text:
Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Influenza
submited by pub4world at Nov, 9, 2011 22:1 PM from CDC
2009-10 Influenza Prevention & Control Recommendations
Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Influenza
Signs and Symptoms
Influenza viruses are spread from person to person primarily through large-particle respiratory droplet transmission (e.g., when an infected person coughs or sneezes near a susceptible person). Transmission via large-particle droplets requires close contact between source and recipient persons, because droplets do not remain suspended in the air and generally travel only a short distance (less than or equal to 1 meter) through the air. Contact with respiratory-droplet contaminated surfaces is another possible source of transmission. Airborne transmission (via small-particle residue [less than or equal to 5?m] of evaporated droplets that might remain suspended in the air for long periods of time) also is thought to be possible, although data supporting airborne transmission are limited. The typical incubation period for influenza is 1—4 days (average: 2 days). Adults shed influenza virus from the day before symptoms begin through 5—10 days after illness onset. However, the amount of virus shed, and presumably infectivity, decreases rapidly by 3—5 days after onset in an experimental human infection model. Young children also might shed virus several days before illness onset, and children can be infectious for 10 or more days after onset of symptoms. Severely immunocompromised persons can shed virus for weeks or months.
Uncomplicated influenza illness is characterized by the abrupt onset of constitutional and respiratory signs and symptoms (e.g., fever, myalgia, headache, malaise, nonproductive cough, sore throat, and rhinitis). Among children, otitis media, nausea, and vomiting also are commonly reported with influenza illness. Uncomplicated influenza illness typically resolves after 3—7 days for the majority of persons, although cough and malaise can persist for >2 weeks. However, influenza virus infections can cause primary influenza viral pneumonia; exacerbate underlying medical conditions (e.g., pulmonary or cardiac disease); lead to secondary bacterial pneumonia, sinusitis, or otitis media; or contribute to coinfections with other viral or bacterial pathogens. Young children with influenza virus infection might have initial symptoms mimicking bacterial sepsis with high fevers, and febrile seizures have been reported in 6%—20% of children hospitalized with influenza virus infection. Population-based studies among hospitalized children with laboratory-confirmed influenza have demonstrated that although the majority of hospitalizations are brief (2 or fewer days), 4%—11% of children hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza required treatment in the intensive care unit, and 3% required mechanical ventilation. Among 1,308 hospitalized children in one study, 80% were aged <5 years, and 27% were aged <6 months. Influenza virus infection also has been uncommonly associated with encephalopathy, transverse myelitis, myositis, myocarditis, pericarditis, and Reye syndrome.
Respiratory illnesses caused by influenza virus infection are difficult to distinguish from illnesses caused by other respiratory pathogens on the basis of signs and symptoms alone. Sensitivity and predictive value of clinical definitions vary, depending on the prevalence of other respiratory pathogens and the level of influenza activity. Among generally healthy older adolescents and adults living in areas with confirmed influenza virus circulation, estimates of the positive predictive value of a simple clinical definition of influenza (acute onset of cough and fever) for laboratory-confirmed influenza infection have varied (range: 79%—88%).
Young children are less likely to report typical influenza symptoms (e.g., fever and cough). In studies conducted among children aged 5—12 years, the positive predictive value of fever and cough together was 71%—83%, compared with 64% among children aged <5 years. In one large, population-based surveillance study in which all children with fever or symptoms of acute respiratory tract infection were tested for influenza, 70% of hospitalized children aged <6 months with laboratory-confirmed influenza were reported to have fever and cough, compared with 91% of hospitalized children aged 6 months—5 years. Among children who subsequently were shown to have laboratory-confirmed influenza infections, only 28% of those hospitalized and 17% of those treated as outpatients had a discharge diagnosis of influenza.
Clinical definitions have performed poorly in some studies of older patients. A study of nonhospitalized patients aged 60 and older years indicated that the presence of fever, cough, and acute onset had a positive predictive value of 30% for influenza. Among hospitalized patients aged 65 years and older with chronic cardiopulmonary disease, a combination of fever, cough, and illness of <7 days had a positive predictive value of 53% for confirmed influenza infection. In addition, the absence of symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) does not effectively rule out influenza; among hospitalized adults with laboratory-confirmed infection in two studies, 44%—51% had typical ILI symptoms. A study of vaccinated older persons with chronic lung disease reported that cough was not predictive of laboratory–confirmed influenza virus infection, although having both fever or feverishness and myalgia had a positive predictive value of 41%. These results highlight the challenges of identifying influenza illness in the absence of laboratory confirmation and indicate that the diagnosis of influenza should be considered in patients with respiratory symptoms or fever during influenza season.
Hospitalizations and Deaths from Influenza
In the United States, annual epidemics of influenza typically occur during the fall or winter months, but the peak of influenza activity can occur as late as April or May (Figure 1). Influenza-related complications requiring urgent medical care, including hospitalizations or deaths, can result from the direct effects of influenza virus infection, from complications associated with age or pregnancy, or from complications of underlying cardiopulmonary conditions or other chronic diseases. Studies that have measured rates of a clinical outcome without a laboratory confirmation of influenza virus infection (e.g., respiratory illness requiring hospitalization during influenza season) to assess the effect of influenza can be difficult to interpret because of circulation of other respiratory pathogens (e.g., respiratory syncytial virus) during the same time as influenza viruses.
During seasonal influenza epidemics from 1979—1980 through 2000—2001, the estimated annual overall number of influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States ranged from approximately 55,000 to 431,000 per annual epidemic (mean: 226,000). The estimated annual number of deaths attributed to influenza from the 1990—91 influenza season through 1998—99 ranged from 17,000 to 51,000 per epidemic (mean: 36,000). In the United States, the estimated number of influenza-associated deaths increased during 1990—1999. This increase was attributed in part to the substantial increase in the number of persons aged 65 years and older who were at increased risk for death from influenza complications. In one study, an average of approximately 19,000 influenza-associated pulmonary and circulatory deaths per influenza season occurred during 1976—1990, compared with an average of approximately 36,000 deaths per season during 1990—1999. In addition, influenza A (H3N2) viruses, which have been associated with higher mortality (54), predominated in 90% of influenza seasons during 1990—1999, compared with 57% of seasons during 1976—1990.
Influenza viruses cause disease among persons in all age groups. Rates of infection are highest among children, but the risks for complications, hospitalizations, and deaths from influenza are higher among persons aged 65 years and older, young children, and persons of any age who have medical conditions that place them at increased risk for complications from influenza. Estimated rates of influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths varied substantially by age group in studies conducted during different influenza epidemics. During 1990--1999, estimated average rates of influenza-associated pulmonary and circulatory deaths per 100,000 persons were 0.4--0.6 among persons aged 0--49 years, 7.5 among persons aged 50--64 years, and 98.3 among persons aged 65 years and older.


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Oscar Party Recipes
Planning an Oscar Party? Find a menu of healthy recipes inspired by the Oscar nominees to serve at your get-together.
Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Treat your guests with thoughtful party foods that celebrate the best films of the year.
2013 Oscar Movie-Themed Recipes
- Lemongrass and Garlic Shrimp, Life of Pi
In this epic quest from India to Canada, Pi must overcome trials and adversity with the help of an unexpected companion in order to survive after a tragic shipwreck. Perfect as a party appetizer, the name of the seafood in this dish is a clever play on the tiger that joins Pi while he is stranded at sea.
View Recipe: Lemongrass and Garlic Shrimp
- Apple-Toffee Hand Pies, Lincoln
Known for being a simple eater and avoiding foods with much frill, Lincoln enjoyed snacking on apples, and we love that these individual apple pies are simple, tasty, and easy to serve at a large Oscar gathering.
View Recipe: Apple-Toffee Hand Pies
- Triple-Chocolate Cake, Silver Linings Playbook
In this story, main character Pat needs all the help he can get to stay ahead after being released from a mental institution. Our "mind-boosting" cake might be just the trick and will definitely blow the minds of your guests with its rich flavors and textures.
View Recipe: Triple-Chocolate Cake
- Fried Catfish with Hush Puppies and Tartar Sauce, Beasts of the Southern Wild
The fiercest little girl you've ever seen, lead character Hushpuppy—a role which earned 9-year old Quvenzhané Wallis an Oscar nomination—goes on an unexpected journey after a devastating storm hits her home in Louisiana. Rooting for Beasts on Sunday? Serve our favorites from the bayou: Fried catfish with hush puppies, of course.
View Recipe: Fried Catfish with Hush Puppies and Tartar Sauce
- Mississippi Mud Pie, Django Unchained
All is fair in love and war, at least as far as Django is concerned in this tale of slavery and heartbreak. In honor of his journey to Mississippi to rescue his wife, we deem this Mississippi Mud Pie to be the perfect dessert to celebrate such a wonderful film.
View Recipe: Mississippi Mud Pie
- Scottish Shortbread from Sunset, Brave
This animated film is great for kids and adults alike, telling the story of Princess Merida as she tries to define her own independent path in life. She exhibits great bravery in her quest to right her wrongs and would deserve a treat as savory as shortbread for her valiant efforts.
View Recipe: Scottish Shortbread
- Baguette, Les Misérables
Set in 19th-century France, Les Mis tells the tale of desperation, love, heartache, and triumph in a compelling interpretation of Victor Hugo's epic story. Bake a homemade French baguette worth stealing and serve with butter as a snack for guests.
View Recipe: Baguette
- Classic Dry Martini, Skyfall
There's nothing James Bond likes more than a martini "shaken, not stirred" in his quest to defeat the antagonist of the moment. Our version varies slightly, but remains reminiscent of the Hollywood cocktail and is perfect to serve to guests throughout your viewing party.
View Recipe: Classic Dry Martini
2011 Oscar Menu
- Apple Martini, The Social Network
In the initial meeting between Facebook co-founders Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin and Napster co-founder Sean Parker, Parker buys the table a few rounds of appletinis. Recreate the drink at home and serve it as guests enter.
View Recipe: Apple Martinis
- Three-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese, Toy Story 3
To connect with the child in you that loved Toy Story 3, try this adult-version of the classic kid-favorite.
View Recipe: Three-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
- Tea Sandwiches, The King's Speech
Nothing says Great Britain quite like a Tea Party. With these two tea sandwiches, finger foods have never been tastier and easier.
View Recipe: Bacon and Cheddar Tea Sandwiches
View Recipe: Cucumber and Tea Sandwiches with Mint-Chile Butter
- Boston Cream Pie, The Fighter
Salute The Fighter, with this Boston, MA-inspired dessert.
View Recipe: Boston Cream Pie
- Black and White Striped Cookies, Black Swan
Good vs. Evil. Black vs. White. All in a delicious cookie.
View Recipe: Black and White Striped Cookies
- Red Velvet Cupcakes
Inspired by the richness and elegance of the red carpet...
View Recipe: Red Velvet Cupcakes
Visit MyRecipes.com for more Oscar party recipes and ideas.


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What is organic food?
Author/s: Mort Mather
Issue: August-Sept, 1998
[reprinted by the ACSA from Mother Earth News.]
When the federal government starts getting into the act of regulating "organic" food, you can bet things will get complicated.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if something so simple, so down to earth and almost folksy as organic agriculture ushered in an age of reason in national government? I'd better correct myself right off the bat. Organic agriculture is not simple. The brouhaha over the proposed National Organic Standards that were put out for public review earlier this year is not about something simple. There are over 40 organic certifying entities around the country. Each has its own set of standards. Each set of standards was arrived at through rigorous review. Many are reviewed and revised each year.
Why doesn't one certifying entity use the standards painstakingly drafted by another? There are valid points of debate. As president of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) in the early 1970s, I was involved with certification standards during some of the early drafts. MOFGA was one of the first organizations to certify growers. To this day, the MOFGA Certification Committee reviews their standards annually, usually makes some changes, and then passes their recommendations on to the board. I attended the board meetings for the past two years when the standards were discussed and voted upon. It doesn't seem any easier 25 years later. One of the problems to be faced from the start is that even a definition of organic is not simple.
Definition of Organic and the Dawning of the Mad Scientist Era
When I began being an activist for organic agriculture, the agricultural chemical industry tried to put down our methods through confusion and derision. One of their favorite attacks was to say that "organic" was simply the branch of chemistry having to do with carbon. It is difficult today to believe that this was an argument that was put forward as having validity, or that we actually felt we had to defend ourselves, but chemists were scientists, and we were not even proper farmers. Back then, chemists and other scientists were "bringing good things to life." Today, chemists are seen with a more critical eye.
I don't want to vilify scientists. Scientists are learning wonderful things that do help us understand and live our lives. There is so much to study and try to understand, especially about living organisms. Who can deny that an understanding of genetics is a good thing? It can lead to a better understanding of how the natural world works. It can also lead to new paths of philosophical discussion. Releasing into the world man-manipulated organisms designed for a very narrow purpose and without a clue of the potential impact on nature, on us, or on future generations is mad science.
To take a technology like irradiation and apply it to our food to "make it safe" seems like madness to me. Sure, zapping the food will kill off the microorganisms that cause food poisoning. But, just like a contact poison pesticide, it kills many more good or benign insects than harmful ones. Won't the irradiation kill good or benign microorganisms? Where might this lead eventually in the health of our bodies? Does anyone know? Sometime in the future, will we learn that irradiated food is a serious health problem? It is this kind Of science that we are leery of. Cleaning up our food production and delivery system would certainly make our food safer, too.
Let me digress a moment with a favorite story of mine. A friend had a few cows. He milked the cows by hand into a bucket in the barn with who-knows-what floating around in the air. He sold this raw milk coming right from the udder of a cow. The high school science teacher bought some milk from him one day. He came back the next day to say that he had bought the milk to show his students the difference between raw and store-bought milk. He put both under the microscope where they could observe the number of bacteria in each. Which do you think was the cleanest? The science teacher was amazed. He thought the packaged product from the store would be bacteria-free and the raw milk would be swarming with bacteria. It was the other way around. Most of the problems arise after the product leaves the farm.
History of Agriculture
Since we are at an important juncture in the history of agriculture, a brief history of the use of land might be helpful. Before agriculture, when we were hunters and gatherers, plants and animals found the nutrients they needed fairly randomly and they deposited nutrients the same way. Plants grew and died, adding organic matter. Animals ate, defecated, and died, adding organic matter. In some places, like the Great Plains of this country, a deep rich soil was built over many years.
When we began cultivating the land, we learned that crops would do well for several years and then the yield would start to fall off. One solution was to move onto another plot of land. Then it was discovered that adding manure to the land made it possible to continue farming on the same piece. About 1840. Justus yon Liebig identified certain nutrients that plants needed, and soon after, the first chemical fertilizer was bagged for sale. Farmers are by nature fairly conservative. If something is working, they stick with it. It took about 80 years after it was first bagged for chemical fertilizer to really catch on.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, most farms had crops and animals. The animals produced manure for the Crops and some of the crops went to feed the animals. In urban areas, horse manure was plentiful. In the Midwest, deep rich topsoil was available. There was either a reserve of humus-rich soil to draw upon, or organic matter was available to replace the humus. Then came the car, train, and electric trolleys, and the source of horse manure went out of style in urban areas. In the Midwest, the soil bank was being depleted. Farmers were told they had to be more efficient to be competitive: they had to choose between raising animals or crops. These were the major factors which pushed farmers into the arms of the agricultural chemical industry.
Chemical fertilizers were easy to use and made it possible to grow crops on soil with little or no humus. But soil erosion in agricultural areas where soil had been depleted through the use of chemical fertilizers, poor management practices, and the dust bowl in the Midwest in the 1930s caused some people to question the direction agriculture was taking. In the 1920s, Rudolf Steiner founded the bio-dynamic method of farming which eschewed chemicals and focused on humus. The agronomist Sir Albert Howard, working in India, recognized that native crops were not plagued by insects the same way the government crops were. He determined that the difference was the use of chemicals and lack of humus. He told of his experiments and findings in An Agricultural Testament published in 1940 by Oxford University Press.
In 1942, J. I. Rodale began publishing Organic Farming and Gardening magazine. Thirty years after the first issue of Organic Farming and Gardening, and eighteen years after the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (Houghton Mifflin, 1962), organic farmers were being labeled "hippie-weirdo-freaks." At the same time, wells were being drilled deeper in the Midwest to find water for irrigation, because the humus-poor soil would not retain water. The irrigated soil, in time, suffered from a buildup of the salts from the chemical fertilizers. Add another 25 years to bring us up to date, and we are debating the definition of "organic." It is heartening that this debate is on a national level. It is heartening that it is over a national standard. And it is most heartening that people have been so intensely interested in the debate as to respond in writing to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with over 130,000 comments. It may be another 25 years or more before the majority of the food we eat can be labeled as having been grown chemical-free. We are all pretty slow in making changes of this kind. But what is happening now is downright exciting for one of those hippie-weirdo-freaks of 25 years ago.
The definition of organic that is in the preamble to the proposed rule for National Organic Standards reads: "The system of organic farming and handling is a system that is designed and managed to produce agricultural products by the use of methods and substances that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products until they reach the consumer. This is accomplished by using, where possible, cultural, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to using substances to fulfill any specific function within the system, so as to maintain long-term soil fertility, increased soil biological activity, ensure effective pest management, recycle wastes to return nutrients to the land, provide attentive care to farm animals, and handle the agricultural products without the use of extraneous synthetic additives for processing."
What makes agreeing on the standards of such a reasonably-defined system so difficult? People are involved and the issues are complex. Food mostly comes in pure-seeming packaging. There are few people who want to buy a chicken with head and feet attached, even though that is how you can tell how fresh the chicken is. Yet we no longer trust scientists when they tell us something is safe. And the people involved in organic agriculture are, for the most part, independent, opinionated, and highly ethical.
One of the issues is the use of sewage sludge. That is where most human manure and urine goes. This organic material should be recycled. It is high in nutrients and would make an excellent fertilizer. If we keep taking this nutrient-rich humus out of the system, how can we ever have enough natural fertilizer? "Hey, wait a minute! You want to grow the lettuce I am going to eat on land that was fertilized with human feces?" That's what the consumers are going to say (or words to that effect). Plus, there are pathogens in it. It is a dangerous substance. Just handling it is dangerous. If you don't wash everything properly those pathogens could get in the food. We can write standards, however, for its use in order to avoid the pathogen issue. It could simply be composted, and once composted properly, all the pathogens would be dead. The next complication is, of course, what is "proper composting?' We aren't talking about night soil out of the outhouse. We are talking about sewage sludge. What else is in it? Heavy metals? Testing for such metals ill have to be rigorous, because heavy metals could be in one batch and not another. It is prohibitively expensive to test every batch. Besides which, the farmer has a limited time frame in which to spread the sludge. He can't be waiting around for test results. This problem is just one of the many, many needing resolution in the search for a national standard of organic growing.
Treated Seeds
Twenty-five years ago, untreated seeds were not available for all varieties of plants. Some years, the MOFGA standards allowed treated seeds, provided there was no reasonable substitute. At one time, we allowed people to use treated seeds if they washed them first. Then the problem was, how do you properly wash them and how do you properly dispose of the water? The MOFGA standards currently do not permit the use of treated seeds. The reason for this seemingly narrow position is that there are two seed companies in Maine offering a wide variety of seeds, all of which are untreated. Nationally, most of the better companies offer seeds that are untreated. There is one variety of seed that I like that is exclusive to one company and that company treats many of their seeds, including this particular variety. I write to the company periodically to request that they offer the variety untreated and some years they do. Most years, I don't bother to deal with that company. The National Standards read, "Treated seeds are used only when untreated seeds of the same variety are not commercially available or unanticipated or emergency circumstances make it unfeasible to obtain untreated seeds." The organic community may be divided on this issue, but it is probably not a rule-breaking division.
...and Animal Feed
A similar issue in the National Standards involves animal feed. If you can't get organic feed, can a percentage of the feed be non-organic? Consumers say emphatically "no." Organic animal producers who control their source of feed say "no." Organic animal producers who are dependent on the availability of organic feed in the market want some flexibility. What makes these discussions especially difficult is that all of the people involved want the same thing. They all want a high standard for organic food and they are all willing to make sacrifices, if necessary, to meet the standard. This is different from what Washington is used to. Business as usual in Washington is based on getting a nice label for something with standards that can easily be met. Most people don't know that rodent feces is allowed in their flour. It is. Perfectly acceptable by the roles but, not to worry, the amount is regulated to be very small. Only parts per million or maybe even parts per billion. It is probably unrealistic to think that grain grown in a field, harvested by a machine (that sat around for several months in a farmyard) into open wagons or trucks for transport to a storage facility and then transported to a mill, could escape any possibility of picking up some rodent feces.
The debate through the years over organic certification standards has sometimes been a debate between realism and idealism. The most interesting part of the debate is that it is often a conflict within each debater. The farmers who are dealing with reality daily are also idealists. They want the bar to be high. I read a lot of the 130,000-some comments on the role. They were all pretty much the same from farmers, food store and food cooperative managers and members, certifiers, consumers, and environmentalists. They all want strong standards. There is no special interest group looking for easy regulations to gain a special place in the market.
History of National Organic Standards
The industry, organic farmers, and certifiers lobbied for national standards and were finally successful when the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 became law as part of the 1990 Farm Bill. The Act laid out broadly what the organic community felt the standards should be and mandated that the USDA develop regulations to enforce the law. It took the USDA two years to establish the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and appoint its first members. The current board is comprised of four farmers/growers, two handlers/processors, one retailer, one scientist (I'm proud to say this is MOFGA's Director of Technical Services), three consumer/public interest advocates, and three environmentalists. Members come from all four U.S. regions. A fifteenth board member, representing certifying agents, will be appointed once the standards are in place. The board is advisory to the USDA. One would think that with at least 40 models of pretty similar organic certification standards, it would not be much of a job to put together the best ideas from them all or just to find the majority opinion when issues arose
Actually the NOSB submitted their recommendations in two years. While some compromises had been made, the organic community was happy with the work of the NOSB and thought the job well done. It took the USDA about four years to turn the recommendations into rules. The next step was to send them on their merry way through the halls of Washington. It is a very complex program because you are looking at the entire gamut Of agricultural production, marketing, labeling, and retail sales of organic products. We're basically talking about an entire system of agricultural production and marketing. Therefore, the role intersects with other agencies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Food Safety Inspection Service, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Small Business Administration. That's for starters.
"These agencies all have some input, do have a stake in the proposed organic rule. It is not a rule that touches one commodity; it touches all commodities that are produced as organic. And for that reason, it is a lengthy rule, and it is something that takes a little bit of time to digest." That was part of the USDA introduction to public hearings held around the country last winter. The Office of Science and Technology and perhaps the Department of Commerce were on the list too. By the time it had made the rounds, it was a mess. They added a fee schedule that would put certification out of reach Of many of the small organic farmers, me very people who had lobbied for the bill. The EPA was interested in getting rid of sewage sludge anywhere they could, and so they added it to the standards. The FDA had approved irradiation for killing bacteria in food so, to put the organic good housekeeping seal on their decision, they added it to the standards as acceptable. And somebody got it into their head that a great way to market genetically engineered foods abroad would be to label them organically acceptable. You've gotta laugh.
This is really too absurd to get upset about. Especially the last one. Is it arrogance that would lead someone to believe that the Europeans would say, "Gee, if genetically engineered food is acceptable in organic standards in the US of A, it must be AOK." It tickles me every time I think of it. Or was the thought not so naive? Was it along the lines of, "If we can get this in the organic standards, it will destroy organic credibility abroad." Why they would want to hurt a $4 billion industry that is growing at 20% a year is mysterious. Those are the changes that got the public most up in arms. Joe Vogelsberg, an organic farmer from Kansas, thanked the USDA at their hearing in Iowa. "Regarding the pro posed role from the USDA, first of all, I'd like to thank the USDA for this proposed rule. I might be the only one that says that, but I want to thank the USDA for putting this out because nothing has united the organic farmers and united the consumers more than this proposed rule. I've talked to people from different states that I haven't talked to for three or four years. They're calling, and we're talking, and we're complaining, and we're uniting. Consumers are drawing together with farmers in a unified effort. Environmentalists and farmers are getting along. It's really exciting. And I think if it wasn't for the USDA's proposed rule, none of this would have happened. I think they've done more to bring the organic community together than we have. So thanks to the USDA."
Has the USDA learned anything? They have never had this much public reaction. The only federal agency to have received more comments over a proposed rule was the FDA over their tobacco regulation. Will it sensitize the bureaucracy to public sentiment? Will it usher in an age of reason? Will those inside the beltway of our nation's capital come to realize that they need to come down to earth and join the rest of the human race? Will someone do a study of cities with streets going around in circles to see if it has an effect opposite from pyramid power? Ever the optimist, I will hope so. But whether or not it actually makes a difference in the Washington bureaucracy, it is heartening to know that people care about the food they eat, about the environment, and about the integrity of a system that has grown slowly and naturally over the years with little help from the establishment or the government.
RELATED ARTICLE: Who currently certifies food as "organic?"
State Agencies
In some states, the state Department of Agriculture certifies growers and handlers. For example, the states of Washington and Texas have strong certification programs administered by their Department of Agriculture.
Third-Party Agencies
In many states, third-party organizations certify growers and handlers, These certification organizations include NOFA (in the Northeast), MOFGA (Maine), OCIA, FVO, and dozens more.
In some states, growers or handlers may certify themselves by submitting an affidavit of compliance with state organic regulations to a state agency. If the growers are responsible, they can (and often do) apply standards more rigorous than those required by the state. However, self-certification also leaves the door open to unscrupulous growers who misrepresent their products and deceive he consumer as a result.
RELATED ARTICLE: Organic Beef?
The USDA's proposed rules would allow the use of antibiotics in the raising of livestock. Under the rule, antibiotics can be used during a mammal's first 21 days, but butchered animals that received the drugs longer than this time period cannot be classified as "organic." However, sick cows that are withdrawn from herds and treated with antibiotics can be reintroduced later and certified.
With state agency or third-party organic certification, growers and distributors are typically inspected annually. If they don't adhere to standards, they're out. Under the proposed USDA regulations, a long, legal process will instead determine whether a farm should be decertified. Additionally, it would be illegal for a grower to set a higher standard than the Federal Government allows. So much for consumer decision in the marketplace.
Finally, the 600 pages of USDA organic program regulations
will cost us $2 billion a year to enforce. This will, by definition, raise the
cost of organic food (currently only a $4 billion dollar market in the U.S.) and
possibly force smaller farmers out of business.
COPYRIGHT 1998 Sussex Publishers, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group
for presentation purposes only.


text:
Editor's note: Jenny McCarthy is an actress and author of the new book "Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism" (Dutton).
I didn't know what was going on with my son Evan. One day he was a completely healthy 2-year-old and the next he kept having life-threatening seizures.
Actress Jenny McCarthy details her son's battle with autism in a new book.
Countless doctors and hospitals couldn't get to the bottom of it, and no one could figure out the right diagnosis. We continued trying different anti-seizure medicines, but they either made Evan act psychotic or like a zombie. Finally, I got an appointment to see the best pediatric neurologist in Los Angeles.
I was beyond nervous in the doctor's office. My heart was beating so loudly that I bet Evan thought it was a drum in the next room.
When the door opened and a sweet older man walked in, I immediately felt good. I started telling him about all the seizure activity and what had been said so far about Evan. He listened closely but had his eyes on Evan the whole time. I could tell he was evaluating Evan and his bizarre behavior.
He asked me a couple of questions and seemed very peaceful about the whole thing. I was starting to feel more relaxed as he played with Evan, and then he stood up and opened his office door and told his secretary to cancel his next appointment. I thought to myself, "Wow, he must really like us. This is some big VIP treatment."
He closed the door and pulled his chair up close to mine and put his hand on my hand. He looked at me with sorrowful eyes and said, "I'm sorry, your son has autism."
I just stared at the doctor while remembering all the signs that led up to this moment. I felt each membrane and vein in my heart shattering into a million pieces. Nothing prepared me for this. I couldn't breathe. I wanted it gone. I had been through so much with seizures and psychotic reactions to meds. I looked at the doctor with pleading, tearful eyes, "This can't be. He is very loving and sweet and not anything like 'Rain Man.' "
"Every child is different," he said. "Some aren't as severe as others."
"I don't understand. How can this be? How can you tell just in a few minutes?"
He looked at me and then pointed to what Evan had made in the corner. Evan had taken those ear cones they use to look inside your ears and made the most perfect row lined up across the room.
"Does he line toys up at home instead of playing with them?" he asked.
"Yes, but don't all kids do that?"
"Nope, not all," he said. "And they all don't flap their arms like that either."
I looked at Evan and saw that he was "flapping his wings." I said, "Oh no, he just does that when he gets excited."
"That is called a stim," he said.
"A what?"
"A stim. Self-stimulatory behaviors. It's an autistic trait," he said.
I looked at Evan and saw him flapping and once again had my heart shattered. I had always looked at it like an adorable Evan characteristic, so cute and unique that I even called him my little bird.
I almost felt betrayed, like I didn't know this child standing in front of me. Everything I thought was cute was a sign of autism and I felt tricked. I guess the doctor sensed this from me because he turned my head back toward him and said, "He is still the same boy you came in here with."
No, in my eyes he wasn't. This was not Evan. Evan was locked inside this label, and I didn't know if I would ever get to know who Evan really was. All the behaviors I had thought were personality traits were autism characteristics, and that's all I had. Where was my son, and how the hell do I get him back?
I turned into a detective, and thanks to a ton of Google research, the support of UCLA and my DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) doctor, I found the treatments that worked for Evan.
Evan is now 5 years old and able to communicate completely. Since we can talk, I ask him questions that I so badly wanted to know the answers to during the crisis. When I asked him why he flaps his arms, he replied, "Because I get so excited and then I fly just like the angels do."
Not all children with autism will be able to make leaps like Evan. Some parents have worked longer and harder than I have, with no success, trying the exact same things.
I have no idea why some treatments work on some kids and not on others. But I beg moms and dads to at least try. I will work my ass off raising awareness for autism and banging down doors to get answers.
In the meantime, don't give up hope and remember that acceptance of your child's condition does not mean giving up; it's just simply loving your child for being the perfect little spirit he or she is.
That was the shift I had experienced before Evan's healing even began. Faith is what continues to keep me moving forward.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. E-mail to a friend


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Well, Monday started out so promising, with an apparent signal from China that it would commit to a binding agreement on climate. However, an analysis of what transpired today throws some cold water on the whole shebang. Let's see what happened today:
Slipping Beneath the Waves
Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon, observed that the Parties of the current COP are the ones who will determine how to address the problem of "…out of control climate change, a world divided bitterly between rich and poor, the vulnerable and the privileged…" No pressure. In doing so, he referred to very vivid anecdotes of resident children of Kiribati, fearing to go to sleep at night, due to the threat of their country "…slipping beneath the waves." So too, did he cite statistical evidence, such as UNEP's climate change reports on the Emissions Gap and others.
Further, he responded directly to the repeated concerns that the global recession will make fighting climate change more difficult: "Yes, we all recognize the realities of our time, the economic crisis that dictates fiscal security. Yet, the world cannot accept 'no' as the answer to Durban. I say to you, this is the time to be ambitious." Restructuring national and global energy production (among other things) may be very costly in the very short term; however, rising sea levels, unpredictable agriculture, changes in precipitation – all this would dramatically damage (if you want to put an economic spin on it) global productive capacity. In the Canadian NGO press conference, Gerry LeBlanc of the United Steel Workers similarly observes that shifting to a green economy is a forward-looking approach to thinking about jobs and the environment – really valid points, but some that are having a hard time gaining traction.
Ban Ki-Moon finally observed that $30 billion, in identified sources, has been earmarked for fast-start financing in the transition towards greener economies in LDCs. "In Cancún, you created the Green Climate Fund. Let us launch it here in Durban." It seems like the GCF is coming out of here alive: I'll lay 4-1 odds on an institutionalized GCF by the end of Durban. Any takers?
Seriously, Canada?
Today, Climate Action Network – Canada, on a panel led by Hannah McKinnon, spoke out bitterly against their government's action on the UNFCCC. "What happened to the Canada we know?" asks Stephen Guilbeult. The panel goes on to point out that Canada – which again, has the 7th highest emissions per capita globally (PDF) – has poor records on 1) indigenous environmental rights; 2) commitments to the climate regime; 3) carbon dioxide emissions. In particular, the reference by the Harper government to tar sands extraction as 'ethical oil,' rankles. The point is driven home, when Daniel T'Solo, a Deneh activist points out the overwhelmingly disproportionate impact of tar sands extraction on indigenous peoples.
One of the positive developments seen here, is the attention to the local level impacts of climate change on different populations. At the meeting of the state delegates, as much as the NGO conferences, people are stating concern about the impact of the poor in LDCs, as well as the poor in rich countries – this marks a welcome divergence from a state-centric look at negotiations, which does not capture the importance of societal and human diversity, and what it means for climate vulnerability. The briefing ends with a really cute display of children's art, illustrating their concepts of a just future and a just climate. I believe the children are our future, etc. Concluding, McKinnon notes that the stated withdrawal of Canada represents a "…failure of political leadership."
Acting in a Responsible Way?
What to make of China's recent statements that it will support a binding agreement? Ostensibly, the reluctance of the major emitters in the developing world to iterated obligations has been the source of the tension and roadblock persisting so far in the debates. Thus, if taken seriously, China's recent statements could severely undermine the legitimacy of the US and Canada's foot-dragging. Xie Zhenhua certainly seems to buy into this, saying: "It's time for us to see who is acting in a responsible way to deal with the common challenge of human beings."
The problem is, it's not clear today what kind of binding agreement China is discussing, since Xie's statements today focused on the Kyoto Protocol. While legally binding, it obviously carries no cost for China. Thus, the public pronouncements by Xie may serve as a rhetorical cudgel to make the US and OECD defectors look bad, rather than make any progress (initial optimism notwithstanding). While the Indian delegate mentioned the possibility of considering a second binding agreement, it's certainly not obvious that this would include conditions for developing countries, a point that the delegate herself brought up.
The BASIC Countries – Brazil, South Africa, India, and China – acting as a bloc today, under the coordination of China, primarily have good rhetoric, but this should not be confused with any intent towards a binding regime. Minister Xie Zhenhua claimed that "…we are countries of action. the BASIC Countries, together with the G-77 group, will play an active and constructive role in implementing the UNFCCC, the KP, the Copenhagen Accord, and the Cancún Agreement. The KP should be continued, and a second commitment period of the KP is a must."
At the same time, the Indian delegate calls out the developed world as not fulfilling their obligations, asserting that the poorest of the world "…should not be expected to make legally binding commitments…" when they are struggling for basic survival. While true, it is not clear how this precludes action by the industrialized and energy sectors of Brazil and China, at the very least. Further, for the same reasons listed above, the KP is really attractive as a framework to developing countries (such as BASIC and the G-77), in that they don't have to commit to anything, and can thus push for it without fear of political blowback.
The Per Capita Argument
The Indian delegate goes on to say that there should be equity in the use of atmospheric resources. This is a really interesting argument. Something to keep in mind is that the poorest countries tend to have a really minute impact on the climate in a per capita measure. One way of thinking about this is that, if the atmosphere consisted of discrete units, which could be allocated to the world's population, each American, Canadian and Russian (to use the hyperlinked report) would use far more than their fair share, while each Ethiopian, Tanzanian and Bangladeshi would use far less. If we attempted to regulate climate according to per capita equity, the developed nations would have to cut overall outputs by staggering amounts – 80%, say – to allow the poorer populations more ecological space. While certainly politically impossible, it's worth thinking about precisely how problematic the current allocation of the world's resources is.
Renewing Kyoto
Echoing many of the delegates, Ban Ki-Moon asserted that renewing the KP is sorely needed, stating that, as indicated in previous posts, climate financing, clean development, carbon trading, and afforestation projects are closely linked to the institutional framework of the KP. Thus, while the regime itself does not provide much in the way of meaningful regulation (honestly, the US, the EU, and Canada's position that – by only covering 25% of the world's emissions – it is a poor regime, is a good one), its benefits may extend beyond its content, to the support it creates for other actions. This may be the only purpose it serves, however, especially considering that some of the domestic commitments – such as those of the EU – far exceed the requirements of the KP.
And on that note, I leave you with the new theme song for the climate conference. Enjoy.


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To obtain your Washington Commercial Drivers License (CDL), you must first pass the Washington CDL Tests that apply to the type of commercial trucks or buses that you will be driving. The WA CDL Tests include a General Knowledge written examination that everyone must pass, regardless of their particular Class of License, ie: Class A, Class B, or Class C. There are also (7) seven additional WA CDL Tests covering endorsements including Combination Vehicles, Doubles and Triples, Air Brakes, Passenger Vehicles, School Bus, Hazardous Materials and Tank Vehicles. You only have to pass the WA CDL Tests that apply to your vehicle/load requirements. You will also be given a three-part Driving Skills Test, including a Vehicle Pre-trip Inspection, Vehicle Control and Road Test in a representative-type vehicle.
|The Congress of the United States enacted The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA/86) administered by the FMCSA which requires that all of the individual states conduct uniform testing and licensing standards for all commercial drivers. It also established uniform standards for qualification, suspensions, and revocation. It requires that no commercial vehicle operator may possess more than one license. That license MUST BE ISSUED FROM THE DRIVER'S STATE OF LEGAL RESIDENCE. Therefore, if you are a resident of Washington, you MUST obtain a Washington CDL. Our Course covers the specific Washington CDL procedures.
You can download a free Washington CDL Handbook that will show you the type of material that the CDL tests are based on. The complete Washington CDL Course package will prepare you for your Washington CDL tests complete with a Quick Review (bulleted items that you really must know) and Practice Test Questions with CORRECT Answers covering the whole pool of actual test questions asked on the Washington CDL tests.
Don't keep putting it off. Start your CAREER today!
A Commercial Drivers License (CDL) is Required if you drive ANY of the following commercial trucks or buses for hire ANY place in the United States . . .


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Orlando Johnson stands up to KG, and Vogel backs him up
As far as challenges go, the Brooklyn Nets are as physical as they come. Even without Reggie Evans in the lineup on Saturday night, the Nets have enough firepower to make life miserable for an opponent.
There were times when center Brook Lopez made it seem as if Roy Hibbert hadn't packed on those 15 pounds of muscle this summer, because throughout the first half, Lopez kept Hibbert out of the post and forced him to take jumpers. Then on the other end, Lopez would back Hibbert down - pretty rare to see these days.
"Yeah, I think I got really tired wrestling with that guy and playing defense," Hibbert said. "I didn't shoot a great percentage but I just tried to keep the pressure on him as much as possible."
Orlando Johnson can also attest to the physicality of the Nets - and surprise! - the first semi confrontation of the season for the "smash mouth" Pacers nearly started because of their backup shooting guard.
After a good stretch in the third quarter, Johnson remained on the floor to start the fourth. Pretty soon, the Nets' Kevin Garnett gave his team a spark with a put back slam. So the crowd was into it as the Nets trotted back on defense and really went wild when Garnett's authoritative rebound from Johnson's miss at the 10:44 mark. The problem was, Garnett got away with one against Johnson...
"He fouled him, yeah," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.
Then, Garnett cleared out with elbows extended. Johnson, who was behind Garnett and in the line of fire of those unkind elbows, retaliated by aggressively bear hugging him.
"He fouled me," Johnson recalled. "I thought they had some numbers, so I just wrapped him up so they wouldn't get a fast break."
When asked further about what set off such a quick and hard foul, Johnson said: "He's throwing elbows and stuff like that, but just letting him know that I'm not backing down to anybody like that."
Though Vogel wants the Pacers to play defense without fouling, he had no problem with Johnson standing up for himself.
"You've got to be a physical basketball team," Vogel said. "We don't want to foul because of a lack of discipline but we don't back down for anybody."
At the moment of the foul, the Pacers only led 74-69 but the play worked as Johnson had hoped because the Nets could not break into transition. Over the next two minutes, the Pacers outscored the Nets 8-3. Johnson finished four points and four rebounds in 13:50 of play.
"When I come in, I'm going to bring passion and energy, that toughness that (Vogel's) looking for," Johnson said. "If somebody's going to step up to me or one of my teammates, I'm going to be right there for them."


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Security Procedures
To ensure that library materials are properly checked out when they leave the building, an electronic security system has been installed. Use of the Library is conditional on the willingness of the borrower to pass through the system and, if necessary, have backpacks, briefcases, etc. inspected upon exiting.
When a library item is checked out, the Circulation assistant desensitizes it, allowing it to pass through the security gate. Material which has not been desensitized will cause the alarm to sound and the exit gate to lock. Occasionally, a non-library item will trigger the security system. Whatever the cause, when the alarm sounds, all books, backpacks, etc. will be examined to make certain that library materials have been properly checked out. If the person setting off the alarm does not have a current campus ID card, a resident borrower library card, or DMV identification, or if the item has been damaged in an apparent attempt to illegally remove it from the Library, the Cal Poly Humboldt Police Department will be called in.
In order to prevent the theft of books and other library materials, state law authorizes the detention for a reasonable time any person using these facilities suspected of committing "library theft" (Penal Code Section 490.5).
Library users are also expected to abide by the Library's Public Use Policy.


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Delaware Valley's drug testing is back in court
Suspicionless drug testing of Delaware Valley School District students will be considered again this month when the district and the ACLU of Pennsylvania head back to court.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against the district in March 2011 on behalf of Glenn and Kathy Kiederer of Shohola.
District policy requires students participating in extracurricular activities or driving to school to submit to a mandatory initial drug and alcohol test.
Those students must then submit to random testing throughout the year.
The Kiederers objected when their then-12-year-old daughter was required to be tested for drugs to join the school scrapbooking club.
That daughter and another daughter refused to take the drug tests because the family believes it is a violation of their civil rights.
It meant the girls were prevented from participating in extracurricular activities.
The ACLU asked the court to order the district to put the policy on hold until it is tested in court.
In July 2011, Judge Joseph Kameen sided with the ACLU, granting it a temporary injunction.
The district has not been allowed to administer suspicionless drug testing since then.
In response to the injunction, each side filed motions for summary judgment, meaning each side thinks the evidence and law are so clear that it should win on the face of it.
Kameen will hear oral argument on the cross motions on Jan. 28.
Kameen could do any one of three things, according to MaryCatherine Roper, senior staff attorney for the Pennsylvania ACLU:
He could grant the ACLU its motion and say it wins. That would make the preliminary injunction permanent, spelling the end of suspicionless drug testing.
He could grant the district's motion and say the district wins, which would cancel the temporary injunction, and reintroduce suspicionless drug testing in district schools.
He could deny both motions and say he wants a full trial. That would leave the temporary injunction in place, until he issues a final ruling after a trial.
No matter the outcome, it may not stick.
Roper expects that the losing side will appeal.
The drug policy was already challenged in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Theodore vs. Delaware Valley School District.
In the 2003 Theodore decision, the court required schools to justify suspicionless drug testing with evidence of a widespread drug problem among students, unless the school could show additional evidence that the group of students undergoing testing had a high rate of drug use.
By 2003, the sisters named in the case had graduated high school and their parents, Louis and Mary Ellen Theodore of Milford, were no longer pursuing it.
Delaware Valley continued suspicionless testing and did not take steps to show students involved in athletics, drama or who park at school are more likely to do drugs than the general student population.
Delaware Valley continues to administer tests when drug use is suspected. That practice is not under debate.


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Today is the day I feel like celebrating and sharing my excitement with the world, There is so much I want to celebrate about and so much that I need to share with everyone. I am very happy and excited to announce that I have finally found my calling in terms of a career path and in terms of something that I thoroughly enjoy doing. It is something that I discovered since I started my world in social media, advertising, social networking, and blogging. Although My passions are about traveling, cooking and driving, and those are things I enjoy, but My calling is all about the social media, internet, social networking and blogging genres and fields. So many people have sent me personal e-mails from friends, family, fans, and everyone else who truly believes in me, I received an e-mail today which was so touching to me and it was one of the greatest e-mails ever when I opened up my inbox. This is the e-mail I received from one of my great friends from another city. I will keep her name anonymous, but this is what it said:
Dear Talin,
Since the beginning when I have subscribed to your blog, and have been following your social media path, you are such a beautiful person inside and out, you are not afraid to share with the world who you are, what you do, and your writings are wonderful, and I truly believe that this is your calling and your ultimate talent. Talin, we all have talent, we all come to this world with a strength, and God has chosen you to make a living and a career out of social media, marketing, and being a positive and influencing person in so many peoples lives. I see you have made quite a vast difference and impact in so many peoples lives, you have touched many hearts, you have that poise to inspire so many with your words. We need more people like you in this world, we need people like you in this generation of social media and communications as you are doing an excellent job in providing so much and I can see that you have dedicated a big portion of your life to blogging, and I think you found your niche. I love you so much my beautiful friend Talin. I wish you nothing but continued success in all that you do and I am one of your biggest fans. God bless you and I wish you nothing but the best in life. May all your wishes comes true. – Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah, The Talk, Marilyn Denis, do not know what they are missing. They need to discover you and soon. You deserve it and more.
love Always, Anonymous.
This was a sweet e-mail and I really cried up a storm of happy tears when I read this today. I have so much to give to society, and this realm of internet technology and more. I am not afraid of sharing, and it is a world I love, and its something that I see in other people when they give me reviews about me and what I love doing. I am doing this for myself, not because another person is telling me to do it. I believe in myself and I know that I will persevere and reach for the tops. I know it takes time and effort and finding the right connections, but I feel like my calling is now and I am not wasting another second of my life. I will keep proving myself, I will keep on working hard at what I love to do, and I will not let people give me negative remarks. I am going to celebrate my accomplishments and achievements so far and my friend who sent me that e-mail, I love you and that really touched my heart in so many ways. Thank you to everyone who believes in me, who entrusts me, who encourages, supports and puts me up and who appreciates me. I love you all very much. I wish everyone the best and may your dreams and wishes come true.


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LinuxTagWhen: June 22nd - 25th
Where: Karlsruhe, Germany
More Info: http://www.linuxtag.org/
LinuxTag is the largest and most important exhibition and conference in Europe, which covers Free Software and GNU/Linux. The motto is Where .com meets .org. LinuxTag combines both a community event as well as a professional exhibition with large amounts of business and a high quality gratis conference program.
Debian Involvement
The Debian project will be present with a booth. It will be located in the middle of the regular exhibition space alongside with company booths. After a long time this is another opportunity in Europe to put a large number of names and email addresses to faces and personalities. The Debian project will demonstrate its distribution running on different hardware platforms, but most non-i386 architectures will be demonstrated on the Linux Ports booth. Many developers will staff both booths.
A two-day conference called Debian day will be held on Thursday and Friday, aiming at developers and interested users.
Main Coordinator: Jörg Jaspert


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There are some baking tips that I learned from internet and friends, I seldom share in my blog. I always thought that other bakers should know better than me as I am an amateur baker that always bake within comfort zone. My baking area is quite "narrow" and boring, I dare not try some of the bakes as I always think I sure cannot make it, so dun waste time hahahaha....
Until Jessie shared the tips of dropping the cake pan from high once remove from oven to prevent the cake to shrink too much during cooling process. Then I realised such good baker as her also might miss out some tips, I have been using this method for quite sometimes, ever since I had failed my golden sponge cake. In order to get a successful cake, I google and read up a lot to find why and some tips to get it correctly, this tips was found during the searching. Since then, all the cakes that will shrink after cool down, I will use this method. However I read from somewhere that some baking chef actually dun encourage this method, but I forgot the reason, age catching up lol, will share with you if I can find the info again.
3 egg yolks *
55g milk
6g corn starch
** updated on 24 June 2014 : I used 3 bigger eggs weigh approx. 63g each, the batter is still too much for 6" round cake pan that I have to transfer to 7". The batter can only fill the cake pan about 60% full or not more than 70%. If more than that, the cake will "explode" and crack terribly base on my past experience.
2. Separate egg white and egg yolk into two mixing bowls. (if I wanna bake last min, I will soak the chilled eggs in warm water to speed out the process to room temperature)
3. Melt butter in a saucepan, once you see small bubbles, remove from heat.
4. Immediately add in sifted flour, quickly stir to become batter. (the batter is like very soft paste)
5. Pour the milk into a empty mixing bowl, scape in the butter + flour batter and mix well with the milk. (like mayonnaise kind of texture)
6. Add in egg yolk one at a time, stir well on each addition. The batter is slightly runny if compare to normal chiffon batter. (I added in all egg yolks at once, the batter is runny)
7. Mix sugar and corn starch together. Beat egg whites till foamy, gradually add in sugar and corn starch mixture (three times) and continue beat until approaching stiff peaks (meringue stand straight up with a little curve at the tip) or till stiff peaks (this stage is a bit difficult to fold with egg yolk mixture)
8. Take 1/3 of meringue and use a hand whisk to mix well with egg yolk batter.
9. Fold in 1/2 of meringue and use a silicone spatula, gently fold with egg yolk batter till slightly combined. Fold in the balance meringue and gently fold till well combined.
10. Pour the batter from high slowly into cake pan to release bubbles, then lightly bang the cake tin to further release the bubbles.
12. Remove the cake pan from oven, drop it from high side to prevent the cake shrink too much during cool process.
The cake is moist, light, fluffy and very cottony soft, taste like light cheesecake. It taste nice even when chilled, something like softer version of Sarah Lee cake. This is the best sponge cake I ever eat and has became one of my favourite recipe that I have baked many times, definitely a keeper. There is a chocolate version here.


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Volunteer in the Seychelles with GVI and discover a country famed for its endemic flora and fauna, unspoiled beaches and beautiful coral reefs! Whether you are looking to gain your PADI Divemaster or internship programs, gain some work experience or just simply want to give back, our Seychelles hub offers a variety of options to help you make a genuine difference on your career break, gap year or volunteering holiday.
Volunteer opportunities in Africa offer an abundance of wildlife volunteering and interesting cultures to explore. If you volunteer in Africa you will get a chance to make a difference in either South Africa or Seychelles – the beautiful island country surrounded by the Indian Ocean.
We operate two bases in the inner granitic islands, both within National Marine Parks next to stunning palm-fringed beaches and forested areas.
On the island of Mahe we run critical marine conservation projects where you can get trained from PADI Advanced up to a Divemaster. Speaking of which, check out our exciting and insightful blog article about 7 Ways To Be A More Responsible Diver!
Get involved in our terrestrial conservation programs on Curieuse Island. Its surrounding waters are rich in wildlife, making it the perfect setting for your conservation adventure with a difference. The paradise of Seychelles is the ideal location for your next volunteer trip!
By Leigh-Anne Webster, GVI Seychelles Alumni
The Republic of Seychelles is an Archipelago of 115 tropical islands set in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 1,500 kilometres off mainland East Africa. The Seychelles is the tropical island paradise that many dream of, with its dramatic lush green landscape, a vibrant culture and a rich flora and fauna both above and below the water. The islands of Seychelles offer volunteers or interns an adventure of a lifetime not to be missed!
The capital of Victoria is your main centre point on the island of Mahe, and you can easily explore this beautiful island by public transport or private vehicle. The feeling of island life will sink in fast, and you will find the friendly local Seychellois happy to help and make you feel at home. Lying very close, but slightly south of the Equator, the abundance of wildlife and ecological diversity is phenomenal, which makes a conservation volunteering adventure in the Seychelles ideal. This also makes scuba diving in Seychelles one of many great choices of activities – you can do this whilst on your volunteering project in Seychelles, or in your free-time! Some of the best diving in Seychelles is around the main Island at Baie Ternay Marine National Park.
Baie Ternay Marine National Park is one of the primary areas that has sadly been affected badly by coral bleaching over the years, and is also home to the GVI hub on Mahe Island – where some of the top volunteer projects in Seychelles are based! This site is protected by the SNPA (Seychelles National Park Authority), one of GVI's partners in conservation in the Seychelles. It is currently undergoing strong rehabilitation efforts to try to rebuild and regrow a healthier, thriving marine environment.
When you choose to volunteer in Seychelles with GVI you have various options, as GVI Hubs are based in two locations. Cap Ternay, the marine conservation volunteering base, is located on the main Island of Mahe, close to the Baie Ternay Marine National Park. This is where you'll work on projects related to volunteering in marine conservation in the Seychelles, and can gain your PADI Advanced all the way up to your Divemaster!
The other base is located on Curieuse Island, a short boat journey across from Mahe. This is where the island conservation volunteering projects are run, and is a must for any conservationists who want to volunteer in the Seychelles, get practical field experience to help their future career, or just see some amazing wildlife whilst making a sustainable impact. A very popular project is turtle conservation in Seychelles, as well as lemon shark conservation in Seychelles!
Many individuals who come to GVI to volunteer on conservation programs in Seychelles end up realising that this is what they want to do with their career! If you're looking to jump into the industry, it's the perfect opportunity to begin your journey to start gaining conservation jobs in Seychelles, or elsewhere!
Life on base is exciting and nerve racking at the same time. This is a normal feeling – you have just encountered your new home for the next month or so!
You will arrive at Cap Ternay base in what looks to be a completely isolated area surrounded by jungle and green palm trees – this area is not really open to the public, but you do get the occasional tourist wandering in.
Curieuse however is a protected island, so you will see fewer tourists venturing around the island, especially after daylight hours. The base is secluded and located right on the beach!
The staff on both bases are very friendly and welcoming, and upon arrival you will usually have a meeting with most of the other volunteers on base and staff members. They'll show you around and allow you to take in the tropical atmosphere that surrounds you before getting you started on the exciting work you will be doing over the coming months!
So you've arrived at base and ready to set off on one of GVI Seychelles' volunteer projects. But where will you sleep? Rooms on base are very basic dormitory style (mixed males and females).
There are 3 dorm rooms for volunteers on Cap Ternay, each with around 10 single beds. There are male and female bathrooms with cold water showers, which believe it or not is very much welcomed after a hot day in this tropical climate! It's all part of the experience when doing conservation volunteering in Seychelles!
Curieuse hub is a little different from the Mahe hub. It has a smaller capacity of volunteers but it has basic living conditions, similar to that on Cap Ternay.
Both hubs are very active on environmental awareness as is most of the Seychelles – you'll find that recycling is a biggy on base. Keeping up with the recycling is part of daily duties that every volunteer will partake in, this is usually split into groups and duties will consist of kitchen duties, grounds duties, tanks duties, boat duties etc
You can't be working 24/7! What else is there to our Seychelles volunteer programs? Base life is usually a very relaxed environment, and in your free time you can happily hang around just relaxing and reading in the hammock, or you can take a walk to the beach or to the nearby resort if you have enough time. Daylight hours are pretty minimal in the Seychelles with it being so close to the equator, but after a long day's scuba diving or carrying out on-land field work, studying or maybe taking a stroll up the local Mount Matoopa, an early night is really appreciated by most.
Every week on Cap Ternay they like to have a BBQ night at the end of their working week, which is mostly Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as weekends. This is a terrific way to break the ice and get to know everybody you haven't yet spoken to. Working days are typically from 6am till around 4pm, dependent on studies and weather conditions.
Food on base is varied but mostly vegetarian. Lucky for Cap Ternay, they have an amazing local chef who prepares most meals, which you assist if you're on kitchen duty (apart from weekends). Meals are usually rice or pasta based, and meat and dairy is a real treat so this is usually offered as a treat once a week. Breakfast usually consists of porridge oats and fresh fruit. Other foods and drinks available are fruit, tea, coffee and water which is drinkable from the tap on base, but there are shops available for those extra little treats you require.
The volunteer base, although basic, has a historical charm, which allows you to truly experience the incredible island. Almost 200 years ago Curieuse was being used as a leper colony, the old structures of the lodges are still in place (although they have had a bit of a revamp) which is where you will be housed. The lodges are metres away from your personal beach and you can hear the waves crash from your bed, you will also be sure to hear the furry fruit bats who are extremely energetic at night! There are communal kitchen and bathroom facilities, there is cold running water, bucket flush toilets and solar panels for electricity, with a back-up generator which is used on cloudy days – all of which prioritise conservation on the island!
Volunteers take it in turns to cook for the team, and there are plenty of recipes from banana bread to Creole curry on base if you are struggling for ideas! There is no shortage of coconuts on Curieuse so we like to find ways to incorporate them into meals. Friday night is always dedicated to BBQ night, everyone gets involved and makes dishes to accompany the job fish on the BBQ! There is even a Giant Tortoise called Obama who likes to spend his time near base and enjoy BBQ night too!
Weekends will be free – spend it with a backpack on, exploring the island searching for hidden beaches spotting Giant Tortoises along the way, there is even a small mountain to climb! The Seychelles is made up of around 100 islands, therefore it would be a shame not to explore a few of these during your stay. The closest island to base is Praslin which is around 10 minutes away via boat (we were lucky enough to spot Dolphins on our boat ride from Curieuse to Praslin), from here you can also catch a ferry to explore nearby islands, such as La Digue and Mahe to learn more about the Seychellois culture and enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation. On La Digue there are very few cars as at one stage one was not allowed to own a car on La Digue, this has since changed but most people get around on push bikes, so you can hop on your bike and explore CNN's best beach in the world Grand Anse, or visit one of the most photographed beach in the world Anse Source d'Argent. You can also visit Veuve Nature Reserve home to the rare and endemic black paradise flycatcher bird. No matter which island you chose to spend your weekend on you will be guaranteed beautiful beaches and incredible tropical wildlife!
Costs in the Seychelles can vary. The local currency is the Seychellois Rupee, but they do accept US dollar and Euros if you forget to change your money, but I would always recommend using the local currency. Cash machines are widely used in most areas on the main island.
Local produce in the Seychelles is mostly excellent value for money. If you are looking for food or beverages your best place to go would be the local markets – these are usually held weekly and found in the capital of Victoria. Supermarkets can be extremely overpriced on certain items, especially if they are imported.
Transport in and around Mahe Island is cheap – the bus fare especially is very reasonably priced and probably the most cost effective way of getting around the island. Hire cars are also available at relatively low prices, but transport to the outer islands is where it can be very expensive. Always ask your Base Manager about costs on certain trips when you are volunteering as this can change from time to time.
Seen typically as a honeymoon destination, the Seychelles has many varieties of accommodation to choose from, some of which start at a very reasonable price. They can vary substantially from basic chalets on the beach to the top exclusive five-star resorts. In order to not disappoint, if you are looking for good value accommodation be sure to book well in advance. Here are a couple that are very popular and good value in Beau Vallon, which is the main tourist area, but still very peaceful. It is also the GVI drop off / pick up point so a convenient place to stay.
Georgina's Cottages – This is right on the beach and a great walking distance of restaurants and shops. Great service and great hosts!
Beau Vallon Bungalows – This is also in a very close proximity to Georgina's Cottages, great walking distance of all amenities.
There are many highlights to our volunteer programs in Seychelles, and most of these you will work out for yourself – that is the beauty of going to a new destination and exploring it in your own way – it's the exciting part of not knowing what to expect!
Some of my own personal highlights of my volunteer work in Seychelles were scuba diving and snorkelling. If this is something you might be interested in I would strongly recommend it while you are in the Seychelles as the crystal blue waters are exactly as you see in the pictures! Diving is not the cheapest but it's reasonable – do your own research on top dive destinations and dive schools as they will all have a competitive rate, but if you choose to do a project with GVI your Hub Manager should be able to suggest to you who is good to go with. My personal suggestion would be the Underwater Centre in Beau Vallon, but you also have many more to choose from in this area.
Beautiful beaches! Baie Ternay Marine National Park is of course one of the best, and Police Bay and Port Launay are just a few of the many beautiful beaches on the main Island. If you were to drive around the whole of the island by car it would probably take 2 – 3 hours. It can be easily done and you will see most of the coastline. If you would like to venture further away from the main island, all the outer islands that are accessible are breathtakingly beautiful and if within your budget strongly recommended. Bird Island, La Digue and Praslin are some favourite choices for the outer islands and closer than most. Praslin is famed for its spectacular Coco de Mer forest, and this in itself is probably worth the visit.
There are many more activities on-land in the Seychelles too, such as trekking through forests, seeing spectacular view points, visiting tea plantations, going to local markets, enjoying some real Seychellois culture at local festivals and many more, but I will leave some to the imagination! The rest is up to you and how you create your own adventure while in the Seychelles volunteering!
While you're doing your Seychelles volunteer work, here are a few things you may need to keep in mind:
Health – If you are thinking of doing one of GVI's volunteer projects in Seychelles then I strongly suggest travelling a couple of days before and after the project has finished. Jet lag and heat exhaustion can be tough, especially in certain seasons of the Seychelles. It is hot all year round so look after your health, especially when diving. Drink plenty of water and keep hydrated more than usual.
Daylight hours – When you volunteer overseas in Seychelles with GVI, try not to be out after dark. Although the Seychelles is mostly a very safe place, the nights do come around quickly, so unless you're in a group, it's not worth the risk. There is minimal lighting in and around the hubs and no street lights on most roads, so better to be avoided all together..
Bugs – Insects are a part of this tropical climate unfortunately, so make sure you bring your mosquito net and insect repellent. Remember though – nothing deet based and only natural products such as citronella are allowed.
Mobile use abroad – Using your phone abroad can be difficult, and unless your contract provider offers cheap bundles, it's not worth the hassle. Seychelles do have cheap and reliable pay as you go sim cards which are the most cost-effective way to stay in touch while you are away, but just make sure your phone is unlocked to do this. Alternatively you can buy a cheap phone to use if you are staying on the island for a couple of months or more – these are best purchased in Victoria before arriving on base. You can also find them in some shops in Beau Vallon.
Overall, the Seychelles is a spectacular place to visit. To be able to do a volunteer program, internship or work placement here is an opportunity not many will have. The GVI team will offer support and guidance all the way through your program and are happy to help however they can. The work they have carried out over the years has made a dramatic change, and we hope to keep this going for many more years to come. We just need more people like you who are willing to help! There isn't a better place to do something so meaningful than in the pure tropical paradise that is the Seychelles.


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Wherever You Go
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST | BUY THE BOOK 🕮 Wherever You Go is a finely interwoven novel of three American lives and the unexpected ways they touch each other in the landscape of Israel. I recorded this interview with author Joan Leegant when she visited Boca Raton, Florida for a Jewish Book Network event at the Levis JCC. For more information about the book, visit Joan's website at www.joanleegant.com CREDITS: Produced by: Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel Supported in part by: Association of Jewish Libraries Theme music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band Facebook: facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Twitter: @bookoflifepod Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to email@example.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473 .


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ADA Policy
Information Regarding Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities
The South Dakota Chiropractic Board of Examiners (Board) welcomes persons with disabilities to use the services of the Board, including taking the licensure examination. Reasonable testing accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. The licensure exam is designated to test the knowledge and skills necessary for one who seeks admission to the practice of chiropractic.
It is the policy of the Board to administer the licensure examination and all other services provided by this office in a manner that does not discriminate against a qualified applicant with a disability. An applicant with a disability who is otherwise eligible to take the licensure examination may file a request for reasonable testing accommodations if, by virtue of a disability, the applicant cannot demonstrate under standard testing conditions that the applicant possesses the knowledge and skills to be licensed by the South Dakota Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
What is Required?
The Board will make reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Such accommodations will be made unless a fundamental alteration in the examination or other admission requirements would result. In order to accomplish this, the Board will furnish auxiliary aids and services when necessary to ensure effective communication. The Board will administer the examination so that it is readily accessible to individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities will not be tested separately from other examinees, unless the separate programs are necessary to ensure that the test is equally effective. If the individual prefers not to accept a reasonable accommodation, the Board will not require an individual with a disability to accept such a reasonable accommodation.
If you have any questions about the Board's policies with respect to reasonable accommodations in testing, you should write:
Marcia Walter, Executive Director
South Dakota Board of Chiropractic Examiners
407 Belmont Ave.
Yankton, SD 57078
South Dakota Chiropractic Board of Examiners Policy on Applicants with Disabilities
I. Policy
It is the policy of the South Dakota Chiropractic Board of Examiners (Board) to administer the licensure examination and all other services in a manner that does not discriminate against a qualified applicant with a disability. An applicant with a disability who is otherwise eligible to take the licensure examination may file a request for reasonable testing accommodations if, by virtue of a disability, the applicant cannot demonstrate under standard testing conditions that the applicant possesses the knowledge and skills to be licensed by the South Dakota Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
II. Definitions
For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions apply:
A. "Disability" means any of the following:
- A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the applicant and substantially limits the ability of the applicant to demonstrate, under standard testing conditions, that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills and abilities tested on the licensure examination.
- A record of having such an impairment; or
- A record of having been regarded as having such an impairment.
B. "Physical impairment" means a physiological disorder or condition or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the body's systems.
C. "Mental impairment" means a mental or psychological disorder such as organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, attention deficit disorder and specific learning disabilities.
D. "Qualified applicant with a disability" means an applicant with a disability who
- with reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices;
- the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers; or
- the provision of auxiliary aids and services
is capable of demonstrating that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills and abilities tested on the South Dakota Licensure exam.
E. "Reasonable accommodation" means an adjustment or modification of the standard testing conditions that ameliorates the impact of the applicant's disability without doing any of the following:
- fundamentally altering the nature of the examination or the Board's ability to determine through the licensure examination whether the applicant possesses the essential eligibility requirements for the practice of chiropractic in South Dakota;
- imposing an undue burden on the Board;
- compromising the security of the examination;
- compromising the validity of the examination.
III. Requests for Reasonable Testing Accommodations
A. Regular Requests
- A regular request for reasonable testing accommodations must be submitted on forms prescribed by the Board and shall consist of the following:
a. A statement of the applicant
* describing the applicant's disability;
* describing the reasonable accommodations requested; and
providing an explanation as to how the accommodation will ameliorate the applicant's disability. (See attached Form A; complete online & print for mailing)
b. A statement from the applicant's treating physician or licensed treating professional.
(See attached Form B; complete online and print for mailing)
c. A supplemental statement from applicant's physician or treating professional when request is based upon learning disability. (See attached Form B-LD)
d. A statement from the applicant's chiropractic school. (See attached Form C)
e. Such additional documentation supporting the request as is deemed necessary by the Board's medical consultant.
- A request for reasonable testing accommodations must be filed with the application for admission on or before the application filing deadline.
B. Repeat Applicant
- An applicant who has taken the South Dakota Licensure examination on a prior occasion may request reasonable testing accommodations on any subsequent examination. Such requests will be reviewed and evaluated prior to each examination. Accommodations previously granted, as well as the accommodations actually utilized by the applicant on previous examinations, will be taken into consideration in determining subsequent accommodations.
- Repeat applicants must submit all required forms
* current medical or other documentation, if previously submitted records are two or more years old
C. Emergency Requests
- An applicant who becomes disabled after the timely filing deadline, may request reasonable testing accommodations after the time prescribed in this policy, if the applicant promptly submits the following:
* a written request for reasonable testing accommodations; and
* medical documentation of need for accommodation,
including documentation of the emergency nature of the
request, and the date and circumstances under which the
disability arose.
- Decisions on emergency requests will be made in accordance with this policy, or as soon as practicable.
- Appeals of denials or modifications of emergency accommodation requests will be heard and determined in keeping with the manner described elsewhere in the policy unless impossible to do so due to the scheduling of the exam. In that event, the request will be carried forward to the next exam without additional charge to the applicant.
IV. Review of Reasonable Accommodation Applications
A. Standards for Review of Reasonable Accommodation Applications
- Requests for reasonable test accommodations shall be granted if all of the following are found:
a. The applicant is a qualified applicant with a disability who is otherwise eligible to take the licensure examination;
b. The testing accommodations are necessary to ameliorate the impact of the applicant's disability;
c. The testing accommodations are reasonable and appropriate for the disability and consistent with each of the requirements of the definition of reasonable accommodations set forth in paragraph II(E) above.
B. Review by Secretary
- The Secretary will review all properly filed requests for reasonable testing accommodations on a case-by-case basis.
- Requests that are not timely filed, incomplete, or otherwise do not comply with the requirements of this policy will be mailed to applicant with a written explanation.
- Within a reasonable time of receipt of request for review, the Secretary will do one of the following:
a. request applicant to submit additional information in support of the applicant's request;
b. submit applicant's documentation of need for reasonable accommodation to an independent physician or licensed professional, along with a request or expert opinion as to granting or denying the request;
c. confer with applicant in order to reach a mutually agreeable modification of the requested accommodation;
d. grant the request and inform the applicant in writing of the accommodation to be provided;
e. modify the request and inform the applicant in writing of the applicant's right to accept the offered modification or to appeal the Secretary's determination;
f. deny applicant's requested accommodation and inform the applicant in writing of the bases for the denial and the applicant's right to appeal.
- When expert opinion is sought, a determination upon the request will be made within a reasonable time of the Secretary's receipt of the expert's evaluation.
C. Appeal of Determination by Secretary
- An applicant who is adversely affected by the Secretary's modification or denial of a request for a reasonable testing accommodation may appeal to the Board.
- Such appeal must be in writing addressed to the Board and received in the office of the Secretary within five business days of the applicant's receipt of the Secretary's notice of denial.
- An expedited hearing before the Board or designated Board member(s) will be scheduled in response to applicant's request for appeal.
D. An expedited hearing before the Board or designated Board member(s) will be scheduled in response to applicant's request for appeal.
- A reasonable testing accommodations hearing will be heard by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners or a member(s) of the Board designated by the President to hear the matter. Written notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing will be sent to the applicant within a reasonable period of time of receipt of the written appeal.
- The Board will attempt to schedule the reasonable testing accommodations hearing within fifteen business days of receipt of the request for hearing.
- At the hearing, the applicant has the right to be represented by counsel, and may call live witnesses for whom testimony cannot be provided in affidavit form. The hearing will be tape-recorded and a copy of the tape will be provided to the applicant upon request. The rules of evidence do not apply and hearsay is admissible.
E. Determination
- Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the Board or designated Board member(s) will prepare brief written findings of the fact and a determination. A copy will be mailed to the applicant by certified mail, return receipt requested, within ten business days of the hearing.
- The written decision of the Board or of the designed hearing officer(s) is the final determination of the Board.
- Form A - Reasonable Testing Accommodations Questionnaire
(complete online & print for mailing)
- Form B - Reasonable Testing Accommodations Disability Documentation (complete online and print for mailing)
- Form B-LD - Reasonable Testing Accommodations Supplemental Documentation for Learning Disabilities
- Form C - Statement Regarding Testing Accommodations Granted


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I think Crane and Kennedy have a point here — relying on solar energy, specifically putting solar paneling on residential roofs, are a good way to reduce the risk of relying on an antiquated electrical grid system that's highly vulnerable to storms and natural disasters (like Sandy). The traditional grid, knitted together by a bucolic web of wooden poles and copper wires, leaves society exposed should part of its fragile infrastructure fail.
So, switching to residential, distributive solar can be seen a precautionary move — it's too risky to keep depending on a grid that falls apart if power lines go down with a tree limb. Independent, "off-grid" home power systems would strengthen each link of the social chain mail so that when nature throws us a curve ball we aren't left in the dark for days or weeks on end. For the risk-averse, these are worthy concerns. Not to mention that solar energy doesn't carry the bouquet of environmental and human health risks that accompany the extreme ways that we extract fossil fuels these days (horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, deep water drilling for oil, and mountaintop removal mining for coal).
Often we'll hear opponents of renewables frame alternative energy as being too risky. The wind and sun are intermitted, the technology is inefficient, and the costs are uncompetitive — or so they say. But with better battery technology, dramatic improvements in solar cell efficiency, and expectations of lower home installation costs these arguments against renewables won't hold water in public for much longer. Soon, in fact, this framing will probably reverse itself and renewables will be understood as safe, sensible, and reliable, while fossil fuels will be seen as dangerous, costly, and anachronistic.
But should we understand support for solar energy as precautionary or proactionary?
On one hand, using residential and distributive solar power is a precautionary move away from the risks of depending on fossil fuels and the outmoded electrical grid. In this sense, the switch to solar is less about the goodness of solar energy in particular, but rather about the consequence of mitigating the risks of fossil fuel use. To put it another way, to precautionary supporters of solar, it's likely that any alternative energy source would be satisfactory since the shift is more about getting away from the risks of fossil fuels than it is about shifting to a particular kind of renewable energy.
On the other hand, proactionary supporters of solar might emphasize the goodness of solar energy itself over and above its consequence of replacing fossil fuels alone. Solar energy is good not simply because we need to mitigate the risks of fossil fuel use, but because solar energy represents progress. Fossil fuels remind us of primitive industrialism, while solar power speaks to our progressive refinement toward symbiosis with each other and the environment. Indeed, for proactionaries to put such immense trust in new solar technology despite its relative nascence is somewhat risky, but switching to solar is a matter of moral obligation; it is our duty to ourselves, to future generations, and to the non-human to make the change.
So, should we be proactionary or precautionary about solar power? I'm not convinced we have to choose — I support solar technology for precautionary and proactionary purposes. I am deeply concerned with mitigating the risks of our continued reliance on fossil fuels because they are inherently finite, unsustainable, environmentally damaging to extract, and pose threats to human health during development and when burned. Simultaneously, I believe that our relationship with the Sun is a special one and that it makes sense on ethical, axiological, and existential levels that the source of life should also be the source of high quality living.
Today, our visions of the Good Life are intimately intertwined with energy. High quality living means energy intensive living (with the exception of a few rogue primitivists out there). So the progressive challenge is making such a lifestyle sustainable. Progress, in this sense, is sustainability. But solar energy is not all about progress in the long-term. It's also about human and environmental safety in the short-term.
Usually we find ourselves in a conundrum when it comes to the precautionary v. proactionary distinction: either we accept some risk as the price of progress, or we sacrifice some progress in order to mitigate risk. The difficulty arises when people make divergent value judgments about the proper balance of risk and progress — and also when we assume that the two routes are mutually exclusive.
Solar energy technology, however, defeats the idea that we can only reduce risk at the cost of progress. Making the gradual switch to solar constitutes progress toward sustainability and reduces the risks of using fossil fuels. We can be proactionary and precautionary at the same time. Now that's progress.