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The word itself Stress is a common word amongst us. We feel it when we are being challenged and the situation is uncontrollable and we are running out of time. Sometimes, it bores you when it’s not challenging you, right?
You lose your focus when you feel your intelligence is not being used.
Employees quit their jobs and look for a more challenging role outside work. If they think they can do more.
Are you one of them?
Traffic, deadlines, Bills, family, School, relationship, Work, and Health etc. These are just a few examples of the source of stress. Scenarios and things that happens maybe on a daily basis that are beyond your control.
You begin to worry and feeling under pressure, especially when you’re trying to put everything in order.
Stress is already part of our daily lives. It starts when you wake up in the morning. battling the early morning traffic, reports and meetings and all other related activities that you do.
Some of us think that Stress is negative. Stress becomes negative if you overworked yourself.
Thus, you notice people smokes, drinks alcohol and eats after facing a busy situation which damages their health. You might have seen these outside your building. And this is very common for people who deal with customers like working in a Call Center environment, Sales target, etc.
You would start to feel the pressure (Stress) when things do not fall according to your plan.
Smoking and drinking, are just a few ways of how other people de-stress themselves. People think they deserve these after an 8-hour work shift. These are their simple and quick ways to shake it off, thinking they feel refreshed and positive the next day.
However, since stress is already part of our daily lives they will do the same thing over and over again.
What if drinking is your way of de-stressing yourself? Maybe once a week or several times a month is fine but doing it in excess, is bad for the health. There are still ways to effectively De-Stress yourself.
Imagine, if you were doing that for years.
Excessive Alcohol can lead to Fatty Liver, Cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis and Stroke.
Emotional eating aka Stress-eating, leads you to gain extra weight, and more likely to have to increase your blood pressure, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer, Depression, and Stroke.
While Smoking increases the risk of Ulcers, Cardiovascular Disease Asthma Cancer, Impotence, Emphysema, and Stroke,etc.
Can you now imagine where could these lead you?
But Stress is not always about a headache because you overthink. Stress can also be positive. Really, how?
We call this “Good Stress“. A job promotion or starting out business is a good motivation that will keep you going.
You know that you are facing different challenges but you enjoy every step of it. Because you know to yourself that it will yield in the future.
It brings out the best in you.
How can stress kill me?
When you are experiencing stress, your body reacts to it and show obvious results. Like, it increases your blood Pressure, heart rate, poor immune system and developing Chronic Stress.
According to Studies, unmanaged Stress can lead to more serious and life-threatening health problems. Like Heart Attacks, Kidney Disease and the worst of all is Cancer.
And these are the possible results that stress can bring you and how it can kill you.
You need to breathe, take a walk and have a small talk with someone. You need some time to de-stress yourself. You can start talking to someone without alcohol or smoke. there are a lot of ways to do it.
How about, shopping? Girls love this…
Shopping always puts a sweet smile on a woman’s face.
Perhaps playing sports with your friends. Travel and start seeing beautiful places or start cooking.? Be with someone who would a smile on your face.
Timeout. Take a break. It’s good for your health. |
The Knight Commission on Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy
The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy was a blue ribbon panel of seventeen media, policy and community leaders. Its purpose was to assess the information needs of communities, and recommend measures to help Americans better meet those needs. Its Report, Informing Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age, was the first major commission on media since the Hutchins Commission in the 1940’s and the Kerner and Carnegie Commissions of the 1960’s.
In the digital age, technological, economic and behavioral changes are dramatically altering how Americans communicate. Information is more fragmented. Communications systems no longer run along the same lines as local governance. The gap in access to digital tools and skills is wide and troubling. This new era poses major challenges to the flow of news and information people depend on to manage their complex lives.
The Commission’s aims are to maximize the availability and flow of credible local information; to enhance access and capacity to use the new tools of knowledge and exchange; and to encourage people to engage with information and each other within their geographic communities. Among its 15 recommendations the Commission argues for universal broadband, open networks, transparent government, a media and digitally literate populace, vibrant local journalism, public media reform, and local public engagement. |
Hopes for another large round of federal assistance for Americans hurt by thepandemic are reviving, with President-elect Joe Biden to "come together and pass a COVID-relief package." With many pandemic aid programs running out of funding or set to , many laid-off workers, small businesses and others face the prospects of more financial hardship without further government help.
Although many analysts expect lawmakers to eventually set aside their partisan differences and pass another stimulus bill, the size and timing of a measure remain uncertain. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has signaled he backs another stimulus package, noting in a November 4 press conference that he would like an aid deal passed before year-end.
Even so, any package passed during the so-called "lame duck" session — before the newly elected members of the Senate and the House take their seats in January, along with Mr. Biden — is likely to be far smaller than the more than $2 trillion sought by Democrats, according to Wall Street analysts.
McConnell "will likely re-propose a plan he pushed in October. The McConnell plan was for $500 billion and included additional Paycheck Protection Plan funds," noted Brian Gardner, chief Washington policy strategist at Stifel, in a research note.
Republicans may push for a smaller package given Pfizer's announcement earlier this month that its human trials suggest its coronavirus vaccine isat preventing COVID-19 infections, Gardner added. And on Monday, Moderna its COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective, according to preliminary data from the company's ongoing study.
The availability of a vaccine would significantly boost hiring, incomes and other measures of economic growth, reducing the need for a massive stimulus bill, some GOP lawmakers contend.
Walmart: Stimulus is "imperative"
According to experts, widespread distribution of an effective vaccine would reinvigorate parts of the economy that have been hard-hit by the pandemic, such as the airline and hospitality industries, and alleviate some of the need for government support. But such a rollout could take months, leaving millions of consumers and businesses hanging without help from additional government funding.
Already, there are signs that consumers may be paring spending as the surge in COVID-19 cases saps their confidence in an economic rebound, paired with a lack of fresh stimulus spending from Washington, D.C. Retail sales in the U.S. drew to a "near halt" in October, according to Oxford Economics senior U.S. economist James Watson, citing data from the U.S. Commerce Department released on Tuesday.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon on Tuesday said it is "imperative" that lawmakers come together to pass another round of stimulus. "The increase in cases will put more pressure on small businesses that have been heavily impacted by the pandemic," McMillonwith analysts.
House Democrats and the Trump administration had found themselves, ranging from the size of the package to its priorities. Democrats are seeking funding to support states and local governments, which are facing massive budget shortfalls from the pandemic, as well as a restoration of $600 in weekly supplemental unemployment aid. Republicans argue that the latter provides a disincentive for people to return to work.
But Republicans and Democrats have signaled agreement on a handful of issues, such as replenishing the Paycheck Protection Program and to provide another round of stimulus funding for low- and middle-income families. The first round of stimulus checks provided up to $1,200 for single taxpayers and up to $2,400 for married couples, as well as $500 for most children.
While it's likely that families will see another round of stimulus checks, don't count on receiving them until early 2021, according to analysts.
"We see our current baseline assumption of a roughly $750 billion fiscal package legislated by [the first quarter of 2021] as reasonable," noted Deutsche Bank analysts in a Friday research note.
The outlook for additional stimulus spending after President-Elect Biden is inaugurated on January 20 will depend on whether Republicans retain control of the Senate. If Democrats don't succeed in the January 5 runoffs for two Georgia Senate seats, the Republicans will maintain control, making it less likely that a President Biden could pass and sign a major stimulus effort.
$500 billion? $1.8 trillion? $2.2 trillion?
For months, Republicans and Democrats have disagreed on the size of the next stimulus package. McConnell had floated a slimmed-down proposal from Republicans, which carries a price tag of more than $500 billion. The Democrat-controlled House, meanwhile, had passed ain October, and the White House countered with a $1.8 trillion proposal.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected that $1.8 billion offer, arguing that it did not do enough on provisions such as testing and tracing and on funding for child care. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the administration's priority is to use $300 billion left from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act to fund the Paycheck Protection Program with $130 billion, as well as to provide aid to the ailing airline industry.
Economists warn that failing to inject another dose of fiscal stimulus could stall the recovery, given the ongoing pandemic and economic headwinds. Job growth around the U.S. is slowing as big businesses continue to lay off workers, with the airline industry cutting.
"Without faster job growth — unlikely at this stage of the recovery — or increased fiscal aid, households, businesses and state and local governments will be increasingly susceptible to a deterioration of the health situation," noted Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics.
Struggling to pay the bills
With the pandemic showing few signs of abating and earlier government aid now running out, many businesses and households are facing a financial crunch. One in three U.S. adults struggled to pay for basic expenses like food and rent at the end of September, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal-leaning think tank.
After the virus erupted in the U.S. this spring, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act had distributed some 160 million checks to Americans, offering cash payments of $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples, up to some income limits.
Another boost of $1,200 per adult would certainly help alleviate financial stress, yet that one-time payment would only go so far — a month's rent, for instance, or help with groceries and other bills. As with the initial round of checks, they would be distributed to everyone earning less than $75,000 per single taxpayer or $150,000 per married couple, regardless of whether they lost work or income.
Economists say other relief policies have proved more effective at boosting the economy. For instance, an extra $600 in weekly unemployment pay helped bolster households that had suffered job or income losses — until it expired in July. In May alone, the program boosted personal income by $842 billion, according to the Economic Policy Institute. That money helped support local businesses, keeping the economy from collapsing under the impact of lockdowns.
Meanwhile, an extra $300 in weekly unemployment aid that Mr. Trump had ordered is already depleted in most states, according to UnemploymentPUA.com, which tracks the program. That effort, called Lost Wages Assistance (LWA), was created in August by tapping disaster-relief funds, but it only provides six weeks in extra jobless benefits.
"We estimate the expiry of the [LWA] program will create a $600 billion (annualized) income cliff leaving household income roughly 3% below its pre-Covid level in October," Daco wrote. "With over 20 million individuals still claiming unemployment benefits, such a shortfall could have even deeper local consequences." |
The authors of this open access paper take an interesting position on the use of lifestyle choices to slow aging. In their view the most important outcome is an increase in the efficiency of autophagy, and since we know very little about the thresholds required to stimulate autophagy effectively, we in fact know very little about how to make optimal lifestyle choices. Autophagy is the name given to the collection of cellular maintenance processes responsible for removing damaged proteins and structures in the cell, recycling them into raw materials for other uses. Research into the biochemistry of the beneficial calorie restriction response suggests that upregulation of autophagy is required for improved health and extended lifespan. Additionally, improved autophagy is a feature of many of the interventions that slow aging in laboratory species.
This narrative review highlights the studies that explain regular physical exercise and sleep patterns, as well as fasting, and autophagy as a strategy for healthy longevity and well-being. Currently, any of these methods have been used for achieving healthy longevity and well-being within different stage of life from childhood to old-age; however, focusing on combination of all four methods instead of using just one should be the primary aim in the process of reaching healthy longevity and well-being in full capacity. Despite all the advances that have been made to create adequate physical exercise programs, sleep patterns, or nutritional protocols, the relation between different types of fasting, nutritional supplementation and regular physical exercise and sleep patterns have not yet been satisfactorily resolved to cause the best effects of autophagy and, therefore, healthy longevity and well-being.
Previous research gave some guides how to create adequate protocols to reach the best effects of autophagy, but no studies answered the most important questions how to recognize the autophagy threshold and how to use various factors such as fasting and calorie restriction as well as regular physical activity and regular sleeping to stimulate autophagy and decrease the autophagy threshold. In this way, since there are no previous studies, the first future study should create a theory of autophagy threshold, while the rest of future studies should be clinical trials that would confirm independent and joint positive effects of regular physical exercises and sleep patterns, as well as fasting and autophagy on healthy longevity and well-being. |
If you want to put something on a wafer, Tempress can help you.
Tempress deposition and diffusion solutions are used by leading companies in the semiconductor and advance materials industry. Applications range from wafer manufacturing to MEMS, optoelectronic chip and power semiconductor production.
Our solutions also play into non-wafer applications such as production of nano-materials that enhance performance of cathodes for EV batteries or coatings for membranes to clean waste streams.
Internet of Things (IoT).
Life Science/ MedTech.
About our markets.
If you want to put something on a wafer,
Tempress can help you
For the wafer manufacturing applications field, Tempress offers various processes to increase the wafer quality and value, such as annealing, wet/dry oxidation and LPCVD polysilicon. With these Tempress process solutions so-called SOI (Silicon-on-Insulator) and POI (Piezo-on-Insulator) wafers are produced. Such wafers are required for many innovative device architectures and future technological advances.
Driven by improving battery technology, Electric Vehicles (EV) have made their way into our day-to-day life and can be seen on the streets everywhere. To further increase the acceptance of EV, battery technology needs to evolve even more to improve vehicle range and decrease charging time. Tempress is supporting the battery industry with deposition solutions for mass–produced, enhanced anode materials that improve performance and extend the battery lifetime.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The digital interconnectivity of objects and devices and the use of data thereof is described as the Internet of Things (IoT). Tempress provides process steps, such as polyimide curing, to enable the manufacturing of ultra-low-cost chips. These chips may be used to trace everyday items like bottles and other packaging material throughout the supply chain from cradle-to-cradle. Furthermore, Tempress offers process solutions that are used by leading companies to produce chips applied in mobile phones and cars (5G/connectivity).
Power devices facilitate handling of high electrical currents and/or voltages with high efficiency. These devices play an essential role in the electrification of the world, and are employed in power transmission, renewable energy, automotive and many other industrial applications. Examples of such devices are diodes, thyristors, MOSFETs, and IGBTs. Tempress offers a wide range of processes that are used to produce power devices.
Semiconductor-based photonic devices deliver speed improvements, reduced power consumption over conventional technologies and introduce new sensor applications. Thanks to the hybrid properties, semiconductor-based photonic devices are expected to enable the next step in many applications. Examples can already be found in fiber-optic applications, (bio)chemical sensors and LIDAR.
Tempress furnace systems are used in world-renowned institutes to produce and develop new photonic devices for future applications. Here, Tempress offers solutions for essential production process steps such as low-loss Nitride, Poly Silicon, Thick Oxide, and anneal processes.
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) typically consist of components between 1 and 100 micrometers in size (i.e., 0.001 to 0.1 mm) and are commonly used in sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and barometers. MEMS manufacturing technology is also used in the high-end watch industry to create very small and precise mechanical parts that improve the precision of time measurement.
Tempress has LPCVD (Silanation, surface treatment, POLY, TEOS), PECVD (SIN, SiOxN) as well as oxidation and anneal solutions for the MEMS industry that are widely used by major industry players and leading research institutes.
Photovoltaic devices are widely used in the generation of electricity by converting sunlight into electrical power. Tempress has a long history of developing and delivering innovative, high-volume manufacturing furnaces for the solar market. Tempress has shipped more than 30 GW of diffusion furnace systems for Solar applications and has been a front runner with innovative technologies with a focus on n-type. Tempress was involved in development and industrialization of n-PERT, and TOPCon solar cells as used in leading modules at the time. Tempress specializes in P-diffusion, B-diffusion, p-, n- and undoped Poly-Si, SiNx, SiOxNy and AlOx deposition processes. These processes are performed using diffusion, LPCVD, ALD and PECVD.
When MEMS technology is combined with surface chemistry, devices in the field of molecular nanotechnology and microfluidics are created that allow for exiting new applications in life sciences, biotech and medtech. These technologies are used to produce biosensors, healthcare diagnostic devices, lab-on-a-chip and to improve sequencing technology.
Tempress has deposition, LPCVD (Silanation, surface treatment, POLY, TEOS) and PECVD (SIN, SiOxN) as well as oxidation and anneal solutions for the Life Science and Biotech industry, proven by many leading research institutes. |
Duodenal atresia is a condition in which the first part of the small bowel (the duodenum) has not developed properly. It is not open and cannot allow the passage of stomach contents.
The cause of duodenal atresia is not known. It is thought to result from problems during an embryo's development. The duodenum does not change from a solid to a tube-like structure, as it normally would.
Many infants with duodenal atresia also have Down syndrome. Duodenal atresia is often associated with other birth defects.
Symptoms of duodenal atresia include:
- Upper abdominal swelling (sometimes)
- Early vomiting of large amounts, which may be greenish (containing bile)
- Continued vomiting even when infant has not been fed for several hours
- No bowel movements after first few meconium stools
Exams and Tests
A fetal ultrasound may show high amounts of amniotic fluid in the womb (polyhydramnios). It may also show swelling of the baby's stomach and part of the duodenum.
An abdominal x-ray may show air in the stomach and first part of duodenum, with no air beyond that. This is known as the double-bubble sign.
A tube is placed to decompress the stomach. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances are corrected by providing fluids through an intravenous tube (IV, into a vein). Checking for other congenital anomalies should be done.
Surgery to correct the duodenal blockage is necessary, but not an emergency. The exact surgery will depend on the nature of the abnormality. Other problems (such as those related to Down syndrome) must be treated as appropriate.
Recovery from the duodenal atresia is expected after treatment. If not treated, the condition is deadly.
These complications may occur:
After surgery, there may be complications such as:
- Swelling of the first part of the small bowel
- Problems with movement through the intestines
- Gastroesophageal reflux
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if your newborn is:
- Feeding poorly or not at all
- Vomiting (not simply spitting up) or if the vomit is green
- Not urinating or having bowel movements
There is no known prevention. |
However, these two features are experienced in individuals with additional chronic liver diseases.247 An altered perfusion pattern is also observed in other situations where portal venous perfusion is compromised.247,248 One of these situations, constrictive pericarditis, mimics hepatic venous obstruction, clinically, and may be missed at echocardiography.249 In the patient showing with acute or chronic liver disease, Doppler sonography by an experienced operator has sufficed to establish or rule out BCS in most patients when the operator was aware of the diagnostic suspiscion. followed in every case. Specific recommendations are based on relevant published info. To more fully characterize the quality of evidence assisting recommendations, the Practice Recommendations Committee of the AASLD requires a Class (reflecting benefit versus risk) and Level (assessing strength or certainty) of Evidence to be assigned and reported with each recommendation (Table 1, adapted from your American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Practice Recommendations.3,4) Table 1. Grading System for Recommendations endogenous erythroid colonies in cultures of bone marrow or peripheral blood erythroid progenitors on erythropoietin-poor mediarepeatedly detectable:lupus anticoagulantantibeta2 glycoprotein 1 antibodiesfamily history thereoffamily history thereoffamily historythrombolysis, or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt [Suggestions]) in the treatment of acute PVT is extremely limited.55,56 One study analyzed the outcome in 20 individuals treated with thrombolysis given into the first-class mesenteric artery or, through transhepatic puncture, in the portal vein.55 There was complete recanalization in three individuals (15%), partial recanalization in 12 (60%), and no recanalization in five individuals (25%). Twelve individuals (60%) developed major procedure-related complications, and one individual died as a result.55 In another retrospective survey, individuals treated with thrombolytic agents experienced significantly improved mortality.57 There has been no formal comparison of the risk/benefit ratio of these procedures with that of anticoagulation alone. However, compared to anticoagulation only, invasive procedures appear not to be more effective while becoming more dangerous. When medical and radiological features indicate that a patient offers intestinal infarction, emergency laparotomy for resection of the overtly necrotic parts of the gut should be performed.35,58 The risk of postoperative malabsorption is related to the extent of intestinal resection. Moreover, the degree of irreversible lesions can be overestimated at gross inspection. Consequently, various procedures have been proposed to limit the degree of intestinal resection while coping with the risk of necrosis after operation.58 This aspect is beyond the scope of the present guidelines. Medical thrombectomy can be performed at the time of the resection/laparotomy. Anticoagulation therapy appears to improve the survival of individuals who undergo surgery treatment.58,59 Outcome and Prognosis. When acute PVT is identified and treated before intestinal infarction happens, the outcome is definitely good.7,34,49,52,57,60 BRD4 Inhibitor-10 Abdominal pain and systemic inflammatory syndrome start subsiding within a few hours to a few days after initiation of anticoagulation. Intestinal infarction is definitely prevented when the superior mesenteric vein remains patent or offers recanalized. Portal hypertension is prevented when the portal vein trunk and at least one of its two branches remains patent or offers recanalized. Among 31 individuals given long term anticoagulation therapy for acute PVT, bleeding occurred in two individuals: from ruptured esophageal varices in one patient whose portal vein had not recanalized, and from an ovarian cyst in the additional.7 A few individuals BRD4 Inhibitor-10 may develop delayed intestinal obstruction as a DNAJC15 result of intestinal ischemia and stricturing.60,61 Overall mortality rate appears to have decreased from 30% to about 10% during the last decade, and currently most deaths are related to postoperative complications or underlying disease.37 Recommendations for the treatment of acute PVT (observe also Table 6): 9. Give anticoagulation therapy for at least 3 months to all individuals with acute PVT. Start with low molecular excess weight heparin BRD4 Inhibitor-10 in order to accomplish rapid anticoagulation. Shift to oral anticoagulation as soon as the individuals condition offers stabilized, when no invasive procedure is planned (Class I, Level B). 10. Continue on long-term anticoagulation therapy in individuals with acute PVT and long term thrombotic risk factors that are not correctable other smart (Class I, Level B). 11. In the absence of contraindication, also consider long term anticoagulation for individuals with acute PVT and thrombus extension distal into the mesenteric veins (Class IIa, Level C). 12. Initiate antibiotics promptly in individuals with acute PVT and any evidence of infection (Class I, Level C). Table 6. Indications for Long term Anticoagulation Therapy for Noncirrhotic Portal Vein Thrombosis and for Main Budd-Chiari Syndrome Main Budd-Chiari syndromeAll individuals 0.02)226 and 1985-2000 (odds percentage 2.4; 95% CI, 0.9C6.2).9 Pregnancy also appears to be a risk factor for BCS, based on the temporal association between both conditions,206,227 although no case-control study has been performed to quantify this risk. Overall, an underlying risk element for thrombosis is found in up to 87% of individuals with BCS.11 A combination of several causal factors is demonstrated in about 25% of individuals, where routinely investigated.9,11,210 BRD4 Inhibitor-10 A combination with another causal factor is particularly common in patients with heterozygous factor V Leiden,209 or in oral contraceptive users or pregnant women.226 It is remarkable that a local factor responsible for development of thrombosis in. |
The Internet will come to us from space
- Over the next five years, more than 20,000 satellites will be in the LEO (Low Earth Orbit Satellite) above our planet. Among them, about 1.5 thousand. from Amazon's Kuiper Project, a satellite network dedicated to delivering high-speed and inexpensive broadband to unsupported and under-served communities around the world. The first are to be put into orbit in the fall of 2022, says Dr. Werner Vogels . - With this broadband connection, I see a whole new class of applications that will benefit from it.
Most digital applications are limited by an existing network designed for low bandwidth or intermittent connectivity. To avoid interference, some of them, like the traditional GPS navigator, are designed to work offline. As a result, the data quickly becomes outdated, and the device itself has limited functionality compared to its network-connected counterparts. What if connectivity, bandwidth, and high latency were no longer an issue?
In schools, every child could use the same educational tools - also during remote classes. We would act faster in disaster situations. Small and medium-sized businesses would have the opportunity to create jobs in rural communities around the world. In short, the ubiquitous connectivity would help to overcome the cases of digital exclusion and would affect every aspect of our lives and the functioning of companies. You can read more about the predictions for 2022 and the coming years here.
Programming without knowing the code
Since the cloud arrived 15 years ago, companies have been delivering new ideas and products to customers faster and on a larger scale than ever. However, even with such acceleration, people still spend a disproportionate amount of time in one area of technology: software development. In 2022, machine learning (ML) will play an increasingly important role, supporting programmers in creating safer and more reliable code. ML will free programmers from the mundane parts of their work, like code reviews and bug fixes, and allow them to concentrate on design. The technology can also check for errors and verify the functionality of the software on an ongoing basis.
This will completely change the rules of the game, giving the possibility to develop software (and products based on it) to a wider number of people in the organization - including those who previously had little to do with programming. The same artificial intelligence techniques will be used in all kinds of media areas: making movies, music and literature, as well as detecting fake content and scams.
How an application may affect the carbon footprint
Developers are trained to optimize architectures for security, performance, reliability and cost. From 2022, sustainable development will also appear on the list of priorities. Consumers who, until recently, wanted higher-quality movies and music to be streamed and websites load faster are starting to notice the negative environmental impact this convenience has. An active role in reducing the carbon footprint will be played by developers taking into account the energy needed to run their applications.
- Let's be clear: technology consumes energy, and at AWS we are committed to making intelligent infrastructure choices. We are on the way to 100% use by 2025. from renewable sources, says Dr. Werner Vogels . However, creating a cloud based on wind, solar or hydro power is only part of the sustainability responsibility that we, developers, and really everyone involved in running the business, must undertake. It is a shared responsibility and genuine effort that customers, employees and potential employees will increasingly demand. |
Training Market for Voice Over Artists for Online and E-Learning Videos, Webinars, and Webcasts.
According to Forbes, the training market is worth approximately 109 BILLION dollars, which puts Voice Over Artists on solid ground for markets as Medical, Pharmaceutical, Scientific, and Corporate sectors. Why is training so important? Education, Preparation, Development, and Skills Required for New and Current Employees FacilitatingConfidence and Efficiency within the Organization’s ranks. Training increases Productivity and Effectiveness and gives a sense of pride and purpose to a well-schooled Workplace Team. The Voice Over Artist plays a key role in Communicating, Interpreting, and Promoting the Information directly to the new Trainee(s) and Seasoned Employees.
The Voice Over Artist needs to Identify and define the Objectives of the Training script. By Identifying the Objective(s) of the Training script the Voice Over Artist use changes in Tone, Pitch and Timing in order to EmphasizeObjectives, and Facilitate Listener’s Retention. An obstacle that the Voice Over Artist may encounter is InformationalOverload, or the Data Dump. Unfortunately, the Voice Over Artist may have no option, but to try to lessen the drudging effects of is problem by Voice Skills. Putting the Data Dump scenario aside, the Voice Over Artist should ask themselves “What am I Communicating and has the Audience learned from my Presentation”? Have I placed the Intonations
correctly in the narration allowing the Audience to have a clear Understanding of the Objectives.
Identifying Your Audience’s Knowledge and Comprehension in Medical, Pharmaceutical, Scientific, and Corporate Technical Language.
In my earlier article “Technical Narration for the Voice Over Artist in Medical, Pharmaceutical, and ScientificMarkets “ identifying your Audience’s level of Comprehension and Education, by Pre-Visualization, is key to Communicating Information on differing levels of Technical Sophistication. The organizational culture and demographics also must be taken into account when the Voice Over Artist is delivering the learning objectives.
The Voice Over Artist must be aware of the 4C’s. Clear, Correct, Concise, and Complete at all levels of technicalmarkets if the training is to be understood and retained. Coupling the 4Cs’, the type of media also requires knowledgeof the audience’s background.
How you Narrate a training project for individuals who have limited knowledge of the subject or operation will be certainly different than for those who do. What we need to keep in mind, as Marketing Guru Chris Brogan states, “make the buyer the hero”. This should be reflected in our voice in all presentations but especially, if the listeners are not familiar with technical training material. Hopefully in this case, the writers will have taken into account the current level of understanding by the listeners and adjusted the script.
Training videos for High School Science courses would be an example of an audience with limited knowledge. Although the Voice Over Artist may not directly influence the writing of the script, it is not what you say but how you say it, that creates the tone and environment for learning. A less formal more relaxed friendly voice could be what is needed at this level.
For the listeners who are knowledgeable in the background of the training material, especially professionals the tone, pitch, pace and emphasis of the Narration may need to reflect more authoritative and instructional voice by the Voice Over Artist showing a comfort level and understanding of the technical material when spoken. A voice that might present itself as a colleague would certainly be optimum.
Video, Webinars, Webcasts, How Training Project Formats Effect the Voice Over Actor’s Presentations.
Webinars, webcasts and videos are common types of media formats that training sessions employ and offer different levels of interaction with the audience. Webinars are designed for smaller groups, from meeting-sized groups to online events involving hundreds of people. They often include many of the options available with online meetings, such as Q&A, polls, whiteboard and markup abilities. So, webinars are full-featured presentations or events for a few hundred or (often) far fewer individuals. The Voice Over Artist’s technique for this type of media should include knowing where breaks in the script are to allow Q&A for a live host, describe illustrations-charts-graphs being presentedfor training purposes, as well as presenting survey, polling, or post training testing.
Webcasts primarily present with video and slides or video-only and are based on a video-to-user model. In other words, they’re more like a television show (possibly live) than a meeting. Large webcasts can handle thousands or even tens of thousands of viewers. So, webcasts are audiovisual experiences aimed at larger audiences. The Voice Over Artistmay be involved or not.
The narration of training and e-learning projects for the Medical, Pharmaceutical, Scientific communities offer challenges to the Voice Over Artist that usually are not encountered in other disciplines. Diction, pronunciation, and the understanding of the content are more complex, dense, and more challenging than other types of scripts. It is therefore important that a Voice Over Artist prepare, well in advance, for these challenges by researching the terminology, understanding the material and objectives of this complex read, and having a comfort level with the material for a smooth flow that should be factual and clinical in tone. |
Floridians Are Near The Top Of The Distracted Driving List
The state of Florida sees a lot of car accident action. In fact, it trails only Texas and California for the most motor vehicle deaths in the U.S. In 2016, there were 395,785 traffic accidents, which averages out to 1,081 accidents each day. Many of these accidents are due to common driver error, with distracted driving nearing the top of the list.
Bad Driving Habits Cause Auto Accidents
The state of Louisiana ranks the highest on the list when it comes to distracted drivers. Unfortunately, Florida comes in at a close second. There were more than 45,000 car accidents in Florida in 2016 due to distracted drivers. And it the number of lives those accidents claimed totaled around one person per day. This is why accidents involving people who are distracted, such as those who are on a cell phone, often end up in the legal system under the guidance of a car accident lawyer.
Distracted driving isn’t the only thing that causes major accidents on the Florida roadways. Here are a few other operator errors induced areas of concern.
• Impaired driving – Nearly one-third of all motor vehicle crash deaths in the U.S. involves an impaired driver. In 2017, the state of Florida saw 5,125 alcohol related car accidents that resulted in 350 fatalities.
• Lack of a signal indicator – As it turns out, not using a turn signal can cause major chaos on the roadways. When other drivers, bikers, and pedestrians can’t anticipate the next move, they can’t take safety precautions.
• Speeding – There’s no secret that speeding can put lives at risk. Not only does it give you less control over your vehicle, it increases the severity of injuries and fatalities when a crash occurs. Speeding causes over 25 percent of all car accident fatalities in the U.S. yearly.
• Failure to yield – The basic rules of the road are often forgotten: Yield to oncoming traffic when making a left turn, yield to the driver on the right at a 4-way stop, yield to pedestrians so they can cross the road safely. Too many accidents occur from basic neglect.
Top Causes of Distracted Driving
Distracted driving covers a large ground. When it comes to the leading causes of distracted drivers in Florida, here’s how the distractions rank:
• 62 percent of distracted drivers are lost in their own thoughts
• 12 percent are using a cell phone for either talking or texting
• 7 percent are distracted by an event or a person that is outside their vehicle
• 5 percent of drivers become distracted by passengers inside their own vehicle
• 2 percent are distracted by outside devices
• 2 percent of distracted drivers are eating or drinking while they drive
• 2 percent are adjusting the radio or climate control
• 1 percent of distracted drivers are adjusting their mirrors
• 1 percent are distracted by pets inside the car
• 1 percent of distracted drivers are smoking
These statistics stress the importance of paying attention to the road while you drive. While it’s easy to get lost in your thoughts, nothing is important enough to risk losing your life—or taking someone else’s--in an accident.
Those who are distracted by cell phone usage can take advantage of new apps that prevent cell phone usage while the car is in motion. Waze, Apple, AT&T, and Android all have offerings that can help keep you focused on the task at hand.
The Coming Of A New Law
A bill was recently approved by the Senate committee that could make eating your breakfast or putting on your makeup as you drive to work a punishable offence. Republican Sen. Wilton Simpson addresses the distracted driving epidemic in Florida. “Bike riding, hiking, and jogging— all of those things — we've had record numbers of deaths in this state by distracted driving,” he said. The decision has been supported by several parents whose children were killed in accidents caused by distracted drivers.
Currently it’s illegal to talk on a cellphone while driving in the state of Florida, but drivers can only be ticketed if they are pulled over for another offence. Under the new bill, law enforcement would be able to pull drivers over for no other reason than a distracted driving offence. If enacted, Florida residents would have a three-month period where warning would be given, but after the three months are up, tickets could be issued for the offence. The bill still has two committee stops and a hearing in the House before a determination is made. Perhaps this is the way to knock Florida down a few spots from being a distracted place to drive. |
Some myths never die. It might be that they are based on poor information, faulty recollection or the old story supporting a false narrative that others use to prop up their own notion of the way things ought to be.
A classic Marin tall tale is that the Bay Area Rapid Transit commuter rail never came to Marin because locals didn’t want “those kinds of people” here. That’s complemented by the allegation, “BART to Marin” was rejected because of a NIMBY-like fear of unwanted growth.
None of that is true.
What is historically accurate is in the late 1950s until the early 1960s visionaries pushed for a truly Bay Area-wide futuristic electric, computer-guided, grade-separated rail transit network. Their idea was that BART would circle most of San Francisco and San Pablo Bays including extensions to both San Mateo and Marin counties. In Marin the electric rapid transit line would stretch as far north as South Novato.
In those days a rail line to then rural Sonoma seemed preposterous.
Marin was still a semi-rural county. BART to Marin found wide favor particularly with the county’s expansion-minded business community. Commuters regarded the train as far superior to the commuter buses. North Bay “conservationists” saw electric public transit as beneficial.
In 1957, the California legislature formed the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District comprising five counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo.
Planning went forward for a five-county rail system. Then in December, 1961, San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors decided to voluntary withdraw from the five-county compact. Their county supervisors turned a cold shoulder to the plan.
They compared the high cost of BART; a grade-separated mostly elevated elected transit line to the existing popular private sector Southern Pacific Railroad diesel commuter trains from San Francisco to San Jose. That line eventually morphed into the publicly-operated CalTrain which remains today highly regarded in San Mateo County.
San Mateo’s departure resulted in a diminished BART tax base that wasn’t sufficient to absorb the cost of running BART underground through North Beach and the Marina to the Golden Gate Bridge, constructing a transit-only lower bridge deck and tunneling under Waldo Grade to Richardson Bay’s shoreline in North Sausalito/Marin City.
With the cost too high, BART directors asked Marin’s Board of Supervisors to vote the county out of the system.
Marin wasn’t pleased. “There is one significant difference – (San Mateo) withdrew voluntarily,” the legendary Marin County Supervisor and pioneering environmentalist Peter Behr said when Marin withdrew in May 1962. “We are withdrawing involuntarily and upon request.”
Whether the decision to not extend BART to Marin was a lost opportunity or a bit of good luck is an interesting historical debating point, but irrelevant 57 years later.
The cost today of tunneling through Northern San Francisco, building a new rail viaduct through the Presidio, crossing the Golden Gate on a second lower deck and then bringing a steel wheeled rail line down the steep Waldo Grade to sea level would be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
We now know the cost-benefit ratio of building BART to Marin makes SMART and even the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bikeway look dirt cheap.
That’s why, in the 1980s, the Marin-Sonoma 101 Corridor Committee rejected expanding BART to Marin. Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit was their alternative. SMART was never designed to transport North Bay commuters to downtown San Francisco. That task was delegated to Golden Gate Transit buses and fast ferries. SMART’s far more affordable green goal was to whisk North Bay commuters comfortably to and from Marin and Sonoma jobs and schools. |
Alberto Napoli – PhD Candidate
In fin-de-siècle Europe, great exhibitions of industry and arts were one of the most characteristic media through which national communities represented themselves on the international stage. Music played a central role in shaping such representations. On the one hand, it was considered as a cultural good to be traded, displayed and classified. On the other it was an irreplaceable complement to the celebrations, contributing to the festive character of the fairs.
The first fifty years of the Italian state constitute a remarkable study case in order to understand the functions of music in the process of locating national identities. Starting from 1861, the year of the country’s formal unification, Italian cities hosted many national, international and local exhibitions. This series of scattered events culminated in Turin in 1911, with the first proper world’s fair ever held on the peninsula.
Due to the fragmentation of a nation resulting from assembling former states, exhibitions in Italy are critical to the definition of clear identity borders. Nationalist narratives were challenged both internally, where they were intertwined with regionalisms, and in comparison with foreign, more powerful empires.
The study of these events allows to understand how music, far from being a mere tool in the interest of political power, had also a liberating function. In fact, it served to creatively design, comment on, and even question the very medium of the exhibition as a practice to entertain diplomatic relationships, to stereotype peoples, and to sample cultures. |
Coming from a .Net background, I found it a bit challenging in figuring out how a developer can have a configuration file in the Python application which could be used to read setting values and one does not have to even touch the code to update or save settings. Config files are used to store key-value pairs or some configurable information that could be read or accessed in the code and at some point, of time. If that configuration changes, developers can just change the configuration in that config file and not worry about changing the code as it may require recompiling the code and deploying it. Not only this but using config files make your settings and code more reusable and keeps the settings information at a centralized location and segregated. Of course, sensitive information like passwords, secrets, and certificates should be kept more secure, maybe in cloud vaults. But basic settings used in the application could be part of a configuration file.
Cloud computing is a modern approach to managing business requirements more efficiently. With the breakthrough of the internet and technology, the term has only evolved and become more popular. You can easily find cloud computing applications in several domains. Many software companies are transitioning from an expensive licensed software model to a cheaper, flexible, and efficient cloud subscription model. This article explains how cloud computing has spread like a virus and how it impacts education technology. Before digging deeper, it is crucial to understand the meaning of cloud computing.
The talk about Cloud Computing is viral. But what is cloud computing? How does it work? Why is it needed for businesses of all sizes? Let’s try to brainstorm and find answers to these questions.
In the first article of the series we learned about the concepts, terminology, technologies involved, installing Jenkins, creating ASP.NET Core application and continuous integration of Asp.Net Core application using Jenkins via two approaches i.e. pipeline approach and freestyle project approach. In the second article, we published the ASP.Net core application to Azure App Service and Configured Jenkins on Azure. In the third article of the series, we focused on Azure Active Directory and Service Principal and how to integrate Jenkins with Azure Service Principal.
In this last article of learning CI and CD of Asp.NET Core application using Jenkins, we’ll learn the CI/CD of ASP.NET Core application on Azure using Jenkins Azure Pipeline.
In this article, we’ll focus on Azure Active Directory and Service Principal and integrate Jenkins with Azure Service Principal before we move on to CI/CD of ASP.NET Core application on Azure using Jenkins Azure Pipeline.
In the first article of the series we learned about the concepts, terminology, technologies involved, installing Jenkins, creating ASP.NET Core application and continuous integration of Asp.Net Core application using Jenkins via two approaches i.e. pipeline approach and free style project approach. In this article we’ll publish the ASP.Net core application to Azure App Service and Configure Jenkins on Azure before we move on to next steps.
This article series will explain using Jenkins for CI and CD of an ASP.NET Core web application on the local development environment, publishing the web application to Azure Web App Service and configuring Jenkins on Azure for continuous integration and continuous deployment of the hosted application. GitHub will DevOps as a source control repository. We’ll create a pipeline using Jenkins that fetches the code from GitHub, builds the code, runs the tests and deploy the package. This will be a repetitive task on each commit to the code located on GitHub.
The current competitiveness in the software development industry has put a high premium on companies needing to be flexible. Geared towards rapid delivery and continuous tractability, agile culture has taken over the project management space and increased the success rate of many software companies.
This article gives a walkthrough of Face classification application which performs face detection, identification, grouping and finding look alike faces.
In this section, we’ll focus on face identification and check the capabilities of Face API to identify the faces of the persons. In this section, we’ll see what all services we can write to perform face identification. We’ll test the services using Postman and in the next section, we’ll walk through a live face identification application.
In the last article on learning Azure Face API Cognitive service, we learned how to setup Azure account, create Face API on Azure portal and test the services created. In this article we’ll explore the Face API ADK and do some code. Please follow the first part before moving on to this one. |
Neanderthal Genes: Evolutionists Surprised at How Wrong They Were
The headline reads: “Early modern humans interbred with Neanderthals: An early European had a close Neanderthal ancestor.” DNA from a jawbone discovered in a Romanian cave has been sequenced. Finding 8 to 11 percent of Neanderthal DNA in this individual’s genome means that it had a Neanderthal ancestor as near as its great-great-grandparent. This strengthens the case that Neanderthals and modern humans are members of the same species. They produced fertile offspring, not sterile hybrids. Evidence for interbreeding between the two human “species” (Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis) now comes from a wide area stretching from western Siberia to Romania.
Here are some reactions from evolutionary anthropologists, as reported in the secular media:
- “I could hardly believe it when we first saw the results” — Svante Pääbo from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology who led the study. (Science Daily)
- “The data from the jawbone imply that humans mixed with Neanderthals not just in the Middle East but in Europe as well.” (Ibid.)
- “It’s an incredibly unexpected thing,” said Prof David Reich, a co-author of the paper from the Harvard Medical School. (BBC News)
- The large spans of Neanderthal-like segments in Oase 1’s genome indicate that one of his human ancestors interbred with a Neanderthal less than 200 years before he lived. (Live Science)
- In the past decade, the analysis of ancient DNA from fossil skeletons of anatomically modern humans has revealed a startling fact: some of our direct ancestors had sex with Neanderthals, producing fertile offspring. Prior to these genetic revelations, anthropological researchers were divided between those who firmly believed that such unions either did not occur, or that they could not have yielded sexually fertile offspring, because the differences between early modern humans and Neanderthal genomes would have been too great. (Scott Armstrong Elias in The Conversation)
These reactions show: (1) earlier evolutionary thinking about Neanderthals was wrong; (2) the data were not predicted; (3) the results were surprising and startling—even unbelievable. In science that usually amounts to falsification.
Reconstructing the Unseen Indirectly
This is not the only problem in paleoanthropology. PNAS just published a report stating that “Despite its importance for understanding genetic, cultural, and linguistic evolution, prehistoric human population history has remained difficult to reconstruct.” A new look at climate proxies for the assumed “last glacial maximum” (LGM) shows errors in previous models: “Although climate has been an important determinant of human population dynamics, the climatic conditions during the last glacial were not as harsh as is often presented, because even during the coldest phases, the climatically suitable area for humans covered 36% of Europe.” Creation scientists believe in a single Ice Age, when climate took a few centuries to stabilize after the Flood.
Now that the evolutionary anthropologists have been wrong about Neanderthals for over a century (5/08/10, 9/23/08), what should be done? Fire them. Repudiate them. Stop listening to them. Laugh at them. Then censure them for historical revisionism and racism (5/06/14). The DNA doesn’t fit their evolutionary story. It couldn’t, because it’s only a few thousand years old. The only way to say it’s older is to assume evolution. But if the evolutionists are already untrustworthy and wrong, their assumptions about DNA survivability should be tossed out with them. Their whole timeline and evolutionary saga is made up! We don’t need just “cautionary tales.” Fire the storytellers!
If they want to keep their jobs, we could offer them the option of using their training and skills to interpret their finds within the framework that fits the evidence: creation. |
3 Strategies to Help with Delegating Play Calling to a Player
Play Calling is the action of instructing what the next play will be on offense. It is one of the single toughest responsibilities to master and one of the hardest for a coach to be able to relinquish to their Point Guard (or any player). In fact, there are some coaches who will never pass the responsibilities of play calling to a player on their team. Always preferring to make the call from the sidelines on what is desired from the players on the floor.
For junior players often understanding how an offense works is a very challenging exercise. For players new to game, or player new to a coach and their system, understanding what the expectations are is sometimes near impossible. Just like when a person enters employment with a new company the organisations culture, roles and responsibilities are foreign and time is need to fully come to terms with these expectations. However, there are some strategies that help expedite this process and provide a pathway to the delegation of play calling, and other actions that only serve to block this power being shared.
The first strategy on the path to building the competence within a player(s) for play calling is to be a teacher as much as a coach. Teaching and coaching are separate things. They have very strong similarities, but they also have quite specific differences. One important aspect for coaches to take away from teaching is to always be looking to educate your students about the game of basketball. With regards to the tactics of the game which form the knowledge upon which play calling is based players must understand the strengths and weaknesses of each of the plays within the playbook. Which play is to be called when we want a quick score? Which play do we want to run against interior defenders who are switching screens? Which play do we want to run if facing a Pack Line Defence? By answering these questions for your players and then revisiting the topics, you will start to give the knowledge to the players upon which to make decisions.
The next step is to allow your players to make mistakes when play calling. Putting a player into a game (intense or otherwise) and expecting them to be able to make the right read about which play to run is not going to benefit the player, team or the coach. Allow the player(s) to start becoming familiar with thinking on the run and play calling at training. Take some time after each drill in which the player has exercised the responsibility of play calling to speak with them and probe why they made a certain call. Quiz the player and provide constructive feedback. Phrase the comments like “have you thought about this?” or “What play allows Player X to get the ball?”
Have the player then share the responsibility of play calling in a game with the coach during games. This might only be for a specific period of time initially, but can be grown into a majority of the time on the floor as the players offensive awareness increases. Just remember even the best players (and coaches) in the world get it wrong sometimes and try to focus on the development of the individual rather than the momentary outcome.
The next step is to apply a philosophy of continuous improvement to the play caller’s development. There are four steps that should make-up this cycle of improvement:
A player involved in play calling is only as good at the experiences they have endured. Some lessons will be harder than others, and some lessons need to be lived through more than once before they become part of the players decision making process. However, one thing which will stunt this growth is not challenging the individual to become better by exposing them to new and constantly evolving situations. This is facilitated by a coach introducing a new situation or scenario. Allowing the team (and especially the player involved in play calling) enough time to consolidate and understand how to achieve a positive outcome. Then evaluating the performance with the player to refine the fine details before challenging the play caller with new variations of the situations that will extend the players decision making further.
If performed properly in a well-timed and methodical way by a coach a player can develop the awareness on the floor to alter plays to achieve the best results. A player will be able to change a cut, or the position of a screen to gain an advantage against the opposition’s strategy. When this happens it is spectacular, and transpires on the floor in real time, and makes a team that much harder to play against.
In basketball and in most sports play calling is tied very closely to power and leadership. It is one of the most significant responsibilities a player can have, but a coach must be active in supporting this development for it is a very big burden to tolerate when things are not going well. |
Latin is a highly regarded and prestigious subject. Our students discover the culture of Ancient Rome through famous prose and verse.
The study of Greek sharpens the mind and gives students a greater appreciation of modern language.
Our students explore the art, history and culture of Greece and Rome.
The languages, literatures, and cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome continue to inform and influence our own. From rigorously memorising grammar to tracing the etymology of scientific terms, learning Classics combines discipline with inspiration. As the great Roman poet Virgil observed, mentem mortalia tangunt (mortal things touch the mind). Whether it be the evocative black figure vases of 5th Century BC Athens or the epic works of 1st Century BC Latin writers, this subject underpins any study of the arts and humanities in Europe.
At GCSE or A level, Classics helps students to develop skills in language, literary analysis, and historical knowledge. Not only can it support the learning of French or Spanish (or other Romance languages), but also that of English Literature and History. Moreover, its complexity and range has for many centuries encouraged the brightest and most motivated of students to push themselves intellectually.
We teach students from primary to university level. For children who need extra support to develop their confidence, we have patient specialists on hand to help. For students with a passion for Classics, we have experienced GCSE, A level and University teachers to challenge them beyond the exam board requirements.
We conduct an initial assessment to identify strengths and weaknesses, and ensure our students have a good foundation knowledge of key vocabulary and grammar. We then move on to more complex Classical topics so that students develop a detailed knowledge of their subject. As exams approach, our focus is on exam technique and timed questions. |
What is the Angel Number? The universe sends us signs to help us in our daily lives. This is a question we should ask ourselves and follow our guardian angels’ guidance. The angel number serves as a guidepost in our lives and a reminder to let go old ways of doing it. What does the angel number three mean to you? Find out below. This is the most common angel number. This is a great time to grow and change.
Angel Numbers are a sign of the universe
Did you ever notice that things around you are repeating themselves? If so, you are not going crazy! This could be manifested in the form number plates, receipts, or even your dreams. They are actually angelic numbers. Pay attention to how these sequences make you feel, and how they relate with your daily life. You may even receive answers to your questions or problems.
Although it is not always the case, angelic numbers often come in sequences of three or four. These numbers can signify many things, including relationships, spirit or moving up a level. A repeating number could indicate that you are in a phase and will be ending. However, it does not necessarily have to be that dramatic.
Angel numbers are messages sent by your high vibrational team. They serve as a thumbs-up for your actions or a sign from your guardian angels. They can also assist you in making a big decision. Angel numbers can help you navigate your relationships. They can provide you with guidance and inspiration. So, if you ever receive an angel number, you should investigate the meaning of it. Signs and energy go hand in hand so it is important to understand what they are trying to tell you.
An angelic sequence can have many benefits. First, these sequences can indicate change in your career or love life. If you ignore these messages, you may miss out on a sign from God that is meant for you. Second, angelic sequences won’t appear again until they are understood. As a result, you may end up missing important messages from the universe.
They are a question
You may have noticed patterns of numbers repeated everywhere. You may even notice them on license plates and receipts. Your clock may also show the same numbers. You don’t need to be crazy if these numbers have ever puzzled you! These patterns are messages from angels. These patterns are like movies: they’re meant for you to navigate your life better.
Angel numbers are useful because they often relate to the present moment. Angels can help us make major decisions and provide us with positive reinforcement. They may also appear as random things in our daily lives, like a receipt for $5.55. To interpret an angel number, you must identify your present concern. Next, you will need to determine if it is a sign from your Angels or just a coincidence.
While the significance of angel numbers is different, they are a common indicator that there is a major change. Your angels can help you to keep your faith strong and your eyes open for guidance. If you have received a sequence number of angel numbers, this is a sign you should follow. These numbers will help guide you to your goals and make your life successful. Understanding them is as simple as understanding that they are messages from your angels.
It is a great way to get guidance by using angel numbers. But it is important to remember that the messages that are conveyed by your angels are neutral and not intended to take sides. Instead, angels are meant to help you and guide you in the right direction. They’re not there to make you do anything you don’t want or to force you to do it. They are simply meant to help you discover spiritual patterns that will aid you in your daily life.
They are a guidepost
Each number has its own unique vibration and energy, and sacred angel numbers are a great way to find guidance. The number one, for example, represents new beginnings, and is usually associated with the angelic realm. When the number 1 appears in your life, it’s a good sign that a new chapter is about to begin. This is a good time to be open to new experiences and opportunities. However, if you see this number a lot, you may want to focus on releasing control.
This number is most often followed by the number 111. It represents a desire to pay attention to the world and to what is beginning to happen. Repeating ones are a sign of readiness to share your knowledge with others, teach, and be patient. It’s a good time for you to listen to what your intuition is telling you and then take action according to that guidance. It might be the right time for you to reevaluate what you do and find something that brings you more joy.
The number 444 stands for Divine energy. This energy nourishes all life. The angels in nature help you feel connected to the Creator and the flow of their healing energy. They support and guide you in your life’s decisions. The angel number 444, which is also known as the angel of light, helps you strengthen your spiritual foundations and connect to your True Self. You may be surprised at what you find when you connect with nature and breathe fresh air.
The number 7373 represents love and support. When you want to manifest love, it is important not to lose sight of reality and create dreamlike scenarios. You will see their true character when they show up in your life. This is one way to get the help that you need from your angels. If you notice these numbers, you’ll know how to interpret them! So, what are you waiting for?
They are a reminder to let go
You are reminded to let go of the past and to be open to the possibilities ahead when you receive an Angel number. Angel Numbers are spiritual signs that are associated with new beginnings and love. If your Angel Number is 1, you have the courage to embrace a new career or venture. If you have an Angel Number of 5, you are ready for major changes in life. You may also be experiencing an imbalance between the material and spiritual worlds.
To open up to your angels, one of the first steps is to slow down and observe how you feel. It can be difficult to discern your emotions. However, by paying attention to how you feel, you will be able to tap into your intuition to receive messages from your Angels. To learn more about these messages, you can journal or create art. Once you have identified your feelings, it’s time to let go of any old hurts and move on.
Although it can be difficult to let go, it is essential for your soul not to be influenced by negative energies. You need to free your mind from negative feelings and emotions so that you can focus on what you truly want. Let go of the need to control everything and trust that you’ll be guided. Your angels will always be there for you. They’ll take care of the rest. You can’t make everyone smile, but it’s possible to find happiness in letting go.
They are a message from “above”, or “beyond”.
There are many ways to interpret angel numbers. Some believe the angels will give people specific numbers for special occasions. Others believe the number is a message from “above”, or “beyond”. The number nine could signify the end or beginning of a relationship, while eight could be the beginning or ending of one.
You may have noticed certain numbers in different situations if you are a New Age believer. They may appear on your bills, watches, or clocks. However, they won’t have a specific meaning unless they are part a larger picture. If you do see a pattern, it is worth paying attention to as it could mean many things.
An angel number is an indicator of the universe’s intention to guide you toward a specific goal. For example, angel number 1212 could signify that you need balance in your daily life. Many people are too focused on one thing and neglect other areas. Harmony is essential to human existence. A 1212 message from “above”, or “beyond”, will help you find harmony.
If you are in a difficult relationship, your angels may send you 711. It could also be a message for a change of direction in your life. Whether you’re looking for a new job or just need to find love, angel number 711 could be a sign that it’s time to move on and find happiness.
Angel number 777 is a sign of spiritual growth
Take heart if you see the angel number “777”. It indicates an opportunity to move forward in your life. You may have been awaiting such an opportunity. The number 777 is based upon the mathematical equation of life. This means that your hard work is paying off. You will experience many blessings when the angel number 777 appears in your life. Although you may already have called upon the angels for assistance, if this is your first time, don’t despair!
The angel number 777 is a sign of good energy and will help you get spiritual enlightenment. It also represents a life path that requires you to acquire enough knowledge and wisdom to design a life of purpose and meaning. You will be guided by the angels along this path to great success and greater spiritual growth. This number is often a sign you are on the right path.
While angel number 777 can signify good fortune on your spiritual journey, it can also signify a new spiritual teacher. The angels can bring you messages from heaven and help you align your life with your soul’s purpose. This message could help guide you in a new direction, and help you fulfill your destiny. This powerful message from your angels could help you make significant changes that will benefit you in many ways.
The angel number 777 stands for inner wisdom. It is also a symbol of increased inner wisdom. People who are able to connect with this angelic group are often spiritual and seek out the greater good of the universe. They are likely to have psychic abilities and learn about human behavior. A 777 angel can help people feel more at ease and understand them. You may even feel your twin flame present in your life.
The angel number 777 encourages you to develop your intuition and self-confidence. Your angels are there to show you kindness and mercy, and they want your belief in yourself. Trust your instincts and take your decision-making time. The universe will be there for you every step of the way. It encourages you to embrace mental transformation. So, be brave and take your spiritual journey.
If you’re seeing the number 222, you’re likely on a journey to harmony. Harmony is the foundation for any new beginning, be it a new relationship or pregnancy, or a new venture. This number calls for balance and harmony within yourself and with the world around you, and it can be a sign of your intuition and heart. But what does the number 222 mean?
In love, this number may indicate your twin flame, a person you can share the same experiences with as your twin flame. This person is a balancing force, a force of positive and negative energy, and shapes your experiences. Angels are there to help you find your balance, so you can rise above negative experiences and keep moving forward. Angel number 222 can also indicate love. This number can indicate a commitment to a love relationship, but it might also mean that you need to put in some hard work and focus in order for it to last.
You should keep track of all your activities when you encounter angel number 222. You should meditate if you see this number a lot. If you are unsure, you can always request a free numerology reading by submitting your name and date. Once you’ve received your personalized numerology chart, you’ll know whether the number 222 is a sign of harmony or balance in your life.
Accepting the changes in your life is important if you are experiencing a shift. This shift brings a new energy to your life. As long as you accept the changes and embrace the new energies, you’ll be able to benefit from them in a big way. This number may even be able to show you the way towards the life solution that you’ve been seeking.
Although you might not want to dwell on what you see when you see 222, it is important to be grateful for the opportunity. This is a good time to make new decisions and make changes that will lead to a better life. Similarly, if you’re having trouble making decisions, it’s a sign of a new chapter in your life. It’s important not to get too attached to what it means. It’s a reminder that you should enjoy the moment.
Angel number 222 is a sign for coexistence
An angel number 222 will often appear in a person’s life to encourage them to find a balance in their life. They will ask you to prioritize your goals and organize them. If you feel that your relationships are not in balance, it is a sign that you need to address them. Angels want balance in your life. If you see the number 222, you might need to improve your relationships.
The number 222 has many meanings. It symbolizes the union between the masculine, feminine principles. It also symbolizes the meeting of the conscious and subconscious minds. It can also signify peace, a transition from past events, or a clear sense and purpose. The angels will help you to find a balance between your inner desires and the universe. It may take some time to feel fully aligned and connected with the universe.
When you see the number 222, it can be an indication that you have crossed over to a new life stage. You may also experience the arrival of a twin flame. The angels can help you develop your confidence and work towards fulfilling your dreams. A twin flame relationship is also possible if you receive this angel number. This angel number can help you regain your self-confidence if you are feeling unsure.
The 222 angel number represents a message to be positive and optimistic and to act on your inner desires. The angels will encourage and support you to be with your twin flame, someone who is very similar in every way to you and who is spiritually mirror image of you. Because they are two separate souls, twin flames are often called soulmates. The twin flame and its twin flame are often connected and work well together.
A 222 angel number can also indicate significant growth. This could occur in many areas of your life. You may see growth in many areas. You may also experience harmony with others. The outcome will depend on how you approach the changes and challenges. The angels at 222 can help you to create a new vision for your life and make a positive impact. If you feel overwhelmed with change, you can always trust the angels’ guidance.
Angel number 222 is a sign for spiritual growth
Angel number 222 could be a sign that you are experiencing spiritual growth. This number is a sign of an inner awakening that will lead to new ideas and more confidence. This number may inspire you to pursue a goal you have been wanting for a while. If you are seeing this number in your life, be sure to take heed of the other signs that the angels have sent your way.
There are many meanings to the number 222. It can mean many things to different people. However, it generally means that your spiritual growth has begun. It can also mean that you are making a decision that will require you to make hard choices. Your guardian angels will encourage you to be hardworking and that will pay off over time. You can also expect to receive a reward for your efforts.
Two angelic beings are watching over you from heaven, and the number 222 is also symbolic. You might have experienced the manifestation of your true self in 11:22 p.m. This number can help to remove negative energy, and aid in spiritual growth. Those who believe in this number are encouraged to pursue their goals and make use of the holy energy from their angelic presence. This number also signifies mental progress and the ability to perceive new things. You might gain a new perspective on someone you work with or something else. |
Shadda / تشديد / Tašdīd, also called Shadda / شدة / Sadda, is an optional character of the Arabic script, which is used to represent vowels of texts. It is used to identify the consonant doubling - in the Arabic script is written only one instead of two consonants. In the debate, the doubling ( gemination ) is heard, however, by the consonant is lengthened (just like in Italian ) or remains shortly after. Since the doubling can cause a change in meaning, the Shadda is found in other texts unvokalisierten frequently.
Follow the Shadda a vowel signs ( Fatha, Kasra, damma, Sukun ), this vowel is set to (or in the case of Kasra under ) the Shadda and not directly on or below the consonants.
In scientific transcriptions of Arabic words in the Latin alphabet, the consonant is always doubled for playback; in non-scientific transcriptions of the consonant is simply written to the part, for example in the name of Mohammed (hence the spelling Mohamed ) or in the names of cities Amman; the word " Shadda " itself contains a Shadda. In contrast, the name of the Egyptian football player Gedo is ( d with Shadda on ) usually about - written with easy Konsonsant - about on his jersey. |
To reduce the effect of increasing workplace-related stress, many employers have adopted fun in the workplace. Despite its effectiveness, critics argue that with the implementation of the initiative some employees have been left emotionally exhausted[j1]. Some researchers have asserted that implementation of the program has led to more harm than good (Bolton & Houlihan, 2009). Bolton believes that with the increase in global competition, employers require employees to be efficient and to increase their productivity (Bolton & Houlihan, 2009). Through this, the employees have been required to put more effort into the success of their organizations. By doing so, workplace-related conflicts have been on the rise. According to Bruce, work-related stress and conflicts can be counteracted by adopting fun in the workplace (Bruce, 2006).
However, the researcher warns that the initiative should be implemented appropriately to minimize its negative effects. Opponents of the initiative allege that the initiative has forced some of the workers to have fun when they are not in the mood (Bolton & Houlihan, 2009). For instance, through the initiatives, the employees are required to smile even when they do not feel contented. Other researchers believe that if fun in the workplace is not effectively managed it will lead to decreased productivity. According to the researchers, fun in the workplace should add value to organizations’ day-to-day activities. The researchers believe that fun may detract productivity[j2].
Based on the above illustrations, it is apparent that the lack of appropriate information about fun in the workplace by the employers and the employees is of concern. Through this research, the myths associated with the adoption of fun in the workplace will be discredited[j3]. A number of kinds of literature have supported the adoption of fun in the workplace. According to some researchers, the initiative will enable the employees to develop a positive staff culture, boost their morale and motivation, enhance employer and employee relationships, improve teamwork, boost employee satisfaction, help attract and retain the best people, and improve customer satisfaction (Tews, Michel & Bartlett, 2012).
Similarly, the researchers believe that the initiative will enhance creativity and problem solving, resolve conflict and difficult issues, and augment productivity and performance (Tews, Michel & Bartlett, 2012). According to Russo, if employees are allowed to have fun in the workplace they will work harder, stay longer at the workplace, uphold their composure in an emergency, and work with the benefit of improving the organization (Russo, 2010). Similar research shows that when managers adopt fun in the workplace, there is a noteworthy increase in the level of employee loyalty, ingenuity, and relationship resulting in decreased turnover increased morale, and a robust bottom line (Tews, Michel & Bartlett, 2012[j4] ).
Even though a number of benefits can be enjoyed by organizations that adopt fun in their workplaces, the lack of understanding about this management concept is to be blamed for its slow implementation (Bolton & Houlihan, 2009). Compared to other management concepts, few literature reviews have been produced on the concept[j5]. For instance, very few kinds of literature have focused on how to integrate fun in the workplace (Tews, Michel & Bartlett, 2012).
As such, a number of kinds of literature just mentioned the advantages of their adoption without offering appropriate means of adopting the approach. In this regard, the above research will try to fill the above gap by shedding more light on the topic[j6]. |
Leonardo’s machinery set in ancient Papermill of Parella
Models to look and touch of Prof Covolan
From November 11 and December 2 in Parella will be held in the premises of the eighteenth-century former paper mill that houses the company Osai A.S. S.p.A., an important event in the cultural and scientific interest: an exhibition dedicated to “Leonardo’s machines”. The models faithfully reproduced according to the original drawings are the work of Professor Girolamo Covolan.
The drawing for Leonardo was the original vocation, the basis for his paintings and, as in this case, decisive as a project for many applications, including architectural, mechanical, hydraulics, optics.
In the exhibition of Parella visitors will have the chance to get closer to the models of machines of various types with an interactive approach, without the awe which usually is shown in front of a device, even unreferenced can understand and have fun running gear levers, pumps… This is a teaching approach as students can be encouraged to use tools, research materials and act.
The exhibition is organized by the Cultural Association Pedaneus, based in Parella and the Company Osai A.S. S.p.A. which, in addition to the impressive exhibition space, properly prepared, has provided an important economic contribution. The Cultural Association Pedaneus and the Company Osai A.S. S.p.A. put in the realization of the event enthusiasm and commitment for celebrating an important birthday: the first one its ten years of life, the latter its twenty years of activity.
In addition to the two organising partners will give their support companies and businesses in the area, the municipalities of Loranzè, Colleretto Giacosa, Parella, Quagliuzzo, Strambinello Ivrea will honour us with their patronage, as well as the Piedmont Regional Council and the Province of Turin.
Professor Girolamo Covolan, who made the models, is a former teacher of Technical Education, has always been convinced, as a good teacher, that what is experienced with the hands can be understood with the mind and makes us self-confident.
He honours us with his friendship because he is attached to our villages where he spent a period of his childhood. |
As the BenchMaji-2SCALE partnership continues to foster women and youth inclusion through the adoption of modern bee-keeping techniques, the need for easy access to modern hives has become more pronounced.
For 2SCALE, identifying opportunities for youth empowerment and engagement in agriculture is at the core of our interventions. In Ethiopia, beehive production has been identified as a viable employment opportunity for young people in the honey sector. Since the inception of the partnership in 2019, over 3,304 farmers have embraced modern beekeeping, which mainly entails backyard apiculture and the use of modern beehives.
On December 20-24 2021, 30 young honey producers and six coaches were trained on beehive making and management. All the 30 youth are engaged in beekeeping, either as individuals or as part of a youth group in their locality. They thus have a clear understanding of beekeeping.
32-year-old Faji Bekele is a small-holder farmer. He also practices beekeeping, an interest that developed owing to the fact that his parents were also into beekeeping. Through the training, he learned about the benefits of modern hives, a realization that has made him identify this as an opportunity for him to commercially produce modern hives. He mastered the skill and has currently built 10 hives in readiness to establish a business. He narrates:
As a young person engaged in beekeeping, I found the training very interesting and useful. We learned about backyard beekeeping and improved apiary management. I also got to learn more about modern hives and their benefits.I use traditional hives on my farm since this is what we are used to. However, during the training, I was motivated to shift to modern hives and perfect the skill of building the hives as a commercial venture.
Ripple effect of the training
For Faji, the training was an eye-opener. It provided useful insights on opportunities for young people to construct hives for sale to beekeepers in the region.
The first step I took was to acquire the necessary material required to construct modern beehives. Even though building them using bare hands is a bit tedious, I decided to perfect the skill by building hives for my farm. I have constructed 10 modern beehives but haven’t sold any yet. Now that I have perfected the skill, I plan to make this a business venture alongside beekeeping. It cost me about 2300 ETB ($ 44.8) to produce a single hive. Based on this, and the labor incurred, I know I can sell and make profit out of it. Furthermore, as more farmers learn of the benefits of modern hives, demand will increase, making this a viable business. |
The need for storm water attenuation becomes increasingly important as development continues to urbanize and expand housing, roadways, and other impervious drainage areas. Combine that with the expensive costs associated with land use, it is easy to see why owners are relying more on the use of underground storm water management solutions. Dedicated storm water attenuation, such as oversized sections of storm sewer lines within a storm drain system, can hold and detain peak flows during rain events and allow full use of the land surface above.
Improvements to Stringtown Road in Montgomery County, MD included two such underground storm water attenuation systems as part of the storm drain plan. Charles P. Johnson & Associates, Inc. designed each of the two systems as 96” diameter reinforced concrete pipe meeting ASTM C361 class D25, including precast plugged ends, pipe openings, and manhole-tee fittings.
CP&P’s Salem, VA facility produced the 96” pipe, fittings, and plugged end sections for the two systems, the North system consisting of 13 pipe sections (103.17’) and the South system consisting of 9 pipe sections (71.0’) plus risers to grade. Pipe and fittings were delivered with embedded lifting devices, allowing Kinsley Construction to maneuver and install the heavy sections into place on the jobsite. |
Sec. Geohazards and Georisks
Numerical Simulation on the Evolution of Tailings Pond Dam Failure Based on GDEM Method
- 1Institute of Science and Technology, NCUT, Beijing, China
- 2School of Energy and Mining, CUMTB, Beijing, China
- 3China Academy of Safety Science and Technology, Beijing, China
- 4School of Safety Engineering, CUMTB, Beijing, China
Because of the continuous exploitation of metal minerals and the limited availability of land resources, many tailings ponds have been expanded. It is of great importance to dynamically calculate the critical parameters of flooding and sand velocity after a collapse, and quickly determine the dangerous area downstream on reducing the hidden dangers for an accident. In view of the limitations of the single finite element and discrete element methods for the simulation of tailings pond instability, the authors use the finite element and discrete element coupling method (GDEM) for the first time to carry out a dynamical process for numerical simulation of the evolution of a tailings pond collapse. The sediment movement and submerged range were compared with the results of the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method. The comparison shows that the change in drainage flow at the dam foundation position and the depth change in the downstream sensitive point after the dam break are consistent with the VOF calculation results, which indicates that the GDEM can be used as an effective means for the analysis of tailings dam failure. The calculation results of this method can provide technical support for the determination of dangerous areas downstream of tailings ponds and the safety management of key areas.
The majority of China’s metal deposit resources are deeply buried low-grade ores, while high-grade ores are relatively scarce. As a result, a large number of tailings ponds are required to store mining byproducts. A total of 7,793 tailings ponds were present in the country by the end of 2017, with the highest tailings dam reaching 325 m (Yin et al., 2018). Because of the continuous exploitation of metal minerals and the limited availability of land resources, many tailings ponds have been expanded. The gradually increasing heights and slopes of tailings ponds have induced multiple failures of tailings dams throughout the country, leading to high loss of life, mineral resources, and state property (Li et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2016). Thus, it is important to establish an effective numerical model that can simulate the unique flow of tailings pond slurry. Such a model would provide the means to quickly simulate tailings dam failure and immediately analyze the severity of failure incidents, and quantitatively divide at-risk areas downstream, thereby improving the safety management of downstream areas and reducing the severity of failure-induced damage.
The methods of numerically simulating tailings ponds can be divided into two types: The finite element methods and the discrete element methods. The finite element methods are based on continuum mechanics and are mainly used to simulate the continuous deformation and plastic failure of materials (Brzezinski, 2002; Zandarín et al., 2009). The failure analysis was carried out by establishing finite element model, and the damage of materials was evaluated numerically (Guo et al., 2020; Arafa et al., 2022; Tang et al., 2022). They can be further divided into the finite element method (Peter and Mahmood, 2003; Wang et al., 2011) and the finite difference method (Chakrabotry and Choudhury, 2009) and used to study the stability of tailings dam slopes and tailings ponds. The discrete element methods are based on discontinuous medium mechanics and are used to simulate the motion and collision characteristics of a bulk system. They can be further divided into two types, namely, block discrete element modelling and particle discrete element modelling. Presently, discrete element methods focus on the relationship between macro-and micromechanics (Fakhimi et al., 2002; Backstrom et al., 2008; Hsieh et al., 2008; Feng et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2014) and rock slope stability (Esaki et al., 1998; Xu et al., 2022), whereas limited research has been conducted on the stability of tailings ponds. The tailings pond discharge fluid is a mixture of tailings sand and water. The single finite element method does not easily realize the simulation of the movement process of microscopic particles in the process of tailings pond destruction. Although the single discrete element method can exhibit the dynamic process of damage, it does not easily reflect the whole process from the start of the dam failure to the end.
To accurately analyze the tailings sediment movement, the inundation range, and the impact on sensitive targets downstream during the failure process of tailings dams, the present study applies GDEM numerical simulation for the first time to test the failure evolution of a tailings dam. The whole process of dam break of tailings pond was analyzed, thereby achieving a dynamic simulation of the entire failure process. In addition, the impact of tailings dam failure on sensitive targets downstream is determined by analyzing the movement of tailings slurry during the failure process, thereby providing theoretical and technical support for the safety management of tailings ponds, especially for downstream reservoir areas.
CDEM is a discrete element method based on continuum mechanics. By combining the finite element and discrete element methods, CDEM not only facilitates simulations of the continuous or discontinuous deformation and the movement of granular material under static and dynamic loading but also models the progressive failure of materials, from continuum to discontinuum (Nezami et al., 2004; Yeung et al., 2007).
The governing equation of the CDEM is the equation of particle motion (Li et al., 2007). In Eq. 1,
In CDEM, a discrete block can consist of one or more FEM elements (as shown in Figure 2). A continuum-based constitutive model and finite element approach are used inside the blocks, whereas a discontinuum-based constitutive model and discrete element approach are used for the block interfaces (Li et al., 2007; Feng et al., 2014). The CDEM finite elements can be simple tetrahedrons, pentahedrons, and hexahedrons, or complex polyhedrons (Figure 3). The discontinuous deformation is modeled by springs placed between the CDEM blocks, such that spring breakage simulates the cracking and slipping of material.
The CDEM uses the element stiffness matrix to obtain the deformation force generated by blocks. That is, the nodal force of the elements is obtained using the already known element stiffness matrix and the nodal displacement. Because the CDEM uses the dynamic relaxation method, the entire stiffness matrix need not be formed; rather, only obtaining the element stiffness matrix of each element is sufficient. At each iteration, the nodal force of the element itself is calculated using Eq. 2 and assigned to the corresponding node element. Among them,
The normal and tangential springs of the CDEM contact surfaces are shown in Figure 4, where
The spring force can be calculated using Eq. 3, in which
When calculating element failure, the spring force is modified using the Mohr-Coulomb criterion and tensile criterion, as shown in Eq. 4.
where, T is tensile strength,
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Principles of GDEM Method
The core of GDEM is continuous-discontinuous element method (CDEM) based on Lagrange equation, which organically combines finite element and discrete element. Block is used to characterize the continuum properties of materials, and interface is used to characterize the discontinuum properties of materials. The gradual failure process of materials is simulated through the fracture of block boundary and interior.
GDEM is used to simulate dam break, which can intuitively show the impact range of tailings dam break and effectively analyze the failure of tailings dam.
2.2 A Real Case of a Tailing Pond
2.2.1 Descriptions on Geological Settings
The case tailings pond is surrounded by mountains on three sides. It is multiditched to form a claw-shaped valley. The surface of the mountain is a Quaternary slope, and some of the rocks are bare. The coverage by mountain vegetation is high, and the growth is general. There are Yingyun dioritic gneisses in the Shachang Formation of the Mishan Group in the Archean Period. Some parts of the red feldspar are more distinctive than others and have felsic veins.
The overall terrain of the site is relatively high and has little precipitation, the rock mass has no obvious water-collecting structure. The seismic fortification intensity is 7 degrees, and the basic acceleration of the designed earthquake is 0.15 g.
2.2.2 Working Conditions
The tailings pond has two initial dams, both of which are permeable rockfill dams. The elevation of the west dam is 149.3 m, and the elevation of the east dam is 143.5 m. The top width of the two dams is 5 m, the ratio of the inner and outer slopes is 1:2.0, and the elevation of the dam is 207 m. The final stacking height of the designed tailings is 220 m, comprising approximately 13.5 million m3, and the dam has a service life of 20 years.
The tailings accumulation dam is above the 163.5 m elevation of the dam crest at the beginning of the tailings pond. The dam slope has a total of 4 terraces at elevations of 173.5, 183.5, 193.5, and 203.5 m, and the mound width is 5 m, with a slope ratio of 1:4.5, as shown in Figure 5.
Within 800 m downstream of the tailings pond, it is mainly farmland. There are railways and highways passing through approximately 1,000 m south of the tailings pond. There are three villages, machine repair workshops, mineral processing workshops, and comprehensive buildings downstream, with a total of 2,000 people.
2.3 Failure Analysis of the Tailing Pond Dam
2.3.1 Numerical Model Conditions
The tailings flow after dam failure is a free surface flow problem with a moving boundary and complex large deformation. The tailings flow after the failure is simulated using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method, which eliminates problems associated with entanglement and distortion; these are common to the traditional Eulerian grid method. As a result, the SPH method is uniquely advantageous in dealing with large-deformation free-surface and moving-boundary problems. It is highly suitable for simulating the tailings slurry flow after dam failure. To ensure the accuracy of the calculation results, the following assumptions were made about the model:
1) The tailings pond consists of countless discrete microparticles;
2) The tailings pond is made of a homogeneous material, and each part of the pond has the same physical properties;
3) The spatial model of the tailings pond is filled with continuous nonporous particles.
Assumed dam failure mode: the length of the breach is 350 m from the east-west dam junction, and the dam break depth to the bottom of the dam is 149.3 m at the bottom of the west dam and 143.5 m at the bottom of the east dam; the tailings pond water level is 207 m.
Assumed failure discharge: the total sediment discharge is taken as the total volume of water and tailings in the reservoir above 207 m; a total of 6 million cubic meters of tailings and water are discharged.
Flow resistance at the bottom of the total flow discharge: the change in the Manning coefficient is a function of the shear force; it simulates the flow characteristics of the tailings slurry, which are different from those of water; the relationship between the shear force and the Manning coefficient in the model is shown in Figure 6.
Where, τc is the critical shear force at which the tailings slurry begins to flow; τcu is the critical shear force at which the tailings slurry changes from a yield-pseudoplastic fluid to a Bingham plastic fluid; Ml is the minimum Manning coefficient, which characterizes the bottom friction when the tailings slurry begins to flow; Mu is the maximum Manning coefficient, which characterizes the bottom friction when the tailings slurry changes from a yield-pseudoplastic fluid to a Bingham plastic fluid.
2.3.2 Modelling Procedure
During the analysis of the tailings dam failure, the area affected by the tailings pond is divided using unstructured triangular elements. The unstructured triangular mesh has the advantages of high adaptability for complex areas, flexible local encryption, and convenient self-adaptation. This method can effectively simulate natural boundaries and complex underwater topography and improves the accuracy of boundary simulations.
Figure 7 shows the topographic map of the area and the designed stacked tailings dam generated in the CAD model.
The terrain surface and the dam model files are imported into the GDEM software. Next, the key surface points are stripped to form a NURBS surface. Finally, the surface model of the tailings dam is formed using the geometry-create-volume-by-contour command.
The terrain surface and the dam model are meshed. The terrain surface is divided into a 2D planar mesh, whereas the dam model is divided into a 3D particle mesh, ultimately generating 105,585 triangular terrain surface elements and 119,427 dam model particles.
3.1 Analysis of the Dam Failure Results
In Figure 8, Point one refers to the monitoring point at the foot of the dam, and Point two refers to the monitoring point of the comprehensive building. In the initial stage of the tailings pond failure, the mud gradually spreads from the dam site and then gradually diffuses into the low-lying area. Due to the high middle of the terrain and the low east and west sides, two mudflows gradually form downstream. After 1 min, the mud basically covers the entire calculation area. As the mud continues to flow to the lower area and out of the calculation area, the mud depth in the calculation area continuously decreases, and the submerged range shrinks, as shown in the flooding map at 70 s.
The failure process of a stacked dam can be divided into three stages: the initial stage of accelerated collapse, the intermediate stage of decelerated diffusion, and the final stage of stable accumulation. Steps 0 to 600 (0–6 s) are the initial stage of the accelerated collapse after the failure. During this stage, the tailings flow out of the tailings pond and diffuse rapidly westward, forming a fan-shaped collapse zone. Steps 600 to 5,500 (1–55 s) form the intermediate stage of the decelerated diffusion. During this stage, the tailings particles continue to pour out of the tailings pond; however, the particle velocity decreases gradually as their travel distance increases. At 5,500 steps, the velocity of the particles in the front of the flow tends to zero; however, the middle part of the tailings flow continues to move forward slowly. Steps 5,500 to 9,500 (55–95 s) are the final stage of stable accumulation. During this stage, most of the tailings particles are discharged from the tailings pond, and the tailings flow distribution does not change significantly. At this point, all the particles have zero velocity, and the dam failure process ends.
The calculation results of the submerged depth and flow rate of the case tailings pond reaching the downstream complex after the dam break are shown in Table 2. The flow velocity and quantity changes during the dam break process are shown in Figures 9, 10. The flow velocity and submerged depth during the tailings impact of the comprehensive building are shown in Figures 11, 12.
In Figures 9–12, the tailings instantaneous impact velocity after the dam breaks is 14.71 m/s with the maximum quantity of flow 51643 m3/s, and the maximum flow rate reaches 16.47 m/s in the 3rd second. As the volume of tailings in the reservoir continuously decrease, the velocity of the tailings flowing through the dam bottom gradually decrease. Finally, the tailings reach a steady-state in the 55th second, and the discharge flow rate is 0.97 m/s, which gradually approaches zero.
The tailings reach the downstream comprehensive building in the 16th second after the dam break, and the instantaneous flow rate is 24.68 m/s. Due to terrain effects, the impact tailing speed gradually decreases. After 80th second, the flow rate is gradually stabilized and finally reaches a steady state. The maximum overflow depth of the complex is 9.72 m, and the corresponding time is the 62 s after the occurrence of the collapse.
3.2 Comparative Analysis of the Calculation Results of Volume of Fluid
The Volume of Fluid (VOF) model tracks the volume of each fluid by solving a set of momentum equations and continuous equations that simulate the motion of two or more fluids that are not blended.
As shown in Figures 13, 14. The VOF adopts all the model breaks instantaneously to calculate and obtain the process line of the fracture flow. When the water level is 207 m and the upstream flow is not considered, the storage capacity is 6 million m3, and the time required is 150 s. The peak flow of the fracture is 270,000 m3/s, the maximum mud depth at the downstream comprehensive building is 1.45 m, and the corresponding time is 30 s after the occurrence of the collapse.
The comparison between the calculation results of the GDEM and the VOF method shows that the trend of the flow curve at the bottom is consistent, and there is a certain difference between the flow values. The change in the depth of the sediment that reaches the complex after the collapse is consistent, but the mud depth values are different.
By analyzing the calculation principle of the two methods, the two monitoring methods are shown to be different. The monitoring part of the GDEM adopts the arrangement monitoring ring method to monitor the discharge flow at the bottom of the dam body and in a certain area at the comprehensive building. The VOF calculates the discharge flow generated by the instantaneous discharge of all the broken sediments. The VOF method calculation of the discharge flow at the bottom of the tailings dam is higher than that of the GDEM. The VOF calculation does not consider the downstream topographic changes, and the downstream ground is set to the plane flow. The GDEM introduces the tailings pond and surrounding terrain into the original scale, which can truly reflect the change in the sediment flow after the tailings pond breaks, so the time of sediment flow in the VOF method is shorter than that in the GDEM. Comparison of the results of the two methods shows that the GDEM can effectively reflect the change in sediment flow after the tailings pond collapse and proves that the method can be used as an effective analysis method for tailings pond failure analysis.
4 Conclusion and Discussion
1) The process of tailings dam failure can be divided into three stages: accelerated collapse, decelerated diffusion and stable accumulation. During the initial stage of accelerated collapse, the tailings flow diffuses rapidly westward, forming a fan-shaped collapse zone. During the intermediate stage of diffusion, the tailings particles continue to pour out from the tailings pond; however, the particle velocity gradually decreases and eventually stabilizes. During the final stage of stable accumulation, most of the tailings particles are discharged from the tailings pond, the tailings discharge flow is basically stable, and the distribution of the tailings flow does not have any significant changes; thus, the dam failure process ends.
2) The time of the dam-sludge mud-sand flow reaching the comprehensive building is 16 s, and the instantaneous impact velocity is 24.68 m3/s. The maximum submerged depth is 9.72 m at the 62 s. The final dam-sludge sand flow at the 83rd second tends to be stable at the comprehensive building. The experimental results show that once the tailings dam fails, it will have a serious impact downstream, seriously threatening the lives and property of the downstream residents. It is necessary to strengthen the safety management of the tailings pond to prevent the occurrence of dam failure.
3) Comparing the dam break calculation with the VOF method, the change in the discharge flow at the dam foundation position and the submerged depth at the downstream sensitive point after the dam break is consistent, which proves that the GDEM can be used for effective measurement in the tailings dam failure analysis.
4) A new large scale model is used to calculate the whole process of tailings dam failure. Using the GDEM to simulate dam failure can visually determine the impact range after tailings failure and then determine the dam break safety boundary. This method provides a quantitative approach for judging the stability of the tailings pond; in addition, it can effectively simulate the dam-break process and can be used as one of the methods to measure the stability of tailings pond failure. It also proves the feasibility of the GDEM in the evaluation of the stability of tailings ponds.
Zhang, Q., Yue, J., Liu, C., Feng, C., and Li, H. (2019). Study of Automated Top-Coal Caving in Extra-Thick Coal Seams Using the Continuum-Discontinuum Element Method. Int. J. Rock. Mech. Min. 122, 104033. doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2019.04.019
Zou, Z. X., Tang, H. M., Xiong, C. R., Su, A., and Criss, R. E. (2007). Kinetic Characteristics of Debris Flows as Exemplified by Field Investigations and Discrete Element Simulation of the Catastrophic Jiweishan Rockslide, China. Geomorphology 295, 1–15. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.06.012 |
At Bowie State, students are making ready to turn out to be leaders within the fast-growing computing and cyber sectors. Recognized by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as fashions of excellence, programs in our cybersecurity program are supplied in an accelerated eight-week format. Graduates emerge with the theoretical experience and the technical skills to guard towards home and world cyber threats. Some network Computer methods directors take continuing training programs throughout their careers to remain current with the regularly altering and evolving community technology. Computer community architect careers embody designing and building data communication networks, corresponding to native space networks , wide area networks , and intranets.
Students are introduced to the breadth of applied sciences and to the basics of the business world. The IEEE Computer Society is the world’s residence Technology for computer science, engineering, and technology.
Computer Technologies, Certificates Of Achievement
College advisers are additionally out there for additional assistance with minor, College and University necessities. For students within the College of Arts &Sciences, a minimal of six hours of 300- or 400-level courses within the minor must be earned on this campus. For students within the College of Arts and Sciences, at least two of your CS programs must be 300 level or greater. To the naked eye, reading code is simply as confusing as forming words in alphabet soup. And most probably, you could do extra on a pc by highschool than most people can by maturity. For extra information on acquiring your computer science degree, please seeTop 10 Best Online Computer Science Degree Programs. Since the pandemic, Zoom has turn into the ‘go-to’ app for bringing folks together for online meetings, conferences, instruction and other virtual private and non-private gatherings.
Students will possess the flexibility to communicate effectively related to subjects in computer science and technology in both single and collaborative environments. If you need more of a behind-the-scenes position, then a Network and Computer Systems Administrator may be the position for you! In this position, you would work with troubleshooting errors, conducting backups, and information recovery. You additionally might set up and preserve functions and virus safety, and help in purchases. You would also maintain logs of exercise and update networks and tools as wanted. If you choose to become a Computer User Support Specialist, your day by day duties might embrace the daily operation of computer techniques and performing minor repairs.
Business & Innovation
For instance, skeletal elements obtained in excavation websites, human skulls, etc. may be scanned utilizing computer tomography or X-rays and could be obtained nearly. This allows the anthropologist to gain more insights from examine of the specimen. Thus, in a nutshell, computers and the most recent applied sciences of the fashionable period play pivotal roles in the fields of anthropology. There can be the mix of human creativity with computer technology that provides the design effectivity that has made CAD such a well-liked design device.
To be a half of this exciting area, you will want to have a solid background in computer systems. You will need work experience, similar to an internship, and a bachelor’s degree to be ready for so much of of those positions. You can also pursue graduate research in computer technology or a computer-related field. You will have the ability to apply your computer information to many areas of trade. Many technology positions contain teamwork and collaboration with colleagues. Jobs in computer technology are various and are constantly altering as technology becomes a half of each aspect of life.
Gc Tech Steerage Workplace
Ease of Access (Microsoft’s accessibility features) has been enabled on all public web computer systems. If all computer systems are in use, library workers can make a reservation for you so you presumably can return for the assigned time. The focus of this project was the implementation of a extra environment friendly network and the constructing of a database-type quoting program for the G&M Service Company, a heating and air con company in Raleigh. The first objective was to have a functional database-based quoting program implemented into the business’s every day operations. The second objective was to replace any devices with gadgets that might work with the model new program.
In the present status quo of technological development, we see the cloud and mobile networks dominating. However, this technology trend has matured and companies are within the exploit phase of centralized knowledge networks (in reference to the ‘data industrial complex’ and the monetization mannequin enshrined therein). Cross-OS access Computer & Technology by way of the browser and Android (the open-source cellular OS) commoditized the OS layer dominated by Windows and strengthened via its software lock-in. The worth capture as soon as once more shifted up the technology stack to the application layer, resulting within the unbundling of Microsoft’s grip on the computing market. |
The following is a Bible study to help you understand what Crossroads Church believes about baptism and why. Please let Pastor Neil know if you have any questions or if you are interested in getting baptized, please fill out this form to start the process. Baptisms are celebrated in late August.
The word baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo which means to immerse or dip. To baptize something, then, means to completely submerge it in a liquid. In a biblical sense, to baptize a person in water means to put that person completely under the water, then immediately raise him or her up again.
According to the Bible, water baptism is a symbolic act whereby a new Christian identifies with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Water baptism is a public profession of a person's repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and a way of giving outward testimony to an inward work of God.
When God baptizes you into Christ, you become a new creation in your spirit, not in your body (flesh). Your body remains corruptible until the Resurrection (John 6:39-40), but something inside changes. Your heart is washed clean by the blood of Jesus, and your spirit is quickened (made alive) by the Holy Spirit. You now have the ability to communicate with God, hear His voice, love and obey Him, overcome sin, and walk out your salvation by faith.
Therefore, water baptism symbolically identifies us as new creations in
Christ. By going down in the water, we illustrate that our old man is dead to
sin and buried by faith in Christ. As a result, we are free from our old master
Satan. By being raised up out of the water, we show that our new man is raised
by the Spirit and made alive by faith in Christ. Since our new Master is the
Lord Jesus, we commit to walk in righteousness (not by our old ways and fleshly
habits but by our new life in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling our spirit). “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from
the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans
- For spiritual regeneration or salvation? NO (John 3:5) Some interpret "water" to mean "water-baptism" but best interpreted as physical birth with "water breaks."
- To become a Christian? NO (Rom. 8:9) A Christian is one in whom Christ dwells spiritually.
- To be part of the Church of Jesus Christ? NO (1 Cor. 12:13) Some churches require baptism to be part of their organization, but this is not biblical.
The Bible tells us that there is a baptism necessary for salvation; however, it is not water baptism! A person must be spiritually baptized into Christ in order to be saved: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27 (ESV). At the moment of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Yeshua), a person is “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12 (ESV)
Many people insist that water baptism is essential for salvation.
However, this is incorrect. You see, salvation is and always has been about
faith in Jesus Christ. You must be "baptized into Christ" in order to
be saved; however, this is not the same as being "baptized in water."
Water baptism is purely an outward sign of God's cleansing work in a person's
heart, and is therefore meaningless without a prior spiritual baptism into
Yes! Water baptism helps new believers understand the spiritual truth that according to their faith, their old man is dead in Christ and their new man is alive in Christ. “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Romans 6:6 (ESV)
Water baptism is only appropriate for those who have repented of their sins and believed in Jesus with all of their heart. A biblical example comes from Acts 8:36-38 (ESV). “And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.”
Disciples of Jesus in the New Testament church were baptized to proclaim their total allegiance and commitment to Jesus, regardless of the consequences. For a first century Christian, this meant identifying with Christ even unto death, since many of them faced severe persecution.
• John the Baptist baptized those who would repent (Mark 1:5).
• On the day of Pentecost, 3,000 new believers were baptized (Acts 2:41).
• The Samaritans that believed were baptized (Acts 8:12).
• Paul was baptized three days after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:18).
• Cornelius and some other Gentiles were baptized (Acts 10:47).
• Lydia and her household were baptized (Acts 16:15).
• The Philippian jailer and his household were baptized (Acts 16:33).
• Many Corinthians were baptized (Acts 18:8).
• The Ephesian disciples were baptized (Acts 19:5).
All the biblical accounts agree: water baptism is for those who believe. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16 (ESV)
Yes, even a child who is old enough to understand the significance of
repentance and faith in Jesus can be baptized. Water baptism demonstrates
obedience to the command of Jesus (Matthew 28:19) and gives evidence of saving
faith (James 2:22).
No, at Crossroads we do not baptize babies. Baptism is an act of faith by one who chooses to identify his life with Christ, and a baby is not yet able to make such a choice. Crossroads does baptize children who have trusted Jesus and We do encourage baby dedications for those who are interested as an alternative to baby baptism.
new believer should be baptized once in obedience to the command of Jesus.
Sometimes we have this strong sense that we need to have a physical reminder
that Jesus is our King and desire and outward example to show that. This is ok as long as each of us understand
it is not necessary for our salvation and will not make him any more spiritual
than someone who was baptized once. Remember that water baptism itself does not
save anyone; rather, water baptism is a public, outward demonstration of a
person's repentance and saving faith.
Water baptism is a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Although water baptism in itself does not save, it does identify us with Christ: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV)
When God baptizes you into Christ, you become part of the Body of Christ, which is the worldwide family of God. Thus, water baptism is not a meaningless ritual or even a mere duty; it is an awesome privilege for the child of God.
What should I do to prepare for the Baptism Service?
Prepare yourself spiritually by prayer, meditating on the Scriptures pertaining to Water Baptism and through confession all sin to God.
Invite family and friends to witness your baptism.
What should I bring to the Baptism Service?
Wear something that can get wet, but is NOT WHITE. You can also wear casual clothes that you don’t mind getting wet with a bathing suit underneath.
Bring a towel to dry off.
Bring a dry change of clothes. It might be cold out there following the service.
How will I be Water Baptized?
Some people get nervous about the process of Water Baptism. There is no need for this if you understand that the process is quite simple. We don’t want this to distract you from the blessing of this beautiful spiritual step in your life.
You will be asked if you have placed your faith in Jesus and are desire to live with Him. The person baptizing you will then ask you to hold your nose with one hand and your elbow with your other hand. When you are tipped backward, please bend your knees, this helps the person doing the baptizing. You will be submerged just enough to cover your face and then brought back up immediately. |
Orchardgrass better than KY-31 in shade
At the recent American Forage & Grasslands Conference, a Virginia Tech student presented a poster entitled “Shade Affects Quality and Productivity of Forage Mixtures for Silvopastures.” This poster documented the results of a study on different pasture species and mixtures grown under various levels of shade. Without trying to explain the poster details, note in the graph on the right that orchardgrass seems to clearly handle a higher percentage of shade than KY-31 tall fescue.
They also measured the toxicity of the tall fescue. As shown in the graph on the left, in simple mixtures, the level of toxic ergot alkaloids increase substantially, whereas intermediate and complex mixtures (fescue plus orchardgrass, clover, bluegrass, alfalfa, and trefoil) remained lower in concentration.
The suggested implications are that using orchardgrass, like Persist, as either straight stands or in a mixture with toxic KY-31 fescue for silvopastures , and using other forages and legumes, will likely result in higher forage productivity and safer pastures.
Cajun II Stands on top again - Twice
It’s true that we just bragged on our endophyte-free Cajun II only a couple of months ago, but sometimes the good news just keeps coming in. So here’s the latest:
Cajun II produced 22% more dry matter last year than the next best entry, outyielding three novel-endophyte varieties and KY-31. In a prior 2-yr trial at Holly Springs , MS, Cajun II produced 12% more over the next best entry. Bottom line? Cajun II is worth a good look if you live on the southern edge of the fescue belt!
White clover can reverse the losses
On the topic of toxic fescue, and solutions to improving cattle performance, those who have a market base in the fescue belt might find a study conducted by The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation worth passing on to their customers and farmers. This study measured the animal and economic performance of cattle grazing on different treatments of toxic and non-toxic fescue with and without white clover. The study showed a net loss of $63/acre when grazing toxic fescue alone. However, fields of KY-31 plus white clover had $85/acre more profit! That’s a pretty easy return! This compliments data showing increased average daily gains using Renovation white clover on toxic pastures in Mississippi. |
As the pandemic altered how we live, homeowners also made big investments in upgrading where they live: about $420 billion worth of home remodels and repairs in 2020, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. That same team predicts a continued uptick in maintenance and remodeling spending throughout 2022.
If you’re planning to redo parts of your home this year, think about not only what you want, but what others might be looking for in a home, too, so you have a shot at recouping some of the expense. Here are five home decor and design trends appealing to homeowners and buyers in 2022.
1. The greening of everything
To get a sense of what’s happening inside homes, we started with what’s appearing in online searches. According to an analysis of design website Houzz, everyone wants to infuse green in their homes: Online searches for green kitchen cabinets, green tile bathrooms and green accent chairs surged by more than 700 percent in 2021.
It’s not just about adding the color green to your design, either. More of us are searching for artificial plants and trees, along with indoor pots and planters, too, the Houzz report revealed.
2. Gray is going away
Green isn’t the only hue making homes come alive in 2022. This year, more homeowners are ditching “safe” color palettes in neutrals for a bolder approach.
“Traditional grays are trending out, and warmer, more inviting colors are making a comeback,” says Christy Walker, broker/owner of RE/MAX Signature in Phoenix, Arizona.
3. Sustainable materials will surge
As corporations and countries seek solutions to address the climate crisis, individuals are looking to play a part, too. A recent survey by Fixr.com shows that 90 percent of experts in the construction and remodeling industry believe there’s growing interest in eco-friendly home design and decor. That means there’ll be heightened demand for materials like bamboo and those that contain recycled content — carpet and reclaimed wood, for example.
4. Flooring is evolving
In 2022, home decor isn’t simply about what your eyes see; it’s also about what’s under your feet.
“Flooring styles are also changing, which set the foundation for the look and feel,” Walker says. “New materials are allowing people to explore a more creative side with tiles, stone and even a wide variety of quality vinyls. Oversized block tiles are trending in the Southwest, rather than traditional square or even plank options.”
5. The outdoors are coming in
A focus on the outdoors defined 2020 and 2021, and that emphasis isn’t going away in 2022. A recent American Institute of Architects survey shows continued interest in building outdoor living spaces, with more homeowners asking for plans for blended indoor/outdoor living, such as garage-style doors opening up to the backyard.
As you look to refresh your home and search for home decor ideas this year, remember you don’t have to earmark a big budget for a top-to-bottom renovation. As one real estate agent recommends, focus on identifying the design components and color schemes that can dress up your existing space.
“Design these days is about color, light, comfort and having your private oasis,” says Catherine Allen, an agent with RE/MAX One in Woodland Hills, California. “Curb appeal is almost as important as what’s inside the home. Design and color that enhance and complement the space and best attributes of the home, without being fussy or too stark, make the highlighted areas sing and impress.”
If you do wind up embarking on a bigger project, consider these best ways to pay for home improvement projects. |
Writing this article would sure be easy if we could just tell you the single company that has the best insurance prices in Kentucky. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple as there are a lot of unknowns such as your credit score, if you want full coverage, and where you live in Lexington. This article will detail the best ways to pay less and hopefully give you enough understanding to have a solid foundation to find cheaper car insurance in Lexington.
Figuring out which company quotes the cheapest car insurance rates for handicapped drivers involves a little more work in order to find coverage that fits your budget. Every auto insurer has a proprietary formula to set their prices, so we’ll go over the car insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Lexington.
It’s important to know that Kentucky car insurance rates are impacted by many things which can substantially decrease or increase your annual premium. Simply improving your credit, having a teenage driver, or getting a ticket for careless driving may prompt premium changes that can cause some rates to be more affordable than the competition.
Lowest Insurance Price Quotes in Kentucky
Cincinnati Insurance has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Lexington at around $1,093 per year. This is $1,050 less than the average price paid by Kentucky drivers of $2,143. Kentucky Farm Bureau, USAA, Auto-Owners, and Grange Mutual would also make the list of some of the cheaper Lexington, KY auto insurance companies.
As depicted above, if you currently have coverage with Auto-Owners and switched to Kentucky Farm Bureau, you might realize annual savings of about $250. Drivers with Grange Mutual might save as much as $446 a year, and Travelers insureds might cut rates by $451 a year.
Be aware that those estimates are averaged across all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and are not factoring in an exact location for handicapped drivers. So the company that can offer you the best rate may not even be in the top 21 companies in the list above. That is why you need to compare rates from multiple companies using your own individual information.
The type of vehicle you are insuring is a large consideration that determines if you can find the best car insurance for handicapped drivers. Vehicles with lots of horsepower, poor crash test ratings, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost much more to insure than more economical and safe models.
Rates are comparative as the specific Lexington residence address can alter insurance rates considerably.
Ending up with the best car insurance company can be difficult considering how many different companies there are to choose from in Lexington. The company information in the lists below may help you select which car insurance companies to look at when shopping around. The ratings below are only comprised of companies that insure vehicles across America, so companies with more of a regional focus are not factored into this list.
Impact of citations and accidents on insurance rates
The ideal way to score the cheapest car insurance rates for drivers with handicaps is to be a careful driver and avoid accidents and traffic citations. The diagram below illustrates how speeding tickets and at-fault claims impact insurance prices for each different age group. The premiums are based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, $250 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
The data above shows the average cost of auto insurance in Kentucky per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,800. Get written up for two speeding tickets and the average cost swells to $2,420, an increase of $620 each year. Then throw in two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of car insurance for handicapped drivers goes up to an average of $4,606. That’s an increase of $2,806, or $234 per month, just for not driving attentively!
The illustration below illustrates how your deductible choice can influence annual premium costs when researching cheap insurance for handicapped drivers. The premiums are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no policy discounts are applied.
The data above shows that a 40-year-old driver could save $316 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $478 by choosing a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, such as the 20-year-old example, could reduce their rates as much as $1,060 or more just by choosing higher deductibles when buying full coverage. When insureds make the decision to increase the deductibles on their policy, it will be required to have additional savings on hand to be able to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one inconvenience of using high deductibles.
Kentucky car insurance rates are impacted by many things which can substantially change the price of your policy. Simply improving your credit, increasing liability limits, or having an accident may cause policy rate changes resulting in some rates now being more affordable than others. Not only may your risk profile change, but car insurance companies change their prices as often as every quarter in order to remain profitable. A period of higher than normal claims may cause increased policy costs, while a lower level of claims can result in cheaper Lexington car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the data below shows the company with the cheapest car insurance in Lexington, KY for a 30-year-old male driver with no accidents or violations, and solid credit. If we look at prices based on his current risk factors, Cincinnati Insurance may have the lowest car insurance rates in Lexington at $1,207 per year. This is $936 less than the average policy premium paid by Kentucky drivers of $2,143. Kentucky Farm Bureau, USAA, Auto-Owners, and Motorists Mutual are the remaining cheapest Lexington, KY auto insurance companies.
In this next rate comparison, we will give the driver from the first set of rates an at-fault accident, poor credit, and a few traffic violations. Because each insurer has a proprietary method to determining premium rates, comparing prices may now show a substantially altered list of the cheapest companies as shown below.
Travelers now has the lowest price in Lexington with USAA, Kentucky Farm Bureau, State Farm, and Westfield completing the list. This example demonstrates why Kentucky drivers need to perform a complete rate comparison when trying to get the most budget-friendly insurance rates for handicapped drivers. Auto insurance prices are determined by many different factors and can increase or decrease at any time, so the cheapest rate when you last compared rates may now be quite expensive. |
Perhaps the most fundamental question when one has a nucleic acid or gene sequence in hand is "So, what does it do?" Whether these sequences encode a protein, or are promoter/enhancer regulatory elements, the general goal is to determine function and to understand the regulation and interaction of these genes and gene products with other cellular components. These questions are, of course, best addressed within a cellular context. The ability to introduce DNA into cultured cells is therefore both powerful and necessary for studying the function and control of mammalian genes.
A wide variety of techniques is available that permit the delivery of molecules into eukaryotic cells. Unfortunately, no single method can be identified as ideal for all cell types or systems. Each system and, indeed, the specific experimental goals or requirements may require different gene delivery methods.
There are two general approaches... |
I’ve been studying, talking about, and teaching workshops about shame for several years and one of the issues that comes up over and over is whether shame is always bad or not. I’ve been looking for ways to talk about this, since I think that shame does serve some purposes and can help us grow and change. But I also have a deep respect for Brene Brown and I’ve been an admirer of her work for some time. She’s of the opinion that while guilt can help us recognize where we’ve made mistakes, shame is always damaging. In her most recent book Daring Greatly, she says:
Guilt is just as powerful as shame, but its influence is positive, while shame’s is destructive….We live in a world where most people still subscribe to the belief that shame is a good tool for keeping people in line. Not only is this wrong, it’s dangerous…In fact, shame is much more likely to be the cause of destructive and hurtful behaviors than it is to be the solution.
Guilt and Shame
For those who are unfamiliar with the distinction between the two, guilt is often described as “I did something wrong” and shame is the sense of “I am a bad person.” I find that an important difference to understand, just as the differences between anxiety, worry, and panic are important to comprehend. In my experience, the nuances between related emotions can help us gain more clarity and self-awareness. And yet, I still resist seeing shame as inherently destructive.
One reason for that is that I simply can not label any of our emotions as negative. I reject what I see as the false duality between “good” emotions and “bad” ones. I know that some feelings are more comfortable than others, but that doesn’t make the uncomfortable ones bad. After all, pain (by definition) hurts, and it’s also one of our most important teachers. And while shame is one of the more challenging emotions to experience and sit with, I believe that what makes our feelings hurtful is how we act in response to them, not their existence.
When we characterize any of our emotions as destructive, negative, harmful, or hurtful, we cast them into the Shadow. We make it harder to listen to what they have to say, to learn from them, and to process them. Yes, shame is often painful to experience, but that’s one reason we need to develop shame resilience, rather than casting it aside as a negative force in our lives. As I’ve developed my capacity to sit with shame and hear the messages it offers, without either wallowing in it or exiling it, the more valuable it has become as one of my guides. When we stop fighting or running from our Shadows and become willing to listen to them, they often become our allies.
Is Shame a Noun or a Verb?
I think that one difficulty we face in doing this work is that we use the word “shame” as both a noun and a verb. We use it to talk about the feeling of shame, as well as the process of shaming another person, and that seems to be where a lot of the confusion comes from. I 100% agree with Brown that shaming is almost always destructive. Telling someone (or yourself) that they’re a bad person, that nobody will want to be with them or love them, that they’re sick/dirty/sinful/disgusting is not likely to inspire them to change for the better. At best, it motivates them to hide who and what they are, but that only reinforces the problem.
When we distinguish between the feeling of shame and the act of shaming, we can start creating language that makes room for the emotion as simply one more portion of our internal landscape. It’s neither good nor bad, even when it’s uncomfortable. We can also build tools for responding to the feeling without engaging in the act of shaming other people. That helps us take responsibility for ourselves.
“The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of the parents.”
Why Does This Matter?
Learning to accept our feelings as neither good nor bad, while working to increase our capacities to respond to them in ways that support growth, connection, and love, is part of emotional intelligence. Shame resilience and self-regulation are two aspects of this skill set and it’s been my experience that the more we see any of our feelings as negative, the harder they are to develop.
It’s also important because it lets us see that the use of shaming to control people is just as hurtful as physical violence. It might not be as visible, but it still leaves scars. Building new language around this can help us recognize these patterns and find new ways to act.
As part of that, I think it’s important to recognize that shame will happen, because it’s the emotion of disconnection. When someone whose positive regard we seek disengages from us, or disconnects from us, shame is often the result. As Gershen Kaufman puts it, it’s a rupture in the interpersonal bridge. But all relationships will have moments of misattunement and disconnection, which means that some feelings of shame are inevitable. Trying to avoid them leads to enmeshment and codependency. Building shame resilience and learning how to apologize and make amends will work a lot better because they make room for accidental stepping on toes. But we can’t do that if we vilify shame.
On the other hand, we don’t need to deliberately shame other people because if they want our positive regard, they’ll feel one of the shame emotions, such as guilt or embarrassment, when misattunements happen (unless they’re sociopaths). Finding out that I’ve done something that hurts someone I care for will trigger a shame emotion for me. It might be a small one, or it might be a big one. And the more shame resilience I’ve developed the larger the emotion I can process without slipping into a shame spiral. But in my view, the problem that Brown identifies isn’t that shame happens, but rather, that it happens beyond our ability to manage, just as anger beyond our ability to manage becomes rage and fear beyond our ability to manage becomes panic.
Instead of demonizing rage or panic, I think we need to ask what we can do to build our skill at managing anger and fear. And similarly, instead of saying that shame is destructive, I want to ask what we can each do to learn shame resilience and expand our capacities to move through shame.
For me, part of the answer is learning new skills to respond to and process my feelings of shame so that I don’t engage in the act of shaming myself or anyone else. It means learning fierce compassion and avoiding coddling myself or others when difficult conversations needs to happen. It means letting go of the world “should” and using language that honors diversity of experience. I’ve been working on this for many years and I expect this project to take the rest of my life.
Setting aside this one point, I continue to be a huge fan of Brene Brown’s work. Her books have been incredibly useful for me, and for everyone I’ve given them to. I’ve read a lot on the topic of shame, but nobody else offers as many tools for changing how we deal with it, how we build compassion for ourselves and others, and how we can move forward.
I also think that shifting our language to separate shame as the feeling and shaming as the action can help us recognize that they aren’t the same thing. My hope is that we can learn to let the emotion be part of our lives, while holding ourselves accountable for how we treat other people. And as part of that, I will continue to allow shame to be, without demonizing it. After all, that doesn’t seem to make it go away, so I might as well learn to be friends with it. Try it for yourself and see if any of your shames have anything useful to share. You might be surprised at what happens when you do. |
Adoptive mum speaks out about FASD
Helen is a North East mum whose three adopted children were all born with what she calls “the invisible disability.” As part of FASD (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) Awareness Day, Helen is sharing her story and calling on parents around the globe to have a safer pregnancy.
FASD is a term given for a range of preventable mental and physical disabilities that can be caused when a developing baby is exposed to alcohol in the womb.
“When we adopted our eldest daughter in 2000, no one mentioned FASD, so little was known about it back then. She had suffered neglect as a baby and we had so much love to give – as with all our children, we just wanted to provide them with a loving, safe and secure home.
“Life has been hard for the whole family. My husband and I have been under enormous stress and suffer huge anxiety about the present and the future for our kids. I love my children so much; it breaks my heart that they face so many challenges and find it hard to cope with everyday life because of something that is preventable.
“They have no major physical difficulties but even though they are young adults, they act much younger than their chronological age. It’s hard for other people to understand, and it’s hard to see them left out of social situations and not being part of things that should just be an everyday part of growing up.
“For the first 10 years, we had no major concerns about our eldest daughter. Around the time she started Secondary School, the bad behaviour started and she began getting into extreme rages, breaking things, lying and stealing. At school, she was very disorganised and struggled with her concentration. At home, there were occasions where she started pulling doors off hinges, making holes in the wall, throwing things and biting. Things became so hard. She still finds it hard to hold life together but is trying so hard now that she has a young child of her own. When she discovered she was pregnant, the first clear decision she made was that she would not drink in pregnancy and we’re so proud that she never touched alcohol while pregnant.
“Our son lives with severe learning difficulties and is very isolated. He doesn’t really have any friends and doesn’t leave the house, except to go to college. He also has sensory issues and is affected by bright lights and loud noises, labels in clothes – all sorts of everyday things. I feel for him so much, it is heart-breaking to see. Between home and college, his life is so small.
“Our youngest daughter also struggles with her friendship groups and has social issues. She has never been able to eat properly and lives with anxiety. When she was in year 10, she started refusing to go to school and dropped out. I cut back my hours at work so that I could be with her and home school her. Fortunately, she has just started college to study catering and I stay positive that it will work out for her. It’s hard having the worry of how she will manage at college, on top of everything else.
“I also worry that she is very vulnerable. Her judgement is poor, she has little reasoning or sense of consequence. At 16, she just says ‘you can’t stop me’, but it is a big concern as we know she isn’t equipped to deal with things.
“There are similarities between the three, but huge differences as well. FASD affects children in lots of ways. All three have poor Maths and reasoning skills, extreme impulsivity and a lack of empathy. It is hard for them to learn from the consequences of what they do.
“We pushed for answers, but it was hard to get the right support. After years of waiting, our children were all diagnosed with FASD around three years ago. It was incredibly emotional. Having the diagnosis has helped them and us enormously, and we have had some support since then. Now they better understand why they feel the way they do. It’s good to have some answers and some strategies, but it can be very isolating having kids with an invisible disability and it takes its toll on all the family.
“There are so many mixed messages out there about drinking and pregnancy. It is hard for women at an already confusing time. But my message to mums-to-be is that it’s not worth the risk. The damage of FASD is so intense and it is lifelong. No one would wish that on their child.”
The latest guidance updated in 2016 from the Chief Medical Officer, advises women that if they are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to the baby to a minimum.
However, the advice also states that women who find out they are pregnant after already having drunk during early pregnancy, should avoid further drinking, but should be aware that the risk of harm is likely to be low if they have drunk only small amounts of alcohol before they knew they were pregnant or during pregnancy.
- FASD is caused by a woman drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord. When a woman drinks alcohol, so does her baby.
- There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant. |
Shop owners have to know how much money they’re bringing in to develop financial plans and benchmarks. That’s where sales forecasting comes into play. Solid monthly and annual sales projections help to ensure you can cover costs throughout the year.
Kevin Donohoe, instructor and procedures consultant for the Educational Seminars Institute (ESI) and CEO of Pacific Motor Service in Monterey, Calif., discusses how you can forecast your shop’s sales, and how that serves as the basis for financial planning.
Forecasting sales is critical for managing your shop from a financial perspective. That’s what estimates the revenue your business will generate and the cash flow you’re likely to have on a monthly and annual basis. You need to know how much money you’re bringing in to make a plan for covering expenses and allocating or investing money. You have to have this foundational information in place in order to properly prepare, monitor and evaluate for the future. Otherwise, you could be overspending without knowing it, which will get you into trouble over time.
All shop owners should forecast sales on an annual basis for every month of the year. There are several factors to consider, and it can be fairly complicated. Here’s how to do it:
1. Assess sales history. Look at your gross revenue performance in previous months and years. Assess your five-year history to gain perspective on sales trends—whether sales tend to drop, increase or remain flat—year-over-year or during certain months or seasons. Understand the historical significance of your financial statements, and identify if they are good representations of your current business conditions. Put the most weight on the previous year’s performance. That’s the most relevant information to apply to your business for the new year.
2. Compare months. Sales should be forecast for each individual month. That’s because sales performance can change based on seasonal factors such as weather. So don’t base your projection for June on your performance in January. Instead, base each month’s projections on that same month’s performance from the prior year. For example, when forecasting for June 2013, assess your performance from June 2012.
3. Assess business changes. Identify whether you’ve had any business changes that will impact your sales performance compared with previous years. That could include staffing changes, facility changes or equipment additions that lead to more efficient work. It could also include new marketing initiatives, service offerings, partnerships or pricing structures that are expected to increase sales. Determine the impact those changes will have on revenue.
4. Assess market changes. Identify whether there are any market trends that might affect sales performance. For example, large hiring or firing trends or demographical changes in your community can have big impact on the repair market. In addition, new shops in town could add more competition and threaten sales.
5. Set goals. Look at whether you want to replicate past sales or increase by a certain percentage. If you hope to increase sales, outline exactly how that will happen. Highlight how you plan to increase the number of repair orders or the cost of each ticket. That’s critical to do because the sales forecast has to be based on realistic goals, not dreams.
Track your sales forecast on a daily and weekly basis to monitor your progress toward the monthly goal. Break that number down into smaller chunks by the number of workdays and the average number of repair orders you process. That tells you exactly how many jobs should be processed and how much revenue should be obtained every day.
Forecasting sales allows you to track trends to make better business decisions. Understanding your actual sales performance in relation to your forecast helps you know whether you need to make financial cutbacks, or if you can afford new investments. If sales are less than forecast, you know that an adjustment to reduce overhead costs needs to be made in order to stay on track financially. If sales are higher than expected, you may be able to afford to reinvest in the business for growth, such as hiring another employee or purchasing a new piece of equipment. If you’re paying attention to your benchmark daily and weekly, you can see certain conditions develop so that you can make the right adjustments and preparations proactively.
Shops should put a reporting process in place to track that through their management system. You can print spreadsheets, graphs and charts to visually monitor progress. That allows management and staff to know what sales look like each day, and how they’re actually performing in relation to the forecast. That way there are no surprises; everybody is clear on the financial performance, and what they can do to help achieve the ultimate goal. |
The resulting pain may be confused with heart-related pain. As always, a correct diagnosis is essential.
In this article, we look at what kinds of chest pain are normally associated with fibromyalgia. We also describe treatment options.
Fibromyalgia may cause pain throughout the body, including the chest.
People with fibromyalgia tend to have chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness that radiates throughout the body. Although it was once considered a noninflammatory illness, research from 2017 suggests that fibromyalgia causes widespread inflammation that is not detected by routine blood tests.
If fibromyalgia-related inflammation affects the cartilage that connects the upper ribs to the breastbone, this can result in costochondritis.
Fibromyalgia can also cause inflammation, pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms anywhere in the chest.
What does fibromyalgia chest pain feel like?
When first experiencing costochondritis or painful or restrictive chest symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, many worry that something is wrong with their lungs or that they are having a heart attack.
People tend to describe the pain as:
- confined to one spot, usually in the very center of the chest, but it may radiate outward
Symptoms of fibromyalgia chest pain
The severity of symptoms will generally depend on the extent of inflammation. This is true for symptoms of costochondritis and chest-related fibromyalgia symptoms.
The pain described above may:
- worsen with movement, deep breathing, or pressure
- come and go
- improve with shallow, steady breathing and rest
- begin in one place and radiate outward, impacting a larger area
- worsen when stretching, bending, or twisting
Pain caused by costochondritis may be felt either in the center of the chest or anywhere along the cartilage that runs between the sternum, or breastbone, and the ribs. |
The u. s. now has the foremost reported coronavirus cases within the world, surpassing China and Italy, with the three countries accounting for pretty much 1/2 the world’s infections.
The US has registered nearly 86,000 cases, including fewer than 800 recoveries, while China counted about 81,000 cases, over 74,000 of which had already recovered, per data collected by the Johns Hopkins University within the US. For its part, Italy has logged over 80,000 cases, with 10,360 recoveries and a few 8,200 deaths.
Coronavirus: Travel restrictions, border shutdowns by country
The US has registered about 1,300 deaths, almost 1 / 4 of them in ny City, where hospitals are overwhelmed.
In China, where the virus was believed to own been transferred from wild animals to humans, the National Health Commission on Friday reported 55 new cases, including 54 it said were imported infections in recent arrivals from overseas.
There were no new cases reported in Wuhan, the city where the coronavirus is reported to own emerged from late last year.
US coronavirus: New Orleans to be next epicentre, say officials (01:38)
US President Donald Trump, who had until recently insisted on calling the new coronavirus the “Chinese virus”, tweeted on Friday that he and China’s President Xi Jinping had “a superb conversation” and discussed “in great detail the CoronaVirus that’s ravaging large parts of our Planet.”
The economic damage from the pandemic was growing as a record-shattering 3.3 million US citizens applied for unemployment benefits in an exceedingly single week – nearly five times the old record, set in 1982.
Job losses have swept across sectors from food services to retail to transportation, as nearly 1/2 the country has closed to non-essential businesses.
“It is staggering. We are only seeing the initial numbers. they’ll aggravate, unfortunately,” ny Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters, estimating that half 1,000,000 people within the city would lose work.
But stock markets continued to get on Friday, with Asian bourses within the green after a 3rd straight day of rises on Wall Street.
Traders have taken heart from the passage through the Senate of a $2 trillion stimulus bill – the most important in US history, which is able to support the country’s businesses and supply cash payouts to people.
The rescue plan, which is predicted to be voted on within the House of Representatives on Friday, would initially dispense cheques of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. |
Model cars by Laegendary RC are something that manages to impress all ages, from children to adults. These cars are popular with both RC car enthusiasts and parents with elder children, usually 8 years and above. But those who are buying for the first time might wonder, are Legendary RC cars any good?
Laegendary RC cars are excellent RC model cars with overall positive reviews on the web from parents and collectors as proof. These cars are more child-friendly, easy to operate. Laegendery produce durable and tough models that can compete with the more reputable brands on the market.
It is normal to give your doubts a try before buying a model car for your kids or your collection. However, when you know more about the wonderful features of Laegendary RC cars, making a decision might become easier.
What Is Laegendary RC?
Laegendary RC is a toy company who create remote control model cars which are one-tenth, one-eighth, or one-sixteenth the size of a real car. That is to say, Laegendary RC cars can get pretty real when you take them out for a drive.
The company recommends their RC cars for ages eight and up. Although, it is equally appealing to the adult members of the family too. After all, these are not your average toys. They are loud, tough, fast, and sometimes fairly complicated.
Positive Reviews From Parents
Well, you can find reviews from parents who bought these cars for their kids, all over the web. None of them have pointed out the cars as hazardous for their children. Plus, there are many videos on YouTube and the company’s website showing kids playing with Laegendary RC Cars.
Laegendary RC’s cars are as tough as they look. They can run for long periods and through all kinds of weather, and, they can reach great speeds too.
The company provides its customers excellent service through its helpful website. There is a detailed user manual for every model RC car listed on their shop page. These are full e-books that answer all your questions about the car.
Besides text, they have a satisfactory number of how-to videos on their website. As mentioned earlier, RC cars are not your average toy. So, it takes a bit of learning to operate them. Laegendary RC has seen to that matter on their website.
From all the available Laegendary RC-related literature on the internet, you can gather that the company works toward the betterment of the childhood experience. Their products aim to develop a child’s imaginative and creative abilities.
What Is Good About Laegendary RC Cars?
There are many good reasons to spend your money on a Laegendary RC car. These are safe toys that you and your kids can play with for years to come. Besides, it has many other features like superior speed, running time, toughness, and look, that make this car an excellent collectible for any RC enthusiast.
Laegendary RC cars start at a hundred dollars and upwards. Most of the standard models are in the range of three to five hundred dollars. So, you might pause and wonder, “are Legendary RC Cars any good?” Will it be worth your money?
Well, here are a few good things about Laegendary RC Cars that might help you make your mind.
Friendly And Safe For Kids
Most other well-known brands recommend their RC vehicles for ages 14 and up. And even then, they prefer these kids to use their machines in the presence of someone more mature in age and intellect.
Meanwhile, Laegendary RC has manufactured products such that they can safely recommend them to kids who are eight years of age. And you can find positive reviews where parents of children as young as five years old have bought these cars for their kids.
Can Drive On Any Terrain
Laegendary RC cars can drive on all kinds of ground. From several inches of snow to rough, rocky roads, and sandy beaches or muddy playgrounds. Laegendary RC’s models can make it through every land variation.
Meanwhile, their high-performing electric circuitry and motor systems on the inside remain perfectly intact. So, you don’t have to worry about where you drive your car. Just be careful that it doesn’t fall into a pit or run off a cliff!
These RC cars can run for a long time. You can continuously drive a Laegendary RC car at top speed for around forty minutes. This is an impressive amount of time. Note that, there is no break in between. And rarely, someone would need to drive an RC car for forty minutes straight. Even if it’s a race.
This superior running quality is due to another interesting feature of Laegendary RC Cars. That is, you can simultaneously use two rechargeable batteries with the car. The double batteries provide more speed and longer run-time.
Superior Water Resistance
Many of the higher priced RC cars that claim waterproof quality, are only resistant to water up to a certain point. They won’t stand a chance in harsh conditions. Whereas, Laegendary RC cars are as resistant to water as their real-life counterparts.
You can drive a Laegendary RC car through small puddles in the playground or on the streets without worrying about any kind of damage. You can also race in heavy rainfall and through muddy watery tracks.
Fun Family Activity
Model RC Cars are adored by both adults and children. To kids, these cars are a source of wonder and amazement. Adults feel the same way too. But they are more awestruck by the spectacle of modern engineering and technology.
Due to this popularity across all age groups, these cars can be a wonderful and fun activity in which all family members can participate. As both of you will be playing with the same toy, this is a very effective way to bond with your small children.
Brushed And Brushless motors
The company makes RC cars that use brushed and brushless motors. Brushed motors are classic DC motors. This motor makes your model RC sound like a real-life road-raging car.
On the other hand, those who are not a fan of the noise can opt for models with brushless motors. These motors are specially built for noise reduction. If your neighbourhood has a strict policy on decibels, then the brushless motor models will be your safe choice.
Brushless motors are faster and last longer than brushed motors
Easy To Handle Remote Control
Some RC car brands make their remote controls overly complicated. It would take you a few go’s just to get the feel of how the remote control works. Moreover, many of these remote controls require both hands to operate them.
Laegendary RC make their remote controls look like pistols. You can hold them in one hand and run your car. Getting a grasp of the control would not take you more than a few minutes. Not to mention, it has a great range of 250 feet and above.
The dual-speed mode is another good reason to buy a Laegendary RC car. There is a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode. Both have different purposes.
A low-speed mode is essentially a learning mode. You learn how to drive the car using a convenient speed. Driving an RC car in an outdoor situation poses many challenges. And this mode comes in handy to practice your skills.
High-speed mode on a Laegenedary RC car might be overwhelming to beginners. These cars easily reach a speed of 30 mph. Depending on the terrain, battery charge, and internal condition of the car, the speed can very well cross this level.
Help Improve Your Child’s Cognitive And Motor Skills
Controlling an RC car in an outdoor situation is challenging even for adults. At high speeds and long range, you need to skillfully align your mind and body to drive your car well or win a race. So, it can be quite a learning session for your kids when they play with a Laegendary RC car.
Young children can work on their focusing, operating, and controlling skills by driving an RC car outdoors. It teaches how to react instantly in sudden situations and develops good cognitive and motor reflexes.
It’s wise to wonder ‘are Laegendary RC Cars any good?’ before you spend some hard-earned money on one of their products.
However, considering the family friendliness of these model RC cars, you can’t go wrong with choosing a Laegendary RC car for your child, or even yourself!
I feel that you can’t go wrong with this brand, especially if you are new to RC cars. They are well priced, well built, and have attributes that some of the more established brands have. |
As our struggling contractors emerge from the dark days of the COVID world, winning contracts will be more important than ever before to business success. Successful tendering will be the key to keeping your people and plant productive and making the most of government’s investment in public sector shovel-ready projects.
However, survivors of contracting lockdown are finding a changed world in tendering. Despite the economic squeeze, government initiatives to pull the focus away from cheapest price are becoming embedded. At last, companies can win contracts based on their ability to deliver long-term benefits to our environment, our communities and our regional economies.
Government agencies are now charged with rewarding contractors who can deliver on the Government’s Broader Outcomes, comply with the Supplier Code of Conduct, and deliver resilient, long-term value in a range of non-traditional areas. To rise to this challenge, you’ll first need to understand what they’re looking for – and then you’ll need to be able to show that you can deliver it!
What are the Broader Outcomes? In late 2018, the Government recognised that its procurement activities can and should be used to support wider social, economic, cultural and environmental outcomes that go beyond the immediate purchase of goods and services. These four priority outcomes were identified as the initial focus in public sector procurement:
- Increasing access for New Zealand businesses
- Construction skills and training
- Improving conditions for New Zealand workers
- Reducing emissions and waste.
These outcomes are incorporated in the 4th edition of the Government Procurement Rules. To score well, tenderers need to be clear on how they are delivering these outcomes in their community, and how they will use the contract to increase their commitment to these outcomes.
For many contractors, this is a new business approach. Adapting existing material and business practices to address these outcomes isn’t easy. But many businesses take for granted what they already contribute in these areas; they just need help to explain their commitment to Broader Outcomes in a way that will boost their tender scores.
With a little lateral thinking, we help them describe how they meet these outcomes, identify how their efforts are making a difference and what other investments they’ll make into staff well-being, environmental, social and ethical outcomes. It is a source of great pride for many small firms that they are making a solid effort. They realise they are taking an active role in delivering these outcomes and improving the lives of their staff and communities.
Demonstrating commitment to these outcomes can – and does – make the difference between winning and losing a tender. Developing tendering material that show-cases your company’s contributions is not a nice to do, it is a necessary investment in getting across the line.
Government agencies are also required to implement the Supplier Code of Conduct. This is becoming an essential requirement which suppliers must not only agree to, but must demonstrate their compliance to within tender documents.
Supplier Code of Conduct
The Supplier Code of Conduct outlines the expectations the government has of its suppliers and the suppliers must make their subcontractors aware of this code. Each government agency is responsible for implementing this code, which includes:
- Ethical behaviour
- Labour and human rights
- Health, safety and security
- Environmental sustainability
- Corporate social responsibility.
Since 2018, tender documents have increased their focus on compliance to these requirements, not only within tenderers’ own businesses, but also through their supply chain. Having a clear and detailed explanation of how your company meets each of these requirements will be critical before contracts are awarded by government agencies in future.
This is an area that contracting companies should develop as soon as possible, to be ready to win tenders in the next few months.
Encouraging local businesses and boosting regional economies is also a hot priority for government procurement. The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) objectives are:
- Creating jobs leading to sustainable economic growth
- Increasing social inclusion and participation
- Enabling Māori business participation in public sector contracts
- Encouraging environmental sustainability and helping New Zealand meet climate change commitments alongside productive use of land, water and other resources
- Improving resilience, particularly of critical infrastructure, and by diversifying our economy.
To meet these objectives, clever contractors are actively submitting tenders that preferentially use local Tier 2 & 3 subcontractors, suppliers and staff. This actively maximises the value of the PGF spend that stays in their region, for the benefit of the entire region.
Although the key economic benefit of a PGF investment may be focused on development of roads and infrastructure to benefit tourism and business development, other, closer-to-home, flow-on benefits are just as important to create and maintain flourishing, vibrant local communities.
With a slice of the local funding pie allocated to our Tier 2 and 3 tenderers, there’s often a better chance that the funding benefit trickles down into specific local communities, both centralised and rural. Public sector agencies will favour companies that actively support sponsorship or community events and facilities, use and train local contractors, employ Māori and Pasifika peoples, and provide opportunities for social enterprises such as providing training for those who are disadvantaged, aged, or past offenders.
Understandably for councils, the priority will be to keep their investments within the local economy. They want to see the profits invested back into local communities, creating employment and sustainability – rather than departing overseas or even into another provincial area.
Lowest price hangover
There’s no doubt that traditional tender processes have been driven by lowest price, particularly for cash-strapped councils with elected members conscious that short-term savings are their best chance of minimising rates rises and getting re-elected. Unfortunately, that short-term focus may yet be the biggest hurdle to fair and equitable delivery of the Government’s Broader Outcomes, Suppler Code of Conduct and PGF objectives.
The flaw in simply super-imposing Government’s new requirements on tendering processes is that the cost of delivering these outcomes will most likely be foisted on the contractors, with little or no provision for cost recovery in the tender schedule.
In recent years, this mindset has undoubtedly contributed to many New Zealand construction companies going to the wall – resulting in increased contract costs, and ultimately causing significant collateral damage to the communities served by them. Even during past good times, we saw many companies that appeared to be secure and viable go under. Notable names like Arrow, Ebert, Corbel, Mainzeal, Orange H, Stanley Group and many others spring to mind. The cut-throat, lowest price driven tendering processes that push all risk onto the contractor, must shoulder a fair proportion of the blame for their demise.
Our tenderers need transparency around Government agencies’ commitment to award contracts in line with their prescribed tender evaluation method. True buy-in to the Government Procurement Rules (especially Broader Outcomes) will only be possible when accompanied by move away from lowest price tendering.
One way to rationalise the commitment by both sides is for Government agency tenders to include a schedule line item in their pricing for Broader Outcomes Commitment. Tenderers could provide their own $ commitment for that item for the contract, making it a tangible item that can be quantitively compared to other tenders. The tenderer can then describe how they might allocate the funds.
To make this work, the tendering Government agency should also have a commitment or pledge to at least match the contractor commitment.
Across the Plan A tendering team, we’re working closely to develop strong and compelling responses to new tenders laden with Broader Outcomes, Supplier Code of Conduct compliance, and PGF fund objective requirements. It’s incredibly rewarding when that effort is recognised with a tender win – especially when price is no longer the determinant.
Will our local and central government agencies also put their money where their mouth is – and give a clear signal of their equal commitment to positive outcomes for their region? |
As with any medication, you should follow the dosage instructions that come with your Zyrtec and consult your veterinarian if you are in doubt or want further advice. But how much Zyrtec can you give a dog?
How many Zyrtec tablets can I give my dog?
The recommended dose is 0.5 mg per pound of body weight once or twice a day, and the maximum dosage of Zyrtec should not exceed 20 mg. So if your dog weighs 20 pounds, you could give him a single 10 mg tablet.
Can dogs overdose on Zyrtec?
Zyrtec is very safe and effective for dogs, but it can be toxic when ingested in large amounts. If you suspect that your dog has eaten too much Zyrtec, take him to the vet as soon as possible.
What are the side effects of Zyrtec in dogs?
The main side effects of Zyrtec include drowsiness and dry mouth, but these are usually mild and tend to go away after a few days of treatment. Zyrtec is not recommended for dogs that are hypersensitive to cetirizine or other antihistamines.
Other less common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. In rare cases, dogs may experience serious side effects such as seizures or low blood pressure.
Does Zyrtec help dogs with itching?
Yes, but it is not a cure for dog allergies. It is a medication used to ease the symptoms of allergies.
Zyrtec is sometimes prescribed for dogs as a treatment for atopic dermatitis, which is a skin condition characterized by itching and inflammation of the skin. It’s not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose but has been shown to be effective in some cases.
Benadryl vs Zyrtec for dogs
For dogs, Benadryl and Zyrtec are both antihistamines. They work by blocking histamine, a chemical released in the body during an allergic reaction. Histamine can cause itching, swelling, redness and other symptoms of allergies.
Benadryl is a brand name for diphenhydramine while Zyrtec is a brand name for cetirizine. Both medications are available over-the-counter at most pet pharmacies and usually come in liquid or chewable tablet form.
Diphenhydramine is an older drug and has been used as a sedative for decades. Cetirizine does not have this effect, but it does have fewer side effects than diphenhydramine.
Some dogs do better on one medication than the other, but there is no way to know until you try them out yourself.
Zyrtec and Benadryl together for dogs?
It is not recommended to give your dog both medications at the same time. The combination of both medications could cause an overdose or toxic reaction.
It is advised to give Benadryl or any other antihistamine at least 8 or 12 hours before or after giving Zyrtec. They also block histamines but have different properties, which may lead to a negative interaction if taken together.
Both medications should be avoided in dogs with heart disease or seizure disorders due to their potential for increasing heart rate and lowering blood pressure.
What is a natural antihistamine for dogs?
There are several natural antihistamines that can be used to help dogs with allergies. These include:
These organisms help to improve the immune system. Most dogs will benefit from probiotics in some way, but they are especially useful for dogs with allergies.
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that have many health benefits including reducing inflammation and allergies. It also helps to promote circulation in your dog’s body which helps them feel better overall.
Chamomile is an herb that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It can be added to your dog’s water or food, but do not give it straight from the tea bag because it may be too concentrated. You can also add chamomile extract to your dog’s treat recipes to give him relief from his symptoms.
Licorice root is another herb that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and it has anti-inflammatory properties which can help relieve allergies in dogs.
Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant that can be found in many fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory and to help with allergies and asthma. Quercetin can also be used to treat eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.
Quercetin is safe for dogs to take as a supplement or in food. It is non-toxic and does not affect the liver or kidneys like some other medications do. It also doesn’t have any side effects like vomiting or diarrhea that some other medications do.
It’s important to note that quercetin can interfere with some medications by making them less effective or even causing dangerous side effects. If you’re giving your dog any medications, talk to your veterinarian before adding quercetin to his diet. |
Almost one in four drivers in road accidents in Devon are aged between 16 and 25, new figures reveal.
We analysed data on more than one million road accidents between 2010 and 2016, and found that a total of 31,592 cars, lorries, motorbikes and other vehicles have been involved in accidents in Devon.
Some 6,815 of these vehicles were driven by young drivers, or 22 per cent of the total.
Torridge and West Devon had the highest shares at 23 per cent, while Exeter had the lowest at 20 per cent.
In Plymouth the share of vehicles driven by young drivers was 21 per cent.
In general the parts of Britain that had the highest shares of young drivers involved in accidents tended to be more rural areas of Britain.
Young men were more likely to get into accidents in the county than young women, something that was typical across Britain.
Across Britain some 19 per cent of drivers involved in accidents were young people.
The highest proportion was in the Shetland Islands followed by Blaenau Gwent, south Wales.
The highest share in any major city was Swansea, with young people behind the wheel of 23 per cent of vehicles involved in accidents.
A spokesperson for Brake, the road safety charity said: “These figures are very worrying. As a charity that supports road crash victims and bereaved families, we know only too well the heartache and suffering caused by needless crashes involving young and inexperienced drivers.
“Young drivers are at high risk due to many reasons, including overconfidence, lack of experience, and a tendency to take risks.
“Brake has long campaigned for Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), a life-saving policy that tackles young driver crashes by providing a minimum-length supervised learning period and allowing new drivers to build up their skills and experience gradually, while limiting exposure to some of the highest risk situations, such as night-time driving.
“GDL is already in place in many countries worldwide, where it is proven to reduce young driver casualties.” |
What is Art. And it won't be fair to think of it as the same as analogy or simile. The disappearance Similarities Between Macbeth And Lady Macbeth Anthony 'AJ' Elfalak pictured has haunting similarities Similarities Between Macbeth And Lady Macbeth the suspected abduction of toddler William Tyrrell Valley Forge Dbq Analysis seven years Pros And Cons Of Biometrics to the day. Romeo's infatuation with her stands in obvious contrast to his later love for Juliet. Retrieved Similarities Between Macbeth And Lady Macbeth January Similarities Between Macbeth And Lady Macbeth She introduced changes to the story, Similarities Between Macbeth And Lady Macbeth that of presenting the two families Similarities Between Macbeth And Lady Macbeth multiracial. When it comes to metaphors, people usually think Similarities Between Macbeth And Lady Macbeth terms of poetry, or musical lyrics, or grammar. How to give citation in essay. |
I am struggling with the most essential question: how do you begin? I can’t even write this without overthinking how to start. You find yourself so intimidated by a blank canvas and a thousand potential directions. You edit and re-edit until you get frustrated and throw them all away, because after a certain point you feel like you stop making sense. So how do you solve that?
I met with a handful of classmates to talk about brainstorming and problem solving strategies. Where do you begin? How do you decide how to proceed? Everyone seemed to approach it differently, but everyone seemed to gain something learning how others worked. It seems to me that students can learn more studying other artists’ process than they can by studying their finished pieces.
So here’s what we got out of it:
Writing can open up your mind. Word associations, literary devices, synonyms, antonyms, onomonopias, hyperboles, personification, etc. Making lists and checklists, write critiques, recording things and returning to them with a fresh mind later.
Remembering the principals and elements of design to help hone your purpose and help eliminate superfluous features.
Relating imagery to push things farther. Get weird with it. Using google image search or looking through your own library of collected photos or artists can take you places you weren’t expecting to go. Setting up your workspace to be surrounded by inspiration, weather it’s from artists or your personal experiences.
Creating limitations for yourself with mediums, elements, etc. so that you are forced to experiment with what you have. It will keep your experiments controlled and force you to work differently.
Making duplicates with slight variations in composition or color. This can create dialogue or solutions for later projects. Using digital tools can help you visualize variations quickly without altering the original. Or make adjustments with elements and experiment with layers using tracing paper if you prefer to work with paper.
So how do you begin? How do you simplify a thousand possibilities? |
- Spray impingement cooling has been shown to be a leading candidate for future high heat flux cooling applications. In general, spray cooling curves consist of three heat flux regimes; single-phase, two-phase and critical heat flux (CHF). CHF is considered the design limit for almost all two-phase cooling applications, as a rapid increase in temperature and decrease in heat flux occurs beyond this point.
Recent studies have shown that the addition of micro-structures on the impingement surface can enhance heat transfer relative to a smooth surface. In the present study, spray cooling curves are obtained for two micro-structured surfaces and are compared to smooth surface results. Micro-structured surfaces consisted of bio-inspired fractal-like geometries, denoted as grooves and fins, extending in a radial direction from the center to the periphery of a 37.8 mm circular disc. Depending on the
location on the surface, dimensions of groove widths and heights varied from 100 to 500
μm, and 30 to 60 μm, respectively. Fin width and height dimension remained constant
throughout the surface at 127 and 60 μm, respectively.
Heat flux and wall temperature at the impingement surface were calculated from
temperature data measured at multiple locations below the impingement surface. Results
are presented as heat flux, q" , versus the wall-to-spray temperature difference, ΔT[subscript w], at
each of 5 volume flux, Q", conditions ranging from 0.54 to 2.04 x 10⁻³ m³/m²s. Convection coefficients, h[subscript cv], and spray efficiencies, η, are also presented for each case as a function of q" and ΔT[subscript w] , respectively. Results of the study indicate that at low and high volume fluxes, an improvement in heat transfer occurs in the single-phase regime for the fin geometry. Enhancement in
the single-phase regime did not occur at the intermediate volume flux condition of 1.37 x
10⁻³ m³/m²s. At all volume flux states tested, significant enhancements, as high as 50%
in some cases, were observed in the two-phase regime for the fin structure, whereas the
groove structure performed identically to the flat surface in the single-phase regime and
exhibited a large degradation in the two-phase and critical heat flux regimes (~50%).
Critical heat flux for the fin surface compared to the flat surface was slightly lower at low
volume flux conditions, equivalent at the intermediate volume flux, and slightly greater at
high volume flux conditions. Further investigations into the underlying mechanisms
responsible for these results are needed. |
by Leslie Horton, MA, MCHES, Director Yavapai County Community Health Services
With the holiday season upon us, many people are hoping to take a break from social distancing for some much-needed family time. There are no easy ways to make plans right now — especially if you or someone in your family is at high risk for serious illness or complications from COVID-19.
To close a very challenging year, we all need things to look forward to, often including our beloved annual traditions with family members. Together, we can all decide to celebrate responsibly while keeping cautious protocols in place that will result in everyone experiencing the joy of the season while feeling healthy and connected.
Here are some ways to enjoy the holidays keeping health and safety in mind:
Plan ahead. If you can manage outdoor gatherings for the majority of your guests, this would be the ideal scenario. For those coming from outside your household or family circle, request when possible, that they wear masks, especially when not able to distance from others.
Protect your older and more vulnerable family members. Older adults and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are far more likely to experience severe COVID-19 symptoms and complications. If possible, avoid close quarters interaction with these individuals. If the decision is made to visit older adults in person, practice social distancing, and mask wearing is extremely important.
If hosting or participating in any in-person festivities, be sure you and your household are not currently sick, have not been diagnosed with COVID-19, and are not under a quarantine or isolation period. Limit hugging those most vulnerable to illness, and consider allowing some people to attend virtually.
If planning a sit-down meal, limit the number of attendees. Try to seat people in a well-ventilated or outdoor area that is not enclosed, especially when hosting people not from your immediate household. Consider going on a hike together following the meal or a neighborhood walk to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, rather than sitting together for a prolonged period of time in close proximity.
Take care of yourself and do things you enjoy with people you enjoy, while helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Read your favorite story, share favorite memories, reach out to friends and family who live at a distance, go for a walk, be active, and stay connected through healthy activities, laughter and creating new memories.
Holiday travel tips:
- Stay local if at all possible.
- Wear masks, social distance, use sanitizer, and follow airline guidelines if traveling by airplane.
- If traveling by car with people outside of the household, take precautions.
- If inside a vehicle with people outside your household, wear masks and increase ventilation.
Food safety tips:
- Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces. Ask guests to use their clean silverware to serve.
- Wash hands before and after food prep, serving and eating food.
- Instead of potluck styles gatherings, encourage guests to bring wrapped food containers.
- If serving food, consider having one person serve food to all in attendance to limit multiple people handling the food.
- Wear a mask if serving or preparing food.
- If you choose to use reusable items, wash and disinfect them after the event.
- Consider having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with friends and family.
- Shop online instead of in-person the day after Thanksgiving.
- Watch sports events, parades and movies from home.
- Stay in touch by text, virtual meetings, phone calls, letters. |
It’s hard to believe that there was once a time when it was widely believed that dogs (or any animal, for that matter) didn’t feel pain like humans do. Thanks to the many advances in the fields of veterinary science and animal behavior, we now know that our pets experience pain the same way we do.
Pain not only impacts your dog’s quality of life, it can actually limit his or her ability to heal effectively. We all want to provide our dogs with happy, healthy lives, therefore it’s absolutely crucial that we identify, treat, and prevent pain.
Dogs experience pain for many of the same reasons humans do. Some pain is temporary (acute) while other types of pain can be long-term (chronic). Common causes of pain in dogs include:
- Dental problems
- Kidney stones
- Ear infections
- Eye problems
- Bladder infections
- Pain following surgery
Identifying Pain In Dogs
Because animals have evolved to hide illness and pain from their peers and predators, pet owners are often unaware that their dog is in pain until the underlying condition has become advanced.
Understanding the warning signs that your dog might be in pain is key in catching and treating an illness or disease early.
Symptoms of pain in dogs include:
- Vocalization (whining, howling, crying)
- Limping or altered gait
- Obsessively licking or pawing an area of the body
- Loss of appetite
- Growling, snapping, or other signs of aggression
- Hiding or decreased social interaction
- Other behavioral changes
What To Do If Your Dog Is In Pain
Sometimes pet pain can constitute a medical emergency, and other times chronic or non-emergency pain can be dealt with at a slower pace. If you believe your dog is hurting, we offer the following advice:
Call us – Whether or not the situation is urgent, your first step should be to give us a call. We can answer questions, set up appointments, or guide you over the phone in an emergency situation.
Don’t medicate your dog – It’s never a good idea to attempt to treat your dog’s pain with medications you may have in the home. Many human medications are either harmful to pets or need to be administered in different doses. NEVER give ibuprofen or Tylenol to your dog or cat as they can be lethal. Even pet medications are sometimes inappropriate depending on the circumstance and can actually interfere with further treatment. |
The Tonga Meteorological Service is warning people in the kingdom to be vigilant as it forecasts Tropical Cyclone Sarai to reach Tongatapu this afternoon.
Formerly a category two system, the cyclone has now been downgraded to category one, although it is still generating sustained winds of 85km/h with gusts reaching up to 120km/h.
Sarai’s centre is expected to be about 15km west of Nuku’alofa at 1pm local time today.
The storm is moving east southeast at 12km/h.
Authorities in Tonga are urging all islands to be prepared as the cyclone’s track could change at any moment and mariners are strongly advised not to venture out to sea especially in smaller fishing boats.
“They said the track of this tropical cyclone is uncertain so we have prepared the whole of the island groups, get ready and prepared for this cyclone,” Tonga National Emergency Management Committee chief executive Paula Ma’u said.
Meanwhile, flights to Tonga have been disrupted by the approaching cyclone in Nuku’alofa with many returning family members and visitors travelling from the United States and Australia via Fiji stranded in Nadi.
A direct flight from Australia that was supposed to have arrived on Sunday was also suspended with the airline saying it would not be considering rescheduling it for 48 hours.
Authorities estimate about 300 incoming and outgoing travellers have been affected by the cancellations. |
J’ACCUSE: AUSTRALIA’S GREAT CRIME AGAINST THE JOBLESS
The creation and perpetuation of the passive welfare underclass and the urgent need for a universal Job Guarantee.
I honour the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation: and bring greetings from Cape York Peninsula.
The descendants of Renate Kamener honour me with this privilege of speaking in her memory as an inveterate champion of human rights. It is fitting my subject today is a human right that near disappeared from rights talk in the last quarter of the twentieth century, and barely resurfaced in these first two decades of the twenty-first: the human right to a job.
Thankyou Martin and Larry for this invitation to tread briefly the path of your mother. I will endeavour to emulate some of her fearlessness and conviction in the dignity of all humans.
I thank Larry and my Boston Consulting Group family here in Melbourne and Sydney. Your support is now 22 years long, since I entered the circle of friendship of Colin Carter at a gathering in Weipa at the turn of the century, when BCG first committed to support our Cape York Agenda. Let me thank Colin for his steadfast love. For me and my people. He and BCG have been a great succour to our work.
Before making my argument proper, when asked by Larry and Martin last year to nominate a topic for this oration I confess my temper was febrile, because I chose to evoke Zola’s 1898 accusations in the Dreyfus Case, against those at whose feet I will argue responsibility for the needless destruction of needless joblessness might properly be laid. After six months of reflection I have not resiled from my accusations, but let me first accuse myself: for not waking up to this argument sooner. Much effort has been in vain and many lives and futures squandered as long as we have not prosecuted the case for the human right to a job. A human right of all Australians. A human right systematically denied to generations of Australian citizens from the lowest bottom of Australian society.
Let me make a second preliminary point about my conviction that Australia’s remote communities desperately need a government jobs program – the single most decisive reform if we are serious about the fate of these communities.
If leaders are dealers in hope then the unabating problems of despair in Australia’s remote communities, exemplified by the recent media concerning Yuendumu, leaves the nihilists who say “fuck hope” in commanding authority – because the facts on the ground support them rather than those erstwhile leaders, like me, who try to deal in hope. Yuendemu is only the latest instalment in a decades long story of despair and long tolerance of misery and destruction of lives.
Little has changed for the better and much for the worse. The key numbers are all worse today than the year 2000.
The Liberal National Coalition has been as impotent as Labor in the past. There I’ve said it. At the state and territory level as well as the Commonwealth. Each is partly right in their own way. Each is wrong-headed in their own way. Both end up being neglectful and putting the misery of remote communities in the too-hard basket.
And the one thing we have not done is ensured that people in remote communities have the jobs they need to get out of welfare dependency.
From the press conferences we are encouraged to believe Australia has recovered strongly from the pandemic. We are told Australia’s job “generation performance has outpaced every single G7 economy during the two years of the global pandemic” and unemployment is at a thirteen-year low.
But despite the policy insights enabled by the pandemic, Australia is contemplating returning to the past in at least one important respect: a state of affairs in which a significant cohort of Australians are deliberately kept unemployed, so the rest of us can enjoy stable prices. That this cohort is slightly smaller than in the past hides a more complex and ugly reality, because although unemployment has decreased, hours worked have decreased and underemployment has increased. There is an ongoing tacit acceptance that there will always be Australians relegated to permanent unemployment, and therefore poverty and hopelessness.
I too accepted the prevailing economic orthodoxy that tells us we must keep a ‘buffer stock’ of Australians unemployed to maintain stable prices. I was diverted, along with everyone else, by the ideas that justified permanent structural unemployment for the lowest classes in Australia. I swallowed the fiction that full employment wasn’t about every person who wants work having work, but that it was some unfixed number determined by the country’s economic managers to be around 95 per cent of the workforce with 5 per cent unemployed – the so-called ‘Natural Rate’ of unemployment, or NAIRU. I accepted that government could not and should not be an employer of last resort for those for whom the market could not and did not provide jobs. I accepted what we were told were the fiscal constraints on the government’s capacity to afford a full employment program. Moreover, I internalised the general disdain with which public job programs came to be viewed; they were ‘make-work’, involving ‘painting rocks’ and so on. I had, of course, internalised the argument of the economists about the trade-off between employment and inflation and that managing inflation was the first and last imperative.
The economic orthodoxy, which for too long I took as gospel, was bolstered by the political rhetoric that demonised the unemployed. For close to fifty years, we, the elites who have never had it better for ourselves and for our own families, have been convinced by the policy ideas that permeate the nostrums of our culture – and we have come to convince ourselves and other Australians of these same nostrums – that unemployment is an individual shortcoming. Australia is a country of lifters and “leaners”, we have been told. The leaners are “dole bludgers”, lazy, indolent and ill-disciplined. This language entered general parlance with the emergence of structural unemployment in the 1970s. “Dole bludgers” entered the Australian English lexicon at the same time as “scroungers” in Britain and “welfare queens” in America. They have little to offer the nation and are happy to suck money from the pockets of hard-working Australians. They could find a job if they just lifted themselves up by their bootstraps. This all-pervasive narrative not only absolved government of responsibility for unemployment but allowed politicians to direct Australian’s fears and economic securities towards those apparently sucking on the government’s teat. If only Australia’s leaners would do their share of the lifting.
What this narrative elides is there aren’t enough jobs for all Australians, especially those without qualifications:
Over the past 15 years entry level jobs have collapsed by 50%
In June 2021, there were 12 job seeker applicants for each entry level vacancy
It now takes an average of 4.7 years for a young person to move into a full-time job after completing their education
None of my argument here today is new. Many campaigners for social justice have made the argument for government to step up and become the employer of last resort for the benefit of the lowest and most parlous, needy bottom of society – here and throughout the western world – to no avail. It was the subject of the last campaign of Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jnr, who together with trade unionists A Phillip Randolph and Bayard Rustin published the Freedom Budget in 1967, proposing a job guarantee for every American in need of work. This advocacy was continued by his widow, Corretta Scott King – to no avail.
As always, Dr King summed up the hypocrisy of the situation the best when he said: “It’s all right to tell a man to lift himself up by his own bootstraps, but it’s cruel to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps.”
The truth is unemployment is an economic problem, not a moral one. And the decision to solve it sits with government on behalf of any good society. The Commonwealth has the power to end unemployment for the most needy in Australia, but there has been a bipartisan resistance to using its power.
I have spent more than two decades lamenting what I came to call passive welfare. It was my conviction that passive welfare is a scourge, not just for my people but for all disadvantaged Australians regardless of colour or ethnicity – and my convictions about this remain undimmed. It is the central problem that must be solved to tackle poverty and social exclusion in our nation. We must end passive welfare if we want our country to be a great country for all of us.
Furthermore, I always understood the recipients of passive welfare were not to blame for their situation. They were victims of the policy and economic structures that relegated them to the mendicancy of a handout rather than the handup of a job. I know this is not a moral failing as it is too often characterised.
My position is between the old left and the old right on this question.
I agree with the left that the origins of the problem of welfare dependency are structural and that people are not to blame for the society and economy’s failure to provide jobs for all. Too many people on the right are in denial about the structural cause of the problem and only want to see it as a failure of personal responsibility.
I agree with the right that long-term welfare dependency erodes personal responsibility and mastery, that it is corrosive to individuals, their families and their communities, and produces family and social breakdown with all of its attendant social problems. Too many people on the left are in denial about the effect of dependency on the collapse of personal responsibility and want to see it as a failure of structural opportunity and of inequality alone. Furthermore, too many people on the left think that the solution is income alone rather than work, which is why there are public campaigns for raising unemployment benefits and for universal basic incomes, but no campaigns for jobs.
The negative intergenerational effects of passive welfare are real. The left’s denial of this reality is matched by the right’s hypocrisy in blaming the jobless for their predicament while simultaneously running an economic policy that keeps a “buffer stock” of citizens deliberately unemployed. Let me be clear again: welfare dependency is not the fault of the unemployed. It is a structural problem and, fundamentally, a policy choice. And the best solution to welfare dependency is to provide the unemployed jobs.
It is no coincidence that the word “dole bludger” was invented in the 1970s shortly after the abandonment of the commitment to full employment. Before this, unemployment was seen for what it truly is – an economic problem that could be solved through fiscal and monetary action.
When Prime Minister John Curtin introduced unemployment benefits in 1945, they were not meant to be a permanent destination. They were a temporary safety net measure that would help people to live in between work and during sickness.
Curtin lived through the Depression and witnessed first-hand the devastating consequences of mass unemployment. To build an equitable and productive Australia, he knew, first and foremost, every person had to be offered a job. It was against this background of full employment that welfare was introduced.
Curtin saw employment as a right of every Australian – he said: “The Commonwealth Government recognises every Australian’s right, not merely to unemployment benefits, but to work”. And he was willing to use all available levers to create full employment.
It was clear Curtin and Chifley believed that over time social security payments would become less necessary. Why? Because government would use its policy tools and financial power to ensure and create full employment.
This transformative approach led to a period of unprecedented productivity, with an average unemployment rate of 2% into the early 1970s. It was a golden era overseen by governments that used the Commonwealth’s financial muscle to bring about growth, productivity and prosperity.
Compare this to the Australia of the past 40 years:
We have locked out the lowest strata of our society from the opportunities of Australian life. We have come to accept that they will be denied a fundamental right of their citizenship, to have a job and earn a living wage. We have come to believe they are a different species of Australian citizen, who do not need the same opportunities we have. They can live with deprivations that the rest of us would find impossible.
The human catastrophe wrought in the passive welfare era is enormous. Putting aside the original peoples, it would have been unimaginable to Curtin and Chifley, who used the Commonwealth’s power to create and deliver opportunity.
In the 1970s, a new economic orthodoxy emerged, marking the victory of the ideas of Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman over the Keynesians of the post-war era. Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw tell the story of how the neoliberals waged a relentless war of ideas against Keynes from the midst of the Second World War. Their 1998 book, The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy, tells how the Keynesian post-war consensus dominated economics around the world. In the 1980s however, Hayek and Friedman took the commanding heights and became the demigods of economics for the next forty years, unto this day.
Since 1975, Australian policy makers have taken unemployment to mean an unemployment rate of 5 per cent more or less. But whether this 5 per cent is right or wrong is neither here nor there for elites like us, as the devastation wrought by these policies is of little concern to us.
As John Kenneth Gilbraith observed: “Unemployment is rarely considered desirable except by those who have not experienced it.”
To us elites, the unemployed are not a group of fellow humans left to suffer on the periphery of the Australian economy, they are the economic policy tool of choice in a faux war against inflation.
The politicians and technocrats who allowed this social disaster to play out have never been held to account for what was done – and is still being done. They destroyed lives. I could take you on a tour of the graves of many of the victims who I knew and who I loved and for whom I grieve.
They did this so that the rest of us prospered from the economy they presided over. Reflect on the obscenity: the most disadvantaged propped up the macroeconomic system to manage wages and inflation: 3 to 5 per cent of the country enable the 95 per cent to enjoy the advantages and prosperity that are the right of all Australians but not available to all. Whenever an Australian politician approves of employment numbers that are less than full employment, they are essentially saying that it is acceptable and correct that this 3 to 5 per cent be excluded from the life-sustaining opportunities other Australians enjoy.
This underclass suffers these problems intergenerationally and the country has no solution for them. This much the Productivity Commission admitted in its pre-pandemic 2018 report on Rising Inequality: “About three per cent of Australians (roughly 700,000 people) have been in income poverty continuously for the last four years. People living in single parent families, unemployed people, people with disabilities and Indigenous Australians are particularly likely to experience income poverty, deprivation and social exclusion.”
What is not admitted is that our advantage sits directly atop this misery. If they didn’t help make up the numbers of the unemployment buffer, and if they were not forced to gift their families and their bodies to it, we wouldn’t have the system of economic management that has underwritten our good fortune for decades now.
The fact is, public policy choices were made by the Treasury and the Reserve Bank for the underclass: the Treasury decided public job programs were unaffordable, and the Reserve Bank interpreted the data of full employment in a way that could not be more careless of the implications and impact on Australia’s poorest citizens. The choices they made spoke volumes for their concern for this underclass. They never saw any value in them. They never saw that the children of the debilitated should have the chance to be free of debility themselves if proper public policy were made in their favour. Why should intergenerational disadvantage be taken to be inevitable, unbreakable and acceptable?
Economist William Mitchell’s design of a federal job guarantee, proposing an employment buffer through a minimum wage, makes this story even more sickening. This is what I realised two years ago, reading Mitchell’s work: it was not necessary to use an unemployment buffer to manage wage inflation. Inflation could be managed through an employment buffer, using the minimum wage.
For the past thirty years I have watched the devastation of my people from Cape York Peninsula from inter-generational welfare dependency.
The awarding of equal wages for Aboriginal stock workers did not result in the economic equity many had hoped for. Many lost their jobs, migrated to townships and are today churned through unsuccessful employment programs with no real pathways to the mainstream economy.
The 1970s saw many Indigenous people, along with other Australians, moved onto welfare where they stayed for life. This social catastrophe was complemented by the introduction of pubs and poker machines, which allow welfare cheques to be recycled back to government and their corporate friends in these vice industries. Verily, as the black American economist Thomas Sowell once said: “The poor are a gold mine”.
But my people were not the only victims of the shift away from full employment. Since the mid 1970’s the number of long term unemployed in Australia has continued to rise, despite 30 years of uninterrupted growth for the rest of us.
There are now pockets of suburbs and towns that have experienced between 50-70% unemployment over successive generations. All of our communities in Cape York Peninsula fall into this category.
Since the mid-1970s, we, the Australian elite, abandoned full employment with little regard for the impact on the most marginalised – the disabled, the poorly educated, Indigenous people, newly arrived non-English speaking migrants and sole parents.
Australia was never meant to be a country of haves and have-nots. Those who reconstructed the nation after World War Two were at pains to ensure that no one was left out, putting aside the original peoples. They truly believed everyone had something to contribute, putting aside the original peoples. And they designed policies to ensure this occurred, putting aside the original peoples. The dividend was a nation that experienced unprecedented productivity and full employment, putting aside the original peoples.
Please pardon my repeated qualifications here. I have the difficult task of trying to remind mainstream Australians of the golden years of post-war full employment and prosperity for white and migrant Australians, whilst not forgetting that the indigenous peoples were still excluded from this growth and opportunity. It is the same dilemma Americans have when they remember the great advances made as a result of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, whilst having to admit the exclusion of black Americans from its benefits was also the truth.
But allow me to nevertheless evoke the memory of the prosperity of the post-war period for your people, especially the disadvantaged among them.
Regrettably, more than seven decades after World War Two, Australia is a country of haves and have-nots. This is not because we had to be, but because of policy choices that were made.
The people of Cape York were the first movers on welfare reform in Australia. We knew it was our right to take responsibility for our future. We got on the front-foot and designed a reform model that focused on building the capability of those on welfare so they could take a fair place in our own land, in our own country, Australia. The people whose dispossession – in the famous words of Justices Deane and Gaudron in Mabo’s Case – “underwrote the development of the nation”.
We designed the Families Responsibilities Commission. Run by local leaders the Commission builds the capability of those on welfare who have not exercised responsibility in caring for their children, sending them to school, upholding their housing agreements and refraining from violence. The Commission conferences our people and supports them to take up the personal responsibilities which passive welfare has eroded.
Fourteen years on and this model is yielding profoundly important results. Over the past six years in the five communities in which it operates:
Child Protection Notices have reduced by 69%
Tenancy Breaches have dropped by 32%; and
Serious offences have fallen by 23%.
Money management has improved, and parents have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively in Student Trusts accounts to cover the costs of their children and grandchildren’s education.
The Cape York welfare reform model is working on the personal and family responsibility side of the equation. Personal responsibility is crucial to progress.
The other side of the welfare reform equation is opportunity. And in particular the opportunity of jobs. But jobs have not been realised as part of the welfare reform deal.
The results we have achieved with personal and family responsibilities would be amplified if people were provided with real jobs. Over the past fourteen years, job numbers in our communities have remained stagnant. Close to 70% of our people are unemployed. Most live in social housing.
In our original report to the Commonwealth Government in 2007, we argued that quid pro quo for responsibility and obligations should be opportunities for jobs, education and home ownership.
The gap in Indigenous Affairs will only be closed when responsibility and opportunity are combined equally. Attempts to achieve this are non-existent in Australia.
President Bill Clinton tried with the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act in 1996. Let me repeat the name of this legislation because it captures correctly the necessary policy combination: the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. The legislation aimed to reconcile the behavioural dimension of personal responsibility in the face of welfare dependency and the structural opportunity of employment.
It is clear this reconciliation was dependent on the availability of work. The deal showed signs of working during the Clinton years of economic growth, when jobs became available, but could not be sustained in the economic downturn. You can mandate personal responsibility but if you leave work opportunity to the market then the reconciliation collapses when there is a downturn. True reconciliation required the mandating of personal responsibility and work opportunity. If Clinton had done this he would have fulfilled Dr King’s vision in the Freedom Budget whose bedrock was a government jobs program. He didn’t do it. He mandated only one side of the equation. He was under the grip of the neo-liberal turn in social democratic economic policy thinking that eschewed full employment as socialist nostalgia, in favour of market solutions. Moreover the pittance of the American minimum wage and the unconscionable way in which workers in the lowest strata of the labour force have to stitch together multiple jobs to earn a living – made the PRWORA reforms a tragic farce.
If we are going to close the gap, not only between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people but between the unemployed and the rest of Australia we must ensure there are enough jobs for all those able to work and who want work.
Two years ago, I had to confront this great truth. A truth that had never been fully apparent to me.
The truth was that full employment was possible without letting the inflation genie out of the bottle.
I had swallowed the economic orthodoxy that 5 per cent unemployment was the price the nation had to pay for economic stability, continued private sector investment and high living standards.
That was until I read University of Newcastle economics Professor William Mitchell’s proposal for a universal Job Guarantee.
His concept is simple. It is a job for all those needing and able to work. The job pays the minimum wage, superannuation contributions and leave entitlements. It brings the dignity of work to every Australian including the disabled, mentally ill and extremely disadvantaged. And it is a completely superior alternative to passive welfare.
The first benefit of the Job Guarantee is that it lifts the income of the poorest Australians to a decent level. Only those who have never lived on the dole can say that people can live on the dole.
The second benefit of the Job Guarantee is that it gives people all of the intangible personal, psychological and social benefits, that come with work. Only those accustomed to the opportunity of work can afford the luxury of the idea that work is not foundational to the wellbeing of all humans.
Mitchell’s insight on the government job guarantee came to him as a student studying agricultural economics at the University of Melbourne in the late 1970s, learning the logic of the one-time wool stabilisation scheme. To stabilise the income of producers through the seasonal heights and troughs of the wool clip, and to minimise inflationary prices, the scheme provided for the government to buy the surplus and store it in those ubiquitous red-brick woolsheds near the country’s wharves. The retained surplus was released in the years when the clip was poor.
The anguished memory of his working-class father’s descent into unemployment had become the young student’s life-defining purpose, and he asked himself: if the government could buy up idle wool from producers and release it to the market when demand picked up, why could not the same be done with idle labour?
This was Mitchell’s Eureka moment, and he dedicated his life to the pursuit of full employment and the concept of a government-funded job guarantee.
The crucial breakthrough Mitchell made with his job guarantee is that its design would mean that full employment with the government as employer of last resort would be non-inflationary. He argues there are two ways to manage inflation in employment policy: the first is to use unemployment as a buffer stock against inflationary pressures, and the second is to use employment as a buffer stock. Provided the job guarantee is anchored at the minimum wage, a universally available full employment scheme will not be inflationary.
From Mitchell we have the means to achieve full employment without increasing inflation. This is the third benefit of the job guarantee, it works as an automatic stabiliser in the economy: the pool of workers in the scheme rises and falls with the economic cycle. In a downturn the pool grows and when the labour market picks up the pool shrinks close to zero.
Mitchell has provided a policy solution to the social catastrophe playing out amongst Australia’s most disadvantaged.
In Indigenous policy in particular , Mitchell has given us the most powerful policy tool to close the gap, not just on employment, but most other gaps – dependent upon employment, something which has addled the bureaucrats and technocrats.
Since discovering Mitchell’s proposal, I have advocated to all governments for a universal Job Guarantee.
I have been told in response that:
The jobs would be unproductive
Aboriginal people would just be painting rocks
The scheme would undercut private investment
It would antagonise the Unions
It would drain the budget
The unemployed aren’t capable of working
But these are not the real reasons for the lack of interest.
The real reason is that acceptance of Mitchell’s argument would require us – the new elites of the neo-liberal turn – to admit we have it wrong
It would require us the new elites of the neo-liberal turn to admit that we aided and abetted a social catastrophe of enormous scale amongst the voiceless Australians
It would require us the elites of the neo-liberal turn to consider the family breakdown, addiction, violence, misery and suffering that our policies have caused to the voiceless Australians
It would require us the elites of the neo-liberal turn to admit that the unemployed are not innately lazy or defective.
It would require us the elites of the neo-liberal turn to admit the government has the fiscal capacity to fund real jobs instead of passive welfare but has chosen not to use it.
And most excruciatingly, it would require us the elites of the neo-liberal turn to change the system that has gifted us and our own families significant wealth and power at a time when the unemployed and their families were broken and left bereft.
The reasons we struggle to gain traction on a Job Guarantee are three-fold:
Firstly, so many of us myself included submitted to the economic orthodoxy that lower levels of unemployment will be inflationary.
Secondly, this orthodoxy suited business who prefer that at the lowest reaches of the economy the scarcity of work should maintain a race to the bottom on wages.
And finally, the political class know that our social security system does an outstanding job at pacifying the excluded and the disadvantaged by cutting off their hope and aspiration and giving them the false promise that their secondary services and programs will ameliorate their personal and social problems, and if not, then the tertiary services in the form of end-stage medical care, out of home care for children and detention and incarceration facilities can always be expanded.
And it is the passive, not the capable, that neither threaten nor make demands on the political system for a better deal. The unemployed become conditioned to think they are inferior and undeserving of anything better. And they give up.
I accuse successive Australian Government of deliberately confining over 800 000 Australians who live in families where adults are on the unemployment line, where they unnecessarily suffer from poverty, powerlessness and prejudice.
I accuse the Reserve Bank of Australia of not meeting its legislative mandate of full employment, by uncritically upholding ideas about a natural rate of unemployment, they destroyed countless lives, the consequences of which they and their own never have to bear.
I accuse the Treasury of pedalling the fiction that unemployment is natural, inevitable and necessary to control inflation and resist fiscal intervention in favour of jobs for those Australians in desperate need of jobs in the name of budgetary rectitude and debt management – but are quick to change their view when a pandemic threatens the jobs of middle Australia.
I accuse politicians for using the unemployed for political gain by directing people’s economic insecurity and fears towards the most disadvantaged and away from government itself.
I accuse the industry of job agencies of undertaking a fictitious tick-the-box exercise that does nothing to help the unemployed but instead delivers profits to those who least need them.
I accuse the liberals and conservatives of purveying the term “dole bludger” and creating the illusion that unemployment is an individual moral problem rather than a structural problem perpetuated by neglectful governments.
And I accuse social democrats and the left for not doing enough to challenge the economic orthodoxy that has so deadened the nation’s economic reform aspirations, and in doing so, abandoning the country’s most vulnerable citizens who looked to them to champion their cause.
Lastly I accuse myself for not having the policy insight and courage to have said this before. |
Since we can’t understand everything, today we focus on something that has been something of a hot button in this era of healthcare upheaval: Our mentally ill are dying.
That’s our standing here at The Bloggernacle’s “Deathbed,” as we watch these stories, trying to understand how so many of them ended up here in our world in such tragic and imperfect circumstances.
We understand that the death of people who are restrained or otherwise shackled during their care is less of a surprise, and more of a horror, than the death of people who are “broken.”
But for us, the more troubling aspect is the stories of the so-called “deaths of people being treated under the Mental Health Act,” where people may have been isolated in hospitals for so long that they had gone into comas or death-knelled deep into the stem of their illnesses.
A doctor at Reading Hospital has reportedly told The Sun newspaper that he and two fellow doctors pleaded with hospital staff to bring them access to their children to allow them to die peacefully. An “unsuccessful campaign was waged to get them staff to allow them to stay near the children. Eventually, they were taken off the wards,” The Sun reported.
“They had gone back into formal [complete coma] care. We begged to be allowed to bring the children and give them some emotional support. But we were met with hostility and disdain and were told that we were the problem.”
Speaking with The National Post newspaper in Canada, a journalist whose own sister also suffered from mental illness, he noted that the news is “outrageous and horrifying and should horrify all of us. Their stories are almost incalculable. My sister, even in her most horrendous state, was still loving, social, intelligent and witty. This is something nobody else knows.”
The British paper found Dr. John Pinky, the psychiatrist and a former consultant psychiatrist at Shoreham Chase Hospital, said that more patients are dying while awaiting trial for their illness than in their final days following an acute crisis.
In Ontario, the situation was the same.
“We have isolated people and placed them in a hospital environment which is completely designed to check their bond and make sure they die in these wards and hospitals,” Roddy Hepburn, a professor of medicine at the University of Guelph, was quoted as saying.
We wish we could save our friends, relatives and strangers who are suffering from mental illness from suffering, to be sure. But for us, the destruction of our family relationships who suffered so mightily through the very hospital system is too tragic, too sad and too hard to believe.
A man who has suffered from a severe mental illness for decades was so embedded in his mental illness that he was unable to help his wife escape his clutches.
“I could never be someone who raised my hand to my wife,” the man wrote on Facebook. “From such an old age I can no longer do so.”
This is why we are here today. Whether we suffer from PTSD or depression or a significant mental illness, the effects of a system that forces people to live that way — the effects of a system that pushes people in the medical emergency wards into a society where the very laws that seek to contain mental illness to care centers are stretched to their limits and making it almost impossible for the most desperate to live in the world.
It is a system that leaves the social worker and the cleric to care for the rest of us — and to abandon their own families.
Because those who suffer most must suffer alone. |
South and South-East of Mauritius
The southern region of Mauritius, also known as the Wild South, is the most preserved part of the island; it stands out from the other regions with its incredible cliffs and impressive waves, creating a feeling of closeness to nature. The south and south-east offer magnificent views of the mountains and sugar cane fields as far as the eye can see. Many tourist operators from the region have chosen a sustainable development for their hotel and leisure projects, like the Domaine de Bel Ombre. The south of the island is also a concentrate of history, the region has witnessed the various landings of explorers during centuries and houses a lot of remnants from the past.
The village of Mahebourg alone will require a full-day tour. The highly historical town was founded at the beginning of the 19th century by the French and was named after Mahé de Labourdonnais. The famous naval battle of 1810 took place in the lagoon, more precisely at Vieux Grand Port - the only French naval victory inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The village abounds of ancient vestiges recalling the different colonisations along time, as well as the period of slavery; you can still see the slaves’ wash house, among other protected monuments.
Pointe Canon is an interesting place to go to have a nice overview of the different sites surrounding Mahebourg. You will see the imposing Lion Mountain that overlooks the sugar cane fields, Mouchoir Rouge islet, facing the waterfront, and Ile aux Aigrettes further north, a small protected island located in the lagoon and which is also a nature reserve. Pointe Canon is the place where the inhabitants of the region meet during events such as regattas and the commemoration of the abolition of slavery celebrations in February.
The Naval Museum in Mahebourg is a highly historical place, not only because of the artefacts preserved therein, but also for the building itself. Learn about the maritime history of Mauritius through a series of well-kept treasures: paintings, lithographs, statues, objects. You will even come across the old wagon of the governor in the yard! Make a big leap into the past... The house built during the second half of the 18th century, known as Maison Robillard named after its owners, had been converted into a hospital after the Battle of Grand Port in 1810, and later purchased by the British authorities in 1950.
The Cavendish Bridge, also known as Ville-Noire Bridge: one cannot miss this outstanding bridge when leaving Mahebourg towards the north. This concrete structure of more than 150 metre long, spanning La Chaux River, was designed by French engineer Paul Le Juge under the government of Sir Cavendish Boyle, whose name was given to the bridge. Completed and inaugurated in 1911, it was restored on the occasion of its centenary in 2011. You can safely walk along the longest bridge of the island, on its new pedestrian path, to connect the small village of Ville-Noire on the other side.
Ferney, next to Mahebourg, also played an important role in the history of Mauritius having been the landing place of the Dutch in 1598. A memorial was erected on the shore. From there, you will be surrounded by the ocean on one side, and the sugar cane fields and the Lion Mountain on the other. A few minutes away, you will reach the Vallée de Ferney, a vast valley which is house to various species of endemic animals and trees. You can choose to go hiking by yourself or be accompanied by a guide. Nearby, Falaise Rouge unveils a beautiful view on Fouquets and La Passe islands in the lagoon.
Pointe du Diable, also called known as Pointe Canons, is located on the coast when leaving Vieux Grand Port, heading north. You will easily find this former French defence post on the road, set up tp defend the island from the British invaders, with its series of old cannons facing the sea. This name, understand “Devil’s Point”, comes from the first navigators who had their compasses showing various directions at this place for no reason according to them… but it was evntually found that there is a magnetic field in the mountain nearby influencing the compasses.
Leaving Mahebourg towards the south, Ile aux Aigrettes will offer a unique experience with nature. This island, located halfway between Mahebourg and Pointe d'Esny, is a nature reserve managed by the Mauritian Wildlife Fund. It is part of a conservation and rehabilitation programme for Mauritian indigenous and endemic fauna and flora. Within a few minutes by boat from the coast, you will see animals and plants that do not live on the main island, for some of them, including the Telfair Skink. Sculptures have also been placed along the tracks to represent extinct species, including the owl (yes, there were owls in Mauritius!) and the giant turtle, today replaced by its cousin from Aldabra who is similar to it. Experienced guides will accompany you and relate the huge conservation work achieved during the past decades.
After Ile aux Aigrettes, southbound to Pointe d'Esny and its white sandy beach, and Blue Bay, a popular beach for local picnickers and a protected marine park. Go for some snorkelling to admire the undersea flora and fauna, and if you don’t want to get wet, hop on a glass-bottom boat, you will easily find one on the beach.
If you continue your journey towards the south, there are several stopovers to make in Souillac: Le Souffleur, La Roche qui pleure, Gris-Gris and Rochester Falls. Although this part of the Mauritius is not suitable for swimming, many unspoiled sites are to be discovered, as well as its history.
Nature bursts in the south! Stop at Le Souffleur to see the water spring into the air like a geyser during high tides. With the help of the wind, the water jets sometimes reach 30 meters.
A few minutes away, in Gris-Gris, La Roche qui pleure represents the profile of the Mauritian poet Robert Edward Hart, sculpted in the cliff by the elements, according to local legends... Below, you will see the mouth of Bain des Négresses river flowing into the ocean. Take a breath of fresh air on the cliff at Gris-Gris public beach in front of the impressive waves, before heading to one of the restaurants nearby to enjoy a traditional local meal.
Robert Edward Hart was a Mauritian poet who has touched generations on the island and in the Indian Ocean. A few minutes from Gris-Gris, in Souillac, a museum is dedicated to him at La Nef, a house entirely made of coral and donated by his friends.
Next door, the beautiful garden of Telfair is the ideal place for a stroll on the seafront of Souillac, under the magnificent centenary trees; it is the usual meeting point for the people living in the vicinity. You will come across some remains of the history and heritage of Mauritius in the heart of the village.
Rochester Falls is one of the most popular tourist sites in Mauritius. Located on the border of Souillac, the waterfall is made up of unique angular basaltic columns. Local youth often perform as they dive from the top of the waterfall.
Rivière des Galets features a different scenery on the coast. A beach made up exclusively of pebbles stretches in front of you. No swimming, but it is a privileged spot for seasoned surfers, and you can just sit and simply enjoy nature. In the bay of Rivière des Galets, stands Ilot Sancho, a tiny island that can be of interest for the curious.
On the way to the south-east, you will reach Baie du Cap, a small fishing village, and Macondé view point, the most photographed spot in Mauritius. Baie du Cap road is known as one of the most beautiful scenic routes of the island. A stopover is essential, one cannot drive through Baie du Cap and not climb up this famous natural promontory with its breath-taking view of the ocean. Macondé is also stunning seen from the sky! If you have some time, take a walk in the surroundings to meet locals and have a meal in one of the small restaurants or snacks in the area.
In the centre of Maheboug, if you take the time to wander around, you will find typical culinary treasures from Mauritius: all kinds of spices, dholl puris, “gateaux piment” (chilli cakes), bryani and other delicacies forming part of the Mauritian street-food. You will also find a wide array of clothes and souvenirs in the various shops along the streets and at the market, next to the waterfront. There are also some commercial centres that opened their doors recently on the outer boundary of Mahebourg. |
This information is for guidance in preventing transmission of COVID-19 to operators of Health Enhancement Centres and Steam Baths. It is based upon current knowledge and it should be understood that guidance is subject to change as new data becomes available and new developments arise with this new virus; furthermore, unique situations may require some discretion in adjusting these guidelines which are meant to be supportive, not prescriptive.
Health Enhancement Centre/ Steam Bath Guidelines for re-opening plans
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a respiratory infection caused by a newly identified virus. The infection has symptoms similar to other respiratory illnesses, including the flu and common cold: cough, sneezing, fever, sore throat and difficulty breathing. Other symptoms can include fatigue, muscle aches, diarrhea, headache or lost sense of smell. While most people infected with COVID-19 experience only mild illness, severe illness can occur in some people, especially in those with weaker immune systems, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions.
How is COVID-19 Spread?
COVID-19 is spread through liquid droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus in these droplets can enter through the eyes, nose or mouth of another person if they are in close contact with the person who coughed or sneezed. COVID-19 mat travel through particles in the air but is not something that can enter the body through the skin.
Where can I get more Information about COVID-19?
The province of British Columbia has created a phone service to provide nonmedical information about COVID-19 which is available from 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or via text message at 604-630-0300. More information on COVID-19 can also be found online:
Vancouver Coastal Health http://www.vch.ca/covid-19
BC Centre for Disease Control
Each business will be required to develop an individual opening plan which fits the needs of their particular space. Each plan should consider the six areas of concern below. If you need help with your opening plan please do not hesitate to contact us;
Critical Safety Components
Health Enhancement Centre work presents some unique challenges in prevention of transmission of COVID-19. There are some actions which are critical in ensuring the lowest chance of transmission;
- Hard screening of both clients and workers – using the BC Centre for Disease Control self assessment tool – https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en – This tool is available in multiple languages. This is seen as an important measure to protect yourself, your staff and patrons from transmission.
- Minimizing Facial Contact – COVID-19 is a respiratory infection so minimizing close contact face to face with clients or other staff members is key to preventing the spread.
- Physical Distancing in Staff Areas – has been an issue across all industries and as such
enhanced cleaning and physical distancing measures are critical in these spaces.
While these critical guidelines are important, the following sections also address the expectations of health officers and inspectors. Some of these guidelines may not apply too you or your business and that is ok. Each business should create their own safety plan which includes the ways you intend to address the critical areas of concern and the following 6 areas of consideration.
Goal: Modify daily operations and the physical environment to minimize the potential for COVID-19 to spread in a Health Enhancement Centre or Steam Bath.
The following guidelines are offered for use when building your opening plan;
- Provide a supply of hand sanitizer at the entrance to the business
- Reduce number of clients and staff to ensure people can physical distance adequately.
- Increased ventilation can work to keep airflow moving and minimize transmission of virus. (i.e. opening doors)
- If fans are to be used to increase ventilation, point them towards the floor to prevent unintentional spread of virus on surfaces in the space.
- Consider installing shields (e.g. plexiglass) at reception desk to protect staff when interacting with clients and collecting payments.
- Washrooms and showers must have liquid soap, paper towels and warm running water at all times.
- Consider developing specialized checklists staff can use to evaluate your COVID19 measures and help workers and patrons understand the new policies.
- All staff should wash hands after handling money
- Staff rooms should allow enough space for physical distancing. Staff rooms have been shown as a high risk area for community spread so close attention should be paid to ensuring these areas are disinfected often and that staff can physically distance.
- Use of Personal Protective Equipment (masks, face shield, gloves) during sessions with clients is recommended. Face shields should be disinfected between appointments.
- Consider enhanced screening of clients including questions about whether they work in health care, may come into contact with people in a high risk category, have been isolating or have been experiencing any symptoms.
- This information would only need to be kept for 2 weeks.
- No information of a personal or identifiable nature should kept or stored.
- Health enhancement centre workers should change into their “work” clothes upon arrival at work and place their “civilian” clothes in a plastic bag to prevent transmission of any trace of virus picked up during transit to work.
- Work clothes should be laundered daily and transported to work in a plastic bag to prevent contamination during transit.
- All clients should be required to shower upon entering and before the appointment begins.
- All service providers should shower after each client.
- Consider providing only “happy ending massage” and not full service at this time.
- Because the virus is known to be transmitted via saliva – kissing or unprotected oral are not recommended.
- All facial close contact should be minimized as much as possible.
- Because it has been shown that the virus may be transmitted via semen, it is recommended that a condom be used for all intimate contact.
Goal: To increase the space between people (clients, staff and managers) to eliminate potential transmission of the virus.
- Minimize facial contact – COVID-19 is a respiratory infection and as such people should minimize close facial contact as much as possible.
- Limiting number of staff on shift to allow physical distancing during time between appointments is recommended.
- Staff rooms have been shown to be a high risk for transmission of the virus so employ enhanced cleaning techniques to ensure these areas are safe for staff and ensure enough space for staff to employ physical distancing.
- Because of physical distancing guidelines, multi-person interactions are not recommended at this time.
- Book appointments with enough time in between to prevent more than one client in the reception area at once.
Goal: use signs in employee areas and reception to communicate important information about COVID-19.
- Place signs at entrances telling anyone entering not to enter if they are feeling ill.
- Post physical distancing signs in common areas.
- Post hand washing signs in washrooms and changing rooms.
- Ensure signs contain clear language that is easy to understand.
- When possible, use signs that include diagrams and pictures.
- Enhanced cleaning procedures – cleaning session rooms between clients including massage tables and all surfaces the client came into contact with, cleaning bathroom areas periodically throughout the shift and cleaning all surfaces frequently touched using a bleach solution or equivalent disinfectant which is strong enough to remove traces of the virus.
- Increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas (door handles, faucets, bathrooms, handrails, chairs and tables).
- Increase frequency of cleaning and disinfection of staff common areas as these areas are shown to be a high risk across all industries.’
- Create a checklist of all high-touch surfaces that must be cleaned, determine the frequency of cleaning and disinfection based on your facility’s needs.
- Record when cleaning and disinfection has occurred.
- Consider having separate cleaning supplies for different areas of the business.
- Provide multiple plastic lined waste containers to dispose of used tissues, wipes, gloves, and other cleaning materials.
- When cleaning bathrooms and changing rooms, if possible, avoid production of aerosols (e.g. spraying with hose or power-washer). Instead, use a mop or brush.
- Lockers and cubbies used by employees to store personal belongings should be cleaned and disinfected between uses (consider providing wipes for this purpose).
- Towels provided for clients use should be laundered on the hottest possible setting. The following are links to information about disinfectants and their use;
Employee Sickness and return to work policies
Goal: To maintain healthy workers and protecting patrons by ensuring that sick employees remain home for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms and do not return to work until safe to do so.
- Using the BC Centre for Disease Control Self Assessment Tool to screen staff often.
- Ensure all staff members understand that if they are sick, they should stay home!
- Consider creating a policy which reassures staff that they should stay home when they are sick or showing Covid-19 symptoms and they will not loose their job.
- Develop an employee illness plan that is communicated to all staff.
- Have employees declare they are symptom-free when signing in for the day. If employees have any symptoms, even mild symptoms they should go home.
- Consider using a “ no contact” thermometer to test staff before entrance to the business. Any reading of 100F or over should be considered a risk.
- If while at work, an employee starts experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness consistent with COVID-19, even if symptoms are mild, ask the employee to don a mask and to leave work immediately, go straight home, and have them contact their family physician/primary care provider or 8-1-1 for further guidance.
- Ensure that objects and surfaces touched by sick employees are disinfected before being used by others.
- Tell your employees that if they are sick with any symptoms of respiratory illness consistent with cold, influenza or COVID-19, even if symptoms are mild, they must not work, remain at home, and contact Health Link BC at 8-1-1.
- Anyone with symptoms can now be assessed and receive a COVID-19 test.
- Testing is not recommended for people who do not have symptoms.
- If an employee has a COVID-19 diagnosis, the local public health department will identify any co-workers who may have been exposed to the sick employee.
- The employer and employees should be reassured that if they haven’t been contacted by public health then there is no issue or concern that was identified by public health.
Training for managers and employees
Goal: Provide training to all employees so they understand how to protect themselves and patrons from COVID-19.
- Train all employees about the virus so they know how to minimize its spread.
- Train all employees about the BC Centre for Disease Control Self Assessment Tool and how to use it.
- Employees must wash their hands at the start of their shift, between each client, before eating or drinking, after touching shared items, after using the washroom, and before leaving work.
- Employees should follow cough and sneeze etiquette.
- Employees should avoid touching their face without first cleaning their hands.
- There should be no sharing of cigarettes or vaping equipment.
- Staff training sessions should be done in small groups with adequate physical distancing, or online.
- Consider providing electronic COVID-19 resources to all employees.
- Communicate information in multiple languages.
- Make sure any person required to carry out enhanced cleaning has received the appropriate training, including how to use disinfectants. |
The two ways that sales tax is calculated on a car with a trade-in are the trade-in reduces the taxable total or the trade-in is considered a down payment. If you are in a state where the trade-in is considered a down payment, the sales tax is calculated by multiplying the rate by the purchased car price.
How much will taxes be on my car?
Alberta. Talk about contrasts: just on the other side of the Rockies, Alberta charges no provincial sales tax at all. This means there’s no tax owing whatsoever on private sales, and you’ll pay only the 5 per cent federal GST if you buy a used car at a dealership.
How much is sales tax on a $4000 car in Missouri?
Missouri Sales Tax on Car Purchases: Missouri collects a 4.225% state sales tax rate on the purchase of all vehicles. There is also a local tax of up to 4.5%. The maximum tax that can be charged is 725 dollars on the purchase of all vehicles.
How do you avoid sales tax on a car?
Here are the three most common ways to “avoid” paying sales tax on a car:
- Buy in one of the states with no sales tax on cars.
- Take advantage of sales tax exemptions.
- File for tax credits.
Is sales tax included in car loan?
Car loans are not typically arranged to cover tax, title, and other fees, but you can include them in the loan – it all depends on what’s called your L.T.V. If you have really good credit, some lenders will advance up to 150% of the vehicle’s value, in which case you can roll your taxes and other fees into the loan.
Will road tax go up 2020?
When is the VED increase going to happen? Vehicle Excise Duty is going to increase on April 1st 2020. But REMEMBER, the change ONLY affect your very first VED payment when you purchase a new vehicle after this date.
What cars are 30 pound a year road tax?
Cars with low road tax
- Hyundai i10. The tax for the Hyundai i10 usually varies between £20 and £30 for the year, and this is dependent on the model and engine size you want.
- Vauxhall Corsa.
- Mazda 3.
- Ford Focus.
- Nissan Qashqai.
- Audi A3.
Is buying a car tax deductible 2020?
You can deduct sales tax on a vehicle purchase, but only the state and local sales tax. You’ll only want to deduct sales tax if you paid more in state and local sales tax than you paid in state and local income tax.
What is exempt from sales tax in Missouri?
Any social, civic, religious, political subdivision, or educational organization can apply for a sales tax exemption by completing Form 1746PDF Document, Missouri Sales Tax Exemption Application.
Do Missouri car dealers collect sales tax?
Will the dealer collect the Missouri vehicle sales tax at the time of purchase? Not necessarily. It’s due when you apply for the title and registration, a process which can be completed at the Missouri Department of Revenue.
What is the penalty for paying sales tax late in Missouri?
When no sales tax return has been filed, you should calculate your penalty by multiplying the tax amount due by 5 percent for each month you are late. This penalty increases each month you fail to file the return. The maximum amount of penalty is 25 percent.
To renew your license plates, you will need: A Missouri safety inspection and/or emissions inspection certificate not more than 60 days old, if applicable; The correct registration (license plate) and processing fee.
Can you drive a car without plates if you just bought it in Missouri?
Missouri. You, you can drive a new car home without license plates in Missouri within 30 days from the day you buy the car. If you do not obtain your license plate after 30 days, you will be fined $25 on the 31st day.
What documents do I need to register my car in Missouri?
How to Register a Car in Missouri
- The ownership documents for the vehicle like the title.
- A signed copy of the Application for Missouri Title and License.
- Your current insurance card for your vehicle.
- Present your Missouri vehicle inspection documents.
- Your VIN and odometer reading. |
Searching for personal pensions? People are living longer lives than ever before making adequate retirement provision ever more important. Moreover, dependency on the state for pensions is becoming more and more unstable with rising living costs. Personal pensions then are vital for those wanting to maintain the standard of living they have become accustomed to. Today’s blog will discuss why personal pensions are so important. We will explain why you should acquire the invaluable advice provided by Seven Bridges.
Personal pensions function on a ‘money purchase’ basis, whereby the money saved over a given period (usually each month or year) in your personal pension is invested and used in retirement. Do you have a pension plan that is going to fulfill your financial needs in your retirement? Is the answer is no? You may want to consider obtaining a personal pension to supplement your existing one. It could also act as your sole pension if you do not have one.
Personal pensions are essentially a long-term saving plan that are dependent upon the number of payments put into them over their duration. Once you turn 55, pension benefits can be taken. They are very beneficial in supplementing an existing pension in your retirement and are essential if you do not already have a state or company pension at all. You also have control over the level of contributions you make to it over the course of your working life.
For starterst, deciding when to obtain retirement benefits plays a part in how much tax you pay as well as how many benefits you receive. Furthermore, at what levels you obtain your pensions can also have a big impact on the remainder of your retirement fund. Making these decisions can be highly complex and should be taken seriously. Taking advice reduces the consequences of your decisions whilst increasing the potential for an effective retirement plan. |
Hemp is one of the most useful plants known to humanity, yet it exists almost entirely within the shadow of its close relative, marijuana. Hemp, after all, doesn’t get you high if you smoke it. Marijuana does.
But that image is starting to change, at least in Colorado. There, hemp is poised to launch a revolution in industry, agriculture, and retail cannabis. The driving forces: profit and industrial need.
Colorado voters legalized the marijuana plant in 2012, as did voters in Washington State. Oregon and Alaska joined them in 2014, along with the District of Columbia. It is now legal to grow any part of the plant, including hemp, in these places.
Hemp is a tough, fibrous material found in the stalk of the cannabis plant. It’s low in THC yet often contains high levels of other cannabinoids that make it beneficial as medicine. But hemp is best known for its use in making rope, paper, fabric, and other tough materials.
Expanding hemp industry
Last year multiple Colorado farmers harvested hemp crops. Their small yields belie the market’s huge potential. In 2015, hemp spread its wings, making its way into industry, academia, and retail stores.
Cannabis remains illegal under federal law and in most states, though many allow it for medical purposes. This means hemp is also illegal, even though it’s non-intoxicating.
But because marijuana is legal in Colorado, hemp is also legal. It still can’t leave the state, as that would amount to interstate trafficking under federal law, but it’s making a comeback despite that limitation.
The Colorado hemp industry is already trying to stake a national claim. The Rocky Mountain Hemp Association recently changed its name to the National Hemp Association. And in terms of planted crops, Colorado already has a leg up on other states.
$620 million industry
“Hemp is currently a $620 million industry in the U.S.,” said Zev Paiss, executive director of the National Hemp Association. “Hemp can create tens of thousands of American jobs if businesses can grow, process and source their hemp in the U.S.”
One of those businesses grows hemp plants on 132 acres east of Pueblo, Col. Tens of thousands of stalks are grown there, all bred for their superior fibers. Alex Korybut, the executive who runs the farm, said his company plans to open a large processing plants with 30 new jobs. Korybut said he aims to make Pueblo “a center of activity” for hemp production.
Even so, he said, the market is so young some growers have opted not to deal directly with customers yet.
“We’ve been reluctant to pull the trigger on customer contracts,” Korybut said. “For serious customers, they need to make sure that we have quality, quantity, and consistency.”
The market for hemp is wide open and growing, but it could take a while for the industry to get its legs, said Duane Sinning, a regulator who oversees hemp licensing and other issues for the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
“Quit thinking of yourself as special,” Sinning said. “As soon as you consider yourself mainstream, then that’s the start of an industry.” |
Deep learning, machine learning and neural networks sound like the features of a pulp science fiction, but they’re real and the technology is now available to any company without having to hire data scientists to build your own system from scratch.
Ersatz Labs has launched a deep learning platform that’s available to anyone that wants this type of analysis. It’s like the Amazon Web Services (AWS) of machine learning. The service is has a web interface and API. Both can be used if a company needs to determine, for example, how stocks will behave based on a wide range of data, it can do so without having to build its own system.
That doesn’t mean that this is a turn-key solution for anyone wanting to analyze data. The system still needs to be “trained” with your data and what you expect out of that data which means you have to know what you’re doing. But, by offering an interface layer on top of a set of powerful tools, its cutting down on the work needed to spin up a system like this. “We didn’t invent deep learning by any means, but we’re trying to make it easy,” says Ersatz CEO, Dave Sullivan.
It’s still a pretty tough subject to wrap your head around. Deep learning divides data into several networked stacks to to learn about that the information in the data. Once the information has been collected machine learning actually learns over time how those large chunks of data relate to one another while forming connections.
Ersatz can be used in the cloud or on hardware installed on site. Both solutions use specialized GPUs that can eat through data 40 times quicker than CPUs. The cloud solution charges per-minute while training the system with your data. The hardware solution offers unlimited data crunching with a specialized appliance. |
Podcast transcript: How to plan for a sustainable future: A conversation with NAEM
Welcome to Sustainability Matters. This is a regular podcast series of Ernst & Young, EY. My name is Chris Hagler, and I’m one of the leaders in our climate change and sustainability services practice, and I’m your host for this series. We put this podcast together to provide leading trends, practical advice around environmental, social and governance issues that are facing businesses today.
So today, we are talking with Carol Singer. She is the executive director of NAEM, which is the National Association for Environmental Management, and Rich Goode, a colleague of mine and a leader in EY’s climate change and sustainability services practice. NAEM recently published their environmental health, safety and sustainability trends report called Planning for a Sustainable Future. And today, we are going to discuss the key trends and how business is responding to them. So welcome, Carol; welcome, Rich. Let’s get going.
Carol, can you first tell us a little bit about the report? How did it come together, who participated; a little bit about the background?
Really, the purpose of this is to get a look under the hood at what companies are doing, to talk about what’s going on in the boardroom, in the senior levels of decision-making.
The way that this report comes to fruition is that we go out and we interview some key stakeholders that are external to companies. We try and document trends and ideas, and then we use our leadership companies, which are about a hundred companies, and we benchmark. We put together a survey and ask them about those trends. And from that, we publish the report.
Awesome. And EY’s participation?
Yeah, thanks Chris and Carol. I just want to say how important NAEM is in terms of your membership, your research and, really, this report. And EY is very pleased to be able to sponsor this research this year. As being a client-serving professional at EY, it’s important for us to be connected, informed and responsive to our clients. And the research that you do really helps us attain that goal.
From my personal perspective, I want to know what’s keeping my clients up at night so that I can also worry about how to best serve them. And those are the things that keep me up at night as well.
Let’s go into the trends. The one that struck me the most is that environmental, social and governance issues are board-level issues now. What is driving that trend, and where do you see that going, Carol?
Well, in a word, transparency. There has been such a public movement in civil society to make companies better understand that what they do is important not only to their customers, but to the public, to ESG — environment, social and governance investors — activist investors, and also institutional investors.
Folks want to understand what companies are doing, how they’re defining their performance, and what are the criteria. And so, we’ve seen this transition over the course of the last 10 years into transparency. I do think that external drivers such as this growing realization that climate change is a risk, whether it’s the recent IPCC report or the Paris Accord a few years back, we now have a public agreement that in fact climate change does have implications for companies.
Chris, you know that part of the job that you and I do is talking to dozens of clients every week. We really learn a lot from those we speak with, and sometimes the people we talk to just say, “Look, I don’t see environmental health, safety or sustainability being a topic that anybody is asking me about.”
And you’re smiling because we hear that a lot. However, the board-level, or the CEO, is now being put on notice. Letters like the Larry Fink letter from Blackrock Capital to CEOs saying, “You have to stand for more than just making financial profit. You have to create social value.” Investors are putting companies on notice that they have to be indeed, Carol, as you say, more transparent. I’ll use an example to illustrate this.
So, I’m working actually with two companies, both manufacturers, and they create a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. And they were sort of like, the people that we talk to often that say, “Well, I’m not really under pressure from my constituencies to talk about sustainability.” Both of these companies in 2018 alone had draft shareholder resolutions that said, “We want you to take a carbon footprint, tell us what your greenhouse gas emissions are, set a reduction goal, and tell us what you’re doing to reduce your impact on the environment.”
Well, guess what? When you have a shareholder resolution, the board takes notice. That is actually targeted to the board of directors. And with the board of directors under pressure, believe me, that pressure flows downward. So, now people who we speak with on a regular basis are, instead of saying, “I don’t hear about this from my customers or my suppliers,” they’re saying, “We’re hearing about this from the board.” And when the board talks, people listen.
So, what I hear you two saying, first of all, investors are driving this. Mainstream investors, activities investors, they are asking for this type of information, they are providing shareholder resolutions that are demanding action on these ESG-type topics. And therefore, boards are responding because they certainly respond to their shareholders.
In addition, Carol, I heard you say there are real, external issues that are making boards significantly more aware of environmental, social and governance issues; climate change being one of those big things, and as recently underscored by the IPCC report by the Fourth National (Climate) Assessment. And what we haven’t talked about yet is the World Economic Forum, who just recently released their top five risks for 2019, and three of the top five are related to climate change.
So, these are not just business issues, they are big world issues, and that’s part of why boards are responding.
I totally agree. The whole idea of what business risk is and how corporate stakeholders are evaluating companies has really expanded over the last several years. Business resiliency, the ability to operate continuously all across the world is impacted by climate. So, when you have major climate events, you oftentimes have challenges with your supply chain. This is a business risk that’s really come to light with a lot of folks.
Second, there is a notion that if you begin to look at climate risk not only just as a public policy issue but where you’re siting your facilities, where your employees are likely to be living or wanting to live in the future, where there are going to be increasing economies and decreasing economies because of the impacts of climate risk, and some of the other social issues, are now coming together in a broader conversation.
In addition, one of the key attributes of sustainability is also safety, and so the safety of employees. We do know that the ideas that companies now have are much broader. Companies now regard the safety of their employees not just while they’re at their offices in the nine-to-five time period, but what they do on their way in to work, on their way at home, and what they do. So, safety is a number one issue in sustainability. So, there’s a lot of topics that are really jumping into this pool of conversation that are driving it.
Carol, I’d like to actually pick up on part of that because I think you bring up the risk aspect as being really important. And I’m going to take that a little bit further, where … and we talked about this at the forum this year, the NAEM forum in Louisville, where risk has sort of expanded to include environmental, social and governance topics, or ESG. And that’s really a super set of sustainability-related risks. You have things like diversity and inclusion, the ability to attract and retain millennial talent, which is a challenge for many organizations, as well as sustainability, waste water, greenhouse gas, health and safety, regulations of hazardous chemicals.
And further, I’ll take that risk piece to talk about the “M” word or material, material risk. So, anybody in enterprise risk management is going to say, “Okay, I understand what material is.” Well, material just means that this is an important enough risk that if investors, or other interested parties, had that information, it would change how they respond, change their actions. And what we’re seeing is ESG risks — sustainability, health, safety, diversity, inclusion, recruiting, regulations, the use of hazardous substances — is being elevated to become a material risk.
EY was lucky enough to collaborate with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, where we developed a report that shows how environmental, social and governance professionals or sustainability, EH and S professionals, can collaborate with their enterprise risk management professionals to speak the same language and say, “Look, the issues and risk that we’re talking about here today — environmental health, safety, sustainability, ESG — are actually material to the company.”
And Rich, I’m just going to jump in there … that you’re absolutely right that EY did that study with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, but that’s a whole other podcast. So, we’ll come back, and we’ll talk more about risk, but let’s come back to climate risk because I want to get to the next trend that was identified in the report. And that trend was around goals are all coming to fruition.
So many of our clients have set 2020 goals and now they’re looking to what’s next, and the goals are a little bit different. It sounds like the trends are going from incremental goals to being more transformational kind of goals and particularly around climate. So, talk to us a little bit about what you saw in the report, and maybe Rich, you can share some ideas about what some of EY’s clients are doing related to this.
Well, the whole area of corporate performance and goals is really fascinating to me. We are seeing a shift from backwards-looking performance metrics to companies trying to envision what an aspirational goal would or could be. And so, these are going beyond quantitative measurements to qualitative. And it aligns with this idea that companies have a broader responsibility in society, which is part of the trends that we’re seeing.
So, you see Dow for example, the Dow Corporation, has developed the blueprint for the next economy in which they’re talking about how they as a company are going to be valued, how they’re going to value raw materials, how they’re going to value the ecosystem. You have companies trying to figure out how you incorporate their growth goals for business with an economic goal.
So, you’re saying that as companies are looking at new goals, the trend is to look for significantly more aspirational goals and perhaps even complete ecosystem goals?
Rich, what are you seeing with your clients at EY?
I’ve just noticed an uptick in the amount of clients calling us to talk about helping them upgrade their goals. A lot of companies, I notice, set goals to reduce emissions or waste or water by a certain amount by 2020. Well, it’s 2019; 2020 is coming due pretty soon. But linking this back to our first topic about how the board-level is involved now, well, if you’re setting goals and the board is involved, that means there’s going to be a lot more scrutiny on the goals. You can’t have an oil refinery talking about goals for recycling office paper. It’s just not material. You have to really focus on what can you do to transform.
And Carol, I really liked your point about ecosystem goals, where transportation companies working with raw materials companies for glassmakers or steelmakers working with their downstream customers saying, “Look, there’s actually innovation to be had in these goals.” We read something from an automotive manufacturer that just … the partnership with developing lighter steel helped reduce the overall life cycle of greenhouse gas emissions for vehicles. I mean, that’s an ecosystem, that’s stepping out of bounds, and that’s truly what I think we would call transformational.
I’d like to add also, there’s something else that’s really going on that’s very interesting, and that is if you look at what a paradigm shift for sustainability is, I would say that the first stage is really this reduction and increased efficiencies.
But the second stage has to do with the types of products that you produce. And it’s not only looking about what the inputs are, but what the products are and how that’s changed. So, there’s a tremendous amount of innovation that’s being talked about internal to companies but not as being externally communicated, because they are really trying to figure it out. And it’s very exciting.
And from my perspective as a professional association that focuses on the EHS and sustainability business functions, a lot of the sustainability in the next generation is going to come from R&D, new product development, new process systems, new manufacturing systems. So, it’s going to require a lot of integration internal to a company again with new approach to … and a systems-wide approach to solving these new problems.
Well, agreed, but sometimes those things have manifested themselves in external goals. I think AT&T is an interesting example, where, like many organizations, they had a carbon reduction goal, and then a recent goal they came … I guess it’s been a few years now, but they came out with a goal that said not only do we want to reduce carbon footprint in our operations, we want to produce products that help our customers reduce 10 times the amount of carbon as we have in our operations.
So, they’re taking that product development innovation and setting an external goal around where can we make the biggest impact. Not just what is our biggest impact, but where can we make the biggest impact. And I think that’s an interesting example as well.
Yes. You see a lot of that in the high-tech industries like computers, chips; you also see it in a lot of transportation products like elevators or escalators or building material, you’re really looking for the types of products that can have a multiplying effect for energy efficiency for the customer.
And that’s really one of my key takeaways for a lot of our clients. We tend to default to risk. What is the risk, and how can we avoid it? But really sustainability, ESG, is about so much more than just risk. There’s so much opportunity, and opportunity for innovation, not just cost savings, but really making money. And we often say, make money, save money, reduce risk. People just focus on risk, and if that’s where you’re focused, I think it’s somewhat limiting in your approach. So, it’s encouraging to see people come up with these transformational types of goals.
Yes. I think it’s limiting and it’s just not as much fun.
We are talking a lot about goals and internal systems and how do we make all of this happen. One of the other trends that you have in your report, Carol, is this increased use of technology, big data, sensors, wearable technology. I mean all kinds of technology driving sustainability and environmental health and safety. I was at a conference recently where somebody said, “Every decision today is a technology decision.” So, what are you seeing as it relates to technology and EHS and S?
We see an uptick in the use of wearables for on the factory floor, drones for compliance and safety monitoring, as well as big data and IoT.
Artificial intelligence is coming to fruition. The challenge actually for the EHS professional is what to do with all of the data. So, we’re just at the very beginning. Internal to companies, you’re going to want to have data scientists engaged alongside others. There’s going to be real changes in how this happens in order for us to realize the opportunity of this technology. Again, transparency and awareness and the ability to communicate and multiply information quickly, and make proactive decisions, is really the place that we are on the cusp of in terms of the management of EHS.
Well, I guess I’d like to start off even with what we’re seeing within EY, and take our traditional part of our business, the audit practice, where we provide assurance services for the Fortune 1000.
It used to be that we went to the accounting schools and recruited CPAs and put them through the mill and got their CPA and then went on to grow within the organization. But really, now what we’re seeing is we have to recruit so much more for people who are digitally savvy or people who are software engineers; people that we haven’t traditionally recruited. And that’s really changing the nature of how we’re hiring and attracting and retaining our talent, because we have to be responsive to our clients.
The other thing, and this is maybe the not as sexy piece of technology is, I don’t have any clients who don’t tell me they’re being told to do more with less. Provide results, but you have a smaller budget. And frankly, technology is the way to do that. Even us, within EY, we have taken the unusual step of forging alliances with several software vendors. And we’re software agnostic; we go with what the clients want. But we really have to forge these alliances, so we can better understand how best to serve our clients, so we’re helping them to implement some of these software services across organizations. And frankly, it’s a very large, fast-growing part of our practice.
And then finally, I’m a techno geek, so I love these examples. I came up through Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies in the day. And I read this article about an aircraft engine manufacturer using wearables on remote technicians. So, the people who actually design and built the engines, they were at their corporate headquarters in the US, and there were technicians in the field in Kuala Lumpur and they had a broken engine. And the choices were fly someone in from the US to Kuala Lumpur to help them fix the engine or put the wearables on. And the technician was looking through the same eyes, if you will, as a technician and say, “Oh no, that yellow part over there, take that out and replace it,” and the engine is fixed.
And that’s just so cool, but that’s a great example of technology in action and doing more with less, because, ultimately, it costs the client a lot less money in terms of downtime, inconveniencing their customers, and being able to take advantage of that big data and big bandwidth.
I agree. I think technology is going to change the way a professional in environmental health sustainability actually works going forward and, really, create great careers for people as well.
The other thing that I think is interesting, and I’m sure you’re seeing this with your clients as well, Rich, is that there is so much more data available, figuring out how to use it to make good decisions is half the battle. And hopefully that’s, Carol, when you were talking about data scientists for example, that there is additional information, so we can make better decisions around solving risks or identifying opportunities because there’s more information available.
This is an area that’s really robust and we’re seeing a lot of maturity in the marketplace. When you think about it, the software is designed to capture compliance. Software has been used to assure compliance, make sure everybody in the company is filling out their forms and identifying the metrics that we need to report up. But think about it. In order to be a sustainability company in the future, we have to also consider all of the resources that are going into the product. We now have regulations that are product-based and not just process-based.
So Rich, to wrap up this technology discussion, it’s clearly more than just a software system. Technology is clearly more than that. What are some of the key takeaways from the report and what we’re seeing with our clients?
When I think of big data and how much data is out there, we have a new refrigerator at home that has an IP address. Who is using that and how? Right? So, with the clients that we’re serving, they have all these disparate systems; sometimes they’re Excel spreadsheets, sometimes they’re databases, sometimes they’re systems that they’ve bought from a software vendor.
Really, the challenge is how do you pull all that together? So, it’s a matter of having an overarching system, the right practitioners, the right data scientists, and the right help and insights to make sense of it all, to help, really, ultimately support better decision-making. And to me, that’s the point of technology and that’s why it’s become such a critical issue.
Better decision-making is something high on my list no matter what we’re talking about, including technology. Now, we could talk about this report all day, but unfortunately, we need to wrap it up. So, what I’d like to talk about is really a key takeaway, but also when you do this report again two years from now, what does the future look like? What do you think the big changes will be in environmental health, safety and sustainability?
From my perspective, it’s a pretty exciting report. Those of us who have been in EHS and sustainability for a number of years are really seeing the fruits of our labor come to fruition. The notion that boards really are paying attention to environment and sustainability and social and governance issues is pretty amazing. And the fact that they’re actually taking ownership and accountability and moving the conversation forward I think is what you’re going to see.
Carol, I remember when I first met you, I was the head of sustainability for a Fortune 500 company, and you and I were working together as your role as executive director of NAEM. And the biggest conversation we had was how do we get the attention of the C-suite? Not the board but maybe even a chief procurement officer. That was the Holy Grail. And now here we are several years later, and we have the attention of the board.
So now when I look forward and say what’s it going to be like two years from now, sometimes I often say that sustainability, the “S” word is maybe a little bit overused. Because if sustainability is really about reducing your risk, increasing your innovation, boosting revenue, isn’t that strategy? Maybe sustainability becomes the strategy word. But more specifically, I really think that the risks and opportunities that we’ve talked about today really become mainstream. They’re referenced in the enterprise risk management section of a company’s book of business. Really, a risk is a risk. If it impacts an investor’s ability to make money, they want to know.
For better or worse, shareholders are number one priorities for corporations. And if a shareholder wants to know is my money, my investment in your company, put at risk simply because you have risk from climate change, they want to know. And honestly, they have a right to know. And I love the word you used earlier, Carol, transparency. And there’s an old quote that I remember, if time is money, transparency is time. So being open and transparent is going to allow companies to better communicate with their shareholders and other stakeholders and show that their investment in their company is worth it.
I can’t wrap it up any better. That’s really great points, and thank you both so much for being here today and sharing your insights. I am sure that everybody has taken away one or two great ideas that they can use as they go forward in their work.
If you haven’t yet, do go to NAEM.org to download the report to learn more. There are more trends in there and a lot of data and specific bullet points you can use to back up your own business case for environmental health, safety and sustainability at your organization. And we’ll stay tuned for another report in two years, Carol. Thank you all very much. |
ArtPrize at GVSU
ArtPrize® is an open, independently organized international art competition which takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It celebrates artists working in all mediums from anywhere in the world, and is open to any creative with an artwork to enter and a venue willing to host it.
For 18 days, art is exhibited throughout the city in public parks and museums, in galleries and vacant storefronts, in bars and on bridges. ArtPrize awards $450,000 directly to artists, through grants to support their ambitious work and through prizes which the public decides through the ArtPrize website.
Since its inception in 2009, millions have participated in ArtPrize, displaying their work, opening their spaces to artists and visitors from around the world, and sparking countless conversations about what art is and why it matters.
Grand Valley State University has been active in ArtPrize since the festival's inception. Grand Valley has participated as an ArtPrize sponsor, venue, and programming partner. The University's participation has evolved, changing in step with the competition. Read on to learn more about ArtPrize 2021 at GVSU. We look forward to participating as a venue for ArtPrize 2022.
GVSU has actively collected works of art for its permanent collection from past ArtPrize years. These pieces are on display across the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses.
This year we’re hosting work by California-based artist Scott Froshauer from his series The Word on the Street and The Peace Signs. The GVSU venue is located on the pedestrian pathways outside the L.V. Eberhard Center on the Grand Rapids Pew Campus, where the Blue Bridge meets the west bank of the Grand River.
Froschauer’s work is familiar yet surprising, taking the form of street signs but communicating messages of hope and positivity, rather than municipal warnings. Of his work, Froschauer states, “By using the materials and visual language of street signs, but replacing the traditional negative wording (Stop, Do Not Enter, Wrong Way…) with positive affirmations, The Word on the Street seeks to provide something that is missing from our daily visual diet.”
The Peace Signs series takes these ideas one step further and challenges viewers to consider their role in creating and reinforcing social standards of behavior. These works take the form of parking zone signs but utilizes the text of the Lao-Tse poem Peace in the Heart translated into many different languages. Froschauer describes this project as "an exploration in visualizing world peace."
Scott Froschauer, Breathe/Interstate Now, courtesy of the artist |
The establishment of farming is a pivotal moment in human history, setting the stage for the development of class-based society and urbanization. Determining the nature of early farming and how farming practices evolved with increased societal complexity is therefore key to understanding the development of early urban civilizations.
Our research takes a new interdisciplinary approach, combining archaeobotany, plant stable isotope chemistry and functional plant ecology, to reconstruct not only what crops were grown, but also how farming was practiced.
Our recent paper (Bogaard et al. 2015) provides a worked example of combining plant stable isotope chemistry and functional plant ecology, to characterise a series of modern extensive (low input) and intensive (high input) farming regimes.
Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of archaeobotanical crop remains can be used to infer agricultural intensity in two complementary ways. First, there is a clear impact of animal manure application on crop stable nitrogen isotope ratios; the volatization of the lighter 14N isotope in ammonia results in soil nitrates and plants enriched in the heavier 15N isotope. Secondly, carbon stable isotope analysis can be used to infer crop water status and hence potentially irrigation in arid climates.
These newly established ‘tools’ for inferring central aspects of agricultural practice can be combined to infer labour inputs through manuring and/or watering. These inferences are highly complementary. For example, manuring has a ‘slow-release’ effect on soils—only c. 5-25% of nitrogen being mobilized in the first year after application—and so provides an index of intensity as a long-term investment in land. Watering, by contrast, is required at regular intervals through the growing season in arid climates. Moreover, distinct regimes can be differentiated through variability in the intensity of inputs; thus, for example, hand-watering of pulses in a small-scale ‘garden’ setting is characterized by more variable watering levels and hence carbon isotope values than large-scale gravity-flow systems.
Functional plant ecology
Functional plant ecology infers the ecological potential of plant (here, weed) species on the basis of morphological and behavioural attributes that have an explicit functional significance. Thus, for example, weed species, which can develop large leafy canopies, are able to compete successfully for nutrients and light and so to dominate fertile situations. Measuring the canopy dimensions of established specimens of a species at a number of locations makes it possible to assess their maximum canopy size and hence this functional aspect of their competitive ability. Species adapted to conditions that are both fertile and highly disturbed, however, tend to have smaller canopies but a distinct ability to grow rapidly, a characteristic that is correlated with a set of leaf characteristics, such as the ratio of leaf area to dry weight (specific leaf area). Yet another set of functional attributes (e.g. small canopy size, low specific leaf area) characterize plants that are successful in nutrient-limited habitats. By measuring the functional attributes of weed species represented as seeds accompanying crops in archaeobotanical assemblages, it is possible to compare them with a series of modern analogue weed floras developed under known conditions to infer the nature of the farming regime. |
The Uniqueness of Churches of Christ
Jesus asks His disciples who people are saying He is.
They give popular answers. Elijah was to return before the great day of the Lord (Mal 4:5; cf. Matt 11:14). Herod was concerned that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead (Matt 14:1-2); it seems reasonable other folks had a comparable idea.
Jesus asks the disciples who they say that He is.
Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The word “Christ” literally means “anointed one.” Three classes of people were anointed in the Old Testament: prophet, priest, and king. The Spirit’s descending on Jesus at His baptism seems to have been something of an “anointing” (Jn 1:32-34; Acts 10:38)–One purpose of these anointing was to allow others to know that Jesus was the One Whom God had chosen.
As the Christ, Jesus is the One: Whom God had promised; Upon Whom God’s favor rests; Who is Prophet, Priest, and King.
“Son of the living God.” By using terms such as “Father” and “Son,” God is attempting to make the relationship within the Trinity understandable to man. God is “the living God” contra idols.
“On this rock I will build My church.”
What is the rock upon which Jesus would build His church?
Some say that the rock is Peter.
This is an important principle in Catholic theology.
Some will say that “Peter” means “rock.” Not so fast! Peter is petros in Greek, a stone or a piece of rock that can be tossed around. Rock is petra in Greek, a rock or a cliff. The idea is that this rock is going nowhere.
The confession of Peter that Jesus is the Christ seems to be the rock upon which Jesus built His church (Acts 4:11; Eph 2:19-20; 1 Pet 2:6-7).
Jesus would build His church. Jesus would be the One to build the church–only makes sense since He died for the church.
The church would be His.
- The idea is possessive–the church belong to Jesus.
- Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18.
- Implication of Jesus’ headship for the church:
- He has all authority in the church (Matt 28:19).
- He deserves the place of honor in the church; i.e., the church should seek to honor Him.
“The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
The King James Version reads “hell” here, but that is an inaccurate translation.
The word is Hades. The idea is that Jesus’ death would not prevent His building His own church. In fact, Jesus’ being the Messiah means that He would die and be raised (Matt 16:21-23).
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
Keys are used for locking and unlocking (Rev 3:7; Rev 9:1-2; Rev 20:1-3). Peter would unlock the kingdom for Jews (Acts 2) and Gentiles (Acts 10).
“Whatever you bind on earth . . . .”
The better translation from Greek would be, “Whatever you bind on earth will have already been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have already been loosed in heaven.” The idea is simply that the apostles were spokesmen for God (1 Thess 2:13; 2 Pet 1:21). |
Kaori Nepo, PhD, BCBA-D, Director of Behavior Services, provides two tips on how to help support your child throughout their behavioral development.
1. EXPLAIN to your child what is the DESIRED behavior in a given situation. For example, instead of “don’t yell”, say “use your inside voice”.
2. Catch your child in the act of doing something DESIRED and PRAISE them for it! For example, say “nice job cleaning up your dolls!”. |
In the U.S., we’re working at all levels to halt fossil fuel expansion and align government policies with science and justice.
OVERVIEW OF WORK
In the United States, Oil Change is bringing mobilization, research, policy, and communications support to bear at the federal, state, and local levels to stop fossil fuel infrastructure projects and keep oil, gas, and coal in the ground. In partnership with grassroots movements, allies, and coalitions, Oil Change is working to end U.S. government subsidies and finance propping up the fossil fuel industry, and fighting for aggressive regulation of the private financial industry to end fossil finance.
Oil Change also works to support frontline communities confronting fossil fuel infrastructure across the North American continent. We prioritize supporting Indigenous and frontline voices, including working in partnership with local Indigenous groups as well as national and international coalitions.
"Biden’s climate legacy hangs in the balance — we need bold leadership, not tinkering around the edges. Declaring a climate emergency would make it clear that Biden views the climate crisis as an existential threat and unlock key powers to tackle climate change head-on and hasten a just transition to clean, renewable energy," said Rees.
"We can't transition away from fossil fuels by locking in five more years of deadly extraction, and Biden can't claim to care about environmental justice while forcing oil and gas drilling on already burdened communities," said Collin Rees.
"This Supreme Court decision was illegitimate and wrong, but does almost nothing to constrain President Biden's toolbox to address the climate crisis," said Collin Rees.
"Voters will reward politicians who stand up for people, not polluters, and taxing windfall profits is wildly popular in every part of the country," said Collin Rees.
LATEST PROGRAM RESEARCH
The Build Back Fossil Free campaign rallied ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden’s remarks at the United Nations climate summit today in Glasgow, urging Biden to take executive action to stop fossil fuel projects.
"President Biden's claim that the U.S. is 'leading by example' is a slap in the face to communities suffering daily from the impacts of the climate crisis and fossil fuel extraction," said Rees.
The new report shows that Indigenous communities resisting the more than 20 fossil fuel projects analyzed have stopped or delayed greenhouse gas pollution equivalent to at least 25 percent of annual U.S. and Canadian emissions. |
Lake Nakuru Kenya National Park
Lake Nakuru an alkaline lake 62 kms in extent; It was gazetted in 1968 as a national park, both authorities and conservation organizations have kept on winning the battle to private property and human settlings, further broadening the park limits in 1968 and 1974 to its current extension of 188 kms.
The park is easily accessible, since Nakuru is the fourth city in the country and the head town of the Rift Valley. The Lake in the park is covered by the National park in the centre and a land strip around the northern, eastern and western shores, whereas southward the grounds extend farther to Makalia Falls, which is in the southern limit.
The shores are surrounded by swamps which are the base for the birds that swam to sun bath and during the driest seasons disappear to give rise to huge white salt crusts. The reverie forest opens up southward in a bush and acacia tree in the savannah plantations.
Species: The Park is one of the greatest bird sanctuaries as the shores are populated with million flamingoes teeming algae of its alkaline waters, the park offers 450 different species of birds. The famous ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson defined it as “the greatest bird spectacle on earth”.
It is also home for 56 species of mammals, which include carnivores such as lions and leopards, then buffaloes, warthog, waterbucks, Thompson’s gazelle. In 1987 the park was declared a sanctuary for the protection of the endangered Rhinos, allowing the re-introduction of specimens of both species, black and white.
Here the visitor can easily find two of the five rhino species surviving in the world. About 550 different plant species are recorded including the unique and biggest euphorbia forest in Africa. |
About Exhibitions and Programs at the Anchorage Museum
The works the Anchorage Museum exhibits or presents may awe, illuminate, challenge, unsettle, confound, and provoke. To present a work of art or idea for discussion is not to endorse the work or the vision, ideas, and opinions of the artist or presenter, but rather to uphold the right of all to experience diverse visions and views. The Anchorage Museum welcomes public discussion and debate as integral to the exchange of ideas and the sharing of perspectives.
A particular work is often perceived in different ways by different people. These moments can be a catalyst for discussing topical subjects; images can be openings for thought or discussion about personal values, art or whatever connotations it raises for an individual.
By bringing people together in ways that build bridges within and across communities, museums have the ability to strive towards supporting our living culture in making room for deep personal reflections, public dialogue and human action. Artworks, history, science, storytelling, shared spaces, and more can help provide the spark for these processes.
Our goal is to facilitate exploration and meaning-making, from many different perspectives.
A note on terminology and spelling:
The Anchorage Museum uses currently accepted terms for Alaska’s Indigenous culture groups. Recognizing that culture is not static and respecting that there are regional and generational variations in spelling and preferred terms, the Museum strives to be inclusive of self-identification. As such, terminology and spelling within Anchorage Museum text may vary due to preferred independent standards. |
Have you wondered which foods have the most pesticides and which don’t? Would you like a guide to highlight the foods would be best for your health to buy organically, and which you could save money on and buy from industrial growers because they are less contaminated? The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a not-for-profit organization, now offer an easily downloadable Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in your food. The guide offers a chart that lists the “Dirty Dozen” foods that have the highest amount of pesticide residue, and the “Clean 15,” with the lowest in pesticide residue. The chart can be cut out and slipped into a purse or wallet. The downloadable PDF also offers education about how much washing will help to remove pesticides, and how the guide was developed using data from 87,000 tests. The guide is offered through EWG’s Food News project. |
The other day, I came across this article from 1938 entitled 'Needed Research in Music Education'. Leaving aside the "nobody under forty-five" bit (lets just make that "nobody"!), it's another to add to my collection of quotes which basically say "someone should be researching adult learning in music". They pop up in the literature every few years, whilst actual research into adult learning appears at a slow trickle. They're one of the things that keep me going with my research, when the thought of the long, slow process seems overwhelming.
Articles about adults learning music appear in the more mainstream press now and then too - why it's good for our (ageing) brains, the story of someone deciding to take up the piano after dreaming of playing for years. I was pleased to spot a magazine article this week about the benefits of learning music as an adult, but then rapidly disappointed by lines about "demoralising (or just plain boring) school lessons" and "shake off the shackles of childhood piano lessons and start having fun". There's nothing necessarily wrong with teaching yourself or making use of YouTube videos, as the article suggests, but this disparaging view of music teaching got my back up. Yes, there are boring/ miserable lessons/ teachers, but there are so many teachers that I know who are trying their best to make learning music enjoyable and engaging for all ages.
Although the article pushes the social benefits of music, it takes confidence to go and join a group - I'm not sure how easy some people will find it to step out from behind their computer and go out to play in public. That can be something that a teacher can help to 'hold your hand' through, playing with you in lessons, arranging informal opportunities for you to play with and in front of other people, suggesting suitable ensembles to try out. Going along to lessons is a social interaction in itself, and don't we spend enough time in front of a screen as it is?!
I have a couple of other issues with dependence on video lessons - firstly, there isn't someone there observing you and helping you out. I've come across adult learners who've struggled with teaching themselves through online courses, because they're trying to follow a set of 'one size fits all' instructions. The instrument hasn't been set up properly for their particular body shape and size, their hand position is all wrong for the length of their fingers, and they're wondering why it doesn't sound right, and even more worryingly, it feels uncomfortable. Look at just a few clips of professional flute players and you'll see variations in how they use their hands, arms, mouths - because bodies aren't all made the same! This is something that a teacher can help to work out, helping you to avoid injuring yourself at the same time (it might seem difficult to injure yourself with an instrument but the damage that musicians do to their bodies is a big issue - if you're doing a repetitive movement many times, you want to be doing it in the best way possible). They're also there to help with the mental and emotional aspects of learning - supporting you through the frustrating times and helping you navigate the process of learning music alongside all the other challenges in life. I entirely understand that it costs more to take lessons than to watch YouTube for nothing (and clearly I have a vested interest in people taking lessons!), but I wonder whether sometimes 'free' isn't the bargain it seems to be.
My other issue is an apparent obsession with speed (of learning, not of playing!) - online teaching resources I've seen use phrases like "fast-track your results". One, specifically for adults, promises to "skip the simplistic and slow approaches used with children and will get you playing in no time". While I'm not doubting - and research, including my own, suggests - that adults need some different approaches to children, I am wondering what's so wrong with 'simplistic and slow'? I certainly see a desire for quick results in many students (as much in children as adults, I would say), but surely there is nothing wrong with taking your time? As well as getting away from the screen, why can't learning music also be a change in pace from the rest of life? I'm reminded of the 'slow food' movement which celebrates traditional methods of growing and cooking, and of the trend for mindfulness which encourages people to slow down and observe. Why should learning music be a race? Why shouldn't we enjoy the gradual process, and celebrate the beauty of playing something simple well.
Perhaps adults do want quick results. Maybe they don't want teachers (although my research suggest that that plenty of them do, and that the teacher-student relationship is really important). I suspect that what really works well for most learners, whatever their age, is a combination of approaches - individual lessons, playing with groups, making use of some online resources, experimenting on their own. We need to look at what benefits learners most - musically, but also mentally and physically - is it the quick fix that seems initially most appealing, or is it taking your time and immersing yourself in the long, wonderful process of learning? We could say that 'slow and steady wins the race' but I think what's most important is that it isn't a race!
In part one of this post, I talked about the technology - mainly iPad apps - that I use in teaching. Today's post is about the less techy, but no less useful, gadgets that I carry around!
The 'physical' gadgets I use mostly involve blowing. The flute is a bit of an oddity in the way you 'blow' - for most woodwind instruments you blow down into the instrument to make a sound. Lots of people have played the recorder at school and often beginners will try to blow down the flute in the same way. But on the flute the breath needs to go across the lip plate, hitting the 'riser' or 'chimney' inside to make a sound.
I remember as a beginner being taught that it was a bit like blowing across a bottle, and attending a fabulous flute day where we all blew bottles, 'tuned' to different notes with different amounts of water in them, to play a piece. It would be a bit awkward to carry a glass bottle around to all my lessons, but thankfully there is a bit of flute 'kit' which helps students get to grips with 'blowing across'. Presenting, the Pneumo Pro (and my chin)...
The Pneumo Pro is a plastic replica of a flute headjoint, with a gap to let the air through and what is basically a collection of small windmills attached. A couple of my younger students know it as the "helicopter thingy". Essentially, it's a fabulous way of seeing where you're blowing - you blow across, and the windmills go round. It's great for getting to grips with the initial idea of blowing across, but also useful as students progress. The different height windmills relate to the different angles of blowing required to play in different octaves, so it's helpful for feeling the level of lip and jaw flexibility needed. And it can also be used for practising keeping a steady airstream, both soft and strong, and for making sure that tonguing isn't getting in the way of the air. Plus, it's a bright yellow, fun, "helicopter thingy", what's not to love?!
The other bit of equipment I've used quite a lot is a straw. Squeezing a straw to narrow it and blowing through helps to feel the 'diaphragm' muscles which are needed for breath support, another one of those things which is easier to grasp through feeling it than through explanations! But partly inspired by new website Flutemotion, which sells all sorts of flute gadgets, I've recently invested in some more fun ways of demonstrating and practising breath support, and now have a stash of these...
This simple pipe and ball toy (bought in bulk from a kids 'party bag' toy supplier) does the same job as the straw, but with the added bonus/ challenge of having to keep the ball in the air. It really helps you feel those breath support muscles engage, and kids (and big kids) like testing themselves with how long they can keep the ball up each time. It's only disadvantage is having to retrieve said ball from the floor/ other side of the room several times per lesson!
I'm currently awaiting a delivery of some whistling lips to try out, and am planning a few games of Blow Football at my next student workshop...
With that reference to Inspector Gadget, I suspect I'm dating myself a little! I grew up in a (not that long ago, honest) age, unimaginable to some of the youngsters I teach, without iPads, iPods, YouTube or Facebook. All my school – and music theory – work was done on paper. If I wanted to hear a piece of music, I had to buy a recording, listen out for it on the radio or go to a concert. Downloading music was a very new thing!
This isn’t a post about the ‘good old days’ though. Technology is a hot topic with music teachers, with articles in magazines about the latest software, apps and gadgets to help with teaching. I’m generally a fan of technology so I've investigated quite a few of these, and adopted some for use in my lessons. I use quite a few internet resources for sheet music and theory (see my links section for info on some of these), but today I'm concentrating on my favourite apps - mainly iPad but some of these are available for Android and other systems too.
Rhythm Cat was one of the first musical apps I downloaded, drawn in by the name! It's a game which gradually builds rhythm skills, teaching how note values match up to sounds. There's a great, really varied soundtrack to play along to, and some beautifully-designed cat-related graphics.
There are a few apps for testing and improving aural skills - those skills of clapping in time, echo singing, sight-singing etc, which build general musicianship and are part of the ABRSM exams. ABRSM themselves offer the Aural Trainer, which is pretty good. AuralBook has a couple of advantages over this though - for one thing it's free, the full version for all eight grades. It also doesn't just play exercises or record your responses - it does both of these, and analyses your responses! So it plays you a melody, you sing it back, it records your singing and compares it to the original. Same with your clapping to see if it's in time. The one offputting aspect is the tone of voice of the 'examiner' who asks the questions and tells you how you've done - it's quite abrupt and doesn't pull any punches when it comes to saying you've made a mistake. Even the "wow" when you get something perfectly right sounds a bit sarcastic. But I've found if I warn students about this in advance, we end up having a giggle about it - one asks me if I've "brought the rude woman this week"!
Another app that 'listens' to you! This one tests your scales and arpeggios - again, recording them and comparing them against how they should sound, checking notes, tuning, speed and rhythm. You can work on a particular scale, or ask it to 'challenge' you which prompts you with scales picked randomly from the appropriate syllabus. You get a mark and a really detailed note-by-note analysis, plus a big cheer if you do well! I've found this one really motivating for some students, being driven on to get a better mark. The big downside to this one is the price - there's a free version but that's quite limited. The full app is £4.99 and then there are further costs to download exam syllabuses (sets of scales for each grade).
I also like ScaleBox - although this doesn't 'mark' the scales for you, it encourages self-assessment which is a really useful skill to develop.
Alongside these apps, I make use of a metronome (lots of free ones available), a piano app which gives you a small playable keyboard on the screen (handy for theory - explaining intervals etc), and a recording app - again really helpful for encouraging students to listen to and self-assess their own playing. My favourite is Voice Record Pro which is free but has lots of useful features, including the ability to upload and share recordings online - handy if students want to keep a copy of their recording.
Not all teachers are fans of apps and gadgets – I’ve heard them dismissed as gimmicks, a waste of time, or only used as a ‘treat’. I use them as part of a range of materials, and I do think you need to take as much care testing them out and assessing them as you do with any teaching materials, tutor books etc (so yes, I have sat at home and gone through all eight grades on AuralBook, and all the levels on Rhythm Cat)! Just as there are books I choose not to use as a teacher, there are apps that I’ve decided were badly designed, pointless, or just confusing to use. I make sure the ones I use actually teach students something, but I also want them to be intuitive to use and fun too.
Part two of this post - coming soon - will look at more 'physical' gadgets, including the "helicopter thingy" that my youngest pupils are very keen on! |
Adaptive radiation occurs when one species diversifies into two or more new ones, each specialized to a particular ecological niche. Species are most likely to “radiate” into various forms when new environments open up, and competition is minimal. Darwin illustrated this divergence—this process of new speciation—in a drawing in The Origin of Species.
Darwin collected several of his first finches on his trip to the Galapagos in the 1830s, but it took other experts and further research—including studies done at the Academy in the 1930s and modern DNA-sequencing techniques—to determine the number of species and the relationships between the birds.
The common ancestor to these closely-related finches arrived on the Galapagos Islands from South America about two million years ago. Because the islands were sparsely populated, the finches could take their pick among the variety of environmental niches open on each island—they could specialize! Over time, driven by natural selection (according to Darwin’s theory), the populations evolved into 15 recognized species differing in body size, beak shape, song, and feeding behavior. The diversity of size and form of the current beaks is clear evidence of natural selection in action: each species is adapted particularly well for food from different islands, such us insects, seeds, nectar from cactus flowers, and even blood from iguanas!
And people are still studying these birds today. A study published this week describes the genetic basis of that beak variation, specifically identifying a gene called ALX1, which is strongly related to beak development and how pointed or blunt the beak becomes. The variance in this one gene not only strongly correlates with the beak difference among all 15 species, but it is also associated with the rapid evolutionary change in beak size of the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis), which faced a sudden change in food supply due to a 1985–86 drought. In a brief span, the ground finch adapted to feeding on seeds that were larger and harder.
“This is a very exciting discovery for us since we have previously shown that beak shape in the medium ground finch has undergone a rapid evolution in response to environmental changes,” says famed Galapagos finch researcher Rosemary Grant, a co-author on the new Nature study.
The ALX1 gene is also related to development of the face and skull in humans, though the specific functions are yet unknown. Perhaps this study could shed some light, says lead author Leif Andersson. “I would not be surprised if it turns out that mutations with minor or minute effects on ALX1 function or expression contribute to the bewildering facial diversity among humans.”
Wouldn’t Darwin be thrilled with these results—a great present for his 206th birthday! |
Today is World Cancer Day and we, at Fujifilm, we are continuing our fighting against cancer even in this critical pandemic situation. During the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries across Europe suspended breast cancer screening programs. In some areas, the number of patients who have had mammograms has decreased by more than two thirds.
Depending on the lockdown periods, which differed from country to country, the European breast units were closed one after another, first in Italy, then in other European countries. However, we know that breast cancer screening can save lives. A number of studies conducted by leading research institutions suggest that stopping screening could result in an increase in the percentage of women who will die from breast cancer in the future.1
There is much to catch up on now. With this in mind, screening units have established new routines, adapting their workflows and their workplaces. Across Europe, women’s health services have reorganised themselves in order to face the challenges of COVID-19, showing an exemplary and effective attitude to change.
To understand this change, we have invited influential voices of the European breast cancer screening landscape to understand and learn about the current situation. We asked them to tell us about how the impact of the pandemic has demanded new models of working and how this changes their relationships to their patients. The report created based on this new input is based on interviews conducted in September and October 2020. In case you are curious, the paper can be found here.
The message that we want to push and spread as much as possible is to take care of yourself, of your health, of your body. Book your screening appointment, breast units across Europe have implemented the best ways of working which help to safely reinstate screening services even in times of COVID. |
In this post, we dig into the essentials of cybersecurity. Examine back next week for a follow-up post including ideas on how to best secure your personal and service presence from cyber threats..
Whether youre a small organization took part in internet marketing or simply making use of services like Instagram and Facebook in your personal life, cybersecurity is relevant to all of us. We recently took a seat with Garrett Laman, a Developer Intern at Central, for more information..
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the significance of cybersecurity and ensure that Americans have access to the resources they require to be more protected online..
What are the current hot topics in cybersecurity?
Customer personal privacy and consumer data defense are big right now. Numerous states are currently crafting legislation around these topics in reaction to consumers ending up being significantly worried with how much data theyre offering to services and how that data is secured.
Another hot topic is the death of passwords. Microsoft and other huge players in tech have understood that passwords are a weak link in terms of security. They are looking into alternatives that use biometric factors like fingerprints and retinal scans, as well as physical choices like hardware keys.
What is the greatest misconception individuals have about cybersecurity?
A little federal government contracting company was alerted that their information was being auctioned off on the dark web. Within a couple of hours, all their data was siphoned off to someone who offered it on the dark web. Eventually, it resulted in over $1 million in damages, in addition to a number of days of lost organization.
This also applies to small companies. As a mom-and-pop shop, you might not believe that you have anything worth hacking. Again, that couldnt be further from truth. There is always a monetary incentive for somebody to assault you, even if you do not have a great deal of cash and wont be thought about a prominent hack. Hackers understand that small companies typically dont have a great deal of cybersecurity resources in location, that makes them low-effort, low-risk, low-hanging fruit.
Without a doubt, it is individuals believing they are not a target since theyre not well-known or rich. The truth might not be further from the fact. Info like your date of birth, social security number, address, contact number, family members, etc has a rate on the dark web– and people will pay for it. Sadly, your individual details will constantly be important to somebody, so you should always consider yourself a target.
Can you offer us an example of what it looks like when things fail for business when it comes to cybersecurity?.
How should organizations speak with their consumers about information defense?
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Numerous states are presently crafting legislation around these subjects in action to customers ending up being significantly worried with how much information theyre offering to services and how that information is protected. This also applies to small businesses. Hackers understand that small companies generally do not have a lot of cybersecurity resources in place, which makes them low-effort, low-risk, low-hanging fruit.
Ultimately, it resulted in over $1 million in damages, in addition to a number of days of lost business. Openness is key, and little organizations should easily display and disclose how theyre using customer data. |
The Minneola tangelo (Citrus x tangelo cv. Minneola) belongs to Rutaceae (Citrus family). It is an evergreen small tree that was cross breeded by USDA Horticultural Research Station in Orlando in 1931. It is a interspecific hybrid between Duncan grapefruit and Dancy tangerine. It is characterized by a stem-end neck, which makes the fruit appear bell-shaped. The fruit is usually large, about 80 mm in diameter, when mature, its peel is bright-reddish-orange color. The fruit matures in the December-February period, with January being the peak. It is named after Minneola city in Lake County, Florida. |
It was September 2000—an average fall day in Chicago. A friend of mine was finishing up his workday, trying to leave a few minutes early to catch a wine auction downtown with his colleagues. He wasn’t planning on purchasing anything, but after a few complimentary tastings he started getting loose with his wallet. There were numerous bids and counterbids (and additional tastings), and when all was said and done he ended the day with a handful of First Growth, Left Bank Bordeaux wines. For those unaware, the Bordeaux region in France is divided by the Gironde Estuary, a body of water fed by the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Each side encompasses multiple appellations and sub-regions, but the primary grape used in the Left Bank is Cabernet Sauvignon, while Merlot is more common on the Right.
Even if you don’t follow the world of wine, chances are you’ve heard of some Left Bank producers. The region houses famous Chateaus like Latour and Margaux—two wines my friend happened to procure at this auction. All in, he paid a total of $1,560 for 7 bottles. A couple of years went by and he eventually moved out west to San Francisco, which is where I met him. But it wasn’t until late 2010 I became aware of these prized jewels in his possession. I pleaded and begged for him to open one, but my cries went unheard. By this time, the bottles had appreciated so much in value he was left with one choice: he had to sell. Selfishly I disagreed, but it was hard to argue with his decision.
Over the last decade, the price for French Bordeaux has reached astronomical levels. Much of this is due to rising wealth in China, where fine wine has become a sort of status symbol. In fact, the Chinese were buying so much Bordeaux they surpassed the US in 2009 as the largest non-European export market, according to the Wall Street Journal. The results were clear. My friend put his 7 bottles up at auction, and a few days later had over $8,000 in his pocket. That’s an annualized return of 16.9% over his holding period—not bad! The S&P 500, by comparison, was up only 12.9% over that same period. Total. On an annualized basis that’s only 1.1% per year.
Of course, much of this difference can be explained by mere timing. The S&P 500 was sitting close to an all-time high in September of 2000, and shortly thereafter plummeted as the Technology bubble burst. But even if you measured from the market bottom in 2002, these wines would have outperformed the S&P over the last 10+ years.
So Why Isn’t Everyone Investing In Wine?
For one, returns like these are more the exception than the rule. Elroy Dimson, Peter Rousseau and Christophe Spaenjers published a recent study called The Price of Wine. In it, they estimated the long-term (1900 to 2012) annualized rate of return on wine was 4.1%, net of inflation, storage and insurance costs. Clearly that’s a bit lower than the growth my friend experienced. And over that same period equities have offered superior returns.
The study was also based on five of the most famous and highly sought after Bordeaux wines: Haut-Brion, Lafite-Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, and Mouton-Rothschild. Had the study focused on more “average” producers, or producers from other regions in the world, the long-term returns would be even lower. French Bordeaux (and Burgundies for that matter) command some of the highest premiums in the wine world. This means that 4.1% likely represents the upper bound of historical returns.
But perhaps most important is the fact that wine is a physical asset. Unlike stocks, bonds and other liquid investments, most purchasers of wine take physical delivery of the bottles. And once you take possession, the wine needs to be properly stored in a temperature controlled environment. This means you need a cellar or storage device, or at least a third party location that rents storage space. And of course, you would want insurance against damage or theft. The monetary cost of these factors was included the study’s 4.1% long-term return, but transaction costs were not. There are a number of online trading platforms and auctions, but fees still range from 10% to 30% of the selling price. This is a significant drag on performance.
There are also non-monetary factors to consider, like time and effort. Buying and selling wine means you have to get to and from locations that sell, pack and ship wine. This is a much bigger hassle than sitting at your home computer and entering an order to buy 10 shares of Google. Like other investments, you also need to do your research. Not all vintages and producers are created the same, so they will not appreciate at the same rate. Some will even decline. A couple of recent vintages serve as prime examples. Characterized by almost perfect weather, 2009 was considered one of the best years on record for French Bordeaux. As such, it commanded some of the highest prices ever in the futures market. A 2009 Lafite Rothschild, for instance, was selling for over $1,900 a bottle at certain retailers in 2010. However, according to Bloomberg, prices have already pulled back by more than 50% as demand from China waned over the last few years.
Currently, the 2013 Bordeaux vintage is for sale. But this was a much more challenging year plagued by poor weather conditions—some even calling it a disaster. So while there may be pockets of quality, as a whole it will be very difficult for producers to command the same premiums as before. Lafite Rothschild already reduced prices by 14%.
Wine is a physical asset and collectible, and is not considered one of the major liquid asset classes of investing. Nevertheless, it should be evaluated in the same context. Said another way, will investing in wine help diversify your portfolio, enhance returns, or both? The study referenced earlier points out that wine prices have a substantial positive correlation to equity prices. In other words, prices tend to move in the same direction as stocks. Conceptually this makes sense. Wine sales are predominately driven by rising wealth, and wealth increases as the stock market rises. So when it comes to diversification, wine is probably not the best counterweight to a portfolio of stocks. For a more in-depth (albeit technical) discussion of this topic, see our previous post How Diversification Helps You Save Money.
There is, however, some potential return enhancement. While the inflation-adjusted historical return on wine is lower than equities, it is still higher than bonds. So trading a small amount of bonds for wine could make sense, as long as it didn’t substantially increase volatility (i.e. risk). But again, other monetary and non-monetary factors need to be considered, like transaction costs, and the time and effort of dealing with a perishable physical asset.
So Is Wine A Good Investment?
In reality, investing in wine is impractical for most. There are simply too many hurdles to buying, storing and selling that it’s not worth the time. Moreover, fees at most online trading platforms and auctions are much too high. I, for one, am a consumer of wine, not an investor. Every bottle in my possession will eventually end up in the same place: my stomach. But if for some reason a bottle in my collection appreciates +500%, I might consider letting it go. The proceeds, of course, would be used to acquire more wine for consumption. |
Honglonglong is the sound of thunder
Fang’s debut collection Burying the mountain is available since the end of October of 2021, and a copy of it currently finds itself in my shopping cart, patiently awaiting the moment I decide to pull the trigger and press the button which will send it on its way to me. So far, I haven’t but the day is definitely drawing closer.
In any case, you can find more about the poet from his twitter or the collection from the publisher. Currently, that page features him reading some of his work in a video, which I will embed here first.
While there is something in the way he’s reading poetry that I find slightly off-putting, I can’t help but respect how he appears to be visibly captivated by his own writing. Admirable.
Thunder only happens when it’s raining
However, Fang is maybe not why you’re here! You’re perhaps wondering why I am writing about him and his work on this blog. When I saw in the aforementioned interview that he had written a poem entitled 轰隆隆 is the sound of thunder, I knew I had to see what that was all about. After all, I have a greater-than-average interest in Chinese onomatopoeias and ideophones. And I also happen to have written about iconicity in meteorological expressions before!
In my paper “Does the thunder roll? Mandarin Chinese meteorological expressions and their iconicity” (Van Hoey 2018, doi: 10.1163/23526416-00402003) (Contact me if you want to read a copy but you don’t have access), I talk about the two kinds of motivation that we can observe in weather-related ideophones.
A first kind, let’s call them colloquial ideophones, are formally marked in their phonology, mostly through different types of reduplication (full and partial). The way iconicity or sound symbolism works in these words is that when you try to map aspects of the sound on the meaning of the expressions and notice a resemblance. For instance, the back vowels and nasals /oŋ/ in hōnglónglóng perhaps evoke the rumbling (notice the back vowel and nasal in rumbling) of thunder. Or in ablaut ideophones like xīlī huālā or dīdī dādā you get that alternating “over here (high vowel /i,i/) … over there (low vowel /a,a/)” effect. Combined with the fricatives of /x/ and /h/, it’s easy to imagine a kind of sluicing rainfall in xīlī huālā. And then l- reduplication is well-known in Chinese as a marker of continuation. Compare this to the unaspirated alveolar /d/’s of dīdī dādā that indicate drips and drops.
Just so we’re clear, I’m not saying these words are compositional in the way Hamano has argued for Japanese, but conversely that I can see how structural mappings can be identified or imagined.
- hōnglónglóng (轟)隆 隆 ‘sound of thunder’
- xīlī huālā 唏 哩 嘩 啦 ‘streaming and sluicing, heavy rainfall’
- dīdī dādā 滴 滴 答 答 ‘lighter rainfall, just beginning or about to end’
The second kind, literary ideophones by lack of a better term also typically display formal phonological markedness (full or partial reduplication) and also sometimes some phonesthemic-like elements. However, what sets them apart is that they can rely more on radical support. Radical support is the idea that the graphical form of a (Chinese) word contains a semantic element that is expressed, often repeated, that indicates something about the meaning of that word. Most people know that onomatopoeia (sound ideophones) in Mandarin often have a 口 MOUTH element, e.g., jījī zhāzhā 嘰嘰喳喳 ‘sound of birds chirping; sound of people chattering’. But literary ideophones typically have other radicals. In the examples below WATER 氵 and RAIN ⻗. They are also typically older and not as in use in spoken language as the colloquial ones; but of course, they often turn up in song lyrics, sung in karaoke bars. So I wouldn’t flat out say they don’t belong to the contemporary Chinese, just that there is a genre effect.
- línlín 淋淋 ‘streaming and sluicing; dash and splatter’
- línlí 淋漓 ‘light drizzle’
- màimù 霢霂 ‘soaked and steeped’
- fēifēi 霏霏 ‘heavy snowfall or rainfall’
- pīlì 霹靂 ‘thunderclap, thunderbolt’
Anyways, I can go on and on about these words but it’s now time to turn back to Fang Shangyang and his 轰隆隆 is the sound of thunder. I will present the poem below, which, in the spirit of fair use and commentary on (please Shangyang Fang or publishing house, I do this out of love and don’t come back to sue me, I hope you sell many copies), I have augmented with pinyin in red so as to show how to pronounce these words and so that you can enjoy the poem to its fullest.
Also, pay attention to what kind of ideophones are used here. They virtually all belong to the colloquial stratum, which tells you that indeed, we should be reading the poem out loud to make most sense of it.
Finally, I hope the lay-out matches that of the original poem but I can’t be sure. Just know that it’s supposed to have a few lines per paragraph usually.
By Shāngyáng Fāng 方商羊
is the rain stitching a bell jar, or the clock remembering its days
as a clepsydra.扑通 pūtōng is the sound of: man stumbling
＆ 哈哈哈哈 hāhāhāhā is the laughter that chases after
玲玲琅琅 línglíng lángláng is the water sword whacking the 哐当锵锵 kuāngdāng qiāng qiāng jade pendants
of cold rocks. 飒飒瑟瑟 sàsà sèsè is the west wind & 扑扑簌簌 pūpū sùsù
is the falling leaves that 萧萧翩翩 xiāoxiāo piānpiān with an autumnmoon
In fact, 簌簌 sùsù is the sound of all soft things falling
The tears 簌簌 sùsù on the face. The snow 簌簌 sùsù.The begonia 簌簌 sùsù
on the mahogany bone of a folding fan. 簌簌 sùsù the brushstroke
paints the rice paper into a landscape of black mountains
泠泠淙淙 línglíng cóngcóng the rivers flow where the inked mountain is not depicted
flow in the uncharted whiteness
The bold strings 嘈嘈 cáo cáo like blizzard, the fine strings 切切 qièqiè like murmur一
the melody of a girl playing 琵琶 pípá on the orchid boat
back in the Tang dynasty which we still hear through 白居易 Bái Jūyì’s poetry
If the river could speak, would the mountain understand its utterance
The sound of a frog is 呱呱呱 guāguāguā, which is annoying
If you cannot stand the 呱呱呱 guāguāguā, please put the frog into a boiler
The hard part: try not to mourn the frog
The sound of the autumnmoon is 寻寻觅觅 xúnxún mìmì,，冷冷清清 lěnglěng qīngqīng
凄凄惨惨戚戚 qīqī cǎncǎn qīqī,，which is also the 点点滴滴 diǎndiǎn dīdī sorrow of 李清照 Lǐ Qīngzhào
Because to mourn the frog one must speak in the language of frog
which is to 呱呱呱 guāguāguā
咿咿呀呀 yīyī yāyā is a青衣 Qīng Yī singing with 盈盈脉脉 yíngyíng mòmò lips of red beans
飘飘冉冉 piāopiāo rǎnrǎn is their furbelow 依依霏霏 yīyī fēifēi among the willows & catkins
式微 shìwēi is the evanescent light of a lantern. Wrong. 式微 shìwēi is the swansdown
evening, a girl calling her beloved: why don’t you come back? Come back
In truth, 式微 shìwēi is 王维 Wáng Wéi writing a poem to the shadow of his leaving friend
who promised to come back with a sprig of magnolia to light up the yard
His poem has the sound of clouds spread low on the moving water
The lamplight threads a dim song across the voice of trees
关关喈喈雍雍嘤嘤嗷嗷萋萋肃肃呖呖 guānguān jiējiē yōngyōng yīngyīng áo’áo qīqī sùsù lìlì
are the sounds of birds
薨薨喓喓嘒嘒趯趯啁啾了了 hōnghōng yāoyāo huìhuì tìtì zhōujiū liǎoliǎo
are the sounds of insects
噼里啪啦 pīlipālā are the firecrackers bumping into the air
叽里咕噜 jīlīgūlū is a mouse stealing oil & falling from the chair
呦呦 yōuyōu the deer sings.萧萧 xiāoxiāo the horse chases the wind
淅淅沥沥 xīxī lìlì the knuckles of rain knocking windows of a departed train
知了 zhīliǎo : is the cicada chirping its name: 知了知了 zhīliǎo zhīliǎo
布谷 bùgǔ is the cuckoo calling itself: 布谷 bùgǔ cuckoo cuckoo 布谷 bùgǔ
For us, the petals fall with no sound. For the fire ants, the petals hit
the ground with a sound as loud as thunder, which is 轰隆隆 hōnglōnglōng
But what is the ant’s onomatopoeia for the thunder & falling flowers
What is the petal’s onomatopoeia for the wind that brings forth its own
Still, we keep hearing, hearing, hearing the hiss of white, yellow
& blue petals scattered in a bowl bitten by the ants’ bitter teeth
沥 lì 淅沥沥 xīlìlì the rain
轰隆隆 hōnglōnglōng 轰隆隆 hōnglōnglōng 轰隆隆 hōnglōnglōng轰隆隆 hōnglōnglōng
Pretty cool huh?! |
This plant was imported into Australia around 2003. It is obviously from guaranitica origins but has been bred to be about half its height i.e about a metre. Like guaranitica it has tubers and spreads enthusiastically when there is moisture.
It continues flowering right through summer when some of its relations show their displeasure at extreme heat by stopping flowering for a while. It will grow in a little shade as well as full sun. It is winter dormant.
If you are not worried about it spreading or can put it where it is limited it is a real joy with its gorgeous colour. Mine stays fairly low, about half a metre, but I have seen it much taller.
It can be propagated by cuttings or division.
Its closest relation is probably the regular guaranitica which has been around in Australia for a long time and caused many gardeners anguish with its spreading habit. |
What's the plural of "corpus"? In what social situations is "wicked" a term of approval? Why does it "sound wrong" to say "The good weather set in on Thursday" although "The bad weather set in on Thursday" is perfectly acceptable? If I can say "I live a stone's throw away from here", can I also say "I'm going a stone's throw away from here"?
Large language corpora can help provide answers for these kinds of questions -- if only because they encourage linguists, lexicographers, and all who work with language to ask them. The purpose of a language corpus is to provide language workers with evidence of how language is really used, evidence that can then be used to inform and substantiate individual theories about what words might or should mean. Traditional grammars and dictionaries tell us what a word "ought to mean", but only experience can tell us what a word is used to mean. This is why dictionary publishers, grammar writers, language teachers, and developers of natural language processing software alike have been turning to corpus evidence as a means of extending and organizing that experience.
The British National Corpus (BNC) is a collection of over 4000 different text samples, of all kinds, both written and spoken, containing in all six and a quarter million sentences, and over 100 million words of current British English. Work on building the corpus began in 1991, and was completed in 1994. In 1997, work on a major revision of the corpus was completed, and in 1998 the British Government agreed to allow distribution of this revised version worldwide.
The BNC World Edition is now freely available for sale as a set of CD-ROMs containing the full SGML text of the corpus, together with software and indexes needed to search it. It can also be accessed via the BNC Online service provided by the British Library and managed by the OUCS. In addition, and perhaps of most general interest, a special purpose "sampler" is now available, containing two million words selected from the whole corpus, half from spoken and half from written texts.
In addition to SARA, (the SGML Aware Retrieval Application developed at Oxford to work with the BNC), the Sampler includes the following other state-of-theart corpus analysis software tools:
The Sampler also comes complete with detailed documentation in HTML format, some additional data files (notably a selection of treebanked data prepared at Lancaster University, and some sample digitized audio files)
This presentation will introduce the Sampler and its contents, demonstrating how the tools provided can be used to cater for a variety of needs, whether of language teachers and learners or researchers in general. It will focus on uses made of the SARA system by advanced language learners, and the pedagagogic implications of the learning styles this system encourages. |
Date of Award
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Leukemia Stem Cells (LSCs) from Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) require the activity of the transcription factor NF-kB to maintain stemness and drive tumor formation. Blocking NF-kB can preferentially eliminate LSCs in vitro with minimal effects on healthy Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells (HSPCs), making NF-kB a compelling target for anti-leukemia therapies. However, blocking NF-kB in vivo can only extend survival for a short period of time before transplanted mice succumb to the disease. I propose this is due to components of the in vivo niche supporting LSC survival and compensating for the inhibition of NF-kB.
I observed patients with partially differentiated blast-like AML (subtypes M3, M4, and M5) have significantly elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFa and IL-1a/b; (TNF and IL1) circulating in their peripheral blood. Further study revealed these cytokines are primarily produced by LSCs because such cells express several times more of TNF and IL1 than their healthy tissue counterparts. I found that TNF and IL1 stimulate the growth and expansion of LSCs while inducing cell death in HSPCs. Also, LSC-conditioned media alone is sufficient to drive apoptosis/necroptosis in HSPCs that can be prevented by blocking TNF and IL1, suggesting a mechanism for hematopoietic repression commonly observed in AML cases.
TNF and IL1 drive their pro-inflammatory effects on target cells through activation of cellular signaling networks. Both TNF and IL1 are potent activators of NF-kB in almost all cells studied, connecting the ability of these cytokines to drive LSC growth with the need of NF-kB for survival. In addition, TNF and IL1 also stimulate activation of JNK signaling which operates in parallel to NF-kB in LSCs and HSPCs. I found that JNK stimulation results in cell death in HSPCs by subsequent inactivation of pro-survival Bcl-2 family proteins by phosphorylation. However, LSCs convert JNK-mediated cell death signals into proliferation/survival signals by both limiting the signal duration to <60 min through dephosphorylation by Map Kinase Phosphatase 5, and also by upregulating JNK's nuclear target c-Jun. Such short duration of JNK activation correlates to activation of JNK's nuclear targets without activating the death signal.
I determined that concurrent inhibition of NF-kB and JNK has two major effects: (1) combined inhibition specifically targets LSCs in vitro and in vivo, and (2) the toxicity in healthy HSPCs due to loss of NF-kB signaling is mediated by JNK, making the combined treatment protective. I can substantially increase survival in AML-transplanted mice if they are treated with combination of NF-kB and JNK inhibition in vivo. I can further extend survival in leukemic mice when I treat with blockers to upstream pro-inflammatory cytokines: anti-TNF, anti-IL1, and NF-kB inhibitor. These data provide a strong rationale to treat AML patients by combined inhibition of both TNF/IL1- JNK and NF-kB signaling. |
I have been tinkering around from time to time with heat regulation. In the past, I decided it might be a good idea to go with a RDT (Pt100) as a sensor. Mainly because my father had one lying around and it can be used in various environments. These platin sensors also work in very hot ovens as well as very humid places. In opposite to K-type sensors these cannot be as easily read out and need some electronic. So I took the device my father build back when he studied for his diploma thesis, it has an oldschool red LED displaying the temperature and I managed to “hack” it, so that it could be read out with an Arduino.
The old Arduino with breakout board
It was used outdoor sometimes and of course this thing broke after some time. Fair enough. So I looked up in the internet, what need to be bought to make it work again. Unfortunately I found out, that devices providing such functionality cost about 100€ and I was like “What the fuck? 100€ for mostly shifting some currents around with op-amps?” Then I decided to solder my own measuring transducer. For those interested in more than my olde stories and also want to learn something: Measuring with a Pt100 works, because you measure the current that flows through the platin wire. The name comes from the 100
Ω this item has at 0°C, as it has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), which is normal for metals, the resistance rises as temperature rises. So at 20°C room temperature it has a resistance of roughly 107 Ω. All you need to do is apply a voltage at the pt100 and a current will flow through it. As temperature rises, the resistance goes up, so your current goes down. All you need to do is measure the current. Easy. I thought. But the troll of nature strikes back. Not only the curve is nonlinear, also the proportion of change is very small. If you go up from 0°C to 20°C, the resistance only rises by 7%. So if you want to use the built-in ADC of an Arduino, which has 10 bit resolution and goes from 0 to 5V, you can apply a source of constant current to your Pt100 and measure the voltage drop. If you want to measure up to 250°C, you would chose 25 mA, which yields a voltage drop of 5V at 250°C. At the freezing point of water, you will end up with a drop of 2.5V. As your ADC has 10 bit and goes from 0 to 5V, the temperature resolution will be in 0.5°C steps. Also we have to account for nonlinearity, which can be calculated out by the software.
At this point I somehow realized why it might be fair to sell the hardware for about 100€. Still I didn’t want to give up and started to think about soldering a circuit, which transforms the currents to a range, which uses the range of the ADC suitably. But then I found this shiny IC, the SMT UTI-18SOIC. It does everything already, you only need to solder a reference resistor and some other resistors as well as some connections to the sensor and the ADC, plus it costs less than 10€.
So I soldered everything together, it run smoothly and I plugged a relay to my Arduino to control a source of heat. The solution worked universally, so heating up a room was no problem, brewing beer at the right temperature or cooking roast meat slowly over several hours. One could also think of other uses, like regulating the temperature of an aquarium or use in a distillation apparatus. But the good times could not last forever and so the electronics broke again. Well, as a consequence of my soldering skills and not providing a casing for the electronics, this was no surprise.
Also some time has passed and very cheap PID Controllers showed up on Ebay, for 20€ or even less it was possible to have it all in one device. All in one device? No, connection to a computer needs hacking of this controller again and for many heating devices another SSR or relay was necessary, since upper power limits were about 1000W or the like.
You can find an overview of the bricklets here:
What is necessary for this project are these 3 elements:
The first one connects via USB to the Raspberry Pi, the second one controls the heater and the latter reads out the Pt100. I have to say, this is very easy. It comes with debugging software, so you can plug in your master brick to your laptop and read out what is connected and what it is sensing. All you have to do is set the jumpers on the PTC bricklet to your type of sensor (pt100 in my case). In this case I control a cheap heating plate from Chinese mass production (http://www.ebay.de/itm/INDUKTIONSKOCHER-INDUKTIONSPLATTE-INDUKTIONSKOCHFELD-INDUKTIONSKOCHPLATTE-/181107942542?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item2a2adfe48e)
But I have to say that induction plates are insanely awesome for such purposes. If your controller changes the power, the delay until the system reacts goes down from minutes to seconds. Of course this always depends on the heat capacity of your system and its dynamical behavior. So I opened the case and attached the buttons to the relays of my TinkerForge system. By flipflopping the relays it is possible to control the induction plate just like a human would do it. Well it would be much cooler (or say hotter) to control the induction coil directly with a thyristor or whatever is necessary, so if someone has found a way to control a coil directly, inform me. Then it is possible to take out any induction coil from a broken heater and have stepless regulation. But it might be complicated, since semiconductors are not too happy with high amplitude HF, still there might be some mosfet/thyristor from china that would do the job and is produced in tons.
Also I bought a display for the Raspberry Pi to show and control the temperature right on the device, but it turned out to be useless, since there is always a smartphone around or a laptop to login to the website via WLAN. Furthermore there might be cheaper solutions, since Tinkerforge is expensive, but there is no soldering etc. necessary, is very flexible and can be increased by additional features and controls.
You also need a Pt100, which can be found here http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Two-wire-PT100-temperature-sensor-platinum-resistance-temperature-sensor-PT100/1171520400.html?spm=2114.031010208.3.74.zG27Cg&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_6_71_72_73_74_75,searchweb201527_4,searchweb201560_9, of course you can also exchange the ptc bricklet and pt100 with a K-type thermistor, which will be some € cheaper and the only drawback is that pt100 operates at much higher temperatures (above 300°C) also. |
Engaging Growers in Honey Bee Health
Farmers and bees are partners in supporting modern, production agriculture. The world counts on both to produce the food and products that are at the center of our way of life in North America and beyond. That’s why the Honey Bee Health Coalition is working across sectors to develop the tools and resources farmers need to protect pollinators and ensure honey bees thrive in agricultural landscapes.
Read on to learn how the Coalition is engaging with soybean growers and certified crop advisers, accelerating critical research around varroacides, and supporting innovative research around honey bee nutrition.
Earlier this month at the Commodity Classic tradeshow in Anaheim, California, the Coalition unveiled a series of new best management practices for soybean growers to ensure they and honey bees can continue to work together to support healthy ecosystems and the crops consumers count on.
Pollinator habitat and the plants bees rely upon often border soybean fields throughout North America. Soybeans can be an attractive source of pollen and nectar under certain circumstances.
These voluntary best management practices — available at honeybeehealthcoalition.org/soybmps/ — complement information already available to growers, including mandatory pesticide label instructions and advisory warnings.
Investing in Varroacide Research, Testing
Left untreated, Varroa mites can quickly spread across a region and devastate honey bee colonies. With Varroa mites adapting to the treatments currently available, the Coalition is working with a wide array of public, private, and academic partners to explore potential new compounds to help beekeepers treat and control these destructive mites.
The Coalition announced earlier this month that it has secured a more than $475,000 grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research to facilitate the testing of chemical compounds that could help beekeepers more effectively treat Varroa mites. This grant, matched by participants and industry members to provide more than $1 million in total support, also will document how mites develop resistance to treatments.
The funding will support the identification, lab testing, and field testing over the next three years of “orphaned” chemical compounds that have known acaricidal (miticide) activity but have not been specifically tested against Varroa mites. Many of these compounds are trapped in a bottleneck where the costs of testing and commercializing them are too steep for testing, effectively leaving them on the shelf.
This collaborative effort is being championed by a diverse coalition of national and international public, private, and NGO organizations, including USDA-ARS, University of Nebraska, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Department (Canada), University of Georgia, Universitat de València (Spain), Ohio State University, and Auburn University.
In addition to the grant funding, Project Apis m. provided financial support. Other organizations also have provided in-kind support, including bees from a number of regional beekeepers and compounds from Bayer.
In case you missed it, the Coalition selected four teams of researchers and innovators as the winners of the inaugural Bee Nutrition Challenge. The finalists and winners presented their ideas in a “Shark Tank”-style event at the 2018 American Bee Research Conference.
The Bee Nutrition Challenge winners and awards are:
- $15,000 for Miguel Corona, Steven Cook, and Jay Evans, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Bee Research Lab, Development and Testing of Optimal Seasonal Nutritional Supplements For Honey Bees
- $10,000 for Waled Suliman and Brandon Hopkins, Washington State University, A Novel Feed Additive for Protecting Bees and Confronting Colony Collapse Disorder
- $7,500 for Washington State University to research fungal extracts for honey bee health
- $7,500 for Jaclyn Nichols, Patrick Heritier-Robbins, Ruchi Banerjee, and Ollie Peterson, Georgia Institute of Technology, Bee Ultra Sound
Monsanto, a member of the Coalition, generously provided support for the prize funds. In addition to the prize, the winners will have full access to subject matter experts and others from the Coalition’s member organizations — including mentoring and advice.
Learn more about the Bee Nutrition Challenge, the winners, and information about their projects by visiting honeybeehealthcoalition.org/nutrition-challenge.
Crop Pest Adviser Training Module
Support honey bee health takes more than a willing grower. That’s why the Coalition developed a training module for certified crop advisers to ensure they are prepared to assist farmers who are ready to adapt their in-field practices to protect and support honey bees and other native pollinators.
The Coalition has basic resources for growers and beekeepers on its website regarding growers, applicators and beekeepers can work together to protect honey bees from unintended pesticide exposure. Certified crop advisers should look for the Coalition’s training modules at upcoming conferences.
The Coalition is working to update the modules based on feedback from recent meetings in Arizona, Michigan, and Nebraska.
The program is focused on an 11-state region — Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin — and is accepting applications for landowners looking to improve the forage and habitat available to pollinators, including honey bees. Landowners who are selected will receive access to:
- Cost-effective pollinator habitat that is documented to produce high pollinator value.
- Free or discounted pollinator seed mixtures designed to establish quickly, better handle weed competition and provide great pollinator value.
- Proven seed mixes maximize the pollinator values for monarch butterflies, honey bees, and native pollinators.
- And an opportunity to make a difference by restoring high quality pollinator habitat within the critical landscape defined in the National Pollinator Partnership Action Plan
The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund is accepting applications for projects of two acres or more through March 31. Grantees are expected to plant their projects starting this spring. A second application period will follow later this year for fall plantings. |
How To Clean A Coffee Grinder?
For some reason, I’m always the one who gets stuck washing dishes.
I’m not sure Jack would eat if it meant he had to wash a plate!
Which means I’ve had to learn how to clean every weirdly shaped appliance.
One of the trickiest is the coffee grinder.
So I read up on what I didn’t know, and I’m gonna break it down for you all.
How Cleaning Your Coffee Grinder
If you want a fresh cup of coffee, you’re gonna want to clean that grinder.
Otherwise oils from the beans start to build up and become rancid.
Those oils can ultimately make their way into your coffee.
Unfortunately most times you can taste their presence.
Cleaning your device regularly combats these oils and their nasty taste.
What To Consider
While Cleaning Coffee Grinders?
You’re going to have to take some things into consideration before cleaning.
Tiny coffee particles can get stuck in small crevices in your grinder.
Over time, oils can also accumulate and become rancid.
Something to think about is, what type of grinder do you own?
Depending on the style, you may have to use different techniques.
I have looked into different types of grinders and how to clean them.
Cleaning A Hand Crank Coffee Grinder
If you’re worried about not finding how to clean your vintage grinder, you can relax.
First thing’s first, you want to remove the top of the grinder.
Then, remove the screws from the bracket holding the burr in place.
Finally, grab the shaft with some pliers and twist the handle until all parts can separate.
Now, clean each part with your solution of choice!
I, personally, like to use a baking soda paste.
Cleaning An Electric Coffee Grinder
Cleaning an electric grinder may seem scary at first.
Loads of thoughts may run through your head.
Should you use water?
What if you break your grinder?
Worry not, there is an easy solution to cleaning it without damage!
All you need to do is avoid water, and grind a substance that collects oils left behind.
Cleaning A Blade Coffee Grinder
There are many ways you can clean a blade coffee grinder.
As a general rule, the process for a blade grinder is pretty easy.
You can follow the same technique as for an electric grinder.
Or you can just scrub/wipe the grinder down with your solution of choice!
Soap and water would be what I use for this style.
Cleaning A Burr Coffee Grinder
Before you even attempt cleaning your burr, know to NOT use water.
Water can lead to corrosion of the metal, and the need for a new grinder.
You’re going to want to start by taking the machine apart.
Then, using some sort of brush, dust off all the accumulated coffee residue.
Finally, put it back together and grind some more beans!
4. Dump Bread - Dump out resulting crumbs.
5. Wipe Grinder - Wipe sides of grinder with damp towel.
Don’t feel like taking apart your grinder or taking the time to clean it?
That’s okay, there’s a much easier solution!
Purchase coffee grinder cleaning tablets, instead.
These get rid of coffee particles and oils, and take barely any time to use.
You can even buy them online so you don’t have to leave home.
1. Read - Check tablet container for amount to use (depends on product).
2. Grind - Place the correct amount into the grinder and start grinding.
3. Dump Powder - Dump out resulting powder.
4. Grind Coffee - Grind some coffee beans.
5. Toss Out - Discard grounds (do not use) to make machine ready for use.
Looking for something already in the house and don’t have anything mentioned above?
Don’t worry, you don’t have to go out and buy anything.
There are plenty of other options for cleaning your grinder.
I found as many ways as I could, and will list them for you to find one best for you!
Grab some kosher salt and run it through your grinder.
It can help get rid of residue and odors.
Oatmeal has the same effect as everything previously mentioned.
You may have to run the oats through a couple of times.
If you want to focus more on getting rid of odor than residue, try salt.
It can help remove old grounds, but it’s best at removing smells.
Using Grinder Brush
If you don’t want to run anything else through your grinder to clean it, try a brush.
This way you can easily scrape off any old particles stuck inside.
It is also very cheap compared to the other options.
You can buy a brush once every few years, if you decide to even replace it.
This way you don’t have to buy more of something every time it needs cleaned.
If odor is your biggest issue, vinegar is the way to go.
Dip the end of a paper towel into white distilled vinegar.
Then, wipe down your grinder with the paper towel.
Let it completely air dry, and you’re good to grind again!
If you’re looking for a way to clean your machine very quickly, buy a mini vacuum.
You should only have to buy it once, and you can remove grounds in seconds!
This option does more for residue than odors.
How Cleaning A Commercial Coffee Mill
Overall, commercial coffee grinders make a lot more coffee than those at home.
It is able to grind more coffee at a given time.
For this reason, there is more surface area that a larger amount of beans touch.
This results in more to clean, and a longer process.
Fortunately, the process isn’t all that difficult.
People also want to learn: How to Clean Any Coffee Maker?
1. Remove hopper and wash with soap and water
2. Towel dry the hopper before use.
3. Pull the dosing lever multiple times to empty grounds from chamber.
4. Brush particles out of grinder.
5. Use a paper towel to gently wipe the outside of your grinder
How Often Should I Clean Coffee Grinder?
A lot of people think they can wait years before cleaning out their grinder.
This is wrong, as most grinders should be cleaned about once a week.
Another way to know, is to look for buildup.
As soon as you see some, it’s time to clean!
Generally water and metal do not mix well, long-term.
If you do wind up getting water on the metal, it can lead to corrosion.
This would be detrimental to your device.
You may possibly have to buy a new grinder if this happens, which no one wants.
Don’t Use Water With Electronics
This is a pretty obvious statement, but some people still do it!
Water around electronics period is a bad idea.
Not only can it put your health at risk, but also your grinder.
Chances are, if you use water to clean your electric grinder, it will break.
Then you’ll have to invest in another grinder and way to clean said grinder.
Think About Safety
Before cleaning your device, ALWAYS UNPLUG!
You don’t want the machine starting while you have your hand inside of it.
Not only will you have to pay for a new grinder, but also a hospital bill!
Remove The Blades
If possible, make sure to take the blades out before cleaning.
This way there is no way for you to accidentally knick your finger.
Also be very careful while removing the blades to not cut your hand.
The same goes for cleaning the blades, try to stay away from the sharp edges.
Be Cautious About Abrasive Tools
If any of your device is easily scratched (glass, paint, wood), use soft tools.
Hard bristles can tear into the surface.
Sponges and paper towels avoid risk of damaging the grinder.
It may not seem that bad at first, but scratches can wear your grinder down a lot faster.
This is why it is a good idea to take precautions about surface damage.
You may also like to read :
As you can see, cleaning a grinder isn’t as hard as it may seem!
Sometimes it can seem like a daunting task, so hopefully this helps you.
I’ve started to even have fun cleaning my grinder with my little girl’s help.
If you follow the steps for your type of device, you should be golden! |
Humane slaughter of horses in Canada
The role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is to verify that all federally licenced slaughter operators are handling horses with care and the Agency works closely with industry to ensure they understand and comply with federal food safety requirements.
The CFIA verifies industry's compliance by:
- performing daily inspections in all federally licenced slaughter establishments
- inspecting and verifying industry practices for animal transport, handling, stunning and slaughter comply with applicable federal regulations
- taking appropriate enforcement action when issues are identified
Federally licenced operators conducting horse slaughter are responsible for ensuring that horses are treated humanely and are slaughtered without unnecessary suffering, as required by federal law.
Laws governing the humane slaughter of horses
Under the Safe Food for Canadians Act and its regulations, licence holders who operate an establishment where federally regulated slaughter is conducted, must comply with humane slaughter requirements.
Part 6 (Commodity-specific requirements), Division 7 (Meat Products and Food Animals) of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) defines the conditions for the humane slaughter of all species of food animals. Some of the provisions contained in the regulations include:
- requirements for the humane care and handling of animals in slaughter establishments
- requirements for segregating and handling sick or injured animals
- requirements for the humane slaughter of food animals
All operators who slaughter horses also have obligations when receiving horses at the slaughter establishment under the Health of Animals Regulations (HAR).
In addition, the agency provides guidance to industry on procedures for handling and slaughter to meet food specific requirements for meat products and food animals under SFCR.
Industry's role in the humane slaughter of food animals
Canadian law requires that all licence holders who operate a slaughter establishment under federal regulations ensure that all species of food animals are humanely handled when they arrive at the slaughter establishment and during the entire slaughter process.
Additionally, to obtain and maintain a licence under SFCR, a licence holder is required to take the following measures to meet humane slaughter requirements:
- develop and implement an effective Preventive Control Plan (PCP) that includes preventive measures to control animal welfare risks in the establishment
- provide adequate training for its staff
- maintain its equipment and its handling facilities
- monitor for problems and take corrective action when required
Treatment of horses during slaughter
Every animal species has unique behavioural and physical characteristics, which have to be taken into account during slaughter. An effective preventive control plan will include preventive measures to control animal welfare risks, including those unique to the species, during all federally regulated slaughter activities in the establishment.
For example, horses vary a great deal in size, so handling and restraint facilities must be adaptable to the size of individual horses.
In addition, non-slip flooring is particularly important in facilities where horses are slaughtered because horses tend to become easily distressed if their footing is not sure.
CFIA inspectors and veterinarians are present daily during all slaughter operations at federally licenced establishments to inspect and verify compliance with various regulations including the SFCR and HAR.
This includes verifying that licence holders who conduct federally regulated slaughter are implementing all the procedures outlined in the animal welfare component of their preventive control plan (PCP) and that their measures are effective. Refer to industry guidelines for an effective animal welfare plan as part of a PCP.
The goal of these inspections is to verify that animals are being handled and slaughtered humanely and are not subjected to avoidable pain or distress.
When the agency identifies non-compliance with the legislation it administers and enforces, it has a number of tools it can use to respond. Learn more about compliance and enforcement activities. |
Betsy Burris is founder of Teaching through Emotions, an organization that supports teachers not just in surviving their toughest emotions about teaching but in turning those emotions into effective, rewarding, and sustainable teaching and learning experiences. Teaching through Emotions takes an explicitly psychodynamic approach to classroom difficulties, as its central premise is that healthy relationships are the bedrock of successful teaching and learning. The work, put simply, provides SEL (social-emotional learning) for teachers.
Burris works with teachers at all levels, pre-school through grad school, individually and in small support groups. She has written a book about this work called “The Feeling of Teaching: Using Emotions and Relationships to Transform the Classroom.” After graduating from Princeton, she earned a PhD in Education from Stanford University and an MSW from Smith College. She is a teacher, teacher educator, instructional designer and psychotherapist. |
Life on earth evolved in day and night cycles as both plants and animals have a biological clock that controls the circadian rhythms. Today though, our increasing reliance on artificial lighting is adversely affecting that crucial rhythm.
For close to a century, incandescent lighting served the world well. Easy to produce and dispose of, they had a perfect CRI score of 100. But they kicked off a serious problem. In the 1990s, scientists blamed electric lighting for changing our sleep schedules from a natural 4-hour phase with an hour of wakefulness in-between to a single eight-hour phase every night. Incandescent lighting was also energy-hungry and vastly contributed to global warming.
Today, 90% of our day is spent indoors watching TV, using our smartphones, or working. These devices have a lot of blue light that our systems are very sensitive to. Researchers have linked high levels of blue light with an increase in diabetes, retinal degeneration disease, and cancer.
The negative health effects are already evident. One billion people suffer from Vitamin D deficiency while seasonal affective disorder – a type of depression that can occur in winter when there is less natural daylight – is rising. Shift workers face increased risks of cancer, obesity, and sleep problems.
Well designed lighting can go a long way in mitigating most of these problems. For instance, light trespassing into bedrooms can be reduced by the use of outdoor luminaires that shine light upwards or use shields to block stray light rays. Outdoor garden lights can be dimmed using intelligent control systems and wireless networks of motion sensors.
It is recommended that indoor spaces use warm white LEDs in the evenings with a colour temperature of 3000K or lower – and as little blue light as possible. At night, there should be no exposure to light or light should be limited to 600 nm. It is crucial that light is in-direct (to avoid glare), is flicker-free and has the ability to dim. |
What is binge eating disorder?
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a recognised eating disorder in which a person, due to underlying issues and other risk factors, develops a pattern of binge eating which they come to rely on a a way of coping. In the same way as someone with anorexia and bulimia, the person with binge eating disorder feels compelled to continue with the disordered eating, i.e. binge eating, as a way of coping with emotional turmoil. It must be recognised that as with the other eating disorders, a person diagnosed with binge eating disorder cannot be treated by diet alone. All the eating disorders are serious mental disorders which require timely and appropriate treatment and support.
- Repeated episodes of binge eating
- A sense of a lack of control over eating during the episode (a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)
Binge episodes may be underlined by the following:
- Eating much more rapidly than normal
- Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
- Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
- Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating
- Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating
- Periods of binge eating or overeating.
The person affected by binge eating disorder may diet frequently, however they will not engage in purging behaviour (getting rid of food) after a binge. Over time this can, but may not always, result in significant weight gain.
Binges almost always occur in secret, and an appearance of ‘normal’ eating is often maintained in front of others. The food that is eaten is usually filling and high in calories. It tends to be food that people regard as fattening, and which they are attempting to exclude from their diet. The food is usually consumed very quickly, and is seldom tasted or enjoyed.
While in binge eating disorder there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets, and often feelings of shame or self-hatred surface after a binge.
A person affected by binge eating disorder may find themselves trapped in a cycle of dieting, binging, self-recrimination and self-loathing. They can feel particularly isolated which can contribute to the prolonging of their experience.
Binge eating disorder is almost as common among men as it is among women, and is thought to be more common than other eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
- Out-of-control eating
- Eating more than the body needs at any one time
- Eating much more quickly than usual during bingeing episodes
- Eating until uncomfortably full
- Eating large amounts of food, even when not hungry
- Eating alone (often due to embarrassment at amount of food being eaten)
Emotional and psychological
- Feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness
- Feelings of guilt and shame
- Depression and related symptoms
- Low self esteem
- Dissatisfaction with body image
- Feeling out of control
- Significant weight gain
- Digestive problems
- Joint and muscular pain
- Poor skin condition
Binge eating disorder has a significant impact on the physical, as well as the emotional, health of the person affected.
Health consequences may include:
- Digestive problems such as bloating, stomach cramps, constipation or diarrhoea
- Malnutrition because of the quality of foods consumed (high in fats and sugars, but lacking in vitamins in minerals)
Where significant weight gain occurs, related health consequences may include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart disease
- Gallbladder disease
Most physical symptoms can be reversed with weight loss and normalisation of a balanced diet and eating habits.
Binge eating disorder is a serious mental health condition. Obesity is a weight classification – a symptom – which may occur as a result of binge eating disorder. While many of the health consequences associated with binge eating disorder are directly related to obesity, it is important to maintain a distinction between this symptom and the disorder itself.
- Significant weight gain over time
- Repeated dieting as weight loss measures that do no bring about long-term weight loss.
- Bingeing in secret
- Eating high calorie foods
- Low self-esteem
- Negative body image, desire to lose weight constantly
- Feeling down to feeling depressed
People often try to control Binge Eating Disorder on their own, and if they fail they may feel demoralised and depressed. This may lead to further episodes, and consequent feelings of social isolation, missing work, school, etc.
More often than not, people who experience BED will need the help and support of a health care professional.
Consultation with a General Practitioner is an important first step towards self-care. The GP will look at the physical effects of binge eating and, if necessary, can make a referral to a dietician or to a psychologist or a therapist.
Individual psychotherapy and family therapy can be useful in addressing the psychological and emotional issues that may be underlying the disorder.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) teaches people to look at their unhealthy patterns of behaviour and how to change them.
For change to occur and to be lasting, a recovery approach which tackles both the physical and psychological aspects of the disorder will be required. |
A CAMPshot is Worth a Thousand Words
Wikipedia tells me the old adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” is believed to come from an article by Fred R. Barnard in the advertising trade journal Printers’ Ink. The December 8, 1921 issue of that magazine carried an ad that promoted advertisements on the sides of streetcars. It read: “One Look is Worth A Thousand Words.”
Barnard also had an ad in the March 10, 1927 issue with the caption, “One Picture is Worth Ten Thousand Words.” In the ad he called it a Chinese proverb, according to The Home Book of Proverbs, Maxims, and Familiar Phrases, “so that people would take it seriously.” After that, the proverb was popularly attributed to Confucius.
Since the first issue of this year (not including this one), I’ve processed, near as I can figure, 1,289 CAMPshots. The smallest issue of the year, back in the winter, had 99 CAMPshots, the other nine issues ranged from around 125 to 150 per issue. The whole process is extremely time consuming, made all the more so by our requirement of having names with each photo.
The CAMPshots process begins with a variety of volunteer photographers covering as many events and places as possible in the period between each issue (in the summertime that’s every two weeks). Though many of us pitch-in on this effort, nobody does it like Tony Burns, who frequently turns in over a hundred photos (names included) by himself.
After a first cut, all the photos have to be named and coded and then processed for both print and web publication. After I finish the layout of the, usually 8-10, pages in the magazine, Kathy Weir takes my carefully coded lists and pages and types all the names. As a deadline comes to an end I add the names to the layout and all that remains is the proofing—a never ending process when names are involved. That, of course, only gets us through print publication, and all the photos (and their captions) still have to be added to the website.
Why do we do it? Well think about it. According to good old Fred, since last January we’ve shown in photos the equivalent of 1,289,000 words—unless, of course, we go by the “Ten Thousand” version which would make the number 12,890,000.
I’m joking, sure, but I’ve watched, time after time, as people pick up a copy of Letters and flip first to the familiar, black and white pages of CAMPshots. They give us a snapshot of our community—of what our community was doing at a particular time in our collective lives.
This summer I’ve met so many young people enjoying the first year or two of their Rehoboth experience. For them, this summer is all there is. They have no memory of what was, or used to be. They know nothing of the Renegade, or The Strand, the Surfside Diner, the Westside Café, Square One, Ground Zero (the restaurant, though many barely even remember the World Trade Towers), or any of the other “hot spots” that have come and gone over the years. For them, Rehoboth is a new invention and one I look forward to experiencing through their eyes as the years go by.
At the same time, we have a retired community living here fulltime. Though some are newcomers to the area, many have journeyed to this place for decades and know its history like their own. Many have lived through every stage of its growth and development—though some went kicking and screaming through the downtown revitalization program that created the beautiful Rehoboth Beach we know today.
Times change, and people come and go, but our CAMPshots show us where we are as a community. In them we find both the ordinary events of our lives, and the monumental ones like the signing of SB121 and the building of our LGBT Community Center. In them we find everything from governors and drag queens, to leathermen and families with young children. Right next to one another, we find outrageous house parties and quiet memorial services, bare-chested boys and butch women, huge events and intimate dinners. CAMPshots celebrates our divas, our performers, our artists, our DJs, our leaders, and our volunteers.
Life in a resort town always has a transitory nature, though we are blessed to have a stable community surrounding us, people “come and go so quickly around here,” as Dorothy noted to Glinda in the Wizard of Oz.
One of our great strengths as a community—and I’ve said this many times in these pages—is that we connect to so many different places up and down the East Coast. So many people claim Rehoboth as a part of their lives: weekenders, seasonal renters, vacationers, beach house families, and full time residents and retirees. Our resort status ensures that our make up is far richer than most towns our size.
I hope that shows in our CAMPshots. I worry when the balance is not right between men and women, or we’re not as racially diverse as I would like. I know that sometimes the same people are in too many photos and that I don’t have a good system for finding those of you who have never been in them. Still, our CAMPshots capture a moment in time, and a place that is special in ways we are still discovering.
It may not come from Confucius, but a CAMPshot is certainly better than 12,890,000 words! |
The last journey of the ancient aqueduct of Monte Pacciano
It is the iconic monument of Perugia, located in the center of Piazza VI Novembre.
Built between 1275-78, it is an icon of medieval sculpture, made of Assisi stone by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano.
The Fountain, was erected in the center of the square to celebrate the completion of the Monte Pacciano Aqueduct.
It consists of two large polygon marble basins on top of each other, topped by another in bronze.
The lower basin consists of twenty-five sides divided into two panels depicting the 12 months of the year. The images represent agricultural work, allegories of arts and biblical episodes, and each month is accompanied by the zodiac symbol.
In contrast, the upper basin, held up by a series of small columns, is decorated with 24 statues of distinguished men from Perugia, figures of prophets and Old Testament characters, and other allegorical, sacred, and historical figures.
The basin at the very top has three statues supporting the amphora from which the water flows. These are the work of Rosso Padellaio. |
A straw feminist is the feminist version of the infamous straw man. A straw man is a person who is invented to prop up a point, usually by pulling together threads of the other side's arguments and beliefs, and by misrepresenting statements made by the other side. Often, a straw man is specifically designed to be easily attacked, with the creator leaving gaps in the fictional creation's logic which can be assaulted with ease, thereby “disproving” the points made by the other side.
In the sense of feminism, a straw feminist or strawfeminist is a fictional “feminist” character who is used to make arguments about the feminist movement as a whole. A straw feminist can take a number of forms. She may be referenced in an article criticizing the feminist movement, for example, or she may appear in the form of a sockpuppet, a fake user account used to make inflammatory comments on a message board or blog community.
The typical straw feminist promotes radical ideas: she says that all men are evil, advocates castration for rapists, and makes inflammatory statements which are more representative of the fringe of the feminist movement than of mainstream feminist. She is the “fat, man-hating lesbian” who inhabits the nightmares of conservative commentators, embodying every imaginable stereotype about the feminist movement. The form of feminist represented by the straw feminist is shrill, strident, and often lacking in logic, in sharp contrast with the thoughtful, outspoken, and often very logical face of the feminist movement.
Most feminists are simply trying to create equal rights for women, and to promote respect for women which protects them from de facto sexism as well as de jure issues. They want to see equal pay for equal work, for example, or crackdowns on harassment of women in the street, on public transit, and in the workplace. Real feminists come in a wide range of socioeconomic classes, shapes, sizes, and relationships, just like everyone else.
The straw feminist argument is extremely frustrating for many feminists, partly because many people buy into it. Some women who actually have very feminist ideas are reluctant to call themselves “feminist” because of the negative perception of feminism, and criticisms of the feminist movement, even from informed people, often sound suspiciously like discussions of straw feminism. For example, many people claim that second wave feminism “goes too far,” not realizing that bulk of second wave feminists focused on addressing de facto inequalities which plagued women, not on creating a “womyns utopia” without any men. |
Finding a Natural High with Jon Sundt
Like many kids growing up, Jon Sundt was told that drugs could take you to new and wonderful places. Sundt experimented with drugs, but his two brothers became addicted and their addiction eventually cost them their lives. He started the Sundt Memorial Foundation to help influence the hearts and minds of kids by inspiring them to live their natural high and to reject drugs. We interviewed Sundt in 2009 and talked with him how drugs changed his life and why he is passionate about helping others.
Sundt reflects on how drugs changed his life and his family.
“When I was in junior high in the ‘70’s, there was a message similar to today, that if you wanted to be cool you had to do drugs. We were lookin’ up to Led Zeppelin, the Who, the Doors, and a lot of those people ended up dying. Like many young kids, I experimented before I was enlightened. I saw what was happening to my brothers through drugs. I was seventeen or eighteen and I decided that I didn’t want any part of that culture anymore. I took a left-hand turn and my brothers took a right-hand turn. My brother Steven was a full-blown addict in high school. It started with pot and ended with cocaine. He ended up dying in the back seat of a cop car on a stormy evening in Northern California. He was fighting for his life when he pulled over looking for help, because his heart was stopping. The cops called and they took him away and he died in a jail cell. I remember getting that call at two in the morning, like it was yesterday. They said, ‘Are you Jon Sundt?’ I said yeah. They said, ‘Are you related to Steven Sundt?’ I said, ‘Yeah, he’s my brother.’ The guy on the phone said, ‘He just died in our jail.’ I fell on my knees and cried out to God. From his first toke of marijuana to using cocaine was a seven-year journey that ended in death for Steve. My other brother, Eric, had been getting deeply involved in drugs and he had committed a crime. Instead of being sentenced to prison, he got sentenced to Patton State Mental Hospital for robbing a McDonald’s with a pellet gun. His hand was shaking so badly that the guy behind the counter said, ‘That’s not a real gun.’ My brother ran out and was arrested. He had been under doctor’s treatment for bipolar disorder. Thinking that the mental health system would be better than prison, we pleaded insanity. When you go to those hospitals there’s no determinate sentence. They interview you every six months and ask how you’re doing. And every six months Eric was doing a lot worse, because those places are hell on earth. He ended up being there eight years, for petty robbery. After I buried Steve, I had to drive up and tell Eric that his brother had just died. That was a bad day. A few years later, Eric got out and took his life. I feel very strongly that if Eric had never gone down the drug path, a lot of that stuff wouldn’t have haunted him.
“The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:11-12
Sundt shares why he is passionate about helping others.
“When I speak at schools, it’s so cool to see a kid focused on something that’s giving them a natural high. You know right away when they’re involved in something good. They’re in a group involved with something and they don’t need it or want it [drugs]. As opposed to the kid who is kind of bored, maybe not very self-confident, trying to prove something to themselves, and they’re going out blowing their brains out. Nearly every time I’ve spoken to a school here in San Diego, afterwards a kid’s come up to me in tears. They have a story to tell, and it’s so sad – my mom, my cousin, my older brother. They have a story that’s been told a thousand times, but to this person it’s a nightmare… Drugs are somewhat of a silent killer. It’s shameful when you’re a child when someone you know dies of drugs or alcohol. Maybe it’s not death, but it’s shameful when somebody goes into an addiction spiral. They lose their job; they lose their family. Or, if it’s a young kid, they lose their future…”
Find your natural high. Instead of getting high and escaping reality with drugs and alcohol, find activities that bring you joy and excitement. It could be an outdoor activity. It could be helping others. It could just be trying something new.
Get help. Whether you are addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography or something else that is damaging, it is time to get help. There are people that love and care about you. Reach out to them and ask them to walk alongside you to get help. You might need to go to counseling or go to a program that can help hold you accountable to quitting. Trying to quit an addiction can be a difficult thing. It can help to have friends, family, or even a pastor that can check in on you and see how you are doing. It might mean not going to certain places or hanging out with certain people who are not supportive of you quitting. Remember that God loves you and has a plan for your life.
Help others say no. If you have a friend that struggles with drug addiction, help them find their natural high and activities that will encourage them from walking away from their addiction. If you have a story of God helping you break free from addiction be willing to share it with others. It might even be having a speaker like Jon Sundt come and speak to a group that you are a part of.
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The "too clean" theory of asthma rises again. It even makes the Wall St. Journal!
The germ theory has been in some eclipse in recent years because of some awkward epidemiological facts. For instance, Australian Aborigines often live in extraordinary squalor but don't seem to be protected from anything because of that. In fact they have quite high rates of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes
So how do we evaluate the findings below? It's a bit difficult as the article in NEJM has not yet appeared but there are at least two possibilities. The most favourable to the theory is that it is not the overall bacterial load that matters but rather just some bacteria. So southern German farmhouses might have the helpful bacteria but Aboriginal camps may not. That is not inherently absurd but would be very much in need of proof, considering that both populations have extensive contact with all the world's infective agents via the modern-day "global village".
The second much more skeptical possibility derives from the fact that we are only looking at epidemiology here -- so all causal links are speculative. For instance, it has recently been found that Paracetamol (Tylenol) use in children under 15 months doubles their chance of getting asthma. So maybe the "dirty" farms were less health conscious in general and so used fewer medications, including paracetamol. Isn't epidemiology wonderful?
The possibilities are endless, in fact. It was found last year, for instance, that that receptors for bitter tastes are not confined to the tongue but are also are found in the smooth muscles of the lungs and airways. And bitter tastes RELAX those airways. So in doing any epidemiological comparisons of asthma incidence, we would have to ask whether the different groups used in the research differed in their preferences for bitter drinks, including, of course, beer!
OK. I could go on but I will have mercy at that point
Children living on farms have a lower risk of asthma than children who don't because they are surrounded by a greater variety of germs, according to two large-scale studies published Wednesday.
The prevalence of asthma in the U.S. has doubled over the past 30 years, and one theory for the increase blames urban and suburban living environments that are too clean. The latest findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, bolster what is often known as the hygiene theory, which says that contact with bacteria and other microbes is necessary to building a normal immune system.
The key appears to be exposure to a diversity of bugs, not just more of them, according to Markus Ege, an epidemiologist at the Children's Hospital of Munich and first author on the paper that covered both studies. "Bacteria can be beneficial for asthma," said Dr. Ege. "You have to have microbes that educate the immune system. But you have to have the right ones."
Previous research, including some conducted by Dr. Ege's group, has found that children raised on farms exhibit substantially reduced risk for asthma and allergies—lower by 30% or more—than those raised elsewhere. Though scientists had hypothesized that the difference was linked to germs, they also had to determine whether it could be due to other elements of farm life such as fresh air, exposure to farm animals, or dietary factors like drinking raw milk.
The latest study helps untangle that question by providing evidence that the reduction in risk is indeed significantly related to the variety of bacteria and other bugs a child is exposed to, according to James Gern, a professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who wrote an editorial to accompany the paper in the journal but wasn't involved in the study.
In Wednesday's paper, the researchers surveyed and collected samples of house dust in two studies of children from Southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland. One study comprised 6,800 children, about half of whom lived on farms, and the other studied nearly 9,700 children, 16% of whom were raised on a farm. Researchers then examined the dust for presence and type of microbes.
Those living on farms were exposed to a greater variety of bugs and also had a lower risk of asthma. There was evidence that exposure to a particular type of bacteria, known as gram-negative rods, was also related to lower rates of allergic responses.
Identifying which microbes are beneficial to the immune system is important because those germs could help the development of new treatments or vaccines to prevent asthma, Dr. Ege said. His group is now studying some of the microbes in greater detail.
The findings don't yield much in the way of practical suggestions, however. Dr. Ege said it wouldn't help for parents to take their children to a farm two or three times a year or to get a dog or other pet for the purpose of exposing their children to microbes, since the biggest effect appeared to be related to prolonged exposure to cows and pigs. |
If It’s Falling Apart…Let it Fall
It’s normal for the human thinking mind to try to juggle Life to keep all of its “spinning plates” spinning. Humans in doing-mode, driven by busy minds, want to keep those plates in the air to keep the momentum going and have nothing change. This takes a lot of time, energy and effort.
In the world of objects and forms, there is change. Change for a spinning plate might mean a stumble, jostle or slip which disrupts momentum, allowing the plate to drop, fall and break into pieces on the floor. Whatever we were doing is interrupted, our project collapses, our way of doing things might no longer be possible. We’re faced with the unforeseen circumstances of change.
The human mind resists the changes which arise. “What If” fears flood our confused minds. Disappointment and frustration come as the desire to hold-on meets the realization that this change might mean we cannot move forward in the same direction, operate in the same way, nor continue along the path we’d been traveling.
Every “spin” started in the past. Imagine spinning a basketball on your finger. It took an action, now in the past, which started the basketball’s spinning momentum. If we want the basketball to continue to spin, we must push against it, again and again. Spinning needs repetition of the past action to keep it going. This is the natural course of interaction between objects and forms in our physical world. The thinking mind needs repetition of its past, a renewal of its past, to drive its momentum.
Part of the mystery of Life is the “when and the why” spinning objects stop and momentum ends. It may feel unfair for things to end while we’re still enjoying them. We feel disappointed with unanswered questions of “but why”. If we cannot restart the momentum, we feel confused. “Now what?” We’re faced with not knowing what to do once this specific type of “doing” ends. The thinking mind can no longer find its path, it cannot see from starting point A to its end goal of point B. Fear arises. The thinking mind can become frantic in its search for new end goals, the next replacement of “what”. It can become obsessed with choosing various starting points and planning new pathways of “how to get back to what.” “But how?!!!,” it demands.
This is the time to stop, to step back, to breathe.
2022 is a time of uncertainty. The Pandemic brought the spinning to a stop and plates crashed to the ground. We may have lost our earning momentum. We might have lost our goals for achievement in career. We may have lost our perception of personal power or sense of direction as plans fell by the wayside. We may have lost loved ones and are facing change to the structure of our family units. We might struggle as we redefine the receiving and giving of social support. We might no longer be able to gather as before in ways we enjoyed our social interaction. We may struggle with health/medical bills, aging, employment, or housing.
We may feel the blanket of distress in the universal emotional field of mankind and suffer the collective anxiety as nervousness building within our spiritual bodies. Our economy is changing, the structures around employment are changing. Upheaval is a word which fits massive change on all levels within the world of humanity. This is no little thing and we’re not going crazy. We are facing change.
The infinite details to which Life attends would easily swamp a tiny, human mind and the egoic part of mind fears not being in control of what it thought was “its universe”. Disruption to the human dream, the doing mind’s goals, can feel unwelcome, unwanted, a pain in the ass, a punishment, a block or obstruction in our path towards progress.
We suffer as we hold onto the ego’s “wants” while the ego resists arising change. We don’t want a “new” normal. Our schedules have been interrupted, our accomplishments have been delayed, our patterns and routines of normal have ground to a halt.. “But…why, how, what, when, where…” the ego questions in reactive resistance to the request from Life to stop, to be still, to wait, to BE rather than to DO.
Looking at our daily schedule through the eyes of balance, what is our measure of our being in comparison to our doing? When we sit, are our minds still doing-thinking, planning, watching a program? Do we rest when our body stops or do we collapse?
Just for today, can we set aside 15 minutes to sit with a warm cup of our favorite beverage and just rest? Just “switch off”. No phone, no pen and paper, no electronic device, just be. Watch the mind spin without being pulled in. This will be easier if we’ve chosen a spot outdoors, surrounded by nature. Observe the birds, listen to the sounds without following the minds attempts to build a story around the sounds. Listen for the moment of Spaciousness from which each sound is birthed and into which each sound “dies”. This gap, this space, is the ground of Being.
Feel the internal arising of mind’s momentum as it builds in an effort to move you from your chair. “But, I need to do….”. Breathe, deeply, stay still and allow it to pass, this is only fifteen precious minutes. Witness the inner struggle as mind builds and falls, spins and slows, attaches to thoughts and lets go. Observe the self-soothing desires arise to watch a movie, read a book, call someone on the phone, eat something, workout, take a nap. These are the patterns mind has used to avoid the Present moment. Don’t judge, just see and breathe.
If we follow this “precious 15” for a week, we will begin to notice the imbalance of thinking mind. We will begin to recognize why we are so tired; the mind’s following of thought consumes much energy; doing takes great effort. The more deeply we dip into Being, the more balanced our Doing becomes. Life will guide our way towards greater balance.
Life will support our tiny openness to be shown the way forward through the changes we face. Willingness is the current which powers the inner generator of Life force which is of immense strength which the thinking mind cannot comprehend.
What if more could be accomplished by Being rather than Doing? What if the quality of doing- arising-from-beingness is far superior and more encompassing in range than we’ve ever actively witnessed? What if inherent unconditional love is ready to flow through new channels to replace the dying ways of fear, worry and discontent? What if our growth is overtaking the dying conditioning to which we’ve been chained for so very long? Would we not wish to experience every moment of unfolding sweetness rather than be distracted by the off-kilter spinning of conditioned mind?
“But, what about…?” I know, I too, hear conditioned mind’s questioning, for it simply does what it does and knows not what it cannot know. We’ve gone this route so many times before. Can we rest, during this time called “change” to witness our own unfolding? What a treasure this moment, even if it feels like “waiting”, can we dive deeply into this moment and leave the mind behind -just for an instant- for one loving glimpse of Freedom?
How does fear hi-jack Awareness of our beingness? “I can’t possibly stop such and such because…what if?” Is thinking mind struggling to hold onto the pattern of the past rather than waiting for guidance, for the arrival of a new direction? “But, I don’t want to lose…” What of the gain, here-Now, of abundance unrecognized?
Look to this Now moment, how are we supported? Is there a floor holding a foundation beneath our feet? Is there a chair supporting our body? Are there clothes keeping our bodies warm? Is there one bite of food to sustain our body’s energy? Is there one sip of liquid to quench the thirst arising now? “Yeah, but that stuff doesn’t really matter, what if…..?”
The spiritual teacher Byron Katie says “if you want a little fear and terror, get a future”. Thinking mind always escapes the present into a fearful story it calls the future or it dives into pain it remembers from the past. The egoic mind lives by past/future, only our Being-ness delights in the Present moment, recognizing the gift of Itself.
Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle mentions, “sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.” We are that courageous. We are this power. The fearful human mind doesn’t want to let go for it fears failure and sees threat to survival. What if there is no failure and survival is a matter of perspective?
Have we survived so far? Are we surviving Now? How many times have we faced danger and with no independent action of our own, have we survived? Can we say that survival happens? “But there are people who didn’t survive…and that is horrible.” Can we really know, absolutely without a shred of doubt, that this is true?
Have there ever been times when we felt physical death might just be merciful or even beneficial? Can we really know what is of the utmost greatest goodwill for someone else? If we are here, we are surviving and this is meant to be…until it’s not. Can we rest in the safety of our own Being-ness without allowing egoic mind to cloud seeing with panic and distress?
Have you ever watched a nature program such as National Geographic and observed a squid, in the ocean, as it leaves an ink-trail when startled by a predator? This defense mechanism confuses the predator so the squid has a split-second to reach a cave or crevice within which to hide, to achieve its “get-away” to maintain physical survival.
The thinking mind “squirts fear trails” to escape the Present moment. In this Present Moment there is no real risk nor real predator. A Course in Miracles says, “Nothing real can be threatened, nothing unreal exists.” The bible mentions, “Fear Not.”
The Present Moment is a way to focus attention on the Awareness aspect of mind which matures, strengthens, expands during spiritual Awakening. This is an inner embrace of Life. When thinking mind turns attention outwards, it attaches to physical objects in physical life and is no longer aware of the inner dimension of Being-ness. When we hear the word stop, we might mistake stopping for physical stopping, for stopping all “outer” action in the world. “I won’t eat, I won’t talk, I won’t move” is an exaggeration of the misunderstanding of inner/outer awareness.
We can “stop” on the inside while we observe the outer aspect of Life continuing, including the movement of our body and the thought processes of mind. The more we practice tuning into the Present moment and sitting in Stillness, we begin to discern the subtleties of our “inner/outer” dimensions.
We can watch our physical life-form without being caught up in the egoic identification with a personal “self”. We begin to see ourselves as consciousness which includes our physical form without thinking we are only the physical form. The Consciousness of Which We Are includes experiences of multi-dimensionality, simultaneously.
Expansion during Awakening brings this Awareness to our attention in richer ways than we could have ever imagined. We will miss it, if we’re embroiled in the momentum of thinking mind. No opportunity is ever wasted, it will come, again, yet these are available for direct experience, any time the mind is quiet.
If we’ve ever wondered, what is physical earth life, the life of the human all about, “what is this life for?”, the Present Moment is the spaciousness in which this answer is revealed. A specific way for each of us to comprehend is offered-according to our recognition of our own essence.
Don’t let any words bother nor concern you. There is part of you which understands, even without the use of words as descriptors for language. This part is what speaks, what listens, what comprehends, what is aware and That which Knows. This is what reveals Itself in stillness, inner stillness, through Awareness which can be aided temporarily by achieving outward stillness, such as in the “precious 15” minutes of stillness surrounded by the being-ness dimension anchored by nature.
If we’re willing to “stop” on the inside, the slowing down, stopping or new direction for the “outside” will take care of Itself. The inner stopping allows us to face Awakening with less fear, less chaos, less drama, less discontent, less suffering. Open willingness is cooperating with the expansion of the consciousness of which we are, called Awakening, as a return movement of recognition of all of the inherent qualities of our being-ness: Unconditional Love, uncaused Joy, unshakable Peace and unfathomable Wisdom.
Isn’t this what we hoped earth things and human life accomplishments would bring? These have never been absent, only hidden, beneath the “fear-squirt trail” of egoic mind.
If it feels as though our earth-life “plates” are falling and crashing to the ground, we can let them fall. We accept the opportunity to watch the process of our True Being unfold. We allow plates to break. We become willing to sweep up the pieces, throw them out and wait for direction. We open to change as the arising of the new. We allow the death of old ways which no longer serve wellness.
New direction might emerge which thinking mind judges or interprets negatively. Sit with it, allow whatever arises and give time for things to “shake out” and “settle”. The egoic mind will misinterpret and judge and cause itself to suffer. Let this arise and pass. As we step onto new pathways, we might not see the “end” and wonder what we’re doing. Allow the uncertainty without judging nor interpreting. Deep inside, we Know what feels true and we have the courage to take each step which comes. This is the walk of faith many religions describe, allowing consciousness to act even while thinking mind does not understand. Awareness will bring the encouragement and the recognition that intellectual comprehension plays but a tiny part in the expansion of That Which We Are.
The body will survive or it will not, aspects of the human dream will die or continue, yet We Are, simply and eternally. All we need know will be revealed in just the right timing for the unconditionally loving wisdom of beingness will take care of doingness.
We can rest in Freedom, even in the midst of change.
With You as Awakening Unfolds |
Insight LT Partners with Primal Pictures
Insight Learning Technology Partners with Primal Pictures and announces new Anatomy Learning and Assessment Modules, the only standalone interactive online adaptive learning solution available for medical trainees using the patented PALM system.Read the Full Press Release
PALMs Research and Technology Featured in British Journal of Anaesthesia Editorial
An editorial in The British Journal of Anaesthesia has featured the use of PALMs in training anesthesiology residents, concluding that this approach has "the potential to revolutionise our traditional approaches to learning in anaesthesia."Read the Full Article
US Patent and Trademark Office Issues Patent in Adaptive Perceptual Learning
Invented by Insight founder Phil Kellman, the patent, entitled System and Method for Adaptive Perceptual Learning, covers novel features of perceptual learning technology and combinations of adaptive and perceptual learning. Insight will have exclusive rights to use and license the systems covered by this new patent.
Insight Awarded Option Year in US Dept. of Defense Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative
After a successful two-year project to create authoring tools for the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative (ADL), Insight Learning Technology, Inc. has been awarded an option year contract to continue development of the system and enhance integration with the Pervasive Learning System (PERL) being developed under ADL by the Stanford Research Institute.
Insight and Westat Commissioned by AAA Foundation
Insight Learning Technology teams up with Westat to develop training solutions for novice drivers in a new Traffic Safety Project, Accelerated Driving Expertise through Perceptual and Adaptive Learning. Funded by the AAA Foundation, the goal of this project is to apply perceptual and adaptive learning technologies to the problem of acquisition of expertise by young drivers.
Insight Learning Technology, Inc. Featured in New York Times Article
Insight Learning Technology, Inc. was featured in a New York Times article entitled Learning to See Data.
Learning to See DataBy Benedict Carey
Perceptual learning is active. Our eyes (or other senses) are searching for the right clues.... In a recent experiment... half the students practiced on a computer module that showed short videos from real surgeries and had to decide quickly which stage of the surgery was pictured... On a final exam testing their knowledge of the procedure, the perceptual-learning group trounced their equally experienced peers, scoring four times higher. Their instincts were much sharper.Read the Full Article
Insight Joins DOD Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative
Insight Learning Technology, Inc. has been commissioned for a multi-year project to create authoring tools for the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative (ADL).
Insight's Technologies to Be Used in ONR Surgical Simulation Project
Insight's basic research partner, the UCLA Human Perception Laboratory, has been awarded collaborative funding with the UCLA Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT) from the US Office of Naval Research. The project goal is to apply perceptual and adaptive learning technologies to simulations in surgical training. The project is a milestone on a path toward reducing reliance on live animals in surgical training.
Insight has a strong interest in partnering with simulation developers in medical and other training domains.Visit CASIT
Insight Learning Products Featured in eSchool News
Insight Learning Technology, Inc. was featured in an eSchool News article which highlights Insight's new product offerings: Algebra Insight, MultiRep Insight and Core Math Insight.
New Math Software Targets "Perceptual Learning"By Raishay Lin
Insight Learning Technology, a startup company formed by a pair of academics, has created online math education modules that tap into not only adaptive learning, which uses computer interactivity to individualize students’ lessons, but also the lesser-known field of perceptual learning, which focuses on patterns and relationships.Read the Full Article
Insight Learning Products Featured in New Scientist Article
Insight Learning Technology, Inc. was featured in a New Scientist article which focuses on the application of perceptual learning technologies in real-world school settings.
Learning without remembering: Brain lab goes to schoolBy Peter Aldhous
Judging from the views of his students, the approach has made a promising start. "It's like learning how to extract what is key," says 18-year-old Wynn Haimer. "You're able to see patterns, and see that all of these problems are one and the same."Read the Full Article
Cognitive scientists are saying the new method hones students' intuition, helping their brains pick up on subtle shortcuts by identifying patterns within the questions asked.Read the Full Article
Insight Learning Products Featured on CBS News - the Early Show
Insight Learning Technology, Inc. products were featured in a CBS News - The Early Show segment on perceptual learning. Students are observed using various learning modules in a classroom setting and give their opinions regarding their learning experience.
A revolutionary new method of teaching called "perceptual learning" that focuses on problems and doesn't penalize students for wrong answers is taking hold at a school in Los Angeles. CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy reports.Watch the full Video on CBS Site
Insight Learning Products Featured in New York Times Article
Insight Learning Technology, Inc. was featured in a New York Times article entitled Brain Calisthenics for Abstract Ideas, which delves into the concepts behind perceptual learning and the process of developing learning products based on years of research.
Brain Calisthenics for Abstract IdeasBy Benedit Carey
Now, a small group of cognitive scientists is arguing that schools and students could take far more advantage of this same bottom-up ability, called perceptual learning. The brain is a pattern-recognition machine, after all, and when focused properly, it can quickly deepen a person’s grasp of a principle, new studies suggest.Read the Full Article
Insight Funded by the IES's SBIR Program
Insight Learning Technology received a Fast-Track SBIR award by the Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to be used over the span of two-and-a-half years.Read Article |
A team of scientists from Stanford might have stumbled on what could be a powerful way to fight cancer. The researchers were already working on how to protect cancer cells from dying when they accidentally discovered that leukemia cells could be transformed into a type of immune cell that might attack other tumour cells. The findings have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
There is a specific type of cancer that affects the immature cells that are to differentiate into white blood cells, the lymphocytes, known as acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
ALL is a rapidly-progressing cancer and exists in several types, depending on the kind of lymphocyte affected and on the maturity of the cells in question.
The current study dealt with the most common type of ALL called precursor B cell ALL, or B-ALL. This entails the lymphocytes known as B cells.
The B cells are targeted at an early stage of maturation such that they cannot fully differentiate into mature B cells. This happens as a consequence of losing certain cellular molecules known as transcription factors that are essential for their growth. When transcription factors are lacking, the specific genes related to their functioning cannot be switched on or off, thus obstructing the process of differentiation.
The scientists had as aim to learn more about the condition, B-ALL. They were desperate to keep the cells alive.
The lead researcher, Ravi Majeti, said in a press release:-
“We were throwing everything at them to help them survive.”
One of the methods they tried involved a particular transcription factor they exposed the cells to. They then observed that the cells changed in size and shape to ultimately resemble macrophages – a type of white blood cell that is known to ingest damaged cells and antigens.
When the researchers looked into the matter, they found that the modified cells expressed similar genes to regular macrophages and could also perform similar functions as engulfing bacteria. Most importantly, the cells did not cause cancer when they were added to mice without immune systems.
It seems that once changed into macrophages, the cancerous cells will not revert to their previous identity. Furthermore, the scientists believe that they might even allow the body to bring about an immune response against the other cancer cells – the modified cells will bear signals that will help them identify and deal with the latter.
The scientists now have to move to a further step: repeat the same in a clinically viable way. |
Compare prices on car hire in Damascus from all the major brands and find the best deals. When you book through us, unlimited mileage and insurance are always included in the price given.
Damascus is located in southwestern Syria , and is the country’s capital and largest city with 1.7 million inhabitants (2008).The city is located 80 km east of the Mediterranean Sea, on a plateau – 680 m.
Damascus is one of the world’s oldest cities and has a long history as a cultural and commercial center for the Middle East.
The city has a subtropical climate with an annual average temperature of 16.7 degrees Celsius. July and August are the warmest months.
Damascus has several tourist attractions and sights. The largest is the Old Town, surrounded by a wall, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the walls are historical buildings, narrow streets, bazaars and mosques – includingOmayyade mosque from the year 705 This is one of the Muslim holy buildings. The old town is also the great medieval fortress Citadel of Damascus.
The old city is the Bible’s “Straight Street” – where a number of biblical events took place. At the end of this street is Ananias’ house – where the Apostle Paul received his sight.
Another popular attraction is the Damascus National Museum, which was inaugurated in 1919 – an exhibition of several archaeological and historical artifacts. Visitors can see such the 4000 year old sculptures from the Maritimes, as well as a copy of the Koran from the 1200s.
Damascus International Airport is located 22 miles southeast of downtown. |
Vitamin D Natural: Neither medicine nor tonic, increase your immunity in corona free, you have to do only this one thing
Benefits Of Sunshine: By sitting in the sun daily, positive hormones are released and sleep is good. Problems like depression are also less. Sitting in the sun strengthens immunity and provides vitamin D.
Boost Immunity In Corona: It is most important to keep yourself fit during the corona period. If vitamins and minerals are deficient in the body, then it has the biggest effect on immunity. Doctors say that for people who have weak immunity, the infection affects them quickly. Such people can get infected quickly with the coronavirus. Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D are very important for people to increase immunity. For people who have a deficiency of Vitamin D in their body, their immunity starts decreasing much less than others. In such a situation, today we are telling you the cheapest and free way to increase immunity. For this, you will not even need to drink expensive medicines and tonics. Take out just 15 minutes a day and sit in the sun. The deficiency of Vitamin D in the body can be overcome by sunbathing on the balcony of the house or the park till 11 am daily. The body gets a good amount of Vitamin D by sitting in the sun. Children and the elderly should sit in the sun for a while every day. Sitting in the sun not only provides vitamin D but also provides many benefits to the body.
Benefits of sitting in the sun
1- The deficiency of Vitamin D in the body can be fulfilled by sitting for only 15 minutes in the sun till 11 am every day.
2- In winter, the body gets warm by sitting in the hot. This removes the coolness inside the body and the lack of bile.
3- Sunbath is considered very beneficial in Ayurveda.
4- By sitting in the sun daily, the bones get vitamin D, which removes the problem of bone and joint pain.
5- Sitting in the sun makes vitamin D in the body, which is very important for the absorption of calcium.
6- Sitting in the sun daily reduces the risk of skin infection.
7- Daily sunbathing strengthens immunity and reduces the risk of infection.
8- Consumption of sunlight produces WBC in the body, which works to fight disease-causing factors.
9- The rays of the sun provide the body with cancer-fighting elements. This reduces the risk of cancer.
10- By sitting in the sun, the digestive system becomes strong. Due to this, the stomach becomes strong and the food gets digested well. |
ADVOCATE S MANCOTYWA – CEO OF THE NATIONAL HERITAGE COUNCIL
REMARKS AT THE DIALOGUE ON THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF AFRICAN ROYALTY. THE INSTITUTION AND HERITAGE OF AFRICAN ROYALTY AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES.
Programme Director, Traditional Leaders Present, Ladies and Gentleman
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this discussion on the Heritage of African Royalty Given contemporary challenges and opportunities. The nature of my profession limits me to engaging with specifics on matters that the full bench of a high court has pronounced on, so you will appreciate that there will be instances where I will not make direct specific references, but will deal with principle and framework.
The National Heritage Council, in which I serve, has identified the Cultural Heritage of African Royalty as a very significant area in the context of pursuing social cohesion, cultural heritage transformation and creating sustainable human settlements that feature a better life for all. The NHC has determined that its contribution will be primarily around knowledge production in these areas. Therefore today’s engagement is very helpful in that regard.
I know that one of the delicate matters that are at the backdrop of today’s discussion is the nearly unprecedented imprisonment of His Majesty King Zwelibanzi kaDalindyebo. Except in times of war, it is not common for sitting monarchs to be imprisoned, for actions arising from their royal duties or contexts.
As we all know, His Majesty is the son of King Jonguhlanga that warrior King who hearkened to the clarion call of the freedom struggle, whose intervention at Kabwe Conference helped turn the tide in the then four pillared struggle. King Zwelibanzi himself subjected himself to military and political discipline in Caculama and elsewhere, serving in uniform for freedom of this country.
His Majesty’s birth name is very prophetic, that of the call to come back home. When he was born there was a call for a return home, today there is a call for his return home.
When his prophetic name came to fruition for the first time and he returned home after years of growing in exile, he served with us in the first provincial legislature of the Eastern Cape. With his unusual foresight and wisdom, when the matter of a bill for a House of Traditional Leaders came for discussion in the legislature, he opposed it. On the basis of the conflict of sovereignties, and the implications of a traditional authority drawing its fiscal arrangements from treasury. So part of the present conversation has a link to that problem of cultural sovereignty.
The problem of our time is a problem of the position and relationship between African Traditional Law and Value System vis a vis the Roman Dutch Law, English Law and Global Western Law. The second problem of our time is a problem of transformation and decolonization. The third one is the problem of equitable life for rural and urban, for people in the margins and the centre of the global frameworks.
Enforcability or otherwise of the decisions of traditional tribunals; immunity or otherwise from prosecution for actions in the execution of judicial duties under those tribunals is a matter arising from the first two problems or issues.
Colonization is the author of the repugnancy doctrine, the doctrine that anything not consistent with colonial western law, is invalid. The repugnancy doctrine is not an objective function of natural justice, it is an expression of power and hegemony of the colonial authorities. Whatever the present state of it, its origins are in political power and cultural power rather than an innocent pursuit of global justice.
Law like any other discipline is an evolving discipline that adjusts with its time and context. One of the significant investments of colonialism and apartheid was on distorting, arresting and misappropriating African Traditional Law for centuries. This went along with the destruction of so many other cultural institutions and values of African Society. While the Globalisation Consensus largely reflects the balance of forces at the conclusion of the colonial project and start of the global neo-colonial project. Values and outlooks of traditional communities and previously colonized communities are often written out of the global legal and constitutional consensus. This makes the global and western outlook poorer. This is an outlook that if focused on retribution, that always needs a winner and loser, that is costly to access, that does not have concepts like Ubuntu.
Having said this – Modern Constitutionalism as reflected in South Africa’s constitution is a collective advance for all humanity and for all South Africans, rural and urban, black and white, men and women. The human rights guaranteed by the constitution and the duty to recognize the injustices of the past, to honour those who worked for freedom, to work together to build a society where there is a better life for all, cannot be traded for anything. It is not owned by some hidden enemy out-there. It is our collective property, for us to shape and develop.
That being said, there is a clear challenge in terms of a consciously inclusive, diverse, decolonized, transformed cultural, legal and constitutional system. The law is practiced and shaped in a cultural context, societies that are diverse, should have their laws benefit from the influences of that diverse cultural context. That context includes and should include African Indigenous values and outlooks.
The role of African Royalty should get better defined, enjoy parity of esteem, appropriate internal arrangements for checks and balances in exercise of the judicial and other duties, appropriate indemnities and consequence management arrangements should be developed. The absence of such is likely to continue to co-exist with problematic outcomes. The effects of distortion and contamination is likely to get more embedded over time, often discrediting traditional law.
Western law did not always have a penal system that has easy parole terms, education in prison at stage cost, televisions. There was a time when Western Law had what international law calls – cruel and unusual punishment, forced labour, had stocks, had guillotine and hanging as normal part of punitive and penal regime. The positive impact of the passage of time, re-examination of the law, influences of society and many other factors result in the situation we now see in many constitutions, that we so positively welcome. The law of the formerly colonized people may mostly have received contamination by the colonial practices and negatively impacted by its distortion, arrest and abuse. So when we engage with whether Traditional Law is right or wrong, the Institutions of African Royalty are right or wrong we must fully factor in the impact of the colonial project.
Too many of us have tried to take a simplistic view around African Royalty, which has generally narrated this royalty as one of the following:
- Always universally heroic resisters of the colonial project – this is not always true, there are complex histories around this, there is a decent number of collaborators, next to the many gallant commanders and leaders of our people;
- Untrustable, unelected undemocratic leaders of doubtable legitimacy. This too is a notion that warrants attention as it is becoming clear that elections are not always a guarantor of inclusive democracy and better quality of life or even the best leadership;
- An irretrievably contaminated tool of indirect rule; This also is a huge problem of throwing the baby with the bath-water
- A mixture of these elements.
The colonial project fully understood that to control a people you need a few powerful ingredients:
- Disconnect people with their culture and heritage – Cecil John Rhodes is known to have famously said that to be born an Englishman is to have won the jackpot in the lottery of life;
- Disconnect people with their institutional frameworks
- Distort and reconfigure traditional institutional frameworks
- Achieve and exercise indirect rule and use traditional institutions in this, isolate and destroy those that do not toe the line. In this regard – I cannot forget the suffering visited upon King Jonguhlanga, Nkosi Dalagubha Joyi and many others, for the stand they took in opposing collaboration under the Bantu Authorities Act, and rejecting extension of indirect rule;
- Steve Biko has famously said the most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed; therefore a hatred and unconditional rejection of African traditional institutions may be a reflection of self-hate and self-rejection
Self-hate therefore is not an option, uncritical repetition of what is written in what has become known as “customary law” can also not be taken without a pinch of salt.
The above being the case – therefore, demands that we relook with urgency, the acceleration of the decolonization and transformation agenda with regard to rural life, institutional and judicial arrangements that affect are and used by rural people. The costs of access to Western Style and Urban style justice has been observed as unduly prohibitive by no less a person than the Chief Justice and many other esteemed members of the bench. Open traditional courts are accessible. What lessons can be learned from countries like Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Ghana, Uganda. What lessons can be learned from religious community judicial systems. Lessons do not mean copying everything, they mean learning, observing, sometimes choosing the best, leaving out the not so good.
The characteristics of that transformation and decolonization agenda in my view will include:
- An agenda that pursues a better life for all, rural and urban – in all respects
- An agenda that pursues equity and redress for especially rural people and the institutions that they have greatest access to
- An improved, clearly defined and mutually agreed roles for all the different role players including traditional authorities;
- Glen Grey or Cecil John Rhodes is recognized to have famously said that the Supreme Chief of All Natives is the governor general
- A revisiting of the legal frameworks to ensure that the judicial arrangements within traditional communities, cultural and religious communities, in ways that leverage from diversity, that guides the roles and responsibilities, that assists with checks, balances and consequence management, that deals with opting in and opting out arrangements;
- With time there may need to be greater synthesis
Many professionals enjoy immunity from the consequences of their actions, if these actions arising in the performance of their duties, if they acted within standard operating procedures of within the scope of their authority. Proper mechanisms for each of these are put in place. The delay in the development of these should be one of the considerations in dealing with the case that many among us want to make reference today. How can this kind of immunity and related issues be applied in the context of traditional leadership institutions.
In 2018 October, on the eve of 25 years of post-apartheid democracy we sit with a situation where the relationship between the Institution of African Royalty and the Institutions of South African Constitutionalism have either at best a poorly defined relationship at worst a vexed relationship. The Roman Dutch law and English Law have come to enjoy a dominance that is inherited from the doctrine of repugnancy. The cultural diversity seems to continue to carry a hierarchy of sorts. And in that hierarchy, African Traditional Law and values often come short. Our transformation and decolonization agenda can and must result in an situation where African Traditional Law no longer comes short.
Excellence in law is framed in terms of excellence in Roman Dutch Law, English Law and Global Constitutionalism. The global constitutionalism has not incorporated indigenous laws of the diverse former colonies, has not enjoyed the benefits of values like Ubuntu and related valued. The dominant discourses are penal, punitive, and retributive. It is possible that some of these dominant values have seeped into the practice of African Traditional Law and institutions.
The lessons that have dominated our recent interactions with traditional leadership have been about succession disputes. This must and can change. This noble institution of Africa has a very important place in the life of the community, the protection and promotion of cultural heritage and in supporting sustainable relationships amongst neighbors in communities. Social cohesion is built one family, one community at a time. The rural communities face challenges of a scale and type that never existed before, and when the authority of the traditional leader, the community leader, the mothers, the fathers, the teachers, the elders is restored and values of Ubuntu are back we will be closer to cohesion. When people live for something bigger than them, fear something, hope for something bigger than money, we will be closer. The people who will lead the charge in this regard is traditional authorities.
Most heritage transformation discussions, most decolonization agendas are framed in the language and context of urban areas, urban life, urban experiences, statues, names of towns, museums, collections and archives. When it goes to institutional transformations, it’s about inclusion in existing committees and structures, boards, shareholdings, reference groups. Not everything that is Western, Urban and Roman, Dutch or English is good for all time for all places.
The reality is that over 40% of South Africans are living in rural areas, the majority of them at least for now have a relationship with Traditional Authority however well or ill defined. The poor attention paid to the institution of traditional authority, mimicks the inadequate attention paid to rural life, rural heritage, rural realities, in the time of the Global Village. If we deal with the principle and framework issues properly we will most probably not have to engage with sitting Monarchs being imprisoned except in exceptional circumstances.
The coming of the post-colonial state in a time of globalization and neo-liberalism has been accompanied with the framing of problems, solutions and opportunities in language, idiom and outlook that is mostly urban and metropolitan. The global village has forgotten the rural village. As we conclude the first quarter of our life as a free democratic people, we have to prioritize the cultural heritage of rural people as part of the valuable contribution to the life of the nation. South Africa and the world be poorer if this does not happen. We are all having to deal with a global village that is very urban, that is more like a global city than a village. African Royalty and related value system, is part of the contribution to diversity and to a more humane world. |
In this day and age, one can easily be overwhelmed with the information they can get from the world’s biggest library: the Internet. Keywords on search engines open doors to websites loaded with data that may or may not be credible, depending on the source. We skim blog posts and articles searching answers and we hit the close button if we find it too long or complicated to be understood in less than five minutes.
The competition to stay relevant is so intense that web publishers need to be flexible in adapting to the changes in the behavior of their site visitors caused by shifts in the digital environment. Studies have shown, however, that one surefire way to boost online visibility is by creating infographics.
We need to understand the importance of Infographic. For every sixty seconds, hundreds of infographics are produced somewhere in the world. The popularity of infographics has increased immensely these past years because it summarizes ten pages’ worth of data into one JPG file. It’s a lot easier to digest compared to lengthy essays because the images make it easier for people to understand and digest information.
Why Infographics are powerful
These days, it’s all about the visuals and infographics are capable of immediately grabbing the attention of your website visitors. Choose the right font, pick colors that work well together, toss in well-designed images and graphics, and enough space for the eyes to move around and you’ll have an effective infographic. Keep it neat, take note of the whitespace, and you’re good to go.
You can make “boring” topics interesting by adding infographics. When people come across articles about industries that don’t tickle their fancy, or when it’s about concepts that are too difficult to understand, an effective infographic can save the day. You literally draw the picture for them so they can visualize what the article is telling them. It can also be used to appeal to their emotions and inspire them to take action.
Other importance of Infographic includes, they have long life spans which mean they have a much higher chance of going viral. It’s easy to share, it’s visually attractive, and it has a wider audience reach as opposed to those long articles we find online. If you’re an entrepreneur, you can use infographics to make your customers say yes to what they would normally say no to.
The relationship between SEO and Infographics
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has now grown beyond the usual inbound links and tweaks on-site. Backlink quality, bounce rate, and engagement time are now also being considered. That said, an effective SEO campaign has to have the capacity to boost website traffic and conversions, earn referral links, and generate a strong presence on social media.
Where do infographics factor in on the equation?
The answer is simple: it hits three birds with one stone. Infographics are high-quality content that you can upload on your website. One image can educate, engage, and entertain the visitors of your website. If the infographics are well crafted, there’s a high chance that it will be shared on various social media platforms.
Online regular users, journalists, and bloggers will notice your infographic once it goes viral. They may consider featuring it on their websites or social media platforms which, in turn, also increases your audience.
Content. Social signals. Backlinks. You hit all three with just one infographic.
When it comes to creating infographics, it’s important to first think about your target audience and identify their needs. Understand where they are coming from.
What message do you want to deliver? How are you going to deliver the message? What platform will you use? Once you have the answers, you can start working on your infographic. There is an overwhelming supply of tools for infographic creation.
First, there’s the ever-reliable Adobe Photoshop that allows you to layer up texts, images, and play with different colors from the palette. It’s the go-to tool for most graphic designers, along with Adobe Illustrator.
It’s convenient, but it can be difficult for non-graphics people to navigate around the software. Beginners may opt to explore Canva – it has an infographic maker that’s drag and drops, plus it’s easy to move around the work interface. Some of the samples templates from Canva are also shown here.
When you’re done working on your infographics, be sure to upload it on social media platforms and your website. There is nothing more heartbreaking than infographics that audiences don’t get to see because you were too scared to upload them.
Take pride in your work, upload it, and if it doesn’t go viral, it’s fine. These things take some time. What’s more important is that you start incorporating infographics into your SEO campaign now so you can find areas that need improvement. The key is paying attention to how audiences respond to your infographics and make adjustments. |
100 Year History of the Herington Public Library:
Miss Drusilla Herington, daughter of the town’s founder, along with other women, organized the Women’s Mutual Benefit Club in 1897, principally as a study club, but with an early goal to establish a public library. To this end, they raised money holding rummage sales, conducting minstrel shows and holding women’s baseball games. The club bought lots on South Broadway.
A separate entity interested in having a library in Herington was formed in 1904: The Herington Library Association. These two groups, The Women’s Mutual Benefit Club of Herington and the Herington Library Association worked toward their goal for six years.
Herington Public Library opened in 1910 with a paid librarian. Mrs. Naill, president of the association, was instrumental in obtaining a reading room in a building on Main Street, west of Broadway, owned by J.W. Creech, a wealthy railroad contractor. Patrons were charged a fee of one dollar per year to use the library. When a separate building was desired, Mayor W.M. Koons contacted the Carnegie Corporation, requesting money to build a library in Herington. His figure of $7,000 was based upon his assumption that the city could raise $700 in an annual tax meeting the required ten percent of the building cost. The Corporation refused, saying that it was their belief that it would take $10,000 to build the library.
On June 9, 1913 the city council passed a resolution agreeing to raise the needed $1,000 and the Carnegie Corporation agreed to participate. Crowell and Van Meter, of Wichita, the architectural firm engaged to design the building sent off the first set of plans in October, 1913, however the final plans were not approved until February 1915. Herington’s Public Library was completed the end of December and officially opened on New Year’s Day 1916. On June 25, 1987 the library was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. |
A dispensary is an office where pharmacists give drugs to patients based upon a doctor’s prescription. The pharmacist dispenses medical products, clinical treatment, and medical products. The dispensary dispenses the medications in the form of a pill or fluid. This sort of service is essential for the treatment of several medical problems. It is very important to know how to discover a dispensary near you.
When seeking a dispensary, you require to recognize just how it differs from a drug store. A dispensary is different from a standard healthcare facility as it dispenses drug to patients, as opposed to a physician. The dispensary team is usually a registered nurse and also can recommend as well as dispense medicines. The doctors give fundamental health care, yet do not commonly execute innovative medical procedures or suggest drugs. In addition, they do not offer emergency clinical solutions and also can decline payment by charge card.
A dispensary is a shop that sells cannabis. It is legal in your state, yet you need to understand the difference in between a medical as well as entertainment dispensary prior to you purchase any cannabis. Additionally, you ought to recognize what to look for when buying marijuana. The adhering to ideas will certainly assist you make the appropriate decision for your needs. Before you see a dispensary, make certain to collect all the information you require. If you’re not familiar with the terms, comply with the web links below for more details.
The distinction in between a dispensary as well as a medical facility is mainly the sort of product marketed. A medical cannabis dispensary sells only medical cannabis items. They do not offer recreational cannabis. A dispensary will use you a large range of products with different percents of THC and CBD. Sometimes, you’ll have to possess a medical cannabis card to get in one. For these purposes, you must visit a dispensary in your state and get a clinical cannabis card.
The demands of dispensaries differ. As an example, you need to be at the very least 18 years old. For tasks in the growing of cannabis, experience in gardening and also medicine is practical. Typically, the dispensary is one of the most prominent location for marijuana. Additionally, the dispensary ought to have high-grade items and also the team must be friendly. This will assist you make a notified choice. As an example, you may not want to get the highest-THC-content marijuana, but rather the best product will be the one with the lowest cost.
In general, a dispensary is a medical marijuana shop. It is an office complex or a retail shop that offers cannabis. It can be either a clinical cannabis dispensary or a recreational dispensary. In addition, a dispensary may be called a dispensary or a drug store. These two terms are not the exact same, but they are usually utilized mutually. A lawful marijuana dispensary is a certified facility that offers the same drugs.
A medical dispensary is controlled in a different way from a recreational marijuana dispensary. Some are open to the public while others are closed to the general public. As a whole, cannabis dispensaries have a tendency to be a lot more pricey than a normal retail store. However, the price of the products will certainly be greater than at an entertainment dispensary. In some states, the tax obligation rates of leisure marijuana are reduced. The state’s dispensaries are a lot more expensive and also extra obtainable to people with disabilities. A medical dispensary may be closer to your doctor.
A dispensary can sell marijuana in 2 forms. A clinical cannabis dispensary caters to individuals who require marijuana for medical functions. A leisure dispensary gives the exact same services as a medical cannabis dispensary, however the guidelines are different. A leisure cannabis dispensary sells marijuana to grown-up consumers. A legal dispensary is open to the public yet it will certainly not go through the exact same policies as a clinical cannabis organization.
In the Nooksack Valley, a clinical cannabis dispensary offers the area by supplying medical as well as recreational marijuana to patients. Its personnel likewise consists of delivery chauffeurs and budtenders. These jobs need a level in farming or a background in plant science. Among the most usual kinds of positions in a dispensary consist of budtenders, horticulturists, and trimmers. Additionally, numerous dispensaries also supply the item for people with handicaps.
A dispensary is a drug store or workplace where a pharmacist dispenses drugs as well as other clinical materials for use by patients. A dispensary is one of the many areas where you can obtain drug or medical products for therapy. You can also get a prescription for sure medications at a dispensary. But what is a dispensary? Right here are some typical facts concerning this kind of organization. A pharmacologist or doctor is the individual that makes the prescription, as well as the dispensary is the workplace where you can acquire the medications you require.
A dispensary is an outpatient medical facility that supplies main health care to a rural community. It is a place where individuals can get standard medication as well as treatment for common conditions. A dispensary might not supply a hospital stay, yet it may offer standard healthcare services, such as injury clothing as well as family planning. Some dispensaries additionally supply solutions like childhood years immunizations as well as family planning. The dispensary is typically staffed by a registered nurse, and also is not a standalone medical facility.
A dispensary is various from a pharmacy. Although they give the same services, medical dispensaries have more security than a conventional drug store. Considering that they deal just in money, they should have a receptionist check you in and out. Atm machines are readily available at dispensaries, and most dispensaries have an ATM. A pharmacy is needed to have a physician or nurse on team, while a dispensary will certainly not. online dispensary to buy weed in Canada
A dispensary is a medical workplace that sells marijuana items. The clinical workplace is similar, yet there are differences. Some states have different tax obligation policies regarding leisure marijuana, while others do not. If you have a clinical marijuana referral, you should sign up with the receptionist before getting in a dispensary. If you have a leisure marijuana suggestion, you can proceed to the dispensary. While it is less complicated to go into an entertainment dispensary, you still require to show identification to verify your age. |
Video answer: Alaskan malamute howls for baby
Those who are looking for an answer to the question «Why is my alaskan malamute howling?» often ask the following questions:
🐶 How to stop a malamute howling?
Try to ignore your dog's attention-seeking howl and make them feel invisible. This technique tells your dog that their howling doesn't work. Another training tactic is to reward quiet behavior. When your dog is being well-behaved and not responding to outside sounds or triggers give them a treat or special toy.
🐶 Alaskan malamute how big?
25 inches highSize. Males stand 25 inches high at the shoulder and should weigh about 85 pounds; females tend to stand 23 inches high and weigh about 75 pounds. However, it's not unusual for a well-muscled adult to top 100 pounds.
🐶 Alaskan malamute how much?
Getting yourself an Alaskan Malamute will cost on average between $1,000 and $2,200. There are also breeders with price tags as high as $6,500 for the Malamutes.
- Why alaskan malamute howl?
- Is there a difference between alaskan malamute and giant alaskan malamute?
- Are alaskan huskies related to alaskan malamute?
9 other answers
When a Malamute does bark it ordinarily means "alert - something is happening and I'm not sure about it at all". This is meant for you to take notice. Dogs that are raised with barking dogs (other breeds typically) tend to bark more and under more circumstances, but the typical mal in a typical malamute household only barks to alert.
chris: How do I get my Alaskan Malamute to howl more often? What should I do if my dog doesn't howl? My dog, Meeka, is an Alaskan Malamute and I love it when she howls but she howls like once or twice in the winter. and I love it when she howls but she howls like once or twice in the winter.
Liza, the Alaskan Malamute, was howling to the siren with a large break between the howls.#alaskanmalamute #malamute #howling
Howling for an ambulance outside ...#alaskanmalamute #malamute #howling
The corn chips smell is usually caused by bacteria that are completely natural yet give off a kind of yeasty odor, particularly the bacteria Proteus or Pseudomonas. Or that corn chips smell could just be your dog's natural odor. Just as people's feet sweat, so do canine paws. Why (& when) do dogs howl?
My pup kaiser howling he's only 7 weeks old how awesome is he
At exactly 6 AM, Liza, the Alaskan Malamute, was howling to the passing ambulance. #alaskanmalamute #malamute #howling
While howling is common to all dogs, some breeds howl more than others. Dogs that are more likely to howl include hound breeds, beagles, basset hounds, Samoyeds, Shiba Inus, American Eskimos, Alaskan Malamute, and
We've handpicked 25 related questions for you, similar to «Why is my alaskan malamute howling?» so you can surely find the answer!Alaskan malamute how i cared?
Routine Care, Diet, and Exercise
- Brush her coat as needed, at least weekly.
- Alaskan Malamutes often have serious problems with their teeth, so you'll need to brush them at least three times a week!
- She's a large dog with lots of energy, so keep her mind and body active, or she'll get bored.
Top 111 Alaskan Malamute Names
Alaskan Malamute puppy price
|Puppy Cost||Range||Average Cost|
|Alaskan Malamute||$500 – $2,500||$975|
Malamutes shed heavily twice a year, and the hair falls out in large clumps. At that time, frequent brushing with a slicker brush and/or undercoat rake helps keep the flurry of hair under control. One plus for this shedding breed is that the double coat is odorless.Alaskan malamute size when standing?
Size. Males stand 25 inches high at the shoulder and should weigh about 85 pounds; females tend to stand 23 inches high and weigh about 75 pounds. However, it's not unusual for a well-muscled adult to top 100 pounds.
Malamutes need confidence to disobey. It's an important characteristic… Signs of confidence: erect stance (standing tall), tail up, tail wagging in a slower sweep, ears pricked up or relaxed, direct look, relaxed, smaller pupils. This is one reason Malamutes are not always received well by other dominant dogs.Alaskan malamute what dog breed?
The Alaskan Malamute (/ˈmæləˌmjuːt/) is a large breed of dog that was originally bred for their strength and endurance to haul heavy freight as a sled dog and hound. They are similar to other arctic, husky, and spitz breeds such as the Greenland Dog, Canadian Eskimo Dog, the Siberian Husky, and the Samoyed.
SiberiaThe Alaskan malamute is one of the oldest sled dogs. His ancestors came from Siberia to America via the Bering Strait, as a faithful companion of the indigenous tribe known as Mahlemuts. They used their dogs to hunt the seals, to scare polar bears and to pull heavy loads. Are alaskan malamute big dogs?
Size. Males stand 25 inches high at the shoulder and should weigh about 85 pounds; females tend to stand 23 inches high and weigh about 75 pounds. However, it's not unusual for a well-muscled adult to top 100 pounds.Are alaskan malamute puppies lazy?
When Malamute is in their home, he was sleeping and resting. Not because he is lazy, but because in Alaska, dogs use all free time to rest and save energy for next day. As we say, Malamutes love's people, and this dogs will be cuddly like a baby… Malamutes can be very aggressive for other dogs, cats, and other animals.
Video answer: Howl long do ya think it'll go on forCan a alaskan malamute kill?
While Malamutes often have strong prey drives, they have been bred for the better part of the last century to alert their owners to danger. And not to take out danger on their own… Ultimately, the answer is yes: an Alaskan Malamute can kill a wolf in a Malamute vs. wolf fight.Can alaskan malamute be white?
The standard for the Alaskan Malamute states "The usual colors range from light gray through intermediate shadings to black, sable, and shadings of sable to red… The only solid color allowable is all white. White is always the predominant color on underbody, parts of legs, feet, and part of face markings.”How big are alaskan malamute?
25 inches highSize. Males stand 25 inches high at the shoulder and should weigh about 85 pounds; females tend to stand 23 inches high and weigh about 75 pounds. However, it's not unusual for a well-muscled adult to top 100 pounds. How dangerous is alaskan malamute?
- Alaskan Malamute The Alaskan Malamute is a breed of dog related to the Siberian Husky except that they are larger and known to be more dangerous than them by nature. This breed can be very destructive and will often destroy their owner's property and anything in the environment around them if not allowed to roam and exercise.
Thinking to own an Alaskan Malamute and need to know whether Alaskan Malamute is an intelligent dog breed? According to pet experts, Alaskan Malamute Dogs score out of 5 in the scale of intelligent dog breeds.How much are alaskan malamute?
Getting yourself an Alaskan Malamute will cost on average between $1,000 and $2,200. There are also breeders with price tags as high as $6,500 for the Malamutes.How popular are alaskan malamute?
Alaskan Malamute is the 14th most popular dog breed and the 19th most famous.What does alaskan malamute eat?
Food / DietIf you're going to feed your Alaskan Malamute a high-quality dry dog kibble, make sure that the first ingredient listed is meat. Feel free to mix up the flavors of the dog food – a variety of lamb, chicken, salmon or different ingredients is recommended.
Video answer: Malamutes howlingWhat is an alaskan malamute?
An Alaskan malamute is a large breed of dog.
What is the best food for Alaskan Malamute?
- Nom Nom Tasty Turkey Fare. Best Overall - Tasty Turkey Fare is a cooked food meal using human ingredients with plenty of nutrition.
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free…
When Should I Have My Alaskan Malamute Spayed or Neutered? Whilst recommendations vary, vets typically suggest that you should have your Alaskan Malamute spayed or neutered between the ages of four and nine months. |
Over the last two years seven U.S. states announced intentions to revamp teacher-preparation and licensing requirements that essentially make it tougher to become and remain a teacher. Some of the new requirements include steeper admission requirements for teacher-training programs and licensing based on performance of a specific set of skills. The plan is intended to make for better teachers, and ultimately better students over time, but stricter teacher requirements will not necessarily lead to higher-achieving students.
There are still too many outside forces with which everyday teachers contend that make it difficult for them to be as effective as legislation and policy-makers would like. Training and education for teachers is not the problem; here are three issues in K-12 education that have a larger negative impact on overall learning for students:
1. Lack of parental involvement
Of all the things out of the control of teachers, this one is perhaps the most frustrating. Time spent in the classroom is simply not enough for teachers to instruct every student in what he or she needs to know. There must be some interaction outside school hours too. Of course, students at a socio-economic disadvantage often struggle in school, particularly if parents lack higher levels of education. Students from middle and upper class families aren’t off the hook though. The demands of careers and an over-dependence on schools put higher-class kids at risk too when it comes to the lack of parental involvement in academics.
The smaller the class, the better the individual student experience. A study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that 14 percent of U.S. schools exceed capacity, but that does not include individual classrooms at schools that may not be overcrowded overall. At a time where children need more attention than ever to succeed, overcrowded classrooms are making it even tougher to learn and tougher still for teachers to be effective.
3. Screen culture
I am an advocate for technology in the classroom. I think that by ignoring the educational opportunities that technology has afforded us puts kids at a disadvantage. That being said, screen culture overall has made the jobs of teachers much more difficult. Education has become synonymous with entertainment in many ways. Parents are quick to download educational games as soon as kids have the dexterity to operate a touch screen, and with the best of intentions. The quick-hit way that children are learning academics before and during their K-12 careers makes it even more difficult for teachers to keep up in the classroom setting, particularly since each student’s knowledge base and technological savvy varies.
I’m not saying that stricter teacher requirements are a bad thing – I’m just not sure that is where all the focus should be. What about a program that targets parental and community involvement in what kids are learning? Maybe even a seminar for parents on tangible ways to get more involved academically in what their kids do at school? There is no way to make parents attend these but perhaps there could be an incentive. With the right funding, I’m sure schools could find a way.
Instead of making it harder to become a teacher, why not spend money on making classroom size smaller and more manageable when those teachers start their careers? Or on technology programs and training that give teachers an advantage when it comes to educational gaming?
This pilot teacher-prep program seems like just another way to blame teachers for what they cannot control. More education can’t hurt, but there are so many other issues that deserve this spotlight instead. |
Occurrence of arsenic in the groundwater has become a cause for concern in many countries. The presence of As(III) species in the groundwater had been one of the biggest challenges for the water workers especially in the south east Asian countries. Nano based adsorption techniques are gaining attention among researchers for the removal of arsenic ions. However, synthesis of nano-adsorbents is a costly affair. Therefore, the present study utilized the cheap and readily available laterite soil as a base material for nano coating. Nano sized manganese (nMn) particles were synthesized by chemical reduction method and later coated on calcined laterite (Lt-nMn). Coating with 0.1 M nMn provided the best As(III) removal efficiency. The prepared material was characterised for its morphological and surface properties. Phase analysis using XRD (X-ray diffraction) showed the presence of zero valent manganese species, which assisted in adsorption. Adsorption studies were conceded by selecting the different affecting parameters such as contact time, concentration, dose, temperature, and pH. Very high removal in less time regime led to the investigation of the oxidation mechanism. Phosphate and sulphate anions insignificantly reduced the removal efficiency. Langmuir model for the sorption isotherms and pseudo-second order kinetic model for the sorption kinetics symbolized the experimental data. Sustainability studies in terms of eco-scaling and cost analysis were performed for the applied method of production of the nano materials. Adsorber design analysis was also conducted to estimate the required amount of Lt-nMn particles for achieving the desired equilibrium As(III) concentration. |
PARIS/FLAGY, France (Reuters) - In 1789, Louis XVI summoned France’s aristocracy, clergy and citizens to discuss ways to plug the crown’s dismal finances and quell popular discontent over a sclerotic feudal society.
It marked the start of the French Revolution. Within months he was powerless and four years later beheaded by guillotine.
Two centuries on, President Emmanuel Macron, often criticized for a monarchical manner, is also calling a national debate to mollify “yellow vest” protesters whose nine week uprising has set Paris ablaze and shaken his administration.
He will launch the three-month “grand debat” initiative on Jan. 15. As during the rule of the ill-fated king, the French are already writing complaints in “grievance books” opened up by mayors of 5,000 communes.
The debate will focus on four themes -- taxes, green energy, institutional reform and citizenship. Discussions will be held on the internet and in town halls. But officials have already said changing the course of Macron’s reforms aimed at liberalizing the economy will be off limits.
“The debates are not an opportunity for people to offload all their frustrations, nor are we questioning what we’ve done in the past 18 months,” government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told BFM TV. “We’re not replaying the election.”
By limiting the terms, Macron risks making the same mistake that doomed the monarchy, historian Stephane Sirot of University of Cergy-Pontoise told Le Parisien newspaper.
“Emmanuel Macron is like Louis XVI who ... receives the grievance books but doesn’t understand anything from them.”
DUST IN THE WIND
In Flagy, 100 kilometers south of Paris, the village mayor has been receiving written grievances from local “yellow vests” like Agosthino Bareto. The 65-year-old garage owner is convinced the government will frame the debate to suit itself.
“All that we’ve been saying is like dust thrown into the wind,” Bareto said. “We’re not being listened to.”
Flagy’s mayor, Jacques Drouhin, is sympathetic toward such frustrations. He says he will refuse to hold a town hall debate as long as Macron plans to press on with reforms regardless.
“That’s not what our citizens are asking for,” Drouhin said. “That’s enough. It’s now down to our leaders to listen to what’s been said in the grievance books.”
Weak participation would undermine the exercise. An Elabe opinion poll on Wednesday showed only 40 percent of citizens intend to take part in the debate.
France is bracing for more street protests and possible riots when winter sales kick off this Saturday. Yet even as the demonstrations rumble on, it remains unclear whether the “yellow vests” will emerge as a political force or fizzle away, undone by their own internal differences.
The leader of Italy’s anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, Luigi di Maio, this week publicly backed the French protesters, offering his party’s internet platform for direct democracy -- known as “Rousseau” after a leading thinker of the French Enlightenment -- to help the “yellow vests” define a program.
While leaderless, the “yellow vests” mirror movements like Spain’s Indignados and Italy’s 5-Star, which have sought to upend Europe’s traditional political system.
“I am more worried now about the ‘yellow vest’ protests in France (than Italy),” Karen Ward, chief market strategist for EMEA at JP Morgan Asset Management, told an media briefing.
The “yellow vests” take their name from the high-visibility jackets they wear at road barricades and on the street. Their rage stems from a squeeze on household incomes and a belief that Macron, a former investment banker regarded as close to big business, is indifferent to their hardships.
Macron will take heart from a sharp fall in public support for the protesters over the past month. He promises to use the debates to channel their anger and shape new policy via a more participatory democracy.
The “yellow vests” are demanding the right to call referendums through mass petitions. Senior cabinet ministers have not rejected the idea -- Prime Minister Edouard Philippe called citizen-initiated referendums a “useful tool in a democracy” -- but said their use should be limited.
More likely is an idea touted within the ruling party and government for the national debate to be followed by a referendum with several questions, rather than a thumbs up or thumbs down vote.
“The government is aware of the risks of making any vote a vote about Macron and not the issues,” said Antonio Barroso, deputy director of research at risk advisory firm Teneo. “So you solve that by asking multiple questions.” |
How High Will Corn Prices Go?
Two months ago, farmers hoped corn prices would stay above $3.00. Two weeks later, many feared $3.50 would be the high before harvest. One month ago, corn hit $3.75 before rolling back to $3.60, leaving many to think the season high was already hit. Then Friday, corn traded to $4.20, leaving everyone questioning where the top will be.
What Is Causing This?
An unexpected increase in China’s supply needs is a major reason. For the last 30 years, China never imported more than 7 million metric tons (MMT) per year. With 1 MMT equaling about 40 million bushels, that’s equal to around 280 million bushels.
However, in the last 2 weeks, reports suggest that China will need to import at least 30 MMT over the next year to maintain supply needs. That would be 1 billion more bushels from around the world than previously estimated just 2 months ago.
Why? What Happened?
With China being the 2nd largest corn producer in the world after the US, this seems unusual. Plus, there were reports 2 years ago that China was working through stocks that were 6-7 years old in storage facilities.
It is now believed that either China's usage the past two years is more than previously estimated or yields have been lower (or both). This uncertainty makes it challenging for the market to accurately assess why demands needs are potentially much larger now.
Some also believe that excessive summer rain may have reduced yields by 10%. If China usually produces about 250 MMT per year, a 10% reduction would be 25 MMT. So, with that reduction (and normal 5-7 MMT yearly imports), it’s easy to arrive at the 30 MMT import estimate some are planning for this year.
Where Can China Source an Additional 25 MMT or 1 Billion Bushels of Corn?
There are only 4 sources large enough –Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina and the US.
Ukraine had some dry weather this past summer, so harvest production was lower than normal. Market participants believe they could provide 4-8 MMT.
Brazil could sell some bushels but those won’t be available until after their 2nd summer harvest next year. That might be 1-5 MMT of corn eventually.
Argentina has several issues that could keep them from supplying around 10 MMT of corn to satisfy China’s increased demand needs this year:
Argentina may be facing inflation and/or debt defaults, which may force farmers to hold their grain in bins as a hedge against currency issues.
La Nina is currently predicted to peak in January. In 8 of the last 13 January La Nina weather events, there was a major production hit. In the last 5, it was around a 20% yield reduction.
Argentina usually produces around 50 MMT or 2 billion bushels. A 20% yield hit would be 10 MMT, or 400 million fewer bushels of corn available for consumption around the world.
What Does This Mean for the US?
The USDA previously estimated 7 MMT in exports for China and arrived at a 2.16-billion-bushel carryout in their last report. Now, many are suggesting at least 3 MMT more exports will be needed (i.e. 10 MMT total), which would reduce carryout to around 2 billion bushels.
This means that if China continues to increase imports and La Nina impacts Argentina’s yields, then the US may be the only location available to export an additional 400 million bushels. This could reduce carryout to only 1.6 billion bushels.
What Would This Mean for Corn Prices?
That is the billion-dollar question. There are still so many variables that could impact prices.
The market seems to have quickly factored in Argentina weather risk. However, that potential drought impact is still 3 months away. Also, despite La Nina reducing yields the last 5 times, it’s still not a guarantee it will occur this year.
Some western corn belt farmers have subsoil moisture concerns, which may or may not be replenished by next year’s planting season. Dry weather this winter and next spring could be bullish prices if carryout falls to 1.6 billion bushels.
The US’s final national yield average is still uncertain. It seems unlikely that yields will change dramatically going into the final yield report in January, but a change in either direction would have a big impact on prices.
Global currency values compared to the US dollar are always shifting. A low dollar makes it easier for other countries to import US products. However, last January the Brazilian Real lost 50% of it’s value compared to the US dollar in just over one month. That caused US soybean prices to drop quickly, because they became harder to sell overseas.
Covid uncertainty continues to plague the world, as another wave is spreading across the US and Europe. An increase in lockdowns or contracting economies are potential hazards to prices.
There have been tremendous amounts of money “dumped” into global economies during the past 8 months from stimuluses around the world. Several market analysts suggest this could increase inflation, which should be positive for commodity prices.
Corn prices could increase if Argentina remains dry. However, a change in US yields or harvested acres from current estimates could also still impact prices in either direction. Ultimately it likely comes down to if China keeps importing more corn.
Also, there are still some unanswered questions about what higher corn prices could do to the feed sector. Substitutes or other ingredients could replace some corn demand. Ethanol production seems steady, but if prices make it difficult to turn a profit or lockdowns slow demand, it could reduce corn demand. The cure to high prices is high prices.
It’s interesting how quickly many in the trade have shifted to a more bullish stance. The same thing happened in 2019 when everyone was sure prices would hit $5, until they didn’t. And the same thing happened when prices hit $3.20, everyone was convinced sub $3 would happen, until it didn’t.
It’s still 2020 – anything could happen. |
Daily blueberry consumption may improve blood pressure and arterial stiffness in post-menopausal women, according to a new study published by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A team from Florida State University sought to demonstrate the health benefits of blueberries, including prevention of cardiovascular disease through their blood pressure lowering effects. The study found that women who consumed the equivalent of one cup of blueberries per day had a reduction of systolic blood pressure of 7mmHg and a decrease in diastolic pressure of 5mmHg. The incidence of hypertension often increases in post-menopausal women.
The key might be in the release of nitric oxide, a chemical substance known to dilate blood vessels, in those who consumed the equivalent of one cup of blueberries per day. When blood vessels dilate, generally blood pressure decreases.
Foods which have positive influence on health are known as functional foods, and their health impacts may help prevent and control aspects of clinical diseases and conditions. Although it should be noted that blueberries should not be relied upon as a substitution for medication for those being treated for high blood pressure, their consumption may indeed offer added benefits. In addition, blueberries are rich in antioxidants, low in fat, high in fiber and offer vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. They are also a source of phytonutrients such as anthocyanin which gives the blueberry its rich color and may offer anti-cancer effects.
Blueberries, and berries in general, are a delicious staple to one’s diet. They are a tasty, low calorie sweet treat. Most simply, they can be added to yogurt, salads or baked as a dessert in a cobbler or crisp. I will admit, blueberries are not in season in the Northeast in January. Nevertheless, they can be frozen and enjoyed throughout the year. Blueberries can also be purchased frozen and offer the same benefits as their fresh version. |
Last December, the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in France and yielded the Paris Agreement. In April of this year, representatives from 174 countries signed the agreement at the U.N. in New York. Two weeks ago, the agreement technically went into force after 55 nations which together represent 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions ratified the accord. The Paris Agreement will legally go into effect on November 4, an amazingly short 11 months after the conference ended. Dr. Benard P. Dreyer, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, took note immediately:
“Climate change is a public health threat to all children in this country and around the world. The American Academy of Pediatrics commends world leaders for reaching a key threshold earlier this week on the Paris agreement, a historic global commitment to address climate change now cleared to take effect on Nov. 4.”
Dr. Dreyer then explained why children happen to be more vulnerable to the health risks that arise from climate change — a point made in July here on The PediaBlog:
“Children are uniquely at risk to the direct impacts of climate changes like climate-related disaster—including floods, droughts and storms—where they are exposed to increased risk of injury, death, disease, loss of or separation from caregivers and increased anxiety, stress and fear. Children also breathe faster than adults, spend more time outside and have lungs that are still developing, making them increasingly vulnerable to the environmental effects of global climate change.”
Dr. Dreyer sees the Paris Agreement as a necessary step in beginning to solve the problem of anthropogenic global warming and climate change:
“An agreement of the size and scope of the deal reached in Paris is needed to conquer a public health epidemic as pervasive as global warming, but there is more we can do right here at home to further protect children in the United States from the effects of rising temperatures. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, which was supposed to begin taking effect earlier this year, is one such step. Unfortunately, the Plan is currently tied up in our court system. If implemented, it will reduce carbon pollution from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants and go a long way toward making our environment safer for children. Power plants are the nation’s largest carbon pollution source, generating approximately one third of all U.S. greenhouse gas pollution, a leading contributor to climate change.
“The Academy applauds world leaders for the progress made in Paris to protect children from the effects of rising global temperatures, and has joined with other health and medical organizations in the United States to defend the Clean Power Plan and urge its immediate implementation. Pediatricians stand ready to partner in any way to ensure that the air children breathe is clean and safe, no matter what country or community they live in.”
Washington Post reporters Chris Mooney and Brady Dennis pour water on Dr. Dreyer’s optimism citing recent climate research and words from prominent climate scientists, who all seem to be saying the same thing: At least a 2º C rise in global temperatures is already “baked in” to future climate forecasts due to current levels of atmospheric CO2:
Now the focus inevitably shifts to more thorny issues — namely, how the world will actually get to a place where it’s possible to limit the warming of the planet to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as the Paris agreement calls for. It’s far easier for countries to sign onto an agreement on paper than it is for them to meet their pledges to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions, let alone increase those ambitions over time.
Scientific observers broadly agree that the individual pledges made by countries under the Paris agreement are not strong enough to stave off the worst effects of climate change. Even as countries have moved rapidly to ratify the Paris accord, the window for hitting the agreement’s targets is closing. Or, according to the more pessimistic voices, it could already be closed.
Among those is former NASA scientist James Hansen, who released a paper Tuesday declaring that the world, at 1.3 degrees Celsius above what he terms pre-industrial levels in 2016, is likely already well past any climate safe zone. Hansen believes that atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are far too high already and that the planet is as hot as it was in the last interglacial period, over 100,000 years ago. He argues that to stabilize the planet at 1.5 C or 2 degrees C now probably means developing expensive new technologies, which do not exist at scale, to actually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
It doesn’t appear that technology is going to help us much in trying to reign back CO2 levels and warming. The climate is changing and adverse health impacts are already being felt around the world. The future is here. We are it. We are on our own and we are running out of choices:
“If the game is lost,
Then we’re all the same.
No one left to place or take the blame.
We can leave this place an empty stone
Or that shinin’ ball we used to call our home.”
Tomorrow we will look at the health impacts from this arriving storm. |
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) belonging to family Graminae, locally known as jawar and is grown as a fodder crop in Pakistan. It is multi-use cereal; contain grains, forage and sweet types. It is dual purpose crop of kharif season.Sorghum is a warm-season, short-day annual grass. Assortment for forage varieties has been inspiring for the last hundred years. There are many cultivars in use throughout the world. Sorghums can be classified into two types: forage type (animal consumption) and the grain types (human consumption). Sweet sorghum mainly used for molasses but in recent times for biofuel production. Hybrid forage sorghums grow 8–10 ft tall and have comparatively large stem diameters. This crop can produce yields similar to silage corn, but forage quality is generally lower due to digestibility and lower crude protein. Multi cut forage sorghum has fine stem, tillers more abundantly than other sorghums varieties. They produce very few seed, and after cutting or grazing their rate of regrowth is usually advanced to that of hybrid forage sorghums.
Hybrids forage sorghum has the highest yield potential if sufficient rainfall or irrigate properly. Sorghum varieties should be rotationally stocked when grazed and allowing the forage to arrive at 24 inches before grazing. Sweet sorghum is well adapted to sub-tropical regions and temperate regions of the world. Sweet sorghum mainly is planted for sugar and ethanol production.It produces more biomass, while water requirement is low. Therefore, production of these crops has been sustained during the summer when climatic conditions are unfavorable to reduce in the production and quality of perennial herbage. By harvesting maturity, starch digestibility and methane emissions of maize silage was not affected in in-vivo digestibility, while a decrease in neutral detergent fibre contents was observed with maturity stage. The delay in harvesting increased the green fodder yield but quality was reduced in all three cultivars of millet. Biomass produced by the single cut forage sorghum is more than the multi cut sorghum related to sowing date. Regrowth of multi cut biomass was abridged more than single cut.
A major limiting factor for a prosperous of livestock industry in Pakistan is fodder scarcity. The available production is approximately 52 – 54 % less than actual requirement for animals. The importance of fodder crops in agriculture require no emphasis because of the fact that basic requirement of livestock production is a regular, sufficient and nourishing fodder is to full fill the demand of butter, milk and other by products which are used for human. Animals in Pakistan are generally underfeed, which results in unsatisfactory production of livestock. Pakistan is artistic with a large livestock population well modified to the local environmental conditions. Pakistan has 33.00 million heads of cattle, 29.90 million buffaloes, 27.40 million sheep, 58.30 million goats and 1.00 million camels. Livestock produce in the region of 43.56 million tons of milk, which make Pakistan the 3rd largest milk producer country in the world. Livestock produce 1.60 million tons of beef, 0.59 million tons of mutton, 41.54 thousand tons of whole, 21.99 thousand tons of hair and 57.93 million skins and hides. Recently fodder supply is 1/3 times less than the actual needs. During the past decade the area under fodder crops has been reduced or so without any momentous resultant increase in per ha yield. This reduction in area and yield is due to growing pressure of human population, shortage of irrigation water, low priorities to fodder production and imbalance use of fertilizers. Due to increase in population demand for milk and meat is also increased and was predictable that 1993 to 2020, livestock products have double demand. In developing countries annually the rate of and milk and meat produced will grow at 2.7 % and 3.2 % correspondingly. So, to full fill demand for meat and milk in future we should identify the restrictive factors for livestock production.
Quality of forage was improved to full fill the requirement of livestock, improved cultivars of fodder crops like multi-cut oats; sorghum- Sudan grass hybrids, sorghum, and millet have been developed. Millet hybrid has a great potential to meet the growing needs for fodder especially in arid and semi-arid climates as it has ability to grow on low fertile soils under low moisture regimes. In Pakistan average forage yields are extremely low as compare to yields gained on research institutes and well managed farms. Quality and productivity include planting density, fertilization and growth stage of crop can be affected due to crop management practices at harvest time. In Pakistan data and information on the belongings of different harvesting times and varieties on the yield and quality of sorghum is very less. |
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