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Tag Archives: Air Pollution
By Morgen Henderson | February 4, 2023 - 5:11 pm | February 4, 2023 Cryptocurrency, Environment, Green, Technology
It takes a high level of data analysis to predict the effects of climate change and the implications of our actions to stop and adapt to it. Often, scientists have terabytes of data, but not the computing power to make sense of climate issues like hurricanes. But this level of analysis is possible with artificial intelligence (AI). In fact, AI may be the best weapon we have to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. That's because it can analyze large chunks of data from past events and make accurate predictions about future ones.
Today, AI is helping to monitor and predict everything from glacier retreat to commercial waste management. As innovations in "deep learning" march on, AI's prescience will help inform scientists about climate impacts and policymakers on the most prudent steps for adaptation. Here are some critical ways AI is helping to preserve our planet.
1. Smarter Home Energy Use
AI is helping save the planet by assisting homeowners through energy-efficient smart homes. The Internet of Things and today's "smart devices" let homeowners control their energy use and lower their monthly bills. Smart thermostats can adjust temperature settings for specific rooms in a house. Smart water sprinklers can change water usage based on weather forecasts. And smart security systems can cut down on false alarms calls — so fewer gas-guzzling trips by first responders. The automation, connection, and prediction power built into these smart devices allow homeowners to lower their carbon footprint.
But smart energy use is not just about conservation — it's also about the best time to use energy. Peak energy hours like evenings are higher-demand, higher-cost times. Smart devices can automate energy use for low-demand hours. Plus, off-peak times like mid-day are when alternative energy sources like solar and wind contribute the most. Therefore, smart technology promotes renewable energy.
2. Soil Conservation
Soil degradation is a problem often overlooked in the media. But it has serious consequences for humanity's ability to adapt to and survive climate change. It takes a millennium to generate only three centimeters of topsoil, and soil degradation is happening at a much faster rate. Chemicals, deforestation, erosion, and global warming are major contributors to soil degradation. And if the current rate of degradation continues, the planet's farmable land could disappear within 60 years, according to United Nations officials.
But farmers and scientists are using AI to help conserve the soil by marshaling complex algorithms along with robots and drones to detect erosion and monitor soil health. For example, one company has developed an agricultural app to help farmers identify nutrient deficiencies within their soil. And farmers are using machine learning to predict the best times to plant, irrigate, and harvest crops based on weather changes. Accurate predictions mean less need for pesticides and fertilizers, which degrade the soil.
3. Exploring and Protecting Oceans
Scientists watch and test the health of oceans because they're the best indicators of Earth's health. Microplastics, increased CO2 levels, and ocean acidification are changing the surface of the planet. The key to protecting oceans is exploring and monitoring them for changes. Climate scientists and oceanographers are using AI technology to drive autonomous marine vehicles to the deepest depths. And some companies are developing autonomous garbage collection systems that would help remove plastics and floating debris.
Another emerging technology — blockchain — is helping to track fishing and identify illegal behavior. Blockchain is the same technology that powers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The technology acts as a transparent ledger for transactions. Blockchain is a decentralized system, which means it operates autonomously and isn't subject to misuse and abuse. Trust is critical to international treaties that regulate fishing quotas and manage overfishing. Blockchain technology can record each fish (e.g., tuna) with a scannable code uploaded to the ledger. Therefore, retailers, customers, and regulators can confirm that fish are legally caught.
4. Air Pollution Detection
AI is becoming an invaluable tool for tracking our air quality and identifying sources of pollution. During accidental emissions, city air quality officials need to identify and respond quickly. Some European cities are using leak sensors and AI to help create emission maps, predict mortality rates, and estimate financial costs of emergency responses. These data points give decision makers a more accurate view of the air pollution along with more targeted remediation.
In addition to monitoring air pollution, AI is also cutting tailpipe emissions. AI manages self-driving cars to make getting from point A-to-B more efficient. Self-driving automobiles can cut oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 2% to 4% annually. AI and global positioning systems operating driverless tractor-trailer rigs will make deliveries non-stop, faster, and less costly to the planet. Complex algorithms, sensors, and traffic lights are directing traffic flow in some cities. These systems are currently reducing travel time by 25%, braking by 30%, and idling time by 40%.
5. Evaluating the Efficacy of Action
AI is bringing powerful ways to monitor and predict threats to our environment. Synthetic thinking adds value for scientists, officials, and policymakers by giving them deeper looks into current environmental situations. Perhaps, more than anything, AI's biggest potential lies in figuring out where solutions hit the mark and where they miss. It's counterproductive to invest resources and time into bad solutions. But that's highly likely, given the complexity of climate change and adaptation.
Where do we invest? Which coastline needs saving the most? What communities are at a higher risk? With dwindling resources and bigger dangers, we will face some hard decisions in the future about where to deploy our efforts. At some point, those decisions will mean life or death. We will need quick thinking and accurate data. Evaluating our options and predicting their implications is where AI will bring the most value.
Tagged AI, Air Pollution, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Global Warming, How AI Can Preserve Environment, Smart Homes, Soil Conservation, climate change, emissions, self-driving cars
Top 5 Environmentally Friendly Construction Materials
By Jennifer Bell | January 14, 2023 - 3:06 pm | January 14, 2023 Construction, Environment, Green
Whether you are a custom home builder, or you are designing your own custom home, it's worth your while to know about eco-friendly construction materials. Eco-friendly construction materials are becoming increasingly more important as more and more people are realizing the importance of creating a more sustainable world.
Eco-friendly construction materials are a great way to minimize the negative environmental impact that building a home may have. Additionally, homes that are constructed with sustainable building materials are increasing in popularity because of the vast amount of benefits that they have to offer.
An expert from a custom home builder in New Jersey pointed out, "There are a variety of benefits of using sustainable materials when building a home; the most notable is that green materials ultimately save the homeowner money down the line; in addition to the amount of waste that they [green materials] eliminate."
Sustainable construction materials save homeowners money because they typically keep a house more insulated; cutting down on the use of heating and air conditioning systems, therefore using less electricity, gas, and oil. Below are some environmentally friendly construction materials to consider including in a custom home design.
Top Eco-Friendly Construction Materials
Eco-friendly construction materials should not only be sustainable, but they should also not cause any negative effects on the environment. Typical construction materials are detrimental to the environment because of the harsh chemicals they produce; directly causing air pollution. Or, they are detrimental because they use resources that are limited. Here are some safe alternatives to typical construction materials:
1. Hemp Concrete
Hemp concrete is a biocomposite material which is made up of hemp and a lime-based binder. Hemp concrete is a great alternative to regular concrete because it's biodegradable and more sustainable.
Not only does hemp concrete act as an insulator and moisture regulator, but it is also extremely durable and will last just as long as regular concrete. Hemp concrete is a great sustainable material to include in your custom home design and will keep both cool and warm air, reducing the need to run heating and cooling systems, therefore also conserving energy.
2. Sheep's Wool
Sheep's wool is a great construction material because it can be regrown quickly and the sheep are not harmed in the process. Sheep's wool can be used for its insulating benefits in ceilings, attics, and walls. In fact, sheep's wool is a great insulator for both thermal and acoustic insulation purposes.
Though sheep's wool is slightly more expensive than other insulation options, the longevity of this insulator is much longer and will reduce electricity bills significantly by keeping cool and warm air in.
3. Recycled Steel
Rather than using new steel during construction-which uses natural resources during production – consider using recycled steel. Recycled steel will produce less amount of waste in the environment, and will prevent the use of resources that are necessary to create steel.
Steel is relevant in the construction process, especially for beams that will hold up the house, therefore it's practical to choose steel that is kind to the environment.
4. Bamboo
Bamboo is an eco-friendly building material that can be used for a number of different things. Some of the main benefits that bamboo has to offer include:
A durable surface
Strength to support other materials upon construction
It grows quickly, so is a very sustainable option
Bamboo can be used for both flooring and walls of a home and has a long lifespan, meaning, walls and floors that are designed with bamboo will not have to be replaced often, creating less waste in the environment.
5. Cork
Similar to bamboo, cork is a fast-growing material and is harvested from a living tree, so no trees need to be cut down in order to produce this material. Cork is most commonly used for flooring because of its resilience and durability. However, cork is another insulation option too because it is impermeable, meaning water will not make its way into it; it's also soundproof.
Cork, if left uncoated, is naturally fire-resistant so it will not produce toxins if it is burned after replacing it with new cork later down the road.
Make Environmentally Informed Choices in Your Home
If you are a home builder or if you are simply a homeowner that wants to assist in the building process, it's' important to know how to make environmentally informed choices when it comes to custom home building. These eco-friendly building materials will not only benefit the environment, but they will also positively impact the homeowner. Keep these sustainable and green building materials in mind as you begin your custom home design.
Tagged Air Pollution, Bamboo, Chemicals, Cork, Eco-friendly Construction Materials, Environmentally Friendly Construction Materials, Hemp Concrete, Home Design, Insulation, Moisture, Recycled Steel, Sheep's Wool, Sustainable Construction Materials
How to Minimize Air Pollution While Growing Cannabis
By Salman Zafar | January 8, 2023 - 2:22 pm | January 14, 2023 Agriculture, Environment, Green
As the medical marijuana, recreational marijuana and CBD markets each grow into multi-billion dollar industries, the demand for cannabis is at an all-time high — and canny entrepreneurs across the country are starting commercial cannabis grow operations in earnest. However, institutions like the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) are studying the potential effects of cannabis farms on air pollution and finding worrying results.
Aurora, Colorado, which is the second most popular locality in the nation for commercial cannabis farming operations, currently has the country's 8th worst air quality according to the American Lung Association. The CDPHE asserts that this has much to do with cannabis farms and their output of what are known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.
What are VOCs, and why are they a problem?
VOCs are naturally released by a wide range of plant life, and are generally harmless on their own. An example of well-known VOCs are terpenes, which are present in everything from lavender to black peppercorns. The terpene profiles of different cannabis strains give them their respective identities, like the Lime OG strain which is incredibly popular among consumers.
The problem with VOCs occurs when they combine with combustion gases and become harmful to the ozone. Cannabis farms are commonly positioned along stretches of highway, with frequent car traffic through all times of day. This makes them uniquely problematic, as unlike other VOC-emitting plants like lavender, they are positioned to release VOCs en masse to combine with automobile exhaust and produce air pollution.
We can't alter the release of VOCs in agriculturally and industrially-grown crops like marijuana at present, but there are ways farmers can offset these emissions with the use of environmentally-friendly alternatives to onsite operations. In this post, we go over three important examples of how cannabis farms can reduce or counter their own VOC emissions with little to no impact on productivity.
Strategic Positioning of Cannabis Farms Using Road Hierarchy
The first and most obvious step that can be taken to reduce the harmful interaction of VOCs produced by cannabis farms with motor vehicle exhaust is to position them along less traffic-intensive roads. The current road hierarchy within the United States and Canada is as follows:
Freeways are categorized as interstate or intercity roads, limited access roads and on- and off-ramps.
Arterial roads are designed to accommodate plenty of traffic throughout the day, and are subdivided into minor and major arterials for urban and rural areas respectively.
Collector roads are the convergence points for local roads, ultimately distributing local street traffic to different arterials.
Local roads carry low traffic volume and can typically be found in residential areas or specialized districts. In rural areas, these are sometimes unpaved depending on budgetary constraints or development timelines.
Cannabis-friendly states like California, Oregon and Colorado would benefit from the creation of more specialized farming counties and districts, where cannabis farms are positioned along local roads connected to a single collector a respectable distance away. This would prevent anything other than essential traffic, such as transport or supply vehicles to and from the farms themselves, from being in frequent proximity to the VOCs produced by onsite crops.
Use of Biofuels in Tractors, Tillers & Other Onsite Utility Vehicles
Continuing on from the concept of using road hierarchy in positioning cannabis farms: the risk of VOC conversion from approaching transport or supply vehicles could be further diminished if they were either electric vehicles (EVs) or made use of currently available biofuels.
This also applies to utility vehicles operated onsite, such as tractors, diggers and tillers, all of whose emissions are in contact with VOCs far more often than those from logistics vehicles.
Green Energy to Power Onsite Machine Processes
While they may not yet have the output specifications to effectively power entire farms, solar panels can provide ample energy for common onsite machine processes, such as the extraction of cannabinoids and terpenes to make isolates or the wet-mixing of hemp hurds to make hempcrete.
Depending on the products onsite facilities are purposed to manufacture, the use of green energy could be feasible for several farms across the country that haven't already made the switch.
Tagged Air Pollution, VOC-emitting plants, VOCs, air pollution while growing cannabis, cannabis, cannabis farms, commercial cannabis farming, effects of cannabis farms on air pollution, green energy, marijuana, road hierarchy, terpenes, vehicle exhaust
The Big Question: Why are Electric Cars the More Sustainable Choice?
By Salman Zafar | August 4, 2022 - 2:45 pm | January 4, 2023 Automotive, Green, Technology, Transportation
By now, everyone living in the UK should be aware that by the end of 2030, non-electric passenger cars and light commercial vehicles will no longer be sold, imported, or manufactured in the country. Even though the plan seemed quite ambitious at the time of its announcement in 2020, recent stats tell us a different story altogether.
Excellent Sales Numbers Indicate Willingness to Welcome the Shift to EVs
According to data revealed by the UK Transport Department, the electric vehicle (EV) industry generated 173.5% more revenue during Q3, 2021, as compared to Q3, 2020. By the end of 2021, not only did the EV sector manage to sell the number of cars they needed in order to meet the necessary adoption curve, but they also exceeded their annual target by 60,000+ more electric vehicle sales.
These stats and figures more clearly indicate that people in the UK are both aware and willing to take the road needed for creating a more sustainable future for everyone. That being said, not everyone is ready or willing to support a shift to EVs yet. There are several social, economic, and political factors behind their unwillingness to adopt an electric car. Some of those causes are very real hurdles that the government hopes to overcome in the coming years.
Alongside other serious obstacles in the path of incomplete understanding of an EV's benefits is a core problem that must be addressed. We are often informed that an electric vehicle is the more sustainable choice, but that statement is seldom explained properly. Whether you already own an electric vehicle or not, this post will help you understand why and how EVs are indeed the better choice for a cleaner, sustainable future.
Preparing for a Future without Fossil Fuels
More recently, the European Union (EU) has also declared its plans to slowly phase out fossil fuel vehicles by 2035. While we don't yet have details regarding how they plan to go about it, it's another step in the right direction. Despite the tremendous effort and investment it will take to create and maintain an automotive industry that's not primarily reliant on fossil fuels, relevant governing authorities are still planning to go through with it. If successful, the entire movement will be tantamount to ushering in a new industrial revolution.
However, when multiple world governments decide in favour of reducing their dependence on non-renewable energy sources, the deeper implications are there for us to ascertain. People were running out of coal and petroleum from the very first day they started using it, but that time was still set in a very distant, vague future. As a result of globalisation, overpopulation, and over industrialisation, our energy consumption needs have increased beyond all previous estimations. Furthermore, that need continues to grow unchecked in several parts of the world. Consequently, we are now dangerously close to putting a date on a dystopian future!
It would take decades to build a reliable, new infrastructure that can effectively replace/reduce the need to rely on fossil fuels for an entire demographic. When the world finally runs out of easily accessible sources of fossil fuel, a well-developed alternative fuel industry must be present to keep us from reverting to the dark ages. Therefore, preparations to move away from non-renewable fuel sources must start now.
In conclusion, it can be said without a doubt that electric cars are the more sustainable and practical choice because that choice helps in building an infrastructure capable of surviving a future without easy access to petroleum. If we focus on the fact that running out of fossil fuels is an inevitability and not just a possibility, the current push towards adopting EVs begins to make a lot more sense.
That shift does not have to be difficult for anyone in the UK, although it may seem like a confusing change to many. Visit ElectriX to learn everything you need to learn about electric vehicles and find a good lease on your favourite model. They will even help you find cost-efficient insurance policies for your new EV. Leasing electric cars is the smarter choice right now because between now and 2030, EVs will improve exponentially with each passing year. A lease makes it much easier and more economic to shift to a newer, better, and more energy-efficient model, every time you need to.
Decreased Contribution to Air Pollution
In 2020, the Covid-19 lockdowns reduced vehicle usage across the world. Just a few weeks of decreasing traffic saw nitrogenous air pollutants plummet down to unforeseen percentages in the UK, Italy, China, India, and pretty much the entire world. It was confirmed by NASA in 2021 that the earth's ozone layer also started to repair itself during those same periods. Given that the ozone layer protects us from extremely dangerous and highly carcinogenic cosmic and solar radiation, that was a startling discovery for the scientific community. Despite the core reason behind the environmental improvements being a very undesirable and unfortunate one, these events did manage to reveal some undeniable facts in plain sight.
It seems that just a few weeks of reduced traffic can lead to massive improvements in air quality, climatic conditions, and even ozone repletion. Therefore, we can only imagine how positive it would be for the environment if we shifted permanently to electric vehicles. Over time, even the infamous London smog can be eliminated if the majority of all vehicles running on its streets did not emit toxic fumes anymore. It should also be noted that regular exposure to urban smog is officially documented by the European Environment Agency (EEA) as a confirmed reason for killing over 400,000 people in Europe every year.
One may argue that electric cars have electric batteries, and they will contribute to the growing problem of dumping electronic junk in the future. It's also true that electric cars are not completely emission-free either. In other words, EVs contribute to environmental pollution as well. This is, in fact, one of the chief arguments against adopting electric cars. However, that argument is not as valid as it may seem initially. The fact is that transportation across all formats is essential, and it cannot be stopped.
Therefore, the choice is about how we decide to power our vehicles and not whether we should be using vehicles. This leads us to an obvious comparison of available choices. Despite EVs also being responsible for harming the environment to some extent, that harm is almost negligible compared to the negative environmental effects of any vehicle running on fossil fuel.
Furthermore, we are close to reaching the peak of efficiency with combustion engines. This means that there's not much that science can do at this point to make a traditional car engine more efficient than it is right now. On the other hand, we have only scratched the surface of what we can really do with electric car motors. In just a few years, electric vehicles will have more efficient, yet powerful electric engines, which will pollute even less than they do now. In other words, the electric vehicle is not just an eco-friendlier choice, but it is also our next step in automotive evolution.
Tagged Air Pollution, EV sector, EVs, Electric Cars, are electric cars sustainable, environmental pollution, fossil fuel vehicles, fossil fuels, why are electric cars better
All You Need to Know About the Benefits Of Natural Gas
By Salman Zafar | July 16, 2022 - 8:09 pm | July 16, 2022 Energy Efficiency, Environment, Green, Science
All areas of our lives are literally run by energy. And with various options of energy consumption choices, it's always good to know the benefits of each one of them so that you make a great consumer choice. Today, in this article, we are focusing on natural gas and are going to take you through some of its top benefits. So if that's what you have been searching for, then you are at the correct place. Let's get started!
1. Clean Burning Fuel
When compared to coal, oil, and diesel, natural gas is cleaner as it emits the least percentage of carbon dioxide and other related harmful chemicals. So when you use one, you don't have to invest in emission lowering technologies as the efficiency is top notch. Also, since it's odorless, it makes little contribution to air pollution and doesn't cause any harm when inhaled by people and animals.
2. Versatile
There is a given sort of flexibility and convenience that comes with the use of natural gas. With it, you enjoy the ease of starting and turning off as it won't take much of your time. Also, since it isn't dependent on the wind or the sun, it can function pretty well when used with solar and wind powers. It's a source you can depend on no matter the weather conditions outside.
So if this seems like something you would like to try out, then it's advisable to carefully go through an apples to apples comparison of the various natural gas providers and settle for one according to your needs and financial capability.
3. Affordable
With the current hard economic times, people are always on the lookout for affordable but efficient options when it comes to products or services affecting their billings. So natural gas couldn't have been easily accessible at a better time. In fact, it's by far one of the cheapest energy options in the current market. This is because, even as you calculate the long-term costs of seemingly cheap options such as generators, you will realize that they aren't as affordable as they might appear in the beginning. Take the fuel and maintenance costs, for example, you will end up spending much more than you can ever imagine.
But this isn't the case with natural gas. According to recent findings, its cost is expected to remain constant or relatively unchanged at least even for the next decade. So you can be sure that it's a long-term investment, worth every cent. You make one and forget about unnecessary expenses.
4. Reliable Delivery Infrastructure
This is probably one of the natural gas's primary benefits. This is because you can still receive your delivery of natural gas even during extreme weather conditions such as storms, through the pipes. A case that's different from other energy sources. Also, the infrastructure is already established in most urban areas.
Natural gas is a clean fuel that can be used in various places while keeping the air fresh and clean. Together with this, there are various benefits associated with its use and this includes the affordability, reliable infrastructure, versatility, among others. The above list isn't exhaustive.
Tagged Air Pollution, Benefits of Natural Gas, Delivery Infrastructure, Emission, Natural Gas, Natural Gas as Clean Fuel
Air Pollution and its Invisible Danger – What You Need to Know
By Salman Zafar | March 12, 2022 - 7:57 am | March 12, 2022 Environment, Health, Industry
If you've been observing the ongoing and high-profile protests from Extinction Rebellion over the course of the last few years, you'll be aware that air pollution offers a significant threat to the human population.
This is supported by the statistics, which have revealed that almost a quarter of the people in the UK have been exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution with potentially devastating health consequences.
More specifically, a study by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) found that about 15 million in the UK live in areas where the average levels of the toxic particle PM2.5 exceeds the World Health Foundation's guidelines. But what do you need to know about this invisible danger?
What is Air Pollution and How is it Caused?
In simple terms, air pollution is defined as the presence of substances in the natural atmosphere that may be harmful to the health of humans and other living beings.
Air pollution may also cause long standing damage to the climate or individual materials, while there are different types of air pollutants including particulates, gases and biological molecules.
Historically, the history of air pollution can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution, as developed nations such as the UK began to leverage fossil fuels such as coal to drive economic growth and expansion.
As a result of this, large and industrialised nations have produced high levels of smoke and sulphur dioxide for a range of domestic and industrial purposes, creating an omni-present threat to clean air and one that has worsened incrementally over time.
Substances such as nitrogen oxide are also impactful in this regard, with this produced from the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen in their air during combustion.
The threat of this has become increasingly prominent in highly congested areas packed with high motor vehicle traffic, creating a huge and growing pollution challenge.
Health Impact of Pollution and the Reaction of Governments
According to the WHO, air pollution contributes to an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths globally, with conditions such as heart disease, stroke, acute respiratory infections and lung cancer.
Interestingly, worldwide ambient air pollution accounts for 29% of all deaths and disease that involve lung cancer, along with 25% of similar cases related to ischaemic heart disease.
Incredibly, air pollution also contributes to 43% of all deaths and diseases that arise from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which causes significant breathing difficulties and long-term inflammation within the lungs.
Fortunately, countries across the globe are beginning to take steps to tackle air pollution, even serial offenders like China. Here, the government is taking direct action to clean up smog-choked skies from years of relentless industrial expansion, primarily by investing $83.4 billion in the renewable energy sector in 2019.
Nations like China are also drawing on innovation and technological advancement, with firms such as ERG Air Pollution Control providing various tools and measures to help tackle air pollution directly.
This includes everything from industrial gas cleaning services to comprehensive air pollution control systems, which help to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change without compromising on economic growth.
Tagged Air Pollutants, Air Pollution, China, Health Consequences of Air Pollution, Health Impacts of Air Pollution, Invisible Dangers of Air Pollution, Lungs, Nitrogen Oxide
Sustainability Standards in Oil Palm Industry: An Overview
By Marcel Djama | January 7, 2022 - 2:21 am | January 7, 2022 Environment, Food, Sustainable Development
The palm oil industry is particularly involved in the development of sustainability standards. Driven by growing global demand, palm oil production has expanded rapidly in the last few years. Palm oil is the most widely consumed vegetable oil in the world, and its popularity has grown even more with the emergence of new market opportunities in the biofuels sector, in addition to its traditional food and oleochemical uses.
This strong growth has unquestionably contributed to the economic development of the main producer countries – Indonesia and Malaysia – which account for 87% of global production. Palm oil cultivation provides income for many smallholders, whose produce accounts for around 40% of world palm oil output.
Environmental and Socio-economic Concerns
However, the expansion of palm oil cultivation has also generated serious environmental concerns. It results in tropical deforestation and thus has a major impact on biodiversity loss, with the decline of emblematic species such as orangutan in Southeast Asia. It contributes to climate change through deforestation, but also through the conversion of peatlands, which are of vital importance in soil carbon sequestration.
The huge forest and bush fires in recent years in Indonesia which are associated with clearing lands for agricultural or forestry plantations caused severe air pollution and public health problems across the sub-region. In addition, industrial plantations are sometimes responsible for polluting waterways, into which chemical inputs and processing plant waste are dumped.
Moreover, this expansion has sometimes resulted in social abuses and human rights violations, in the form of land grabbing by plantation companies at the expense of local and indigenous communities or of the exploitation of plantation workers.
Sustainability Standards in Oil Palm Industry
Condemnation of these abuses by NGOs and growing consumer awareness of the adverse impacts of the expansion of palm oil plantation have driven the development of sustainability standards. Such standards are aimed at transforming production practices in order to mitigate their adverse environmental and social effects.
The expansion of palm oil cultivation in Southeast Asia has also generated serious environmental concerns.
In 2001, representatives of the food processing and distribution sector launched a dialogue with WWF and plantation companies, leading to the creation in 2004 of the first voluntary sustainability standard in the sector, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
There are now 2.41 million hectares of RSPO-certified plantations, while sustainable palm oil accounted for 20% of world trade in this product. Meanwhile, several other initiatives proposing a vision of palm oil sustainability have emerged, positioning themselves as either a complement or an alternative to RSPO.
New Challenges to Overcome
The development of these initiatives demonstrates the growing awareness among producers, the industry and the public authorities of the need to transform the sector to enable it to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But this proliferation of sustainability standards itself poses new challenges, even though the environmental and social problems that motivated their emergence remain unresolved.
At the institutional level, the proliferation of sustainability initiatives since the creation of RSPO reflects a real fragmentation of the regulatory framework. This proliferation also raises the question of the articulation of these voluntary standards with the public regulations and national sustainability standards that producer countries have adopted.
Finally, measures to ensure the sustainability of palm oil cultivation need to bolster their credibility by guaranteeing better inclusion of the millions of smallholders, and by contributing in an effective, measurable way to mitigating the adverse social and environmental impacts of growth in palm oil cultivation. In this field, the role of collaborative and multidisciplinary research in providing strong evidence-based impact evaluation of standards is crucial.
Tagged Air Pollution, Deforestation, Human Rights, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oil Palm, Oil Palm Industry, Oil Palm Sustainability, Orangutan, Palm Oil and Sustainability, Palm oil, Public Health, RSPO, Sustainability Standards
5 Ways Solar Energy Positively Impacts The Environment
By Salman Zafar | October 8, 2021 - 2:49 pm | February 28, 2022 Electricity, Environment, Renewable Energy, Solar Power
Solar energy is one of the most eco-friendly power sources out there. And because of the environmental benefits of solar energy, an increasing number of homeowners and business owners are having solar panels mounted on their properties.
As a green alternative, solar power doesn't only help reduce power costs but also provides numerous benefits to the natural surroundings. Below you'll find just a few of solar energy's most notable impacts on the planet.
1. Promotes Water Conservation
Water is an essential natural resource, and if people continue to use it unabatedly, it may run out sooner rather than later. Traditional power generation and transmission processes use significant amounts of water to cool generators and refine and transport fuel through pipes. The same is true whether the facility uses natural gas, nuclear power, or coal power to meet massive electricity demand.
Solar energy, however, doesn't require water to produce electricity, so it doesn't further strain water resources. Residential solar panels maintenance works only require periodic rinses and removal of debris and other types of obstruction. In addition, it doesn't give off wastewater, so it doesn't contribute to water pollution.
2. Reduces Greenhouse Gases And Carbon Emissions
Most of the energy we use on the planet is produced from burning fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide. This chemical compound generates heat once released into the atmosphere, that's why it's called a greenhouse gas. It's said that carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for more than a thousand years, worsening global warming and negatively impacting the weather systems.
With solar panels meeting residential and commercial electrical needs, fossil fuels don't have to be burned to make appliances and other power-hungry devices work. Making your home more self-sufficient by mounting solar panels on your roof isn't only a way to reduce your electricity expenses but a planet-saving measure as well since it relies on a stable and renewable energy source.
3. Avoids Strain On Earth's Non-renewable Resources
The majority of the world's current power sources, such as natural gas, oil, and coal, aren't infinite like the rest of the Earth's natural resources. As the population continues to grow, so are the demands for those assets. This imbalance continues to strain the Earth's finite resources, such as fossil fuel. In the face of fast-depleting natural reserves, humans should tap other means of renewable energy sources and minimize their use of the current supply available.
Switching to solar energy is one great way to preserve the planet's power resources and lower the demand for them. The sun is nature's main energy reservoir. It's said to generate about 173,000 terawatts of solar energy per second. Comparatively, the world's electricity consumption for 2018 was pegged at 23,398 terawatt-hours. Best of all, solar energy is accessible as long as the sun's still shining.
4. Helps Slow Down Climate Change
When released into the atmosphere, dangerous emissions from burning fossil fuels damage the environment. What's more, they can contribute to global warming and extremely erratic climate patterns.
Methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrous oxide can amplify the greenhouse effect. Under normal circumstances, the greenhouse effect is a natural process of warming the earth, making it suitable for life. Unfortunately, processing fossil fuels to generate energy has led to abnormally warmer temperatures at unprecedented rates. As a result, the planet has experienced highly dramatic weather disturbances, including unpredictable atmospheric conditions, violent storms, extreme flooding, and severe drought.
Solar panels produce electricity without emitting dangerous chemicals or toxic gases. As more homes and buildings are switching to the use of solar panels, the current power generation practices are expected to become more environment-friendly. With solar energy, you don't need to burn fuel and exacerbate the greenhouse effect.
5. Minimizes Air Pollution
Besides the environmentally harmful carbon dioxide, burning fossil fuels can generate other hazardous gases such as methane and sulfur dioxide. These toxic chemicals are released into the air and decrease air quality.
Such gases can endanger people's health and well-being. Various health problems are linked to long-term exposure to air pollution. These include lung cancer, asthma attacks, allergies, lung diseases, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and headaches, to name a few. Inversely, you won't have any of those problems with solar energy since it doesn't produce toxic emissions that harm people and the environment.
Energy use is essential for human existence. But common power generation methods, for the most part, have proven to be detrimental to the planet and human beings. Access to sustainable and eco-friendly energy sources should be a priority for everyone, and you can do your part by harnessing solar energy for your own power requirements.
Tagged Air Pollution, Carbon Emissions, How Does Solar Energy Positively Impacts The Environment, Solar Energy, Water Conservation, environmental benefits of solar energy, fossil fuels, positive environmental impact of solar energy
3 Home Designing Tips To Promote Cleaner Air Quality Indoors
By Salman Zafar | August 21, 2021 - 11:15 am | January 28, 2022 Green, Health, Home Improvements
While much of the focus has been on the damage air pollution can do, it turns out the air within our homes maybe even more detrimental. Last year's Clean Air Day campaign showed that particle pollution levels are a staggering 3.5 times higher indoors than they are outdoors. With the average person spending 93 percent of their lives indoors, every effort must be made to promote clean, safe indoor air quality – including when it comes to designing homes.
Designing a home that promotes good indoor air quality not only encourages better health for you and your family but can save you money on heating costs in the long run.
If you exert effort to promote safer air quality indoors, your home will become healthier and cleaner. Contrary to popular belief, promoting cleaner and safer air quality indoors through the right home design isn't taxing. Making small changes in different areas of your home and investing in the right tools, such as the Needlepoint bipolar ionization, can go a long way for you and your family to enjoy healthier air indoors. To make this process easier, consider the following tips to promote safer air quality indoors:
Control Outdoor Sources Of Air Pollution With Minimal Cracks, Leaks Or Uncontrolled Openings
A large determinant of indoor air quality is the transmission of outdoor pollution into the home. In an Indoor Quality Survey by UCL, nitrogen dioxide accounted for 84 percent of the variations in air quality. Nitrogen Dioxide is linked to asthma attacks and is majorly attributed to traffic emissions. The presence of nitrogen dioxide inside your home can worsen the symptoms of asthma or can increase your susceptibility when developing such disease.
The report went on to highlight just how important a role the airtight design of a building plays in maintaining optimal air quality. When designing an airtight home, ensuring there is adequate insulation and choosing the right insulation material is important.
New home builders can also benefit from new construction methods like insulation within the home's frame or the use of structural insulated panels. Final checks for unsealed leaks or cracks should also be done. However, homeowners and contractors should also keep in mind that ventilation is also just as paramount in maintaining good indoor air quality. Therefore, the inclusion of ventilation points, such as appropriately placed windows, should be kept in mind.
Moreover, common entryways such as doors and windows should be free from any kind of cracks and leaks. Homebuilders can now install silicon in the frames of doors and windows, so make sure that you use this material when designing your home.
Ensure You Have An Effective Ventilation System Design And Components In Place
A carefully designed ventilation system ensures that there is a free flow of air throughout the home and that any internal pollutants are flushed out. Ventilation is also important in the prevention and control of mold spores, which can have a large and potentially toxic impact on indoor air quality. Since molds thrive in humid or moist environments, proper ventilation can prevent their growth and the resulting health complications of mold exposure, such as the triggering of asthma symptoms or lung infections. Molds can also become an eyesore indoors, which is why you should ensure that your home has proper ventilation. A well-ventilated home can also increase the comfort of the people living in it, making the space more relaxing.
When designing your home's ventilation system, you will want a contractor that is experienced and an NICEIC approved ventilation installer for the installation. In addition to adhering to building regulations, be sure to include mechanical switches or CO2 powered sensors for your MVHR unit so the speed can adapt according to changing conditions, such as seasons of the year. You should also consider the air filter size: larger filters allow for greater airflow, but those made with a thinner material can come with an extended life and dust loading abilities.
There are many ways on how you can improve the ventilation of your home. For instance, you can install extractor fans and attic vents or invest in a home ventilation system. There are several products available in the market today that can provide ventilation indoors so make sure to ask your contractors about your options. For you to end up paying and using a ventilation system that fits your needs and budget, do some research online on how these products work.
Choose Non-Toxic Building Materials And Furnishings For Your Home
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are one of the leading types of indoor air pollution and commonly stem from certain liquids or substances such as paint varnishes, building materials, and the finishes on indoor furniture. Research has also shown that concentrations of VOCs can be up to 10 times higher indoors than they are outdoors. Exposure to VOCs can result in both long and short term health complications, including headaches, skin conditions and liver damage.
To avoid this, homeowners can opt for chemical-free building materials such as formaldehyde-free boarding, Rockwool for insulation, and low VOC paints for painting and interior designs. Since you'll be designing your home, make sure that the contractors understand your needs and will only use these materials.
When it comes to furnishing, choose second-hand furniture over new. Preowned furniture is more likely to emit lower levels of VOC when you buy them, since they stop emitting VOC after the first few initial years. As a bonus, it is much easier on your home design budget as preowned furniture is cheaper than buying brand new ones. For you to score great deals, you just have to exert effort when searching for secondhand pieces.
Key Takeaway Points
With so much time being spent in our homes, it makes sense that homeowners would want to design a home that is as safe as possible, including the indoor air quality. Incorporating simple hacks like these into your home design process can help you design the home of your dreams – and a healthy one at that.
Tagged Air Filters, Air Pollution, Air Quality, Airtight Home, Harmful Impacts of VOCs, How to Safer Promote Air Quality Indoors, Indoor Air Quality, Insulated Panels, Molds, Non-Toxic Building Material, Paints, Tips to Improve Home Ventilation, VOCs, Ventilation
How Renewable Energy Can Solve Smog Problem in China
By Emily Folk | June 20, 2021 - 4:40 am | June 20, 2021 Environment, Green, Renewable Energy
China is currently facing serious environmental problems, with potentially few solutions. Currently, this is mostly taking the form of serious smog issues plaguing North China, with more than 24 cities on red alert. However, with airports being shut down due to lacking visibility and the economy of China being heavily disrupted, action needs to be taken to solve this serious smog problem. While limited action has been taken, perhaps renewable energy is the key to cutting down China's smog.
How Bad Is the Problem?
The smog problem in China has become increasing worse from 2015 to 2017, with more than 90 micrograms of pollution per meter squared. These levels of air pollution are similar to the levels recorded previous to 2014, when the Chinese premier declared a war on pollution due to the health dangers posed by rising air pollution levels.
However, since 2015, levels of air pollution have risen once again. This pollution has had hard hitting effects on urban areas, especially the Chinese capital Beijing, and has caused widespread disruption to the lives of Chinese citizens and economy of the country.
The air pollution leads to the cities becoming hotter than ever. Urban Heat Island effect, which refers to buildings absorbing the sun's heat well, is exacerbated by the smog. In fact, a car in the heat can reach temperatures of 114 degrees Fahrenheit after just 20 minutes, making travelling on hot days nearly unbearable for any living creature. In order to decrease the heated condition of China, it is essential to decrease the amount of smog covering the cities.
What Has the Chinese Government Done?
The Chinese government has taken limited action in an attempt to minimize the air pollution being created in the country. This includes the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Plan, which acknowledged the danger posed by air pollution levels and aimed to reduce coal usage in urban areas like Beijing.
However, this is not representative of the main action the government has taken. Primarily, the Chinese government has focused on individual areas and attempting to reduce local pollution levels through efficient coal burning and banning the burning of waste materials, especially on farms. These solutions, while effective on a short-term basis, are not all that is needed, though.
Investment in renewables can reduce China's dependence on coal for power generation
China needs to reduce its overall usage of coal produced energy, which currently stands at 64 percent of total energy consumption. While this has already been happening in China, the further introduction of renewable energy could be of great help to China's pollution levels.
How Could Renewable Energy Help?
Many people believe renewable energy to be a small affair, something undertaken by the Western world in a vain attempt to reduce our collective guilt concerning climate change and wastage levels. This is simply not the case. Renewable energy is a $120 billion industry that receives investment and application across the world. This includes solar energy, waste-to-energy technology, wind energy, hydroelectric energy and many more attempts to reduce overall energy usage.
Through investment in renewable energy, China could reduce its dependence on coal and increase the efficiency of its energy production and economy. Smog is directly created by China's use of coal for its energy production, and by investing in other renewable means, China can simultaneously improve its health situation.
In fact, the obviously positive nature of investment in renewable energy can be clearly seen through the Chinese government's already existing plans to further incorporate it into the economy. In the five-year plan announced in 2016, the Chinese government explicitly stated it would decrease air pollution levels through investment in wind, solar and biomass energy production technologies.
While the plans additionally included investment in making the coal industry more efficient and reducing emissions on an industrial and commercial level, clearly renewable energy is believed to be a valid alternative energy source.
Overall, it is clear that renewable energy can certainly help with China's serious smog problem. Whether this should be in tangent with further investment in the coal industry or necessitate the end of widespread coal usage in China is still a question for debate.
Emily Folk is freelance writer and blogger on topics of renewable energy and conservation. To get her latest posts, check out her blog Conservation Folks, or follow her on Twitter.
Tagged Air Pollution, Biomass Energy, China, Coal, Economy, Energy, How Renewable Energy Can Reduce Air Pollution in China, Smog, Smog Problem in China, smog in china, solar, wind


Caamib is a controversial Croatian incelospherian who has an an enormous, some would argue negative, influence on the incelosphere. His blogging name is "Caamib", but is also known by Dante Alighieri (current name on love-shy.com) and ThatIncelBlogger (first blogging name). He was known for his now defunct website Governmentsgetgirlfriends and helping to mold and mod the first incel subreddits on Reddit.
Caamib began posting on love-shy.com, and became well known in 2013 for the now dufunct site 'Governmentsgetgirlfriends' which was a proposal for his government to pay girls to date men who could not get dates. This was sensational for 2013 and old media such as the Huffington Post and Jezebel picked up on it.
Caamib helped mold and create the first incel subreddit r/truecels and was he was the first poster and one of the original mods on the now banned but hugely influencial r/incels.
His role in the incelosphere is greatly diminished now as his public image is not great, his activity has been tracked to death by stalking sites like kiwifarms and he greatly dislikes what r/incels turned into and therefore was incels.is is.
He believes that foids should be allowed to join incel forums and that they can make great moderators; that there shouldn't be rules against bragging; and that people should stop coming up with new words that use "-cel" as a suffix.
Caamib's mentor was a love-shy.com user named fschmidt, and both of them moved onto smaller reactionary forums of fschmidt's creation including Co-alpha Reactionary Forum and Mikraite.org.
Caamib's own history of online incel communities: , including his participation in the ones after 2003.
This page was last edited on 3 April 2019, at 19:30.


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Home / Sport & Hobbies / Skiing / On the piste
On the piste
Piste skiing, Val Thorens, French Alps.
Geography, Physical Education and Sport
Foundation, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 4+
skiing, piste, mountains, snow, France, alps
Image: Holly
Image: Katoomba - King Parrots

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Caroline Smith
(1831—15 May 1901)
Married to Evan Richards, 1851
Grandmas who do family research and write histories for their families sometimes get told they aren't doing their families any favours as they rob their families of the joy of discovery for themselves. As I said in the introduction I have left ships for my grandchildren to research. Though I am writing Grandad's and my Grandmas' histories I have left you your other Grandmas to research. What I didn't tell you is we have half a dozen Grandmas we know little about and there is plenty for you to play detective with. You could say they are work in progress and I will give you the clues I have. If you want to know the answers you must look for yourself and here is a mystery grandma.
Caroline was born about 1831 the daughter of Richard and Danielle Smith and it is thought they were living in Plymouth. The story is that she was orphaned and having difficulty in making a living, so decided to look for work in New South Wales as a domestic servant. Caroline sailed on the Lord Stanley as an assisted migrant and arrived in Botany Bay August 27 1850. Soon after she arrived Caroline met Welsh Evan Richards [1] who was working as a school teacher at St James School, King Street. They married at Holy Trinity Church, the Rocks, what is called the Garrison Church and moved to Mudgee to help set up the first school in that town. In the first year at Mudgee their eldest child Elizabeth 1851 was born followed by a son Evan 1853 and then a daughter Laura in 1854, Edwin in 1856, Sarah in 1857, and Jane in 1859. After their eldest son Evan died, they decided to call their seventh child Evan in 1862 and in 1863 little Jane died so they called their eighth child, born in 1864, Jane. David was born in 1866 and his brother Evan died a couple weeks later. Caroline was born in 1868, and in 1870 a eleventh child was born and again the name Evan was used. This son Evan survived to be an adult. There was sadness with their children as they were keen to have a son Evan and their first son Evan died in his first year and their second son Evan when he was four years old and the first Jane died so we have a second Jane, very confusing. Eight of their children survived to adulthood and all survived their mother. Evan Richards senior worked as a school teacher at Mudgee until Evan had an arguement with Archdeacon Gnuther and resigned as a school teacher, and left the Church of England Church with his family, and became an active Primitive Methodist. He also became the church organist. From 1856 Evan worked as a tailor and managed the Mechanics Institute. In 1866 Evan got a job as Sheriff's Officer of the Mudgee Supreme Court. He did this work until he retired on a pension in 1895.
Though we don't know much of Caroline's life in Mudgee we do know her surviving eight children all married and she had forty-four grandchildren. Elizabeth married a dentist; Laura an auctioneer; Edwin became a member of the New South Wales state parliament; Sarah married a coachbuilder; David became a journalist and worked for the Mudgee Guardian; Caroline married a pattern maker; and Jane married and moved to England. One of Caroline's thirty six grandchildren Wallace Dean became a well known Methodist clergyman and headmaster of Burwood Ladies College.
Caroline's great grandson Bob Dalrymple created the genealogy programme >Relatively Yours that I use to record my family history.
[1] The original material for the Family Tree of the Descendants of Evan Richards of Caernarvon, Principality of Wales came from a research document The Richards Relatives that Robert Keith Dalrymple distributed around the family in 1986. Since then I built on his research by adding more and correcting some.
Web page made 29 February 2010; last edited


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Good News – Spotlight Shines on Texas Librarians
by Susi Grissom
First came the news in August that school librarian Irene Kistler, librarian at Northeast ISD's Ed White Middle School, had been named a state finalist for the Texas Teacher of the Year award. Irene was selected as a finalist from over 140,000 teachers by the Texas Association of School Administrators, and the fact that a school librarian was honored in such a public and prestigious way was great news indeed.
September brought another reason for celebration when Colleen Graves, librarian at Lamar Middle School in Lewisville ISD, was named as one of two finalists for School Library Journal's School Librarian of the Year Award. Developed with sponsor Scholastic Library Publishing, the award "honors a K–12 library professional for outstanding achievement and the exemplary use of 21st-century tools and services to engage children and teens toward fostering multiple literacies" (SLJ website).
Colleen more than fits that description! Since becoming the librarian at Lamar, Colleen has transformed the librarian into an exciting place where the entire school community can learn, experiment, and create. After giving the library a physical make-over with new color, furniture, and design, Colleen zeroed in on updating technology and its implementation in instruction. Through opportunities like "Maker Monday" workshops and "Coding and Robotics" classes, Colleen inspires her students to be independent creators, giving them the tools to use a variety of technologies and resources and then letting them explore and share their products. She also relies on her active and enthusiastic Teen Advisory Board to work with her on developing exciting projects, encouraging their leadership and input in the process. A certified Google Education Trainer, Colleen received a Lewisville Education Foundation Grant in 2013 to update iPad technology for library and classroom use. Then changing her focus to her aging print collection , she received a second Foundation grant in 2014, funding a proposal entitled, "This is Not Your Grandma's Library, but Her Books are Still Here!"
When contacted about her recent SLJ honor, Colleen wrote, "It is such an honor receiving the School Librarian of the Year Finalist Award! Andy Plemmons and Michelle Colte [finalist and winner of the award] are superstar elementary, and I'm excited to represent secondary school teacher librarians. I've had so much support since I started at Lamar. My former principal, Mrs. Lewis, helped me makeover the library into a learning commons and helped me buy supplies for our Makerspace. This award has helped me develop my library programming even further by helping me to reach out to librarians outside of my district. Now our students are able to make connections with students and experts around the nation."
Congratulations, Irene and Colleen! TASL is proud to call you both Texas school librarians!!
Posted by handdtx at November 10, 2014
Computer Science in the Library is more than a C++
by Brooke King, Middle School Librarian in Humble ISD, TxASLTalks Editorial Board and Cynthia Cooksey, Perez Elementary Librarian in McAlle...
Let's Promote Libraries (Again)!
by Brooke King, Middle School Librarian in Humble ISD, TxASLTalks Editorial Board Chair Last school year, the TxASL Legislative &...
Brooke King
Texas Association of School Librarians
Follow us @TxASL!
Tweets by @TxASL
How I Developed a Crush on School Librarians
What You Can Do Now that the Election is Over
Step up, Speak Out, Recruit Others - That's What i...
AASL (1) advocacy (16) American Association of School Librarians (1) authors (3) banned books week (1) blog submission form (1) book promotion (4) censorship (2) coding (3) collaboration (2) computer science (1) conference (5) editorial board (1) festivals (1) hour of code (1) intellectual freedom (2) leadership (5) legislative (2) Library Bill of Rights (1) library programming (11) library standards (5) literacy (6) policies (1) reading lists (4) social media (3) standards (3) State library associations (2) state standards (2) TALL Texans (2) TASL (6) teachers (2) technology (4) TeenReadWeek (1) Texas Association of School Librarians (6) Texas Bluebonnet Award (2) Texas Book Festival (1) TLA (8) TxASL (7) YALSA (1)


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Which offense was better: 2004 Colts or 2014 Colts?
Colts problem now is scoring too quickly.
Which offense was better: 2004 Colts or 2014 Colts? Colts problem now is scoring too quickly. Check out this story on IndyStar.com: https://indy.st/1ydErKm
Zak Keefer, zak.keefer@indystar.com Published 4:41 p.m. ET Dec. 2, 2014 | Updated 4:36 p.m. ET Dec. 3, 2014
The Colts' 2004 offense scored 72 more points than any in franchise history. Could this year's squad match them?(Photo: Star file photos)
Colts at Browns, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox
There was a moment Sunday afternoon, his team having scored its third touchdown in a span of five minutes while Lucas Oil Stadium swelled into a state of deafening applause, when Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano turned to his offensive coordinator, Pep Hamilton, and voiced a minor grievance.
"You're scoring too fast," Pagano told him.
"He gave me a weird look," Pagano recalled Monday, smiling. "I told him I was just kidding. We'll take all those we can muster up."
It was a snippet into how downright scary Hamilton's unit can be. Just how big are the numbers the Colts offense is putting up this season? Keep this pace, and we're talking historically big.
Think 7,000 total yards.
Think 5,300 through the air.
Think 500-plus points.
Think of the third quarter of Sunday's 49-27 waltz past the Washington Redskins: The Colts had the ball a mere 1:44, ran five offensive plays, amassed 129 yards and scored 21 points. (To be fair, the defense accounted for one of the three touchdowns.) But Pagano was right: His team was scoring so quickly, so easily, that it was hard to keep up.
It was like watching a game of Madden when one side has all the cheat codes. The Colts possessed the football 12 minutes less than the Redskins Sunday yet won by 22.
"I don't want to take anything away from these guys, but we were doing it on the offensive side back then."
Former Colts running back Edgerrin James
It's an offense built on the big play and the strength and savvy of Andrew Luck's golden arm. At their current rate, the 2014 Colts will finish with numbers on par with some of the most explosive units ever – right in the conversation with the 2000 "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams, the 2007 New England Patriots, the 1998 Minnesota Vikings and the 1984 Miami Dolphins.
But is this offense even the best in franchise history?
Cue the 2004 Indianapolis Colts shaking their heads.
Better than us?
Puh-leeeeeeze.
It's a worthy debate. A decade ago, Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James embarrassed defenses on a weekly basis. They were a sublime offensive trio performing at the peak of their powers, putting up video game numbers every Sunday, scoring, it seemed, whenever and however they pleased.
Today's Colts reminiscent of 2004 Colts
Marvin Harrison celebrates his touchdown with Peyton Manning, left, in the fourth quarter, Oct. 24, 2004. Matt Kryger / The Star
Peyton Manning, right, fakes the handoff to Edgerrin James during a play-action pass against the Chiefs, Oct. 31, 2004. Matt Kryger / The Star
Brandon Stokley celebrates the Colts' win against the Denver Broncos, Jan, 9, 2005 at the RCA Dome. Sam Riche / The Star
Dallas Clark heads up field versus the Broncos, Jan. 9, 2005 at the RCA Dome in the first round AFC playoff matchup. Sam Riche / The Star
Colts QB Peyton Manning, left, and RB Edgerrin James face television cameras as they wait to be introduced before a Dec. 19, 2004 game vs. Baltimore. Matt Detrich / The Star
Peyton Manning threw for 5 touchdowns against the Packers, Sept. 26, 2004 at the RCA Dome as the Colts won, 45-31. Sam Riche / The Star
11/25/04 --- Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning talks to the coaches upstairs as he looks over some plays in the first half of their game Sunday afternoon at Ford Field in Detroit MI. (Matt Kryger Photo) with COLTS26 stories, File #106125 Matt Kryger, Indianapolis Star
Marvin Harrison, left, stiff arms the Lio'nFernando Bryant, right, Nov. 25, 2004. Matt Kryger, Indianapolis Star
Brandon Stokley, left, is congratulated by Reggie Wayne, right, after catching one of Peyton Manning's four first half TDs vs. Detroit, Nov. 25, 2004. Matt Kryger / The Star
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning pals around with wide receiver Reggie Wayne while walking off the field after breaking Dan Marino's all-time passing record, Dec. 26, 2004. Matt Detrich / The Star
Colts fans flipped the numbers and went nuts after quarterback Peyton Manning broke Dan Marino's all-time passing record, Dec. 26, 2004. Matt Detrich / The Star
Peyton Manning is surrounded by photographers as he talks to the CBS TV folks after beating the Chargers, Dec. 26, 2004. Matt Detrich, Indianapolis Star
Edgerrin James takes the hand off from Peyton Manning against the Oakland Raiders, Oct. 10, 2004. Matt Kryger / The Star
Peyton Manning goes over some offensive strategies on the sidelines during a 2004 preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Matt Detrich, Indianapolis Star
The man behind all the big numbers: Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore. Matt Kryger / The Star
Brandon Stokley (#83) makes a touchdown catch in front of Tennessee Titans Lamont Thompson, left, Dec. 5, 2004. Matt Kryger / The Star
Colts Reggie Wayne (#87) celebrates his first quarter touchdown with Brandon Stockley,left, and Tarik Glenn, right, Nov. 14, 2004, at the RCA Dome. Matt Kryger / The Star
The Colts' Marvin Harrison hauls in this pass and heads downfield against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium Sept. 9, 2004 Sam Riche / The Star
"It's hard to compare," James said when reached Tuesday. "I know times have changed, the game has loosened up with the rule changes. I don't want to take anything away from these guys, but we were doing it on the offensive side back then."
Doing it they were. The 2004 Colts scored 522 points; through 12 games, this year's 8-4 Colts are on pace for 509. Manning threw for 4,557 yards that season and a then-record 49 touchdowns (and did so in just 15 games; with the team's playoff spot locked up, Manning attempted just two passes in the season finale at Denver). Luck's on track for 5,334 yards – which would be the third-most in NFL history – and 45 touchdowns.
The receiving core then was an embarrassment of riches: Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokely each eclipsed 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns – the first time in league history three from the same team had done so. The tight ends were no slouch, either: Marcus Pollard caught six TDs that year and a young Dallas Clark had five. They averaged 32.6 points a game; this year's Colts are right behind at 31.8.
Insider: Will Boom Herron's fumbles impact his carries for Colts?
The largest discrepancy comes at the running back position: James was his usual stellar self in '04, rushing for 1,548 yards and nine touchdowns. Trent Richardson (445 yards and three TDs so far) might get half that this year.
As deep and diverse as the Colts are at receiver this season, the electric T.Y. Hilton – on pace for 1,526 yards – remains the only Colts' pass-catcher on track for a 1,000-yard season.
A deeper dive in the numbers reveals just how potent that '04 unit was. The Colts settled for only 25 field goals that year and punted only 54 times – the average for an NFL team since 2000 is 80. They lit up the scoreboard for games of 45, 49, 41, 41, 51 and 49 points. They scored 72 total points more than any Colts team in history. They won by an average margin of 10.7 points. They scored on 46 percent of their drives.
This year's team can certainly make an argument. Kicker Adam Vinatieri has attempted only 25 field goals in 12 games, and Pat McAfee's on pace for just 60 punts. They've put up games of 44, 41, 40 and 49 points. They're scoring on 45 percent of their drives. They're leading the league in every major offensive category.
"We got a lot of guys," said Wayne, the only participant of both offenses. "We are pretty loaded."
Sunday marked the team's ninth 400-yard game of the season, breaking the previous record set in … 2004. And, as illustrated against a hapless Redskins' secondary, the big play has become their signature: The Colts have recorded 62 plays stretching 20 yards or longer this season, by far the most in the NFL.
Four games remain, and like that '04 team, the Colts could have the division title and their playoff seed locked up before Week 17. The records set in '04 could survive.
James makes a valid point, though. NFL offenses have evolved over the last decade, and rule changes have played a significant role. The result: Teams are throwing more than ever and scoring more than ever. Just this season, three quarterbacks (Manning, Luck and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers) are projected to throw for more than 40 touchdowns.
In the 2004 season, five quarterbacks threw for 4,000 yards. Last season, nine did so.
Which, of course, makes what Manning, James, Harrison, Wayne and Co. accomplished in 2004 all the more remarkable. And what this year's team is doing a little reminiscent.
"All I know is it's good to see the Colts putting points up like we used to," James said. "They got some weapons like we did back in the day."
The Colts on Tuesday agreed to terms with free agent offensive tackle Andrew McDonald, who played in two games for the Seattle Seahawks earlier this season. The team also waived tight end Weslye Saunders, hinting at the fact that injured tight end Dwayne Allen could be nearing a return to the field this week.
Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.


NORD gratefully acknowledges Kristina Bundra, Pharm. D, NORD Editorial Intern, Madeline Zupan, NORD Editorial Intern from the University of Notre Dame, and D Gareth Evans, MD, FRCP, Director, Neurofibromatosis Clinic, Manchester Universities Foundation NHS Trust Regional Genetic Service, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is a rare genetic disorder that is primarily characterized by noncancerous (benign) tumors of the nerves that transmit balance and sound impulses from the inner ears to the brain (bilateral acoustic neuromas/vestibular schwannomas). Symptoms may become apparent during childhood, adolescence, early adulthood or later in adult life. Depending on the exact location and size of the acoustic neuromas/vestibular schwannomas, or other schwannomas such findings may include problems with balance and walking (gait); dizziness; headache; facial weakness, numbness, or pain; but more typically ringing in the ears (tinnitus); and/or progressive hearing loss.
In some individuals with NF2, additional abnormalities may be present. These may include clouding of the lenses of the eyes (juvenile posterior subcapsular opacities), progressive visual impairment, or an increased risk of developing certain tumors of the lining of the brain (meningiomas) and spinal cord (central nervous system).
NF2 results from changes (mutations) in the NF2 gene. The NF2 gene regulates the production of a protein that functions as a tumor suppressor. In more than half of individuals with NF2, the disorder is caused by spontaneous (new) mutations of the gene. In other affected individuals, NF2 is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.
The term "neurofibromatosis" is also used to describe the second, distinct, and much more common form of NF known as neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). NF1 is primarily characterized by the development of multiple benign tumors of nerves and skin (neurofibromas) and areas of abnormally decreased or increased coloration (hypo- or hyperpigmentation) of the skin, such as pale tan or light brown discolorations (café-au-lait spots) on the skin of the trunk or other regions. In contrast, in individuals with NF2, benign fibrous tumors of the skin (cutaneous neurofibromas) and multiple areas of abnormal color (pigmentation) are considered relatively uncommon. As with NF2, NF1 may be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern or occur randomly due to new gene mutation.
Individuals with NF2 may also develop cloudiness on the lenses of the eyes (posterior capsular cataracts) at a younger age than would otherwise be expected. Symptoms of cataracts may include impaired vision, and, in some cases, the progressive loss of vision, although surgery is not usually required.
People with NF2 generally have fewer brown spots (café-au-lait) on the skin than those who have NF1. Affected individuals may also experience spasms of the facial muscles; generalized muscle weakness, numbness, pain, and/or partial paralysis; difficulty swallowing; and/or impaired speech. Other neurological problems may also develop including headaches and/or seizures.
NF2 is caused by a mutation in the NF2 gene. The NF2 gene regulates (encodes for) the production of a protein known as merlin/schwannomin that plays a role in suppressing the development of certain tumors (tumor suppressor). According to investigators, merlin/schwannomin is related to a class of proteins (ezrin-radixin-moesin proteins) that serve to link the internal, supportive system within a cell (cytoskeleton) to proteins in cell membranes. Several different mutations of the NF2 gene have been identified in individuals with the disorder (e.g., deletions, nonsense and frameshift mutations). Investigators suggest that different mutations of the gene may contribute to the wide variability of symptoms and findings in affected individuals.
In some individuals with NF2, the disorder is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Dominant genetic disorders occur when only a single copy of an abnormal gene is necessary to cause a particular disease. The abnormal gene can be inherited from either parent. The risk of passing the abnormal gene from affected parent to offspring is 50% for each pregnancy. The risk is the same for males and females.
In other individuals with NF2, there is no family history of the disease. In such cases, NF2 is caused by a new gene mutation.
NF2 is a rare disorder that affects males and females in equal numbers. All races and ethnic groups are equally affected by this disorder. The estimated incidence of NF2 is 1 in 33,000 people worldwide. The symptoms of this disease typically become apparent during puberty or early adulthood. The average age of onset is 18 to 24 years.
Schwannomatosis is a disorder characterized by the presence of multiple schwannomas, nearly always without the vestibular schwannomas that are diagnostic of NF2. Patients with schwannomatosis may develop benign tumors in the brain, along the spinal or peripheral nerves. This condition may also be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Schwannomatosis is caused by different genes than for NF2, however, some patients with multiple non vestibular schwannomas eventually fulfill the diagnostic criteria for NF2.
Unilateral vestibular schwannoma accounts for approximately 5% to 10% of all tumors in the brain. Vestibular schwannomas that are bilateral are associated with NF2. There is usually no genetic predisposition for developing an isolated unilateral vestibular schwannoma.
A meningioma is a tumor that develops from the membranes that surround the spinal cord and brain (meninges). Multiple meningiomas typically occur in older adults, thus, finding a single meningioma in a younger individual may indicate an underlying genetic condition.
Cataracts are abnormalities in the lens of the eye that cause a loss of transparency (opacity). They can occur in one or both eyes and are quite common in elderly people. Congenital cataracts affect babies or young children and are considered a rare birth defect. The symptoms of cataracts include cloudy vision, and nearsightedness (myopia). In many cases, cataracts may result in blindness if left untreated. Cataracts may have a variety of causes. Some are inherited whereas others are due to injury, aging, or other diseases such as neurofibromatosis. Cataracts in NF2 rarely require surgery.
The diagnosis of NF2 is confirmed by a thorough clinical evaluation and specialized testing (i.e., CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pneumoencephalogram, or arteriogram are very rarely used nowadays). Molecular genetic testing for mutations in the NF2 gene is available for most affected individuals who have a positive family history.
The treatment of vestibular (acoustic) neuromas associated with NF2 is the surgical removal of the tumors, when possible. The surgical procedure that is performed is based upon the size and precise location of the tumors. Radiation therapy may be considered for some individuals with this disorder, especially those who are not candidates for surgery. The VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab may also be considered to treat rapidly growing schwannomas but is very expensive.
Regular monitoring may be required for affected or at-risk individuals. An annual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be necessary beginning at approximately age 10 to 12 years and continuing until at least the fourth decade of life in addition to regular hearing evaluations. Earlier diagnosis and better treatment lend itself to improved survival in those affected.
Genetic counseling is recommended for people with NF2 and their family members.
Slattery, WH. Neurofibromatosis Type 2.OtolaryngolClin North Am. 2015 Jun; 48(3): 443-460.
Choi JW, Lee JY, Phi JH, et al. Clinical course of vestibular schwannoma in pediatric neurofibromatosis type 2. J NeurosurPediatr. 2014 Jun; 13(6): 650-7.
Cosetti MK, Golfinos JG, Roland JT. Quality of Life (QoL) Assessment in Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2).Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 Mar 16.
Vranceanu AM, Merker VL, Park E, et al. Quality of life among adult patients with neurofibromatosis 1, neurofibromatosis 2 and schwannomatosis: a systematic review of the literature. J Neurooncol. 2013 Sep; 114(3): 257-62.
Merker VL, Bredella MA, Cai W, et al. Relationship between whole-body tumor burden, clinical phenotype, and quality of life in patients with neurofibromatosis. Am J Med Genet A. 2014 Jun; 164A(6): 1431-7.
Kontorinis G, Nichani J, Freeman Sr, et al. Progress of hearing loss in neurofibromatosis type 2: implications for future management. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2014 Oct. 8.
Hilton DA, Hanemann CO. Schwannomas and their pathogenesis. Brain Pathol. 2014 Apr; 24(3): 205-20.
Schulz A, Zoch A, Morrison H. A neuronal function of the tumor suppressor protein merlin.ActaNeuropatholCommun. 2014 Jul 12; 2:82.
Lloyd SK, Evans DG. Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2): diagnosis and management. HandbClin Neurol. 2013; 115: 957-67.
Aboukais R, Bonne NX, Baroncini M, et al. Management of multiple tumors in neurofibromatosis type 2 patients. Neurochirugie. 2015 Jun 9.
Maniakas A, Saliba I. Neurofibromatosis type 2 vestibular schwannoma treatment: a review of the literature, trends, and outcomes. OtolNeurotol. 2014 Jun: 35(5): 889-94.
Szudek J, Briggs R, Leung R. Surgery for neurofibromatosis 2. CurrinOpinOtolaryngol head Neck Surg. 2012 Oct; 20(5): 347-52.
Lin Al, Gutmann DH.Advances in the treatment of neurofibromatosis-associated tumours. Nat Rev ClinOncol. 2014 Nov; 10(11): 616-24.
PlotkinSr, Bredella MA, Cai W, et al. Quantitative assessment of whole-body tumor burden in adult patients with neurofibromatosis.PLoS One. 2012; 7(4).
Hochart A, Gaillard V, Baroncini M, et al. Bevacizumab vestibular schwannomas growth rate in children and teenagers with neurofibromatosis type 2. J Neurooncol. 2015 May 29.
Monteiro TA, Goffi-Gomez MV, Tsuji RK, et al. Neurofibromatosis 2: hearing restoration options. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2012 Oct; 78(5): 128-34.
Wolters PL, Martin S, Merker VL, et al. Patient-reported outcomes in neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis clinical trials. Neurology. 2013 Nov 19; 81:S6-14.
Evans DG. Neurofibromatosis 2. 1998 Oct 14 [Updated 2018 Mar 15]. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2018. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1201/. Accessed April 3, 2018.
Neurofibromatosis type 2. Genetics Home Reference (GHR).Reviewed December 2013.Available at: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/neurofibromatosis-type-2. Accessed April 3, 2018.
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, OMIM (TM). John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. MIM Number 101000; Updated 12/13/2017. Available at: http://omim.org/entry/101000. Accessed April 3, 2018.
Evans G. Neurofibromatosis type 2. Orphanet. Available at: http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Lng=GB&Expert=637.0. Last update: June 2009. Accessed April 3, 2018.


text:
Q: Rewrite the search page to use an appended slug + parameter I have two URLs that handle search

*

*~/search/ = main search page

*~/?s= = results page

What I want: to have one search page where the search parameter for the results page appends to the search page base.
For example: ~/search/?s=
I've read & tried a few things, but to no avail. Many solutions offer something like /search/my-term/, which I do not want, I want it parameterized.
.htaccess
This handles a redirect, but WP returns a 404, which makes sense since there wouldn't be any handler to attach the search query_var.
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/$
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^s=(.+)$
RewriteRule .* /search/?s=%1/? [R,L]

functions.php
Doesn't seem to be doing anything, still returning a 404. (I have flushed the permalink cache multiple times)
    function rewrite_search_url() {
        if (is_search()) {
            //add_rewrite_tag('%s%','([^/]*)');
            add_rewrite_rule(
                '^search/?s=([^/]*)/?',
                'index.php?s=$matches[1]',
                'top'
            );
        }
    }
    add_action( 'init', 'rewrite_search_url' );

    function search_url_rewrite_rule() {
        if ( is_search() && !empty($_GET['s'])) {
            wp_redirect(home_url("/search/?s=") . urlencode(get_query_var('s')));
            exit();
        }
    }
    add_action('template_redirect', 'search_url_rewrite_rule');

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Balbriggan Councillor elected Deputy Mayor of Fingal
Committed and hard working Balbriggan Councillor, Grainne Maguire has been elected Deputy Mayor of Fingal. Grainne is a member of Balbriggan Summerfest Committee since 2009 and an active member of Balbriggan Dramatic Society.
Great to have a local person in such a prominent position and will shine another positive light on Balbriggan. Congratulations Grainne.
Fingal Press Release June 5th
Council elects new Mayor and Deputy Mayor
Councillor Anthony Lavin elected as Mayor of Fingal
Councillor Grainne Maguire elected as Deputy Mayor
Fine Gael Councillor Anthony Lavin was elected as Mayor of Fingal at the annual meeting of Fingal County Council which was held today in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Swords.
Cllr Grainne Maguire, an independent councillor, was elected as Deputy Mayor.
Cllr Lavin defeated Cllr Paul Mulville (Social Democrats) and Cllr Sandra Kavanagh (Solidarity) in the election for Mayor while Cllr Maguire defeated Cllr Lorna Nolan (Independent) in the election for Deputy Mayor.
Cllr Lavin, who represents the Howth-Malahide Electoral Area, has been a member of Fingal County Council since 2011. He is originally from Swinford, Co Mayo, and is a Customer Care Manager with AXA Insurance.
In his acceptance speech the new Mayor identified housing, MetroLink and the development of Dublin Airport as areas he wanted to work on and added: "It is truly an honour to be sitting here as Mayor of Fingal."
Cllr Maguire, who represents the Balbriggan Electoral Area, has been an elected representative for the past 10 years and succeeded her mother, May McKeon, on Council in 2013. Her mother had been an elected representative almost 40 years.
Tributes were paid to the outgoing Mayor, Cllr Mary McCamley. Chief Executive Paul Reid presented Cllr McCamley with a Commemorative Medal and a Photograph Album recording her year in office.
Cllr McCamley thanked Cllr Adrian Henchy for his support as Deputy Mayor during the year and paid tribute to everybody who had contributed to making her year in office a success.
Tributes were also paid to Cllr Ken Farrell (Labour) who is stepping down from the Council having been first elected in 1985.
A video recording of the 2018 Annual Meeting can be viewed at https://fingalcoco.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/357311


text:
Below is a list of known applications or services using the Cachet API.

Name|Link|Description
----|----|-----------
Cachet Monitor|[https://github.com/castawaylabs/cachet-monitor][1]|For URL monitoring. Automatic incident updates
Sensu Cachet|[https://github.com/bimlendu/sensu-cachethq][2]|Sensu handler for updating Cachet
Hubot Cachet|[https://github.com/willdurand/hubot-cachet][3]|A hubot script to manage incidents/statuses with Cachet
Nagios Notification|[https://github.com/mpellegrin/nagios-eventhandler-cachet][4]|A Nagios event handler to push Nagios notifications to Cachet API
Salt Cachet|[https://github.com/alkivi-sas/salt-cachet][5]|Salt module to use with Cachet
Pingometer|[https://pingometer.com][6]|Website uptime monitoring
Cachet URL Monitor|[https://github.com/mtakaki/cachet-url-monitor][7]/|Monitors an URL using HTTP status code, latency, and/or payload regex
Zabbix-Cachet|[https://github.com/qk4l/zabbix-cachet][8]|Synhronise your Zabbix IT Services and Cachet
CheckItOn.Us|[https://checkiton.us][9]|Server monitoring tool
Cachet-Monitor|[https://github.com/gaz492/cachet-monitor][10]|Monitors URL status via checking status codes, supports all Cloudflare http codes and more. See README for more

[1]: https://github.com/castawaylabs/cachet-monitor
[2]: https://github.com/bimlendu/sensu-cachethq
[3]: https://github.com/willdurand/hubot-cachet
[4]: https://github.com/mpellegrin/nagios-eventhandler-cachet
[5]: https://github.com/alkivi-sas/salt-cachet
[6]: https://pingometer.com/
[7]: https://github.com/mtakaki/cachet-url-monitor/
[8]: https://github.com/qk4l/zabbix-cachet
[9]: https://checkiton.us/
[10]: https://github.com/gaz492/cachet-monitor

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub