text:
What are the worst ways to die? Experts draw up horror list of death
Reassuringly they would happen a long way from Bristol. Mostly.
Geoffrey Bennett
Death by exploding star
It may sound strange but two boffins have drawn up a list of what they think are some of the most horrid ways to die.
Paul Doherty, a senior scientist at San Francisco's Exploratorium museum, and freelance writer Cody Cassidy, spent two years on their morbid mission.
They have even explained some of the science behind a top five horrific endings.
Being crushed in a falling lift is included, though Dr Doherty offers a crumb of comfort by suggesting that in such a situation you lay on your back to spread G forces.
The mystery of the bloodstained car and the man dumped in Bristol docks
Another unpleasant demise is deemed to be falling down the Mariana Trench.
Death by deep water trench
The trench, the deepest known part of the Earth's oceans, lies between Japan to the north and Australia to the south and features depths in excess of 36,000 feet.
For this nasty way to go Dr Doherty explains that a person would drown before they reached "crushing depth".
At the bottom of trench a person's collapsed body would then be consumed by the intriguing sounding bone-eating snot flower, which usually eats whale bones, Dr Doherty explains.
Police react to claims that deaths in Bristol docks and river Avon are work of a serial pusher
An even less obvious way to go is deemed to be getting too close to a neutron star and being killed by radiation – though chances of that happening any time soon in Cabot Circus seem minimal – as does being struck by a particle accelerator.
Death by particle accelerator
Apparently in 1978 Russian scientist Anatoli Bugorski was struck by a particle accelerator and, bizarrely, survived.
But he was struck by a much less powerful device than the world famous Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and it was also only a single pulse, while the LHC is a machine gun.
Death by hole in the earth
Jack the Ripper was a British painter who died in Bath, author claims
Jumping through a hole in the earth is another grizzly end, but we are told if you were to dig a hole from pole to pole, and travel through it, you would burn to death before you got to the core.
So the happy conclusion may well be grizzly deaths, yes, but unlikely.
Avon Fire and RescueDramatic moment fire rips through caravan community in Bristol'I was in the caravan sleeping when everything started to burn'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


If your current Canon PIXMA MP750 printer driver develops a difficulties, you actually could possibly not be able to print any content. Canon PIXMA MP750 Printer driver operators are software programs, & their main job is to convert the data anyone command to print to the form that is specific to the installed printing device.
If your current Canon PIXMA MP750 laser printer driver show this issues: "Windows fails to recognize the new hardware", you need get a hold of & install and also reinstall Canon PIXMA MP750 printing device driver.
Each different printing device calls for a different driver, anyone can't use driver of other inkjet printer to set up Canon PIXMA MP750 printing device.


DESCRIPTION: We're looking for an amazing and passionate Merchandise Coordinator (contract position) to be a part of this exciting new venture. This is a small and nimble start-up team and we're looking for a unique set of characteristics in our team members -- you should be a self-starter, results-focused, comfortable with ambiguity and change, and a person who knows how to get things done via cross-functional relationships.
Responsible for set-up and maintenance of the website in order to meet or exceed customer expectations and drive results. Produces work that is efficient, accurate and detail oriented. Performs daily activities that support the merchandising department strategy and vision. Trouble shoots problems and influence resolution across functions.
Support merchandising team's in-season business reaction with changes to categories, style/color display, sort orders.
Attribute styles: Associate styles into the web hierarchy, sort styles within departments, add marketing flags, merge styles, add cross-sells.
Maintain the categories i.e. eliminating sold-out or markdown styles depending on merchandise strategy.
QA site prior to marketing refresh push and validate all featured products are live.
Support the creation of marketing content: Create outfit records, submit photography requests for outfits & assets, update outfit requests with actual image files, update outfits pre-launch to reflect desired site behavior.
Monitor styles that stock on a daily basis to ensure proper site display.
Communicate issues and best practices to merchandising teams.
Communicate web calendar to the Business Managers identifying potential issues and risks.
Work with the Photo Studio and Production teams to ensure that all images are available and accurate.
Communicate resolution and status of fixes to the Business Managers.
Support an open and inclusive environment that recognizes employees based on the strength of their efforts.


text:
Hayward police fatally shoot knife-wielding man
HAYWARD, Calif.
At 9:23 p.m. police received a 911 call from a young girl reporting a domestic dispute between her parents. Loud yelling could be heard in the background of the call, Hayward police Lt. Mark Stuart said.
"The young caller had advised police that the father had armed himself and was threatening her mother," Stuart said.
Police officers responded to the residence from which the girl had called, located in the 2100 block of West Tennyson Road, near St. Rose Hospital.
A violent confrontation was occurring inside the apartment when police arrived, Stuart said.
A man armed with a knife lunged at a Hayward police officer. Fearing for his safety and the safety of those in the apartment, the officer fired at least one round at the man.
The man was struck by the gunfire and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced deceased, Stuart said.
According to Stuart, the man was 37 years old and was believed to be residing at the residence where the dispute had occurred.
The identity of the deceased man has not been released and the incident remains under investigation this morning.


text:
Secret Hidden Emoticons in Windows Live Messenger to Raise Money for Charity
Home»Cloud & Internet»Social Networking»Secret Hidden Emoticons in Windows Live Messenger to Raise Money for Charity
By using Windows Live Messenger in the usual way, WLM instant messaging client users can now help and contribute to the charitable causes. i'm initiative, embedded into Windows Live Messenger 8.1, allows user to donate money to charity to make a difference without forking out or sacrificing their own hard-earned money. Instead, the donation will be paid by Microsoft which shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with some of the world's most effective social cause organizations, as determined by users themselves based on which i'm emoticon code that been used on user's nickname or display name.
i'm revenue sharing program for donation to charity works in such as way that whenever a user starts a conversion using i'm, a portion of the advertising revenue from the ads banner display that appeared on the message window will be donated to the charity you specified by the code. There is no cap on the limit that a user can contribute to the amount of the money raised by using WLM i'm fundraising initiative. So you can now donate and contribute to charity that you consent, and making a difference without using your own money, and without changing the pattern you use the Internet or IM client (WLM). Just more time to chat frequently needed! But you likely cannot disable the ads on WLM.
Some of the charitable organizations and causes the i'm supports, together with their i'm emoticon's code and brief description of the organization (* is part of the code):
*9mil ninemillion.org – ninemillion.org: "UN Refugee Agency led campaign to raise awareness and funds for education and sport programs for nine million refugee children around the world"
*bgca – Boys & Girls Clubs of America: "Inspiring and enabling all young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens"
*help – StopGlobalWarming.org: "The Stop Global Warming Virtual March is a non-partisan effort to bring citizens together to declare that global warming is here and now and it is time to demand solutions"
*komen – Susan G. Komen for the Cure: "Breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment"
*mssoc – National Multiple Sclerosis Society: "Finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life"
*naf – National AIDS Fund: "Aims to reduce incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS by promoting leadership and generating resources for effective community responses to the epidemic"
*red+u – American Red Cross: "Helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies"
*sierra – Sierra Club: "Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet"
*unicef – U.S. Fund for UNICEF: "The world's leading children's organization works for children's rights, their development and protection"
It seems like there are other emoticons for i'm too, such as *mod, *wwf, *hsus, *one, *acs, *oxfam, and *care that not yet appear on the official supported charity list (or has been withdrawn). Once you put in the code into nick name or display name, this icon will appear:
To join i'm and start an i'm IM chat session or conversion, simply use any of the above code on your display name:
Download the free Windows Live Messenger 8.1 instant messenger service.
Place the text code corresponding to the cause of your choice into your Display Name by:
On the top of WLM Contacts window, click the arrow next to your name and select "Options".
Next to display name, type one of the above i'm text codes, including the asterisk, for the cause you'd like to support.
Click OK to complete the sign up.
Keep having i'm conversations so you can keep funding the cause doing the work most important to you.
i'm is currently effective for users from United States only, although users elsewhere can set the emoticon, but no money will be contributed to the charity. For more information, visit
i'm homepage (defunct).
Most Popular IM Client and Instant Messenger Service
Microsoft Windows Live Mobile Preview and Windows Live…
2 Free Phone Calls on Windows Live Messenger 8.1 Beta Free…
Run and Log-in to Multiple Windows Live (MSN) Messenger with…
Download Windows Live Mail Desktop Beta
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Microsoft Money 2007 Unable to Connect to Internet to Sign…
Download Standalone Installer for Windows Live Messenger 8.5…
By LK|2020-08-11T20:43:09-07:00Modified: August 11, 2020March 7th, 2007|Categories: Social Networking|Tags: Windows Live Messenger|3 Comments


text:
Rhys's Ready To Race And Remember
Wednesday 30th April 2014 10:00 pm
WHEN Rhys Hardisty gears up to fulfill a lifelong dream and race in the legendary Manx Grand Prix this August, it will be a particularly emotional and poignant occasion, as the young motorcyclist will be racing on the same track which claimed the life of his father. The twenty-six-year-old from Llanellen will be travelling to the Isle of Man at the end of Summer to test his mettle in the Newcomers B class and the super-twins race. Although it will be a defining moment for the talented biker, it will also no doubt be a bittersweet one, as Rhys will be racing in honour of his father, Charles Ian Hardisty, known as Ian, a very successful amateur motorcyclist who was killed during the 1998 Isle of Man TT production race. Since 1911, there have been 240 fatalities involving riders who have raced in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races and amateur Manx Grand Prix on the 37.7 mile Snaefell Mountain Course Alongside Ian Hardisty, another five riders were also tragically killed in 1998, and since 2000, motorcycle events on the Isle of Man have claimed the lives of another 50 racers. Such statistics have led many critics to denounce the races as 'insane and dangerous' and many, including former motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner have called for a ban. Yet in a world where everything is over-engineered, over-regulated and over-litigated in the name of safety and security, to race at the Isle of Man remains appealing to a select group of riders who are aware of the risks and realise the dangers, but are compelled to conquer any fear, fulfill any ambitions, and chase their dreams on a track which is regarded as the absolute pinnacle of motorcycle racing. Rhys Hardisty knows all about chasing his dreams and told the Chronicle, "My dad won best newcomer himself at the Manx Grand Prix in 1995 in the 400 class. He also gained a top 20 in the Isle of Man TT as a privateer. I've been going to the Isle of Man since I was a baby, and so you could say it's in the blood. "One thing's for sure. Ever since I was a small boy I've had a burning ambition and overriding dream to race there and when I finally do, I'll be carrying by father's memory with me every mile of the way." Rhys, who works in Caldicot's Royston Edwards Performance Services (R.E.P.S.) as a motorcycle technician, something which he calls a 'busman's holiday,' carries out all his own motorcycle maintenance and tuning. The Manx newcomer added, "At the Manx I'll be riding my Kawasaki ERR650 which was previously raced in the Manx Grand Prix and TT races by Rab Davi who has had podium finishes on it. It cost me a fair bit but I'd say it was a sound investment." Riding from a very early age and competing in trial events, for the past three years Rhys has been racing his two stroke Yamaha TZ250 in the ACU national 250GP. He has competed on many of the major UK circuits and raced in the popular North Gloucester 250 Cup Championship, where he finished third despite riding the oldest motorbike in his class. This year, Rhys also plans to race in the Aberdare and Scarborough road races as well as continuing with circuit racing. Rhys's girlfriend Becky Hammond, is fully supportive of Rhys and his dream to race in the Manx and she told the Chronicle, "The death of Rhys's father has made it much more of a struggle for Rhys to fulfill his own dreams. He's had to battle with his own emotions relating to the Isle of Man, and realising how at the same time he needs to be sensitive to his mothers' wishes. Rhys has also missed out on his father's support when trying to forge his own amateur racing career, but this is something he has always wanted to do and although it is obviously difficult for his mother (Maria), everyone is behind Rhys all the way." Although chasing your dreams is all well and good, in the world of motorsport it can also be a very costly business. Rhys explained, "It's been an expensive road to get to this point and at the moment I haven't really got a pot to do you know what in. At the moment my main sponsors are R.E.P.S. along with Abergavenny's M&D Cycles, and I'm very grateful for their continued support. "However, I'm always looking for further support from local businesses. This could involve anything from financial assistance to donations such as kit, consumables or fitness training. Whatever it is, it would be greatly appreciated. "In return, sponsorship brings benefits such as advertising (Manx will be shown on ITV4), tickets to events and race related memorabilia. And who knows, you might just be backing this year's Manx Grand Prix winner."
Martial arts star plots new route
Geraint targets Giro
Gold Cup-winning jockey's horse returns in style
Golf sensation secures a scholarship in American university
If you would like to support Rhys you can contact him direct on the following email: [email protected]">[email protected].
Manx Grand PrixLlanellen


Dr. Jaime Sepúlveda is the Executive Director of UCSF Global Health Sciences. Previously he was Senior Fellow in the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Sepulveda worked closely with key foundation partners—including the GAVI Alliance, where he currently chairs the Executive Committee—to increase access to vaccines and other effective health solutions in developing countries. Sepúlveda served for more than 20 years in a variety of senior health posts in the Mexican government.
As Mexico's Director-General of Epidemiology and later Vice-Minister of Health, Sepúlveda designed Mexico's Universal Vaccination Program, which eliminated polio, measles, and diphtheria by more than doubling childhood immunization coverage in two years. He also modernized the national health surveillance system and founded Mexico's National AIDS Council. Sepulveda holds a medical degree from National Autonomous University of Mexico and three advanced degrees from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr. Sepulveda also serves as a member of the DCP3 Advisory Committee to the Editors.


Cuttack: The results of the High School Certificate examination (HSC) and Sanskrit Madhyama Examination will be published on April 26. The results will be out by 11.30 am on the Internet, said officials of Board of Secondary Examination (BSE) today.
School and Mass Education minister Debi Prasad Mishra announced at the Secretariat today that the results will be out online on Wednesday by 11.30 am but the results will be first published at the BSE office at 9.30 am. Schools will be getting certificates within 10 days.
BSE chairman Susant Das and secretary Sanjita Das also informed about the publishing of Matric results at the BSe office in Cuttack today.
Parents and students can find the results on the following sites: www.bseodisha.nic.in and www.bseodisha.ac.in and through SMS by typing OR10 <Roll no.> and sending to 5676750.
The Matric exams were conducted from February 28 to March 10 this year when 6,08, 690 appeared for the exams at 2938 centres. The papers were evaluated at 52 centres.
For the first time, the results of the HSC exams will be published within 47 days of exams.


text:
Q: Python - win32com.client Outlook email bulk with Titus classification I am using the win32com.client to send Outlook bulk emails via Python.
Everything works. One thing that is missing in my code is a solution to choose the Titus classification. I have to click the popup manually.
Code snippet:
# Import modules
import pandas as pd
import win32com.client

# Prepare email send to loop through
def send_mail(email_address: str, title: str, html_body: str):
    """
    Use email object and fill it with parameters
    @params:
        email_address   - Required  : current email of primary contact (Str)
        title           - Required  : title of email bulk (Str)
        html_body       - Required  : body of email in html form (Str)
    """
    # Set up email content
    mail.To = email_address
    mail.Subject = title
    mail.HTMLBody = html_body

    # Send
    mail.Send()

# Initialize Outlook
outlook = win32com.client.Dispatch("outlook.application")

# Loop through email list
for idx, _ in enumerate(email_list["firstname"]):

    # Create E-mail object
    mail = outlook.CreateItem(0)

    # Items which change each loop
    email = email_list["email"].iloc[idx]
    firstname = email_list["firstname"].iloc[idx]
    html_body_filled = html_body_var.format(firstname=firstname)

    # Actual send function
    send_mail(email_address=email, title=title_var, html_body=html_body_filled)

There is a related question to mine: Python send outlook email with TITUS classification.
However I could not make this solution work. If I adjust my code to:
    # Set up email content
    mail.To = email_address
    mail.Subject = title
    mail.HTMLBody = html_body

    # Add Titus classification
    mail.UserProperties = mail.UserProperties.Add("MY CLASSIFICATION", 1)
    mail.UserProperties.Value = "For internal use only"

    # Send
    mail.Send()

This resolves in the error "AttributeError: Property 'CreateItem.UserProperties' can not be set." in the first line of the added code.
Are the commands wrong, or can it also be my classification settings?
I do not want to turn the Titus classification of. However automating the selection when the popup appears, would be fine too.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Montreal Impact announced on Thursday the acquisition of French center back Rudy Camacho, following a permanent transfer from Belgian club Waasland-Beveren. Camacho signed a four-year contract with the club using Targeted Allocation Money. He will join the club upon receiving his international transfer certificate and passing his medical.
Camacho, 27, joins the Impact after playing 2,700 minutes in all competitions in his 2017-18 season, starting 27 games in the Jupiler Pro League, Belgium's first division, and three Belgian Cup games. He scored two goals and acted as team captain in his last eight games with the club.
He quickly established himself after arriving at Waasland-Beveren in July 2016, starting a total of 56 games in two seasons in the Jupiler Pro League, playing nearly 5,000 minutes. He also appeared in eight playoff games and five Belgian Cup games.
Originally from L'Arbresle, France, which is also the hometown of head coach Rémi Garde, he made his debut with AS Nancy's reserve team, taking part in 52 games between 2010 and 2012. He then played 51 regular season games and one Coupe de France game with AS Lyon-Duchère in the Championnat national 2, from 2012 to 2014.
He finally joined CS Sedan Ardennes in 2014, helping the club earn its promotion to the French third division in 2014-15, after appearing in 27 games in the Championnat National 2 as well as one Coupe de France game. He then played 29 games in National and one Coupe de France game in 2015-16, as team captain.
Transaction: The Montreal Impact acquires defender Rudy Camacho, following a permanent transfer from Belgian club Waasland-Beveren. Camacho signed a four-year contract with the club using Targeted Allocation Money.


text:
Капучино () е италианска топла напитка, която се приготвя от кафе еспресо и разбито топло мляко, което оформя пяна. В Италия по традиция се консумира сутрин, на закуска или след това, но никога по време на обяд или вечеря.

История
Думата "капучино" идва от латинското Caputium, по-късно взето от немския и превърнало се в "kapuziner". На италиански е умалителна форма на cappuccio и означава "качулка" или нещо, което покрива главата.

В миналото името се е отнасяло до приликата с червено-кафявия цвят на расото на младите братя капуцини. Той е доста отличителен и през 17 век в Европа често е наричан "капуцин". Капуцините избират цвета и дизайна на своите дрехи през 16 век, вдъхновени от запазените одежди на Свети Франциск от Асизи от 13 век. Дългите и заострени качулки са характерни и скоро носят на монасите прякора "капуцини" (носещи качулки).

Произходът на капучиното е тясно свързан с разпространението на кафето в Европа и по-специално в Австрийската империя от 17-18 век. Широко разпространена легенда свързва името му с историята на монаха-капуцин – отец Марко д'Авиано (17 ноември 1631 - 13 август 1699), фриулски презвитер, изпратен през септември 1683 г. от папа Инокентий XI във Виена с цел да убеди европейските сили в коалиция срещу османските турци, които го обсаждат. Във виенско кафене той "коригира" прекалено силния вкус на кафето с мляко за първи път и новата напитка получава прякора на немски kapuziner.

Въпреки че е по-правилно тогавашната напитка да се нарече кафелате (мляко с кафе), не се знае как всъщност са се развили нещата. Изглежда, че някой си Йоханес Теодат – собственик на едно от първите виенски кафенета вече е експериментирал с нови смеси от кафе напитки. Според друга хипотеза изобретението се свързва с друг собственик на кафене – Йержи Франчишек Кулчицки (1640 - 19 февруари 1694), който през 1685 г., също във Виена, става собственик на огромни количества кафе, изоставено от мюсюлманите, и за да го направи по-сладко, го коригира с мляко и мед; според легендата той потапя и вариант на кипферл – десерт от 13 век и предшественик на кроасана, чиято форма наподобява полумесец, следователно в знак на презрение към нахлуващите османци.

През 18 век т. нар. капуцинер е обогатен с нови аромати, подправки и бита сметана отгоре, разпространявайки се главно във Фриули Венеция Джулия и в цялата Австро-Унгарска империя. В края на същия век модата на капучиното се концентрира преди всичко върху ръчното приготвяне на млечната пяна отгоре. Едва в началото на 20 век с пускането на пазара на първите кафемашини за еспресо напитката започва да придобива сегашната си форма благодарение на приготвянето на млечна пяна през чучура за пара.

Думата "капучино" в италианския не се споменава преди 20 век, но немският kapuziner навлиза като напитка от кафе през 18 век в Австрия. Напитката е представлявала кафе със захар, яйчен белтък и сметана. Използването на прясно мляко в кафето по заведенията е нов феномен и навлиза с появата на хладилниците през 20 век.

Способ на приготвяне

В Италия капучиното обикновено се пие на закуска, със захар и често е придружено от кроасани или от други печива или сладкиши.

Истинското италианско капучино е 150-180 мл, от които 25-30 мл са кафе еспресо, а останалото са равни части мляко и пяна. Използва се пастьоризирано прясно (по възможност пълномаслено) краве мляко. Температурата на млякото не трябва да надвишава 65 - 70 °C. То се разбива на пяна в съд от неръждаема стомана, за да няма примеси от никакви други аромати и вкусове. Пяната, която се приготвя с помощта на специален инструмент, наречен на италиански montalatte, трябва да е добре изглеждаща, плътна и в количество, равно на около 1/3 от чашата за капучино. Задачата на пяната е не само вкусова: тя действа и като топлоизолатор, поддържайки топла сместа от кафе и мляко. За да се получи гъста пяна, е необходимо да се гарантира, че въздухът е включен под формата на микро мехурчета, а не на големи мехури. Понякога накрая капучиното се поръсва с какао или смляна канела.

По света има много вариации. В Италия основните варианти са тъмното капучино и светлото капучино в зависимост от нормалното или намаленото количество еспресо. Напоследък за повишаване на естетиката на капучиното има съвременни техники като арт кафе или лате арт, с които е възможно да се украси чрез рисунки, направени с каничка за мляко или ръчни инструменти.

Латеарт
Латеарт (Latteart) е техника за декориране на капучино, която използва контраста между бялата млечна пяна и кафявия крем за кафе, за да създаде дизайн върху горната част на капучиното. Тази техника вероятно е родена в Италия и по-късно е разработена по целия свят. В Съединените щати техниката е разработен през 1980-те години в Сиатъл, а пионерът ѝ е Дейвид Шомър (собственик на Кафене "Виваче"), който подписва капучиното със сърце.

В момента има две техники за декорация: свободна, правена при наливане на млякото и пяната в капучиното, и тази, при която формите се рисуват директно върху пяната чрез изливане на кафе крема със специален дозатор.

Външен вид
 Пяната трябва да е бяла и заобиколена по периферията от ръб от кафе, който не трябва да е нито тънък, нито прекалено широк.
 Гъстотата на пяната трябва да е еднородна, да не се разделя от течността и да няма шупли или балончета.
 Чашата за сервиране трябва да е с вместимост от 150 – 180 мл.

Вижте също

 Еспресо
 Кафелате
 Лате макиато

Източници

Безалкохолни напитки
Италианска кухня
Млечни напитки
Кафе

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Атлетски супер гран при Катара 2013. одржан је 10. маја 2013. на стадиону Спортског центра Катар у Дохи (Катар). Ово је први од 14 атлетских митинга ИААФ Дијамантске лиге 2013.

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Атлетски супер гран при Катара
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The Republican Communist Network (Scotland) has developed a distinctive view on the national question which they call 'Internationalism from below'.
The Scottish working class ignited the struggle against the poll tax - but is the demand for independence a positive one?
Although the theory represents a comprehensive attempt to deal with the national question, in this article I will solely discuss it through the prism of the question of Scottish independence. This provides the most obvious and relevant case study through which to draw out the real implications of the theory, an approach which is necessary since I will be unable here to develop a comprehensive alternative account of the national question.
This article represents a moment in an ongoing dialogue between members of the RCN and The Commune, and it is based on the author's notes from conversations with RCN members. I have read Allan's recent article on 'Internationalism from Below' but have not been able to find a more comprehensive and specific defence of the RCN's position on Scottish independence in writing elsewhere.
A word on nationalism. The RCN define nationalism, fairly conventionally, as a movement in defence of a, or towards an as yet non-existent, state for a "nation". A nation, similarly conventionally, is understood as an "imagined community" which despite being imaginary – i.e. there is no overall unity of interest, for communists, between the conflicting social classes represented in the nation – is nonetheless real because it constitutes a politically powerful aspect of the subjective landscape. Nations are imaged, but real, and sometimes they become more real still as their subjective power remakes the objective world in its image.
The RCN denounce nationalism in both its conventional and 'left' manifestations. They are, however, positively in favour of Scottish national independence. The purpose of this article is to provide a critical account of the reasons RCN members give for their pro-independence position, as well as the mechanisms by which they think it could come about.
i) constitutional: a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament voting for a referendum on the question and Westminster feeling politically unable to refuse. The question on the referendum would be determined, in the end, by Westminster. If the vote was carried for independence, in this scenario, Westminster would feel compelled to grant it.
ii) proto-revolutionary: a working class upheaval, centred round economic or social demands, acquiring a pro-national independence perspective as part of its conflict with the UK state. In order to be successful, independent of constitutional methods, such an upheaval would have to be proto-revolutionary, involving soviet-type structures and militant workers' autonomy. Such a proto-revolutionary wave may well of course subside without producing a generalised social revolution, which – were it to occur – could hardly be isolated in Scotland. In this article I will not consider scenarios where international communism is produced by revolution, since in such a case the affective autonomy of any local area so wishing could therefore be assumed.
The above scenarios are somewhat stylised and polarised. Of course, any constitutional independence movement would involve some grassroots activity, and no doubt in large part be an expression of social, everyday discontent. And it may well be that a proto-revolutionary insurgency would force, or be defrayed by, constitutional measures.
For our present discussion I am ignoring the possibility of a fundamentally nationalist, reactionary movement based either on mass mobilisation or para-military action. This is because we can take it as read that the RCN would be opposed to such developments.
Nonetheless the above typology is necessary in order to discuss, in concrete terms, the political significance of the demand for independence.
It should be said at this stage that, I understand, the RCN are primarily advocates of the proto-revolutionary scenario. Whilst they say there should be a referendum, and whilst they would strongly advocate a yes vote, they believe the British ruling class would be highly unlikely to allow such a scenario to develop. In support of this view, one RCN member recounted to me the measures taken by the state at the time of the 1979 devolution referendum (which returned 51.6% for devolution and 48.4% against but failed due to a stipulation regarding turnout). These included scare stories, agents provocateur, and military exercises off the coast of Scotland. Nonetheless, RCN support for independence is not conditional upon that taking place on a mass working-class, republican, or socialist basis.
We will return to an examination of these scenarios later, after a discussion of the various reasons given by RCN members for advocating independence.
As part of this I need to explain my general perspective on the matter at hand.
I am neither for nor against Scottish independence in principle but tend to think that it is not useful for communists to positively argue for it at present. I do think, however, that if people in Scotland want independence they should have it, and any attempts – whether violent or bureaucratic – to stop them should be opposed.
Although I am neither for nor against Scottish independence in principle I can conceive of circumstances in which I may – I say this cautiously since my mind's not made up – be able to see independence as a demand I could support. In outline, this would be in the context of a strong, independent working class movement, for whom independence was a broad and deep demand, and objectively a necessary means to advance its power. Furthermore, it would need to be the case that independence was not in real terms an alternative to perspective based upon spreading working class struggle, as working-class struggle. Such circumstances may arise, but they are far from guaranteed to do so. In fact, I confess I think them unlikely.
I will now consider six arguments for independence (a – f) which rather than quoting specific individuals , I have constructed on the bases of a number of independent comments I have heard and things I have read.
Scotland is home to 5 million UK citizens, 5% of UK GDP, Europe's sixth largest finance sector in Edinburgh, four Trident submarines (with around 200 nuclear warheads and 58 ballistic missiles), four regular British Army garrisons, three frontline RAF bases and six Royal Navy bases. On its North Sea coast lie oil reserves perhaps amounting to 30 billion barrels.
Since the power of modern states is based in part upon their capitalist productivity and in part on their capacity to project military power, and much less strongly although still in part on their population, it seems true that Scottish independence would weaken the UK state's ability to project imperial power, at least in the short term.
However, there are several reasons to think that such a weakening would be relatively minor, partial and – most importantly – would not lead to an overall weakening of imperialism as such, or even the particular imperialist bloc of which Britain is part.
i) Most obviously, military bases could be relocated, or a deal reached for their continued use. It would be possible to make up the loss in military personnel were there a need for it. It is far from certain that either the constitutional or revolutionary scenario would lead to the £12 billion per annum UK share of oil reserves accruing to an independent Scotland – or even that there will be very much left of it remaining unless independence is achieved within a couple of decades. The loss in population and productive capital would not be large, while GDP per capita in the remainder of the UK would rise. Unless Scotland joined the EU – and adopted the associated neo-liberal legal framework – much capital would relocate to Britain. Only establishing Scotland as a sort of low-tax, low-regulation, business friendly environment could stop this.
ii) It is likely that an independent capitalist Scotland would simply rejoin the US/UK imperialist bloc. Imperialism is today, far more than in the 19th century, an interstate system, although there are always very much senior and junior partners. With the same material resources, the bloc would be no weaker than before, just composed of one more state. So it is not even clear that US imperialism would be effectively weakened. Note that this is in no way precluded by the proto-revolutionary independence scenario, assuming that capitalist social relations are left in place.
iii) Even if it didn't join the US/UK bloc, Scotland – still capitalist in the absence of international communist revolution – would simply be forced to join another imperialist bloc, which would be no better. Once again, because proto-revolutionary waves can subside, this possibility is not precluded by the proto-revolutionary scenario. Even if a more 'left-wing' capitalist government held power in a Scotland outside the US/UK imperialist bloc, there is no guarantee it would be less imperialist. Consider the example of France – one possible imperialist partner for an independent Scotland. In 1994 it facilitated the Rwandan genocide under the presidency of Parti Socialiste leader Francois Mitterrand and in the context of one of the most self-confident and class-conscious proletariats anywhere in the world.
iv) Even if it was true that the US/UK bloc was weakened, this would not necessarily contribute greatly to the weakening of imperialism as such. The US-led bloc is early in what is most likely to be a long but terminal decline from global hegemony, whilst Chinese imperialism – most clearly of all – is on the rise.
Since, at least in the proto-revolutionary scenario, Scottish independence may be a relatively distant prospect, the overall significance of any minor weakening of the US/UK power bloc may be much reduced.
v) The most important "weakness" of any state is its own working class, that is currently the English as well as Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish working class. Potentially by placing a relatively militant, leftward Scottish working class outside the UK state, independence could conceivably make the UK state stronger.
vi) Just because the UK ruling class is opposed to something doesn't mean the working class should be for it. It is quite possible that a given national ruling class is opposed to a certain measure because it involves losing ground to another national ruling class, rather than to the working class. In such cases, the working class has no need to take sides.
But, someone may ask, why the support in the first place? The answer provided [by Trotskyists] is an example of historical scheme -making: U.S. imperialism will be weakened' by such movements. Such a 'weakening' will impart another 'transitional' twitch to the 'death agony of capitalism' which in turn will foster other twitches … and so on. Like all mystifications, Trotskyism fails to give a coherent answer as to why, especially since 1945, imperialism has been able to grant political independence to many ex -colonial countries, a possibility that Lenin and Trotsky explicitly denied.
Indeed, it seems true that whilst imperialism has changed vastly since World War II, it is not now weaker as a global phenomenon than it was then — despite the global unfolding of national independence.
Here I will confine myself to the relation between republicanism and national independence, rather than provide a general perspective on republicanism.
seeks to develop a programme for expanding democracy under capitalism as far as it will go. It concerns itself with progressive and in some senses transitional demands. To the extent that we achieve these democratic demands, it will strengthen our class and will weaken the ruling class and its allies. It is a necessary and unavoidable part of the struggle for socialism.
For the RCN, independence would represent a democratic advance under capitalism and would therefore "strengthen our class". While republicanism in general is a "necessary and unavoidable" part of the revolutionary process, it is not clear whether Scottish independence, specifically, is held to be necessary in this way or not. I would like to offer some arguments against seeing independence for Scotland as a necessary component of republicanism, or republican demands as a necessary part of communist propaganda.
i) In general, I agree that, all other things being equal (they never are) greater capitalist democracy is an advantage for the working class in its grassroots struggle. For example, I tend to think the AMS (additional member system), not to mention citizen initiated recall votes and referenda for representatives would make capitalists less likely to attack the working class (none of which necessarily makes such reforms an item on the agenda of the class struggle). However, it is hard to see why Scottish independence as such would provide an instance of that. This is because neither smaller states as such, nor states with roughly national boundaries are – all things being equal – ipso facto more democratic. Neither, in itself, implies a greater level of formal democracy.
ii) Secondly, communists ought not to reify "national independence" and hence do not reify the nation as such – but rather are in favour of the fullest local autonomy for all those who want it, regardless of whether the unit in question constitutes a "nation". That is, republicanism as such need not see Scotland as more (or less) deserving of autonomy than Fife or North Yorkshire. The republican demand is surely "autonomy for all those who want it", not "autonomy for each nation". The question here is not "is Scotland a nation?" – it is – but ought communists necessarily to privilege the nation as a political unit? I argue, not at all.
Sometimes, movements against national oppression may mean that some nations end up developing as immediate bases for political autonomy. In such cases, perhaps it may make sense to positively support a concrete, working class movement for such autonomy. But as I argue below, Scotland is not subject to national oppression in this way.
iii) It is true that the UK state has on its statute books a whole array of "crown powers" which could be used to legitimate attacks on the revolutionary working class in any part of the UK. But, firstly, there is no necessary reason why the Scottish working class should not end up fighting these powers on the same terms as the English working class. Secondly, there is no reason that the working class will necessarily fight against the crown powers as laws, rather than just in terms of concrete battles against their manifestations. Thirdly, these crown powers are merely the legal expression of things which the UK or Scottish ruling class would likely be prepared to do illegally if those laws did not exist.
The above arguments criticise the positive demand for independence on republican, democratic grounds. They show that the most ardent republican democrat would not necessarily be compelled to call for Scottish independence.
The RCN, as internationalists, are not for socialism in one country. However, whilst talking about Scottish independence, the above sentiment does sometimes emerge as a theme of discussion. Indeed, it is an implicit premise of the argument that "struggles to defend social provision" can take the form of an independence struggle.
Today, in numerous areas, including higher education and homelessness, Scotland does indeed use its limited devolved powers to pursue policies which are somewhat more pro-working class than those effective in England and Wales.
However, if the international decline of left social democracy over the last 30 years tells us anything, it is that 'progressive' fiscal policy cannot be detached from the dynamism of domestic capital.
At present, ignoring revenues from North Sea Oil, Scotland is subsidised by the rest of the UK to the tune of about £1,500 per head. Taking oil into account the flow does run somewhat the other way but as mentioned previously, (a) It is unlikely that North Sea Oil would be controlled by an independent Scotland, and (b) the oil probably does not have very long left to run and may well dry up before Scottish independence is assured.
In consequence, it may very well be the case that independence would precipitate a decline in the fiscal position of the Scottish state apparatus, and consequent decline in social provision in Scotland. As a further consequence therefore, it is at best unclear how independence would form part of struggles to defend the 'social wage' in Scotland.
In this section I will not consider the argument that the lack of independence in itself constitutes national oppression consisting of the denial of democratic rights. This perspective, I examine in the section dealing with republicanism as a political perspective. Here, I am concerned with national oppression insofar as it affects the day to day lives of people in Scotland.
Calls for independence are not necessarily the correct response to national oppression, but serious national oppression could seem to strengthen the case for calls for independence.
In conversations with RCN members, I have heard it suggested that the early implementation of the poll tax in Scotland and the closing of Scotland's heavy industries – particularly mining and ship building – have constituted national oppression. In the case of the heavy industries, I am not aware of any evidence that Scottish workplaces have been targeted more because they are Scottish, any more that those in Labour-voting areas in the north of England for example.
Concerning the poll tax, however, it is possible to be more definite. Contrary to popular perception, the poll tax was not implemented in Scotland first in order to use Scotland as a "guinea pig". Nor was any part of the reason for implementing the tax in Scotland a year earlier than England and Wales as part of an assault on the Scottish working class as such. Rather, the poll tax came first to Scotland as a consequence of two main factors.
Firstly, the limited extent to which Scotland was already enshrined in UK law at the time as a distinct administrative entity. The 1975 Local Government (Scotland) Act mandated a ratings (local government tax) revaluations system distinct from that prevailing in England and Wales, although 5 yearly revaluations had once been uniform. (see McConnell, Alan (1995), State Policy Formation and the origins of the Poll Tax, pages 80 and 200). The fact that rates revaluations were on a different timetable – even given the provision for delay which were utilised from the 1981 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)(Scotland) Act – in Scotland prompted the Conservative government to rush in the Poll tax, rather than raise rates.
In this context, the early introduction of the poll tax in Scotland was less an intentional attack on the Scottish working class because they were Scottish, but rather an accidental product of differentiated – but not necessarily discriminatory – UK law, and the sectional, electoral interests of Scottish Tories.
As advocates of working class internationalism, the RCN are not interested only in the Scottish working class, but the broader UK and global working class as well. They believe Scottish independence could contribute to the struggle of the proletariat outside Scotland, for two reasons.
The first is that an independence struggle on the proto-revolutionary model, over economic or social demands, could spark equivalent action over similar demands elsewhere. However, it is not clear why working class action in Scotland would have to have a specifically pro-independence character in order to have such a "contagious" effect on the Scottish proletariat. (In fact, it is conceivable that national demands could obscure the social, class base of these demands and hence tend to retard their generalisation). Working class struggles have a record of spreading internationally that indicates no necessary need for them to have a national character. This first argument, therefore, does not provide a reason for communists to advocate Scottish independence in addition to the militant mobilisation on which we all agree.
The second argument raised by comrades in the RCN says that, since the UK ruling class would do everything in its power to thwart any independence movement, the mobilisation of militants in England and Wales would be necessary to defeat the ruling class, and achieve independence. However, once again, the UK ruling class can be expected to react with similar vehemence to a proto-revolutionary insurgency around purely socio-economic demands, thereby providing the same potential spark for the struggle to be generalised.
In truth, the dynamic, such as it is, is rather minor. Most polls demonstrate support for greater devolution of tax-raising powers is more popular than independence. Even given a straight choice between independence or the status quo, even the polls showing the greatest pro-independence sentiment only show barely 50% backing for secession from the UK.
As indicated earlier, there are some circumstances under which – in the context of a working class upsurge and a strong pro-independence dynamic within that – it may make sense to support that demand due to its implicit class character. Chris Ford has argued that Ukraine during the revolutionary wave of 1916-22 was such a case – though I do not know enough about that myself to evaluate the claim independently. Thus, my argument here against the demand for independence is not a timeless one. Rather it is based on the concrete balance of class forces, and the subjective position of the Scottish working class in particular. However, it is very, very far from guaranteed — it is even very unlikely — that a national independence movement with a positive class character would ever emerge. The reality is that examples of such movements in history are very few and far between, and all are contested.
Any proto-revolutionary scenario is far away. But in such a scenario, what would be the significance of demands for national independence? The RCN argue in good faith that their potential significance would be a means to make the workers' struggle more powerful, and help it spread internationally. But there must be real reasons to doubt this. Is it not at least as possible that emphasis on the nation as a political unit, and the independent "republican" state as a worthwhile aim in itself, will inevitably de-emphasise tendencies toward generalising the struggle internationally, on a revolutionary class basis?
I offer the above arguments for the consideration of comrades in the RCN, and others, as part of an ongoing dialogue within the communist milieu. In that light I would like to make a couple of things clear about my position.
Firstly it is not a cryptic attempt to justify the idea that Scottish revolutionary organisations ought to be 'subject' to a broader UK one. I disagree with this view. As suggested earlier, I am for the maximum of local (or group, or individual) autonomy at every level insofar as that is compatible with whatever organisation's platform is in question.
Secondly, I would be totally opposed to any attempts of the UK state to suppress any real working class independence movement, and would support mobilisation against such attempts.
Finally, I am certainly not a "unionist", nor a British or English nationalist. I consider myself an internationalist, and at that one who thinks all good things come from below. My objection is to neither of these component parts of 'internationalism from below' but to the specific conclusion that communists ought to be involved in calling for Scottish independence.
Do the RCN Denounce nationalism? Their nationalism like their republicanism is not rooted in class. It can be Bourgeois or proletarian. Or both in the popular front sense in a national democratic revolution.
For comrade Allan Armstrong nationalism can be proletarian because the working class feels national identity just as strong or even stronger than the ruling class. This is why the RCN assume the class struggle will be nationalist in scotland.
In his polemic with jack Conrad in Republican Communist NO 1 1999(also in weekly worker) Allan identifies nationalism with the cause of labour in Wales,Ireland and Scotland. He argues that the real reason for the emergence of these nations was the extension of the vote to the lower orders.
In Allens scattered writings the cause of the workers seems to be bound up with a nationalist republican challenge to democratise the capitalist state as an unavoidable or historical stage to communism. I will provide more examples later.
hi Barry, I have heard members of the RCN denounce "left nationalism". You might think that their position necessarily implies nationalism, but I think we need to start by considering seriously what people say about their own position. I hope that someone from the RCN will reply to this piece.
Interesting. We in AFed have been discussing this question recently and the "internationalism from below" thing was considered. We should be putting something out soon as a supplement / extension of "Against Nationalism".
I have considered the RCN'S Position in a number of articles and all my comments are based on statements to be found in RCN Publications or in comments by Allan Armstrong. In my article on nationalism in the last issue of the commune all my references to the RCN are based on the written words of Alan Armstrong. I am not making allegations. This is why I am giving references.
For instance, In internationalism from below, he states that "what is needed is internationalism or until that is achieved more limited federations based on the principle of internationalism from below".That is the break up of large states such as Britain. As I have argued before Internationalism from below is a slogan or an abtraction. It does not have a class content. or another way to put this, is that labour is the true content of small nation nationalism.
What Allan does is to project an empty category, republicanism from below or internationalism from below, onto different historical and class contexts.
Now it is not a matter of nationalism in general. For instance Alan Davidson has argued that specific class interest led to the union and was part of a historical process of bourgeois revolution. The Bourgeois oppossed the treaty. It was the feudal Lords who wanted it and voted for it. Section 21 guaranteed their feudal rights. Material interests not nationalism. The Bourgeois revolution was a complex process. But even if you disagree with Daidsons view (see Discovering the scottish revolution pluto press The origins of scottish nationhood and scotlands bourgeois revolution in Scotland clsss and nation Davidson does not assume nationalism as a popular movement from below dynamic.
In Republican Communist issue 3 Allan asserts that the Poll Tax Movement in scotland on which he pins the label Social Republicanism demonstrated internationalism from below when the struggle was extended to England and wales Why was it not simply class struggle which began in scotland due to the earlier imposition of the poll tax in scotland?
In the article Allan assumes the various nations England wales Scotland and Ireland are the political basis of the democratic republican challenge, so the poll tax is part of the national democratic movement.
In what next issue 11 1998 in the article John Maclean and scottish Republicanism he writes that "a willingness to defy the authority of the UK state had already shown itself in the massive anti poll tax revolt" This is described as the essence of republicanism. But why is a class fight against the capitalist state specifically or primarily republican?or based on nation?
First I would like to thank Joe for the tenor of his contribution. The questions he raises are the ones that communists living, working and organising in Scotland need to explain.
I have been away for a month and I have only read Joe's article upon my return. I don't have an e-mail address for Joe, so I am trying to contact him through the commune discuss forum. I would like him to provide me with the sources of his quotes which he has lettered c) d) e) and f) which I don't recall.
As soon as Joe does this I will write a full reply. In the meantime, commune members who are interested in the RCN's application of our 'internationalism from below' position to Scotland, the rest of the UK and Ireland could look at the recent postings on the Republican Communist Network website, which outline our position in debate with CPGB and SPGB protagonists.


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Q: How to call External Javascript Firestore function in a Typescript file? I am using Node.js to upload a Typescript file(index.ts) with Cloud functions. I now have a Firestore trigger written in external JavaScript file(notifyNewMessage.js), which I would like to somehow declare in the Typescript file.
Both files are in the same directory:

index.ts:
import * as functions from 'firebase-functions'
import * as admin from 'firebase-admin'

//declare javascript file here???

export const cloudFunction= functions
  .firestore.document(`Users/{user_id}`).onWrite(async (change, _context) => {

   //Function code....

}

notifyNewMessage.js
const functions = require('firebase-functions');
const admin = require('firebase-admin');
admin.initializeApp();

exports.notifyNewMessage = functions.firestore{
   //Cloud function I want to declare in index.ts
}

It would be great if anyone can provide a way for me to do this, or point me in a direction where I can learn how, as Typescript and JavaScript are not my strong points :)
Thanks in advance!

A: Assuming you are trying to import an exported function from the js file. Wouldn't it be something simple as one of the following:
import notifyNewMessage from "./notifyNewMessage";

OR
import { notifyNewMessage } from "./notifyNewMessage";


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text:
Wethau is a municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010 it has included the former municipality of Gieckau.

References

Burgenlandkreis


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Tag: Veterans' Day
Veterans Day and Remembrance Day Reading 2022
On November 11, we will celebrate Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the USA). Here are some books that will help children and young adults reflect on war and the sacrifices made by men and women on the front lines and the home front.
Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion
By Jane Barclay
24 Pages | Ages 4-6 | Ebook
Much has been written about war and remembrance, but very little of it has been for young children. As questions come from a young grandchild, his grandpa talks about how, as a very young man, he was as proud as a peacock in uniform, busy as a beaver on his Atlantic crossing, and brave as a lion charging into battle. Soon, the old man's room is filled with an imaginary menagerie as the child thinks about different aspects of wartime. But as he pins medals on his grandpa's blazer and receives his own red poppy in return, the mood becomes more somber.
Sergeant Billy: The True Story of the Goat Who Went to War
By Mireille Messier
Illustrated by Kass Reich
During World War I, a goat named Billy was adopted by a platoon of soldiers and made his way across the ocean to be part of the war effort. Billy trained with the soldiers, got snuck into the frontlines in a box of oranges, ate some secret documents and was arrested for treason, head-butted soldiers into a trench and saved them from a shell, and came back home a decorated war hero. This charming true story follows Sergeant Billy from his small prairie town to the trenches of World War I and back, through harrowing moments, sad moments, moments of camaraderie and moments of celebration.
When Your Daddy's a Soldier
By Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan
Illustrated by EG Keller
A lyrical, moving story about a family's experience at home during their dad's time away at war. For one young boy and his family at home, the days pass slowly. That's because when your daddy's a soldier and he's away at war, you can't wait for him to come home so you can be together again. This poignant and impactful story, inspired by the author's lived experiences, captures the essence of the daily heartache, fear, joy, and uncertainty that a child whose parent has gone off to war must live with.
A Soldier's Sketchbook: The Illustrated First World War Diary of R. H. Rabjohn
By John Wilson
Award-winning author John Wilson brings his skills as a historian and researcher to bear, carefully curating the diary to provide context and tell the story of Private Rabjohn's war. He has selected each of the diary entries and the accompanying images, and has provided the background that modern-day readers need to understand what a young soldier went through a century ago. The result is a wonderfully detailed and dramatic account of the war as seen through an artist's eyes.
Broken Strings
By Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer
288 Pages | Ages 10-14 | Paperback
ISBN 9780735266261 | Puffin Canada
It's 2002. In the aftermath of the twin towers, Shirli Berman is intent on moving forward. The best singer in her junior high, she auditions for the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof, but is crushed to learn that she's been given the part of the old Jewish mother in the musical rather than the coveted part of the sister. But there is an upside: her "husband" is none other than Ben Morgan, the cutest and most popular boy in the school. Deciding to throw herself into the role, she rummages in her grandfather's attic for some props. There, she discovers an old violin in the corner – strange, since her Zayde has never seemed to like music, never even going to any of her recitals. Showing it to her grandfather unleashes an anger in him she has never seen before, and while she is frightened of what it might mean, Shirli keeps trying to connect with her Zayde and discover the awful reason behind his anger. A long-kept family secret spills out, and Shirli learns the true power of music, both terrible and wonderful.
History Smashers: Pearl Harbor
By Kate Messner
Illustrated by Dylan Meconis
224 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593120378 | Random House BFYR
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a completely unpredictable attack on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Right? Well, that's not quite the real deal. Some military experts had suggested that Pearl Harbor was a likely target. There were other warning signs, too, but nobody paid much attention. From the first wave of the Japanese bombers to the United States' internment of thousands of Japanese Americans, acclaimed author Kate Messner smashes history by exploring the little-known truths behind the story of Pearl Harbor and its aftermath.
Innocent Heroes: Stories of Animals in the First World War
By Sigmund Brouwer
Never before have the stories of animal war heroes been collected in such a special way. This book consists of eight connected fictional stories about a Canadian platoon in WW1. The Storming Normans have help from some very memorable animals: we meet a dog who warns soldiers in the trench of a gas attack, a donkey whose stubbornness saves the day, a cat who saves soldiers from rat bites, and many more. Each story is followed by nonfiction sections that tell the true story of these animals from around the world and of the Canadian soldiers who took Vimy Ridge. Through the friendship that grows between three of these soldiers in particular, we get a close-up look at life in the trenches, the taking of Vimy Ridge, the bonds between soldiers and their animals and what it meant to be Canadian in World War I.
Island of Spies
By Sheila Turnage
Twelve-year-old Stick Lawson lives on Hatteras Island, North Carolina, where life moves steady as the tides, and mysteries abound as long as you look really hard for them. Stick and her friends Rain and Neb are good at looking hard. They call themselves the Dime Novel Kids. And the only thing Stick wants more than a paying case for them to solve is the respect that comes with it. But on Hatteras, the tides are changing. World War II looms, curious newcomers have appeared on the small island, and in the waters off its shores, a wartime menace lurks that will upend Stick's life and those of everyone she loves. The Dimes are about to face more mysteries than they ever could have wished for, and risk more than they ever could have imagined.
Saving Hanno
By Miriam Halahmy
ISBN 9780823446704 | Holiday House
What if you had to leave your dog behind when you fled? Rudi and his older sister Lotte have a chance to leave the dangers of Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport to England. However, he cannot bring Hanno, his wonderful dachshund. Luckily, his family finds a way to smuggle Hanno to London. But with England on the brink of war, Hanno is still not safe. As a German invasion of England becomes imminent, many British people decide their pets will suffer as well as drain limited resources, and thousands of pets are euthanized. To save Hanno, Rudi joins a group of scrappy London children who hide their pets away in a vacant lot. Just as London's children are about to be evacuated to the countryside, the group finds a wealthy animal lover willing to care for the menagerie on her country estate. This fast-paced and accessible novel is full of courage and excitement.
The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA
By Brenda Woods
ISBN 9781524737115 | Nancy Paulsen Books
For Gabriel Haberlin, life seems pretty close to perfect in the small southern town of Birdsong, USA. But on his twelfth birthday, his point of view begins to change. It all starts when he comes face-to-face with one of the worst drivers in town while riding his new bicycle – an accident that would have been tragic if Mr. Meriwether Hunter hadn't been around to push him out of harm's way. After the accident, Gabriel and Meriwether become friends when they both start working at Gabriel's dad's auto shop, and Meriwether lets a secret slip: He served in the army's all-black 761st Tank Battalion in World War II. Soon Gabriel learns why it's so dangerous for Meriwether to talk about his heroism in front of white people, and Gabriel's eyes are finally opened to the hard truth about Birdsong – and his understanding of what it means to be a hero will never be the same.
By Adam Makos
Lieutenant Tom Hudner and Ensign Jesse Brown, both Navy pilots during the Korean War in 1950, come from different backgrounds: Hudner is a white New Englander, a son of privilege; Brown is an African American son of a sharecropper from Mississippi. When the two men join forces in Fighter Squadron 32, they forge a deep friendship at a time when racial inequality was prevalent in America. An unwavering commitment binds Tom and Jesse to each other as well as to their comrades. The two fly to save a division of US Marines cornered during the battle at Chosin Reservoir, but catastrophe strikes when one of them is shot down behind enemy lines and trapped in the wreckage of his plane. The other will face an unthinkable choice: watch their friend die, or attempt one of history's most audacious one-man rescue missions. What transpires is harrowing and heartbreaking, an inspirational story for all time.
Shut the hatches. It's time to roll out. You'll find yourself behind enemy lines with Clarence Smoyer and the 3rd Armored Division, the workhorse unit known as "Spearhead," the best in the tank armor ranks. You'll feel as if you are right beside Clarence and his fellow crew members – all formerly strangers from across America who have now become family to each other. You will be jarred by enemy fire, and then explore the other side, stepping into the boots of German tanker soldier, Gustav Schaefer and his crew. You'll witness the heartbreaking tragedy, when an innocent young woman is caught in the crossfire. You'll see what happens when all of these lives collide, and realize how the aftershock still affects the survivors more than a half a century later. A riveting and true account of the perils of war as well as the prospect of forgiveness.
The Enigma Game
By Elizabeth Wein
A German soldier risks his life to drop off the sought-after Enigma Machine to British Intelligence, hiding it in a pub in a small town in northeast Scotland, and unwittingly bringing together four very different people who decide to keep it to themselves. Louisa Adair, a young teen girl hired to look after the pub owner's elderly, German-born aunt, Jane Warner, finds it but doesn't report it. Flight-Lieutenant Jamie Beaufort-Stuart intercepts a signal but can't figure it out. Ellen McEwen, a volunteer at the local airfield, acts as the go-between and messenger after Louisa involves Jane in translating. The planes under Jamie's command seem charmed, as Jamie knows where exactly to go, while other squadrons suffer, and the four are loathe to give up the machine, even after Elisabeth Lind from British Intelligence arrives, even after the Germans start bombing the tiny town.
This Rebel Heart
By Katherine Locke
In the middle of Budapest, there is a river. Csilla knows the river is magic. During WWII, the river kept her family safe when they needed it most – safe from the Holocaust. But that was before the Communists seized power. Before her parents were murdered by the Soviet police. Before Csilla knew things about her father's legacy that she wishes she could forget. Now Csilla keeps her head down, planning her escape from this country that has never loved her the way she loves it. But her carefully laid plans fall to pieces when her parents are unexpectedly, publicly exonerated. As the protests in other countries spur talk of a larger revolution in Hungary, Csilla must decide if she believes in the promise and magic of her deeply flawed country enough to risk her life to help save it, or if she should let it burn to the ground. With queer representation, fabulist elements, and a pivotal but little-known historical moment, This Rebel Heart is Katherine Locke's tour de force.
Veterans Day and Remembrance Day Reading
Grace Banker and Her Hello Girls Answer the Call: The Heroic Story of WWI Telephone Operators
By Claudia Friddell
Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
40 Pages | Ages 7-10 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781684373505 | Calkins Creek
Follow Grace Banker's journey from her busy life as a telephone switchboard trainer in New York to her pioneering role as the Chief Operator of the 1st Unit of World War I telephone operators in the battlefields of France. With expert skill, steady nerves, and steadfast loyalty, the Signal Corps operators transferred orders from commanders to battlefields and communicated top-secret messages between American and French headquarters. After faithfully serving her country – undaunted by freezing weather and fires; long hours and little sleep, and nearby shellings and far off explosions – Grace was the first and only woman operator in the Signal Corps to be awarded the Army's Distinguished Service Medal.
Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
By Jeff Gottesfeld
Illustrated by Matt Tavares
Keeping vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in Arlington National Cemetery, are the sentinel guards, whose every step, every turn, honors and remembers America's fallen. They protect fellow soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, making sure they are never alone. To stand there – with absolute precision, in every type of weather, at every moment of the day, one in a line uninterrupted since midnight July 2, 1937 – is the ultimate privilege and the most difficult post to earn in the army. Everything these men and women do is in service to the Unknowns. Their standard is perfection. Exactly how the unnamed men came to be entombed at Arlington, and exactly how their fellow soldiers have come to keep vigil over them, is a sobering and powerful tale, told by Jeff Gottesfeld and luminously illustrated by Matt Tavares – a tale that honors the soldiers who honor the fallen.
A Place to Hang the Moon
By Kate Albus
It is 1940 and William, Edmund, and Anna aren't terribly upset by the death of the not-so-grandmotherly grandmother who has taken care of them since their parents died. But the children do need a guardian, and in the dark days of World War II London, those are in short supply, especially if they hope to stay together. Could the mass wartime evacuation of children from London to the countryside be the answer? It's a preposterous plan, but off they go – keeping their predicament a secret, and hoping to be placed in a temporary home that ends up lasting forever. Moving from one billet to another, the children suffer the cruel trickery of foster brothers, the cold realities of outdoor toilets and the hollowness of empty stomachs. They find comfort in the village lending library, whose kind librarian, Nora Müller, seems an excellent choice of billet, except that her German husband's whereabouts are currently unknown, and some of the villagers consider her unsuitable.
By Davide Morosinotto
ISBN 9781984893321 | Delacorte BFYR
Twins Viktor and Nadya are twelve years old when Hitler's Germany declares war on the Soviet Union. With little notice, the city's children are evacuated on trains that are meant to take them to safety. Shockingly, Viktor and Nadya are separated, and disaster befalls them both. As the terrible conflict rages, each embarks on a desperate race across snow and ice, struggling through the destruction in an effort to be reunited. Their chances are slim, but they never lose hope. In an original format – using the kids' diary entries, with historical photos, maps, and drawings throughout, this fictionalized account of the Nazi siege of Leningrad during the Second World War, this heart-stopping story of danger, courage and bravery emphasizes the power of truth and what it means to be a hero.
The Good War
By Todd Strasser
There's a new afterschool club at Ironville Middle School. Ms. Peterson is starting a video game club where the students will playing The Good War, a new game based on World War II. They are divided into two teams: Axis and Allies, and they will be simulating a war they know nothing about yet. Only one team will win. But what starts out as friendly competition, takes an unexpected turn for the worst when an one player takes the game too far. Can an afterschool club change the way the students see each other . . . and how they see the world?
War and Millie McGonigle
By Karen Cushman
Millie McGonigle lives in sunny California, where her days are filled with beach and surf. It should be perfect – but times are tough. Hitler is attacking Europe and it looks like the United States may be going to war. Food is rationed and money is tight. And Millie's sickly little sister gets all the attention and couldn't be more of a pain if she tried. It's all Millie can do to stay calm and feel in control. Still–there's sand beneath her feet. A new neighbor from the city, who has a lot to teach Millie. And surfer boy Rocky to admire – even if she doesn't have the guts to talk to him. It's a time of sunshine, siblings, and stress. Will Millie be able to find her way in her family, and keep her balance as the the world around her loses its own?
Last Witnesses: Adapted for Young Readers
By Svetlana Alexievich
Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich delves into the traumatic memories of children who were separated from their parents during World War II – most of them never to be reunited – in this this young adult adaptation of her acclaimed nonfiction Last Witnesses: An Oral History of the Children of WWII. The personal narratives told by those who were children during WWII and survived harrowing experiences, are astounding. So many children were separated from their loved ones in the midst of the terror and chaos. As a result, some grew up in orphanages or were raised by grandparents or extended family; others were taken in and cared for by strangers who risked punishment for such acts. Still others lived on their own or became underage soldiers. Forthright and riveting, these bravely told oral histories of survival reveal the heart-rending details of life during wartime while reminding us that resilience is possible, no matter the circumstances.
The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life
By Amy Butler Greenfield
ISBN 9780593127193 | Random House Studio
Elizebeth Smith Friedman had a rare talent for spotting patterns and solving puzzles. These skills led her to become one of the top cryptanalysts in America during both World War I and World War II. She originally came to code breaking through her love for Shakespeare when she was hired by an eccentric millionaire to prove that Shakespeare's plays had secret messages in them. Within a year, she had learned so much about code breaking that she was a star in the making. She went on to play a major role decoding messages during WWI and WWII and also for the Coast Guard's war against smugglers. Elizebeth and her husband, William, became the top code-breaking team in the US, and she did it all at a time when most women weren't welcome in the workforce.
When You and I Collide
By Kate Norris
ISBN 9780593203033 | Philomel Books
Sixteen-year-old Winnie Schulde has always seen splits – the moment when two possible outcomes diverge, one in her universe and one in another. Multiverse theory, Winnie knows, is all too real, though she has never been anything but an observer of its implications – a secret she keeps hidden from just about everyone, as she knows the uses to which it might be put in the midst of a raging WWII. But her physicist father, wrapped up in his research and made cruel by his grief after the loss of Winnie's mother, believes that if he pushes her hard enough, she can choose one split over another and maybe, just maybe, change their future and their past. Winnie is certain that her father's theories are just that, so she plays along in an effort to placate him. Until one day, when her father's experiment goes wrong and Scott, the kind and handsome lab assistant Winnie loves from afar, is seriously injured. Without meaning to, Winnie chooses the split where Scott is unharmed. And in doing so, finds herself pulled into another universe, an alternate reality. One that already has a Winnie.
Posted on November 2, 2020 October 30, 2020
Books for Veterans Day and Remembrance Day Reading
War Is Over
By David Almond
Illustrated by David Litchfield
It's 1918, and war is everywhere. John's father is fighting in the trenches far away in France, while his mother works in a menacing munitions factory just along the road. His teacher says that John is fighting, too, that he is at war with enemy children in Germany. One day, in the wild woods outside town, John has an impossible moment: a dreamlike meeting with a German boy named Jan. John catches a glimpse of a better world, in which children like Jan and himself can one day scatter the seeds of peace. David Almond brings his ineffable sensibility to a poignant tale of the effects of war on children, interwoven with David Litchfield's gorgeous black-and-white illustrations.
It's 2002. In the aftermath of the twin towers, Shirli Berman is intent on moving forward. The best singer in her junior high, she auditions for the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof, but is crushed to learn that she's been given the part of the old Jewish mother in the musical rather than the coveted part of the sister. But there is an upside: her "husband" is none other than Ben Morgan, the cutest and most popular boy in the school. Deciding to throw herself into the role, she rummages in her grandfather's attic for some props. There, she discovers an old violin in the corner -strange, since her Zayde has never seemed to like music, never even going to any of her recitals. Showing it to her grandfather unleashes an anger in him she has never seen before, and while she is frightened of what it might mean, Shirli keeps trying to connect with her Zayde and discover the awful reason behind his anger. A long-kept family secret spills out, and Shirli learns the true power of music, both terrible and wonderful.
Secret Soldiers: How the U.S. Twenty-Third Special Troops Fooled the Nazis
By Paul B. Janeczko
304 Pages | Ages 10-14 | Hardcover
In his third book about deception during war, Paul B. Janeczko focuses his lens on World War II and the operations carried out by the Twenty-Third Headquarters Special Troops, aka the Ghost Army. This remarkable unit included actors, camouflage experts, sound engineers, painters, and set designers who used their skills to secretly and systematically replace fighting units — fooling the Nazi army into believing what their eyes and ears told them, even though the sights and sounds of tanks, war machines and troops were entirely fabricated. Follow the Twenty-Third into Europe as they play a dangerous game of enticing the German army into making battlefield mistakes by using sonic deceptions, inflatable tanks, pyrotechnics and camouflage in more than twenty operations. From the Normandy invasion to the crossing of the Rhine River, the men of the Ghost Army — several of whom went on to become famous artists and designers after the war — played an improbable role in the Allied victory.
The Great War: Stories Inspired by Items from the First World War
Illustrated by Jim Kay
A toy soldier. A butter dish. A compass. Mundane objects, perhaps, but to the remarkable authors in this collection, artifacts such as these have inspired stories that go to the heart of the human experience of World War I. Each author was invited to choose an object that had a connection to the war — a writing kit for David Almond, a helmet for Michael Morpurgo — and use it as the inspiration for an original short story. What results is an extraordinary collection, illustrated throughout by award-winning Jim Kay, and featuring photographs of the objects with accounts of their history and the authors' reasons for selecting them. This unique anthology provides young readers with a personal window into the Great War and the people affected by it, and serves as an invaluable resource for families and teachers alike.
The War to End All Wars: The Story of World War I
By Jack Batten
In this riveting account of a tragic episode in world history, author Jack Batten takes readers through a far bloodier conflict than mankind had ever before endured. Meet the soldiers who fought the deadly battles along the Western Front. Follow the trail of flying ace Billy Bishop as he tangles in the air with the Red Baron. Learn the strategy of Britain's Grand Fleet of warships as it heads into the biggest sea battle in history. Discover how civilians decoded virtually all the messages the Germans sent to their ships around the world.
Voices from the Second World War: Stories of War as Told to Children of Today
By Candlewick Press
The Second World War was the most devastating war in history. Up to eighty million people died, and the map of the world was redrawn. More than seventy years after peace was declared, children interviewed family and community members to learn about the war from people who were there, to record their memories before they were lost forever. Now, in a unique collection, RAF pilots, evacuees, resistance fighters, Land Girls, U.S. Navy sailors, and survivors of the Holocaust and the Hiroshima bombing all tell their stories, passing on the lessons learned to a new generation. Featuring many vintage photographs, this moving volume also offers an index of contributors and a glossary.
Orphan Monster Spy
By Matt Killeen
After her mother is shot at a checkpoint, fifteen-year-old Sarah finds herself on the run from the Nazis in Third Reich-ruled Germany. While trying to escape, Sarah meets a mysterious man with an ambiguous accent, a suspiciously bare apartment, and a lockbox full of weapons. He's part of the secret resistance against the Reich, and he needs her help. Sarah is to hide in plain sight at a boarding school for the daughters of top Nazi brass, posing as one of them. She must befriend the daughter of a key scientist to gain access to the blueprints for a bomb that could destroy the cities of Western Europe, and steal them. Sarah may look like the rest of the girls, innocent, blonde-haired, and young, but she refuses to become one of the monsters she's surrounded by. She's a brilliant con artist, convincing them she's one of them even as she lives in terror of being found out. And she's determined to get her revenge on them all.
The Blossom and the Firefly
By Sherri L. Smith
Japan 1945. Taro is a talented violinist and a kamikaze pilot in the days before his first and only mission. He believes he is ready to die for his country . . . until he meets Hana. Hana hasn't been the same since the day she was buried alive in a collapsed trench during a bomb raid. She wonders if it would have been better to have died that day . . . until she meets Taro. Here, with achingly beautiful prose, Smith weaves a tale of love in the face of death, of hope in the face of tragedy, set against a backdrop of the waning days of the Pacific War.
The Emperor of Any Place
By Tim Wynne-Jones
Evan, overwhelmed and bereaved by his father's sudden death, doesn't know what to make of the hand-bound yellow book his dad had been reading when he passed away. Why was his father reading the diary of a Japanese soldier stranded on a small Pacific island during World War II? What is in this account that Evan's estranged grandfather fears — and will he really do anything, even hurt his own grandson, to prevent it from being seen? In this riveting, time-shifting story within a story, the ghosts of war reverberate across hemispheres and generations.
The Red Ribbon
By Lucy Adlington
Three weeks after being detained on her way home from school, fourteen-year-old Ella finds herself in the Upper Tailoring Studio, a sewing workshop inside a Nazi concentration camp. There, two dozen skeletal women toil over stolen sewing machines. They are the seamstresses of Birchwood, stitching couture dresses for a perilous client list: wives of the camp's Nazi overseers and the female SS officers who make prisoners' lives miserable. It is a workshop where stylish designs or careless stitches can mean life or death. And it is where Ella meets Rose. As thoughtful and resilient as the dressmakers themselves, Rose and Ella's story is one of courage, desperation, and hope — hope as delicate and as strong as silk, as vibrant as a red ribbon in a sea of gray.
Remembrance Day Reading
This week, students from across the country will be reflecting on war and the sacrifices made by men and women on the front lines and the home front. Here are some titles to help contextualize the First and Second World Wars.
ISBN 9781770491274 | Ebook
Ages 4-6 | Tundra Books
During World War I, a goat named Billy was adopted by a platoon of soldiers and made his way across the ocean to be part of the war effort. This charming true story follows Sergeant Billy from his small prairie town to the trenches of World War I and back, through harrowing moments, sad moments, moments of camaraderie and moments of celebration. This unforgettable goat and the platoon that loved him will capture your heart!
ISBN 9780735264427 | Hardcover
Ages 9-12 | Tundra Books
Never before have the stories of animal war heroes been collected in such a special way. This book consists of eight connected fictional stories about a Canadian platoon in WW1. The Storming Normans have help from some very memorable animals: we meet a dog who warns soldiers in the trench of a gas attack, a donkey whose stubbornness saves the day, a cat who saves soldiers from rat bites, and many more. Each story is followed by nonfiction sections that tell the true story of these animals from around the world and of the Canadian soldiers who took Vimy Ridge
Ages 10-14 | Puffin Canada
It's 2002. In the aftermath of the twin towers — and the death of her beloved grandmother — Shirli Berman is intent on moving forward. The best singer in her junior high, she auditions for the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof, but is crushed to learn that she's been given the part of the old Jewish mother in the musical rather than the coveted part of the sister. But there is an upside: her "husband" is none other than Ben Morgan, the cutest and most popular boy in the school. Deciding to throw herself into the role, she rummages in her grandfather's attic for some props. There, she discovers an old violin in the corner — strange, since her Zayde has never seemed to like music, never even going to any of her recitals. Showing it to her grandfather unleashes an anger in him she has never seen before, and while she is frightened of what it might mean, Shirli keeps trying to connect with her Zayde and discover the awful reason behind his anger. A long-kept family secret spills out, and Shirli learns the true power of music, both terrible and wonderful.
A Soldier's Sketchbook: The Illustrated First World War Diary of R.H. Rabjohn
Illustrated by R.H. Rabjohn
Ages 10+ | Tundra Books
A unique First World War diary, illustrated with more than a hundred stunning pencil sketches, for children learning history and also for adults interested in a new perspective on the War and authentic wartime artefacts.
"Poppa," I whisper, "why are you crying?"
"I am remembering," he says. "A war is something you never forget."
"Elephants never forget," I tell him.
"Then let's be elephants," he says.
A soft rain falls as a bugler trumpets his notes up into the cold, gray sky. We link our hands and bow our heads.


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Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Tuesday, Mar 27 2018
The Personal Health Toll Of Social Activism
Along with the long hours, constant confrontation and frequent heartbreak they experience, activists work for little or no pay and sometimes struggle for basic needs like food and shelter even as they push for societal change. In other news: HIV testing, strokes, hep C in baby boomers, ADHD, weight loss, and more.
The New York Times: They Push. They Protest. And Many Activists, Privately, Suffer As A Result.
She lay curled in bed for days, paralyzed by the stresses of a life that she felt had chosen her as much as she had chosen it. About three years earlier, the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., had spurred Ashley Yates into activism. She would evolve from street protester in her hometown of St. Louis to Black Lives Matter organizer in Oakland. But Ms. Yates would also feel the pressures of a job that seemed unrelenting: responding repeatedly to the deaths of black residents in communities across America, struggling to win policy reforms that would benefit black people and rallying others to support her causes. (Eligon, 3/26)
The New York Times: Grindr, Popular Gay Sex App, To Offer H.I.V. Test Reminders
In an effort to shrink the global AIDS epidemic, the world's largest gay dating app is changing its software this week to urge millions of users to get frequent H.I.V. tests. Grindr, which claims to have 3.3 million daily users from every country in the world, will send men who opt into the service a reminder every three to six months, and simultaneously point them to the nearest testing site. It will also let clinics, gay community centers and other testing sites advertise for free. (McNeil, 3/26)
The New York Times: For Many Strokes, There's An Effective Treatment. Why Aren't Some Doctors Offering It?
It was one of those findings that would change medicine, Dr. Christopher Lewandowski thought. For years, doctors had tried — and failed — to find a treatment that would preserve the brains of stroke patients. The task was beginning to seem hopeless: Once a clot blocked a blood vessel supplying the brain, its cells quickly began to die. Patients and their families could only pray that the damage would not be too extensive. (Kolata, 3/26)
The Washington Post: Testing For Hepatitis C Lags With Baby Boomers Despite High Infection Rate
Testing for hepatitis C, a major cause of liver cancer, is lagging behind among the group of Americans with the highest rate of infection: baby boomers. A study published Tuesday showed that only about 13 percent of baby boomers were tested in 2015, up just slightly from 12 percent in 2013. U.S. public health authorities recommend all people in that demographic — those born between 1945 and 1965 — be screened for hepatitis C. (McGinley, 3/27)
The Washington Post: Brain Abnormalities Found In 4- And 5-Year-Olds With ADHD, Researchers Say
In the first comprehensive imaging study of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in preschoolers, researchers have found evidence that structural changes in the brain are already recognizable at the age of 4. "One of our big questions was thinking about an early-onset disorder and linking it to early-onset brain anomalies," said Lisa Jacobson, one of the researchers involved in the study, which appeared Monday in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. The results "tell us that this is not just a behavioral disorder. It is a neurological disorder." (Nutt, 3/26)
The Washington Post: Losing Weight By Restricting Eating Times Seems To Work, At Least In Mice
This is a story about the importance of good timing. Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. This excess weight contributes to a variety of health problems. Despite enormous effort over decades, the problem has proved extremely difficult to solve. Biologist Satchin Panda thinks we're missing a key variable: Instead of focusing so much on what we eat, he says, we should pay more attention to when we eat. (Kohn, 3/26)
Los Angeles Times: By Going Vegan, America Could Feed An Additional 390 Million People, Study Suggests
More than 41 million Americans find themselves at risk of going hungry at some point during the year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says.But it doesn't have to be this way. New research suggests the country could feed all 327 million Americans — plus roughly 390 million more — by focusing on plants. If U.S. farmers took all the land currently devoted to raising cattle, pigs and chickens and used it to grow plants instead, they could sustain more than twice as many people as they do now, according to a report published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Kaplan, 3/26)
WBUR: Scientists In Africa Wonder If There's Bias Against Their Research
Data supporting a Western bias against African research is scarce. That makes it a hard thing to demonstrate. But there are a number of reasons to take the issue seriously. (Jochem, 3/26)
Kaiser Health News: 'Peanut Butter Cup' Vape: Is This Dessert Or An E-Cigarette Flavor?
Advertising for traditional cigarettes is strictly regulated: No cowboys looking cool, no cartoons and no bright colors that play up candy-flavored cigarettes that might appeal to kids. Yet these bans don't apply to e-cigarettes or vapes — increasingly a choice for experimentation by adolescents and young adults. These smoking products use chemical solutions with nicotine flavored with "juices" that have names like "Bubble Pop," "Strawberry Cotton Candy" and "Peanut Butter Cup." People inhale these as if they were smoking a traditional cigarette. (Bluth, 3/26)
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