It was only about a decade ago when people just barely started using digital cameras. While they did take some good quality photos at the time, consumers were always stuck with the same camera lens that came with the camera. It is not only the camera's sensor that dictates how well your photos turn out, but also the camera's lens. It is nice to have a good camera, but it is even better to have a great camera lens. Eventually, more advanced cameras came out and these were bundled with interchangeable camera lenses. This allowed users to swap various types of camera lenses on DLSR or mirrorless cameras. Depending on the style of photography you want to employ, whether it be long distance shots or extreme close ups, you will need a different type of camera lens.
Before listing the different types of camera lenses you should consider, we want to initially talk about the key property used to classify these lenses – focal length. The focal length of a camera lens determines the magnification of the image. It is typically expressed in millimeters (mm). A higher focal length value means that you can zoom in on very small objects and retain sharpness, on the other hand, a lower focal length value means that you will have a wider shot angle to capture very large objects in your frame. To make it easier, you can consider that the focal length determines the angle of view. Camera lenses can be either of single focal length (e.g. 50 mm) or described by a focal length range (e.g. 24-80 mm). A lens with a single focal length is also known as a prime lens. However, a lens with a focal length range is known as a zoom lens. Zoom lenses can be classified into many types depending on the minimum and maximum focal length values, each serving different purposes.
We will look at many of these in detail below but before that, this table summarizes the various types of zoom lenses including specific information on some key properties and applications.
The kit lens that comes bundled with your DSLR or interchangeable lens mirrorless camera is a very good example of a standard zoom lens. Standard zoom lenses typically have a focal length range of 35-70 mm and standard prime lenses typically have a fixed focal length of 50 mm. Using a standard lens will reproduce an image on your camera that approximately resembles what you see with your naked eye. This means that your photos will look very natural to you and everybody else because these lenses work the same way our eyes do. Good examples of standard camera lenses are the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II or the Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM.
As these lenses are "standard", they are very versatile, being useful for a wide variety of photography situations. Whether it be street, documentary, landscape, or portrait, a standard lens can be used almost everywhere. If you are moving quickly and want to snap an interesting action or if you are stationary and want to capture a still moment, then you will not go wrong with a standard camera lens.
Wide angle lenses have a typical focal length range of 21-35 mm. Some manufacturers produce wide angle lenses with a focal length range of 10-24mm, so you need to read the specifications in detail to know exactly what you are getting. At such a low focal length (below 24mm), you can also call them ultra wide angle lenses. Using a wide angle lens will result in a wide panoramic shot, great for landscape photography. In wide angle photos, you will notice that the foreground is heavily emphasized and the background is pushed back, appearing distant.
Besides taking amazing and breathtaking photos of landscapes, wide angle lenses are great for taking pictures of buildings and other types of behemoth architecture. They are also good for interior shots and for taking photos of a large group of people where you need to fit everybody into the frame. Good wide angle lenses you can consider are the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM or the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM A.
A telephoto lens has a focal length of over 70 mm. These lenses bring the very distant objects closer, making them appear sharper than they would in a normal lens. A focal length range of 85-100mm makes a medium telephoto lens. From 135-300mm, you will have your standard telephoto lens and if you are looking for even more zoom, a focal length range of 400-800mm will give you a super telephoto lens. Depending on your intended application, you should choose wisely. Great telephoto lenses aer the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II, the Sigma 800mm F/5.6 EX APO DG HSM and the Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD.
Due to their very narrow angle of view, this makes telephoto lenses perfect for zooming in on objects. A telephoto lens will be very good for focusing on specific details or on distant objects that caught your attention. These lenses are great for wildlife and sport situations where you cannot get close to the subject but still want to capture it. They are also good for shooting portraits (particularly headshots) and landscapes where you want to capture the scale of an object. Some people also call them portrait lenses.
A fisheye lens is a type of wide angle lens (below 24mm) that is unique in how it captures photos. The edges of these photos are quite distorted, resulting in a hemispherical image with curved edges. That explains the name. The center of the picture is magnified and emphasized and as you move away from the center and move toward the edges, objects will appear smaller. This type of lens is very popular in underwater photography because the style of the pictures resembles what fishes actually see.
An eye of a fish is on the side of their body, so fishes are able to see everything around them. A fisheye lens gives you that same full panoramic view in a very artistic style. If you are looking to take photos of interior architecture and unique landscapes, purchase a fisheye lens. Good fisheye lenses are the Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED AF DX Fisheye, the Samyang 8mm f/3.5 UMC Fish-eye CS II and the Pentax smc DA 10-17mm F/3.5-4.5 ED IF Fish-Eye.
When most of us take photos, we try to zoom in on something very far away. That is where your telephoto lens will come in handy. However, you might want to zoom in on something that is right in front of you, like flowers and little bugs and insects. That is when you need a macro lens, capable of reproducing images at a ratio of 1:1, even sometimes at a ratio of 1:2. This makes it great for extreme close-up photography. A macro lens has a typical focal length range of 40-200 mm.
Since the goal is to focus on very small objects that are right in front of you, the images produced by these lenses are quite sharp. This makes your photos intricately detailed. Good macro lenses are the Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di 1:1 Macro, the Sigma 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM and the Canon EF 180mm F/3.5L Macro USM.
We have seen many different types of lenses in this guide, ranging from the very long range telephoto lenses that capture a faraway object to the ultra wide angle lenses that fit everything into a single frame. Now if you are somebody who thinks it will be cumbersome to carry multiple lenses for different scenarios while you are traveling, then we have the perfect workaround just for you. You can opt for a superzoom lens.
A superzoom lens is an all-in-one lens that can do it all with its large focal range. A typical focal range for such a lens would be 18-200mm, encompassing the entire spectrum. As it is a general purpose lens, the image quality of photos suffers a bit, but you will make it up for the added convenience of only carrying a single camera lens. Good superzoom lenses for your travels, or just everyday use to be frank, are the Nikon AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR and the Sigma 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM.
Now that we got the various types of camera lenses out of the way, we can talk about the main properties of lenses that you will find on many product specifications. Apart from the focal length which ultimately categorizes the various types of lenses, you should pay attention to other features and properties of camera lenses. This is especially important if you want to use your camera in a particular scenario.
If the focal length is the most important property of a camera lens, then its aperture is definitely the second most. It is a major parameter describing the amount of light that can be gathered by the lens. Lenses with a larger maximum aperture are able to gather more light. Aperture can be expressed in a multitude of ways. For example, F5.6, f/5.6, and 1:5.6 all mean the same thing. Be careful though. A smaller number means that the maximum aperture is higher, thereby gathering more light. Many people mix this up and hopefully after reading this guide, you will not fall in that trap. Here is an example. A large aperture would be f/32 and a small aperture would be f/1.4.
By having a lens with a larger maximum aperture, you can capture images in low-light conditions very well and take photos indoors without flash. Moreover, a larger maximum aperture will result in a shallower depth of field. This means that with a higher aperture rating, the central object in your photo will remain sharp and in focus while everything else will appear blurred. This might come in handy if you want to take creative shots.
Whether you are a novice photographer or an experienced one, you want to buy a camera lens that has good image stabilization. It will make your life so much easier when the lens has a built-in technology to counteract the blur that may appear from shaky hands or unsteady shots. This is a problem that many people have. When a lens can help rectify the issue, make sure to buy it. Many manufacturers, such as Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung use image stabilization systems within their lens and not their cameras. If you are buying a telephoto lens for long distance shots, make sure you invest in image stabilization.
The optical zoom range is the ratio between the longest and shortest focal lengths. When you use optical zoom to zoom in and out on objects, you are actually moving the lens to magnify the images. For example, for the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR, the optical zoom range is 16.7 (300/18). The average optical zoom range is 2.8.
A lens mount is a proprietary technology manufacturers use to ensure that only their lenses can be attached to their cameras. That means that a Canon lens will only attach on a Canon camera body, a Panasonic lens will only fit on a Panasonic camera body, and so on. You cannot swap lenses across brands; you must buy a lens from the same manufacturer as your camera. If you look at the inner portion of a lens, you will see that no two brands are the same. However, there are some exceptions, such as Panasonic and Olympus using Four Thirds mounts on their DSLRs. This means that you can attach a Panasonic camera lens on an Olympus camera body, and vice versa.
There are also several third party manufacturers, like Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina, making lenses in a variety of mounts that can be attached on multiple cameras from other brands. Before you even buy a camera lens, please find out which mount your camera uses. Some examples of lens mount for DSLRs include the Nikon F-mount, Canon's EF or EF-S, the Pentax K, and Sony's Alpha A mount.
The table below lists the key manufacturers of lenses and their respective mount technologies.


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David Shulkin
NYT Spreads Trumped-Up 'Fear' of 'Radical' Privatization, Koch Brothers at VA
By Clay Waters | March 30, 2018 4:35 PM EDT
In Friday's New York Times, reporter Nicholas Fandos used the firing by President Trump of Veterans Affairs secretary David Shulkin to spread irrational fear of privatization at the scandal and corruption-plagued federal organization for veterans assistance: "V.A. Shake-Up Gives Rise to New Fears of Privatized Care."
VIDEO CNN's Avlon: It Is a 'Disgrace' to Fire McCabe 'Days Before Retirement' and Take Away His Pension
By Ryan Foley | March 15, 2018 11:08 AM EDT
During an appearance on CNN's New Day Thursday morning, panelist John Avlon did not seem to like the idea that Attorney General Jeff Sessions may fire Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe for his mishandling of the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation, saying "that is a disgrace to fire somebody days before retirement, and take away their pension really for what is a petty and political reason."
VIDEO Nets Blackout Trump Admin Cracking Down on Dangerous VA Facility
By Nicholas Fondacaro | July 18, 2017 12:26 AM EDT
The Trump administration took swift action against two high ranking officials at the Manchester VA Medical Center in New Hampshire on Sunday. The firings came one day after The Boston Globe published a scathing expose on the atrocious conditions present at the VA hospital. But despite the horrendous conditions and the Trump administration's decisive action, the Big Three Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) ignored everything.
VIDEO Kellyanne Conway Mocks Chris Cuomo's Russia Collusion Obsession in Marathon Interview
By P.J. Gladnick | July 10, 2017 2:47 PM EDT
It was a marathon July 10 interview chock full of fireworks on CNN's New Day that ran into overtime to almost 36 minutes. What set it off was host Chris Cuomo's obsession with the latest Trump-Russia nothingburger. Cuomo's ire could have been set off by guest Kellyanne Conway's mockery of Cuomo's sacred issue that CNN has hung its reputation upon. However, one has to wonder if Cuomo's desperately energetic attitude came in part as a response to the revelation by his assistant producer, Jimmy Carr, on a recent Project Veritas video that much of his New Day crew hold him in very low regard.
VIDEO ABC, NBC Egregiously Ignore New VA Reform Bill Becoming Law, Troubles at L.A. V.A. Hospital
By Curtis Houck | June 26, 2017 2:57 PM EDT
For a media wallowing in the toxic political culture, one would think Friday's bill signing of a massive overhaul at the scandal-ridden Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) would provide a chance to show that Washington has accomplished something. Alas, it was not to be as ABC and NBC refused to directly cover this bipartisan achievement for the Trump administration.
VIDEO Draining Swamp at Veterans Admin. Ignored By ABC, CBS, Univision & Telemundo
By Ken Oliver-Méndez and Valentina Humphrey | June 14, 2017 8:10 PM EDT
A bill that sets into motion a full-scale house-cleaning at the Veterans Administration - has so far been ignored by the national evening newscasts of ABC and CBS, as well as Spanish-language Univision and Telemundo.
VIDEO CBS, NBC Skip Report Showing 'Dangerous Conditions' at D.C. VA Hospital
By Nicholas Fondacaro | April 12, 2017 9:26 PM EDT
On Wednesday afternoon, news broke out of Washington D.C. that, "Conditions are so dangerous at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C., that the agency's chief watchdog issued a rare preliminary report Wednesday to alert patients and other members of the public." That, according to USA Today. Despite the horrific conditions found in government ran facilities, CBS and NBC decided to skip the news during their evening broadcasts. ABC, on the other hand, did report the shocking findings.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Maghreb Blog: Fracture in Libya?
Sarah Leah Whitson provides an optimistic view of the Libyan political landscape in the aftermath of the death of its most visible dissident, Fathi al-Jahmi. Whitson writes that the regime is showing signs of fracture as there is a noticeable space for open dissent. This space is still monitored by the state through organizations such as the Qaddafi Foundation for International Charities and Development run by none other than Gaddafi's own son Saif al-Islam. Whitson and others rightly wonder whether this is an attempt to set Saif as heir apparent to his father's rule.


ATV and ATV HIPPS are glad to exhibit at the Offshore Europe 2017, that will be held in Aberdeen from September 05th to 8th, 2017.
Offshore Europe, organised by the SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers), is recognized by offshore professionals as Europe's leading Energy & Petroleum event. Attending will ensure you are up to date with the most significant technologies and can connect with a global network of more than 50.000 attendees. The theme of this year's event is "Embracing New Realities: Reinventing Our Industry". Do not miss the chance to expand your technical knowledge with exceptional insight and best practice in the industry's largest free to-attend Conference, a four days of cutting-edge content that will ensure you to stay informed and competitive. To register online and for more information about the exhibition click herevisit the OE 2017 website.
Learn more about ATV and ATV HIPPS: visit us at our booth 3B247, at anytime from Septembe 05th to 8th! Should you wish to book a personal appointment in advance or if you have any other questions, please send an e-mail to info@atvspa.com. See you in Aberdeen!
ATV is a leading valve manufacturer that supplies a full range of valves for the most demanding Oil & Gas applications, including HIPPS, HPHT, highly corrosive service, deep and ultra-deep water, boarding valves. The production range includes side entry, top entry and fully welded ball valves, through conduit slab gate and double expanding gate valves,dual plates, nozzle and swing check valves, rising stem ball valves and axial flow control valves, hydraulic actuators and mechanical gear for subsea applications.
ATV HIPPS is a fully fledged system integrator providing SIS (Safety Integrated System) Solutions. We design, manufacture, assemble, test and certify safety loop systems including IFAT(Integrated Functional Acceptance Test) performed in our own facilities. We provide startup, commissioning and Field services including system upgrades, safety assessment and SIL certification of new and existing installations. For more information, please visit atvhipps.com.


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'Pro Evolution Soccer 2016' is actually worth playing over 'FIFA'
June 17, 2015 JarvisWearablese32015, FIFA 16, FIFA16, hands on, konami, PES 2016, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016
I grew up with Winning Eleven, the franchise that Konami morphed into what we now know as Pro Evolution Soccer in North America. These days, I find myself playing EA Sports' FIFA, a choice I suspect is echoed by millions of football fans worldwide. During the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 era, though, Konami's title was hands-down the far superior product, thanks to better game mechanics and, in general, being more fun. Unfortunately, Pro Evolution Soccer couldn't keep up with EA's perpetual resources, starting with the exclusive licensing deals for major leagues from across the world. But while Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, out September 15th, still won't let me play as Chelsea (it's called London FC), the refined gameplay and improved graphics could be enough to make me pick it over FIFA — and I haven't felt that way in years.
I played it for the first time at E3 2015 and came away feeling it exceeded expectations. Namely, I was impressed by the smoother gameplay and better-looking, crisper graphicsin comparison to PES 2015. Konami emphasizes that the main focus for this year's release was on soccer, not licenses. "It's always about the gameplay," a company spokesperson says about the upcoming release. There's more freedom for creativity when controlling your team, for example, making it easier for you to accomplish more dribbles with players who have that as a skill set — like cover boy Neymar. Celebrations have been enhanced too, so you can expect to celebrate in fashion when you score; Francesco Totti's signature "selfie" is now a possibility.
Even though Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 is powered by the same Fox Engine as its predecessor, you can notice both visual and under-the-hood upgrades right as you kick off. Players' movements feel less stiff than they did before; cleats also deteriorate as the match goes on, another detail that makes the experience that much more enjoyable. And since Konami extended its partnership with UEFA, that means you'll still have access to the official Champions League mode. There's no doubt FIFA continues to be the bestseries for football buffs, but Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 definitely narrows the gap between the two.
(engadget.com)
The Pixel 4 could be taking advantage of this new Android Q feature
VIVO V15 Limited Edition BLOSSOM PINK REVIEW – ELEVATED SELFIE EXPERIENCE
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Internet Reference for Wetland Mitigation (CD) - Wetland Training Institute, Inc.
This CD has over 600 MB of public domain downloaded references valuable for wetland mitigation. It includes thousands of pages and dozens of publications: the Corps' 700+ page manual on wetland construction with an appendix of sample contract specifications, a 1999 list of hundreds of wetland plant vendors, the federal government's guide to forested wetland restoration, hundreds of pages on vegetating wetlands by the NRCS' plant material centers, and lots more.
Price is $34, includes shipping.


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'The Home of Halloween'
Our family trip to the Boyne Valley took a spooky turn as we explored the history of Ireland's Ancient East
Home » 'The Home of Halloween'
This Article was Written by: Katie Hill - My Green Pod
family , holiday , ireland , travel
This article first appeared in our winter '19 issue of MyGreenPod Magazine, The Love Revolution, distributed with the Guardian on 22 February 2018. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
When we visited the Boyne Valley in County Meath on 02 November 2018, we were completely unaware that we couldn't have timed the trip more perfectly.
It was a family holiday for seven – three generations – to Decoy Country Cottages, a group of eight boutique self-catering cottages in Navan.
The fantastic rural location is just 30 minutes from the centre of Dublin and just over 30 miles from the port. We travelled by ferry as we wanted to be able to explore the area by car; we'd been encouraged to immerse ourselves in the local culture, though what exactly that meant remained a mystery until we arrived in Meath and found we had entered 'The Home of Halloween'.
Evidence of celebrations hung in the air as we turned quietly into the entrance and through to the courtyard of Decoy Country Cottages. A pirate ghost fluttered eerily on the gate and each of the cottage doors had been dressed with a ghoul. The moon was up and an owl hooted – perhaps at the sight of equally wide-eyed guests.
Signs on the road had alerted us to Spirit of Meath Halloween Festival events taking place all over County Meath from 06 October to 04 November, but we had no idea why the period was so extended or significant.
Research began before we'd even looked at our rooms or taken in the house that would be our home for the week – and the more we read, the more fascinated we became.
Kings, ghosts and ancient sites
In the 17th century, historian Geoffrey Keating described a hilltop fire that took place in Meath on Samhain, the Celtic New Year and the pre-Christian forerunner of Halloween.
Archaeologists have since discovered evidence of intense burning on the Hill of Ward – or Tlachtga, as it was formerly known – dating back to 500 AD. This ancient ritual site was the centre of Celtic religious worship over 2,000 years ago, and the fire festival that took place there signalled the arrival of winter.
Samhain marked the division between the lighter (summer) and darker (winter) halves of the year; by lighting winter fires, early man was trying to aid the noticeably weaker sun on its journey across the skies.
This was also the time at which the barriers between worlds would fall away, allowing spirits to pass through. With the sun in the underworld, the Lord of the Dead – along with various ghosts and fairies – were free to walk the Earth. People used costumes and masks to disguise themselves, hoping they'd be left alone by any harmful spirits that slipped through the veil.
The Hill of Ward is just 15 minutes' drive from Decoy Country Cottages – but just 15 minutes in the other direction is another equally impressive site that has managed to overshadow its fascinating neighbour.
Just 12 miles away from the Hill of Ward is the Hill of Tara: seat of The High Kings of Ireland and, as the gateway to the otherworld, the sacred dwelling place of the gods. According to some, the Hill of Tara is also the ancient capital of the lost kingdom of Atlantis.
155 metres above sea level, the views from the Hill of Tara are breathtaking, covering by some estimations a quarter of Ireland's landscape. The elevation may also explain why this was such an important ritual and political site.
In total around 30 monuments remain visible on the summit, though a similar number of constructions have also been detected beneath the surface. A standing stone, the Lia Fáil ('Stone of Destiny'), was the coronation stone of the Kings of Tara. According to tradition, when a true Irish or Scottish King placed a foot on Lia Fáil it roared to announce his rightful reign.
The oldest visible monument, a passage tomb named 'The Mound of the Hostages', dates from around 3,000 BC, making it older than the pyramids.
Newgrange and megalithic art
We hadn't expected to encounter structures that pre-date the pyramids during our visit to the Boyne Valley, but it turned out the Hill of Tara had company. We headed next to Newgrange, a 5,200-year-old passage tomb built by Stone Age farmers, that covers roughly an acre of land near Navan. Older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza, this World Heritage Site was just a 20-minute drive from our cottage.
The circular mound is 85 meters in diameter and 13.5 meters high, and contains a 19 meter stone passageway with chambers. It's surrounded by 97 kerbstones, some of which are decorated with megalithic art.
Click here to find out why Decoy Country Cottages is a MyGreenPod.com Hero
Despite its classification, Newgrange is more a temple than a tomb: it was a place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance – apparently built by a well-organised society with specialised groups that were responsible for the different elements of its construction.
The most magical aspect of Newgrange is the internal passageway and chamber, which are illuminated by the winter solstice sun to mark the beginning of the new year. An opening above the entrance to the passage allows sunlight to penetrate the chamber on the shortest days of the year, which fall around the winter solstice. At dawn, from 19-23 December, a narrow beam of light reaches the floor, gradually extending to the rear of the chamber. As the sun climbs in the sky, the beam in the chamber widens until the whole room is illuminated. In a mind-blowing feat of accuracy from Stone Age man, the event takes 17 minutes, beginning at around 09.00.
A HOME FROM home
We only scraped the surface of the area's history, but each day brought new questions and observations to discuss when we returned to the comfort of our cottage. The facilities were great and there was plenty of room for us all; a large table in the kitchen provided ample space for big family feasts, and the comfortable living room had a wood-burning stove for warm evenings in.
The owner's cats and dog became a familiar sight from the first morning, which made us feel even more at home. They strolled in and out of the cottage to our daughter's delight, and as the evening closed in, someone usually found they had a sleeping cat curled up in their lap.
There was something for every generation: it was at times difficult to drag our daughter away from the small park and play room across the courtyard, and my dad and brother were very pleased to find a games room complete with pool table and air hockey. A small adjoining gym had enough equipment for a decent workout if, by some mystery, you returned unstretched from a day's exploring.
Our proximity to Dublin meant we'd expected to head over to the city a few times – at the very least to enjoy a proper pint of Guinness. But we only made it once, to see a fantastic Irish House Party performance of superb music and dance at the Lansdowne Hotel.
We could easily have spent a full week bouncing between the incredible sites that make up the Boyne Valley. The Halloween Festival had drawn to a close by the time we left, but the area felt even more magical than it had when we arrived – even without the pirate ghost to wave us goodbye.
HOLYHEAD TO DUBLIN
Ferry: Stena Line
Timings: Four crossings per day
Crossing: 3h 15m
Cost: From £79 (single car and driver)
Booking and timetable: stenaline.co.uk
Click here for rates and availability at Decoy Country Cottages.
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Home Mathematics
Why celestial bodies come in different sizes
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 1, 2016 – Our solar system contains one massive object — the sun — and many smaller planets and asteroids. Now researchers from Duke University in Durham, N.C. have proposed a new explanation for the size diversity, which is found throughout the universe and is called hierarchy. The researchers report their finding in the Journal of Applied Physics, from AIP Publishing.
"Since the 1700s scientists have known that gravity causes objects in the universe to get bigger, but the phenomenon of growth does not explain the hierarchy," said Adrian Bejan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Duke University. "To my huge surprise this question has been overlooked."
Bejan's specialty is in thermodynamics and he is the author of the Constructal Law, which states that natural systems evolve to facilitate flow (see http://us.macmillan.com/thephysicsoflife/adrianbejan). He had already applied the law of evolution to explain the shape of snowflakes, river basins, lungs and even airplanes, when a conversation with an undergraduate student prompted him to consider how the Constructal Law would manifest itself in the cosmos.
"This is my first trespass into planetary science," he said.
Bejan and his student, Russell Wagstaff, started by calculating the tension caused by gravitational attraction between bodies of the same size, uniformly distributed in space. They showed that if the bodies coalesce into some large bodies and some small bodies, the tension is reduced faster than if the bodies merged uniformly.
"The discovery is that hierarchy 'snaps' from the very beginning, spontaneously," Bejan said. The break-up of the uniform suspension of bodies into a few large and many small bodies occurs because it's the fastest way to ease the internal tension caused by gravity, he said.
The natural tendency of a system to evolve toward a state of reduced tension is a manifestation of the Constructal Law, Bejan said, and can be seen in other phenomena, such as soil cracking under a drying wind. "The working title for our paper was actually 'The Universe as Cracked Mud,'" he said.
Bejan said he hopes the application of the Constructal Law to the cosmological scale will inspire other researchers to consider how the law could be applied in their own fields.
"I never thought I would have anything to say about celestial bodies in pure physics, but by chance I realized I have a key to open a new door," he said. "Everything has evolution and the Constructal Law can help predict it. The plan is to keep exploring."
The article, "The physics origin of the hierarchy of bodies in space," is authored by A. Bejan and R.W. Wagstaff. It will be published in the Journal of Applied Physics on March 1, 2016 (DOI: 10.1063/1.4941986). After that date, it can be accessed at: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/jap/119/9/10.1063/1.4941986
The authors of this paper are affiliated with Duke University.
Journal of Applied Physics is an influential international journal publishing significant new experimental and theoretical results of applied physics research. See: http://jap.aip.org
Jason Socrates Bardi
@jasonbardi
http://www.aip.org


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Owning your own business as an owner operator can be an amazing experience. Owner operator jobs in Florida give you the freedom to make your own hours, travel locally or over-the-road, and get the added bonus of an unlimited earning potential. The trucking industry is set to grow at least 20% over the next few years and owner operators have an average salary of $100,000 per year. In addition, as an owner operator you get to decide what kind of truck you want to drive. You could drive flatbed, tanker, reefer, and dry van to name a few! You can haul what you want, where you want. The possibilities are endless!
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A year-long walking school bus initiative at Durfee Elementary School in El Monte, California, took the walking school bus model and adapted it to fit with the needs of local kids, families, and an enthusiastic non-profit partner. The results were exciting!
Alta Planning + Design led the initiative in partnership with Amigos de los Rios, a local environmental group, with some minor support from our team. Over the course of the year, the program ran six daily walking school bus routes, most running both before and after school. With an average of 68 walkers participating in the walking school buses every day, participating students took more than 22,000 walking trips over the course of the year.
One unique component of the walking school bus program was the partnership with Amigos de los Rios, which trained walking school bus leaders to include environmental lessons as part of their time walking with kids. Students engaged in activities that supported connections with the natural world and encouraged curiosity. For example, one project involved measuring how temperatures under tree canopies differed from temperatures in exposed areas. Students and leaders also learned about plants and trees along their routes, and each route was named after a different local animal. Activities at school also supported the health and environmental lessons of the walking school buses. The healthy habits that students developed were reinforced by a colorful mural designed by a local artist at the school, which celebrates the walking school buses and connections with nature.
Walking school buses are a very safe way for kids to get to school! Over the course of the almost 23,000 miles that students walked, there were no injuries or significant problems. Only two incidents were reported over the course of the year-long program—one complaint of foot pain, and one incident in which dogs bothered a walking school bus leader on her way to get children from the school.
Person-to-person outreach and support for different languages spoken at home are important for participation. The student population at Durfee is about three-quarters Latino and one-quarter Asian American/Pacific Islander, but most student participants were Latino, probably because the route leaders were mostly Latino. Outreach materials were translated into Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese, but more investment in person-to-person outreach with Asian and Pacific Islander families might have dispelled concerns that the program was just for Latino students and increased participation by other kids.
Paying route leaders brings benefits to the stability of the program as well as the families involved. Many of the route leaders reported that family duties made it difficult to find employment, but that working as a walking school bus leader brought economic benefits for their family. Other families were able to save money on public transportation fares, which they had previously used to take children to school. Leaders also reported that the walking school bus increased their social contacts with other families.
The walking school buses not only increased students' physical activity, but also brought health benefits to the route leaders. All leaders reported losing weight, with other concrete health improvements also noted.
The program developed a short and easy Do-It-Yourself Guide in English and Spanish to jump-start similar programs in El Monte and beyond. The El Monte walking school bus website contains a wealth of other materials too, including Youtube videos on how to start and run a program, and more.
As Principal Juan Munoz explained, thanks to the walking school buses, "children have demonstrated more confidence walking on streets; they follow the rules and watch out for each other." This creative walking school bus program brought a wealth of benefits to the Durfee School community—healthier kids and parents, improved economic stability for families, more environmental awareness, and a stronger community.


"The father-in-law tried to pacify them, but the woman grabbed his testicles and squeezed them. The man died on the spot," Kumar said.
Anima, who is in her mid-30s, is said to have confessed to killing her father-in-law, but claimed it was accidental.
"The man died of excessive bleeding. This was one of the causes mentioned in the autopsy report," officer Kumar said.
Anima is currently being held in prison, as the investigation continues.


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text:
Das 1000-km-Rennen von Algarve 2010, auch 1000 Km do Algarve, fand am 17. Juli auf dem Autódromo Internacional do Algarve statt und war der dritte Wertungslauf der Le Mans Series dieses Jahres.

Das Rennen

Begünstigt durch die Abwesenheit der Werkswagen von Peugeot und Audi, gelang der Oreca-Mannschaft ein deutlicher Gesamtsieg. Olivier Panis, Stéphane Sarrazin und Nicolas Lapierre siegten im Peugeot 908 HDi FAP mit fünf Runden Vorsprung auf den Lola B10/60 von Neel Jani und Nicolas Prost.

Ergebnisse

Schlussklassement

Nur in der Meldeliste

Hier finden sich Teams, Fahrer und Fahrzeuge, die ursprünglich für das Rennen gemeldet waren, aber aus den unterschiedlichsten Gründen daran nicht teilnahmen.

Klassensieger

Renndaten

 Gemeldet: 42
 Gestartet: 41
 Gewertet: 25
 Rennklassen: 5
 Zuschauer: unbekannt
 Wetter am Renntag: trocken, einbrechende Dunkelheit am Ende des Rennens
 Streckenlänge: 4,665 km
 Fahrzeit des Siegerteams: 5:48:30,820 Stunden
 Gesamtrunden des Siegerteams: 215
 Gesamtdistanz des Siegerteams: 1002,975 km
 Siegerschnitt: 172,302 km/h
 Pole Position: Nicolas Lapierre – Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (#4) – 1:30,681 = 184,802 km/h
 Schnellste Rennrunde: Olivier Panis – Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (#4) – 1:32,375 = 181,413 km/h
 Rennserie: 3. Lauf der Le Mans Series 2010

Weblinks

 Offizielle Website der Le Mans Series
 Ergebnisse

Rennen der Le Mans Series 2010
Motorsportwettbewerb in Portugal
Sportveranstaltung in der Algarve
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It's funny, when you think about making stuff for guys, it seems really difficult. Things like flowers and much of the jewelry are generally out. Good luck getting them to be happy about anything that could be described as pretty. But every time I sit down to write about Father's Day or gift ideas for men around the holidays, I always end up with more than I can use. There are lots of you out there with very creative projects the boys can appreciate. On behalf of myself, and many others out there, thank you!
The dad that lives in my house would love this Giant Reeses Peanut Butter Cup from Twizzy on Cut Out and Keep. I can already see him trying to fit it into the freezer.
This Mini Pool Table in a Tin from Crafts Unleashed is ridiculously adorable, and actually works.
This Father's Day Card with Custom Medals from What I Made would be so fun to make, and I love that the medals come off for Dad to wear.
What Dad doesn't love a good BBQ sauce? If yours also loves a things a little on the spicy side, give him this Spicy Chipotle BBQ Sauce from Giggles Galore, and don't forget to download the tag and label to go with it!
Instead of giving Dad another tie, give him something to dress up the ones he already has, like this Stamped Leather Tie Clip from Lovely Indeed.
I love these Remote Control Cookies from Somewhat Simple. Not that they'll stop anyone from fighting over the remote, but maybe go ahead and let Dad have this one.
The Relax Pops popcorn label is my favorite in this set from The Elli Blog.
There are all kinds of things you could put in this clever Play Ball Mason Jar from Mad in Crafts for a baseball loving dad.
I love the kid-hand on the saucer and the bit of silver accent on this set from Lalymom.
If you can find the square container for the bottom, this Personal Fire Pit from The Art of Doing Stuff would make a great Dad's Day gift.


As energy prices concentrate all our minds on saving electricity, those of use with multiple home servers are looking for ways to consolidate into fewer machines running 24/7.
Now that VMWare ESXi is free, there's never been a better time to virtualise your servers. Is not all good news though, with access to certain hardware from virtual machines is still troublesome or impossible. Read on for one home automators experience moving his home to the virtual world.
Submission by Paul Smith – Firstly you have a PC, Then as technology moves on you want to upgrade and find that the easiest way to do so, is to reinstall from scratch and spend hours getting a new machine back to just how you liked it. As technology cost drop you then start to invest in more machines so that you can dedicate certain tasks to different machines, which allows you to play with one whilst leaving the others to get on with the tasks in hand.
Everything is working well until SWMBO asks why the electric bill is so high. You look around and start to find out why. I found that I have a total of 4 pc's running 24/7 and a whopping 20 hard drives spinning. (2 in each PC, 4 in two TiVoís, 4 in two DVRs, and 4 more in a Nas Box). One PC is running Linux, Using Zoneminder and Asterisk PBX. Another is running SBS2003 for exchange. Another is running Win 2k3 and the last one is XP pro.
Thanks has to go to the people on the UKHA group as this is where I first heard about VMware. In a nutshell, there is an underlying OS (Win, Linux or Bare Metal) and then this divides the host in any number of VMís. A VM is a complete machine in its own right, you turn it on and get a BIOS page as you do when you switch on any PC. You then load an OS and away you go.
I installed VM server onto my SBS2003 Server and started to have a play. In Vm Server 2 itís all web based. So you fire up a browser and login, create a new VM and install an OS. So far I have only created Windows VMís. Using remote desktop I can login to the VMís and use it as I would any other PC. There are some limitations when you try and get access to hardware in the underlying host machine, only certain devices are supported, but more are being added all the time.
Moving to a VM is not hard to do as you can get some software to help migrate from a real PC to a VM. In windows you may find that it complains about changed hardware and needs activation. All in all though the benefits seem to out way the problems.
After a few weeks it became apparent that I had a hardware fault on the server and this is where VM machines really show off. I ordered a new server and installed a base os (Win2k3 64bit) . Installed VM Server and within minutes and very little down time I copy the VMís from the old server to the new one and everything is happy. Since then I have now expanded the number of VMís I run and dedicate machines to different tasks.
So in conclusions my experience vrtualising my home servers has been very worth while. Lets just say VMware Rocks!
3 Comments on "Going Virtual – A Home Server Experience"
Sounds like a good way to go as it's ver SWMBO friendly (Less boxes = happy SWMBO).
But, what would be a base spec for a VM machine running say 2 x WinXP server and FreeNAS ?
At the moment I run these on old 600mhz pcs with very little noise and heat (don't know the power consumption though).
I use vmware server 2. You need lots of ram to run multiple machines. I would recommend 1GB for the host and then add however much you allocate to each vm. Disk performance is critical too, spread your vm's over multiple disks. What ever you do, don't let it all start paging! I've run many vms, xp, vista, windows 7, ubuntu, solaris, asterix.
My server is a quad 2.4 with 8GB, and runs 5 VM's with no problems.
Virtualisation is also great for extending the life of old laptops, just RDP to a virtual machine.
interesting point … wonder if the approach could work with netbooks, too ?


text:
Day Out With 4 Friends
I woke up so early this morning, say around 10am and got ready to go for cycling. My bike is in the state of dying, one side pedal detached, the locks are rusty, and it's sort of dirty. Come to think again, I want to keep that bike and not sell it away.
Anyway, Tim waited for me at the void deck and he cycled from Tampines to my place! So far and he managed to do it, bravo! Well, but you can't deny I can ride faster and longer than you! Muahaha, just kidding. I rented a bike for myself for two hours. The old man said "Ah, lu punya time pukul 12.18pm sampai pukul 2.18pm hor" which means "Your time starts 12.18pm to 2.30PM". I said ok and went off. Then we rounded Pasir Ris Park and one and a half way through, Changi Village is "calling us". By the time it was already 12.40pm and we were quite lost in finding the shortcut from Pasir Ris Park to Changi and we wasted those bloody time on that instead of going the long way! Oh well, it happens. So by the time we reached Changi, it was 1pm plus, then we ate until 1.45pm. We were late of course but I am totally aware of it, I adjusted my watch to 15 minutes late and made up lame reasons just in case the old man ask why am I late. From Changi, I rushed all the way to Pasir Ris Park in 20 minutes! How superb, by then, Tim was all the way back. Ok, you might think I ride recklessly, beating the traffic light and all but hell no! Safety comes first. When I met Tim at Downtown East, he was like panting and he said he was about to vomit! You uh, you still got the nerve to feel sick while you cycle 1/8 times the speed of me? Kidding! Then we go to White Sands to meet Khai and Syaz for they were waiting for our grand entrance, so called. Well, we did arrive on time right?
Anyway, meeting Syaz and Khai was super fun and Tim was starting to laugh all the way and everybody was looking at us as though wanting to join our conversation. We were talking about those lame people around the world (no names mentioned here!) and we were talking about how slow am I to realize that Bhutto is dead and that she's a female! Hope no offence taken here. Then we headed to the library, because Khai wanted to! Tim was like super tired while I was complaining about the killing smell that reaches my nostril and Syaz was like yaking-yaking all the way while Khai was laughing, making her own abs.
On the way up, I saw my school principal and Mr Sam and they were like "Hi, not working?" and I said "Nope." Aww, I'm glad you people remembered me... Ouh well, I just can't help it if I'm popular! Okay, kidding much!
Khai was super loud in the library with Syaz and when I asked them to lower down their volume, they insisted on talking as though they were kilometers apart. So I ended up "joining" them and at last, they manage to talk softly. Khai was showing me some books from Norah Roberts and then I went to search for Danielle Steel's and she was like asking "Is he a male or female?" and I said "Female, duh. See, here's the picture (hand was flipping to the last page of the book)" Then she replied, "Ouh, this is it right? (Showing Danielle Steels picture with that bareback debutant gown)" We totally cracked into laughter because she was so confident that Steel is a male!
Then she bumped into this sexual book and it's written in Bahasa Indonesia and we were laughing at how the author was trying to translate things like "the parnter" into "patnernya" instead of "pasangannya" and they even have terms like "lesbianisme" and I was like "What crap is that?" and they even come out with things like Filem Biru which sounded so weird! It's like we were sitting in a row, from my left Khai, them me, then Tim then Syaz and we were reading so the different stuffs! Khai was reading about that bloody dirty book while I was busy flipping Danielle Steels, Tim was totally into the history book and Syaz having a mag marathon with all the magazines he can take.
In the library, somebody called my name "Zul!" and I turned. "You remember me or not?" He said, and I said, "Errrrr, no, who are you uh?" He replied (he's with his cap all the way!) "What the hell Zul, you can't remember me?" and in my mind, "Is he like the secondary 5 guy who asked me for somebody's email or something?" Then I remembered him but what is his bloody name, until now I have no Idea. Ouh yea, there was a girl who tapped me after countdown with her boyfriend or something and she said "Hi!" and I was like "Hi!" (with all the smile and thousands of questions behind it). Well, if you read this, please remind me again who you are. And in future, if I happen not to remember you, please don't feel offended or whatsoever. Instead, please remind me and don't leave me clueless!
Anyway, Khai was complaining about her group leader about this and that and I said "Well, if only I was there I'd go like move it, coming through!" Haaha. Alright, we must go to the same college please! I can't afford to be separated from you people! Ouh yes, I hope even my cousin Farisya would go to the same college too!


text:
Beijing 2008 Summer Games
Terrorist Attack During Olympics
By filipfilipoqq@interia.pl
March 9, 2008 in Beijing 2008 Summer Games
filipfilipoqq@interia.pl
Location:Opole - POLAND
Chinese officials told the state-run media Sunday that they successfully thwarted two terrorist attacks, including one targeting the Summer Olympic Games.
art.birdsnest.jpg
The Games are set to begin in China on August 8.
Officials blamed both attacks on separatists operating out of an autonomous region in northwest China.
According to one report in Xinhua, militants who were killed earlier this year in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were planning an attack on the Games, set to begin on August 8.
I am bit disturbed this information
Uhmm, you don't think an Olympics is a terrorist-magnet?
1972, hello? Where have you been?
Edited March 9, 2008 by baron-pierreIV
I think this is the government using the Olympics as a way to crack down on Xinxiang
Well, that's what the Uighurs are saying as well (though, of course, they WOULD say that)
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2008 (AFP) - Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer Monday accused China of fabricating alleged plots against the Olympics, and even of scheming to carry out its own terror attacks, to blacken her community's name.
``It's completely untrue. All these allegations are falsified,'' the separatist figurehead, who joined her US-based husband in 2005 after six years in a Chinese jail, told AFP through an interpreter.
``The real goal of the Chinese government is to organize a terrorist attack so that it can increase its crackdown on the Uighur people,'' the 61-year-old head of the Uyghur American Association said.
Wang Lequan, Communist Party chief in the northwestern Xinjiang region, said Sunday that a January raid on ``terrorists,'' which resulted in the deaths of two militants and 15 arrests, had foiled a planned attack directed at the Games.
It was the second foiled attack linked to Muslim separatists in Xinjiang, home of the Uighur community, to be announced over the weekend.
Passengers attempted to crash a Chinese airliner on Friday that was flying to Beijing from Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, a regional official said on Sunday.
The plane was diverted to the city of Lanzhou in Gansu province, where ``suspicious liquids'' were removed, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said.
``The plane was landed in Lanzhou and if there were Uighur separatists on board, the Chinese authorities would have paraded them immediately and punished them severely,'' Kadeer said.
``It is shameful of the Chinese government,'' added the Uighur leader, who is seeking talks at the White House and the US State Department about the apparent plots. US officials did not have any immediate comment about Kadeer's claims.
``I really hope that the international community will investigate this case and prove that it is not true,'' she said.
China says the independence-minded East Turkestan Islamic Movement, listed by the United Nations and the United States as a terrorist organization, is the most significant threat in Xinjiang.
Most of the population in Xinjiang, which borders Afghanistan and central Asia, are Muslim Turkic-speaking Uighurs, many of whom bridle at what they say has been 60 years of repressive communist Chinese rule.
Kadeer was jailed in 1999 for leaking ``state secrets'' to a US congressional delegation visiting Xinjiang. She was released in March 2005 and allowed into exile in the United States.
China has expressed anger about the Uighur leader's activities while in exile, and was incensed when US President George W. Bush met her in June on the margins of a conference of political dissidents in the Czech Republic.
``The talent of men and women like Rebiya is the greatest resource of their nations -- far more valuable than the weapons of their army or oil under the ground,'' Bush said before the meeting.
A millionaire businesswoman before her arrest, Kadeer has been touted as a possible recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Two of her sons, aged 32 and 30, remain imprisoned in China.
``The Uighur people are struggling for their freedom, but the Uighur people will never harm innocent people. Our hearts are kind,'' she said, accusing Beijing of waging ``genocide'' on her ethnic group.
``It seems that the Chinese government has one goal, which is to create this scenario of terrorism, and produce a terrorist action itself so that it can blame the Uighur people.''
Its what international observers are saying too.
Shhhh ... you'll rile up Mary Jane!
Mary Jane can go smoke herself.


Using "-color_range 2" on an h264 compressed input file should force the full range ("JPEG range") of the values to be decoded, but only the legal range ("MPEG range") actually gets decoded, because the -color_range flag is ignored and overridden by metadata in the file header (even if these is no relevant metadata!). The command-line flag should supersede the metadata.
The attached h264_jpeg_color_range.mov has values from 0-255.
Produces a JPEG which clips the input values at 16-235 and scales them to 0-1.
Recompile and run the above command I get a JPEG which has the full 0-1 range as expected.
h264_jpeg_color_range.mov (24.9 KB) - added by onejaguar 5 years ago.
The colour range flag is often wrong.


Piles of cans sit in a recycling bin June 6 at Magic Valley Recycling in Twin Falls.
TWIN FALLS — City staff has again asked the Twin Falls City Council to weigh the costs and benefits of recycling. The program is estimated to approach processing costs of $189 per ton in March.
Utility Billing Supervisor Bill Baxter will provide the Council with an update on the recycling situation on Tuesday. And it appears that costs are once more on track to exceed the cap the city has put on the price per ton.
Under the current budget, when recycling exceeds $175 per ton, it instead goes to the Milner Butte regional landfill in Cassia County.
It's a worldwide problem, he said. "Contamination" in recycling refers not only to items that are soiled, but the ongoing issue where people put things that are not recyclable into the bins.
The Council in 2018 voted to increase utility rates to help cover the cost of recycling up to a certain price per ton. But as recycling costs escalated past that cap, the city sent more than 1,057 tons of recyclables to the landfill.
Last fall, the Council raised the cap for the 2019 fiscal year, which began in October, to $175 per ton. In January, the city and its waste contractor, PSI Environmental Systems, began paying $174.90 per ton to send recycling to a regional sorting center.
With projected cost increases, PSI is working with Western Recycling to find another sorting facility that could handle the material under the $175 cap.
"They're willing to work with us," PSI Environmental Systems Site Manager Jason Kirschenmann told the Times-News.
Western Recycling is the parent company of Magic Valley Recycling in Twin Falls, which takes in the city's recycling for transportation. An employee with Magic Valley Recycling declined a request for comment.
The recycling is currently being diverted to a sorting facility in Washington, Kirschenmann said, but facilities in the northwest are beginning to look into dumping unsold recyclables into landfills in those states.
"This is more likely to occur as the markets tighten for export of material," Baxter said.
If it's just going to be dumped in a landfill anyway, PSI Environmental Systems would rather not pay the cost to transport it, Kirschenmann said.
Twin Falls' recycling program has existed in some form since 2005. Since the advent of the cart process in late 2010, the city has diverted more than 16,892 tons from the landfill. Recycling has not generated any revenue for the city since 2015.
On Tuesday, Baxter will give the City Council an opportunity to revisit its previous decisions on recycling. He has presented several options, which include further restricting what's allowed in recycling, adjusting utility rates, sending recycling to the landfill or ending the recycling program altogether.
Kirschenmann said the city has considered other options or programs.
"Right now everything is so volatile, starting something new can be a bit risky," he said.
The Council will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers at City Hall, 203 Main Ave. E.


Cheek Implants Honolulu Hawaii | Kevin Dieffenbach, M.D.
There are many facial implants available, manufactured from a variety of materials. They may help strengthen a jawline or bring the chin or cheekbones into balance with the rest of the face.
If you feel that one or more of the procedures described in this brochure may be of benefit, be sure to ask your plastic surgeon for more information about facial implants.
Plastic surgeons will frequently use such implants to bring better balance to the features of a younger patient. For instance, a teenage girl may want her nose reshaped or her chin brought forward so that these traits are better proportioned. The more mature patient may choose to have an implant placed in conjunction with another cosmetic procedure. For example, during a facelift, a patient may wish to have implants placed over the cheekbones to help restore a more youthful appearance. Facial implants may also be selected to fill out a face that appears "sunken" or tired.
When you discuss facial implant surgery with your plastic surgeon, be certain that you clearly express your expectations. Your plastic surgeon will help you determine what it is possible to achieve. It may be helpful to provide your surgeon with photos of people who have facial features similar to those you would like to have.


text:
2013 Patients of Courage
Molly Bloom
As Molly Bloom stepped into a Hummer limousine on prom night 2006, the driver accidentally pulled away, dragging Bloom's left leg under the vehicle for more than 40 feet. The life threatening injury required amputation of her left leg, hip and the left half of her pelvis. After nearly 20 intensive surgeries, Bloom began immersing herself in adaptive athletics, sports for people with disabilities. Bloom played for the Denver Women's Rolling Nuggets wheelchair basketball team, where she helped the team win the 2011 National Championship title. She currently works with Wheelchair Athletes Worldwide, a non-profit that brings wheelchair sports to countries where access is limited. Molly has dedicated her current graduate studies to researching the role of the disability community in the lives of disabled people. In 2007, Molly and her family established the Bloom Again Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides grants for equipment or activities for individuals with disabilities who want to enhance their recovery through physical activities and sports.
Emily Keefner
At just 18 years old, Emily Keefner has endured more than 30 reconstructive procedures to correct a bilateral cleft lip and palate deformity. She has been a patient of the Craniofacial Clinic at UMass Memorial Medical Center since she was born, and is now giving back to the institution that has treated her since birth. Emily has raised $8,000 towards a $50,000 multidisciplinary database for the Clinic which will allow them to track patient outcomes, national trials, and provide consistent outreach. She has three more fundraisers planned, has garnered political support in the region and is looking to change payment laws in New York. Emily has contributed more than 500 hours of volunteering for the Clinic, her local food pantry, the fire department and the Berkshire Humane Society. She is a member of the Fireman's Association of the State of New York, a certified first responder and an excellent flutist-a particularly difficult instrument for a cleft palate patient.
Carson Tinker
NFL Rookie Carson Tinker had a long, challenging road to making the Jacksonville Jaguars football team this summer. While in college, Carson, a long snapper for the Alabama Crimson Tide, sustained a serious soft tissue injury to his right leg in the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado that took the life of his girlfriend. A traditional flap repair would have jeopardized Carson's football career, so his plastic surgeon performed wound therapy, dressing changes and an off label use of a graft product to help him heal with minimal defect. Following the tornado, Carson and the Crimson Tide served as examples of the strength and spirit required to rebuild devastated lives and communities. Carson led his team to two consecutive national championship titles and says, "You are not defined by your circumstances or adversity. You are defined by how you respond to them." Carson works tirelessly as a motivational speaker around the country and participates in countless fundraisers. His autobiography is due out next spring.
Patients by Year


May 13, 2018 So you want to install a fence on your Broward County property but you don't you might want to investigate the cost of installing fences in your area first. of 6 foot on center (center of post to center of next post) in Broward.
HomeAdvisor's Fence Repair Cost Guide lists price information on fixing fencing, The average cost to replace posts ranges from an average of $134 to $400.
I've got a returning customer that wants 13 4x4 fence posts set. Dont price the job by hour, just price the job as a whole. fence guy that I know since I can't bare the thought of installing 13 posts by hand for $150-$200.
Fence posts cost $10-$30, depending on the material. Chain link, vinyl and wooden fence installation all generally call for posts to be spaced 6 to 10 feet apart.


Business rates are a local tax paid by the occupiers of non-domestic property in England and Wales. Business rates are calculated and collected by local authorities. They are put in a central pool and then redistributed back to local authorities to help to pay for local services.
The rateable value of a property, which is set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).
The multiplier set by central government.
Rate relief schemes applied by the local authority.
NB: On 1 April 2017 a new business rates appeal process system was introduced in England known as the check, challenge and appeal (CCA). See Check, challenge, appeal for more information.
Business rates and 'reasonable repair'.


Does anyone know when Medicare changed the rule that allows Screening colonoscopies for high risk patients once every 4 years to once every 2 years?
Medicare allows high risk patients to have a screening colonoscopy every 24 months.
High risk colonoscopies are covered by medicare once every 2 years.
-A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis.
Thanks, yes, we realize Screening colonoscopies for High risk patients are now covered every 2 years. But we want to know when it was changed to allow the patients to have one every 2 years...because my supervisor is telling me it use to be covered only every 4 or 5 years for high risk patients.
Last edited by Colliemom; 12-03-2010 at 08:48 AM.
Yes, your supervisor is correct. It was 48 months but changed I want to say 2006ish.. I can't find it in my archives.


Not only was she the mother of a nation but she was also a mother to two beautiful women.
In August 2007, DRUM was in for a treat when we joined Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, her daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter for an unforgettable day at her home.
Mama Winnie invited us to her double-storey home in Orlando West, Soweto, on a Sunday – a family day when as many members of the clan as possible got together to share food, news and gossip.
For the occasion four generations of Mandelas joined: Winnie's daughter Zindzi (then 47), her granddaughter Zoleka (then 27) and her great-granddaughter Zenani (10 at the time), who tragically died in a car crash in 2010.
It's clear the former first lady loved gardening – bordering the pavement outside the high white wall was what she called her Garden of Hope, a colourful array of flowering beds she and Zenani created out of barren, stony soil.
Zenani was Mam'Winnie's daughter Zindzi's grandchild.
As the ladies prepared for our photoshoot we had a look around the house. Each room was filled with plants and boasted its own colour scheme – for instance, there were two lounges, one with green sofas and one decorated mainly in red. The place was crammed with memorabilia, awards, gifts, paintings and photographs from Mam'Winnie's colourful life.
But why, we had to ask, do so many names in the Mandela family start with the letter Z? "The only plan Madiba and I had for our children was that all the family members would have names that began with Z," Mama Winnie explained.
But there were plenty of turbulent times for Madiba and Mam'Winnie before their children could celebrate a new beginning in apartheid-free South Africa.
Her mother always had "amazing strength" and played the role of both parents when Madiba was away. "I learnt the true power of a woman and how she can be a fighter and a nurturer at the same time. This is what I've tried to pass on to my children," Zindzi said.


text:
buttresses, beams and bridges…architecture for kids part two
orangemarmaladebooks	February 28, 2018 4 Comments
Earlier this week I posted a number of fantastic biographies of world-famous architects.
Today I've got some books walking us through the story of architecture itself, the how, why, when, where of building rather than the who.
First up, this striking book for a wide age span:
An Igloo on the Moon: Exploring Architecture, illustrated by Adrian Buckley, written by David Jenkins
published in 2015 by Circa Press
Adrian Buckley's immensely attractive collages dominate the pages of this book, pulling us in with arresting images at every turn.
They are accompanied by brief notes by architect David Jenkins, each studded with fascinating bits of information, written with graceful ease, and just long enough to make us want to know more. Not overwhelming, yet absolutely no talking down to his audience.
The arrangement of the book, the ways in which Buckley and Jenkins grouped and categorized structures, is innovative and refreshing. Rather than a chronological approach, they've chosen a more functional approach — How have people built to protect themselves from heat or cold? What kinds of structures are built underground? There are sections on bridges, and buildings that soar, and a final, fascinating chapter envisioning the future. I very much appreciated the breadth –geographically, culturally, and historically — included in their overview.
Aimed at ages 9-12, this could easily be dabbled in with younger children and would interest any curious adult as well! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
For a much more narrative story of architecture, you might try:
The Story of Buildings, written by Patrick Dillon, illustrated by Stephen Biesty
I had several reactions to this book, mostly positive, with one caveat.
First the positive. Architect/historian Patrick Dillon has written a much lengthier, narrative journey through the history of architecture, from the pyramids straight through to the Pompidou Center and a glimpse of green architecture. For those of you who love a narrative approach to history, that leisurely story-telling style that relaxes into a colorful tale, you will love this. It's the polar opposite, for example, of the DK and Usborne type books which have a big spread with factoids sprinkled about the page. If you're looking for that quick, just-the-facts approach, this book is not for you.
Instead, Dillon's immense love of history rings through clearly as he makes historic stops along this long journey. We don't just learn about the pyramids. In fact, books specific to pyramids will give you much more information on the technical aspects of their construction. Instead Dillon describes Egyptian life, introducing priests and pharaohs to show us their motivations for building these monuments. He sets the Parthenon in its place among the gods and goddesses of the ancient Greeks, explains the religious passions involved in constructing the Hagia Sophia, the awe-inspiring purposes of the Forbidden City, the rule-breaking rationale of the Bauhaus school in Germany.
What you get here is the story of humankind encapsulated in our buildings, the story of scientific and mathematical progress, of human ambition or vanity or reverence, of philosophical ideas about perfection, beauty, modernity, human society. Each building tells a story for those who know how to read the special language of architecture, and Dillon translates them for us. You will not look at buildings the same way after walking through history with him.
At each stop, Stephen Biesty's brilliant cut-away illustrations unfold to reveal the intricacies of the noted example — Notre Dame, Villa Rotunda, the Crystal Palace. Text and illustration are geared to ages 7-12.
My caveat here is the book's heavily Western bent. There are mentions of other cultures, especially Asian, but the undercurrent and assumptions of the narrative are for me, uncomfortably Western, and even middle-class Western. For example, in the introductory chapter which describes the advent and progress of humankind's homes, the text only mentions staving off cold and rain, ignoring the vast bulk of earth's population who deal with overwhelming heat. The author assumes his readers live in comfortable, Western-style housing, addressing them in ways that erase homeless children, refugees, and billions around the globe when he says things like, "Wherever you live, you probably have heat to keep you warm in winter, a bathroom with faucets that gush hot and cold water, and electric lights so you can read at night. It's a lot better than growing up in a cave." Ouch. If I had read this with my children, their upbringing in an impoverished town in West Africa would have immediately made them feel a bit outside of this assumed experience and the assumptions would have seemed errant. For many Western children, though, this narrative reinforces a sadly cocooned view of the world. This is most prominent in the introductory chapter. I liked the book as a whole so much that I am recommending it, but would suggest talking with children about the ethnocentrism inherent in the account.
For much younger children, try:
A Book of Bridges: Here to There and Me to You, written by Cheryl Keely, illustrated by Celia Krampien
published in 2017 by Sleeping Bear Press
This is a picture book, simply recounting the many kinds of bridges, all with one purpose: to bring people together, to bridge the gaps between us.
A wide variety are included — covered bridges, drawbridges, wildlife bridges, vine bridges — along with some famous examples such as the Brooklyn and London bridges. Bold, digital illustrations dominate the pages. Brief additional explanations on each page can be read to older listeners, making the book suitable for ages 2 to 8.
For older, more invested children or adults, try this series from Princeton Architectural Press:
Who Built That?: Skyscrapers, written and illustrated by Didier Cornille
published in 2014 by Princeton Architectural Press
Who Built That?: Bridges (published in 2016)
Who Built That?: Modern Houses (published in 2014)
These sophisticated, elegant guides are organized by architect and focus on one preeminent design for each: Eiffel's tower. William Van Alen's Chrysler Building. Adrian Devaun Smith's Burj Khalifa.
Fine, architectural-style drawings set in a large amount of white space give the pages a distinctly technical, precise tone as key elements of the design are succinctly stated.
Arranged chronologically, eight skyscrapers are examined. Bridges includes ten bridges, from the first cast-iron bridge in 1779 to the Mucem Footbridge completed in 2013 in Marseille. Modern Houses spans the years 1924 to 2002 and includes the Eames House, the Farnsworth House and the Straw Bale House designed by Sarah Wigglesworth and Jeremy Till which also makes an appearance in Dillon's history.
Stylish and intriguing. I'd suggest ages 10 and up.
In closing, here are links to my reviews of more fabulous buildings-and-bridges books in the Marmalade Archives:
21 Elephants and Still Standing
Building Our House
Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction
(Macaulay has other excellent titles in this series as well including Mosque and Castle)
Gugu's House
If You Lived Here: Houses of the World
My Little Round House
Rain School
Take Shelter: At Home Around the World
This Bridge Will Not Be Gray
This House, Once
Tree Houses: Fairy Castles in the Air
The Village of Round and Square Houses
Categoriesnon-fiction
Tagsarchitecture, art history, bridges, children's literature, construction, history, houses, multicultural children's books
artists of metal and wood, earth and air…architecture for kids
she inspires me…stories of women in history
Christine @Buckling Bookshelves	 February 28, 2018 at 6:38 am
I have a feeling these sorts of books will enthrall my son when he's a few years older! And this topic reminds me of a book I saw in Her Right Foot's recommended reading list at the back — must remember to check the library for it (for me, definitely above the 2 (almost 3!) year old level 🙂
Seeking New York: The Stories Behind the Historic Architecture of Manhattan–One Building at a Time by Tom Miller
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22856186
orangemarmaladebooks	 February 28, 2018 at 7:12 am
That book looks fascinating, Christine. I love how children's lit can be a gateway for us adult readers to venture off in new directions ourselves!
Wendy Wahman	 March 5, 2018 at 9:59 am
So many great books. Thank you!
orangemarmaladebooks	 March 5, 2018 at 10:08 am
They open my eyes to SEE so many bits and pieces of the world!


text:
7 Dec 2013, 7:56am
environment Politics: biodiversity charismatic megafauna ecosystems game hunting
Year 4, Month 12, Day 7: Two Game Wardens, Seven Hunters, And A Cow
The Bellingham Herald (WA) notes a new report on big game's unfortunate lot under a climate-change regime:
One example in the report is the elk population. The original elk population was estimated at 10 million, plummeting to about 50,000 or fewer by the early 20th century. But efforts led by sportsmen, the report said, have help the nationwide population rebound to about 1 million.
"But today, a changing climate threatens to rewrite that success story," the report reads. "Severe drought, rising temperatures and greater weather extremes are affecting the health, habitat, and food and water supply of every big game species."
Doug Inkley, a senior scientist for the federation, was one of the lead writers of the report.
"This is very real, it is happening right now. The success of the past is being challenged by climate change," he said during a news conference.
Citing moose as an example, Inkley talked about the impact heat is having on populations nationwide.
"Moose become heat-stressed in warm weather, they stop eating, seeking out shelter instead," he said. "That leads to lower weights, lower pregnancy rates, higher death rates."
The report is careful not to solely blame climate change for population declines. It also cites habitat loss and predation. But climate change, the report emphasizes, impacts animals in so many ways.
Extreme weather threatens survivability. Animals weakened by declining food sources are more susceptible to disease.
The paper's website says they'll take letters only from people who live in their circulation area. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? November 25:
Genuine hunters operate from a position of deep respect for the natural world. So it's hardly surprising that they recognize a shifting climate's impacts on local and regional ecosystems all over the planet. As global heating intensifies, animal habitats become less hospitable, and migratory patterns are disrupted. Similarly, forest and plant populations are affected by changes in seasonal freeze and thaw patterns, resulting in disrupted pollination and increased vulnerability to pests. No wonder hunters are worried; their way of life is facing destruction in the wake of an accelerating greenhouse effect that promises only to become more extreme in the decades to come.
Conservative politicians and pundits are all too ready to stigmatize discussion of climate change as mere "politics," Such a stance is deeply irresponsible. Hunters and environmentalists alike must cooperate to avert a humanitarian and environmental tragedy, not play rhetorical games while the planet burns.
10 Nov 2013, 7:50am
environment: biodiversity charismatic megafauna extinction phytoplankton
Year 4, Month 11, Day 10: A Dilemma For The Horns
The Albuquerque Journal (NM) runs an AP article on moose gradually going extinct…
Moose in the northern United States are dying in what scientists say may be the start of climate shock to the world's boreal forests.
The die-off is most dire in Minnesota, where ecologists say moose could be gone within a decade. But it extends across the southern edge of the animal's global range: Populations are falling as far away as Sweden.
No single cause seems to be responsible. In Minnesota, many moose seem to be dying of parasitic worms called liver flukes; in Wyoming, some researchers are pointing to a worm that blocks the moose's carotid arteries; in New Hampshire, massive tick infections seem to be the culprit. This diversity of reasons makes some experts think they need to dig deeper.
"The fact that you've got different proximate causes killing off the moose suggests there's an underlying ultimate cause," says Dennis Murray, a population ecologist at Trent University in Canada.
Not surprising, but (as always) terribly saddening. October 31:
The decline in moose populations across North America is only one of many indications that climate change is already devastating the world's biodiversity. While there are many local causes for the plummeting numbers of moose — tick infestations, habitat loss, etc. — each of these ultimately stems from the same basic problem: regional environments are changing too fast for animal and plant species to adapt.
While some life-forms are highly adaptable and will undoubtedly survive into a climatically-transformed future (we should probably start being kinder to cockroaches), our descendants may well remember moose and other such iconic animals as we think of the dodo and the passenger pigeon.
We are entering a period of mass extinctions as climate change intensifies; charismatic megafauna like moose and polar bears are only the tip of a (rapidly melting) iceberg. Scientists recently measured a forty percent drop in populations of oceanic phytoplankton, a major source of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere.
Perhaps it's time to stop denying the existence of climate change, and time to start working actively to stop it before it stops us.
← Year 4, Month 11, Day 9: (Head-desk) The Web of Departure – Trombone, 2 Violins, 'Cello, and Contrabass →


As technology brings more avenues for communication to our personal and work lives, it's important for corporate communicators to keep an eye on the latest internal communications statistics.
More organizations are prioritizing internal communications, so there is a greater need to understand its important role in supporting key business objectives. We've gathered some of the latest internal communications statistics to help you understand this evolving communications field.
1. Globally, 21% of internal communicators admitted that they do not employ any form of formal planning.
According to Gatehouse State of the Sector 2018, that number increases to 31% for communicators in North America. This data suggests that in many organizations communications are still more reactive than proactive.
2. "Communicating strategy, values and purposes" was listed as a key priority by 64% of communicators responding to Gatehouse.
agree that progress towards communications objectives are researched, measured, and evaluated with metrics and KPIs.
4. 43% of U.S. employees work remotely at least some of the time, according to a Gallup study.
With the rise of remote work arrangements, organizations need to consider how to communicate important messages to these employees. When developing your internal communications strategy, make sure this unique employee segment receives the information they need without ever having to step foot in the office.
5. 95% of communicators use email as a feedback channel, yet only 44% use email statistics as a measure of their effectiveness.
With feedback being an essential part of an internal communications strategy, it's important to know that your emails are being received by employees. According to a 2017 study, the "typical'' knowledge worker spends 11.7 hours each week processing email at work. It's easy for internal communications emails to get lost in the shuffle.
6. "Senior leadership" ranked second on AON's list of top engagement opportunities.
Including the voice of your leadership team as part of your internal communications strategy can have a significant impact on the employee experience. AON's data provides a strong indication that employees desire communication and interaction with leaders at all levels of the company. Often, there are geographic or other obstacles that prevent employees and leaders from connecting. Internal communications, especially digital channels, can overcome those obstacles and connect leaders and employees.
These are just a sampling of the internal communications statistics currently available. For the latest trends in communication, employee experience, and more delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Gather Around newsletter.
Get an in-depth look at how to make your internal communications successful.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


As many of you may remember, I got a new neighbor a while back (sorry, too lazy to look for the link...maybe in the morning). Well, his fiancee got here today, with a rather large (20ft, in fact) Ryder rental truck stuffed with furniture. I'm not exactly sure how they've managed to fit as much as they did into that tiny apartment of theirs...but somehow, they managed it. So I spent the evening helping them move stuff in, which was an enjoyable, if harrowing, experience.
I also found out from pharkas that the 205 homework is due tomorrow (well, later today now), so I quickly did the reading and the homework. I broke my rule about not doing schoolwork on the weekends, but it's a pretty flexible rule anyway.
So, now I'm tired and I want to go to sleep. Problem is, I've had way too many interesting (well, interesting to me) thoughts shooting through my head today to be able to sleep very well at all tonight. Problem is, I'm too tired to write them all down. Blech.
Dammit, I just realized I still have a kitchen full of dishes. Oh well, at least I got my laundry done...thanks to my very helpful landlady, who let me borrow her washer/dryer since my car was blocked by my neighbor's rent-a-truck.


text:
So Minnesota: Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in New Ulm
Joe Mazan
Updated: November 01, 2021 10:28 PM
From Polka to Prince, the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in New Ulm honors all types of music.
Executive Director Bonnie Ubl says the museum opened more than three decades ago.
"We want all the ages to come in and see what we have and enjoy our music and enjoy what we have to show them," Ubl said. "Just think, all the music through all these generations and it's all here and we got to see it and we're leaving happy. I want them to leave happy."
Nearly 200 artists have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including Judy Garland, Bob Dylan and Prince.
You don't have to be born in Minnesota to be inducted, but the music has to have had an effect on the Minnesota music industry.
So Minnesota: Foshay Tower
So Minnesota: Minnesota State Capitol Rathskeller
So Minnesota: Christmas in the Village
So Minnesota: University of Minnesota Shoe Tree
So Minnesota: The great Hinckley fire mystery
So Minnesota: Story Stones
So Minnesota: Missile Park in St. Bonifacius
So Minnesota: City of Anoka the 'Halloween Capital of the World'
So Minnesota: Haunted history of the Sea Wing disaster