E – This means that this particular clip is not camera-original footage, but was either edited on a computer or was created by copying a previous clip. A clip that was created by exporting a portion of a clip between two Text Memo markers (known as Text Memo Subclipping) would also bear this "E" mark.
W – This shows up for standard-definition clips that were recorded in the 16:9 aspect ratio. The "W" stands for Widescreen. This "W" mark doesn't show up on high-definition clips because all high-definition clips are always 16:9.
! – This indicates that the clip you're viewing is part of a multiple-clip "spanned clip," and that the remaining portions aren't currently present. For example, if you recorded one big long clip that spanned across two P2 cards, yet you only loaded one P2 card into your computer, this! indication would be displayed to let you know that the system only has access to part of the full footage. If you loaded the P2 card that contains the rest of this clip, the! indicator would disappear.
X – This indicator means that there's something wrong with your clip. If the "X" appears with a yellow background, you can usually repair the clip (using the "Repair Clip" function in the P2 Thumbnail menu). Usually this X will show up if you eject a P2 card while that card is being recorded to or if the power goes off (battery dies or AC power goes out) while recording. The P2 system is prepared for such issues and automatically saves the recorded files every two seconds, so if an interruption does occur you will usually only lose a few frames (up to the last two seconds). However, if you see a red X, that clip is damaged beyond repair and should be deleted.
? – This indicator means that the system cannot recognize your clip. This might happen if Panasonic introduces a new format, and your existing camera was made before that format was created (for example, if you put a P2 card with an AVC-Intra clip into a AJ-SPX800 camcorder, the SPX800 wouldn't understand what the AVC-Intra clip was and would, therefore, display the? indicator). This doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong with your clip, just that your camcorder doesn't understand that clip (a more up-to-date camcorder probably would).
Can I use IEEE 1394 (Firewire) mode with AVC-Intra?
Not for live footage streaming; AVC-Intra is not supported over IEEE 1394 (Firewire) as a live data stream.
I heard that some P2 HD Camcorders have USB or 1394 host mode. What is it and how does it work? What's the difference between these two modes?
The Host Mode allows the P2HD camcorder (or P2HD field recorder such as the P2 Gear or P2 Mobile) to take direct control of an external hard disk. Using Host Mode, you can plug a hard disk directly into your camcorder (or field recorder) and format the hard disk and copy the contents of your P2 cards directly onto the hard disk, all without using a computer.
The AG-HVX200 and AG-HPX500 P2HD camcorder support 1394 Host Mode, and the AJ-HPX3000, AJ-HPX2000, AH-HPG10 P2 Gear and AJ-HPM100 P2 Mobile support USB Host Mode. In 1394 Host Mode, you need to connect to a 1394 ("firewire") hard disk, and you can then copy up to 15 cards onto the hard disk. 1394 Host Mode does not supply bus power, so you'll need a self-powered hard disk.
USB Host Mode provides even more capability. With USB Host Mode, the P2 HD camcorders (HPX2000 or HPX3000) or field recorder can supply bus power to power the hard disk. You can copy up to 23 cards onto the hard drive, assign individual names, partition the drive and review thumbnails.
Does P2 HD support proxies?
Yes, the P2 HD system supports the creation and management of proxy files in three bit rates -- 192Kbps, 768Kbps or 1.5Mbps. Proxy information is low-resolution A/V and time code that is recorded via the optional AJ-YAX800 MPEG4 encoder simultaneously with the high-resolution (DVCPROHD /50/25) that is being recorded to the same P2 card. Proxy video can be recorded to both the P2 card, as well as a separate SD memory card, which allows for quick movement of low-resolution files through internal and web-based networks for quick logging and viewing of dailies or footage before it arrives at the local station. Not all P2 HD camcorders can create or play proxy files; only cameras that can accept the optional AJ-YAX800G proxy card can create or play back proxy files. This includes all AJ-series P2HD camcorders, but doesn't include the AG-HVX200 or AG-HPX500.
What type of metadata files does P2 HD support? Can I customize this metadata for my application?
All P2 camcorders record video with some standard metadata fields, including individual camera type, camera serial number and unique user clip ID. In addition, P2 supports 30 user-definable metadata files, including shooter, reporter, location, scene, text memo and GPS coordinates.
The metadata can be uploaded to the camera after first being composed on the computer. This is done using the free P2 Viewer and P2CMS applications, as well as by the TEP-HD and P2 Log family of products from Imagine Software. The metadata is then saved onto an SD card and inserted into the camera where it can be uploaded into the camera using the metadata upload function under the Thumbnail menu. All P2 cameras allow for incrementing the User Clip Name if you have the camera under the Metadata Type 2 operation. This is also in the Metadata menu in the Thumbnail mode.
What is chromatic aberration compensation (CAC) and what does it do?
Chromatic aberration correction (CAC) can correct chromatic aberrations (color fringing) introduced by the lens optics. Chromatic aberrations are caused when the red, green and blue images do not match up exactly at all points in the image. A camera/lens pair, capable of CAC operation can introduce appropriate offsets to better match red, green and blue images, thus reducing or eliminating any color fringing. Chromatic aberrations are normally only observed at the extreme positions of focus and zoom, with the iris wide open.
CAC will only work when both the camera and lens support the feature. The camera needs to have an offset look-up table stored in memory, and the lens and camera must be able to communicate for CAC to operate properly. Select P2 HD camcorder, including the AG-HPX300, AG-HPX370, AG-HPX500, AJ-HPX3000, VariCam 2700 and VariCam 3700 support CAC, using compatible Canon and Fujinon EFP-style zoom lenses.
As more affordable HD lenses have been designed, CAC has been helpful in reducing chromatic aberrations, which tends to be the most objectionable potential flaw in more affordable lens designs. With CAC, the performance of lower cost lenses approaches that of the top-of-the-line models in terms of color fringing. With the unprecedented resolution of the AJ-HPX3000 and the VariCam 3700, chromatic aberrations can be observed that would not have been visible in earlier cameras (particularly after recording). CAC has shown an effective improvement to the performance of some of the best quality HD zoom lenses on the market. A full list of available CAC lenses can be viewed here.
Do all lenses support CAC?
No, CAC has to be specifically added to each particular lens. Canon and Fujinon each provide a family of CAC lenses, and you can expect that the number of lenses offered in CAC versions will grow.
A list of available CAC lenses can be viewed here.
Where do I go to get the update firmware or software drivers for my P2/P2 HD product?
Panasonic USA has a user-friendly "front end" website for finding the newest and most up-to-date driver software at _URL_
Working in Native Mode
What is 24pn mode?
24PN mode is a special space-saving recording mode designed specifically for use with P2 cards. There is absolutely no loss in quality when using 24PN mode; it's the exact same information, just stored in a more space-efficient way.
Normally, DVCPRO HD 720P is stored at 60 frames per second, and 24P footage is "embedded" in a 60P data stream using 2:3 pull-down. This is a time-tested technique for enabling a "film look" within a normal broadcast


Rhythm of breathing affects memory, fear
Breathing is not just for oxygen; it's also linked to brain function, behavior
Date:December 7, 2016
Source:Northwestern University
Summary:The rhythm of breathing creates electrical activity in the human brain that enhances emotional judgments and memory recall, scientists have discovered for the first time. These effects on behavior depend critically on whether you inhale or exhale and whether you breathe through the nose or mouth.
Leer Más


text:
How to set a computer's date and time
How to set a computer's date and time.
Below is a listing of different methods of how to change the computer's date and time in each of the major operating systems and through the CMOS setup.
Tip: If the computer loses or resets the time and date after it has been off the CMOS battery is bad and needs to be replaced.
The below steps will only allow you to adjust your time zone. If you want to customize your time further we suggest changing the steps from the Windows Desktop, which is the same steps contained in the below Windows Vista and 7 steps.
- From the Start Menu Charms click Settings or press Windows key + I
- In the Desktop settings click More PC settings.
- In PC settings click General
- Click on the Date and Time in the notification area. This is commonly the bottom right-hand corner of the screen (as shown below).
- In the Window that appears click Change date and time settings
- Right-click on the time in your Systray. This is commonly in the bottom right-hand of your screen.
- Click the Adjust Date/Time menu item.
- This will open the Date/Time Properties window. In this window you can adjust the time, date, and time zone. If you wish to change how the computer handles daylight savings, click the Time Zone tab and check or uncheck the 'Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes' option.
- Once the proper date and time has been set, click Apply and then Ok.
Tip: You may also double-click the time to open the Date/Time Properties window.
- Enter the CMOS setup.
- In the main or system setup screen you should be able to see the date and time. Using your arrow keys, navigate to the date and change the date. Once highlighted on the month, day, or year, press your arrow keys or your page up
or page down keys to change the date.
These steps may vary for your BIOS; additional help, information, and simulations can be found on the BIOS help page. You can also change the date and time by following the steps for your operating system below.
Setting the date through MS-DOS can be done by using the date command. Additional information and help with this command can be found on the date command page.
To adjust the time while in MS-DOS use the time command. Additional information about this command can be found on the time command page.
Use the date command to set the date and time. See the date command page for further information and examples of how to do this.
- Open the Apple Menu
- Open the Control Panels
- Open Date & Time
- Within the Date & Time window you will be able to set the date, time, time zone, and change the network time server.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


Archive for February, 2012
Counting and Solving Final Fantasy XIII-2's Clock Puzzles
February 6th, 2012
Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a role-playing game, released last week in North America, that contains an abundance of mini-games. One of the more interesting mini-games is the "clock puzzle", which presents the user with N integers arranged in a circle, with each integer being from 1 to \lfloor N/2 \rfloor.
A challenging late-game clock puzzle with N = 12
The way the game works is as follows:
To demonstrate the rules in action, consider the following simple example with N = 6 (I have labelled the six positions 05 in blue for easy reference):
If we start by choosing the 1 in position 1, then we have the option of choosing the 3 in either position 0 or 2. Let's choose the 3 in position 0. Three moves either clockwise or counter-clockwise from here both give the 1 in position 3, so that is our only possible next choice. We continue on in this way, going through the N = 6 positions in the order 103425, as in the following image:
We have now selected each position exactly once, so we are done – we solved the puzzle! In fact, this is the unique solution for the given puzzle.
Counting Clock Puzzles
Let's work on determining how many different clock puzzles there are of a given size. As mentioned earlier, a clock puzzle with N positions has an integer in the interval [1, \lfloor N/2 \rfloor] in each of the positions. There are thus \lfloor N/2 \rfloor^N distinct clock puzzles with N positions, which grows very quickly with N – its values for N = 1, 2, 3, … are given by the sequence 0, 1, 1, 16, 32, 729, 2187, 65536, 262144, … (A206344 in the OEIS).
However, this rather crude count of the number of clock puzzles ignores the fact that some clock puzzles have no solution. To illustrate this fact, we present the following simple proposition:
Proposition. There are unsolvable clock puzzles with N positions if and only if N = 4 or N ≥ 6.
To prove this proposition, first note that the clock puzzles for N = 2 or N = 3 are trivially solvable, since each number in the puzzle is forced to be \lfloor N/2 \rfloor = 1. The 32 clock puzzles in the N = 5 case can all easily be shown to be solvable via computer brute force (does anyone have a simple or elegant argument for this case?).
In the N = 4 case, exactly 3 of the 16 clock puzzles are unsolvable:
To complete the proof, it suffices to demonstrate an unsolvable clock puzzle for each N ≥ 6. To this end, we begin by considering the following clock puzzle in the N = 6 case:
The above puzzle is unsolvable because the only way to reach position 0 is to select it first, but from there only one of positions 2 or 4 can be reached – not both. This example generalizes in a straightforward manner to any N ≥ 6 simply by adding more 1's to the bottom: it will still be necessary to choose position 0 first, and then it is impossible to reach both position 2 and position N-2 from there.
There doesn't seem to be an elegant way to count the number of solvable clock puzzles with N positions (which is most likely related to the apparent difficulty of solving these puzzles, which will be discussed in the next section), so let's count the number of solvable clock puzzles via brute force. Simply constructing each of the \lfloor N/2 \rfloor^N clock puzzles and determining which of them are solvable (via the MATLAB script linked at the end of this post) shows that the number of solvable clock puzzles for N = 1, 2, 3, … is given by the sequence 0, 1, 1, 13, 32, 507, 1998, 33136, 193995, … (A206345 in the OEIS).
This count of puzzles is perhaps still unsatisfying, though, since it counts puzzles that are simply mirror images or rotations of each other multiple times. Again, there doesn't seem to be an elegant counting argument for enumerating the solvable clock puzzles up to rotation and reflection, so we compute this sequence by brute force: 0, 1, 1, 4, 8, 72, 236, 3665, 19037, … (A206346 in the OEIS).
Solving Clock Puzzles
Clock puzzles are one of the most challenging parts of Final Fantasy XIII-2, and with good reason: they are a well-studied graph theory problem in disguise. We can consider each clock puzzle with N positions as a directed graph with N vertices. If position N contains the number M, then there is a directed edge going from vertex N to the vertices M positions clockwise and counter-clockwise from it. In other words, we consider a clock puzzle as a directed graph on N vertices, where the directed edges describe the valid moves around the circle.
The directed graph corresponding to the earlier (solvable) N = 6 example
The problem of solving a clock puzzle is then exactly the problem of finding a directed Hamiltonian path on the associated graph. Because finding a directed Hamiltonian path in general is NP-hard, this seems to suggest that solving clock puzzles might be as well. There of course is the problem that the directed graphs relevant to this problem have very special structure – in particular, every vertex has outdegree ≤ 2, and the graph has a symmetry property that results from clockwise/counter-clockwise movement allowed in the clock puzzles.
The main result of [1] shows that the fact that the outdegree of each vertex is no larger than 2 is no real help: finding directed Hamiltonian paths is still NP-hard given such a promise. However, the symmetry condition seems more difficult to characterize in graph theoretic terms, and could potentially be exploited to produce a fast algorithm for solving these puzzles.
Regardless of the problem's computational complexity, the puzzles found in the game are quite small (N ≤ 13), so they can be easily solved by brute force. Attached is a MATLAB script (solve_clock.m) that can be used to solve clock puzzles. The first input argument is a vector containing the numeric values in each of the positions, starting from the top and reading clockwise. By default, only one solution is computed. To compute all solutions, set the second (optional) input argument to 1.
The output of the script is either a vector of positions (labelled 0 through N-1, with 0 referring to the top position, 1 referring to one position clockwise from there, and so on) describing an order in which you can visit the positions to solve the puzzle, or 0 if there is no solution.
For example, the script can be used to find our solution to the N = 6 example provided earlier:
>> solve_clock([3,1,3,1,2,3])
ans =
 1 0 3 4 2 5
Similarly, the script can be used to find all four solutions [Update, October 1, 2013: Whoops, there are six solutions! See the comments.] to the puzzle in the screenshot at the very top of this post:
>> solve_clock([6,5,1,4,2,1,6,4,2,1,5,2], 1)
ans =
 3 7 11 9 10 5 4 2 1 8 6 0
 7 3 11 9 10 5 4 2 1 8 6 0
 9 10 5 4 2 3 7 11 1 8 6 0
 9 8 10 5 4 2 3 7 11 1 6 0
 1. J. Plesnik. The NP-completeness of the Hamiltonian cycle problem in planar digraphs with degree bound two. Inform. Process. Lett., 8:199–201, 1979.


text:
Discuss the primary standard from the IMA statement of Ethical Professional Practice that was violated in this scenario
IMA statement of Ethical Professional Practice
Cost Management Systems ABC Costing Discussion 200-300 words
Read the following scenario and then thoughtfully discuss the questions.
Calvin Cabello is a new production analyst at Red Duv Aviation, in the division of the company that manufactures three parts used in small airplane engines. One of his first jobs is to update the predetermined overhead allocation rates for factory production costs. Normally this is done once a year. The production analyst takes into consideration the previous year's actual data along with projected changes and calculates a new rate. Calvin completed his calculations but was confused by what he found. He noticed the activity rate for "maintenance" had almost doubled in one year. Confused by this, he spoke with the factory manager, Priscilla Posey, who proceeded to tell him to just spread the costs out over the other activities. Calvin knew this wasn't right, but had been newly hired and really needed to keep his job. Later that week while at the local pub, after work, Calvin overheard some employees that worked at Red Duv talking about making extra money on the weekends helping Priscilla restore an old airplane. It occurred to Calvin that the reason the maintenance activity rate was so high, was because Priscilla had been using factory labor, tools, and supplies to have her personal airplane restored.
-Besides finding irregularities, such as the case of the unusual increase in this situation, discuss other ways that ABC cost data can be useful for manufacturing companies.
-Discuss the primary standard from the IMA statement of Ethical Professional Practice that Priscilla violated in this scenario.
-Would Priscilla have been able to do this if Traditional Costing methods had been used?
-What would you recommend Calvin do?


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Research shows that the learning process is enhanced when the students can attach an emotion to the subject-matter that they are being exposed to. I suppose it is a process similar to the one of remembering a film: I recall very well the story of "About Time" because it made me both laugh and cry; and I also remember "Godzilla" because it was so boring that I left the cinema before it had ended. Music also serves to trigger an emotional attachment and is useful for enhancing learning in the international law classroom.
Triggering emotions is an arduous task for the international law teacher since, more often than not, the content of some subjects entails providing a fair amount of objective information and analysis. For example, I find the Law of the Sea to be, ironically, a very dry field to teach. The intricacies of the Law of the Sea are very interesting, and this field is constantly on demand: many cases dealt with by the International Court of Justice have to do with maritime boundaries disputes, and the South Sea China issue is far from nearing an end. I therefore insist in keeping this subject in the syllabus but, when it comes to dealing with the delimitation of maritime zones in the classroom, there is not much that one can do to make memorable the fact that the territorial sea may range from 3 to 12 nautical miles.
In The Law of the Sea or any other topic that I teach, I begin each lecture by playing a clip with a song which content is related to the subject, even if loosely.
Students know when to start paying attention
When I play the music video (I normally use youtube), they notice I have arrived and, when the clip is over, they know the break is over. This does away with having to place myself in the middle of the class and clear my throat loudly to send the signal.
It lifts their mood
Frequently I will see that some students are singing along, moving a little bit in their seat or on the stairs. Once they know that this is something I do prior to my lectures, they are expectant and curious from the moment I set foot in the classroom.
They will remember the exact rule the song refers to in the future
For example, the customary international rule governing the right of State to self-defense is called "Caroline". There are plenty of songs with that name, this year I have gone for "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond.
The song works as a memory trigger
I have always been amazed at the fact that students cannot remember the content of the lecture the day after. They are not to blame: they tend to sit for hours in lectures where their role is mostly passive. However, if I ask them the day after about the song, they do remember it and that song allows them to access and activate information about the lecture, even if superficially.
Finding a song related to the topic is not always easy
I am not always able to find the right one, but this should not be an obstacle. For example, in an introductory workshop, as many other law teachers, I need to deal with "What is Law"? I have been using for three years the clip "What is love" by Haddaway due to the phonetical resemblance. Year 3 students still remember that first class: it's never a bad idea to welcome Year 1 students with some 80s dance moves and a laugh.
Songs may contain foul language and inappropriate content
Once I did not check the lyrics of one song and I realized in an Aula crowded with more than 200 students that the song was highly inappropriate. It was "Caroline" by Outkast, hence my switch to the "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond.
Youtube has ads
A small nuisance but the ads are targeted and, as a woman in my 30s, I get a lot of "clearblue pregnancy test" and "pamper nappies" ads which are, in my view, wrong to receive as such even on an individual basis because it is gender and age profiling, and infuriating when this happens in front of a crowd where my gender and age do not have to matter.
They may "over-remember"
For example, I play "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones in the class where I explain State Responsibility and the different forms of reparation (viz. compensation, restitution and satisfaction). When there is an exam question on this, the only form of reparation they remember is "satisfaction"; or when I ask what type of reparation would be appropriate in a case, they also go for "satisfaction". I have not been able to work out if they would not remember any form of reparation at all if I didn't play the song, or the song is counterproductive because it overemphasizes one form of reparation to the detriment of the others.
Some students do not like it
Out of 350+ students, very few do not like music being played before class. Some others would not like the particular song chosen for that class. I don't think this is a reason to discard this technique given that triggering negative emotions will also attain the goal of making them remember and learn.
By the way, my Law of the Sea lecture begins with "Can't Stop" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, and I connect this to the explanation of the right of "hot pursuit", for those who know what this right entails, in this case both the song and the group are chosen on purpose.
I hope this could be of use for other teachers. At least, it is worth a try if it goes with your personality. There is a more serious approach to the music technique: just play classical music. It is soothing and inspiring. I observed this technique when I was working as a teaching assistant in the School of Political Science at the University of Queensland (Australia). The lecturer who used this technique, and on which my own is inspired, was very highly rated in the students' evaluations. He was a great lecturer, and playing music just added value to his talent.


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Breeding snails in captivity is not an exact science to say the least and at the moment has a lot more to do with luck than anything an owner can control. Understanding the process can only be a good thing, so this part of the care guide will attempt to shed some light on snail breeding from mating to egg rearing, including other issues that may be of importance to someone interested in breeding snails.
The Mating Process
When preparing to mate, snails often go through what may be described as a mating ritual which can involve playful biting and rearing up to one another. One of the most distinct examples of this is Helix pomatia, which rear up as if they are fighting and act as though they are kissing. This can go on for a number of hours. More often than not it is one stimulated snail trying to get another interested and it is not uncommon to see one snail wandering around with its penis hanging out of the genital aperture looking for another snail who is interested in mating.
"We have not yet observed the whole sequence of events in the mating behaviour of Archachatina. Pre-copulatory exploration of one snail by another and excitement (swelling of genital papilla and rapid dorsal body waves) have frequently been observed, normally subsiding when the prospective partner shows no response." 1
Helix aspersa mating
Some species actually inject a calcified dart into the other snail to stimulate copulation. This "love" dart has been shown to actually increase the chance of success by effectively injecting a chemical which retards the sperm-resisting abilities of the receiving female reproductive organ. It has no doubt evolved as part of a sexual arms race. You may see this occurring but it's nothing to worry about. You may also find the darts themselves.
"In a paper that caught the attention of the popular press, Rogers and Chase (McGill University, Montreal) report that a component in the mucus coating the love dart of Helix closes off the partners copulatory bursa which digests foreign sperm, and as a result darted snails retain more of the partners sperm (Behav. Ecol. & Sociobiol. 50, 122-127)." 2
Mating can last from a few minutes to possibly many hours, with owners awaking to them still mating. Whether this is the same coupling or a subsequent one has yet to be determined, though the former is more likely.
"Although the act of intromission has not been seen, snails have been found in coitus. The following description applies to two animals found in this condition one morning. The heads and cervical regions of both snails were much distended, the thick penes (5-8 mm. diameter) having a heavily papillated appearance... Both penes curved round the head of the supine snail to the head of the dorsal snail, the exposed portions being 5-6 cm. in length. Each penis made one slow turn round the other, entering it's partner's genital aperture posterior to the emergent penis. Slow peristaltic waves passed outwards along each penis. A mass of greenish jelly surrounded each genital aperture, extending some distance along each penis, and both snails were busily ingesting this material.
After about 10 minutes the penis of the upper snail (S2) was retracted from the genital aperture of the [lower snail] S1, followed about one minute later by that of S1. The action was a slow pulling apart, followed by a sudden emergence. At this stage the apparent terminal part of the penis was broad and papillated. Each penis was estimated to have had an extended length of 12-14 cm.
Mead (1950) after describing populations of Achatina fulica, stated that he inspected the vas deferens of one of them, finding several white sperm masses but no evidence of spermatophore formation. On the other hand, twice when dissecting fresh Archachatina, we found a structure in the large hermaphrodite duct that we are compelled to suppose was a spermatophore." 1.
|Click pictures above to see large versions. Pictures courtesy of Sarah Fowler|
Gestation & Laying
Snail eggs can be hard-shelled or quite soft and squidgy and differs from genus to genus. In either case, the eggs resemble tiny chicken eggs in shape but contain no yolk.
Snails often hold the eggs inside a special membrane, visible through their pneumostome as shown opposite. In ideal circumstances they don't hold them for very long, laying them when they consider the environmental conditions to be suitable. It is worth noting that it is this ability to retain the eggs that is likely to be responsible for the 24-48 hour hatching times we sometimes experience. It is not that they use any body heat to incubate them, rather they have escaped notice of the owner and so appear to have an abnormally short development time.
Some species like Achatina iredalei actually retain eggs until they are fully hatched. This is known as viviparity and snails that do this are called viviparous as oppose to ovoviviparous which is the egg-laying norm. It has been observed that baby snails born of this method sometimes have slightly dented shells, no doubt caused by the stress of birth.
Some species, such as Achatina zebra actually have the ability to do both, so they can still produce eggs when environmental conditions aren't quite right.
Snails usually form an egg chamber in the soil and then proceed to fill the chamber with eggs. This can sometimes be completed throughout the course of a few nights, with one night dedicated to creating the chamber, with the laying commencing the following night.
"Snails about to form an egg chamber tend to enter the soil with the left side of the shell adjacent to, and the head and foot parallel to, the wall of the vivarium. Thus, since the shell sits eccentrically on the body of the animal, the columellar axis of the shell has an angle of approximately 15° to the wall. With the head retracted the snail forces the lip of the shell into the soil, raising an arc-like mound of thelatter over the body whorl as it penetrates more deeply, the shell thus behaving rather as a plough-share. The depth of the burrow varies with the size of the snail. As a rule it may be 4-6 inches below the surface at the shell lip, the soil at this stage normally covering the shell. The snail constructs a smooth-walled chamber of oval outline that is usually no more than ½ inch from the wall of the vivarium and deposits its eggs in a group only the peripheral members of which are in contact with the soil.
The rate of oviposition can be quite high. It has been observed to completion several times in snails apparently compelled to lay their eggs on the surface. In these conditions it may take from 30 minutes to 2 hours. One snail was observed to lay 6 eggs in 30 minutes. The time from the appearance of the egg in the genital aperture to the final extrusion was approximately 1 minute: 4 minutes later the next egg appeared. The last egg was slower to appear, the total time between its extrusion and that of the penultimate egg being 8 minutes. The head of the snail just protruded from its shell, there was a period of small movements, with contraction waves over the head and with tentacles extending and invaginating. Then the right posterior and anterior tentacles were extended, a bulge in the head grew larger, the genital aperture gaped below and behind the buccal bulge (apparently the buccal mass) and the tip of the egg appeared. The latter was now seen to be causing a more posterior swelling of the head beneath the shell. The was a pause of about 30 seconds, the egg was then forced from the genital aperture which shrank behind it and, simultaneously, the right tentacles were swiftly invaginated." 1.
Picture Courtesy of Liselott Aronsson
No. Days after Oviposition
Hatching & Early Life
Picture Courtesy of Liselott Aronsson Lignus intertinctus hatching
Picture Courtesy of Lorna Mae Wyatt
The eggs will start to hatch from 24 hours onwards in some species but it is genus and possibly species dependent, with additional factors of how long they have been stored internally and the ambient and soil temperature. Eggs do not necessarily hatch uniformly and this is more noticeable in species that have a long gestation period (perhaps 4 weeks). The first (usually an uppermost member) to hatch can be 10 days or more in front of the main group, with some taking noticeably longer.
"The late embryo, having ingested the albumen, continues to rasp at the egg shell, eroding this and weakening the wall. Occasionally a hole can be seen in the egg shell just before the occupant hatches. At this stage, pressure and movement by the embryo cause the egg to split. The embryo continues to rasp the shell, breaking it down and ingesting remarkably large pieces. Examination of the oesophagus of such a baby snail shows this to be distended by relatively huge pieces of shell. At this stage the early hatched animal is a danger to its siblings.
..The ingestion of the egg shell appears to be an important element in the development of the young snail and our records suggest that removal of the egg shell delays early growth. This may not be due only to the need for calcium carbonate because natural chalk us usually present in the propag


Last updated on March 16, 2014 at 21:20 EDT
Kerguelen Island South Indian Ocean
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Kerguelen Island, South Indian Ocean
May 9, 2011
On April 25, 2011 the clouds parted over the South Indian Ocean to reveal Kerguelen Island's tan and green-tinged landscape. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured this true-color image on the same day.
Kerguelen is the largest of about 300 islands, islets and reefs in the Kerguelen Archipelago, a sub-antarctic chain of islands of volcanic origin located about 3,300 miles (5,310 km) from the southern tip of Africa. It has also often been called Desolation Island for the barren, uninhabited landscape. Today there is a small scientific settlement at Port-aux-Francais which harbors visiting scientists. This site sits in the northeast, in a sheltered bay, but is not visible in this image.
The island was named after Yves de Kerguelen-Tremarec, a Breton Captain sent by King Louis XV of France in the late 1700's to search for a massive southern continent that was believed to exist as a â€œbalanceâ€ the continents of the northern hemisphere. The Captain himself never set foot on the land, although one of his company did ultimately plant a flag, claiming the archipelago for France.
Kerguelen's coastline is highly irregular and is marked by fjords and large peninsulas. Inland, the terrain is rugged and rocky, with numerous ridges and valleys and, on the highest elevations, glaciers are found. The highest point of the island is Mount Ross, at 6,068 feet (1850 meters). It can be seen in the south of the island, and is marked by a white glaciated cap. To the northwest of Mount Ross, the large white circle marks Cook Glacier.
The primary color of the island is tan, not because the land is dry, but because it is very rocky. Water is abundant, with precipitation falling on average of 300 days a year. Vegetative growth is limited by the rocky land as well as the constant, biting winds. The primary vegetation consists of tussock grass (Poa cooki), mosses, and the Kerguelen cabbage (Pringlea antiscorbutica). The cabbage served as a life-saving source of Vitamin C for early explorers and it has drawn attention for its unique style of cross pollination which relies solely on the island's winds, because no insects exist on the island.


Community Education
Employee Training
The Human Performance Laboratory routinely helps local employers in their efforts to educate and encourage employees to make choices that will lead to healthier lifestyles. The topics of previous on-site training sessions include:
 1. Lower back exercises
 2. Safe lifting techniques
 3. Increasing one's physical activity level
 4. Blood pressure screening
 5. Assessment of body composition
 6. Home exercise programs
Some of the institutions at which on-site training sessions have been conducted include:
 1. St. Cloud State University
 2. Nahan Printing
 3. Electrolux
 4. Creative Memories
 5. District 742 Schools
 6. Health Partners of Central MN
Please contact us if you would like to schedule a training session.
Untitled Document


What makes someone find the concept of ghunghat appreciable?
If somebody says they find the concept of ghunghat worthy of being 'appreciated' what is it that they are finding appreciable? How does a ghunghat make the wearer worthy of being complimented? What changes?
From what I understand, ghunghat is practiced in most of North Indian states. It involves covering of the face, (only by women) with the end of their sari/dupatta. Ghunghat is observed when married Indian women are in their sasural (in laws' home, village or even city), and also in presence of the in laws, anywhere, like if they visit the woman's parental home or village (maika).
Not observing ghunghat maybe seen as being disrespectful and shameless.
Indian menFrequently, women who observe ghunghat are required to keep their head and face covered in all weather conditions, including while cooking on chulha at 44 degrees Celsius (if there are men around). Also, while traveling, working in fields or during family functions.
DSC_0892Generally women in ghunghat do not sit when those who are considered higher in sasural hierarchy are around, they may not join family discussions; they generally may not talk, sing or laugh in loud voices or do anything to draw 'undue attention' to themselves when men or family elders are around. It is considered disrespectful for women (bahu or daughter in law) to address older men directly – obviously they may not look someone in the eye when they do say something, which they generally may not.
Ghunghat is also given as the reason for denying education or work opportunities to married Indian women. It's 'in tune with the Indian tradition'.
How do women who observe ghunghat benefit from it?
They become, amongst other things, a good example for other women.
"Look at her. She is an MLA and always wears a ghunghat. She is a regular in the assembly and yet none of us have ever seen her full face."
What is appreciable about someone's face not having been seen by others?
Do all the women who observe ghunghat have a choice?
In comparatively modern homes, ghunghat is followed in more liberal forms, some families let women cover only the head (not the face), some married Indian women are expected to wear sari but are allowed leave their heads and faces uncovered.
If a woman is in ghunghat then it is likely that she is also wearing bichia, sindoor and bangles; and generally following other rules meant specifically for daughters in law to observe in their sasural.
Many urban married Indian women are not forced to wear sari, sindoor, mangalsutra, or observe ghunghat (etc). Looking unmarried or living without the restrictions faced by traditional daughters in law does not earn misogynists' compliments, but it does seem to elicit reactions like this, 'When married Indian women strive to look unmarried'.
Some MP lawmakers appreciate women in 'ghunghat'
"When I was newly married, I used to wear ghunghat which was more than a feet long over my face," she said. Deputy Speaker Harvansh Singh, who was in the chair, observed: "That must be appreciated. The concept of ghunghat for women is in tune with the Indian tradition."
Minister for legislative affairs Narottam Mishra also praised women who wear 'ghunghat'. The deputy speaker then pointed at MLA from Gadarwara in Narsingpur district, Sadhna Sthapak, and said: "Look at her. She is an MLA and always wears a ghunghat. She is a regular in the assembly and yet none of us have ever seen her full face."
As Harvansh Singh praised her, Sadhna got up from her seat and bowed graciously to accept the 'compliment'.
Related Posts:
Ditched the dupatta, chucked the chunni – Starry eyed
"Lets keep our pretty saris to times when we just have to eat, pray, and love, cause we are tomorrows' MILs."
Sindoor, Tali and Mangalsutra.
When married Indian women strive to look unmarried.
The Modern Sari: Some Facts and a Question.
A Sari to make you a Respectable Indian Teacher.
Can't end marriage over sari 😉
"I seem to have a lot of similarities with the villainous daughters in law of India's favourite serials."
109 thoughts on "What makes someone find the concept of ghunghat appreciable?
 1. I don't get the point of covering one's face when one's arms and midriff region are bare. The abaya with niqab makes more sense than a sari with a ghunghat.
 I do think clothing should be a matter of personal choice (and I understand that a lot of these women do not have the choice of not choosing to wear one). A lot of women in the US/ Canada get flak for choosing to wear a hijab (etc) and I don't think that's fair either.
 This reminds me of my dad's sister. She was really young when she got married (arranged) and she was going to university. Her MIL told her that she had to wear a sari now that she was married. She said 'okay' and wore a sari out of the house, but stopped by the nearest restaurant to change into whatever she pleased and continued with the day. Everybody, including my uncle, thought it was hilarious.
 - It's tragic actually. I used to wear only Indian clothes, and go change into jeans in the car when going out with my husband in the first year of our marriage. He travelled a lot, and I used to go join him on his trips just to be able to wear what I wanted for a couple of days in another city.
 - She doesn't look at that time as tragic at all! When she told me about it, she rolled her eyes and said that her MIL was very old and possibly senile, so arguing with her would have been pointless. However, unlike you, she wasn't bound to the house–she could leave with her friends, etc. So she wasn't trapped unless her husband took her out or something.I think she made the best of her situation. It's not like my uncle (her husband) was advising her on what she could not wear.
 I do think people should have a choice though–so if a person chooses to wear a niquab or a ghunghat, I'm okay with that unless they're driving (an activity that requires peripheral vision) and risking other people's lives.
 - I totally agree. Not having the freedom to decide what one wants to wear – I can't imagine that happening to me, ever! It is not a small thing, as people who are torch bearers of patriarchy condition their daughters to believe.
 2. Some say that ghungat helps male members of the in laws family to control their libido on seeing the female face….and in case the are unable they can squarely blame woman not taking care of ghungat….
 - I think the more obvious reason is that having to cover oneself changes one's self-perception in important ways. Its harder to claim your humanity when you're shrouded from head to toe.
 Veiled women are easier to control because they're psychologically easy to manipulate.
 All attempts to break the human spirit begin with the imposition of strict rules on attire and appearance. They suppress individuality.
 Prison populations would be harder to control if prisoners were allowed to dress as they please.
 The same applies to the veiling of women.
 - Well said biwo, excellent comment, gunghat/burqa/hijab etc etc all in name of so called culture/tradition is simply means to keep women in control and strip her of her humanity. Loved the prison analogy, all these rules in name "oh so great culture" are nothing but a prison for women taking away her freedom and dignity.
 - Biwo, you summarized it well. A faceless human being can easily lead to a voice-less, identity-less being. I find it to be a very humiliating custom, and it succeeds in making these women invisible, in every sense.
 Yes, like some regressive prisons, we can do away with names, assign numbers.
 - "Its harder to claim your humanity when you're shrouded from head to toe. "
 Biwo…I think it extends to that famous item of clothing most of us wear (and which I have almost entirely removed from my wardrobe now)…the dupatta. I have been wanting to write a post on it. Utterly superfluous piece of clothing…I only wear it now if it adds to the elegance of the dress.
 - A friend's friend once famously said, "I'd shoot the person who invented the dupatta!" And I agree wholeheartedly. Waiting for your post _USER_
 - Haha Stars, the dupatta has its uses. I've just returned from a team lunch and had to trudge in the hot sun back from the parking lot. My dupatta was a lifesaver today. I agree about its superflousness otherwise.
 Its just that men stare at breasts so much here in Bangalore. Sometimes its comforting to not be ogled at because you're all covered in the chest


An earthquake of 4.2 preliminary magnitudes was recorded on Saturday Night by the US Geological Survey, in Oklahoma.
The earthquake was recorded by the US Geological Survey (USGS) around 10:15 pm, with the epicenter being only 5 miles northwest of Perry. This is the largest Oklahoma earthquake recorded by USGS, since the one that occurred on May 17, 2019. The previous earthquake was of 4.4 magnitudes, with its epicenter being near Medford.
The earthquake that occurred on Saturday night, could be felt throughout the state. The earthquake was felt in parts of Tulsa, as protesters filled the city's downtown streets after President Donald Trump's campaign rally. One viewer in Norman mentioned that her apartment "shook pretty hard". There were reports stating that citizens felt the quake in Ponca City, Stillwater, and Oklahoma City. USGS located the depth of the quake to be 7.9 kilometers.
Several earthquakes have been noted in Oklahoma, in recent years. This being the largest since the one in 2019. Reports have linked these earthquakes to the event of underground injection of wastewater, from gas and oil production. Many producers have also been directed to close some injection wells to reduce the tremors sent by the Earth.
The recent earthquake is also believed to be a part of the 2009-2019 Oklahoma earthquake swarms. This includes a series of human activity-induced earthquakes affecting parts of central Oklahoma, northern Texas, and southern Kansas.


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Polygonal Fractures on Tycho Ejecta Deposits
December 7, 2012
Tycho is a young and prominent rayed crater on the lunar nearside. During the impact that formed Tycho crater a large mass of impact melt was thrown out on its north side that resulted in a series of beautiful flow patterns. The melt ponded in several topographic lows, and as they cooled their upper crusts fractured, often in polygonal patterns. Today's featured image shows a set of crisply preserved polygonal fractures. Small chains of pit chains are also seen in conjunction with the fractures. Are these pits nascent fractures that never fully developed? Or perhaps partially collapsed tubes that melt flowed through? If the latter, might there be open passages that astronauts could venture into and explore? LROC WAC 100m/pixel mosaic around Tycho crater over-lain by WAC color coded DTM 500m/pixel (DLR, Germany). Image center is 43.3°S latitude, 348.6°W longitude. Blue box and yellow star indicate the locations of today's full Featured Image [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].


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Phthalates Action Plan Summary
- What chemicals are addressed in the Action Plan?
- Why is EPA concerned about these chemicals?
- What action is EPA taking?
What chemicals are addressed in the Action Plan?
Eight chemicals are included: dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-n-pentyl phthalate (DnPP), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP). Phthalates are high production volume chemicals used primarily as plasticizers in polyvinylchloride (PVC) products.
Why is EPA concerned about these chemicals?
EPA is concerned about phthalates because of their toxicity and the evidence of pervasive human and environmental exposure to these chemicals.
Phthalates are used in many industrial and consumer products, many of which pose potentially high exposure. Phthalates have been detected in food and also measured in humans.
Adverse effects on the development of the reproductive system in male laboratory animals are the most sensitive health outcomes from phthalate exposure. Several studies have shown associations between phthalate exposures and human health, although no causal link has been established. Recent scientific attention has focused on whether the cumulative effect of several phthalates may multiply the reproductive effects in the organism exposed.
What action is EPA taking?
On the basis of existing information, EPA included the the following actions in its Action Plan:
- EPA intends to initiate rulemaking in autumn 2010 to add these eight phthalates to the Concern List under TSCA section 5(b)(4) as chemicals that present or may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.
- EPA also intends to initiate rulemaking in late 2010 to add the six phthalates not already on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).
- In preparation for rulemaking in 2012 under TSCA section 6(a), EPA intends to cooperate with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to more fully assess the use, exposure and substitutes for these chemicals. EPA plans to consider the results of the cumulative assessment currently being developed and due to be completed by CPSC in 2012 pursuant to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), as well as the ongoing review of phthalates at FDA and the assessment for EPA's IRIS program, due to be completed in 2011. These assessments will inform EPA's decision on future action to address these chemicals. EPA's potential control measures may include a ban of all or several of these chemicals, as appropriate.
- EPA may consider pursuing additional rulemaking under TSCA section 5(a)(2) in late 2010 or early 2011 to require manufacturers and processors of DnPP to notify EPA before manufacturing or processing DnPP for a significant new use. The most recent Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) data contains no reports of this phthalate being produced or imported into the United States, and thus it is possible that any use of DnPP may be a significant new use.
- EPA intends to conduct a Design for the Environment and Green Chemistry alternatives assessment by 2012. The information developed could be used to encourage industry to move away from phthalates in a non-regulatory setting to expand risk management efforts beyond whatever regulatory action might be taken under TSCA, or it could be used as input to a regulatory action. The alternatives assessment would build upon existing knowledge and would consider exposures to all human subpopulations, including children, as well as environmental exposure.
- August 2011: EPA began the DfE alternatives assessment.
Download the complete Phthalates Action Plan (PDF), 16 pages, 80 KB, About PDF


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The Northwest Justice Forum will annually honor a person for lifetime achievements in restorative justice when those people are brought to our attention. Those recognized should be individuals who have made vital contributions of outstanding significance to the field of restorative of justice.
The award shall recognize individuals for outstanding contributions to restorative justice education, research,, and/or practice. The nominee has:
Made exemplary contributions to the understanding and application of restorative justice over an entire career with a definable body of work through one or more of the following:


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Sugar in the Blood: A Family's Story of Slavery and Empire by Andrea Stuart – review
An absorbing but uneven family memoir taking in both sides of the Barbadian slave trade and its legacy — (_URL_ review)
Modern Britain was built on sugar; there is hardly a manufacturing town on these shores that was not in some way connected with the "Africa trade". The glittering prosperity of slave ports such as Bristol and Liverpool was derived in large part from commerce with Africa.
In the heyday of the British slave trade, from 1700 to 1808, West Indians (as white sugar barons were then known) became conspicuous by their new wealth. Often they cast Barbados or Jamaica aside like a sucked orange in order to fritter their profits in England. A popular melodrama of 1771, Richard Cumberland's The West Indian, satirised planters as drunken layabouts in ostentatiously buckled shoes and hats. Continue reading


more innocent problems, we can say that your dog will also have some cavities. Or he will start to produce much more saliva than he needs, resulting in an unwanted mess all around the house.
What to Do if Your Dog is Throwing Up After Eating Gummy Bears?
Vomiting is a very common reaction that can be caused by any food. However, if your dog is vomiting specifically after eating gummy bears, he might be suffering from xylitol poisoning. Call or contact your vet immediately to seek further help.
Make sure to check the package of the gummy bears to see if it really has xylitol in it, because your vet will probably ask about it. It is a serious situation but make sure that you remain calm and keep it under control.
Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Gummy Bears?
Based on research about the effects of xylitol on dogs, we can confidently say that this substance is very toxic for dogs. The breed of the dog will not matter and he will get affected. That is why xylitol should be avoided and not offered to dogs. Unfortunately, gummy bears have lots of this chemical them.
Even the tiniest bit of xylitol can give your furry friend hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.
If he is getting gummy bears by himself or someone is giving him this dangerous food, you should immediately stop it and go to a vet. If your child is unknowingly feeding him gummy bears, make sure that you make them know dogs are not allowed to eat sweets.
Can Dogs Eat Guava?
Guava is a lesser-known fruit that is cultivated in tropical places. Although it is believed to originated in an area extending from southern Mexico into or through Central America, the origin of it is not known certainly. But if there is one thing that we're sure about it is that it is delicious and nutritious. But what about dogs? Can dogs eat guava?
The short answer to that question is yes, dogs can eat guava in moderate amounts. Because guava is very nutritious and contains beneficial vitamins and minerals. But it is also a fruit, so, it contains a high amount of carbohydrates and sugar. So, you should just feed it as a treat.
First, let's look at the nutritional value of the guava talk about its potential benefits and harms to dogs.
Nutritional Value
Vitamin C
You might be surprised to hear that guava contains four times more vitamin C than an orange. So, it would be true to say that it is filled with vitamin C. That is essential since vitamin C is a very beneficial vitamin.
Because it has antioxidant properties and it is very successful at combatting harmful molecules called free radicals. That plays a vital role in your dog's system because free radicals are the number one cause of cancer in humans and dogs.
Other than that, vitamin C can be beneficial to your dog in the sense that it boosts the immune system.
Vitamin A and K
Guava contains moderate amounts of vitamin A and K. Both are very important for a healthy metabolism.
Vitamin K's primary function is regulating the blood clots, and vitamin A generate new blood cell growth.
Other than that, vitamin A is good for good eye health, and vitamin K promotes bone health.
Fiber is a mineral naturally found in vegetables and some fruits. Guava contains a good amount of fiber. Although dogs don't need to have a diet with high amounts of fiber, it can be beneficial for dogs that have digestive issues.
Potassium is a mineral found in high amounts in banana, but it is also found in normal amounts in guava. Potassium is essential for bone and teeth health. So, your pooch should have a diet with high levels of potassium. Potassium deficiency can cause stunt growth in puppies.
Magnesium is another essential mineral found in guava. Magnesium is a natural relaxant that can be very beneficial for dogs that have muscles issues such as arthritis. Because magnesium provides soothing comfort on the sore muscles and joints.
Although it is not in high amounts, guava also contains sodium. Sodium can be very helpful for regulating blood pressure. But you should be mindful of the amounts that you're feeding it to your tail-wagger.
Because in high amounts, it can worsen the symptoms of some diseases by raising the blood pressure, and that is especially true for senior dogs.
Is Guava Good for Dogs?
Guava is one of the most nutritious fruits in the world. It has various benefits for humans, and it can also be beneficial for dogs.
The fact that it contains high levels of vitamin C makes this fruit a good choice if your dog has a weak immune system.
Other than that, it contains very beneficial vitamins that should be included in your dog's diet.
But the crucial part is the fiber content, in our opinion. Because fiber can be beneficial for dogs that have digestive issues such as diarrhea and constipation.
Besides all the benefits we mentioned above, guava is also known to lower the blood sugar levels. That can be very beneficial if your dog has diabetes or a weight issue.
We talked about all the benefits of guava and let's also talk about its potential harms.
First, you should keep in mind that guava is a fruit and it contains high amounts of carbohydrates. It is essential to state that dogs don't need to consume carbohydrates to sustain their lives.
That doesn't mean that your dog can't benefit from carbohydrates. But there is a difference between healthy carbs and unhealthy carbohydrates. Healthy carbohydrates mostly come from vegetables and unhealthy carbohydrates found in commercial food and also grains.
It wouldn't be wrong to say that fruits stand between the two. Because even though it is natural, the carbohydrates come from the sugar in fruits. That is why you should never exceed the moderate amounts when feeding your pooch fruits, including guava.
Other than that, you should be careful about the seeds found guava. They are perfectly healthy and edible for humans, but that is not the case for dogs. Because the seeds in guava contain cyanide, which can be toxic to dogs.
But you should still watch out for the after-effects. The usual symptoms of cyanide poisoning include rapid and heavy breathing, itchy skin, dizziness, and other health abnormalities.
Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Guava?
All the benefits that we mentioned above clearly show that guava is not harmful to dogs in moderate amounts.
It can be even beneficial for some dogs that have a weak immune system or digestive issues.
But you should keep in mind that guava still contains a lot of fructose, which is a natural sugar. That is why you should only feed it as a treat. Because consuming too much sugar can cause diabetes and fat gain in dogs.
Other than that, you should remember not to ever feed the seeds to your tail-wagger. Because the seeds of guava contain cyanide, which can be toxic to dogs in high amounts.


text:
1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Heritable Jurisdictions
|←Herisau||1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 13
|See also Heritable jurisdictions on Wikipedia, and our 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica disclaimer.|
HERITABLE JURISDICTIONS, in the law of Scotland, grants of jurisdiction made to a man and his heirs. They were a usual accompaniment to feudal tenures, and the power which they conferred on great families, being recognized as a source of danger to the state, led to frequent attempts being made by statute to restrict them, both before and after the Union. They were all abolished in 1746.


Saint-Pierre and Miquelon Islands Atlantic Ocean
979 of 1114
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon Islands, Atlantic Ocean
January 17, 2006
This Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) image is centered over Saint-Pierre and Miquelon islands.
This territorial collectivity of France is located in the North Atlantic Ocean south of the coast of the Canadian island of Newfoundland. As can be seen in the image, a low, sandy isthmus divides Miquelon in Grande Miquelon to the north and Petite Miquelon to the south. Saint-Pierre Island is located to the lower right. The islands, mostly barren and rocky, are important for cod fishing. Some saltwater lagoons are seen in black color in the image bordered by barrier beaches.
Part of the island of Newfoundland is seen in the top of the image bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. The first use of the name Newfoundland was in an English registry in 1947, recording the discovery of Terra Nova or the "new found land". As can be seen in the image, its coastlines are highly irregular, with many bays, islands, and peninsulas like the Peninsula of Avalon (in the south east).
One particular interest of this image is the patterns observed over the sea surface. The area known as Grand Banks is lying off the southeastern coast of Newfoundland. It consists on several banks rising from the continental shelf with an extension of 560 km and a depth ranging from 40 to 180 m. This area is one of the world's leading fishing grounds, being a favorable environment for plankton due to the shallowness of the water plus the mingling of the cold Labrador Current, crossing most of the banks, and the warm Gulf Stream, flowing along the eastern part of the region. Some lee waves, a special case of atmospheric gravity waves, are seen in the right part of the image where the wave motion is forced over a terrain obstacle, the coastline with the wind in the north part and the banks with the ocean in the south part of the image. Some current fronts extending from north to south are also seen in the central bottom part of the image.
Technical Information:
 - Satellite: Envisat
 - Instrument: ASAR
 - Acquisition: 20-Dec-2003
 - Orbit nr: 09440
 - Center coordinates: lat. 46.64, lon. -54.87
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text:
samples.
As matter of fact, squeezing the metallic spherical shot particles on the surface results in a micro-plastic deformation on the surface. Therefore, there is portion of the surface area that is either peeled or squeezed, so that our prior results7 prove out this concept. Increasing the normal force causes a greater depth of indentation as well as "pile-up" height around the indentations.5,14In this research, in order to minimize the electrogalvanizing coating defects thru galling during texturing, a polymeric layer (low density polyethylene sheet) was used. The polymeric layer acts as a boundary lubrication system during surface texturing.15
According to the roughness test results, the coarse samples show a higher level of Ra than the fine samples, which accounts for deeper asperities, and in wider sense, a higher level of spikiness appears on surface. By theoretical calculation (Equation 3), indentation depth changes from 14.3 to 21.75 µm, while the empirical results show that Rmax of the textured sample with a 40 N normal force is about 5 µm more than the fine samples. Hence, there is little difference between the theoretical results and roughness test results. Rp for the coarse samples is generally larger than Rp for the fine ones. This is related to a much greater pile-up height so that it may cause a higher rate of work hardening.14 Controlling the rate of work hardening from texturing may also be studied as future work.
Theoretical calculation indicates that the compressive pressure during texturing is changed from 2.8 to 5.6 N/mm2 (406 to 812 psi), such that this pressure range could partially deform the substrate. Roughness test results at some points showed that the substrate had been deformed up to roughly 5 to 10 micron-meters (Equations 3 and 4). Meanwhile, the roughness values of the textured samples show similar results with the difference of only a slight increase of the core roughness depth Rk, the reduced peak high Rpk and the reduced valley depth Rvk from the fine to coarse samples after texturing was carried out. In comparing the roughness values of the coarse and fine textured samples, different wear results were detected during the Erichsen cup testing.8 From these roughness measurements, it can be said that an applied fine texturing can prevent excessive wear between die and sheet. Achieving the linear or nonlinear correlation between normal force and depth and diameters in the process may also be studied as future work.
Erichsen cup test analysis
Variations of the coefficient of friction can cause non-uniform stress distributions and, therefore, non-uniform local strain distributions. Sufficient uniform lubrication is essential for achieving maximum strains.1 As mentioned earlier, by simulative stretch forming testing, the interaction of texturing with the stretching process was evaluated. The results of the simulative tests indicate sophisticated friction conditions for different types of texturing and also for the different lubricants used.
Using an oil lubricant requires a lower punching load than when no lubricant is applied. This effect may be related to a change in the lubrication system from a boundary to mixed system. Comparing the stretch forming results for a specific cupping depth accounts for lower energy consumption for coarse samples while these figures increase by decreasing the depth of the asperities (Table 3). In other words, the force-displacement gradient is lower for the coarse samples than for the fine and non-textured samples.16 In regard to the Erichsen cup test results, using a solid lubricant leads to a more satisfactory lubricant system condition (Table 3). This is due to a higher viscosity and greater durability of the lubricant film.7
In Fig. 7, the quantity of Fmax for all samples is considered graphically. As can be seen, a functional variation is observed for the three groups of samples. The graph shows a similar variation for three types of lubricant used. The fine samples require a lower rate of Fmax in comparison with other ones, although using the oil lubricant causes the values to approach those of the coarse samples. The non-textured samples exhibit higher forces than for the fine or coarse samples in spite of a few fluctuations which may result from environmental effects. According to the results, the texturing process undoubtedly has a positive role in improving friction behavior during stretch forming. The differences among the fine and the coarse samples can result from the different effects of texturing.
Figure 7 - Erichsen cup test results, Fmax of samples.
Regarding Equation 1, if the depth is assumed to be the same for all samples, it can be clearly seen that by decreasing the rate of Fmax, the friction factor c is decreased. On the other hand, if the depths assumed are those obtained during the tests, the lower rate of c for both the fine and coarse samples can be again confirmed. Therefore, lower rate of c is related to a lower friction coefficient.1
Overall, the closed void areas improve the pressure delivery from die to sheet surface by increasing the hydrostatic condition.16,17 It improves the pressure delivery from the die to the sheet surface by increasing the hydrostatic conditions. In a wider sense, the normal force between the die and the sheet decreases, because of the increased area of the interface between the moving surfaces based on Coulomb's friction model.16,17
In this work, the interaction of surface texturing with the stretchability of electrogalvanized steel sheets during sheet metal forming was considered. Using texturing is effective in changing the lubricant system from a boundary to a mixed system during the stretch forming process. By these theoretical and experimental analyses, it has been shown that the artificially closed void areas are effective in improving the formability of textured electrogalvanized steel sheet during the stretch forming process by oil and grease lubricants in comparison with non-textured samples.
1. K. Lange, Handbook of Metal Forming, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Dearborn, MI, 1985; Ch. 20-21.
4. R. Ter Haar, "Friction in Sheet Metal Forming: The Influence of Local Contact Conditions and Deformation," Ph.D. dissertation, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands, 1996.
5. G. Stachowiak, Wear - Materials, Mechanisms and Practice, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., New York, NY, 2006; Ch. 4, 7.
6. K. Steinhoff, W. Rasp & O. Pawelski, J. Mat. Proc. Technol., 60 (1-4), 355 (1996).
7. E. Abbasi, M. Sabooni & M.R. Salmani, Proc. 4th International Conference on Tribology in Manufacturing Processes (ICTMP), Nice, France, CEMEF / Mines ParisTech, Sophia Antipolis, France, 2010; pp. 723-732.
8. Schuler GmbH, Metal Forming Handbook, Springer, New York, NY, 1998; pp. 156-188.
9. N.K. Myshkin, M.I. Petrokovets & A.V. Kovalev, in Applied Scanning Probe Methods III(B. Bhushan & H. Fuchs, Eds.), Springer Berlin-Heidelberg, Germany, 2006; pp. 299-326.
10. B. Bhushan, Modern Tribology Handbook, Volume 1: Principles of Tribology, CRC Press, Vol. 1, Boca Raton, FL, 2001; Ch. 2.
11. ASM Handbook, 9th Edition, Volume 8: Mechanical Testing, ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1989; pp. 547-571.
13. P.L. Menezes, Kishore & S.V. Kailas, J. Mat. Proc. Technol., 208 (1-3), 372 (2008).
14. Y. Kobayashi, K. Tosha, & S. Shimizu, Proc. 4th International Conference on Tribology in Manufacturing Processes (ICTMP), Nice, France, CEMEF / Mines ParisTech, Sophia Antipolis, France, 2010; pp. 239-248.
Erfan Abbasi holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Metallurgical Engineering from Islamic Azad University of Saveh Branch. He is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Sheffield (UK) in the field of Material Science and Engineering. Before coming to the UK, he worked in the Engineering Department of Bahman Motor Company (representative of Mazda in Iran). At that time, Erfan was also on the Islamic Azad University staff and is now an active member of the Young Researchers Club. He has studied the processing and corrosion of steels in automotive applications. Currently, he is working on advanced high strength steels.
Dr. Mohammadreza Salmani holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Metallurgy from the Faculty of Material Science and Engineering, Tehran University and a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Metallurgy from the School of Metallurgy, Birmingham University (UK). He is currently a member of the Academic Board of Islamic Azad University Saveh Branch. He is working on advanced high strength steels and the processing and corrosion of steels in automotive applications.
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text:
Notes on Cultural Competence
The key to international business negotiations with Thailand can be
summarized in one word: Patience.
-John Paul Fieg, A Common Core:
Thais and Americans.
Thais respect hierarchical relationships, as such rank is always respected and social relationships are
defined as one person being superior to the other (in terms of occupational status, age, family role,
gender, etc.) As such, parents are superior to their children, teachers to their students, and bosses to their
subordinates. The eldest person in the group is always revered.
Thais DO NOT normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms
together in a prayer-like gesture called a wai. Generally, a younger person wais an elder, who
returns it. Watch how the Thais do it, and you will soon learn.
Never return the gesture to children, wait staff, clerks, or other people of lower rank. Simply
smile and nod in response.
Thais always introduce people of lower rank first..
Titles and rank are important. When possible, address Thais by title and first name.
Acceptable topics of conversation:
o Family, but only after you've developed a relationship (avoid complimenting


text:
Iowa reports lowest unemployment rate in 1999
March 01, 2000
With an average unemployment rate of 2.5 percent, Iowa reported the lowest unemployment rate in the nation in 1999, followed by New Hampshire at 2.7 percent.
Other states with unemployment rates below 3.0 percent included Minnesota and Virginia at 2.8 percent, and Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota with unemployment rates of 2.9 percent each. Nine of the 17 states with jobless rates below 3.5 percent were in the Midwest.
Overall, 26 states had unemployment rates below the national average, while 24 states and the District of Columbia posted higher rates—the most even distribution in 12 years.
These data are a product of the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. To learn more, see State and Regional Unemployment, 1999 Annual Averages (USDL 00-56).
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Editor's Desk, Iowa reports lowest unemployment rate in 1999 on the Internet at _URL_ (visited May 22, 2013).
Spotlight on Statistics: Productivity
This edition of Spotlight on Statistics examines labor productivity trends from 2000 through 2010 for selected industries and sectors within the nonfarm business sector of the U.S. economy. Read more »


text:
New drive concepts and forms of movement have always played an important role in the Bionic Learning Network. That's why we took a close look at the kangaroo and its unique movement and implemented it technically with the BionicKangaroo. Like its natural role model, it can regain energy during jumping, store it in its Achilles tendon and reapply it efficiently in the next jump.
The important function of the natural Achilles tendon is performed by an elastic rubber band. It is attached to the rear part of the foot and parallel to a pneumatic cylinder on the knee joint, which triggers the jump. The artificial tendon cushions the jump during landing, absorbs the kinetic energy and releases it for the next jump – with the same technique as the natural kangaroo.
Condition monitoring and precise control and regulation technology ensure stability during jumps and landings. The robot kangaroo achieves its high jumping power with the help of pneumatics. Where maximum position accuracy is required, electric motors are used – for example to control the tail and hip. The artificial kangaroo shows how pneumatic and electric drive technology can be combined efficiently and intelligently into a highly dynamic system.
The BionicKangaroo is easy to operate with gestures. By waving at it, it starts to move. A corresponding hand signal makes it rotate about its own axis. A special wristband records the movements of the user and sends the signals via Bluetooth to the controller of the artificial kangaroo.
Our engineers paid special attention to the mobile energy supply of the artificial kangaroo. The team even developed two different concepts – one with an integrated compressor and one with a mobile high-pressure accumulator. The locomotor system is made of laser-sintered components reinforced with carbon. As a result, the artificial animal weighs just under seven kilograms and can jump up to 40 centimeters high and 80 centimeters in length.
Highly complex overall system: a clever combination of drives, control and regulation technology and mobile energy supply


text:
Beaver Scout Leader:
David Floyd (Hare)
Assistant Beaver Scout Leaders:
Paul Matthews (Owl)
Group Scout Leader:
Cub Leader (Akela)
Assistant Cub Scout Leaders:
Assistant Scout Leaders:
Adult volunteers are at the heart of Scouting, all of our leaders are enthusiastic and energetic, they each bring different skills to their section and the wider group. Several of our leaders have been awarded their wood badges and are trained in such activities as Archery, Crate Staking, Wall Climbing.........
Scouting is not only about young people, but also about the development of adults within the Movement.
To support adults in Scouting, the Association provides a comprehensive programme of training to build on existing skills and knowledge and develop new competencies. Some elements of training can count towards externally-recognised qualifications, and within the movement there are also awards to recognise dedication to training and outstanding service.


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Create advanced logic for more AI functionalities
 - Edit
 Collaborate with us
 Edit this page on GitHub
 - Create advanced logic and combine the power of the Azure AI provider with your existing OutSystems app and services. This document shows examples of advanced logic where the chatbot logic doesn't communicate directly with the Azure back end. Instead, you use the chatbot webhook module to handle and modify responses from Azure before the reply message shows in the UI.
 To add logic that interacts with both Azure Bot Service and OutSystems, you need to add and configure the chatbot webhook module.
 Reply with an echo message
 After you create a new webhook module, it contains a logic for an echo chatbot. The logic accepts the message from the chatbot, appends "ECHO:" to it, and then sends it back as a chat reply.
 Open your webhook module and go to Logic > Server Actions > Utilities > GetMessageResponse. Examine the logic in this Server Action.
 Sample response
 Reply with an answer from a knowledge base
 You can query the knowledge base in Azure directly from the webhook module. This is useful when you're building a more complex logic, and you want to combine several chatbot features. For example, you may send user questions to the knowledge base first, and if there is no valid answer, you can show static options.
 See Use the Azure QnA Maker Connector in OutSystems apps for instructions on how to configure, reference, and use the connector.
 Note that you don't need the QnA Maker connector for a chatbot that only works as an FAQ chatbot. This is because the chatbot UI block can communicate directly with the Azure chatbot service.
 Detect what users want to do
 The chatbot webhook module is also a place where you can detect what users want to do, and then act upon that. You first detect the intents and entities with Azure services, and then call your corresponding OutSystems logic. For example, in a sentence "Send me the report at 9 AM.", the intent is SendReport and entities Recipient = CurrentUser and Time = 9AM.
 You can detect intents with the LUIS service. For more information check Use the Azure LUIS Connector in OutSystems apps.
 Analyze and process user input
 A handy feature of AI Language Analysis is detecting the sentiment in user messages, registering the tone of the message to tell if a user is happy, neutral, or not so happy. AI Language Analysis can also translate, detect language, and spellcheck, amongst other things.
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WANON BRIDGE (สะพานวานร)
Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - November 2009
Updated June 2019
Saphan Wanon or the Monkey Bridge and sometimes called Thep Mi Bridge is an old
bridge located on the city island in the southern part of Ayutthaya in Pratu Chai Subdistrict. The bridge is situated behind the
Ayutthaya Historical Study Center. Wat Am
Mae (vanished) stood before in its vicinity (south).
The brick bridge was built over
Khlong Pratu Thep Mi, which connected the old
Lopburi River (later Khlong Mueang or City Canal) in the north with the Chao Phraya
in the south at Pratu Thep Mi. The northern part of the canal was called by the
Lam Khu Pak Sra and cut through the Bueng Phra Ram area. Khlong Pratu Thep
Mi was partly filled in after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 and is as thus at present
The foundations of the Wanon Bridge are still visible. The brick bridge in European style
was probably identical to
Saphan Pa Than. It was an arched construction with three
sharply curved bows, the middle one higher and wider than the two others, making it
possible for boats to pass underneath.
The Wanon Bridge is mentioned in the old texts of the
Kamhaikhan Khun Luang Ha
, the Kamhaikhan Khun Luang Wat Pradu Songtham and the Athibai phaen
thi phra nakhon si ayutthaya
from Phraya Boran Rachathanin wherein is written that
there was "
a brick bridge called Monkey Bridge, from Great Khaek Village Road
to Net Village Road across the Thetsami Gate Canal …
" [1][2]
The Wanon Bridge connected west towards the
White Clay Bridge (also called Sing
Bridge) over
Khlong Chakrai Noi and east towards the Talat Jin Bridge over Khlong
Pratu Jin.
Some remnants of the Wanon Bridge were still visible until the Year of the Great Flood
(2011). In the years after, there was a large overhaul of all the monastic ruins in and
around the City of Ayutthaya. The old structure was unfortunately not preserved and a
completely new bridge was constructed in situ. The bridge is situated in geographical
coordinates: 14° 20' 55.01" N, 100° 33' 57.68" E.
[1] Phanna phumisathan phranakhon si ayutthaya: ekkasan jak ho luang [Geographical
description of Ayutthaya: Documents from the palace]. Edited by Winai Pongsripian.
Bangkok: Usakane, n. d. [2007].
[2] Athibai phaen thi phra nakhon si ayutthaya - Explanation of the map of the Capital
of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition and
Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom - Ton Chabab print office - Nonthaburi (2007).
Wanon Bridge from the south
Wanon Bridge from the north
Wanon Bridge from the east
(Wanon Bridge from the south - 2009)
(Wanon Bridge from the east - 2009)
(Wanon Bridge from the north - 2009)
(Restored Wanon Bridge - 2019)
(Restored Wanon Bridge - 2019)
(Restored Wanon Bridge - 2019)
(The Wanon Bridge on Vingboon's map which was published in 1665)