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New submitter Benzainload895 writes "The Verge has an article about why life on other worlds would be far stranger than we might expect. They also interview some astronomers who are trying to narrow down the most likely locations for life. Quoting: 'As it turns out, the small planets with long orbits that Kepler was finding were the ones it was least disposed to find. [After estimating how often red dwarf stars have planets and taking into account their expanded habitable zones, they] came up with an estimate Cowan says is "starting to get really close to a hundred percent, where for every [red dwarf] out there you should expect there to be a habitable rocky planet." Furthermore, research exploring these planets suggests weirdness — and lots of it — in what life they might harbor. For instance, the dim light coming from a red dwarf may not be enough for plant photosynthesis like on Earth. This may lead plants to be black instead of green in order to absorb more available light. Even weirder, these planets likely don't spin as they orbit. Since red dwarfs are smaller and cooler than the sun, planets circle them at close range, creating greater tidal forces than on our planet. While the tidal force on Earth moves the ocean up and down a few meters, that force on a red dwarf planet would be so strong it'd gradually slow down the rotation of planet completely. The result? One side of the planet would face its star in a permanently sunny day, while the other side would face the stars in an endless night."

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If you want to see a sight that you are not likely to see many other places, plan to spend your morning on Monday, Oct. 19, or Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Strawberry Creek Chinook Facility in Sturgeon Bay for the fall salmon run. There you will see an assembly line of Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish & Wildlife employees working alongside volunteers to collect data from Chinook salmon and harvest eggs for the 2016 stocking of Chinook in Lake Michigan. “Our goal is to get 1½ million eggs for the hatchery in Wild Rose,” said Nick Legler, a DNR fisheries biologist, who was explaining the role of the facility to an ecology class from Sturgeon Bay High School on Monday, Oct. 12. Legler began his tour by explaining why the DNR has a fish-stocking program, and why the agency began stocking salmon native to the Pacific Ocean – Coho and Chinook – in the lake back in the 1960s. In essence, the stocking program began because of invasive species from the Atlantic Ocean that entered the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway, beginning with the sea lamprey, which decimated the native lake trout population, and then the explosion of Alewife without the trout to predate on them. “Between predation by sea lamprey and overfishing, the native trout population was decimated,” he said. “Without lake trout in the system, the Alewife came in. Without a predator to control them, Alewife populations exploded. State agencies responded by stocking fish. We’ve stocked native fish like lake trout, but also non-native, Chinook, Coho, steelhead and brown trout.” “Strawberry Creek was the first stocking location on the lake,” Legler said. “When you consider that they are native to the Pacific Ocean, this little small stream in Sturgeon Bay, probably less than half a mile before it dumps into the bay. It’s an artificial run, and maintained through stocking, but it’s one of the biggest runs in the lake.” To help the big fish through the small stream, Legler said a diesel engine and water pump out in Sturgeon Bay supplement the tiny creek so the Chinook can make their spawning run to the collection pond, where the fish are hoisted up by a net to the processing area. First stop is a CO2 tank, where the fish are stunned, and then each fish is slid through a device with a pneumatic piston that kills them. “They spawn once and then they die,” Legler said. “So all these fish are going to die anyway.” The next step has each fish sexed, weighed and measured. The female fish are hung on a hook and the body cavity is filled with compressed air to extract all the eggs. “We’ll collect 100 percent of eggs we need for stocking right here in Strawberry Creek,” Legler said. “Our stocking quota is about 800,000 fish.” Another area finds fish biologists from the Madison DNR office looking for abnormalities among the fish and taking tissue samples to check for viruses and ensure the health of the stocked fish. Employees of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service man another table where, using metal detectors, they extract the tiny wire tag that was inserted into the young salmon’s snouts before they were stocked. “All the fish stocked at Strawberry Creek have the same code,” Legler said. “We can look at how the fish are moving, where they were stocked, look at which stocking locations are doing best.” Legler explained that tagging used to be done on a much smaller scale by hand, but since 2011 every Chinook has been tagged before stocking thanks to a mobile automated system that can process up to 8,000 fish an hour. The fish are dumped into tubes, sorted by size and automatically cycled into a machine that clips the adipose fin to indicate that it is a tagged fish, and then the tiny wire tag is inserted into the snout. “There are a lot of neat things we can learn from the coded wire tag,” he said. Once the fish have been tagged, the whole process of stocking begins again. “We’ll stock right here in this pond about 120,000 fish,” Legler said. “The hatchery will raise the fish to fingerlings, and then we stock them into the pond. We’ll hold and feed those fish in this pond for about four to six weeks. The whole idea is to get them to imprint. When they mature as adults, they’ll be able to find their way back to spawn.” The Chinook that were being processed on this day looked very dark. Legler explained that is because of all the stress of spawning. “These fish are not feeding actively,” he said. “In the lake they are silver. When they come into the creek for spawning, they put all their energy into that and begin dying.” He also noted that although 20-pound Chinook are fairly common, they haven’t been seeing many of them this year because of a lack of Alewife in Lake Michigan, which he attributed to the filter-feeding Quagga mussels hogging up all the plankton that the Alewife eat. “We’ll know once we crunch all the data, but I think a 20-lb. fish will not be that common,” Legler said. The question on everyone’s mind was what happens to the tubs of fish carcasses? “Nothing goes to waste here,” Legler said, explaining that the Chinook carcasses are used three ways. The bulk of the carcasses are sold to Dramm, a fertilizer plant in Manitowoc where the fish are turned into organic fertilizer. Some of the smaller fish in good shape are sent to area food pantries, where fillets are distributed to users of those services, and some go to raptor rehabilitation centers. They also collect way more eggs than they need, so the extra eggs are sold to Atlas-Mike’s Bait of Fort Atkinson, where they are turned into fishing bait. To visit the Strawberry Creek Chinook Facility, take County U off of Hwy. 42-57 for about one mile, then turn left on Strawberry Lane, where you go for about another mile. The facility is on the right side.

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Astronomy news for the week starting Friday, December 21, 2007. Wishes for the best of Holidays to all. It's a busy week! The Moon starts us off in its waxing gibbous phase as it heads towards full the night of Sunday, December 23rd, Christmas Eve-Eve, thereafter reversing its phases and waning in the gibbous. Two days before full, the waxing gibbous passes through perigee, where it is closest to the Earth. The evening of Saturday the 22nd finds it in northeastern Taurus to the south of Auriga. The following night (Sunday the 23rd), the Moon takes on Mars, passing just barely north of it (the planet occulted as seen from Alaska and western Canada). Christmas Eve then finds the waning lunar disk smack in central Gemini. Finally, the night of Thursday the 27th, look for the Moon just south of Regulus in Leo to west of Saturn. Two major events vie for attention. First, Mars passes its long- awaited opposition to the Sun the night of Monday the 24th, Christmas Eve, when it will rise at sunset, set at sunrise, and cross the meridian high to the south at local midnight, giving the red planet its best visibility. The planet is now also in its fastest retrograde (westerly) motion. The Earth then begins to pull away from Mars, but the difference in position is so slow that Mars will be nicely visible in the evening well into the summer of 2008. Countering the event, Jupiter, nearly opposite Mars, passes conjunction with the Sun the night of Saturday the 22nd. Becoming a morning object, Jupiter will become visible in dawn toward the end of January. The other major event is the start of astronomical winter the night of Friday the 21st, the Sun passing the winter solstice in Sagittarius at 12:08 AM Central Time (1:08 AM EST, 11:08 PM PST, 10:08 PM PST). Winter thus actually begins the morning of Saturday the 22nd in eastern North America, the night of Friday the 21st in the western states and provinces. At that moment, the Earth's axis will be tilted away from the Sun, the Sun rises as far southeast and sets as far southwest as possible, the days are shortest, nights longest, and the Sun is as high at the south pole as it is ever going to get. From here on, the Sun will begin once again to climb the sky toward the equator, even as the days -- for awhile -- become still colder. This is a good time to try to find one of the sky's larger critters, Cetus, the sea monster (or more benignly, the Whale). Look in early evening to the south of Aries and just to the north of the celestial equator for the faint ragged circle that makes its head, the body falling to the southwest, ending in bright Deneb Kaitos. In the middle is the fabulous variable star, Mira.

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The translation and transliteration below are adapted, with permission, from the Seif Edition of the Transliterated Siddur, for Shabbat and Festivals, a Mesorah Publication for the OU Centennial, with Introductory Essays and Comments by Rabbi Benjamin Yudin. Meaning of “Bond of Life” The term “bond of life” which appears below in the request that the deceased’s soul be “bound in the bond of life,” most probably refers to the attainment of greater and greater closeness to Hashem. Hashem is called, “Chai HaOlamim,” the “Life of the Worlds,” meaning the source of life in “Olam HaZeh,” “this world,” the world of the here-and-now, and in “Olam HaBa,” the “world to come,” the indescribable spiritual “world” which we confidently expect to experience, as a cardinal principle of the Jewish faith, after death. For Martyrs: Hebrew Text Yizkor Prayer for Martyrs of the Holocaust – Hebrew Text For Martyrs: Transliteration nishmot hak’doshim v’hat’horim she-hum’tu v’she-nehergu v’she-nishchatu v’she-nis-rfu v’she-nit-b’u v’she-nech-nku al Kiddush Hashaym, ba-avur sheb’li neder etayn tz’dakah ba-adam. tz’rurot bitz-ror hacha-yim Avraham, Yitzchak v’Ya-akov, Sarah, Rivkah Rachel v’Lay-ah, v’im sh’ar tzadikim v’tzidkoniyot For Martyrs: English Translation May the L-rd remember the souls of the holy and pure ones who were killed, murdered, slaughtered, burned, drowned, and strangled for the sanctification of the Name, because, without making a vow, I shall give to charity on their behalf. As reward for this, may their souls be bound in the Bond of Life, together with the souls of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah; and together with the other righteous men and women in the Garden of Eden. Now let us respond: Amen

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Regional Immunization Manual Competency #3: Vaccine Development and Evaluation Competency: Integrates into practice knowledge about the main steps in vaccine development and evaluation. The health professional will be able to perform the following: - Describe, in general terms, the process to obtain marketing approval for vaccines in Canada. - Describe what can be learned about vaccines after they are approved for marketing, via surveillance activities and more formal post-marketing studies. - Characterize, in broad terms, the key roles and responsibilities for each of the following relative to the postmarketing assessment of vaccine safety and effectiveness: - Vaccine manufacturers - Canadian regulatory authority (Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate) - Public Health Agency of Canada - Provincial/territorial Health departments - Vaccine providers - Healthcare providers who don’t administer vaccines - Vaccine recipients or their parents/caregivers Vaccine safety is of the highest importance and concern for all vaccine stakeholders. Knowledge of vaccine development, clinical trials, and the surveillance system will help health care providers communicate the safety of vaccines which in turn will build public confidence in vaccinations. - Vaccines must be thoroughly tested before they can be called safe and effective for human use. - It can take up to 10 years to test and develop a vaccine. - Table 1describes the stages of vaccine development from the lab to Health Canada approval. Table 1 Stages of Vaccine Development Canadian Vaccine Licensing When the pharmaceutical company has successfully conducted the lab studies, animal studies, and human studies, the vaccine must meet Canadian licensing standards before the vaccine can be considered for use in Canada. The Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate (BGTD) under Health Canada is the Canadian authority that regulates biological drugs (products derived from living sources) for human use. - inspect and regulate manufacturing plants. - review and assess the data provided by the manufacturer from clinical trials - verify that the product meets standards of safety and efficacy - Approve the vaccine & the product monograph submitted by the manufacturer - Conducts pre-release testing of every lot of vaccine - Monitors safety after release with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) & the manufacturers Table 2 Canadian Vaccine Licensing Source for this section: BCCDC Immunization Competency Program Other Resources for Learning: Back to the Table of Contents

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Hydropower represents an important source of renewable energy generation in Louisiana, where wind and solar resources are not plentiful. The Overton Lock and Dam, owned and operated by the Vicksburg District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, was originally built to incorporate a hydropower facility, so the design and construction of the generation capacity will fulfill the original intention of the designers of the dam. |Project||River||FERC No.||Expected COD||Design Capacity||Annual Generation||Dam Owner| |Overton Lock & Dam||Red River||P-13160||2019||52.0 MW||207.4 GWh||USACE| This project will produce over 207 gigawatt hours annually of low-cost, domestic energy that is safe, reliable and emissions-free. 19,000 Homes Powered Investment in this project will provide hundreds of local jobs through construction, operation and maintenance. The lifetime of this project is expected to exceed 80 years, contributing to the local economy for several generations.

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Surrounded by friends and family, celebrating with good food and drink, birthdays are happy occasions that we all look forward to. But new research suggests that, of all days, we're most likely to die when we're celebrating the passing of another year of our life. The study, carried out at the University of Zurich and published in Annals of Epidemiology, studied data from more than two million people over the age of 40. It showed that people are 18.6 percent more likely to die of heart attack on their birthdays, while the risk of stroke shoots up by 21.5 percent. There was also a 34.9 percent rise in suicides and a 44 percent rise in deaths from falls on birthdays. There seems to be consensus that the research is accurate. Richard Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire, explained to The Telegraph: "It seems to be a valid finding... There are two camps [when it comes to explaining the effect] - one is the camp that suggests you eat too much and you're getting on a bit and that causes you to die. "The other is a placebo effect. You are knife-edged on death. And you kept yourself going until your birthday. You think 'that's it I've had enough I'm out of here'." Image by Omer Wazir under Creative Commons license

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(Yahoo News UK) – With a solar eclipse due on 26 February, there are plenty of celestial treats to keep stargazers happy in 2017. Last year was packed with astronomical action including supermoons, Tim Peake’s history-making spacewalk and the arrival of NASA’s Juno probe at Jupiter and this year is set to be big just as big for space botherers. From meteor showers to solar eclipses, here are the space events you don’t want to miss in 2017… - Annular solar eclipse – 26 February 2017 At the end of February, the moon will pass in front of the sun, creating a bizarre halo effect. Unfortunately, this year’s eclipse will only be visible over South and West Africa and some of South America. - Jupiter at opposition – 7 April 2017 The largest planet in our solar system will reach ‘opposition’ in April, meaning that it will slide into view as Earth moves into position between the sun and Jupiter. The massive planet’s face will be illuminated by the sun and will be visible through binoculars or a telescope. - Saturn at opposition – 15 June 2017 In summer, Saturn will move into its closest position to Earth, giving us the best view possible. A telescope will be needed to see the huge planet’s famous rings while Saturn is fully lit up by the sun. - Perseid meteor shower – 12/13 August 2017 One of the brighter meteor showers of the year, the Perseids happens annually between 17 July and 24 August, this year peaking 12-13 August. The best time to view the shooting stars is between midnight and dawn. - ‘Great American’ total solar eclipse – 21 August 2017 For around two minutes, a 70-mile stretch between Oregon and South Carolina will be plunged into total darkness in a rare total eclipse as the sun will totally disappear behind the full moon. Stargazers elsewhere in the US will get a partial view of the stunning eclipse. - Cassini probe will crash into Saturn – 15 September 2017 Launched in 1997, NASA’s probe finally made it to Saturn in 2004 and has been beaming back vital data to Earth ever since. The probe will be destroyed when it plunges through Jupiter’s atmosphere but not before sending back never-seen-before images. - Leonid meteor shower – 17/18 November 2017 The Leonids meteors will be visible in the night sky throughout November, peaking between 17 and 18 November. The glowing pieces of comet debris will be visible to the naked eye. - Supermoon – 3 December 2017 While 2016 saw stargazers treated to several supermoons, 2017 will see just one. December’s full moon, also known as the Full Cold Moon, will appear slightly bigger and brighter than normal. The best time to watch will be around sunset when the distinctive orange moon will appear. - Geminid meteor shower – 13/14 December 2017 Unlike most meteor showers, the Geminids are associated with an asteroid, rather than a comet. The glowing fireballs should be visible to the naked eye between December 7 and 16, but the best time to catch a glimpse is between 13 and 14 December.

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Broken? aims to raise difficult questions and provoke conversations about what Michelle Alexander, author of the The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, calls “the most pressing racial justice issue of our time.” The exhibit explores the U.S. criminal justice system through photographs and testimonies of formerly incarcerated people and of community leaders working for prison reform. Featuring: Picture Justice students, Christopher Gregory/Black Box and Zach Gross PROOF: Media for Social Justice United Nations International School The United States of America is the global leader in incarceration. With just five percent of the world’s population, it is home to 25 percent of the world’s prisoners, including one-third of the world’s incarcerated women. Over 6.9 million people in the US are currently incarcerated, on probation or on parole. That’s one in 35 Americans and one in six Black men. In fact, there are more Black men in the criminal justice system today than there were enslaved in 1850. How did it get to be like this? How did the “home of the free” become the world’s biggest jailer? How “just” is the U.S. criminal justice system? Broken? is an exhibit of PROOF: Media for Social Justice, in partnership with the United Nations International School (UNIS) and participating Picture Justice students. The exhibit aims to raise difficult questions and provoke conversations about what Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, calls “the most pressing racial justice issue of our time.” Broken? explores the U.S. criminal justice system through photographs and testimonies of formerly incarcerated people and of community leaders working for prison reform. Produced by PROOF: Media for Social Justice, Broken? features the work of Picture Justice students who partnered with professional photographers, journalists and educators to conduct research on mass incarceration, learn ethical reporting and photojournalism techniques, and create this large-scale photo exhibition. An ongoing partnership between PROOF and UNIS, Picture Justice is a creative photojournalism program designed to educate high school students about social justice issues and empower them with the tools and confidence they need to lead change in their own communities. Picture Justice fosters critical thinking and active citizenship, promotes compassion and empathy, and equips students with the communication skills they need to relay their experiences to the wider public. The content for Broken? was created by high school students from the United Nations International School. The exhibit was designed by Willhemina Wahlin, the Creative Director for PROOF: Media for Social Justice. Wahlin has worked as a journalist, editor, copywriter and graphic designer in Australia and Japan, and has been the Creative Director of PROOF since 2009. She is a Lecturer in Graphic Design at Charles Sturt University in Australia, where she is also a doctoral candidate. Her practice-led research focuses on the design of exhibitions that deal with ‘difficult knowledge’ topics, such as genocide, gender-based violence and contested histories. PROOF: Media for Social Justice is a non-profit organization based in New York City that uses visual storytelling and education to inspire global attitude and policy changes. It was founded in 2006 under the vision of Leora Kahn, a longtime photo editor, documentary producer and human rights advocate, who sought to unite the skills and experiences of internationally renowned photojournalists for social good. The United Nations International School (UNIS) is a Kindergarten-to-12th grade, coeducational, college-preparatory day school, established in 1947 by a group of United Nations parents to provide an international education for their children, while preserving their diverse cultural heritages. UNIS has over 1,550 students in two locations, serving the United Nations, as well as international and New York communities.

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YOUNG MILL-WRIGHT and MILLER'S GUIDE, by Oliver Evans Fig. 12, Plate VII., is a hopper-boy; which consists of a perpendicular shaft, A B having a slow motion, (not above 4 revolutions in a minute,) carrying round with it the horizontal piece C D, which is called the arm; this, on the under side, is set full of small inclining boards, called flights, so as to gather the meal towards the centre, or to spread it from the center to that part of the arm which passes over the bolting hopper; at this part, one board is set broadside foremost, as E, (called the sweeper,) which drives the meal before it, and drops it into the hoppers H H, as the arms pass over them. The meal is generally let fall from the elevator, at the extremity of the arm, at D, where there is a sweeper, which drives the meal before it, trailing it in a circle the whole way round, so as to discharge nearly the whold of itsload, by the time it returns to be loaded again: the flights then gather it towards the centre, from every part of the circle; which would not be the case, if the sweepers did not lay it round; but the meal would, in this case, be gathered from one side only of the circle. These sweepers are screwed on the back of the arm, so that they may be raised or lowered, in order to make them discharge sooner or later, as may be found The extreme flight at each end of the arms is put on with a screw, passing through its centre, so that they may be turned to drive the meal outwards; the use of which is, to spread the war, meal as it falls from the elevator, in a ring, round the hopper-boy, while it, at the same time gathers, the cooled meal into the bolting hopper; so that the cold meal may be bolted, and the warm meal spread to cool, by the same machine, at the same time, if the miller chooses so to do. The foremost edge of the arm is sloped up in order to make it rise over the meal, and its weight is nearly balanced by the weight w, hung to one end of a cord, passing over the pulley P, and to the stay iron F. About 4 1/2 feet of the lower end of the upright shaft is made round, passing loosely through a round hole in the floght arm, giving it liberty to rise and fall freely, to suit any quantity of meal under it. The flight arm is led round by the leading arm L M, there being a cord passed through the holes L M, at each end, and made fast to the flight D C. This cord is lengthened or shortened by a hitch stick N, with two holes for the cord to pass through its end being passed through a hole at D, and fastened to the end of a stick; this cordmust reeve freely through the holes at the end of the arms, in order that the ends may both be led equally. The flight arm falls behind the leader about 1-6th part of the circle. The stay-iron C F E, is formed into a ringat F, which fits the shaft loosely, keeps the arm steady, and serves for hanging the hands of an equal height, by mean of the screws C E. Fig. 13, Plate VII., is a perspective view of the under side of the flight arms. The arm a c, with flights and sweepers complete; s s s show the screws which fasten the sweeper to the arms. The arm c b, is to show the rule for laying out for the flights. When the sweeper at b is turned in the osition of the dotted line; it drives the meal outwards. Fig. 14, Plate VII., represents a plate of metal on the bottom of the shaft, to keep the arm from the floor, and 15 is the step gudgeon. This machine, also has appeared under various constructions, the best of which is represented by fig. 12, Plate VII.-(See the description Art. To make the flight-arm C D, take a piece of dry popular of other soft scantling 14 feet long, 8 by 2 1/2 inches in the middle, 5 by 1 1/2 inches at the end, and straight at the bottom: on this sltlrike the middle line a b, fig 13. Consider whihc way it is to revolve, and cipher off the under side of the foremost edge from the middle line, leaving the edge 3/4 of an inch thick, as appears by the shaded part. Then, to lay out the flights, take Set your compasses at 4 1/2 distance, and begining with one foot in the centre c, step towards the end b, observing to lessen the distance one-sixteenth part of an inch ever step; this will set the flights closer together at the end than at the centre. Then, to set the flights of one arm to track truly between those of the other, and to find their inclination, with one point in the centre c, sweep the dotted circle across every point in one arm; then, without altering the centre or distance, make the little dotted marks on the other arm, and between them the circles are to be swept for the flights in it. To vary their inc;omatopm regularly, from the end of the centre c, and 2 1/2 inches from the middle line at d, and then with the compasses set to half an inch, set off the inclination from the dotted circles, on the line c d; the line c d then approaches the middle line, the inclination is greater near the centre than at the end, and varies regularly. Dove-tail the flights into the arm, observing to put the side that is to drive the meal to the line of inclination. The Bottom of them should not extend past the middle line, the ends being all rounded and dressed off at the back side, to make the [oint sharp, leaving the driving side quite straight, like the floug r. (See them complete in the end c a.) The sweepers should be 5 or 6 inches long, screwed on behing the flights, at the back side of the arms, one at each end of the arm, and one at the next part that passes over the hopper: their use is described in Art. 88. The upright shaft, should be 4 by 4 inches, and made round for about 4 1/2 feet at the lower end, to pass lightly through the center of the arm. To keep the arm steady, there is a stay-iron 15 inches high, is legs 1/2 inch by 3/4, to stride 2 feet. The ring at the top should fit the shaft neatly, and be smooth and rounded inside, that it may slide easily up and down; by this the arm hangs to the rope that passes over a pulley at the top of the shaft, 8 inches diameter, with a deep groove for the rope or cord to run in. Make the leading arm 6 by 13/4 inches in the middle, 2 by 1 inch at the end, and 8 feet long. This arm must be braced to the cog-wheel above, to keep it from splitting the shaft by an extra stress. The weight of the balance w, must be so nearly equal to the weight of the arm, that when it is raised to the top it will decend quickly. In the bottom of the upright shaft is the step gudgeon (fig. 15.) which passes through the square plate 4 by 4 onches (fig. 14;) on this plate the arm rests, before the flights touch the floor. The ring on the lower end of the shaft is less than the shaft, that it may pass through the arm: this gudgeon comes out, every time the shaft is taken out of the arm. If the machine is to attend but one bolting-hopper, it need not be above 12 or 13 feet long. Set the upright shaft close to the hopper, and the flights all gather as the end c b, fig. 13. But, if it to attend, for the grinding of two pair of stones, and two hoppers, make it 15 feet long, and set it between them a little to one side of both, so that the two ends may not both be over the hoppers at the same time, which would make it run unsteadily: then the flights between the hoppers and the centre must drive the meal outwards to the sweepers, at the end c a, fig. 13. If it be to attend two hoppers, and cannot be set between them for want of room, then set the shaft near to one of them; make the flights so that they will all gather to the centre, and put sweepers over the outer hopper, which will be first supplied, and the surplus carried to the other. The machine will regulate itself to attend both, although one should feed three times as fast as the other. If it be to atend three hoppers, set the shaft near the middle one, and put sweepers to fill the shaft near the middle one, and put sweepers to fill the other two, the surplus will come to the centre one, and it will regulate to feed all three; but should the centre hopper over stand while the other are going, (of either of these last applications,) the flights next to the centre must be movable, that they may be turned, and set to drive the meal out from the centre. Hopper-boys should be driven by a strap in some part of their movement, that they may easily stop if any thing catch in them; but many millwrights prefer cogs; they should not revolve more than 4 times in a minute. 1. When the meal elevator is set in motion to elevate the meal, the hopper-boy must be set in motionalso, to spread and cool it; and as soon as the circle is full, the bolts may be started; the grinding and bolting may like wise be carried on regularly together; which is the best way of working. 2. But if you do not choose to bolt as you grind, turn up the feeding sweepers and let the hopper-boy spread and cool the meal, and rise over it; and when you begin to bolt, turn them down again. 3. If you chose to keep the warm meal seperate from the cool, shovel about 18 inches of the outside of the circle, in towards the centre, and turn the end flights, to drive the meal outwards; it will then spread the warm meal outwards, and gathter the cool meal into the bolting hopper. As soon as the ring is full with warm meal, take it out of the reach of the hopper-boy, and let it fall again. 4. To mix tail flour or bran, &c., with a quanity of meal that is under the hopper-boy, make a hold for it in the meal quite to the floor, and put it in; and the hopper-boy will mix it regularly with the whole. 5. If it do not keep the hopper full, turn the feeding sweepers a little lower, and throw a little meal on the top of the arm, to make it sink deeper into the meal. If the spreading sweepers discharge their loads too soon, and do not tail the meal all around the circle, turn them a little lower; if they do not discharge, but keep too full, raise then a little. Return to Home Page

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Catholics had he not, at the last moment, seen fit, in the negotiations with the Holy See, to demand the right of approving appointments to canonries. But all the king's concessions, which were really extorted from him by the force of circumstances, and despite his dogged reluctance, came too late, and the nego- tiations in regard to the question of canons were still in progress when the Belgian Revolution broke out. As to the causes of an event so decisive for the future of the Belgian people, it is highly improbable that if King William had given them grounds for complaint only in religious matters, the public dis- content would have culminated in a revolution. The Catholics, faithful to the teachings of the Church and to the counsels of their pastors, had no wish to exceed what was lawful and knew that they should confine themselves to peaceful protests. But the Govern- ment had injured many other interests to wliich a great number were more sensitive than they were to the oppression of the Catholic Church, at which they would have been wholly indifferent if, indeed, they would not have rejoiced. It wiU suffice to recall the principal grievances. Although Holland's popula- tion was less than Belgium by almost half, each nation w'as allowed the same number of deputies in the States-General. Acquaintance with the Dutch lan- guage was at once made obligatory for all officials. The greater number of institutions of the central Government were located in Holland, and the ma- jority of the offices were reserved for the Dutch. Taxes on corn and on slaughtering weighed most hea\-ily on the southern provinces. The press was under the arbitrary control of the Government and the courts, and they \-igorously prohibited any criti- cism of the Government and its deputies. The Gov- ernment stubbornly opposed the introduction of the jury system, the verdicts of which, inspired by a saner appreciation of public feeling, would often have calmed opinion instead of inflaming it. Lastly, as if wishing to fill the measure of its blunders, the Government shamelessly hired an infamous forger condemned by the French tribunals, a certain Libri- Bagnano, whose journal, the "National", never ceased insulting and taunting every Belgian who had the misfortune of incurring the displeasure of the Government. There came a time when the Liberals, who, as late as 1825, had applauded the Government in its persecution of the Church, fomid themselves attacked in their turn, and began to protest with more violence than the Catholics had ever done. Then the ine\-itable happened. Equally op- pressed, the two parties forgot their differences, and joined forces. The fiery anti-clerical Louis de Potter, author of various historical works extremely irre- ligious in tone, was one of the first to advocate, from the prison in which he was confined for some violation of laws concerning the press, the union of the Catho- lics and the Liberals. This union was made the more easy because the greater part of the Catholics, under the influence of the teachings of Lamennais and the pressure of events, had abandoned their stand of 181,5 and had rallied to the doctrine of "liberty in all and for all". Once effected, the union of Catholics and Liberals soon bore fruit. Their first step, pro- posed by the Catholics who wished to employ lawful means only, was the presentation of petitions by every class of society in turn. Hundreds of petitions piled up in the offices of the States-General, demand- ing liberty of education, freedom of the press, and the righting of other WTongs. While these petitions were being circulated the perfect order that was maintained deceived the king. On a tour which he made through the southern provinces, to convince himself personally as to the state of the public mind, he received such demonstrations of loyalty that he persuaded himself that the petitioning was a factitious movement, and went so far as to declare, at Liege, that the conduct of the petitioners was infamous (1829). This false step was his undoing. In the face of his refusal to initiate any reforms, the country became incensed, and the direction of the national movement passed from the hands of the peaceful Catholics into those of the impatient Liberals. The resistance soon took on a revolutionary character. The ecclesiasti- cal authorities had foreseen this, and had for a long time opposed both the "Union", and the petitions which were its first manifestation. The Bishops of Ghent and Liege had come forward to remind the faithful of their duties to the sovereign; the Arch- bishop of Mechlin had assured the Government of the neutrality of the clergy; the nuncio had shown his disapproval of the "Union", and the Cardinal-Secre- tary of State had stigmatized it as monstrous. But the religious authorities soon found themseh'es pow- erless to control the movement. The Catholics, imi- tating the Liberals, had recourse to violent language; their most important periodical refused to print the conciliatory letter of the Bishop of Liege, which one of the Liberal leaders styled an episcopal-ministerial document; the lower clergy, in turn, allowed itself to be drawn into the current; the Government, wilfully blind, continued wantonly, in its imprudence, to pile up the materials for a great conflagration; at last, nothing was lacking but a fuse. This came from France. The revolution of July, 1830, lasting from the 27th to the 29th, overthrew the government of Charles X; on 25 August, of the same year, a riot broke out in Brussels and brought on the revolution which culminated in the conflicts between (24-26 Sep- tember) the Dutch troops and the people of Brussels assisted by re-enforcements of volunteers from the provinces. The whole country rose up; at the end of some weeks the Dutch army had evacuated the soil of the southern provinces, and Belgium was free. III. Independent Belgium (1830-1905). — As has been shown, not only was the revolution the work of two parties but the chief role in it had been played by the Liberals, and for a long time, although a minority in the nation, their ranks supplied the prin- cipal leaders in national life. The Catholics did not close their eyes to this state of things. Sincerely at- tached to the Union of 1828, they wanted a unionist policy without lajnng too much stress on party names. The provisional government which assumed the di- rection of affairs after the revolution had but one Catholic among its ten members, and had as head and inspiration, Charles Rogier, who, in September, 1830, had come, at the head of the Liege volunteers, to lend a strong helping hand to the combatants in Brussels. The constituent Congress, convoked by the pro\isional government, was in great majority composed of Catholics; partisans of liberty "in all and for all", in conformity with the teachings of Lamennais. The Liberal minority was split into two groups; the stronger professed the same ideas of liberty as the Catholics; the other was made up of a small number of sectarians and of State idolaters who had dreams of bringing the Catholic Church into subjection to the civil power. The leaders of the Catholic group were Count Felix de M^rode, a member of the provisional government, and Baron de Gerlache, President of the Congress; the most prominent among the Liberals were Charles Rogier, Joseph Lebeau, Paul Devaux, J. B. Nothomb, and Sylvan Van de Weyer; the group of sectarians followed the orders of Eugene Defacqz. The Constitution which re- sulted from the deliberations of the Congress reflected the dispositions of the great majority of the assembly and showed at the same time a reaction against the tyrannical regime of King William. It proclaimed the absolvite freedom of worship and of the press, which the Liberals put first, and also freedom of ed- ucation and association, two things especially dear

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Compressed air is a vital part of industrial operations, including powering pneumatic tools and garage service lifts. It is often thought of as a “free” source of energy when in fact it is one of the least efficient and most expensive in the industry. Even the smallest compressed air system can be a relatively large component of energy consumption and cost. High-Efficiency Compressor Systems Multiple stage compressors vary their speed to match load. Switching to a variable speed compressor can result in significant energy savings. Dryers help remove the moisture in the air, increasing the efficiency of compressed air production and reducing energy load. Select the drying technology that gives you the maximum allowable pressure at dew point. Compressed air requirements may change over time or vary between shifts. Compressor controls allow compressor speed to vary to match need. Air Compressor Receivers Air receivers are designed to provide a buffer capacity between the supply and the demand sides of a compressed air system. Having enough storage capacity near the compressor plant protects the compressors and dryers from sudden shift in demand. They also prevent false loading of the compressors. Low-Pressure Drop Filters The filter is a typical place where the air distribution system loses pressure; pressure drops can significantly reduce system performance. If you lose more than 0.5 psig at the filter, consider replacing the filter Air-entraining air nozzles draw in (or entrain) surrounding atmospheric air, reducing compressed air use at the nozzle. Click here for a complete list of incentives. Determining Potential Savings The independent Compressed Air Challenge provides information on energy saving potential of compressed air systems. Visit the Compressed Air Challenge website for more information or contact an Efficiency Maine Qualified Partner for more information. Our locator tool will help you find one in your area. As part of the project approval process, you will accept the C&I Prescriptive Program’s Terms and Conditions.

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If you want to change the code in multiply-by-seven, just rewrite it. To install the new version in place of the old one, evaluate the function definition again. This is how you modify code in Emacs. It is As an example, you can change the multiply-by-seven function to add the number to itself seven times instead of multiplying the number by seven. It produces the same answer, but by a different path. At the same time, we will add a comment to the code; a comment is text that the Lisp interpreter ignores, but that a human reader may find useful or enlightening. The comment is that this is the “second (defun multiply-by-seven (number) ; Second version. "Multiply NUMBER by seven." (+ number number number number number number number)) The comment follows a semicolon, ‘;’. In Lisp, everything on a line that follows a semicolon is a comment. The end of the line is the end of the comment. To stretch a comment over two or more lines, begin each line with a semicolon. See Beginning a .emacs File, and Comments in The GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual, for more about comments. You can install this version of the multiply-by-seven function by evaluating it in the same way you evaluated the first function: place the cursor after the last parenthesis and type C-x C-e. In summary, this is how you write code in Emacs Lisp: you write a function; install it; test it; and then make fixes or enhancements and install it again.

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In the period since the nation was rocked by the economic recession, nothing has been as heartbreaking to observe as its impact on the employment prospects of African-American young men. Young men in their late teens and 20s are among the most challenged and underserved segment of the nation’s population. In New York City alone, just one of every four young Black men has a job, according to the Community Service Society of New York. The impact of those numbers has been well-chronicled. Prisons are bulging with young, African-American men. There has been a growing absence of young Black men in the lives of their children. It is a scenario that has been portrayed — on the rare occasions when the media focuses on it at all — as a miserable, bleak and unsolvable feature of American life. What is heartening, however, are the growing number of institutions, organizations and initiatives that have sprouted in recent years to address the employment condition of young Black men. There has been growth in programs aimed at assisting young men of color with their educational preparedness, their job-readiness and their ability to avoid confrontations with the police. Some of the programs involve vast sums of money and influential benefactors. For example, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has committed more than $30 million of his own money to pay for programs to improve the circumstances facing young Black and Latino men in New York. That money was matched by Bloomberg’s fellow billionaire and hedge fund manager, George Soros. There is the Open Society’s “Campaign for Black Male Achievement,” an outstanding set of programs, funded largely by Soros, that aims to address Black men and boys' exclusion from economic, social, educational and political life in the United States. Also, there is the fine work being undertaken by Black Male Engagement, a program in Detroit and Philadelphia designed to highlight the Black men and boys engaging and leading others to service in their cities. Some projects take a novel approach. In fact, there is an innovative video called “Question Bridge: Black Males,” which includes interviews with 150 Black men in 11 cities. It is a reflection of 1,500 videos of conversations with men representing a range of geographic, generational, economic and educational levels. The video centers on images of Black men reflecting on themselves, their challenges and their responsibilities. But it also offers, in a medium that speaks more profoundly to young people, an opportunity for Black men to evaluate themselves through the experiences of others in their age group and older. The project can be seen at the Brooklyn Museum and the Chastain Art Center in Atlanta. There can be no stone unturned in the effort to ease the plight affecting young Black men in America. It should involve not just targeted federal programs, such as many of the initiatives included in President Obama’s recent budget plan. It will have to involve the efforts of the nation’s predominantly Black civic groups and fraternities, as well. America is in a period in history when Republican forces are seeking to reverse a number of gains that have positively affected life for Black and Latino citizens, in areas ranging from education to voting rights. What is encouraging about this period is that there are others who have taken seriously the challenge of crafting solutions and strategies to assist and elevate the conditions of some of the most vulnerable and overlooked Americans. And it couldn’t have come a minute too soon. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of BET Networks. BET National News - Keep up-to-date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world. (Photo: REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly /Landov)

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- Historic Sites God, Man, Woman, And The Wesleys In early Georgia, the founders of Methodism got off to a terrible start April/May 1984 | Volume 35, Issue 3 Oglethorpe did not interfere with the Wesleys’ “methods of salvation”—except when John dared to reprove him for “talking too much to the women.” The handsome, gallant soldier at first took the admonition good-naturedly—and continued his attentions to certain of the ladies aboard. But when John rebuked him again, Oglethorpe told him in no uncertain terms to confine his shipboard efforts to the colonists. The preacher noted in his diary that he had begun most earnestly praying for the founder of Georgia. To the Wesley brothers, one experience of the voyage stood out as the most wonderful. They were very frightened during the storms at sea, and their fear puzzled them. John, after being terrified when a wave rolled over part of the ship and nearly drowned him, asked himself, “How is it that thou hast no faith, being still afraid to die?” A few days later the ships were caught in a hurricane. While the English screamed and whimpered in terror, the Moravians calmly sang songs of praise. When the gale died down, John exclaimed to one of them, “Were you not afraid, and were your women and children not afraid?” “I thank God, no,” came the answer. “None among us is afraid to die.” John talked at length to the English passengers of the “Germans’ calm born of great faith.” That night he wrote wistfully in his diary of discovering people who had overcome fear. The Wesleys, bachelors who had had no experience with women of questionable character, felt they had a duty to save the souls of several “women of the world” aboard the Simmonds . John concentrated his efforts on Mrs. Hawkins and Mrs. Welch. Lively, daring, young Mrs. Hawkins was the wife of the doctor being sent to the colony; she had such a shady reputation that the lenient Georgia trustees had almost rejected the couple as colonists, finally accepting them only because of the need for a doctor. Mrs. Welch, a friend of Dr. and Mrs. Hawkins, was crude in speech and manner; she was pregnant, sick, and quarrelsome. The two women eased the boredom of the voyage by pretending John Wesley was leading them from their sinful paths. His diary, page after page, tells of his progress in saving their souls. Mrs. Hawkins in particular put on a good show: she wept aloud and proclaimed that she knew, from her “close conversations” with John Wesley, that God had sent him to her. Ingham and Delamotte recognized that the women were playing an ugly game; they knew from experience that Mrs. Hawkins was actually flirting with John Wesley. Charles, too, soon caught on, but none of them could convince John that his two penitents were actually amusing themselves at his expense. He was surprised when the women, resentful because he had remained blind to their charms, became hostile toward the end of the voyage. They had several times fought over the preacher during the journey; now they resolved together to have revenge upon the “holy Wesleys” once Georgia was reached. On February 6, 1736, the travelers arrived at Savannah, a village of some two hundred houses and over five hundred inhabitants. Oglethorpe, the Wesleys, and the Moravians, on going ashore, gave thanks to God for a safe voyage, but not many of the other newcomers bothered. The Wesleys were very conscious of being strangers in a strange land, but they got busy with their job. When John Wesley returned to the Simmonds on an errand, he found that some of the crew and passengers who were on board waiting for temporary camps to be prepared were celebrating the end of the voyage by getting drunk—illegally so, as the statutes of the colony forbade the consumption of alcoholic beverages. He promptly staved in the casks of rum—which may have been the first incidence of the enforcement of prohibition in America. In spite of the animosity shown him by Mrs. Hawkins and Mrs. Welch on the voyage, the gullible preacher did not give up. Soon after arriving in Savannah, he read to Mrs. Hawkins from The Life of God in the Soul of Man . He was disappointed because the “serious effect” it had on her “quickly vanished in light company.” The Moravian minister with whom he lodged until his parsonage was prepared counseled him to let Mrs. Hawkins alone and quietly “commend her to God,” advice that he did not heed. Charles Wesley decided to apply himself to the salvation of Mrs. Welch, whose ribald manner he attributed largely to the evil influence of Mrs. Hawkins. Mrs. Welch remained “all storm and tempest.” After a week, Oglethorpe, Charles Wesley, Ingham, and the majority of the new colonists—four small boatfuls—including the Hawkinses and the Welches, went to Frederica, a new settlement on St. Simons Island, about one hundred miles south of Savannah. John Wesley and Delamotte remained at Savannah.

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Rebirth of Le Corbusier’s Salvation Army Building The Cité de Refuge. © FLC/ADAGP/Cyrille Weiner The residents of the Cité de Refuge in Paris count themselves lucky indeed. Not only do they live in a historic monument designed by one of the 20th century’s greatest architects, Le Corbusier (Charles Edouard Jeanneret) and his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, but some of their studio apartments are bigger, brighter and better-equipped than those of many of my professional friends in this city with increasingly out-of-reach real-estate prices. The Cité de Refuge was built by the Salvation Army (Armée du Salut in French) and opened in 1933 on what was then the outskirts of Paris so that the delicate sensibilities of the city’s inhabitants wouldn’t be disturbed by having to mix with the building’s impoverished residents. Ironically, the city has grown up around it, and the Cité is now hemmed in by the mostly banal high rises of the Rive Gauche development area around the Bibliothèque The skyline around the Cité de Refuge. The green building, designed by Maison Edouard François and nicknamed the “Vertical Chameleon,” will be covered in vegetation. Nationale de France in the 13th arrondissement. By some miracle, 80 years after it was built it has not been converted into a luxury hotel but is still owned by the Salvation Army and still provides help and a home for the down and out. What’s new is that the building, which was in a pitiable state, has just been restored as closely as possible to the way Le Corbusier intended it Above: the Cité de Refuge in 1933; below, in 1952. © FLC/ADAGP by François Chatillon, chief architect for Historical Monuments, and François Gruson of the agency Opéra, who had the unusual task of working on a 20th-century masterpiece rather than a centuries’ old château or monument and meeting such complex challenges as trying to figure out exactly what colors Le Corbusier and Jeanneret intended for the building. This was not the building’s first restoration, and trying to decide what was original and what was not made the job more difficult. In the end, some changes were left in place. “It’s a palimpsest,” said Gruson during a visit to the renovated building. Many features of the original building were rediscovered when walls that had been added over the years were knocked down, opening up The main hall today. © FLC/ADAGP/Cyrille Weiner generous spaces and revealing such thoughtful details as a small terrace with a light- colored wall positioned to reflect light into the room on a gloomy day. Some changes were necessitated by evolving laws and standards. While the residents once slept in dormitories, they are now housed in rooms or studios, and the buildings (an extension, the Centre Espoir, built in 1978, has also been renovated) are now accessible to the disabled. Since the mission of the Salvation Army is not only to provide a bed and nourishment to the needy but also to help reintegrate them into society, the building, which is pretty much self-sufficient, has its own kitchen, dining room, rooftop terrace/garden, classrooms, workshops, laundry, library and gym. One may well wonder why such an avant-garde architect was chosen for this project. Therein lies the tale of the Princesse de Polignac, née Winnaretta Singer, who contributed one-third of the cost of the building and dictated the choice of architect. A colorful character who lived in Paris and hosted performances of works by the greats of the music world in her salon,, , and (Marcel Proust, who was a frequent guest – along with , , , and drew on the princess’s salon and the music he heard there for his novel), she had made it clear to her first husband that she was not interested in sex with men by jumping onto an armoire on their wedding night and threatening to kill him if he came near her. Her marriage to her second husband, the Prince Edmond de Polignac, was more felicitous. He was gay, she was a lesbian, and they were great friends, making for the perfect mariage de raison. The princess’s sympathy for the disinherited was such that she had a room built for herself in the Cité de Refuge because she wanted to die there among the poor. In the end, it was not fated to happen, but the good news for tourists is that her modest studio is still there and will soon be available for short-term rentals. Not bad: a princess’s room in a building by Le Corbusier. Now that’s something to put on your postcards. Guided tours by residents will eventually be available. For those who wish to know more about the social and architectural history of the building, the book La Cité de Refuge: Le Corbusier et Pierre Jeanneret, L’Usine à Guérir (available in French only) by Olivier Chadoin and Gilles Ragot will be published in March by Les Éditions du Patrimoine. La Cité de Refuge: 12 Rue Cantagrel, 75013 Paris. Métro: Bibliothèque-François Mitterrand. Tel.: 01 53 61 82 00. Reader reaction: Click here to respond to this article (your response may be published on this page and is subject to editing). © 2016 Paris Update

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The ALH 84001 Controversy - by Ricky Leon Murphy: Back to Astrobiology The ALH 84001 The rock is called ALH 84001 and on August 7, 1996 an announcement was made that indicates ancient, microscopic life existed on Mars. By studying a rather un-assuming potato shaped rock, it was determined not only that it originated from Mars, but it also contained complex organic compounds, magnetite, carbonate minerals and even fossils of rod-like structure. While it seems that scientists were not looking for anything in particular when studying this rock, they seem to have stumbled on a proverbial gold mine – or have they? While the evidence to support the presumption of life seems un-deniable, the question many are asking is have all other explanations been ruled out. Since then, this small self-effacing rock has been the hotbed for debate for the past 10 years. The difficulty in choosing a side is two-fold: not once has either side denied the possibility of life on Mars, and there are limited samples to provide evidence to support any claims of life. But ultimately it seems the evidence strongly suggests that life did exist A Brief History: With data from the Mars Global Surveyor and the Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit and Opportunity), the case for water once flowing on Mars is pretty strong. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is thought to have been enough to sustain liquid water about 3.7 to 3.9 billion years ago. It is also during this time that heavy bombardment of Solar System debris had ceased [R5]. With the necessary conditions available (a heat source, an atmosphere, volcanism), it is possible life could have appeared. As the planet cooled (because is small), volcanism ceased, greenhouse gasses (no longer replenished) escaped into space and the water, with further impacts, would have evaporated – lost into space [R5]. Any life that had appeared would now have dried up, locked into the crust. When a meteor impacted the crust 16 million years ago, it sent pieces of it into space (because the gravity is not as strong as Earth) - and pieces of the crust would still have features of water erosion due to lack of tectonics. As the debris traveled through space for a time, it ultimately landed in Antarctica some 13,000 years This 1.9 kilogram, potato shaped rock was picked up at Alan Hills, Antarctica on December 27, 1984 [R2][R4]. It sat on a shelf for about 10 years before being examined, and that is when all the excitement hit the fan. A paper was published on August 16, 1996 in Science magazine by the team studying this meteorite (now called ALH 84001) led by David S. McKay. This paper outlines four pieces of evidence to support that life once existed on Mars. These are: - Carbonate minerals were detected similar to carbonate deposits of Earth-based biological life - The presence of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) – complex organic molecules - The presence of the mineral Magnetite - The presence of what appears to be rod-like It seems the evidence is surprisingly overwhelming that life did exist on Mars, but since this announcement was made alternate explanations have been offered to explain each of these attestations. The potato shaped ALH 84001 (Image By using Stereo Light Microscopy (SLM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), McKay’s team concluded that fractures within ALH 84001 contain carbonate material – specifically Iron, Calcium, Sulfur, Magnesium and Phosphorus [R6]. It is suggested that these deposits were formed when water poured through the rock. This alone is not indicative of life, but according to the McKay team this first piece of evidence is the base by which the other three are supported [R2]. The problem with this first piece of evidence is that while the presence of these minerals does imply that water did flow through, this same material can also form given the right conditions. For example, this same material can form without any biologic influence under high temperatures of several hundred degrees Fahrenheit [R4]. Water is not necessary. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons – or PAHs – are a complex form of organic material that is believed to form by biological breakdown like decomposing plant life [R4]; this material is believed to be formed by bacterial decomposition. The organic material is made up of phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene, benzopyrene and In order to rule out any contamination, PAHs levels were compared between ALH 84001 and the area surrounding Alan Hills. It was concluded by McKay’s team that the PAHs within ALH 84001 were not cross-contaminated with the Alan Hills site. While McKay’s team confirmed the levels of PAHs between Alan Hills and ALH 84001 suggest these formed on Mars, there is evidence that contamination could still be a factor. A second meteorite from Mars, one much younger than ALH 84001 also contains the same levels of PAHs. This demonstrates the likely hood of contamination by the Antarctic ice sheets [R4]. In addition, the formation of PAHs is not required to form by biologic activity and may form by other means [R5]. For example, PAHs can form in interstellar space as well as smokestacks and automobile engines [R4][R5]. While the presence of Magnetite can be formed by way of organic or inorganic processes, it has been established by McKay et al that the Magnetite present in ALH 84001 is similar to Earth formed Magnetite. It is further established that the Magnetite crystals were formed by biological processes (bacterial decomposition) based on the Magnetite’s hexa-octahedral crystal shape – a process that is not found by formation through inorganic methods [R7]. While the Magnetite evidence seems compelling, another group examining the Magnetite crystals discovered defects and fracture not consistent with the organic formation of the crystals – instead indicate formation by inorganic methods under high temperatures [R4]. In addition, the presence of Magnetite and Greigite (which is still unconfirmed strongly suggest the appearance of biological formation is simulated by temperature changes [R5]. Perhaps the most dramatic piece of evidence is the presence of microfossils of what looks like nano-bacteria. In fact, the microfossils found look exactly like the nano-bacteria found on Earth (although much smaller) Further, the age of the rock implies that Mars was wetter and warmer in the past so that the formation of these nano-bacteria is possible [R2][R6]. It is these micro-fossils that support the evidence for PAHs [R13]. A scanning electron microscope was used to capture the image of the micro-fossil in question, but it is argued that the process of scanning can produce “fractures” that can look like these microfossils [R4]. While there is no mention of any possible contamination by terrestrial sources, it is suggested that these microfossils can be mineral grains and therefore An example of this would be fossilized mineral grains found in Columbia River In addition, the nano-bacteria have a size limitation of 150nm for replication [R16] and the samples in ALH 84001 are smaller. Aware of the debate with the ALH 84001 results, Gibson and McKay et al released a paper with additional supporting data. It is acknowledged that contamination and misinterpretation is possible; however, data discovered within two additional Mars meteorites – Nakhla and Shegotty – as well as confirmation from a second examining group support the initial claims. The team acknowledges the process of carbonate material can form under high temperature. It is asserted that early Mars was warmer and wetter providing the right conditions for the carbon material to form. In addition, impacts on Mars would also provide the right conditions for the carbonate materials to form as well. Regarding Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: The McKay team reports that PAHs are not a diagnostic for life, but PAHs present with carbonate material supports life. Contamination has been ruled out by other teams examining ALH 84001. In addition, PAHs have also been detected in the meteorite Nakhla. Additional teams studying ALH 84001 have also ruled out any terrestrial contamination as well as any formation by result of high temperature and shock. Reexamination demonstrates three types of Magnetite crystals are present suggestion formation through abiotic process in a low temperature environment – ruling out fracturing caused by high temperatures, or temperature fluctuations suggested by the presence of Greigite. Regarding Rod-Like Microfossils: While it is accepted that the micro-fossils can be fossilized minerals, nano-bacteria can also mineralize. Terrestrial analogs have been detected in the blood-stream of mammals which rules out the possibility of artifacts caused by electron microscope scanning. The nano-fossils are most likely smaller parts of larger bacteria explaining the small size. The McKay team is careful to state that the evidence is circumstantial and must be examined in context. Each piece of evidence relies on each other and must be looked at as a whole. Discovered inside cracks indicated formation Can form through non-biological process in high Biological process can still form carbonate material in high temperatures. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Formed by biological process – breakdown of organic Can form in space, high temperatures and possible No claim to direct PAHs formation and biological process. Contamination ruled out by other studies. PAHs found in another meteorite from Mars – in conjunction with carbon material suggests Crystal shapes equal to material found on Earth – through biological process. Crystals examined were fractured, formed likely by Three types of crystal shapes, all by biological process. No evidence of formation by high temperature. Scanning electron microscope reveals bacteria Could be fractures caused by the scanning, could also be mineral grains. They are too small to replicate. Nano-bacteria can mineralize. Same shaped nano-bacteria found in mammalian blood rules out artifacts. Smaller nano-bacteria part of larger bacteria. The process of examination performed by the McKay team is a testament to the Scientific Method. Their initial results were carefully laid out while providing data for any counterpoints, such as contamination (being one of the main issues). They were careful to announce any “hard facts” and stated their evidence was circumstantial. The arguments against the data were presented; the processes defining the arguments were reasonable, but explainable by rebuttal. In addition, the data was confirmed by a separate examining group – and this was even indicated by one of the contender’s papers [R4]. The data presented and the arguments resulting are enough to demonstrate that life could have existed on Mars. The fact that two additional meteorites were found to support the results of ALH 84001 corroborate this. The debate will no doubt continue, and rightly so. It was Carl Sagan who said “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” Until Astronomers find a smoking gun to prove life – which is an extraordinary claim outside the realm of Earth – the data will most likely be interpreted based on point of view [R1] Becker, Luann; Popp, Brian; Rust, Terri and Jeffrey Bada. “The Origin of Organic Matter in the Martian Meteorite ALH84001.” EPSL. Elsevier. 14 January 1999. [R2] Gibson, Everett K. and David S. McKay. “The Case for Relic Life on Mars.” Scientific American, Volume 277, Issue 6, page 58. December 1997. [R3] Gibson, E.K. et al. “Life on Mars: Evaluation of the Evidence within Martian Meteorites ALH84001, Nakhla, and Shergotty.” Precambrian Research. Elvevier. 12 July 1999. [R4] Knoll, Andrew. “A Martian Chronicle.” The Sciences. July/August 1998. [R5] Lunine, Jonathan. Astrobiology. A Multidisciplinary Approach. Pearson Addison Wesley, San Francisco. 2005. [R6] McKay, David S. et al. “Search for Past Life on Mars: Possible Relic Biogenic Activity in Martian Meteorite ALH84001.” Science, volume 273. 16 August 1996. [R7] Thomas-Keprta, Kathie et al. “Truncated Hexa-octahedral Magnetite Crystals in ALH84001: Presumptive Biosignatures.” PNAS, volume 98, number 5. 27 February 2001. [R8] ALH84001: Origins and History: [R9] Doubts About ALH84001: The JSC Mars Meteorite Team Responds: [R10] It’s dead Jim. But was it ever [R11] Mars Meteorite ALH 84001 – An [R12] Mars Meteorites: [R13] Marsnews.com – Life on Mars: [R14] The ALH 84001 Meteorite: [R15] What is ALH 84001? [R16] Evidence for Past Life on Mars? Pass your 70-573 book on first try using exam 70-506 and 70-682 vce prepared by certified experts to provide you guaranteed success; they also prepare exam 70-431 & 70-576 vce with full devotion. Back to Top | Back to Astrobiology

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10.3.2 Landfill CH4: regional trends Landfill CH4 has historically been the largest source of GHG emissions from the waste sector. The growth in landfill emissions has diminished during the last 20 years due to increased rates of landfill CH4 recovery in many countries and decreased rates of landfilling in the EU. The recovery and utilization of landfill CH4 as a source of renewable energy was first commercialized in 1975 and is now being implemented at >1150 plants worldwide with emission reductions of >105 MtCO2-eq/yr (Willumsen, 2003; Bogner and Matthews, 2003). This number should be considered a minimum because there are also many sites that recover and flare landfill gas without energy recovery. Figure 10.5 compares regional emissions estimates for five-year intervals from 1990–2020 (US EPA, 2006) to annual historical estimates from 1971–2002 (Bogner and Matthews, 2003). The trends converge for Europe and the OECD Pacific, but there are differences for North America and Asia related to differences in methodologies and assumptions. Figure 10.5: Regional landfill CH4 emission trends (MtCO2-eq). Notes: Includes a) Annual historic emission trends from Bogner and Matthews (2003), extended through 2002; b) Emission estimates for five-year intervals from 1990–2020 using 1996 inventory procedures, extrapolations and projections (US EPA, 2006). A comparison of the present rate of landfill CH4 recovery to estimated global emissions (Table 10.3) indicates that the minimum recovery and utilization rates discussed above (>105 MtCO2-eq yr) currently exceed the average projected increase from 2005 to 2010. Thus, it is reasonable to state that landfill CH4 recovery is beginning to stabilize emissions from this source. A linear regression using historical data from the early 1980s to 2003 indicates a conservative growth rate for landfill CH4 utilization of approximately 5% per year (Bogner and Matthews, 2003). For the EU-15, trends indicate that landfill CH4 emissions are declining substantially. Between 1990 and 2002, landfill CH4 emissions decreased by almost 30% (Deuber et al., 2005) due to the early implementation of the landfill directive (1999/31/EC) and similar national legislation intended to both reduce the landfilling of biodegradable waste and increase landfill CH4 recovery at existing sites. By 2010, GHG emissions from waste in the EU are projected to be more than 50% below 1990 levels due to these initiatives (EEA, 2004). For developing countries, as discussed in the previous section (10.3.1), rates of landfill CH4 emissions are expected to increase concurrently with increased landfilling. However, incentives such as the CDM can accelerate rates of landfill CH4 recovery and use in parallel with improved landfilling practices. In addition, since substantial CH4 can be emitted both before and after the period of active gas recovery, sites should be encouraged, where feasible, to install horizontal gas collection systems concurrent with filling and implement solutions to mitigate residual emissions after closure (such as landfill biocovers to microbially oxidize CH4—see section 10.4.2).

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Sociedade & Natureza versión On-line ISSN 1982-4513 ROSOLEN, Vania et al. Changes in the total and isotopic soil carbon after conversion from Cerrado to agricultural systems in the Triângulo Mineiro. Soc. nat. [online]. 2012, vol.24, n.1, pp. 157-167. ISSN 1982-4513. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1982-45132012000100013. The Cerrado soils suffer impacts related to the conversion of the original vegetation in agricultural systems, e.g., in the imbalances of stocks and nature of carbon. The Triângulo Mineiro region has been deforested by supporting the expansion of agribusiness and presents serious problems related to soil erosion. This study aimed to assess changes in content (Ctotal) and in nature (δ13C) of soil organic carbon after conversion of cerrado in different agricultural uses (pasture, soybean and soybean / corn), management (tillage and no-tillage). The results showed that changes in the values related to the use and management are also determined by the textural characteristics of soils formed by the alteration of different rock types. Among the different uses and management, the greater enrichment of the carbon content was determined in the no-tillage soybean / corn in a clayey soil and the further impoverishment was determined in not managed pastures developed in sandy soils from sandstones of Adamantina and Marília Formations. These studies are useful for use as quality indicators for environmental conservation. Palabras llave : Brazilian savannah; soil organic matter; total organic carbon; carbon isotope; agricultural systems.

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Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità Print version ISSN 0021-2571 NOALE, Marianna et al. Longevity and health expectancy in an ageing society: implications for public health in Italy. Ann. Ist. Super. Sanità [online]. 2012, vol.48, n.3, pp. 292-299. ISSN 0021-2571. http://dx.doi.org/10.4415/ANN_12_03_10. INTRODUCTION: While the prolongation of life expectancy is due to medical, economic, social and public health advancements, longevity may not necessarily be an indicator of real development. Epidemiologic data indicate, in fact, that advanced age carries the risk of multiple diseases, disability and loss of autonomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: How the years gained are lived need to be assessed evaluating quality of life, health status, and disability. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Good health care planning should aim to ensure that the years of life gained are lived in good health conditions in the light of the World Health Organization's declaration that "increased longevity without quality of life is an empty prize. Health expectancy is more important than life expectancy". Keywords : demographic ageing; life expectancy; disability-free life expectancy; health planning.

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The Grand Geyser, the largest predictable geyser in Yellowstone, can spout boiling water over 150 feet in the air. Yellowstone National Park is a United States National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the world's first national park, set aside in 1872 to preserve the vast number of geysers, hot springs, and other thermal areas, as well as to protect the incredible wildlife and rugged beauty of the area. The park is principally contained within the northwest corner of Wyoming, but also extends into the states of Idaho and Montana. The calcite terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs. These springs flourished with water until the late 1970s, but are currently dry. Yellowstone is the first and oldest national park in the world and covers 3,472 square miles (8,987 km²), mostly in the northwest corner of Wyoming. The park is famous for its various geysers, hot springs, and other geothermal features and is home to grizzly bears, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk. Long before any recorded human history in Yellowstone, a massive volcanic eruption spewed an immense volume of ash that covered all of the western U.S., much of the Midwest, northern Mexico and some areas of the eastern Pacific Coast. The eruption dwarfed that of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 and left a huge caldera. Yellowstone typically erupts every 600,000 to 900,000 years with the last event occurring 640,000 years ago. Its eruptions are among the largest known to have ever occurred on Earth, producing drastic climate change in the aftermath. Although it is commonly assumed that the park was named for the yellow rocks seen in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the park's name comes from the Yellowstone River that flows through it, which is in turn named after sandstone bluffs found farther down its course in eastern Montana. On March 1,1872, Yellowstone became the first National Park reserve declared anywhere in the world, by President Ulysses S. Grant. In 1978 it was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . Geological characteristics form the foundation of an ecosystem. In Yellowstone, the interplay between volcanic, hydrothermal, and glacial processes and the distribution of flora and fauna are intricate and unique. The topography of the land from southern Idaho northeast to Yellowstone results from millions of years of hotspot influence. Some scientists believe the Yellowstone Plateau itself is a result of uplift due to hotspot volcanism. Flora and fauna The park is the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the largest intact temperate zone ecosystems remaining on the planet. Black bears, grizzly bears, deer, elk, bison, bighorn sheep and wolves can all be found within the park borders. Raptors such as Bald Eagles (pictured above), Golden Eagles, and Falcons are commonly seen throughout the park. This Bald Eagle was photographed while hunting for prey near Mammoth Hot Springs, in the northern portion of the park. It is not at all unusual to see many types of bears, like this black bear, near the roadways or up on the ridges of Yellowstone in the summertime, usually foraging for food. Primary geothermal features include geysers, mud pots, hot springs and fumaroles, which exist because of the active volcano that Yellowstone sits on top of. Geothermal features are formed by superheated water heated by the volcano. The pressure is so intense that it gets released into the air as hundreds of gallons of steaming water, or, when the pressure is not as intense, hot springs or mud pots are formed. Various colors of the pool are due to different types of bacteria growing in different temperatures. A good way to learn about the geothermal features is through the Young Scientist Program. Please check with a Ranger at the Old Faithful Visitor Center. The weather in Yellowstone National Park can change very rapidly from sunny and warm to cold and rainy, so it's important to bring along extra layers of clothing which can be used as needed. - Summer: Daytime temperatures are often in the 70s (25°C) and occasionally in the 80s (30°C) in lower elevations. Nights are usually cool and temperatures may drop below freezing at higher elevations. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons. - Winter: Temperatures often range from zero to 20°F(-20°C to -5°C) throughout the day. Sub-zero temperatures over-night are common. The record low temperature is -66F (-54°C). Snowfall is highly variable. While the average is 150 inches per year, it is not uncommon for higher elevations to get twice that amount. - Spring & Fall: Daytime temperatures range from the 30s to the 60s (0 to 20°C) with overnight lows in the teens to single digits (-5 to -20°C). Snow is common in the Spring and Fall with regular accumulations of 12" in a 24 hour period. At any time of year, be prepared for sudden changes. Unpredictability, more than anything else, characterizes Yellowstone’s weather. Always be equipped with a wide range of clothing options. Be sure to bring a warm jacket and rain gear even in the summer. Official map from the National Park Service; in the public domain and not protected by copyright. The principal airport serving Yellowstone is the Jackson Hole Airport (IATA: JAC) located within Grand Teton National Park. United and Delta serve Jackson Hole year-round, from Denver and Salt Lake City respectively. American and Frontier provide service on a seasonal basis. Alternative airports with limited/seasonal commercial service can be found in: Alternative airports may have less airline service than Jackson Hole. The park has 5 entrances. The nearest cities to each entrance are given. - North - Accessed from Gardiner (Montana) via US Route 89 (56 mi, 90 km from Livingston). This entrance is open all year and leads to the park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs, 5 miles (8 km) inside the park boundary. The iconic Roosevelt Arch is located at this entrance. - Northeast - Accessed from Silver Gate and Cooke City via US Route 212 (Beartooth Highway). The entrance and road to Cooke City are open all year, but Route 212 past Cooke City is closed in winter (mid-October to late May). - East - Accessed from Cody (53 mi, 85 km) via US Route 14/16/20. This entrance is closed in winter (early November to early May). - South - Accessed from Grand Teton National Park via US Route 89/191/287. This entrance is closed in winter (early November to mid-May). - West - Accessed from West Yellowstone via US Route 20/191/287 (60 mi, 97 km from Ashton (Idaho). This entrance is closed in winter (early November to late April). All vehicles and individuals entering the park must pay an entrance fee that is valid for seven days. The entrance fee provides entry to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Fees are $25 for non-commercial vehicles, $12 for hikers and cyclists, and $20 for motorcycles and snowmobiles. One year passes are available as an alternative to the seven day fee. The Park Annual Pass is $50 and provides entrance to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The Interagency Annual Pass is $80 and provides entrance to most federal recreation sites across the country including Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Most visitors use private vehicles to get around inside Yellowstone National Park. There is no public transportation available within the park. Roads can become very crowded whenever people stop to view wildlife; use pullouts, and be respectful of other motorists to help avoid bear-jams. For a fee, classic buses will lead passengers on a guided tour of the Grand Loop Road Xanterra Resorts provides bus tours within the park during the summer season. The Lower Loop Tour departs from locations in the southern part of the Park only. The Upper Loop Tour departs from Lake Hotel, Fishing Bridge RV Park, and Canyon Lodge to tour the northern section of the park only. The Grand Loop Tour departs from Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel to tour the entire park in one day. During the winter season snowcoach tours are provided from various locations. Call (307) 344-7311 for information or reservations. In addition, during the summer season, commercial businesses offer tours originating from many area towns and cities. During the winter season, some businesses provide snowcoach tours for most park roads or bus transportation on the Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City road. Cycling in the park can be a very rewarding experience, but due to the great distances in the park some additional planning is necessary to ensure that lodging is available each night. The park reserves a number of campsites for cyclists, but during the busy summer season it is probably best to reserve sites in advance wherever possible. Clepsydra geyser at play, Lower Geyser basin. Yellowstone is world-famous for its natural heritage and beauty - and for the fact that it holds half the world's geothermal features, with more than 10,000 examples. Travelers to Yellowstone can view more than 300 geysers (such as "Old Faithful"), pools of boiling mud, and an amazing assemblage of wildlife, such as grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk, all while standing on the surface of the Earth's largest known "super-volcano". - Mammoth Hot Springs. Mineral-laden hot water flows from springs, depositing calcite and other substances in its wake. Over time, these deposits form large terraces and other shapes. Some of the terraces grow several inches per day. - Fort Yellowstone. The historic center of activity during the United States Army's tenure of the park. - Bunsen Peak. The hike to the top of this 8,564 foot peak takes approximately three hours round trip. The peak overlooks the old Ft. Yellowstone area and it is only a gradual climb. Bring water and snacks (and bear bells if you think they'll work). - Boiling River. This small swimming hole is one of very few spots in the park where visitors can soak in naturally-heated water. It tends to be very crowded, so try to visit very early in the morning during peak season. Looking like an image from space, mattes of cyanobacteria thrive in the scalding waters of Biscuit Basin. - Norris Geyser Basin. One of the parks many spectacular thermal areas, and home to Steamboat Geyser, the world's largest geyser, which can throw water more than 300 feet into the air when it erupts. The Norris area is the hottest, most acidic, and most changeable in the park. - Roaring Mountain. A collection of steam vents and hot springs which make noises ranging from a nearly inaudible whisper to a roar that can be heard miles away. This thermal feature is right beside the park highway. - Gibbon River. - Virginia Cascades. - Artist Paint Pots. A half-mile hike takes you past many colorful hot springs, steam vents and bubbling mud pots. - Monument Geyser Basin. Although largely extinct, Monument Geyser Basin contains several intriguing travertine structures and some great views on its mile-long access trail. - Gibbon Falls. These 84-foot falls tumble down a staircase-like rock -- easy to see from a pullover area on the park highway. - Madison River. The river creates a canyon with steep, tree-covered rock walls on each side. - Terrace Springs. - Firehole Canyon Drive and Firehole Falls. - National Park Mountain. The mountain where the Madison and Firehole rivers meet. As legend has it, this is where the idea came about to preserve Yellowstone as a National Park. Geyser basins, including Old Faithful - Upper Geyser Basin. The most popular visitor area in the park, the Upper Geyser Basin is home to the largest number of geysers in the park, with over 100 located within a one square mile area. Boardwalks allow access to the most interesting areas. Do not leave the trails; the surface here is thin and unstable and has a real chance of depositing you in a boiling pool of water if you walk where you're not supposed to. - Old Faithful The world's most famous geyser, with large eruptions occurring an average of about once every hour and a half. Despite its reputation for having eruptions you can set a watch to, the timing between each eruption has actually been increasing over the past several decades. Rangers are able to predict the geyser's eruptions to within about 10 minutes, provided the duration of the previous eruption is known. - Other geysers in Upper Geyser Basin that are well enough understood to be predictable (sort of!) are Grand Geyser (probably the finest predictable geyser in the park), Castle Geyser, Daisy Geyser, and Riverside Geyser. Check at the Old Faithful visitor center for predictions, which will have uncertainties of an hour or so associated with them, sometimes more. - Lower Geyser Basin. Unlike Upper Basin, most active areas here are accessible by car. Great Fountain Geyser is the largest geyser in this group, is easily reached by car, and is well enough understood to be predicted, after a fashion; check at the Old Faithful visitor center, and when you get to the geyser, check the bulletin board again, as its behavior allows periodic updating of the predictions. The Grand Prismatic Spring, viewed from above. There is a trail that goes around the back of the spring which has a small turn-off that lets intrepid climbers rise about 400 feet above the spring, and capture the entire basin in one view. For a closer view, there are raised boardwalks around the spring and nearby pools (viewable in the detail of the picture) - Midway Geyser Basin. This geyser basin is on a hill overlooking the Firehole River. The runoff from its thermal features flows into the river, leaving steaming, colorful trails in its wake. Absolutely spectacular! - Grand Prismatic Spring. Perhaps this geyser basin's most famous feature, this is a mass of sapphire blue hot water with bands of yellow and orange around its edges. This spring is more than 300 feet across. - Excelsior Geyser once had such violent eruptions that it seems to have blown itself up. This geyser hasn't erupted in years, but it still discharges over 4000 gallons of water per minute into the nearby Firehole River. Lone Star geyser erupting, Check at Old Faithful Visitor Center for times - Lone Star Geyser Basin. This and the following are more "Do" than "See," as they require some hiking to reach them. The route takes off from the loop road south of Upper Geyser Basin and follows an old, now-closed road for a total of about 3 miles (5 km). Bicycles can make it most of the way to Lone Star. Nice hike for families. - Shoshone Geyser Basin. Serious hiking is required to reach this remote basin, which is beyond Lone Star and a good 7 miles (12 km) one way from the trailhead. - West Thumb Geyser Basin. With a little imagination, Yellowstone Lake looks like a left hand reaching southward. This thermal area is along the western thumblike section of the lake. Several geysers and hot springs (even a couple that are just a few inches across!) are in this area, including the following two sights: - Abyss Pool. There is an optical illusion with this brilliant blue hot spring that makes it look bottomless. - Fishing Cone. In the past, people used to catch fish in Yellowstone Lake and then cook the fish by dipping them into this partially submerged hot spring. This stunt is no longer allowed. - Shoshone Lake. - Yellowstone Lake. This is the largest freshwater lake at an elevation over 8,000 feet in the country. It spreads 20 miles east to west and 30 miles north to south. The Yellowstone River empties out into the lake. - Mud Volcano/Sulphur Cauldron. This area of the park has pools of mud that are constantly seething and boiling. - Mud Volcano This was once a hilltop thermal feature that would hurl mud into the nearby trees during eruptions. One particularly large eruption blew apart the Mud Volcano, leaving a hot, bubbling mud pool at the base of the hill. - Dragon's Mouth Spring Steam and hot water surge forth from within an underground cavern, creating waves in the surface mud pool. These surges of water and steam reverberate inside the cavern and make loud thumping or roaring sounds. - Sulphur Cauldron This vast hot spring is strongly acidic thanks to the action of microorganisms. - Natural Bridge. Dead trees near the summit of Mt. Washburn. These trees are the victims of a massive forest fire in 1987 that burned through over 30% of the forest running through the park. In a controversial decision, it went unchecked by the National Park Service, but has allowed for new growth to sprout in large parts of the park. - The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Chemical processes over time have left stripes and patches of different colors in the rock of this canyon. Depths of the canyon reach 800-1200 feet. Trails lead along the north and south rims of the canyon, but while traveling the entire trail in one day is possible, it makes for a long and tiring day. Best to make it two shorter (~3 hour) day hikes. If you're a photo buff, plan your walks so the sun illuminates the opposite side for great pictures. - Artist point - great spot to view the canyon and the lower falls. - The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone. These are the two largest waterfalls in the park. The Upper Falls is 109 feet tall and creates a small canyon. The large Lower Falls is about 309 feet tall, and creates the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. - Hayden Valley. Some people say it's the best place to watch bison in Yellowstone. Hayden Valley is home to a large number of animals, and includes the infamous Mud Volcano. - Mt. Washburn. One of the best places in the park for spotting bighorn sheep, a trail leads up the mountain to a lookout tower near the 10,243 foot summit. The altitude may affect some hikers, so it is best to be acclimatized to the higher elevation before attempting this hike. In addition, bring extra layers, even in the summer, since the top can be windy and cold. - Specimen Ridge. - Petrified Forest. This is home to a large petrified forest. It is accessible along the highway. - Tower Fall. The 100-foot tall waterfall plunges down a rock, creates a thin canyon, and a rapid creek. - Calcite Springs. - Car Free Week. Yellowstone opens its roads to bicyclists and hikers one week before car traffic resumes each spring (usually in April). This week is a rare opportunity to see Yellowtone's sights and wildlife without the crowds and traffic. Several West Yellowstone businesses rent bikes. - Young Scientist, . Students ages 5 and up can learn about Yellowstone's geothermal features. Students are given scientist toolkit, including an infrared thermometer, stop watch, magnifying glass and other gear. Once you've finished it, you have a choice of a patch or key chain. - Jr Ranger Program, . Jr Ranger Program provides an opportunity for children 5 - 12 to earn a Jr Ranger patch. Ages 5-7 can earn the wolf patch and Ages 8-12 can earn the Bear patch. In order to get a patch, a 12 page activity booklet needs to be answered correctly and checked by a ranger. An activity booklet costs $3. Many visitors believe they can visit all 2.2 million acres of Yellowstone in 1-2 days - all the while staying within sight of their car or tour bus. To truly appreciate this vast park, get off the park roads and paved tourist paths. A bison ambles along Norris to Canyon Road. Despite their docile appearance, bison are temperamental and can move extremely fast.They should be viewed from a safe distance through binoculars or telephoto lenses. - Hiking -- Walking as little as 100 feet away from the camera gangs will give you more of an appreciation for the park. Taking a few 3-4 hour day hikes on established hiking trails is even better, yet will still allow you the luxury of a hot shower in the morning and prepared dinner in the evening. - Wildlife Viewing -- There is a lot of wildlife to view within the park limits. Birds (osprey, bald eagles, and many, many other species,) bison, big cats, deer, wolves, fox, bears, big-horn sheep, elk, and other animals can all be seen within the park over a short period of time. The more time that you spend in the park, the more wildlife that you will see. Some animals, such as the wolves, bears, and the big-horn sheep are generally not viewable from the park roads. The spaces within the park are grand, so make sure to bring binoculars and/or a spotting scope to best view animals safely. - Horseback Riding -- There are many opporunities to enjoy YNP and the scenery there. Endulge in horse riding opportunities in YNP and a famous battlefield. - Photography -- Yellowstone holds unprecedented photo opportunities with natural environments, beautiful hydrothermal features and animals to be found throughout the park. The colors of the hot springs range from bland white (for the very, very hot) to yellows and blues, greens and oranges. Some of the features are very large, and the challenge can be finding a way to get them in the frame. Be creative! There have been a lot of pictures taken in Yellowstone, and there are a lot more still waiting to be taken. - Swimming -- Swimming is allowed (but not encouraged) at the Firehole Cascades swimming area, a section of the Firehole River that is warmed by hot springs. This area, accessible via the Firehole Canyon Drive, has a toilet but no lifeguard and not much parking. - Interpretive Programs Every major village within the park offers food, camping supplies, and souvenirs for sale, although these stores all close during the winter months. Gasoline and automotive services are available in the following locations: - Canyon (late April to early November). Gasoline, diesel and auto repair. - Fishing Bridge (mid May to late September). Gasoline, diesel, propane and auto repair. - Grant Village (mid April to mid October). Gasoline, diesel, propane, and auto repair. - Mammoth (early May to mid October). Gasoline and diesel. - Old Faithful (Lower) (mid April to early November). Gasoline and diesel. - Old Faithful (Upper) (late May to late September). Gasoline and auto repair. - Tower Junction (early June to early September). Gasoline. Vintage sign at Mammoth Hot Springs: There are a variety of restaurant venues scattered throughout the park. Most of the villages sell food supplies and may offer snack bars. The following restaurants and cafeterias are also available: - Old Faithful Inn Dining Room. - Old Faithful Snow Lodge Restaurant. - Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria. - Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room. - Lake Lodge Cafeteria. - Grant Village Restaurant. - Grant Village Lakehouse Restaurant. - Canyon Lodge Cafeteria. Great breakfast with omelet of the day ($4.2), links ($1.05 for two), bacon ($1.05 for two), hot oatmeal and a few other choices. - Canyon Lodge Dining Room. - Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Dining Room. - Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room. Cocktails can be purchased in the lodge restaurants, and lighter beverages can be obtained at the snack bars. A small cauldron bubbles in the Upper Geyser Basin across from Old Faithful Inn. Lodging in the park fills quickly and should be booked in advance. Cancellations are common, so if a particular lodging option is unavailable it is a good idea to re-check frequently to see if it becomes available. Reservations for all lodges and cabins in the park can be made through Xanterra Parks & Resorts or by calling (307) 344-7311. All park accommodations are non-smoking and, reflecting the natural surroundings of Yellowstone, televisions, radios, air conditioning, and Internet hook-ups are not available. - Canyon Lodge and Cabins, . In the Canyon area the lodge options include the Canyon Lodge, Cascade Lodge, and Dunraven Lodge. Cascade Lodge and Dunrave Lodge offer hotel-style rooms, while the Canyon Lodge is actually a group of cabins. All lodging has a private bath. - Grant Village, . Offering an array of hotel-like rooms and cabins for families, this hotel complex provides the basic amenities without some of the flair of the Old Faithful Inn but at prices that are a bit lower, and Grant Village may have greater availability due to the number of rooms available there. There is a post office nearby, as well as a cafeteria, a soda-jerk diner, and a sandwich shop in the complex, as well as a reservations-only restaurant serving local fare. Even if you decide not to eat at the restaurant, do go in to check out the large array of beautiful photographs taken by one of the long-time Yellowstone Maintenance heads, who is also one of the park photographers. - Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins, . Located right on Lake Yellowstone (there's a boat pier and a restaurant right on the edge of the lake), the Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins provide a rustic experience that probably won't excite a luxury traveler, but the staff provides the basics - decent rooms, reasonably good food, and breathtaking views of the lake and its surroundings. Watch out for mosquitos especially as you walk near the lake in mornings and afternoons in the summer, they come out in swarms, but DEET or similar mosquito repellant will keep them away. - Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins, . Open year-round. The hotel offers rooms both with a private bath or with a shared bath. Another option is to stay in the many cabins located next to the hotel, also with private or shared bath. For hikers just looking to clean up, showers are available for $3.25 (inquire and pay fee in advance at front desk). - Old Faithful Inn, . A national historic site, this rustic hotel was originally constructed entirely of logs before two wings were added in the early 20th century. The vast lobby incorporates large tree trunks as pillars and a stone fireplace. Range of accommodations from rooms with shared bathrooms and showers nearby, to suites with private bathrooms and refrigerators. Located near Old Faithful Geyser. Open from May through October. - Old Faithful Lodge Cabins, . Large windows in the lobby face Old Faithful Geyser. Gift shop, restaurants, bakery. Open from May-Oct. - Old Faithful Snow Lodge, . Open December through March. - Roosevelt Lodge Cabins, . A trick of refraction, blue steam rises off the waters of Grand Prismatic Spring Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates campgrounds at Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village, and Madison. Same-day reservations can be made by calling: 307-344-7901. Future reservations can be made by calling: 307-344-7311 or by writing: Yellowstone National Park Lodges, PO Box 165, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. Reservations should be made well in advance and/or campsites should be secured as early in the day as possible. Campgrounds may fill by early morning, especially during peak season (early July - late August). Recreational vehicles over 30 ft should make reservations since there is a limited number of RV sites available in Yellowstone. Large RV sites are located at Flag Ranch, Fishing Bridge RV Park and West Yellowstone. Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Mammoth, Norris, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Tower Fall are operated by the National Park Service and do not accept reservations; all sites are first-come, first-served. - Bridge Bay. (27-May to 18-Sep). 432 sites, flush toilets, RV dump station. $17 per site. - Canyon. (06-Jun to 11-Sep). 272 sites, showers, flush toilets. $20.15 per site. - Fishing Bridge RV. (20-May to 02-Oct). 344 sites, showers, flush toilets, RV sewer station. This is the only campground offering water, sewer, and electrical hookups, and it is for hard-sided vehicles only (no tents or tent-trailers are allowed). $31 per site. - Grant. (21-Jun to 02-Oct). 425 sites, showers, flush toilets, RV dump station. $19 per site. - Indian Creek. (10-Jun to 19-Sep). 75 sites, pit toilets. $12 per site. - Lewis Lake. (17-Jun to 06-Nov). 85 sites, pit toilets. $12 per site. - Madison. (06-May to 30-Oct). 277 sites, flush toilets, RV dump station. $20.35 per site. - Mammoth. checkout: $14 per site. (Year round). 85 sites, flush toilets. - Norris. (20-May to 26-Sep). 116 sites, flush toilets. $14 per site. - Pebble Creek. (03-Jun to 26-Sep). 32 sites, pit toilets. $12 per site. - Slough Creek. (27-May to 31-Oct). 29 sites, pit toilets. $12 per site. - Tower Fall. (20-May to 26-Sep). 32 sites, pit toilets. $12 per site. Artist's Point -- the classic, iconic overlook of Lower Yellowstone Falls. Permits are required for all backcountry camping, and quotas are placed on the number of people that may use an area at a given time. The maximum stay per backcountry campsite varies from 1 to 3 nights per trip. Campfires are permitted only in established fire pits, and wood fires are not allowed in some backcountry campsites. A food storage pole is provided at most designated campsites so that food and attractants may be secured from bears. Neither hunting nor firearms are allowed in Yellowstone's backcountry. Permits may be obtained only in person and no more than 48 hours in advance of your trip, although backcountry sites may be reserved through the mail well in advance for a non-refundable $20 reservation fee. To reserve a site, download the reservation form from the Backcountry Trip Planner , call (307) 344-2160, or by writing: Backcountry Office, PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. During the summer season (Jun-Aug), permits are available 7 days a week between 8AM and 4:30PM at the following locations: - Bechler Ranger Station - Canyon Ranger Station/Visitor Center - Grant Village Visitor Center - Lake Ranger Station - Mammoth Ranger Station/Visitor Center - Old Faithful Ranger Station - South Entrance Ranger Station - Tower Ranger Station - West Entrance Ranger Station In addition, permits may sometimes be obtained from rangers on duty at the East Entrance and Bridge Bay Ranger Station. However, these rangers have other duties and may not be available to provide assistance at all times. During the spring, fall, and winter seasons, ranger stations and visitor centers do not have set hours. To obtain a Backcountry Use Permit during these seasons, check the office hours posted at the nearest ranger station or visitor center. Fragile sinter crusts and ledges can give way, plunging a careless tourist into the boiling waters below Though many of the animals in the park are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. Stay at least 100 m away from bears and 25 m from all other wild animals! Bison, elk, moose, bears, and nearly all large animals can attack! For any doubters, the National Park Service has put a series of animal attack videos online -- these animals are large, wild, and potentially dangerous, so give them their space. In addition, be aware that odors attract bears and other wildlife, so avoid carrying or cooking odorous foods and keep a clean camp; do not cook or store food in your tent. All food, garbage, or other odorous items used for preparing or cooking food must be secured from bears. Treat all odorous products such as soap, deodorant, or other toiletries in the same manner as food. Do not leave packs containing food unattended, even for a few minutes. Animals which obtain human food often become aggressive and dependent on human foods, and many can suffer ill health or death from eating a non-native diet. When camping, either filter, boil, or otherwise purify drinking water. Waters may be polluted by animal and/or human wastes, and intestinal infections from drinking untreated water are increasingly common. Always stay on boardwalks in thermal areas. Scalding water lies under thin, breakable crusts; pools are near or above boiling temperatures. Every year visitors traveling off trail are seriously burned, and people have died from the scalding water. No swimming or bathing is allowed in thermal pools. The weather can change rapidly and with little warning. A sunny, warm day can quickly become a cold, rainy or even snowy experience. Hypothermia can be a concern. Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions by bringing along appropriate clothing. Lightning can and does injure and kill people in the park, so watch the sky and take shelter in a building if you hear thunder. - Grand Teton National Park. Yellowstone's southern neighbor is famous for its dramatic mountain vistas and its alpine lakes. Admission to Grand Teton is included in the Yellowstone price. Note, however, that the road connecting the two parks is closed during winter (early November to mid-May). WikiPedia: Yellowstone National Park Dmoz:North America/United States/Wyoming/Travel and Tourism/Parks/National Parks and Monuments/Yellowstone National Park/ |This is a guide article. It has a variety of good, quality information about the park including attractions, activities, lodging, campgrounds, restaurants, and arrival/departure info. Plunge forward and help us make it a star! wts:Category:Yellowstone National Park

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(A) Lord Ram was born on January 10, 5114 BC : .............................. .............................. ... "Ram was and is for real. He was born on January 10, 5114 BC," Saroj Bala, IRS, Commisioner of Income Tax says, calmly, with the assurance of one who has tangible facts. Taking on the contemporary historical interpretation of Ramayana as a religio-literary text, and Lord Ram as a semi-mythical figure, is this unassuming person who zealously devotes her spare time to research in history when she's not playing the tax mandarin. And she has chosen the unusual combination of astronomy, Internet and literary texts to provide us a startling picture of Shri Ram. This might change the way we look at history and religion. We might refuse to begin reading Indian history from that comma, or hyphen called 'Indus Valley.' We might have to stretch the beginnings by a few thousand years because, as Saroj Bala says - Ram was born on January 10, 5114 BC (which means to say 7,125 years ago, considering present Excerpts of an interview with the lady who has the intellectual courage to go beyond the obvious: What got it all started... As an amateur historian, I've always been interested in Indian culture and heritage. I am proud that we're Indians and the products of one of the oldest civilisations. However, British rule changed us; we developed a sense of being somehow inferior. But I could never reconcile to theories like the theory of Aryan invasion to India in 1500 BC. That would make Indian civilization only 3,500 years old. And if you choose archaeology to dig beyond 7,000 years, you'd have to dig more than 60 metres - something not being done in India as yet. So, archaeology is not the only answer. There's a lot of objective research of another kind that needs to be carried out in earnest. So, how can we say Ram was born on January 10, 5114 B.C... .............................. .............................. .. The Valmiki Ramayana (Bal Kanda 18.8.9) mentions (the planetary positions vis-à-vis zodiac constellations) at the time of Lord Ram's birth as 'the ninth lunar day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, asterism Punarvasu was in the ascendant and (as many as) five planets (viz, the Sun, Mars , Saturn, Jupiter and Venus) happened to be exalted (appeared in the zodiacal signs of Mesa or Aries, Makara or Capricorn, Tula or Libra, Karka or Cancer, and Mina or Pisces respectively) and Jupiter in conjunction with the Moon appeared in the zodiacal sign of Karka' My colleague Pushkar Bhatnagar of Indian Revenue Service is the real originator of this theory. He acquired a software named Planetarium, used to predict planetary movements and configurations. He had designed a software called 'Planetarium Gold Software' which is generally used by scientists to measure the distance and locations of planets from earth and to predict lunar and solar eclipses. By entering in this software, precise details of planetary positions vis-à-vis zodiac constellations described by Maharishi Valmiki in the Valmiki Ramayan, it is possible to determine important dates starting from Shri Ram's birth-date to the date of his return to Ayodhya. So, the same details were entered in the Planetarium Gold software to determine the important dates in the life of Lord Ram vis-à-vis the present planetary positions and zodiac constellations and calculated that Ram was born on January 10, 5114 BC, (which means to say 7,124 years ago, considering present year 2010). More than just Ram's date of birth... The results have not just thrown up Shri Ram's date of birth; it has actually traced the entire sequence of incidents throughout Ramayan. Pushkar Bhatnagar starts with tracing Ram's birth. Then he moves ahead in the narrative. Valmiki Ramayan states Ram was 25-years-old when he went to exile. When the configuration of planets described at this point is fed into the software, the date thrown up matches perfectly with Ram's age at that juncture of his life - 25 years. Again in the 13th year of Ram's exile, during a war with Khar and Dushan, Valmiki describes a solar eclipse. The software proves that on that given day there was indeed a solar eclipse (with Mars in the middle). This solar eclipse and the particular configuration of planets could be seen from Panchavati (longitude and latitude plainly shown in the software). Hanuman Saw 8 Constellations while flying to Lanka... In the Sunderkand, when Valmiki describes Hanuman crossing the sea and returning from Lanka to Rameshwaram, he gives details of 8 constellations. Usually, one can see not more than 6 constellations at a given point of time. But since Hanuman was flying across, and it must have taken him approximately 4 hrs to get there, he could see 8 constellations - in two hours one constellation would have moved out of sight and another become visible. So, in a period of 4 hrs he saw 8 Historicising Shri Ram- Man or God... After researching on Shri Ram, I do believe he's a man who walked the earth in flesh and blood. There is an essential difference between the Valmiki Ramayana and the Tulsi Ramayana. Tulsidas was a devotee who looked up to Ram, but Valmiki was a contemporary. Valmiki has written Ram's life-history, as a biographer does - he's a contemporary of Ram, and this is not very different from what happens all over the world. Kings have always had their life-history written. The submerged bridge... Recently, NASA had put pictures on the Internet of a man-made bridge, the ruins of which are submerged in Palk Strait between Rameshwaram and Sri Lanka. This clearly should be treated as historical evidence that corroborates its mention in Valmiki Ramayana. Even if Adam's Bridge(as called by western ) is a natural geological formation, it could have been beautifully used by Ram to construct a temporary bridge for his army to cross over to Sri Lanka. this is one logic. another, which is more nearly that is, as per the description of Ram's birth time, the date come out as 10th jan, 5114BC , right?, and NASA is claiming the bridge age wud be 1.75million years ago! we know, in another calculation, that date was also calculated, if it is true! means, if we believe, Ram was born in the middle years of 28th treta yuga , then we have to believe that Ram could have been born in 1.75 million years ago(this is matching with the period mentioned by NASA about the age of Ram setu/adam bridge) !But after so many years it's impossible for any buildings, dwellings, statues, seals, coins, cloths, bones or weapons to exist. There also cannot be physical records or evidences of every person who walked this earth so long ago. physical evidence of Ramayan like what are available in Ayodhya or arbuda pahar(mount abu) , in many parts of india and sri lanka can not define the age of evidence of that much years old! Physical evidence of Ramayana all over India and sri lanka here is proving that Rama’s period were before 7000 years! and if those were happened in millions of years ago, we must have not got those evidences in front of our eyes! so, why we shud take the date million years back? NASA has the intention to misguide our hystory with the backing of our own government! the logic here is, bridge was made of stone, the age which was difined by NASA that was the age of stone! we know stones made itself in million years formation! so, they calculated it for million years! even today if, a stone brige is made, what will be the age of stone? exactly, it's million years! and this bridge was submerged due to the natural process! again, you can think that the names which were used in Ramayan or Mahabharat are not giving impression to be unknown or very old to us as long as million years! those names are so common to us even at The puzzle of Indian history... The presence of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Vedas cannot be explained by the short period between the decline of the Indus valley civilization and the Rig Vedic period. A civilization cannot suddenly burst into One needs to look at various sources of history to re-build it. Especially when looking at ancient history. One needs to excavate, look at literature, ancient texts, astronomy. Government apathy to archaeological diggings and investigation in this .............................. .............................. ............................. There's been a very strange development in the media and the people of India. We have started seeing ancient India as something equivalent to the word 'Hindu'. Anything that has happened on this land in the past is our common heritage. But, unfortunately, politicians with vested interests have divided the people for vote bank on artificial religious lines and making it appear that anything related to ancient India was related to Hindu, which is not the case and should not be [In such attitude, after some years, every history of hindu civilization will be destroyed or will not be revealed further as hindus are in large scale being converted & those once converted to other religion(muslim/christian) will not be interested to unvail the There has never been any strong will... It is not that researches have been not taken place. There has been excellent work done by noted historians like Sir Alexander Cunningham and Dr Lal. Cunningham has written as many as 21 volumes on ancient Indian history. But one needs special permissions to access these Unfortunately, Cunningham's work that has very important information has not seen the light of the day. Dr. Lal has pictured the ancient city of Dwarka and it can be read in 'The lost city of Dwarka'. He has listed out 1000 artifacts. Only 9 crores needed to be sanctioned by the government in placing a transparent tube to the sea-bed that could allow people to see for themselves the wonder that was Dwarka. And now people equate the sum total of ancient history to 'a temple or no-temple' at Ayodhya. Delay in research also because science hadn't Without the aid of science it is practically impossible to manually calculate the exact planetary configuration 7, 000 years back. It is science which is going to validate our history and prove that it is much older than 3,500 years. What would be the implications of your research on the society? .............................. .............................. ..... I seriously feel that there can only be positive effects of my research. In fact, Indians should seriously re-look how old is our history and culture. This is not the end of the research; it's just the beginning. People should be encouraged to do more in-depth research by all means such as archaeology, dating methods and Max Mueller had come up with the theory that Aryans had come to India in 1500 B.C. In the Internet, Max Mueller Foundations says that that they have re-looked at this theory and is of the opinion that this theory is no longer valid because Indian history is much older than that period. It's just that people have to open up their minds and find out the answers for themselves. (B) Lord Krishna was born on July 21, 3228 BC: Mr. Arun K. Bansal, the father of computer astrology in India, says that Hindu God Krishna was born on July 21, 3228 bc. Bansal rests his claims on two of his software packages’ the Leo Gold and the Palm computer programmes. They can simulate any planetary configuration that has occurred or could occur in time. And July 21, 3228 bc( which means to say 5238 years ago, considering present 2010 year), according to Bansal, satisfies every condition described during Krishna’s birth. Krishna was born in the Rohini nakshatra, in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, on the 8th day of the waning moon at midnight. Bansal says this was enough information for him to nail the date, working backwards from Krishna’s death, which he says occurred at 2 pm on February 18, 3102 bc. His entire case rests on the accuracy of this date, however. Bansal quotes extensively from the Shrimad Bhagwat and the Shri Vishnu Puranas, old Hindu calendars and the Mahabharata to illuminate the clues he chose to follow. "A shloka in the 38th chapter of the Shri Vishnu Puran, says that Kaliyuga started on the day Krishna died." He unearths another shloka in the Shrimad Bhagwat Purana (part 11, chapter 6) where Brahma himself speaks to Krishna about how old he is. "Brahma says that 125 years have passed since Krishna’s birth; this is just before Krishna plans his death." Though not empirically verifiable, the advent of Kaliyuga is traditionally taken to be 3102 bc, because all our panchangas or astrological journals maintain that 5,100 years of Kaliyuga had passed before 1999 AD. The belief is supported by mathematician Aryabhatta’s astronomy treatise Aryabhattiya, the Surya Siddhanta, an astronomical text that dates back to 400 AD, and a 5th century inscription from a temple in Aihole. Deleting 125 years from the date, Bansal figured Krishna was born either in 3327 or 3228 bc. The rest he left up to his software, merely feeding in the planetary configuration that Krishna was supposedly born under, to generate the row of figures that conforms to the Would astrology have thrown any light on what such an individual may have been like? Outlook asked Bansal to create a birth chart based on the date. His computer churns out 15 pages sectioned under tantalising headings like Love & Romance, Appearance, Personality, and Journeys. With Saturn in his seventh house, he would have been fated to court many women’ enter Radha, the gopis and later his 16,108 wives. But since the seventh house was also under the sign of Scorpio, which guarantees a joyful marital life, he’d also have had the power to keep them happy despite having to divide his attentions among them. An attractive appearance and personality would have come from the exalted moon under the sign of Taurus. Jupiter and the exalted Mercury in the fifth house will have conferred intelligence and oratory skills. Fame and power would have come from Ketu in the 9th house, though it would also have forced him to lead a life away from his Certainly stray statements do conform eerily to Krishna’s attributed qualities. "Endowed with a glowing complexion, you have bright eyes and an enchanting smile." Under personality comes?"You have great fancy for music, moonlight and money". Even the Bhagwad Gita seems to have its origin in his birth chart; it predicts that a person born under this astral spread would have been a great believer in karma who would advise others about karma and noble But there are a few adverse planetary configurations to contend with. The chart describes a life of continuous strife, peppered with battles and wars because Rahu, Mars and Venus are in the third house. Due to the location of Jupiter in Leo, he would also have been destined to be estranged from his mother or mothers in his case. With plans to announce the results of his research at the Somnath temple during this years Janmashtami festival for Krishna’s birthday, Bansal says that even the temple’s priests concur with his findings. "Another pandit, Shri Gyananda Saraswati in Benaras, who will come to the celebration in Somnath, has also come up with the same dates." At peace with his research, Bansal prefers to turn a blind eye to the long, long line of astrologers, godmen, NASA scientists, mathematicians and writers stretching all the way back to Aryabhatta who have worked on the same thing. They all quote the same scriptures, taking into account some or all of the astral happenings recorded in great detail, especially the ones during the calamitous time of the Mahabharata war, when Krishna was said to have been 90 years old. These include rare astronomical happenings like the solar and lunar eclipse that occurred consecutively in the space of a month just before the war, a fortnight that lasted only for 13 days instead of 15 when the moon was waning, and a comet that burned through the skies. Also, the planetary positions recorded during the Mahabharata war were roughly replicated 36 years later, when Krishna died. Most scholars prefer to concentrate on the Mahabharata war where a significant cluster of astronomical events occurred, before zooming onto their own set of dates that binds down the life of the eighth avatar of Vishnu in a specific time-frame. But the dates, while drawn from the same source, strain in opposite directions. At a colloquium organised by the Mythic Society in Bangalore in January last year, dates as wide as 1478 bc to 3067 bc were proposed. Contributors included S. Balakrishna (from NASA, US), using Lodestar Pro software, who proposed 2559 bc as the start of the war. Prof R.N. Iyengar (from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore) brought the event closer historically, suggesting the date 1478 bc, while B.N. Narahari Achar (Department of Physics, University of Memphis, US) after "critically examining" the astronomical events in the Mahabharata pointed to 3067 bc. Authors like P.V. Vartak push back the date of the Mahabharata much further, to 5561 bc. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, in his book, The True History and the Religion of India, comes up with the same dates as Bansal does. Considering that there are 150 astronomical references provided about the characters and events in the Mahabharata in one lakh-odd shlokas, there is little consensus on what information is worth concentrating on. In addition, there is reason to believe that our scriptures "grew" over time, incorporating events of every period. So there is precious little we can attribute collectively to one age. Many scholars in fact wonder if all the references to Krishna in the scriptures refer to one person or whether the Krishna of Vrindavan and the Krishna of the Mahabharata are two different people. But then searching for that mythical date wouldn’t be half as engaging if the process weren’t so complicated. Any wonder that even though the gods have destinies, they prefer we view them through fogged glasses? Astrological notes on birth of Lord Rama and Krishna Rama and Krishna are arguably the two most important heroes of Indian hystory. However, little effort has been made to understand the real timelines when they could have walked on this earth, in flesh and I usually do not like to express my political views in this forum, but I am sorry to note that any attempt to find the truth about these historical figures is always discouraged by the so called secularists who are sitting in the upper echelons of education system in India. Rama was the seventh avatar of Vishnu and was the prince of Ayodhya. His chart has five exalted planets - four of them in Kendras. The fifth planet, Venus, is exalted in the ninth house, which is considered the most important trine. This chart has three of Pancha Mahapurusha Yoga, which I will be talking about shortly. Mercury could not have been exalted along with Sun - it cannot be more than one house away. This is quite an extraordinary chart and probably that is the main reason why researchers have not even begun to try putting a date on it. But I think its ridiculous and if we look at dates in vicinity of 7000 BC, I am sure we would definitely find such a There was an article in Outlook India based on a research paper by Mr Arun Bansal, according to which Krishna was born on July 21, 3228 BC. The chart of Sri Krishna comes out to be read by you about the various interesting interpretations of the chart in the article - the notable one being “You have great fancy for music, moonlight and money”

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Summary: INTERCAMBIOS: SPANISH FOR GLOBAL COMMUNICATION is a short, complete introductory language program, designed especially for two- or three-semester courses with fewer contact hours. The main purposes of the program are to develop students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Spanish, and to help students understand Spanish-speaking communities in the United States, in Latin America and in Spain. Highly integrated components in the program provide many o pportunities to learn and practice Spanish vocabulary, sayings, phrases, pronunciation, and language structures in culturally authentic situations, and situations relevant to students' lives. High-frequency vocabulary, realistic grammar presentations, and compelling cultural readings combine with powerful multimedia resources to provide an integrated program that can be completed easily in either a semester or quarter system. Plus, the INTERCAMBIOS program includes teaching and learning support that gives you and your students exactly what you need. Summary: INTERCAMBIOS: SPANISH FOR GLOBAL COMMUNICATION is a short, complete introductory language program, designed especially for two- or three-semester courses with fewer contact hours. The main purposes of the program are to develop students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Spanish, and to help students understand Spanish-speaking communities in the United States, in Latin America and in Spain. Highly integrated components in the program provide many opportunities to learn and practice Spanish vocabulary, sayings, phrases, pronunciation, and language structures in culturally authentic situations, and situations relevant to students' lives. High-frequency vocabulary, realistic grammar presentations, and compelling cultural readings combine with powerful multimedia resources to provide an integrated program that can be completed easily in either a semester or quarter system. Plus, the INTERCAMBIOS program includes teaching and learning support that gives you and your students exactly what you need. ...show less Edition/Copyright:5TH 08 Cover: Paperback Publisher:Heinle & Heinle Publishers, Inc. Published: 01/02/2006 International: No View Table of Contents PASO 1: NUEVOS AMIGOS EN MÉXICO. México. 1. Bienvenida a Monterrey! Language Functions. Greeting others. Introducing yourself and others. Saying where you and others are from. Describing people. Saying goodbye. Vocabulario esencial. Greetings. Personal introductions. Personal titles. Leave-taking expressions. Gramática esencial. Subject pronouns. Present tense of the verb ser. Agreement of descriptive adjectives. Cultura. Customs for greeting and meeting others. Addressing others: tú and usted. 2. Te gusta estudiar y trabajar en la universidad? Language Functions. Naming academic subjects. Saying your address. Saying your telephone number. Saying your age. Stating ownership. Indicating relationships. Expressing likes and dislikes. Describing daily activities. Vocabulario esencial. Classmates and friends. Academic subjects. Jobrelated subjects. Home. Office terms. Numbers 30-100. Colors. Idioms with tener (años, calor, frío, hambre, sed, sueño). Gramática esencial. Present tense of the verb tener. Possessive adjectives. Possession with de(l). Present tense of regular -ar verbs. Me gusta + infinitive. No me gusta + infinitive. Cultura. University Life in Spain and Latin America. 3. Necesito una pasantía para junio! Language Functions. Telling time. Extending invitations. Making appointments. Accepting and declining invitations. Expressing likes and dislikes. Describing daily activities. Expressing wants and intentions. Vocabulario esencial. Telling time. Days of the week. Months of the year. Gramática esencial. Present tense of regular -er and -ir verbs. Present tense of the verb querer. Present tense of the verb ir + a. Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. Neuter demonstrative pronouns. Cultura. Twenty-four-hour system of time. Gestures. Perspectivas Imágenes. La etiqueta o "netiquette" en la red. Comercio entre los Estados Unidos y México. A leer! Using background knowledge and organizational features. A escribir! Organizing information and combining sentences. PASO 2: ECOTURISMO EN CENTROAMÉRICA. Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panamá. 4. Tenemos que estar de acuerdo! Language Functions. Naming family members. Describing your family. Describing your house. Describing your recent activities. Discussing your daily activities. Stating location. Expressing physical and mental states. Expressing knowledge and familiarity. Describing how and how often. Vocabulario esencial. Family members. The house. Marital status. Expressions with tener que. Gramática esencial. Some uses of the verb estar. Present tense of other irregular yo verbs. Uses of the verbs saber and conocer. Adverbs and adverbial expressions. Cultura. Hispanic families. Hispanic names. 5. Qué carrera quieres seguir? Language Functions. Describing your career plans. Describing your work-related activities. Expressing wants and preferences. Stating intentions and obligations. Describing people's routine activities. Describing weekend plans. Extending an invitation. Describing actions in progress. Vocabulario esencial. Professions. Buildings. Gramática esencial. Present tense of verbs with stem-vowel change (e .ie). Present tense of verbs with stem-vowel change (o .ue, e .i). Present progressive tense. Cultura. Higher education in Spanish-speaking countries. 6. Hace mucho calor en Panamá! Language Functions. Describing the weather. Commenting on the weather. Commenting on the seasons. Expressing your preferences. Saying the year when you were born. Specifying dates. Describing daily routines. Discussing past activities. Vocabulario esencial. Weather expressions. Seasons of the year. More expressions with tene. Numbers 100 - 2000. Gramática esencial. Present tense of reflexive verbs. Preterite tense of regular verbs. The verb form hace + time. Cultura. Climate around the world. Perspectivas Imágenes. La Ruta Maya. Ecoturismo en la Ruta Maya. A leer! Skimming and scanning for information. A escribir! Writing a narrative. PASO 3: BUENA ONDA! Chile. 7. Tengo ganas de ir a la playa! Language Functions. Expressing likes and dislikes. Describing leisure-time activities. Expressing preferences. Discussing past activities. Vocabulario esencial. Pastimes. Sports. Gramática esencial. Preterite tense of irregular verbs. Preterite with stem-changing verbs. Indirect object pronouns with gustar. Por and para. Cultura. Pastimes in Spanish-speaking countries. Sports in the Spanish-speaking world. International recruitment of athletes. 8. Salud y buen provecho! Language Functions. Naming common foods. Stating preferences. Ordering a meal. Referring to specific things. Referring to things already mentioned. Vocabulario esencial. Common foods. Restaurant expressions. Gramática esencial. Direct object pronouns. Double object pronouns. Imperfect tense. Cultura. Hispanic restaurant customs. Mealtimes in Latin America and Spain. Tapas bars. 9. Vacaciones de verano en diciembre? Language Functions. Naming gifts you have received. Naming gifts you need or want. Suggesting what gifts to buy. Expressing negative ideas. Expressing likes and dislikes. Describing childhood experiences. Vocabulario esencial. Jewelry. Electronic equipment. Sport equipment. Other common gifts. Gramática esencial. Affirmative and negative expressions. Preterite tense vs. imperfect tense. Verbs with different meanings in the preterite and imperfect. Cultura. Religious holidays in Spanish-speaking countries. Perspectivas Imágenes. Los pasatiempos en Chile. Centro de ski El Fraile. A leer! Guessing from context and printed clues. A escribir! Editing your writing. Language Functions. Naming fruits and vegetables. Specifying preferences. Expressing likes and dislikes. Expressing grocery needs. Comparing and contrasting. Expressing opinions. Giving advice. Making requests. Vocabulario esencial. Fruits. Vegetables. Shopping expressions. Gramática esencial. Informal (tú) commands. Comparatives. Superlatives. Formal (usted) commands. Cultura. Specialized grocery stores. Open-air markets. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 11. Vamos de compras! Qué chévere! Language Functions. Stating preferences. Discussing what to wear. Speaking with salesclerks. Talking about future plans. Persuading others. Expressing wants. Expressing intentions. Vocabulario esencial. Clothing. Clothing accessories. Colors. Shopping expressions. Numbers over 2000. Gramática esencial. The future tense. Present subjunctive following the verb querer. Cultura. Carolina Herrera. American vs. European clothing sizes. 12. Qué delicioso el café! Language Functions. Discussing personal money management. Communicating with a bank teller. Expressing your emotions. Discussing travel plans. Giving advice and suggestions. Expressing your opinions. Vocabulario esencial. Common business transactions. Money management and banking terminology. Gramática esencial. Introduction to the present subjunctive. Present subjunctive following other verbs of volition. Present subjunctive following expressions of emotion and impersonal expressions. Cultura. Coffee in the Spanish-speaking world. Changing money abroad. International Monetary Fund. Perspectivas Imágenes. De compras. Parque Nacional del Café. A leer! Summarizing a reading passage. A escribir! Writing a summary. PASO 5: BUEN VIAJE! Spain, U.S.A. 13. Te esperamos en Galicia! Language Functions. Specifying your lodging needs. Complaining about a hotel room. Describing a vacation trip. Expressing doubt and indecision. Expressing confidence and certainty. Extending an invitation. Describing your travel plans. Expressing cause and- effect relationships. Vocabulario esencial. Lodging (hotel). Gramática esencial. Present subjunctive following verbs and expressions of uncertainty. Present subjunctive in purpose and time (adverbial) clauses. Cultura. Finding lodging in Spain. Traveling around Spain. 14. Lo siento, pero no me siento bien! Language Functions. Communicating with medical personnel. Giving advice on health care. Describing past wishes and emotions. Stating previous uncertainties. Describing childhood experiences. Speculating on future actions. Vocabulario esencial. Common medical problems. The human body. Gramática esencial. Past (Imperfect) subjunctive. Conditional. Cultura. Taking medical precautions abroad. 15. Qué podríamos hacer nosotros por nuestro medio ambiente? Language Functions. Expressing opinions. Discussing possible solutions. Expressing environmental concerns. Describing possible scenarios. Giving ecological advice. Making recommendations. Vocabulario esencial. Environmental problems. Solutions to environmental problems. Other global concerns. Gramática esencial. "If" clauses. Infinitive versus subjunctive uses (summary). Indicative versus subjunctive uses (summary). Cultura. Education without borders. Noise pollution. Perspectivas Imágenes. La población hispana en los Estados Unidos. Si es Goya tiene que ser bueno! A leer! Reading critically. A escribir! Writing persuasively. Barnes & Noble.com Various Shipping Locations, USA Brand new, ships from the closest shipping location to your shipping address! $203.42 +$3.99 s/h GreatBookPrices Westminster, MD Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served. $203.43 +$3.99 s/h PaperbackshopUS Secaucus, NJ New Book. Shipped from US within 10 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000. $216.41 +$3.99 s/h DiscountLawBooksInc. Lawrence, KS 1413019811 BRAND NEW W/FAST SHIPPING! This item is: IntercambiosSpanish for Global Communication (with Audio CD and vMentor? Spanish 3-Semester Printed Access Card), 5th Ed., by Guiomar Borr?s A.; FOR...show moreMAT: Book With Online Product; ISBN: 9781413019810. Choose Expedited for fastest shipping! Our 98%+ rating proves our commitment! We cannot ship to PO Boxes/APO Addresses or outside the continental U.S. To avoid ordering the wrong item, please check your item's ISBN number! ...show less Free Shipping Get Free Shipping on orders over $25 (not including Rental and Marketplace). Order arrives in 5-10 business days. Need it faster? We offer fast, flat-rate expedited shipping options. Not the right book for you? We'll gladly take it back within 30 days. To return an eTextbook: Your eTextbook is non-returnable once it's been activated. 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by mattpSport and Leisure History 9 May 2011 Dr David Dee (De Montfort University) The British Union of Fascists and the ‘Sporting Jew’, 1935-1939 In the 1930s the British Union of Fascists (BUF) published two newspapers which promoted their anti-Semitic agenda. The first was The Black Shirt, a paper intended for a working class readership. The second was entitled Action and was intended for a more middle class reader and was much more similar to a standard paper of the day. Using these publications Dr David Dee demonstrates that the conception of the Jewish Hidden Hand (a claim that Jews were using, abusing and controlling too much of British wealth, politics and society) and the claim that Jews were an ‘alien’ intruder on British soil, were demonstrated through comments on politics, the arts, and equally importantly their connection to sport. The Jew had no conception of fair play, the BUF claimed. The Jew would get in the way of other golfers and were unable to grasp the etiquettes involved in cricket. The often cited fear that Jews had too much control over banking and finance was also cited by the BUF in terms of damaging sports such as boxing, horseracing, and football. In all Dee identifies sport as an essential element in the BUF’s anti-Semitic argument. Indeed, sport was considered by the BUF as a vital signifier of Britishness which in their eyes represented a militaristic masculine ideology. The Jewish involvement and visibility in sport was therefore attacked in these newspapers on a regular basis and (unlike most fascist groups of the era) seems to have had a very real impact on the beliefs and perceptions of the British public.

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Email Copy Link Copied Economics is not only the study of money and its effects, but also the study of human behaviour, of why people do what they do. The global recession resulted in both macro and micro losses. When one sector of the economy fails, all others suffer as well, so that when the stock market nearly collapsed many regular people faced poverty and social problems. Some of the films on this list focus on recessions and its negative impact on individuals and their families, which are still felt today. Jump to navigation Jump to search Economics film is a film genre concerned with economicstypically about businessinvestingand finance. The genre often deals with issues concerned with economicstypically about businessinvestingand money. Economic films often touch upon themes that occur in the everyday world of business or in the economy in a general sense. Economics films have often been utilized to focus on economic, financial, political, social and philosophical issues. Common subject matter involving economic films are diverse. The genre often explores the essential themes related to economics such as moneywealthmaterialismgreedprofiteeringpowercorporatismeconomic inequalitycorporate criticismanti-corporate activismcorporate corruptionand dishonesty. Though economic films are socially conscious and focused on many aspects related to the business world, many other films are focused on extreme wealth, lavishness, self-indulgence, materialistic, and luxurious subject matter such as having braggadocios about high-end luxury goodscars, wine, houses, and expensive champagne.The New Mexico Economic Development Department provides New Mexico-based businesses or businesses relocating to the state with the information and resources they need to start and expand. Our film recommendations Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck. Originally a novel by John Steinbeck, Grapes of Wrath was considered highly controversial upon release due to Steinbeck’s political and economic beliefs- especially with regard to the poor. Grapes of Wrath was considered to have a Socialist outlook and was banned. However, the novel is considered to be a modern classic exploring issues . In the film, Hollywood helps liberate the trapped Americans. In real life, some are wondering whether Hollywood is the one in need of rescue. “Schizophrenic” is how one studio boss describes the state of Tinseltown. The economics of the film industry are changing. Germany’s economic freedom score is , making its economy the 25th freest in the Index. Its overall score has increased by point, with an increase in labor freedom offsetting. Home Economics is a short youth awareness film developed with the help of young people on the British Council Youth In Action Program. Rohan Green and his team set out to create a powerful short drama that highlights the pressures that young people face straight out of prison. The Foundation for Economic Education, founded in , is the world's top destination for young people to learn the crucial role of entrepreneurs and the importance of free markets.

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While many East Texas-area emergency rooms and doctors’ offices report seeing a large number of flu cases recently, the Gilmer hospital and two local doctors say they have not seen a large increase in victims of the sometimes severe respiratory disease. Dr. Rucker Steven Murry said that they were seeing a “moderate” number of cases. A nurse there said that keys to avoiding the flu include getting the annual vaccine, assuming you are able to take the shots, and if you are around a sick person “wash, wash, wash your hands.” The nurse at Dr. David Buller’s office said they are seeing both types A and B flu strains (different types, with A the more severe), but the number of patients is “not unusually high.” Gorge Leal, administrator of East Texas Medical Center Gilmer, told The Mirror that they are noticing an increase in cases coming there, “but not an alarming one.” Melanie Brashear, a pharmacist at The Med Shop, said that demand for flu shots is running high. “I’ve given 17 flu shots since noon,” she said at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. She pointed out that it takes about two weeks for the vaccination to reach its maximum effectiveness in the body. The antiviral agent Tamiflu is believed to cut the duration of the flu in people who began taking doses of it within 48 hours after symptoms appear (in those one year old and older). It may reduce the duration by up to a day and a half. Check with your doctor to make sure you can take a flu shot. Those who have ever had Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) or multiple sclerosis (MS—check with your doctor to see if you specifically can take the vaccine) cannot take the shots. There are other restrictions, as well. In addition to vaccination, here are the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s recommends to avoid the flu and to avoid spreading it: • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash right after you use it. • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. • Try to avoid contact with sick people. • If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil is one brand) or acetaminophen (Tylenol is a name brand). • While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

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Today we need an example of something weirdly-shaped and electrically conductive. There’s no shortage of such things, so we might as well go with the iconic. This is the Statue of Liberty: It’s made out of copper, which over the years has taken on a decidedly not-copper color due to chemical reactions between the copper surface and the surrounding atmosphere. But it’s still copper and thus a very good conductor of electricity. Unfortunately for our purposes here the statue is also hollow, and in fact the copper is only a few millimeters thick. This isn’t unusual, almost all metal statues of any size are hollow. Metal is very expensive and very heavy. But for the moment, go ahead and pretend the Statue of Liberty is in fact a solid mass of copper metal. Now apply an electric charge to it. Dump a bucket of electrons on it, fire up a Van de Graff generator, rub a balloon on your head and hold it close to the statue, whatever. Now there’s an excess of charge on the statue. How does it distribute itself? We know that charges experience a force when they’re placed in an electric field. Conversely an electric field is generated by the presence of charge. Thus the charges are going to be pushed around by their mutual repulsion until they reach a stable configuration. With a little thought we can figure out what the stable configuration is, even for something so complicated as the Statue. It’s not possible to quite do this in reality, but imagine that you want to very sensitively probe the electric field at a particular point. You do this by taking a single electron as a test charge, placing it at the location you want to test, and seeing which way it moves. In that way you can see what direction the electric field points. But at this point we can also extrapolate backwards. Once we charge up the statue, there can’t be an electric field anywhere inside. If there were, our test charge and all the other charges would be moving, which means they wouldn’t have found their equilibrium positions yet. Once they find their equilibrium positions, they aren’t moving anymore. Which means there’s no field. But if there’s no field, that means there’s no net charge – because charge generates an electric field. So is there no charge in the statue, despite the fact that we just put it there? The answer is that there’s no charge in the statue. Our argument shows that the equilibrium position of all the charge is on the surface of the statue. Any charged conductor will have all of its charge on its exterior surface. This argument only works for conductors, since it requires that the electrons be free to move. In an insulator they can’t, and so they’ll mostly stay wherever they’re put. Back to the Statue. All of the charge is on the surface, but we have no guarantee that’s it’s evenly distributed on the surface. In fact it’s not. In general the distribution on the surface will be a complicated function of the geometry. In particular it will tend to be highest at sharp points like the spikes on the crown, or (more saliently for other types of structures) lightning rods. And that’s a story for another day – though I’m pretty sure that other day will be tomorrow!

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A Swedish research team has found that owning a dog lowers risks of death associated with cardiovascular disease and other causes. In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, the researchers used national registries, which included information on over 3.4 million Swedes between the ages of 40 and 80 to explore the relationship between owning a dog and an individual's cardiovascular health. Everyone included in the research didn't have any kind of cardiovascular disease in 2001. Dog Ownership Benefits According to the researchers' findings, dog ownership offered particular protective benefit for persons living alone, a subgroup previously reported to have higher risks of cardiovascular disease and death. Specifically, single dog owners had 33 percent lower risks of death and 11 percent lower risks of myocardial infarction, with those owning hunter dog breeds experiencing the most benefit. "Perhaps a dog may stand in as an important family member in single households," said Mwenya Mubanga, the study's lead junior author. Why Are Dogs Good For One's Health? Epidemiological studies like this one look for connections within large populations but don't offer explanations as to how and whether dogs could offer protection against cardiovascular disease. Tove Fall, the study's senior author, said that one reason behind the results they observed could be that dog owners are generally more active physically than those who don't have canine companions. Another is that dog ownership translates to a higher level of social contact and well-being or that a dog can have an effect on its owner's bacterial microbiome, which affects their health. According to Fall, it's also entirely possible that dog owners and non-owners are already different well before man's best friend entered the picture. "Our results are generalizable to the Swedish population, and probably also to other European populations with similar culture regarding dog ownership," added the senior author. Dog Ownership Research In Sweden, each person is assigned a unique identity number. Every time an individual goes to the hospital, their visit is recorded in the nation's databases, which researchers can access after data has been scrubbed clean of information that can identify people. Registering dog ownership has also been mandatory in the country since 2001. The study was carried out by researchers from Uppsala University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Karolinska Institute, and Stanford University. It also received funding support from the Göran Gustafsson Foundation, the Agria-SKK Research Foundation, and the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences, and Spatial Planning.

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The Effect of Snow on Solar PanelsBy Matthew Wheeland - August 5, 2010 Can solar panels work in snow? Yes, we know it’s high summer right now, but because we run group discounts on solar in places like Denver, we get questions about snow and solar panels pretty much year round. Solar panels definitely work in snowy climates–homeowners in snowy Germany, for example, are leading the world in terms of putting solar panels on their roofs. What happens when snow gets on the panels? They can still work under a light snowfall, but after snow completely blocks out sunshine, they’ll stop generating power. This can happen after more than a couple of inches of snowfall. Because of the way that solar cells are wired together, if one area of a panel is covered with snow, it can shut off the rest of the panel as well. How can snow be removed from solar panels? It’s often possible just to wait for the snow to melt, which can happen quickly depending on the weather conditions. Black panels like SunPower’s help the snow melt faster. Because solar panels have a slippery surface and sit at an angle, it can be easy for snow to slide off (please note that this can sometimes happen unexpectedly, so you may need to be careful when walking underneath!). Sue Okerson, a PURE member in Denver, says that “It does mean we have to shovel the south side of the house more than once, but it’s so worth it. Our last Xcel bill was $6.36…fees and taxes! We love our system!” There are several other ways that people try to keep snow off their panels. First, ground-mounted panels can be tilted to a steeper degree in the winter to help snow slide off more easily; the angle can also better capture winter light. In heavy snowfall, some people choose to use a roof rake to sweep the snow off. A German company makes a product similar to windshield wipers to automatically brush snow aside, although this isn’t yet available in the United States. How can snow help? Like other electronics, solar panels actually work more efficiently in cold weather, so winter isn’t automatically a bad thing. On a clear day after it’s snowed, your solar panel output can actually be greater than in the summertime because the sun is reflected off the bright white ground. Homeowners in snowy climates have reported that their solar panels can operate at better than 100% of their rated power. When snow comes off panels, it helps clean them, which gives an additional boost to their productivity. Even if there are days when your panels are covered with snow and not pumping out power, it’s also important to remember that your total energy generation is calculated over a year, so day-to-day variations– or lower generation over winter months– can be made up at other times. Image credit: solardave.com

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From the alluring smell of concession stand snacks to the sounds of the marching band, Friday nights in the fall are full of excitement surrounding an all-American tradition: football. But the sport has gained increasing attention in recent years more for the injuries it can cause than for the game itself. Doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say concussions are a brain injury caused by a hard hit, and they are not to be taken lightly. As many as 3.8 million athletes suffer a concussion each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Concussions are significantly more of an issue than originally thought. If you have one concussion you are more likely to suffer from subsequent concussions,” says Jim Johnston, M.D., assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Neurosurgery at UAB. Physicians and athletic trainers in the UAB Sports Medicine department at Children’s of Alabama say concussion should be suspected in the presence of one or more symptoms, such as headaches, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, cognitive impairment, abnormal or erratic behavior, drowsiness or slurred speech. “It can be any instance of trauma that causes these, and it doesn’t have to be a direct blow to the head – it can be a direct blow to the body that sends a strong enough force up to the head,” explains Marshall Crowther, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Orthopedic Surgery at UAB. Nearly 30 states have passed concussion laws in recent years, with Alabama following suit in June 2011. In 2010, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) put new rules into effect that stated if a student athlete exhibited concussion symptoms they must be held out until a physician clears them to return. See their concussion information form here. “We saw a threefold increase in concussions in the emergency room last year because of the rule change,” says Drew Ferguson, M.Ed., director of UAB Sports Medicine and an athletic trainer for more than 40 years. “Probably 90 percent of the ones we see clear up on their own, especially if it’s their initial concussion and the guidelines we give them are followed.” An athlete diagnosed with a concussion can expect to be out of the game for a minimum of a week. As with many aspects of this sports-related injury, everybody reacts differently, and you never can tell what the outcome will be. Players should be removed from the game immediately and have a medical assessment if any symptoms develop. “If you return to play too early you are much more likely to have a subsequent concussion and longer duration of symptoms with those concussions. It is like injuring your knee, if you go back too early instead of missing a month, you may miss a season, and we need to start thinking of concussions in the same way,” says Johnston. “We still don’t know a lot about long-term ramifications of concussions, why some people tend to have more prolonged problems or symptoms, so that’s still being researched,” says Crowther. To help parents and athletes get through the recovery process, UAB Sports Medicine is opening a Concussion Clinic at Children’s of Alabama. “We anticipate Mondays will be the busiest for concussions as we’re trying to capture the Friday night injuries that happened. Sometimes symptoms may not show up right away, it may be a couple days before they appear, so ideally we’ll see more acute injuries two to three days from the football game,” Crowther says. The concussion clinic staff consists of athletic trainers, nurses and physicians. In addition to treating concussions, they will work to educate parents, trainers, coaches and athletic directors about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of concussions.

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Perhaps you will find this excerpt helpful, or better yet, read it all. Restraint versus Control Just as there are both positive and negative forces in the world, so too, every person is a composite of positive and negative traits. We need these negative forces, however; without their power and vitality, many goals and aspirations would lack the energy necessary to be realized. Esau represents the raw, base forces in the world. His reddish complexion indicated the violent and brutal nature of his personality. Jacob did not prevent Esau from coming into the world; after all, the world needs Esau and his raw power. Rather, Jacob held on to Esau's heel, holding him back. The name Jacob refers to this aspect of restraint, reining in the fierce forces. Ultimately, however, our goal is not to simply hold back these negative forces. We aspire to gain control over them and utilize them, like a hydroelectric dam that harnesses the vast energy of a raging waterfall for the production of electricity. For example, the Talmud tells us that a person with blood-thirsty tendencies should become a shochet (ritual slaughterer) or a mohel, thus sublimating his violent nature for noble purposes. This higher aspiration is represented by Jacob's second name, Israel, which comes from the root-word sar, meaning 'to rule.' The name Jacob is appropriate when the Jews are in the Diaspora. There, they serve as a moral conscience to partially restrict the wild and violent forces in the world. But when redeemed and living in their own land, the Jewish people are able to attain the higher level of Israel. Then they have the opportunity to demonstrate how a nation may utilize its material capabilities for constructive and ethical goals.

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Researchers Want Robots to Play in the World Cup by 2050 But first they need to learn not to fall over. Bold Hearts in 2014. Image: Daniel Polani Robots are awesome, robots are terrifying. They can jump over hurdles, thrash us at Chess, and withstand radiation, venturing where no human will. But why do they still have so many issues playing a four-aside football game? "The essential problem is that the robots don't understand what they're doing. They're hardcoded to move from step to step, from action to action, from behaviour to behaviour," Daniel Polani, a UK robot football manager and professor of artificial intelligence at the University of Hertfordshire, told me. "It's a bit like driving through the fog where you can only see two yards ahead. This is what happens to the robot—they effectively have no big picture of what they're doing." RoboCup 2015, which is currently holding its 19th tournament in Hefei in Eastern China, involves teams of four robots from all over the world playing 20-minute football matches. The goal of the annual championship is to create robots that are agile, lithe, and robust enough to compete against pro human footballers by the 2050 World Cup. The researchers involved also hope to apply their findings to produce better rescue, disaster, and domestic robots. Itsuki Noda, the president of the RoboCup Federation and a principal research manager of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan, told me that it probably wouldn't be hard to eventually engineer an agile robot. The main challenge would be making sure the robot could collaborate with and understand humans. "Our ultimate goal is to develop a soccer robot that can win against a human champion. It won't be so hard for robots to beat humans [at football]. We will be able to develop a very powerful kicking machine, and super-goalie robot that can move faster than a ball," Itsuki said. "But a robot should never injure a human, and furthermore, robots need to collaborate with humans, understand human intentions and show their intentions in ways that humans can easily understand. We would like to develop a robot system that can collaborate with humans." Polani heads up Bold Hearts, a team of four 30-40cm tall robots in the kids-sized humanoid league of the RoboCup. The team were the runners up in last year's finals in Brazil. Polani's teams robots are pre-programmed with around 50,000 lines of code, and as all the robots have to act autonomously on the field, the pre-match preparations are intense. Polani likens the process to rigorous Formula One conditions, where pit stop changes are choreographed down to a tee. "You can't be sloppy if you want to win this. You have to have a really smooth team where everyone knows what they're doing. It's like Formula One, just without the driver," said Polani. "These robots do not have foot sensors. It's like having someone tie soles of wood to your feet." While Chess was once considered a challenge for AI, it can now beat humans hands down. This, said Polani, was a bit of a let down as it didn't let people "learn anything about the nature of AI." But give AI a robotic body, make it interact with objects and other robots in space and time, and the challenge becomes significantly harder, as researchers must essentially coordinate teams of non-sentient beings in the physical world. "There's not just one player but multiple players against multiple players, with everything happening in continuous time. This makes it much harder to plan and predict things," explained Polani. In robot football, where your charges are pretty slow, strategy is key. Polani attributes his team's prowess last year to their software; they programmed their robot footballers to kick the ball to the side, rather than trailing around it. "This buys us around ten to 15 seconds of repositioning. We were a bit slower than some teams at getting to the ball, but when we were there, we were accurate," said Polani. While speed and accuracy are important, another challenge is keeping the robots upright. Most of the robots in the competition have no haptic feedback, so they have to process information from their surroundings visually. "If you have feeling in the soles of your feet you can stay upright more easily. But these robots do not have foot sensors. It's like having someone tie soles of wood to your feet, or like [walking in] Dutch garden shoes," said Polani. This year, Polani told me that his team were trialling out one robot with foot sensors. Given the unpredictability of these competitions, where whole robot teams can be felled by a faulty battery, a software or hardware blip, or simply overheating, Polani said he wasn't sure if they'd capitalise on the additional haptic feedback yet. But he expected other teams to follow suit next year. Each year, the rules of the competition change and become harder. This year, both an AstroTurf floor (as opposed to carpet), and the need to program robots to recognise the colour white have upped the stakes—previously there were more visible red cues for the ball and yellow for goal posts. Fouls are a pretty lax concept, and are often overlooked by the referee. A robot that stalls on pitch is dubbed an "incapable robot" and quickly lifted off the field to be resuscitated by its human handlers. Sometimes robots also end up bashing into one another, kicking or clinging to one another, but Polani said that they were disentangled and minor flaws ignored as the robots hadn't done it "intentionally." "If a robot systematically destroyed a robot they would be disqualified—if that happens we're moving ahead," said Polani. Since RoboCup's inception in 1997, where Honda unveiled a massive 130kg robot, things have come far. With technology becoming cheaper and more available each year, robots can be bought easily and smaller teams of researchers can get their robotic charges onto the field. But both Polani and Noda agree that robots need a sense of "intention" if they're to be effective players in and out of the pitch. In other words, they need to be self-conscious and fully aware of their actions and desires. Noda envisioned that neural network and deep learning technology could help in the future, but said that progress was still needed both in terms of hardware, motor, and sensor tech. "We also need to establish a model of a human's thinking process and we need more sophisticated brain science, theory of social interactions, symbol grounding problems, and human learning theories," he said. While no robot on the field looks like it can zip along at great speeds on the pitch, or work effectively without human intervention, both Noda and Polani are optimistic about seeing robot footballers on the real pitch by the 2050 World Cup. "If you look at the progress that we've made since 1997, our robots are much more flexible and better-controlled," he said. Robot footballers in the 2050 World Cup, he added, were "implausible, but not impossible."

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Alzheimer’s gene may show effects on brain starting in childhood, study suggests New research suggests that a gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease may show its effects on the brain and thinking skills as early as childhood. This is according to a study published today by the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study involved 1,187 children aged between three to 20 years old who took part in genetic tests and brain scans and undertook tests of thinking and memory skills. The children had no brain disorders or other problems that would affect their brain development. The findings revealed that children with the higher-risk APOE4 gene had differences in their brain development on average compared to children with other forms of the APOE gene. The differences were seen in areas of the brain that are often affected byAlzheimer’s disease. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Ian Le Guillou, Research Officer at Alzheimer’s Society said: 'These interesting findings suggest that people with the APOE4 gene - which increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease - have differences in their brains from childhood. However, we need to be cautious in interpreting these results as although this study involved over 1,000 children, there were less than 30 in the highest-risk group. We would need to see these results replicated in a larger group, as well as having longer term follow-ups to better understand how the changes in the brain progress with age. 'Everyone's brain is slightly different and the trends found here could only be seen by taking the average across many people. We cannot say who will go on to develop dementia and having the APOE4 gene does not mean that you will. Although people with the gene are at an increased risk of dementia, there are still things they can do to lower their chances of developing the condition. This includes taking regular exercise, not smoking and keeping their blood pressure in check.'

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