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Category: Older and Wiser Today many of us are living longer. What does that mean? It gives us more time to enjoy life, friendships, family and other pleasures. On the other hand, what happens if we find our loved ones unable to manage on their own? Are you worried about your mom or dad—or another loved one who is living alone? Let’s say you want to ask if they would consider moving to a senior living community. Chances are you’ll encounter some resistance. How can you make it easier to discuss transitions with those you love? After a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, family and friends will often worry whether the person needs to retire from driving. As difficult as this conversation may be, it’s an important one to have. By proactively discussing driving after dementia, families can reduce the risk of unfortunate traffic accidents. The day was June 1, 1963. The first 3x5 index card in “The Little Gray Box” belongs to, Pauline Crume, otherwise known as Polly. To my knowledge and as the story has been told, Polly moved in and slept in the back office to listen for/and answer the switchboard. (Think Ruth Buzzi’s, Ernestine, “One ringy dingy”) The switchboard was a lot of cords that you stuck in the holes and flip a switch to connect the calls. We live in a world where many of us are living longer. What does that mean? It gives us more time to enjoy life, friendships, family and other pleasures. On the other hand, what happens…

By Katie Serbinski, MS, RD Once Halloween comes and goes, parents often are reminded it’s not just the spooky holiday that presents our children (and us) with sugary treats. The reality is that many celebrations from October through the New Year are accompanied by sugar, sugar and more sugar. It’s the added sugars in soda, cookies, cakes, and some fruit drinks that can make anyone reach for seconds or thirds and have a negative impact on our children’s taste buds (they don’t call it a “sweet tooth” for nothing). These same foods also tend to also be high in calories and low in other valuable nutrients. Note: added sugars are the kinds put in foods during processing and manufacturing, not the natural kind found in fruit and dairy. While you can’t control what is being served when you attend a holiday party or get-together, you can control what you offer guests at your own home if you are hosting. That’s where this yogurt parfait bar comes in. As the registered dietitian foodie Mom in my family and group of friends, I try to find balance between the sugar and sweets that everyone craves during the holidays. So instead of baking a batch of Christmas cookies or fudge, I opt for presenting holiday guests with things like this yogurt parfait bar. There’s familiarity in the set-up: chocolate chips, gummies, broken candy pieces, you name it. But there are also the healthier toppings: fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt, and nuts. Instead of serving foods that are low in nutrients and high in added sugar, I like offering healthier choices, such as fruit — a naturally sweet carbohydrate-containing snack that also provides fiber and vitamins that kids need. Here’s how to make sure your yogurt parfait bar is set up for success: A little sugar, particularly if it’s in a food that provides other important nutrients [like yogurt or whole grain cereal] isn’t going to tip the scale or send your child into a hyperactive sleep refusal. But leading by example and purchasing foods with little or no added sugars will hopefully help you and your family make smarter eating choices throughout the holiday season and beyond! Recipe: Make Your Own Parfait Bar 32 ounces vanilla Greek yogurt 1 cup of mix-in’s, such as chocolate chips, gummy candies, dried fruit, nuts, fresh fruit [diced], granola, dried cereal American Heart Association Added Sugar Recommendations: |Age||Calories Per Day||Teaspoons Per Day| |Children [4-8 years]||1,600||3| |Pre-Teen and Teen||1,800-2,000||5 to 8| ABOUT Mom to Mom Nutrition: Katie Serbinski is Mom of two boys under two and a Registered Dietitian from Detroit, Michigan. She’s the founder of Mom to Mom Nutrition, a healthy food and lifestyle blog where she share her “me time” with other health-minded parents. On her blog you’ll find simple, family-friendly recipes, tips for new moms, and realistic nutrition advice. Through Mom to Mom Nutrition, Katie shows her readers that raising a healthy family is achievable, even when you have a toddler throwing food across your kitchen table and a baby wanting to nurse around the clock. Katie Serbinski, MS, RD

Concussion at Different Grade Levels Concussion affects children of varying ages differently. Here are general things to consider at each developmental stage. In general, the younger the student, the longer it takes to recover from a concussion. This is due to a lack of maturity of the brain. Elementary school children are more likely to complain of physical problems or misbehave in response to cognitive overload, fatigue or other concussion symptoms. Recognize that these behaviors may be the result of a child’s concussion. Visit "Adapting the Classroom for Concussion" to learn about academic accommodations and for tips to address special needs and deficits caused by concussion. Peer relations are very important to middle school students. They can be extremely sensitive to being different and may try to minimize symptoms so as not to stand out. It is particularly important that parents, teachers and the medical team communicate with each other and monitor the student’s social functioning and its impact on academic performance. Also, the demand on executive functioning, such as setting goals and planning ahead, are new skills for students in middle school, so organizational problems may have a greater impact on academic performance. This is a time when students are often very busy. They attend school for most of the day, sometimes taking honors, advanced placement or college prep classes, have substantial homework at night and often have one or more extracurricular activities after school or on weekends. Therefore, help the student to prioritize activities and reduce overall demands in order to reduce fatigue, headache and other symptoms. Executive functions such as planning, organizing and problem solving are increasingly important for students during this time. After a concussion, it is more likely for the high school student to lose track of homework assignments, have more difficulty planning how to approach a project or paper, or tend to arrive to class without the necessary text or materials. If symptoms are subtle, these difficulties may go unnoticed for extended periods of time due to the limited time students spend with a single teacher during high school. Maintaining good communication among the school staff, parents and medical team is essential so symptoms are recognized early.

The long depression after the 1929 crisis had already shaken from the very foundations the multilateral scheme based on gold exchange standard, but, after it was suspended in the years of World War II, it became evident that the aftermath would have required a new world economic order. It was then during wartime, in 1944, that the conference held at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods (New Hampshire, United States) paved the way for a new architecture of the monetary system to come. British economist John Maynard Keynes proposed a new global, supranational, reserve currency (the ‘Bancor’), but this idea never got momentum. Rather, leveraging the new balance of powers amongst allies, the US representative, Harry Dexter White, pushed for the return to a gold exchange standard scheme, based on a central role for the US dollar, as the main international reserve currency. Given the new role of the US as leading economy in the World, such idea was adopted, and this new system resisted for over 25 years. It would have rather proven his flaws and limits in the following two decades, as trade imbalances caused tensions on the other currencies parities against the US dollar, forcing twice (1963, 1968) a realignment, and, finally, the generalized abandoning of the system by 1973, after the US de-pledged their currency from gold (August 13th,1971). This was mainly caused by the growing pressure on the US Fed to return gold against dollars to compensate for continuing trade unbalances, allowed by the system that had enabled the US to maintain permanent current account deficits for long time (but finally arriving to a non-sustainable point, as Robert Triffin’s analysis of the ‘dilemma’ pointed out). In 1965, Jacques Rueff, president De Gaulle’s economic adviser, criticized the Bretton Woods international monetary system with the famous allegory of the tailor: he imagined a customer who had an agreement with his tailor that whatever money he would pay him, the tailor will return it to him, on the very same day, as a loan; such customer would have continued ordering suits from his tailor indefinitely. On this example, Rueff based his argument that the Bretton Woods system hindered commercial disequilibrium adjustments, as the country supplying the currency convertible into gold, the US, could finance its trade deficits without limits. Differing from the gold standard, which Rueff supported, the gold exchange standard allowed the central banks of countries with a current account surplus to increase money supply on the basis of reserves held in gold, dollar and dollar-denominated assets. As a consequence, because countries with a current account surplus that purchased dollar-denominated assets maintained their own reserves in the US central bank as dollars, the outflow of dollars from the US, caused by its trade deficit, did not actually determine - at least until the point when the credibility of the issuer became at stake - an outflow of gold. Nevertheless, also after 1971, the US dollar remained the main international currency, also as a consequence of the US-Saudi Arabia deal on oil to be traded exclusively in US dollars, and even gained a broader role, as the ‘exorbitant privilege’ for the Fed being the issuer of the international reserve currency without any pledge or constraint and, rather, full freedom of managing an independent monetary policy. This role lasted unchallenged until current days and has never been put seriously at stake neither by new ‘strong’ currencies (the euro), nor by the emerging relevance of new powers (China). Whilst Western European countries were also forced to give up the gold convertibility of their currencies, and exchange rates started to float freely, in Europe, exposed to financial stability risks in the 70s, also due to oil crises, the reaction was oriented to find a new stability mechanism, based on price stability and with the D-mark as its centre (given Bundesbank pledge on inflation as an economic policy goal). This path main landmark points are the ‘Werner plan’ (1973), the EMS scheme (1979) - developing also a new figurative currency, the ECU - the Delors plan, until, despite the crisis of September 1992, the creation of the euro (1998 and 2001 as a paper currency). After the accession of China to the WTO in 2001, there has been talks about a ‘renewed’ or ‘second’ Bretton Woods, with some of the principal Asian currencies, in particular the Chinese renminbi, in addition to Latin America’s currencies, pegged to the dollar alongside with controls on international capital flows between these countries and the US. The story of this ‘second’ Bretton Woods, and the global imbalances associated to it, is instructive. The rapid Chinese economic growth coincided with its accelerated integration in the global economy. Its double-digit growth in trade with foreign countries, compared with the overall growth in global trade, generated increased and persistent trade balance and current account surpluses. Until 2005, by maintaining a fixed exchange rate with the dollar and controls on financial capital outflows, China had, for many years, avoided adjusting its trade imbalances, also by accumulating official foreign reserves, which in 2011 accounted for 25% of registered central banks’ global foreign reserves. The illusion about a new stable system and of a potential for continuing economic growth worldwide had a sudden end in the wake of the 2008 crisis. Given the failure of monetary response (QE) in the following years and given the global response to the current pandemic crisis in terms of a new, semi-unlimited monetary expansion, a debate about the adequacy of the international monetary system has gained momentum. Current continuing trade imbalances (particularly amongst China and US) are leading to a permanent tension on the monetary system. But, notwithstanding all this, the US dollars remains even today – and the 2008 crisis has demonstrated it - the main ‘safe asset’ for international relations and represents three-quarters of the currency reserves of all central banks. The Chinese central banks’ governor, Zhou Xiaochuan, published on March 23rd 2009, a paper on the journal of the Bank for International Settlements, evidencing the problem of the impossibility to deal with global macroeconomic imbalances and assure financial stability without confronting the unsolved issue of the international monetary system, namely the absence of an international reserve currency pegged to a stable value. Zhou reintroduced Triffin’s arguments on the flaws of a system where a national currency serves, de facto, as a global reserve currency and declares himself in favour to a supranational international reserve currency, explicitly recalling the ‘Bancor’, the international currency unit, proposed in 1944 at Bretton Woods by Keynes. Zhou’s proposal was to immediately reconsider the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) role, which, created by the IMF in 1969, were intended to be an asset held in foreign exchange reserves under the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates. In particular, it was proposed to foster the use of the SDRs as a medium of exchange not only between the commercial and financial transactions of governments and financial institutions. Moreover, part of every country’s official reserves should have been managed and held by the IMF so that market stability would be strengthened. On 17th and 18th July 2019, the finance ministers and central bank governors of the G7 countries, meeting in Chantilly, France, discussed with ill-concealed concern the Facebook plan to launch the Libra, a stablecoin presented as a simple means of payment but pegged to a basket of stable currencies. The topic was not underestimated. Not because of any danger in the specific project, as its probability of success was low, but because it was immediately understood as representing the first real potential challenge launched at what remains of the international monetary system established at Bretton Woods (and, what is more, such challenge was to be launched by a pool of private companies). Presented as a mere cross border means of payment directed on drastically cutting the cost and time of transnational payments and to include large sectors of the population that, especially in developing countries, are effectively excluded from payment methods based on banking systems, this new cryptocurrency project with global ambitions paved the way for a larger challenge. The only efficiency gains, given by the transition to digital currencies, do not appear huge today if we consider that new technologies have already activated widespread payment systems tied to private platforms without the need to adopt, as a unit of account or store of value, a cryptocurrency. After one month, one of the participants of the G7 meeting in July, the governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney, speaking in front of an audience made up of bankers and economists at the Jackson Hole annual meeting in Wyoming, suggested that the world dependence on the US dollar is not sustainable anymore and invited the IMF to take the lead on designing a new international monetary and financial system based on multiple currencies. Carney pointed out that currently global growth is strongly affected by the impact of economic events and by US monetary policies, leaving countries exposed to the volatility of the dollar. Mark Carney’s conclusion, as that of other economists, is that this multipolar system could be based either on several international currencies or a single global currency, which could take the form of a global electronic currency. However, the transition to a new international reserve currency is a complex issue that follows not only an economic decline of the issuer country, but also the diffusion of the new currency as a medium of exchange, which, therefore, must be efficient and convenient in the international payments. Technology can help on this by, using Mark Carney’s definition, creating an ‘hegemonic synthetic currency’ through a network of central bank’s digital currencies. But behind this digital scheme one needs a credible group of states. Those who argue against a new global currency recall data showing evidence about the persistent dominant role of the dollar, demonstrating that the strength of the dollar as a safe asset does not simply result from the current network effect. As recently claimed by Henry M Paulson Jr, Secretary of the Treasury during the George Bush administration, “the privilege conferred on the US Dollar as the global reserve currency was hardly preordained.” The globalization process as we saw in the last years has arrived at a landmark moment. The pandemic crisis has suddenly put an obstacle to a seemingly unstoppable process, which led to growing production and financial hyper-connectivity for practically all countries around the world, and also brought to the fast movement, not only of goods and persons, but, increasingly, of ideas, knowledge, uncertainties and fears. But, today, ‘globalization’ is challenged as a long-lasting process. The economic consequences of the COVID-19 will depend on the expansion and the length of this pandemic event, and by the subsequent length of the interruption of the productive and consumption chains that the measures, motivated by the need to halt the epidemic, have determined. Over seventy-five years after the debate amongst John M Keynes and Harry D White about the eventual need for the international system of a global and supranational reserve currency (not controlled by any state), it may be the moment to reconsider a new international deal to ensure stability and prosperity to the international economy. The task is not to rebuild an international order from the ground up: many prevailing institutional structures are sound. But do they all meet twenty-first century needs? Past examples, such as the interwar period, demonstrate how instability can have a lasting impact on the international monetary system. Only a coordinated effort about the reconstruction, in a new deal, of the monetary system worldwide, could be the way to avoid a very costly ‘financial war’. We now need to rethink a new scheme for the years to come, which entails a new Bretton Woods initiative, jointly promoted by all main economies, including the new emerging ones. Possibly, the first step should be a renewed EU-US Transatlantic pact.

A headset that harnesses the power of thought could be used to treat chronic pain. In a small trial, patients experienced significant reductions in pain after wearing the device, which 'reads' their brainwaves and then trains their brain to better manage symptoms. After using the headset for eight weeks, sleep, mood and quality of life all improved, and anxiety and depression were eased. Chronic pain - defined as pain that persists for more than three months despite treatment - that is moderately to severely disabling affects eight million adults in the UK. Common causes include arthritis, back problems and migraine. Treatment options range from physiotherapy to painkillers, but they do not work for all, and the drugs can have side-effects and carry the risk of addiction. The headset uses electro-encephalogram (EEG) technology, in which electrodes are attached to the scalp that pick up electrical activity in the brain. EEG machines are widely used to diagnose conditions such as epilepsy. They can also be adapted for neurofeedback therapy, whereby the electrical data is transmitted to an app that the patient can access, to help them learn to control their brain activity and improve their symptoms. EEG-neurofeedback is not widely available on the NHS, partly because it's expensive and involves visiting a hospital several times a week for several weeks. But the new headset, called Axon, allows patients to try it at home. "EEG-neurofeedback aims to change the way the brain interprets pain signals," explains Nick Birch, a spinal surgeon at the East Midlands Spine clinic in Daventry, Northamptonshire, who led the trial, which was funded by the manufacturer Exsurgo." "We feel pain when specialised receptors in the skin, joints and organs send messages through nerves to the brain, which interprets them as pain."

There’s been a lot of dialogue surrounding depression — particularly in light of recent events — as people struggle to understand why and how it affects people in the ways that it does. And for the 350 million people worldwide who do struggle with the condition, it can be just as hard to articulate its effects as it is to understand it. Depression can make people feel like their minds have completely rebelled against them. From a lack of will to physical pain, it can cause people to function poorly at work, in school and in social activities, according to the World Health Organization. Many people who experience depression can also experience symptoms of anxiety. But those factors are just the start. Below, find nine things people with depression know to be true (and what others can do to help alleviate them). The frustration that comes when someone suggests you can “snap out of it, suck it up” The hard truth is, depression is not the sort of thing you can just wake up and be over one morning — and suggesting such may be sending an unsupportive message. According to John F. Greden, M.D., the executive director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center, these phrases often stem from a lack of understanding of mental illness. “When [loved ones] don’t understand what’s happening, their responses are ‘suck it up’ and ‘stop feeling sorry for yourself,'” Greden tells The Huffington Post. “It’s not understood that these are underlying illnesses and chemical abnormalities, so what they’ll do is use these phrases. … These comments are probably one of the worst irritations.” People constantly confusing depression with sadness. It’s a common misconception that depression is just a result of being overly sad. But as David Kaplan, Ph.D., chief professional officer of the American Counseling Association, stresses, the two are not one and the same. “People throw around the word ‘depressed’ a lot,” Kaplan previously told HuffPost Healthy Living. “Depression is a clinical term — and a lot of times when people say they’re depressed, they really mean sad. The words that we use are very powerful and it’s important to make that distinction.” There is no such thing as a little victory. For those who deal with chronic depression, there are no little victories because every accomplishment is a big victory. While everyday, routine motions come naturally to most people, for someone who is depressed, they are much harder feats, explains Jonathan Rottenberg, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the University of South Florida. “Why do depressed people lie in bed? It isn’t because of great snuggle time under the blankets. It’s because depressed people can’t bring themselves to get out of bed,” he wrote in a Psychology Today blog. “Almost any activity or task becomes a painful ordeal, even things as simple as taking a shower or getting dressed.” Lack of energy means more than your run-of-the-mill afternoon slump. That 3 p.m. slump you feel when you need your third cup of coffee hardly compares to the drop in energy that occurs when you’re in a depressed state. Because of this lack of motivation, depression can sometimes make you feel like your muscles don’t work, Greden explains. “It makes it really difficult to go to work, to concentrate, to laugh, to keep your focus on assignments, when you’re hurting in this way,” he says. There are physical symptoms — and they’re just as taxing as the emotional ones. “At one point, everyone considered depression to be a mood state, and that’s a huge misconception,” Greden says. “Depression, for most people, actually involves major physical symptoms. And as a result, people don’t consider themselves depressed and they think something else is wrong.” When someone experiences depression, physical ailments you already have can be made worse, Greden explains. Other physical symptoms include restlessness, indigestion, nausea, headaches, and joint and muscle fatigue. “These physical symptoms as well as the mood symptoms affect their routine life patterns,” he notes. “They’re all tied together.” Things that used to be fun aren’t quite as enjoyable. Depression can impact even the smallest pleasures in life. Hanging out with friends, fun activities like golfing and even intimacy with romantic partners all seem less exciting than they were before, Greden says. “Depression makes your life dramatically different.” This lack of interest, coupled with the physical symptoms, are all major red flags when it comes to identifying the condition. To help someone who may be experiencing this downturn, Greden suggests approaching him or her with an open mind and continuous support, which includes offering to help find treatment. The difficulty that comes with communicating your emotions. When you’re experiencing depression, it can be challenging to put into words what’s going on in your mind when you know that not everyone around you feels the same way — especially when there’s a stigma around your illness. Only 25 percent of adults who experience mental health issues feel that people are sympathetic toward people struggling with mental illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Depression is a negative view of self, of the world and of the future,” Greden explains. “Everything is sort of being seen through dark-colored glasses. … It’s pretty common, when people are depressed, for them to think that no one understands them — and that’s a really tough place to be.” The disorder is not one-size-fits-all. Each person experiences depression in his or her own way — and because of this, experts recommend practicing empathy with loved ones who may be struggling. “Symptoms differ, causes differ, treatments differ,” Greden explains. “Jobs, relationships, families — everything gets changed by this illness.” As HuffPost blogger Hannah Sentenac explains in a piece on life lessons she learned from depression, everyone’s journey is different: “For some people, medication is crucial. For others, long term psychotherapy might be the answer,” she wrote. “Whatever works. I’m not suggesting that my path is best for anyone but me. But I am suggesting that everyone has a path to healing — and the most important thing is to keep after it. Don’t ever give up.” There are ways to help others break through the throes of depression, Greden says. That includes shedding any thoughts that could be perpetuating a stigma about mental health. “We need so much more openness, transparency and understanding that it’s OK to talk about depression as an illness,” he explains. “It’s not a weakness. It’s not a moral shortcoming. It’s not something people brought on themselves. And understanding that is a pretty powerful beginning to helping a loved one with depression.“

“Lost Restaurants of Galveston’s African American Community” by the Galveston Historical Foundation features restaurants owned by African Americans living in Galveston, Texas, in the early to the mid-20th century. It tells stories about them in six chapters: Restaurants and Chefs; Diners, Grills, and Inns; Pit Stops: Galveston Barbecue Restaurants; Cafes and Confectioneries; and Gone but Not forgotten Short Orders and Depression-Era Cafes. The sixth segment—my favorite—is titled Recipes: Authors’ Picks. In addition, about a handful of recipes grace the pages throughout the paperback such as the Honey Battered Fried Chicken, the Clary’s Seafood Eggplant Casserole, and the Eliza Gipson’s Oxtails. Unfortunately, there aren’t any photographs to accompany them. However, the author does a good job of including vivid black and white images that capture people and buildings during that time. This makes for a quick read, especially chapter five because it only lists basic information about the establishments. I prefer more anecdotes like the previous sections and enjoyed learning about Andrew Augustus “Gus” Allen business ventures; people raving about The Squeeze Inn Café being the best soul food in the county and naming Honey Brown the “King of Barbecue.” I noticed a few owners migrated from Louisiana and beyond. They persevered on the island. Educated men and women worked hard to provide for their large families. Then, they would start a business that opened early and closed late, if at all. They offered not only meals, but entertainment, rooms and booze. Their place operated as a poll tax stations to collect money from those who wanted to vote. They had to deal with hurricanes destroying their property and the city claiming it as eminent domain. Still, they found time to create the first known fried shrimp sandwich and concocted stuffed shrimp dishes and whip up a barbecue sauce that one person said, “teased and pleased.” Preserving History in Galveston Enslaved people of African descent brought their culinary traditions to Galveston. Its port flourished and it became known as the “Wall Street of the South.” African Americans were able to find better jobs. The restaurant industry grew in popularity and in 1871, the Historical Society of Galveston was formed. Then, in 1954, it merged with the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) with the goal of preserving historic buildings in Galveston County. Over the last 65 years, the GHF has expanded its mission to include community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, coastal resiliency, and stewardship of historic properties. If you’re wondering if any of the restaurants during this time are still in operation, Tommie Boudreaux, one of the book's authors shares, “None of the restaurants have been preserved. Most of the restaurants closed shortly after the owners passed and were sold by family members. New owners renovated the buildings but didn’t maintain the original design and are not restaurants. The majority of the buildings have been demolished. The Squeeze Inn (Thirty-Ninth and Winnie) is now the home of the owner’s grandson. The building was heavily damaged during Hurricane Ike (2008). Uptown Tavern (2824 Church Street) closed after the owner passed in 2007 and is now boarded up.” Today, there are only three African American-owned restaurants on the island and are all less than 20 years old: Leon’s World’s Finest In & Out Bar-B-Que, Allen’s Kitchen & Grill and Soul 2 Soul Café. “Lost Restaurants of Galveston’s African American Community” brings me joy. This body of work serves as a historical record for African Americans who live in Galveston. It highlights their accomplishments of owning an eatery despite the climate back then. It also reminds us how important it is to document food traditions and history. I hope to see other communities use this book as a framework to get started. Grab your copy of history on Amazon. This review contains an affiliate link. Please see our disclosure for more information.

It was first used as an artists’ technique in the early twentieth century. Collage can also include other media such as painting and drawing, and contain three-dimensional elements. Does a collage count as art? A collage is an artistic work in its own right and will be protected by copyright, provided it is original. Are collages abstract art? Abstract Expressionism – Like their paintings, Abstract Expressionists’ collages showcase an emphasis on color, composition, and emotion. Through simplified silhouettes, blocks of cut-and-glued color, and free-floating, painted lines, the artists added (literal) layers of dimensionality to their already-famous aesthetic. How do you make a collage painting? How to Make a Collage – Materials, Composition, and Tips – YouTube Does collage violate copyright? Collage is a time honored art form that utilizes pre-existing materials, including artwork and photographs. Often the materials will be copyrighted. So your unauthorized use of those materials would be copyright infringement unless your collage qualifies as fair use. Do you need permission to make a collage? To use copyrighted work in a mashup or collage outside of research and study, you must ask the copyright holder for permission. If you create a collage or mashup from a substantial part of an existing work, you may be in breach of copyright. Who is the famous collage artist? The term ‘collage’ is from the French word for glue, coller, with the art of collage becoming popular in the early 20th century. Both Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque are the famous painters who brought collage-work into the spotlight and set the tone for modern art as we know it today. What art movement uses collages? Adopted by subsequent artists, collage became a dominant technique in the Dada, Surrealist, Pop Art, and Neo-Dada movements, each using the technique to explore different subject matters. Is Pic Collage copyright? PROPRIETARY RIGHTS IN CONTENT ON PICCOLLAGE – The PicCollage Services contain Content of PicCollage (“PicCollage Content”). PicCollage Content is protected by copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret and other laws, and Cardinal Blue owns and retains all rights in the PicCollage Content and the PicCollage Services. What is called collage painting? Collage (/kəˈlɑːʒ/, from the French: coller, “to glue” or “to stick together”;) is a technique of art creation, primarily used in the visual arts, but in music too, by which art results from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. (Compare with pastiche, which is a “pasting” together.) Can you sell collage art? Can you sell Collage art? As long as your collage art is transformative, and you have clearly created a new work then yes you can sell collage art. However, if the majority of your artwork is not yours then this may be copyright infringement and legal issues will occur. What are collages used for? Collages help in structuring, developing, analysing and presenting visual issues that are difficult to express in words. You could think of shape characteristics, colour palette, compositional issues and so on. Is collage an art media? These materials were considered to be such a bold intermingling of artistic elements that the return of the collage medium was thought to revolutionize modern art. Collage Art has been referred to as one form of mixed media art, as many different types exist. How did collage change art? With the incorporation of collage into their paintings, they were no longer reduced to merely imitating the world; by sticking elements of the real world onto their canvases, they recreated the experience of interacting with it. In this still life, Picasso stuck a scrap of real newspaper onto the canvas. What is the name of Paper Art? origami, also called paper folding, art of folding objects out of paper to create both two-dimensional and three-dimensional subjects.

Arthritis mutilans, often called resorptive arthritis, is the most severe and rare form of psoriatic arthritis, affecting only about 5-16% of patients. Arthritis mutilans (AM), often called resorptive arthritis, is the most severe and rare form of psoriatic arthritis, affecting only about 5-16% of patients.1 The condition is often called opera glass or chronic absorptive arthritis.1 AM is characterized by severe osteolysis of peripheral joints, often resulting in the shortening of digits and opera glass hand deformity. It primarily affects the joints of the hands and feet, causing severe functional impairment.2 It was previously believed that AM only affects hands, feet, toes or fingers. However, data shows that AM can affect any joint generally damaged by arthropathy.1 The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) in 2012 described the disease's specific features. The features included digital telescoping and shortening, pencil-in-cup deformities, osteolysis, and involvement of distal interphalangeal joints and other small joints of the hands.3 Patients with AM have telescopic fingers with bone edema and erosion severe enough that the hands appear like paws. The condition initially appears at the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints. The excess skin of the fingers folds tangentially, giving an opera-glass appearance. As the condition progress, it may lead to dislocation and resorption of the phalanges.1 On radiographic examination, patients with AM frequently exhibit deformities, including the pencil-in-cup deformity, where one end of the bone is worn down into the shape of a pencil tip, joint subluxation, and ankyloses. Evidence of comorbid conditions, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndromes, osteoporosis, and fragility fractures, have also been found among patients with AM.4 AM mainly occurs in patients with pre-existing psoriatic arthritis or advanced rheumatoid arthritis. However, it can also occur independently.1 The exact cause of the condition is still unknown. Joints with a high inflammatory burden are more likely to suffer further injury from mechanical stress.5 Studies have reported a link between HLA genes and an increased risk of AM. Moreover, Genetic markers like HLA-B27 and DQB1*02 have also been associated with AM.2 As soon as the disease is diagnosed, immediate treatment is required to prevent further erosion of the joints and subsequent loss of function. Osteoedema, in the short term, can show dramatic improvement when treated with TNF inhibitors.1 Immunosuppressive medications like methotrexate and leflunomide help reduce inflammation; a once-weekly dose of methotrexate at 10-25 mg has been found to be effective.1 Biologics including IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors target inflammatory proteins, whereas JAK inhibitors are another class of drugs approved for treating the condition.6 A study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology found significant improvements in the joints and skin of patients with AM after treating them with etanercept (Enbrel), a biologic TNF inhibitor. However, the treatment could not undo any pre-treatment damage or deformities experienced by the patients.7 AM can be successfully treated with iliac bone grafts and arthrodesis of the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints.1 Physical therapy is another option that may help reduce joint pain and inflammation with several different modalities, including ultraviolet (UV) treatment, ultrasound, cryotherapy, heat, electrical stimulation, and massage. Joints that are impaired by the disease can be supported using splinting.8

Are you concerned about the math and science abilities of U.S. students and how that bodes for the engineering profession? If so, take heart in recent action in Massachusetts. Just days before Christmas, the state board of education mandated that engineering instruction be part of the science curriculum at every grade level. Reportedly, the Bay State is the first state to do so. While all the details were not final as of this writing, the goal is to put math and science into a real-world context for students by teaching them to use those subjects to build an increasingly complex array of devices and structures as they move through school. Not a bad idea, especially since at least one international study recently ranked U.S. students as 18 th in math and 19 th in science among their contemporaries in 38 countries. Kudos to the Massachusetts Board of Education. A world of technology Increasingly today technology knows no boundaries. Whether they are located in Peoria, Frankfurt, London, Toulouse, or Tokyo, engineers want to know about the newest and best innovations in components, tools, and materials that they can use in their designs. And they want to know how other engineers, no matter where they are based, are solving the same problems they face in their own jobs. That's why we launched Global Design News four years ago: to report on new developments in the full range of manufacturing industries in Europe and Asia. But U.S. engineers should know about those innovations too, and we have been reporting on them in the five international issues we produce each year, such as the one you are holding. Beginning with this issue, we are including a special icon on international technology stories that have come from the editors of Global Design News. Look for that icon to find technology available worldwide.

Stalnaker, Joanna. “Diderot’s Word Machine.” The Unfinished Enlightenment: Description in the Age of the Encyclopedia, Cornell University Press, 2010, pp. 99-123, https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt7v7tg. The Encyclopédie, contrary to most encyclopedias and dictionaries prior to it, includes extraordinary details on the mechanical arts and crafts; however, as Stalnaker accentuates, certain problems arose when writing about them, requiring the volumes of plates for supplementary information. The vast majority of artisans specializing in the mechanical arts had little to no experience in writing, notes Stalnaker; therefore, the Encyclopédie serves as a unique communication between Diderot’s ability to describe and artisans’ ability to create products and relay information accurately. Therefore, it is imperative to view the plates and images alongside the articles to gain a more holistic view of an art or craft. Additionally, the plates allow readers to apply a visual understanding to the parts of a craft and the whole production in general, something that an article struggles to do due to the challenges of describing intricate parts and assemblies in detail. Stalnaker claims that objects can convey meaning in a different fashion that text alone and the combination of the two, article and image, language of knowledge and language of the merchant, is what makes the Encyclopédie unique. Country of Publication: United States Main Classification: Language, Plates 7/14/2020: Created page.

Enhanced academic performance using a novel classroom physical activity intervention to increase awareness, attention and self-control: Putting embodied cognition into practice McClelland E., Pitt A., Stein J. © The Author(s) 2014. When language is processed, brain activity occurs not only in the classic ‘language areas’ such as Broca’s area, but also in areas which control movement. Our systems of understanding, including higher level cognition, are rooted in bodily awareness which needs to be developed as a precursor to intellectual reasoning. Cognition is embodied, and this concept may offer a radical new way of improving school education by improving children’s systems of physical understanding. A new classroom physical intervention, called Move4words, based on embodied cognition, was developed for pupils aged 7–13 years and trialled with 348 typical pupils in 10 mainstream UK schools. Three pilot controlled trials showed significant improvements in academic performance, particularly for struggling pupils performing in the lowest 20 percent. Effect sizes were large for the lowest achievers: Hedges’ g = 0.86 for national examinations at age 11 (KS2 SATs) and g = 1.24 for progress through National Curriculum Levels in reading, writing and maths. Performance gains were maintained for at least 1 year after the end of the intervention.

Gross National Happiness (GNH) The fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Sinye Wangchuck coined the term “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) in 1972. He put through a proposition that Gross National Product (GNP) was an insufficient measurement of the development of a country. GNP and GDP (Gross Domestic Product) were deemed as metrics that over-emphasized on production, consumption and therefore, material wealth. GDP did not take into account the people's well-being and happiness level. To understand GNH, one needs to have a basic understanding of the concept of happiness. In the secular sense, happiness is reliant on a person’s experiences; past and present. However, in the last century, happiness is often associated with external factors largely dependent on material wealth. The driving factor behind this is the movement of urbanization in the last century which has undeniably detached individuals from their communities, families and nature. However, the level of happiness one derives from material wealth is finite, unlike happiness derived from internal stimuli such as contentment and well-being. The concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) thus provides a guiding principle behind policy-making to ensure there is a balance between both material and non-material factors. GNH philosophy emphasis on harmonious living, conservation of the environment and the protection of sacred traditions and culture. The fourth King made sure GNH was the DNA of policymaking by incorporating it in the Constitution of Bhutan which was passed two years after he stepped down from the throne. All the policies implemented in Bhutan were done so with GNH in mind. The trade-off that comes with GNH The results of the fourth King’s foresight is evidenced by Bhutan’s ranking in the first world map of happiness in 2007. Bhutan ranked first in Asia and eighth in the world while their GDP was ranked 137 in the world at that time. This contradicted the belief that people in countries with good health care, higher GDP per capita and access to education were more likely to report being happy. The Bhutanese, as well as many outside observers, argue that the secret of their happiness lies in the security of their community and family relationships, and a self-sufficient lifestyle. Their Buddhist beliefs, which considers craving the root cause of unhappiness, guides their daily life. Skeptics and pragmatics who scoff at the concept become converts when they visit this little nation nestled in the eastern Himalayas between Tibet and India. They leave touched by the simplicity of relationships and impressed by the country’s commitment to environmental conversation and intriguing traditions and culture. The focus on communal living and kinship is apparent from values taught from a young age. Children grow up understanding that looking after the family was an ethical responsibility. The continued efforts to ensure the legacy preservation of their rich heritage and traditions are never neglected by economic progress. The 40-odd Tsechus (religious festivals) carried out throughout the year in the various dzongkhags (districts) focus on cham dances that tell stories from the 9th century. The scene from any Tsechu is often vibrant with colours from traditional costumes while the atmosphere is lively and spirited. These large social gatherings promote communal living that is now rare in most urbanized nations. The acceptance of GNH Internationally, the concept of GNH was welcomed with open arms. Perhaps, it was becoming clear to society at large that after a century of focusing on economic growth or an obsession with GDP, society, though wealthier came with its set of distinct societal problems such as crime, work-family balance, dysfunctional family relationships and other challenges associated with the environment. Following the first proposition in 1972 by the Fourth King, countries like Thailand, South Korea, Dubai and Canada released their own version of their Happiness Index. Most notably, in 2011, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 65/309 titled “Happiness: towards a holistic approach to development” and this resolution was adopted unanimously by the General Assembly in July 2011, placing “happiness” on the global development agenda. In 2005, the Royal Government of Bhutan decided to apply this theoretical concept to a practical one. The Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS) was commissioned to implement the concept and a survey in 2007 resulting in the creation of the GNH index came to fruition. 4 Pillars of GNH Today, GNH is well known for having the foundation of four pillars: Conservation of the Environment The country’s constitution states that Bhutan must maintain at least 60% of the country under forest cover at all times. Currently, 72% of Bhutan is forested and more than a third of the country is under protection. One of the reasons apart from maintaining the balance of their ecological system is also the challenges their fragile mountain terrain poses to the community. Over foresting will pose the dangers of landslides in any monsoons or erratic weather. This commitment is however often at the sacrifice of economic development. The government decided against exporting timber to India despite it being a lucrative business as the government wanted to keep in view the long term impact of this business on its ecology, and not focus on the short term gains. Its efforts are not in vain as the kingdom boasts a pristine environment and breathtaking views, earning its nickname as the “Last Shangri-La”. Equitable and Sustainable Development At the heart of Bhutan’s policies is to create an equitable and sustainable development that allows its people to enjoy a higher standard of health care, education, and social services. One of the focuses of this pillar is to ensure that the benefits of development was made available to all, regardless of where they lived or who they were. The fourth King was far-sighted and understood that a country can only benefit from a democratic government. He first started the process of decentralizing his power in 1998 when he created the role of Prime Minister. The Bhutanese questioned the necessity of this move as Bhutan under his reign had enjoyed peace and progress. But the Fourth King explained that power centralized on one person might be a successful regime in this generation, but not so in future generations. His move was unprecedented as history proved that democracy often comes at the cost of bloodshed and protest. Preservation of Culture With urbanization and the decoupling of individuals from their communities, comes the inevitable loss of culture and tradition. The Bhutanese make a concerted effort to preserve them. Their distinct architecture, traditional rituals, cultural events and traditional dress are all part of the Bhutanese way of life. 9 Domains of GNH The four pillars act as the foundation for the guiding principle of GNH and further distilled into nine domains: When the Fourth King started the concept of GNH and opened up his country to the ideals of democracy, one would have thought the focus would be on economic development for his people. However, the far-sighted Fourth King understood the problems that came with democracy. Thus, GNH is a unifying force for society and the government as all policies and actions must be aligned to GNH’s values from the micro (individuals) to the macro (national) level. To quote Karma Ura, Director of the Centre for Bhutan Studies “A GNH oriented society promotes a successful life-cycle of birth, living, ageing and dying.” From a happy childhood with good parenting, to successful living with a productive, fulfilling and enjoyable working life, to remaining vital in the golden years, to having a “good” death from a spiritual sense. This, in a nutshell, is what a GNH oriented life is, and till to-date the policymakers and monarch of Bhutan is committed to not just modernizing the country, but passing legislation that cultivates happiness and economic development for one of the happiest people in the world. Watch BBC Travel Show explains Gross National Happiness here.

We measure the gains from phasing out coal as the average social cost of carbon times the quantity of avoided emissions. By comparing the present value of benefits from avoided emissions against the present value of costs of ending coal and replacing it with renewables, our conservative baseline estimate is that the world can realize a net gain of $85 trillion. This global net social benefit can be attained through an international agreement to phase out coal. We also explore how this net benefit is distributed across countries and find that most countries would benefit from a global coal phase-out even without any compensatory cross-country transfers. Finally, we estimate the size of public funds that must be committed under a blended finance arrangement to finance the cost of replacing coal with renewables.

Climate change has severely reduced the length of the seal hunting season in a rural Alaska village, potentially threatening a key feature of the community’s Indigenous way of life. The Iñupiaq people of Kotzebue have depended on bearded seals, called ugruk in Iñupiaq, for food and clothing for generations. A new study led by Indigenous hunters, the Native Village of Kotzebue and scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks shows that over the past 17 years, the seal hunting season shrank about one day per year. Sea ice decline is a major cause of the shrinking season. Both ugruk and hunters are closely tied to specific sea ice conditions. In spring, ugruk follow the melting Chukchi Sea ice edge northward during breakup and enter Kotzebue Sound. Inside the sound, ugruk rest on persistent chunks of floating ice, called floes, while feeding on abundant fish, shrimp and clams. “Kotzebue Sound provides important spring habitat for bearded seals, with ice floes as platforms for seals to rest on between foraging bouts,” said Donna Hauser, marine mammal biologist at the UAF International Arctic Research Center and co-leader of the research. “We learned from our Kotzebue research partners that hunting ugruk is actually like hunting the right kind of ice.” Hunters safely and predictably found ugruk on these resting platforms in the past. The study combined hunters’ knowledge of the ice conditions needed for ugruk hunting with data from satellite images. The results showed that the necessary ice floes now melt from the Kotzebue Sound roughly 22 days earlier than they did in 2003, the first year of the study. “We used to hunt ugruk into July when I was growing up back in the 1950s,” said Bobby Schaeffer, a Kotzebue elder, hunter and co-author of the new paper. “People would be out there during Fourth of July celebration because there was so much ice. Now sometimes we’re done before June comes around.” While the hunting season is pushed to a close about 26 days earlier on average than in the past, hunters are not necessarily able to begin hunting any earlier. The season’s start timing is driven by the arrival of seals and a hunter’s ability to launch boats through a channel in the ice that opens in front of Kotzebue. Squeezing the hunting season into a shorter window means that there is less flexibility for hunters. “Now in some years there is only a good weekend or two, and, if people want to maximize their opportunity, they have to prepare before the season even starts,” said Alex Whiting, director of the Native Village of Kotzebue’s Environmental Program and co-leader of the research. Whiting’s weekly observations of the local weather, ugruk activity and hunting pursuits of Kotzebue residents helped to quantify the shrinking ugruk hunting season. Whiting said he was inspired to start a journal in 2002 after reading records of Alaska from the early 1900s. “When you’re living in the present, daily activities don’t seem particularly notable or remarkable,” explained Whiting. “But I understood that they would be useful over time and that things were changing rapidly, and it would be great to have a record of it.” Even with the shrinking season, Whiting’s tribal records show that harvest success has not significantly changed. Instead, it is the type of hunting experience that has shifted. Past ice floes were large and complex, and hunters had to search long and far to find ugruk. Now, with less ice, hunters typically embark on shorter, more frequent trips. Hunters have noticed that ugruk seem to have changed their behavior too. They often congregate in large groups on the scarce ice floes. Spring 2019 stood out to hunters and scientists because Kotzebue Sound was nearly void of ice. Hundreds of ugruk gathered on just a few floes near Kotzebue. Hunting success was high, and effort was low. Hunters worry that in future years, ugruk and ice floes may be farther from Kotzebue across large expanses of open water, increasing the risk to boaters and lowering their chance of a successful hunt.

FlipFact of the Day: With an axis of spin tilted by 98 degrees (relative to the Solar System’s plane), Uranus basically rotates on its side, making it unique among all the planets. Japanese researchers theorize that a rock the size of Earth may have knocked the blue giant on its side, and that the incident may have helped create its moons. By the way, attempting to sniff this big, blue ball would be a terrible idea. That’s because of the lethal mix of gases surrounding the planet. Another reason why you wouldn’t want to do that? Because of the abundance of hydrogen sulfide in its upper atmosphere, Uranus (most likely) smells like farts. Seriously. Today’s Science History Milestone: On August 13, 1913, English metallurgist Harry Brearley invented stainless steel. Still remember your 5th-grade science classes? Test your knowledge and see if you still remember these facts and fundamental concepts in human anatomy, biology, botany, and other branches of science. Click here to try the “Are You Smarter Than A Pinoy Fifth-Grader” Challenge. Follow the hashtag #FlipFacts on Facebook and Instagram to get your daily dose of science trivia! Cover: National Geographic Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.

NEW YORK – Investigators from the University of Cambridge, the UK's Genes & Health study, and the University of Tartu in Estonia have been working on a project to benchmark polygenic risk scores in the Polygenic Score Catalog in order to assess their performance in other population cohorts. The researchers also recently released a tool to factor genetic ancestry into polygenic score calculations. Samuel Lambert, an assistant professor of health data science at the University of Cambridge, has been involved with the PGS Catalog since its inception in 2019. The open database currently includes 3,245 published scores for 570 traits drawn from 389 publications. The PGS Catalog is annotated with metadata, including scoring files, notes on how the scores were developed and applied, and assessments of their predictive performance. The researchers published a paper describing the catalog in Nature Genetics in March 2021. According to Lambert, the PGS Catalog was established in part because of the growing number of published scores, plus a desire to use them clinically as opposed to purely for research. "The problem was that everyone uses different polygenic scores to make claims about how well they work or don't work," Lambert said. He said the issue is confounded by multiple factors, as scores developed with the same data can perform differently. The catalog therefore organizes information around what scores are in use and makes them available for researchers to use and build out a knowledge base of relevant data. The University of Cambridge hosts the PGS Catalog and since the end of 2020 has been working with Genes & Health and the University of Tartu, which hosts the Estonian Biobank, to benchmark the polygenic scores in the catalog in other population cohorts. Lambert said this is necessary as scores are sometimes developed in European cohorts and validated in a single separate cohort, which raises questions about their reliability in other populations. Researchers continue to discuss issues around the transferability of polygenic scores across populations of different genetic ancestries. A study published in Cell Genomics in April, for example, reported that scores that worked robustly in European populations were moderately transferable to South Asians and performed poorly in individuals with African ancestry. "If you have a score that has only been evaluated in European individuals, maybe you don't know how well it works in other ancestry groups or in European ancestry individuals in another cohort," said Lambert. "The goal of benchmarking is to take scores in the catalog and fill in the gaps in the data." The benchmarking project is ongoing, and the researchers expect to publish a preprint about the work next year. While Lambert said that "the best scores may often be the best scores across all ancestries," he declined to elaborate on any other conclusions while the work continues. Instead, he said that questions remain about polygenic scores and their applicability in different ancestries. "Will there be one score for a trait for all ancestries, or will one ancestry have different or separate, ancestry-optimized polygenic scores, or might there be more complex methods needed for both? I think this is an open question that has not been solved," he said. The collaboration with Genes & Health is particularly helpful for the effort, Lambert noted, as that study has collected data on a cohort of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin. Hilary Martin, a group leader at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute who is involved in Genes & Health, said the effort involves participants from East London and Bradford, a city in northern England. Genes & Health is focusing on South Asian populations, as they have higher rates of diabetes compared to the rest of the UK and suffer from other health issues, including cardiovascular disease and mental health. With about £40 million ($48 million) in funding from various sources, Genes & Health has recruited 50,000 volunteers since it commenced in 2015, with the aim to include 100,000 people. According to Martin, Genes & Health has genotyped its cohorts with microarrays and aims to sequence their exomes, as well. The Estonian Biobank is providing access to another large, well-characterized European cohort of more than 200,000 participants, all genotyped with a variety of microarrays, mostly the Illumina Global Screening Array. Reedik Mägi, a research associate at the Estonian Genome Center, described the work with Lambert and colleagues as a "good and fruitful collaboration." He said that researchers from the center have validated several polygenic risk score models of different diseases in the catalog using Estonian Biobank data. In the future, the Estonian researchers aim to use some of the disease risk prediction models to give feedback to Estonian Biobank participants about their genetic risk, Mägi said. Meanwhile, the Estonian Genome Center has been providing genetic counseling to participants for years. In October, they discussed some of their experiences in the European Journal of Human Genetics. According to Mägi, new scores investigated as part of the benchmarking project with the PGS Catalog still require validation before being used to report risk to Estonian Biobank participants. "These scores are being validated in multiple biobanks to see how well these predict diseases in different populations," he said. Lambert discussed the PGS Catalog at Genomics England's Research for Genomic Equity Conference, held in October. The meeting also marked the launch of Link23, a new effort backed by Genomics England and Data Science for Health Equity that aims to both foster a community of researchers as well as provide researchers access to analytical tools to improve equity in genomics. During his talk, Lambert mentioned that the PGS Catalog recently developed a calculator to streamline the calculation of polygenic scores using scoring files found in the catalog or in custom files. It also automates polygenic score downloads from the catalog, variant matching between scoring files and target genotyping sample sets, and the parallel calculation of multiple polygenic scores. New features in development relate to genetic ancestry and score normalization, Lambert said. The genetic ancestry component will allow users to calculate the similarity of target samples to populations in a reference dataset using principal components analysis. The normalization tool will use reference population data and PCA projections to report individual-level polygenic score predictions that account for genetic ancestry. "When you calculate a polygenic score, you just get a number," said Lambert. "We want to know in a population of people similar to you, what their values would be, and then we would know if you are at greater risk" for a particular trait, he said. By using reference population data relevant for a particular individual, the calculator will help to remove variation determined by ancestry. Lambert said that the new features are in development and that investigators are testing them in other biobanks. In general, he remarked, computational methods continue to improve for calculating polygenic scores and scores continue to improve, powered by more genome-wide association studies and the inclusion of more diverse population cohorts. "Methods are getting better and more robust, and computational methods are becoming more sophisticated," said Lambert. "The methods you use do make a difference."

Cichlid Evolution: Lessons in DiversificationView this Special Issue The Monogenean Parasite Fauna of Cichlids: A Potential Tool for Host Biogeography We discuss geographical distribution and phylogeny of Dactylogyridea (Monogenea) parasitizing Cichlidae to elucidate their hosts' history. Although mesoparasitic Monogenea (Enterogyrus spp.) show typical vicariant distribution, ectoparasitic representatives from different continents are not considered sister taxa, hence their distribution cannot result from vicariance alone. Because of the close host-parasite relationship, this might indicate that present-day cichlid distribution may also reflect dispersal through coastal or brackish waters. Loss of ectoparasites during transoceanic migration, followed by lateral transfer from other fish families might explain extant host-parasite associations. Because of its mesoparasitic nature, hence not subject to salinity variations of the host's environment, Enterogyrus could have survived marine migrations, intolerable for ectoparasites. Host-switches and salinity transitions may be invoked to explain the pattern revealed by a preliminary morphological phylogeny of monogenean genera from Cichlidae and other selected Monogenea genera, rendering the parasite distribution explicable under both vicariance and dispersal. Testable hypotheses are put forward in this parasitological approach to cichlid biogeography. Along with more comprehensive in-depth morphological phylogeny, comparison with molecular data, clarifying dactylogyridean evolution on different continents and from various fish families, and providing temporal information on host-parasite history, are needed to discriminate between the possible scenarios. 1. Introduction: Explanations to the Current Distribution Pattern of Freshwater Fish Groups Organisms with limited dispersal abilities are generally considered to be useful tools in historical biogeography. Examples include amphibians and freshwater fishes [2, 3]. At the heart of many discussions on the evolutionary history and distribution patterns of major freshwater fish groups is the vicariance versus dispersal debate (e.g., [4, 5]). Although vicariance-based scenarios have classically been favoured, de Queiroz gives an overview of how the importance of (often seemingly unlikely) dispersal events has been underestimated in historical biogeography, though his examples stem mostly from plants and terrestrial biota. It is generally accepted that the distribution of several ancient freshwater groups such as Dipnoi (lungfishes) and Osteoglossiformes (bony tongues) results from major vicariant events after the breakup of Gondwana . However, because of conflicting evidence, the discussion continues for more recent groups. Hertwig discussed the biogeographic implications of the phylogeny of the Cyprinodontiformes (rivulines, killifishes, and live bearers). He explained their distribution by vicariance events in the basal clades, combined with subsequent dispersal, and stressed the discrepancy of the vicariance hypothesis with the paleontological record. For example, in aplocheiloid killifishes, the fossil record is much younger than the supposedly African-South American drift-vicariance event . The same is true within the Characiformes (characins), for example, in Alestidae; Zanata and Vari forwarded a clear vicariance hypothesis to explain their distribution and relationships. In addition, they mention typically vicariant biogeographic patterns in two other groups of Characiformes with African-South American sistergroup relationships. However, Calcagnotto et al. , in a molecular analysis, mostly confirming earlier morphology-based trees, concluded that marine dispersal cannot be excluded a priori and that a simple model of vicariance could not explain the biogeographic history of the order. Within the Siluriformes (catfishes), the situation is more complex since several taxa are marine inhabitants. Sullivan et al. could not confirm the existence of a supposedly trans-Atlantic clade suggested by others, but conversely, their overall tree of Siluriformes did not contradict a general vicariant distribution pattern of tropical freshwater catfishes either. A few recent publications have offered new angles to the vicariance versus dispersal debate. To explain the unexpected discovery of a Mesoamerican catfish within an African clade, Lundberg et al. postulated a northern ancient intercontinental passage in warmer periods, including dispersal through freshened warm surface waters of the Arctic and adjacent oceans. Such episodic fresh surface waters have been suggested by Brinkhuis et al. as an explanation for the presence of the freshwater fern Azolla and freshwater microfossils in Eocene marine deposits. 2. The Case of Cichlidae For Cichlidae, the discussion is far from over either, as they exhibit a comparable biogeographic pattern found in Cyprinodontiformes, with basal lineages occurring in India and Madagascar, and the common problem of discordance between their fossil record and their age under the vicariance hypothesis . Most recent arguments, however, seem to favour the vicariance model (e.g., [15–17]), but the dispersal model could not be eliminated. In fact, the numerous studies that have examined the fossil record and morphological and/or molecular phylogenies of the world’s cichlid fauna (e.g., [9, 15, 17–29]) have not been able to end all doubts on the choice between the two main hypotheses explaining their current distribution pattern. The first hypothesis postulates that the cichlid fishes originated ca. 130 million years ago (MYA) in Gondwana. Their current disjunctive distribution area (Africa, including Madagascar; South and Central America, Texas and the Caribbean; southern mainland India and Sri Lanka; the Levant and Iran ) comprises mostly Gondwanan regions; hence cichlids would have already been present in the major part of their current range before the splitting up of this super-continent. As for their non-Gondwanan occurrence in Texas, the Caribbean, the Levant, and Iran, migration through river systems over more recent landbridges is assumed (e.g., ) though the dispersal mode is still debated for Central America and the Caribbean [31, 32]. This implies that cichlid evolutionary history and present large-scale distribution on the continents resulted from major vicariant events and that cichlids did not need to cross extensive marine barriers to reach these distribution areas. The second hypothesis, in line with the fossil data, suggests that cichlid fishes originated near Madagascar, or more precisely, that the cichlids living there belong to ancestral lineages, in view of their paraphyly ([25, 33, 34] and references therein). Consequently, cichlids would have secondarily colonized their current disjunctive distribution areas [24–26]. This scenario assumes that cichlid evolutionary history and present distribution have resulted from dispersal across various marine water channels. According to Chakrabarty , the only way to resolve the controversy of the origin of Cichlidae (except for the discovery of a cichlid fossil older than 65 MY) is to falsify either of the two hypotheses. As the dispersal hypothesis is untestable because any distribution pattern can be explained by dispersal, Chakrabarty suggested four potential means to show the vicariance hypothesis incorrect. Three of these falsifiers are based on the demonstration of an incompatibility between the timing of two supposedly concomitant events (one linked to the divergence of lineages, the other to geological processes); the fourth one includes the discovery of the same cichlid species on both sides of a supposed barrier to dispersal. One of the potential “timing” falsifiers involves the use of molecular clock estimations, the absolute accuracy of which still remains unknown (e.g., versus [36, 37]). However, Azuma et al. made a strong case in calculating divergence times of major cichlid lineages, based on molecular evolutionary rates of large mitogenomic datasets of six cichlid species, leading to additional support for the vicariance hypothesis. As for the discovery of a new cichlid species on both sides of a marine channel, the likelihood is very low. The same applies to the finding of a cretaceous cichlid fossil. In comparison with other freshwater fishes spanning such a period of time, this would indeed imply a relatively large gap in the fossil record . Furthermore, the advanced position of perciformes in teleost phylogeny (several higher level taxa encompassing the cichlids do not appear before the Gondwanan breakup) and the extensive fossil record available of several cichlid lineages make such a discovery improbable . 3. Parasites as an Additional Source of Information Another solution might come from the use of a separate and independent data set related to cichlids. It is well established that parasites can furnish information on their hosts’ ecology and (past and current) distribution [39–42]. Following Hoberg and Nieberding and Olivieri , we could use parasites as keystones in biogeography, or proxies, to provide a new dimension to understand ecological interactions, distribution patterns, and the history of geographic regions and biota. Some work has been done in this framework to infer host biogeography [44–55]. More specifically, interesting examples include the reconstruction of biogeographical events through the analysis of parasite communities [56–59] and the detection of patterns at a higher resolution than host genetics would permit [60–62]. Parasite phylogenetic data can also yield supporting or complementary information on host phylogenies [63–67]. Surprisingly, few studies refer to fishes and their associated monogenean parasites whereas these organisms seem useful as indicators of host biogeography and phylogeny. Indeed, they are strictly parasitic (i.e., adults cannot survive for a long time as free-living organisms), holoxenous (i.e., they have a direct lifecycle, with a short free-living larval stage which actively infests a new host), and generally oioxenous (i.e., parasite species are often species specific with regard to their host). A limited number of cases were made using these parasites, applying them in the fields of genetic population substructuring , historical patterns of their hosts’ dispersal or distribution , (co-)phylogenetic patterns [71–73], and host identification . Pariselle et al. used data from West African cichlids and concluded that monogenean species can behave similarly to the alleles of genes of their fish hosts. Distribution, and therefore biogeography, of the hosts will directly affect that of their monogeneans. Conversely, information provided by these parasites should be very useful for studies in fish biogeography. Importantly, as demonstrated by Pérez-Ponce de Léon and Choudhury for South and Central American cichlids, a phylogenetic study of both host and parasite taxa is paramount to infer hypotheses on historical biogeography. Evidently, a geographically restricted availability of parasite records can seriously hamper an analysis. For example, theories on the “original” host, needed to infer host-switching or dispersal pathways, are hard to infer when certain regions or host taxa are undersampled. In addition, insufficient sampling ensues obvious problems related to how “real” absence data are when considering community composition . Here we illustrate how parasite information may complement the discussion on vicariance versus dispersal hypotheses for cichlid age and distribution processes. 4. The Monogenean Parasite Fauna of Cichlids 4.1. Data Collection on Cichlid Parasites Because of the oioxenous host specificity of many monogenean species, the (geological) time scale and the biogeographical distribution of their hosts (no genus is represented naturally on two different continents) [76, 77], the approach used within the framework of this study is based on the generic rather than the species level. Some ancyrocephalid monogeneans from South American and African cichlids are known to exhibit a relatively low host specificity, infesting several host species [78, 79]. However, their otherwise often narrow species specificity would, in our view, render examining the parasite data at species level equivalent to the use of autapomorphic characters (instead of synapomorphic ones) in a phylogenetic tree, which is not appropriate to infer the biogeographical history of the host. Furthermore, there are considerable differences in the number of parasite species reported from the various host genera. In view of the relatively low proportion of cichlid species worldwide examined for the presence of Monogenea, this imbalance is more likely to reflect differential sampling effort than variations in species richness between genera. Conversely, on the genus level, we feel confident the current state-of-the-art approaches the actual parasite diversity on cichlids to a higher extent. To the best of our knowledge, Figure 1 provides a complete overview of the 13 monogenean genera infecting cichlids. Unfortunately, a considerable proportion of available data is fragmentary and based on studies on a limited number of regions or host species. The most exhaustively studied assemblage is probably Ancyrocephalidae from West African tilapias. The exemplary nature of monogenean records worldwide is demonstrated by the fact that, while there are revisions and phylogenies available for certain well-defined taxa (e.g., Diplectanidae , Capsalidae ), comprehensive worldwide information on Monogenea of an entire fish family is extremely rare. The worldwide distribution of monogenean genera described from cichlid hosts shows a clear difference between the distributions of ecto- (i.e., living on the host, directly in contact with the environment) and mesoparasite (i.e., living in a host body cavity and not in direct contact with the external environment ) genera. The mesoparasite Enterogyrus is present in Asia, the whole of Africa, and the Levant. Pariselle and Euzet hypothesize that the Asian and African-Levantine representatives of this genus might be considered as belonging to separate genera, on the basis of the possession of two versus one haptoral transversal bar. However, the overall similarities in haptor and even male copulatory organ structure suggest the various Enterogyrus spp. to be very closely related anyway. In contrast, all ectoparasitic genera are endemic to the continent where they occur. Two genera currently seem to display a more restricted distribution: Onchobdella and Urogyrus. The first one was expected, like other African ectoparasitic genera, to be present on the entire continent, and not only in West Africa, but was found to be specific to hosts whose distribution is limited to this region (Hemichromis Peters, 1858 and Pelmatochromis Steindachner, 1894). Urogyrus, being a mesoparasite like Enterogyrus, could potentially be present on several continents, but is only found on hosts whose distribution is restricted to Africa (including haplochromines from the East African Great Lakes ). While the above-mentioned cichlid parasites are mostly dactylogyridean Monogenea, the nominal (albeit probably paraphyletic ) genus Gyrodactylus is a member of the Gyrodactylidae, first proposed by Van Beneden and Hesse . Moreover, despite its extensive morphological plasticity (cfr. infra), Gyrodactylus species are rather conservative on the scale of the characters used in this study. Given the limited number of representatives known from cichlids, this genus would not yield a high resolution in a morphological phylogeny. As we need a cladistic analysis of the genera under study, Gyrodactylus will not be included in our investigation. In contrast, it should be noted that Gyrodactylus in itself could be a useful biogeographic tool , as can other gyrodactylids . However, the limited molecular data available on African and South American Gyrodactylus species do not show any close affinities between them either . 4.2. Phylogenetic Analysis A preliminary phylogenetic analysis was performed using selected morphological characters available in the literature. Genera included are all those known to parasitize cichlids and selected parasites from marine and freshwater perciform fishes (Table 1) from the different continents home to cichlids. Quadriacanthus, infesting siluriformes, was added as its representatives depict similar and comparable morphological features (e.g., hook morphology). The inclusion of these taxa allowed a preliminary test of the monophyly of the parasites of Cichlidae, which would be the expected pattern under cospeciation (either by vicariance or dispersal). The addition of genera from other fish groups provided a preliminary test that the parasitic fauna of cichlids could encompass sister lineages to parasites of other sympatric fish species, especially if the hypothesis of parasite loss during dispersal in marine waters was supported. The hypothesis on their relationship was proposed based on parsimony analysis of 17 unordered homologous series (Appendix). The chosen putative homologous series are those considered less prone to errors introduced by incomplete or questionable interpretations of morphology in the original descriptions of the species. Five of the homologous series used pertain to the copulatory complex; all others, to the haptoral elements. Although both haptoral and copulatory complex, next to soft body parts, are important in Monogenea systematics , many other scientists focus their analyses solely on the attachment organ (e.g., [104–106]). Its complexity and variability, as well as the higher number of comparable elements, make it easier to extract coded characters from the haptor than from the genitals. Moreover, several studies comparing morphological and molecular data in Ancyrocephalidae suggest that the attachment organ structure mirrors phylogenetic relationships on the level between genera or major lineages while the copulatory organ is more suitable for distinguishing closely related species [107, 108]. The phylogenetic hypothesis was constructed in PAUP* v.4.0 b10 , with the Bremer support index [110–112] calculated with the help of TreeRot v.3.0 . Initial analyses, using heuristic search (under a tree-bisection and reconnection branch swapping algorithm with 1000 random-addition-sequence replicates) provided individual consistency indices for character states used in successive weighting procedures until values of the overall consistency (CI: ) and retention indices (RI: ) stabilized. A total of 21 equally parsimonious trees (EPT) resulted from the analysis of parsimony (length = 13.97; CI = 0.81; CI excluding uninformative characters = 0.76; RI = 0.85). The strict consensus cladogram, summarising the most parsimonious phylogenetic relationships recovered from all EPT between the analysed genera is presented in Figure 2. The genera with species limited to Cichlidae (shaded genera names on Figure 2) are represented by up to three independent groups. The phylogenetic hypothesis does not support a single monophyletic assemblage of parasites of Cichlidae. 5. Information to Be Drawn from Cichlid Monogeneans Our review shows that dactylogyridean ecto- and mesoparasites of cichlid hosts differ in their distributions. This raises the question as to which of the above-mentioned hypotheses on the biogeographic pattern of cichlids best explains this distributional incongruence. We would expect similar patterns in their geographic distribution, assuming that all lineages, meso- and ectoparasitic, have an equally long association with their cichlid hosts, a similar evolutionary rate, and have equally been subjected to the same biogeographical and coevolutionary processes/events. The African ectoparasitic Cichlidogyrus (as well as the mesoparasitic Enterogyrus) was found to infect South American cichlids following introduction of their African hosts, and the American Sciadicleithrum was reported from African cichlids under artificial conditions . This supports the view that the evolutionary divergence between African and Neotropical cichlids is not the reason they do not share ectoparasites. Thus, it is likely that the source of discrepancies between the distribution patterns observed for meso- and ectoparasites resides in the fact that environmental factors may influence these parasite communities differently (e.g., ). In the framework of the dispersal hypothesis (see ), there is a single such factor that may influence the two types of parasites in two different ways. This theory assumes that there were successive migrations, taking place in different environmental conditions. Some hosts are assumed to have crossed marine waters (between Madagascar and Asia; Madagascar and Africa; West Africa and South America; Figure 3, black arrows) while others only used freshwater dispersal pathways (dispersal within Africa or South America; Figure 3, white arrows). Ectoparasites are directly affected by changes in the environment while mesoparasites such as Enterogyrus found in the stomach are not. Does this differential exposure to saline water allow us to favour one of both hypotheses on cichlid history? A couple of issues need to be addressed before this question can be answered. 5.1. Salinity Tolerance of Cichlidae and Monogenea Many cichlids exhibit tolerance to a broad salinity range and some even display a mostly brackish lifestyle, such as representatives of the Asian Etroplus Cuvier, 1830, the only Iranian endemic cichlid Iranocichla hormuzensis Coad, 1982, and some African, Malagasy, and Neotropical species ( and references therein, [30, 32, 119–129]). Murray and Briggs used this ability as an important argument in favour of the recent dispersal hypothesis, but Sparks and Smith contradicted the long-time survival of any cichlid species in saltwater conditions. Although, at least under natural conditions, there are no fully marine cichlid species at present, several wild populations occur in (highly) saline environments (e.g., Sarotherodon melanotheron Rüppell, 1852 in the Gambia and Senegal rivers , in Hann bay (off Dakar), Senegal and in Saint Jean bay, Mauritania; Tilapia guineensis (Günther, 1862) in Hann bay (off Dakar), Senegal (A. Pariselle, pers. obs.)). Cichlids were possibly able to survive in marine environments, but this may not have been the case for their monogenean parasites, whose tolerance to salinity variations is generally shown to be low. Indeed, osmotic shocks are commonly used as a treatment against ectoparasitic Monogenea [123, 131–134]. Pariselle and Diamanka showed that S. melanotheron lost all monogenean gill parasites with the increase of water salinity (>35 g/L), both in a natural environment and under experimental conditions. On the other hand, Enterogyrus has been reported from highly saline waters . The biogeography of mesoparasites (Enterogyrus) seems to display a vicariant history, as the same genus is present in Asia and Africa (Figure 1). The lack of shared ectoparasites between continents and the most often limited (as compared to their hosts’) salinity tolerance of Cichlidogyrus is mentioned by Paperna as an argument for the marine dispersal theory. Indeed, one could hypothesize that marine dispersal events in cichlids caused them to lose their ectoparasites, while retaining their mesoparasites, unexposed to the saline water. This could explain the incongruence between the distribution patterns of ecto- and mesoparasitic Dactylogyridea. However, for this conclusion to be drawn, it is necessary to know the interrelationships between the various monogenean genera under study. 5.2. Lessons from the Cladistic Analysis The morphology of Monogenea and other flatworms is prone to display homoplasy, suggesting molecular phylogenetics to be needed to conclusively resolve their evolutionary relationships [81, 136, 137]. Indeed, plasticity has been shown both in haptoral [138–142] and genital [143–145] structures. This demonstrates that not only phylogeny but also geography, host-related and environmental factors, and (sexual) selection may influence the morphology of monogenean hard parts. On the other hand, most of this variability is continuous/quantitative and between conspecific individuals, and, hence, should not represent a significant interference in construction of phylogenetic hypotheses based on discrete characters differing between genera. Moreover, ambiguities or resolution problems related to morphological phylogenies were mostly shown in groups of organisms displaying taxonomic difficulties and a limited number of discretely varying haptoral characters (e.g., gyrodactylid Monogenea ), lacking sufficient characters comparable throughout the family (e.g., six in capsalid Monogenea ), or where plastic characters, prone to loss or acquisition, were used (e.g., mouthpart structure reflecting trophic adaptation in lysianassoid Amphipoda ). In contrast, based on a limited number of species of ancyrocephalid Dactylogyridea, there are clear indications that haptor morphology contains phylogenetic signal [107, 108]. On the level within or between genera, haptoral (and, on the between-species level: genital) structure does not conflict with molecular taxon boundaries and is systematically informative. Indeed, on these levels, geography or host characteristics do not seem to influence haptor morphology in this monogenean family. The only genetic data on monogeneans infecting cichlid fishes stem from African species [100, 107], and are therefore uninformative for intercontinental comparison. Hence, a morphological phylogenetic hypothesis, based on a combination of haptoral and genital elements, seems a reasonable approach given the currently available knowledge. As any scientific hypothesis, it is prone to extensive reconsideration once sufficient genetic data are collected, as such data will yield a higher number of informative characters compared to the presently available morphological knowledge. The morphological phylogenetic hypothesis (Figure 2) is fundamentally compatible with the results of the molecular phylogeny proposed by Mendlová et al. , with some more conspicuous coincidences (e.g., on the sistergroup relation of Scutogyrus and Cichlidogyrus). Also the close affinity between Ceylonotrema and Diplectanum might merit further scrutiny, as the ventral and dorsal bars of Ceylonotrema indeed show similarities to those in diplectanids. As molecular phylogenetics also faces, among others, problems with homoplasy [148–151], combining insights from both phenotypic and genetic classification in testing hypotheses and identifying uncertainties seems the most fruitful way forward (e.g., Rota-Stabelli et al. for deep phylogeny of arthropods). Although the above-mentioned flaws limit the interpretation we can give to our tree reconstruction in Figure 2, which should not be regarded as a definitive hypothesis on dactylogyridean evolutionary history, this tree provides the first comprehensive interpretation on phylogenetic relationships among cichlid monogeneans. Although based on morphological characters, it represents a phylogenetic hypothesis that may be tested based on molecular data. Furthermore, the CIs and RI of the tree demonstrate the existence of phylogenetic signal, independent of the number of homologous series available. The cladogram indicates that parasitizing on cichlids is a polyphyletic character in Dactylogyridea. The non-sistergroup relationship of the ectoparasitic Dactylogyridea of cichlids on the different continents seems an interesting argument to support the dispersal hypothesis. On the other hand, if the parasites distribution is to be explained mainly by oceanic dispersal (of their hosts), one would expect their phylogenetic relationships to follow continental borders (as suggested for Gyrodactylidae by Boeger et al. ). The ectoparasite genera of different continents, however, are not each other’s sister taxa based on the morphological cladogram (Figure 2). Hence, host-switching events from other fish groups are required, under whatever scenario, to explain the host-parasite distribution observed in the preliminary cladogram. Therefore, the evolutionary history of other fish families serving as “source hosts” should be considered. Because Monogenea with a marine lifestyle appear as sister taxa to several cichlid (and thus, freshwater) parasites in our cladogram, lateral transfer from other (including marine, necessitating freshwater/marine transition) hosts could be needed to explain our cladogram, irrespective of the cichlid scenario (Figure 2). Host-switching , even between fish hosts that differ at the ordinal level , as well as substantial salinity tolerance within species have been observed in Monogenea. Although both have mainly been demonstrated in gyrodactylids, even representatives of the ancyrocephalid Cichlidogyrus were suggested to colonize Cyprinodontiformes as a result of ecological transfer from cichlid hosts . Transfer of marine parasites to cichlids is proposed by Pérez-Ponce de Léon and Choudhury to explain the acquisition of additional parasites (cryptogonimid Digenea) after the cichlid’s colonization of Mexico. The authors invoke the salinity tolerance of those cichlids, allowing ecological contact with marine or estuarine fishes and, hence, host-switch events. Another example, for cichlids cultured under marine conditions, is provided by Kaneko et al. , reporting the acquisition of the marine capsalid monogeneans Neobenedenia melleni (MacCallum, 1927) and Benedenia monticelli (Parona and Perugia, 1895) by Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) and O. aureus (Steindachner, 1864), respectively. Those authors mention less-than-optimal adaptation to marine conditions as cause for the susceptibility of the cichlids to a parasite not normally adapted to those hosts, although N. melleni has a rather wide host range anyway. Hence, freshwater/marine transfers are possible and a marine environment lowering the cichlid’s condition could ease the colonization by parasites not specialised in cichlids. In favour of the dispersal hypothesis, one could argue that marine migration, freeing cichlids of other ectoparasitic Monogenea and hence removing interspecific competition, would be an additional facilitating factor for ecological transfer. However, it is often assumed that interspecific competition is not such an issue in Monogenea [157–159]. Freshwater/marine transitions would seem to contradict the above-mentioned limited tolerance to osmotic shocks. However, those ecological transfers across salinity borders should be thought of mostly on an evolutionary timescale, and as a feature occurring in certain genera with a broad salinity tolerance ( for Protogyrodactylus), rather than as frequent events in a monogenean lifespan. 5.3. A Putative Scenario Assuming the Dispersal Hypothesis The Gondwanan vicariance hypothesis implies isolation of fish populations remaining in their respective freshwater environments. In contrast, in case the present-day distribution pattern of the radiation of cichlids would be the result of dispersal, the hypothesis of Murray applied to their parasites gives us the following scenario. We do not mean to say that the current evidence unequivocally points in this direction; we only outline this scenario as a “thought experiment” as it could explain the present continental differences between cichlid fish parasites. It should also be clear that, whatever the nature of the intercontinental migrations, the present-day cichlid distribution is a result of both vicariance and dispersal. For instance, intracontinental migrations (through freshwater systems) have happened in either case, and have caused the ectoparasites to display a substantial similarity across the respective continents.(1)If Madagascar is indeed the centre of origin of Cichlidae, Insulacleidus probably represents the only extant representative of the most basal clade of ectoparasitic Monogenea associated to this fish family. In view of the very simple morphology of its haptoral hard parts, this seems an acceptable assumption. (2)Two marine migrations from this island took place in the late Cretaceous (50–55 MYA ), one towards Asia, and another one towards Africa, leading to putative loss of all Malagasy ectoparasites and subsequent infection by parasites of different host families in the new continent. This created the current differences in ectoparasitic fauna between the continents (Figure 1). Mesoparasites, however, were retained during marine migrations. The difference observed for these parasites (Enterogyrus spp.) is the result of simple isolation-by-distance. If this were the case, no reproduction would have occurred (or been required) during the migration. Salinity would have posed an obstacle to reinfection during the migration because monogenean larvae (oncomiracidia) are free-living organisms and would not survive this salinity change. The retention of mesoparasites would have been possible, however, if the migrations occurred quickly, allowing the individual adult parasites of migrating hosts to survive the migration. It is important to note that Enterogyrus, just like Urogyrus, is only known from cichlid hosts . There is, hence, no reason to assume that the presence of representatives of this genus on different continents is a consequence of host-switch from other hosts. (3)A second migration through marine waters took place between West Africa and South America (20 MYA ), with the same consequences as above: loss of African ectoparasites, infestation of newly arrived “clean” hosts by South American ectoparasites coming from other host families. The time for migration (from Africa to America) was estimated (based on palaeoreconstructions and with dispersal through the aid of oceanic currents and shallow water areas) at 23 days , which is compatible with the survival of mesoparasites without reproduction (cfr. supra). This implies that Enterogyrus, or a closely related sister clade, might be present in South American cichlids (the only observation of this genus in the Americas is from an introduced African species ). Furthermore, even without having to invoke open-oceanic migration, northern landbridges and stretches of less saline seas provided dispersal pathways for freshwater fishes between Europe and the Americas during the late Cretaceous and Tertiary . Thus, the cichlid fossils of Europe (; cfr. infra) could fit well in this hypothesis. Also, the still ongoing debate on whether the salinity tolerance of cichlids suffices for oceanic migration would pose no problem here, as dispersal over landbridges or through diluted marine or coastal environments would not require them to withstand marine open-water conditions. In fact, it seems harder to find a plausible dispersal path for cichlids towards Asia. In contrast, for Mastacembelidae, a fish family with an African-Asian distribution where palaeontological and molecular evidence are in favour of dispersal rather than vicariance, a land bridge (over the Middle East) rather than marine migration is suggested as pathway . The Middle East is also known as a centre of exchange for other freshwater fishes, for example, in cyprinids .(4)Intracontinental migrations lead to the wider colonization of Africa and South America. As these migrations occurred only in freshwaters, there were no losses of parasites, and the parasite fauna now observed is remarkably homogeneous. Mendoza-Franco and Vidal-Martínez propose an example of this, in Sciadicleithrum, which would have migrated with its cichlid hosts from South to Central America after the uplift of the Panama Isthmus. An exception for Africa is Onchobdella, only infecting hosts with a distribution limited to West Africa (though its mesoparasitic putative sister Urogyrus is more widespread in the continent, cfr. supra). In view of Figure 2, their ancestor probably colonized cichlids after lateral transfer from another fish host family.(5)During the African or American intracontinental expansion of the Cichlidae, three lineages isolate themselves: one colonized the Levant (35 MYA ), another one Iran, and the last one North America (Rio Grande river, where Herichthys cyanoguttatus Baird and Girard, 1854 presently occurs ). In her paper, Murray does not conclude whether those fishes migrated through marine or freshwater systems (Figure 3, black and white striped arrows). As Levantine cichlid parasites (ecto- and meso-) are similar to African ones, we suppose that the migrations which introduced this fish family to this area solely involved crossing freshwaters (for otherwise, the ectoparasitic fauna should be different). While Werner and Mokady suggest much more recent colonisation for the only Levantine haplochromine, Astatotilapia flaviijosephi (Lortet, 1883), they do not invoke marine dispersal for its arrival from Africa into the Levant either. For the Iranian or North American colonization, we should be able to assess the likelihood of marine or freshwater migration by describing ectoparasites from those cichlid species. Ancyrocephalidae have hitherto not been found on them; only 20 specimens, provided by B. Jalali, of Iranocichla hormuzensis have been studied, yielding only gyrodactylid monogeneans (A. Pariselle, unpublished data). No data were available for Rio Grande fishes. In both cases (Iran and North America) Enterogyrus (or a related genus—being a mesoparasite) should be present.(6)The presence of cichlid fossils is demonstrated in Europe (Italy) and Central America (Haiti). As these faunas are extinct, their parasites will remain unknown and their migration pathways cannot be inferred from host-parasite data (Figure 3, grey arrows). 6. Conclusions and Suggested Approach The current knowledge on diversity and distribution of parasites does not allow us to be conclusive in supporting either the dispersal or vicariance hypothesis explaining the present-day distribution of cichlids. The interesting outcome of analysing the parasite data is that the resulting conclusions may be tested and falsified. Although the presence of Enterogyrus on cichlid hosts worldwide (i.e., in South America and/or Madagascar) has not been demonstrated yet, the most crucial argument here could be provided by a sound phylogeny of dactylogyridean ectoparasites of cichlids (for which the data are currently lacking). In view of classical problems in molecular phylogenetic reconstruction, such as introgression and discordance between conclusions based on mitochondrial versus nuclear markers , multigene approaches are recommended. One should examine, using molecular phylogenetics, whether there consistently is a closer relationship between Asian, African, or South American cichlid ectoparasites with other ectoparasites from different local host families, than with the parasites of cichlid hosts on other continents. Apart from sistergroup relations, genetics could also give us clues on the evolutionary distances between the various cichlid monogeneans. This is crucial, as the mesoparasite Enterogyrus could have a slower rate of evolution and diversification than the various ectoparasitic genera (perhaps due to high constraints resulting from its mesoparasitic lifestyle), possibly explaining the higher diversity in ecto- than in mesoparasites. Though little molecular evolutionary data exist of these animals, results of Mendlová et al. do not support this hypothesis. Moreover, ectoparasitic Monogenea may depend for their speciation on their hosts’ diversification ( but see ), making a speciation burst independent of cichlid history unlikely. Furthermore, mesoparasitism is a derived and polyphyletic feature in our cladogram (and a derived character in the phylogeny of Mendlová et al. ), so there is little reason to assume that those parasites in general evolve in a different way from their ectoparasitic counterparts. Finally, we hope to have exemplified that the evolution and biogeography of parasites should be considered in association with a sound knowledge of their hosts. Indeed, Murray’s theory on age and dispersal pattern of cichlids could be in agreement with their continent-specific fauna of ectoparasitic Monogenea, though extra (molecular) data are evidently needed to be conclusive. Conversely, we have to keep in mind the contribution that the study of parasites can make to investigations concerning their hosts, at different levels. This spans from the most specific, where parasites can assist in the identification of host sister species [74, 169], up to the broadest, as in the example presented here, where parasites might lead us to choose between two hypotheses on host origin. On an intermediate level, parasites might resolve an ambiguity on the mode of cichlid biogeographical evolution: for example, that the Levantine migration occurred by crossing freshwater rather than marine systems. (1) Hook: shank tapering proximally; shank with bulb at proximal end. (2) Hooks: similar in shape and size; hook 5 almost splinter-like; greatly variable in size. (3) Thumbs of hooks: erected; straight; depressed. (4) Number of distinct portions in hook shank: one; two. (5) Ventral anchor: fully developed; splinter-like; one fully developed, another splinter-like. (6) Ventral bar—anterior margin: without obvious ornamentation; with subterminal flaps; with large shield-like plate; with small flap. (7) Ventral bar shape: straight; V-shaped; inverted V-shaped; arched. (8) Longitudinal groove on ventral bar: absent; present. (9) Dorsal bar: single; double; absent. (10) Dorsal bar—subterminal anterior flaps: absent; present, well developed and supported by ridges; present, no supporting ridges. (11) Dorsal bar—anterior auricles: absent; present. (12) Dorsal bar: straight or slightly V-shaped; M-shaped; inverted V-shaped. (13) Accessory piece: present; absent. 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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird – Archilochus colubris One of the most common of all species of Hummingbirds that people are familiar with is the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. Many people recognize them because they aren’t afraid of the presence of humans. They will often remain in an area and that allows people to get a very up close look at them. This particular species of Hummingbird is about 3 ½ inches in length. The weight of a mature one is about 3 grams. They offer some very lovely colors that help them to blend into their surrounding area for protection. Therefore, those colors will vary depending on the location where the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird lives. The back side of these Hummingbirds is usually a very dark emerald green. The belly is usually gray or white. The throat area is going to be pink or red. The bill is very long and slender. They have a forked tail. The Eastern portion of North America is the main location where this species of Hummingbird is found. They are found in Canada, Mexico, and areas of the USA. When they migrate many of them often spend time in Mexico. It is complete a myth that the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird catches a ride on the backs of other birds because it is too difficult for them to migrate on their own. The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is believed to be very intelligent and they are also very curious by nature. They seem to want to go explore new areas and adapt very well to changes in their environment. They do very well even in locations where humans have come into their habitat. Many of them are found around feeders that humans have put out for Hummingbirds to dine from. Males are extremely territorial though and they don’t enjoy others coming around them. They keep a larger territory for habitat and finding food that other species of Hummingbirds. They will also take on bees and wasps for territory in some areas. They are attracted to red and will go to red clothing at times thinking it is food. Nectar from plants is what the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird mainly dines upon. They are attracted to the red plants more than the others. During times of the year when food is abundant they will bypass other colors of plants and only feed from those that are red in color. They will also consume small insects that offer them plenty of protein for them to be well nourished. While the courtship process is usually very elaborate for Hummingbirds that isn’t the case for this species. The males are seldom seen doing the dives unless there are plenty of males all competing for the same female to mate with. The females are extremely picky about who they will mate with. A female may turn several males away before she selects one. The process of creating a nest for the eggs is her next order of business. It can take her several days of hard work to get a small nest created. It will be about the size of a walnut shell. The eggs will be about the size of peas. She won’t have more than 2 eggs to place in it. They will emerge about 12 days after being deposited there. They quickly develop feathers, strength, and in a few weeks they can fly off. The young Ruby-Throated Hummingbird often linger around for a couple of weeks. They will follow their mother to feeding areas. At first she is going to be tolerant of it and teach them how to find food. Yet it won’t be long before she will chase them off and away from her food resources like she would any other living things. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Infographic!

Covering crop seeds with bacteria taken from a desert shrub can boost wheat harvests in hot fields and help crops survive heatwaves, which could protect the future of food. Global warming has heightened the number of serious heatwaves, which leads to reduced crop yields, threatens food supplies, and causes massive damage to the agriculture industry. There are plants that do not die in extreme heat; some plants have natural heat tolerance, while other species develop heat tolerance after prior exposure to higher temperatures. However, breeding heat resistant plants is expensive and time-consuming, and slightly warming entire fields proves even more difficult. In efforts to find solutions to the extreme conditions that cause crops to perish, there has been a growing interest in harnessing microbes to protect plants. Now, biologists have demonstrated that root-dwelling bacteria can support their herbaceous hosts to endure extreme conditions, such as drought, excessive salt or heatwaves. “Beneficial bacteria could become one of the quickest, cheapest and greenest ways to help achieve sustainable agriculture,” said Kirti Shekhawat postdoc at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, adding that: “However, no long-term studies have proven they work in the real world, and we haven’t yet uncovered what’s happening on a molecular level.” With the intention of filling this knowledge gap, Shekhawat, alongside a team of researchers led by Professor Heribert Hirt, have selected the beneficial bacteria SA187 that lives in the root of a robust desert shrub, Indigofera argentea. They covered wheat seeds with the bacteria, then planted them in their lab with some untreated seeds. After leaving the crops for six days, they heated them at 44° Celsius for a duration of two hours. “Any longer would kill them all,” explained Shekhawat. The untreated wheat ceased to grow and suffered from damaged leaves. Meanwhile, the treated wheat remained unharmed and flourished, indicating that the bacteria had triggered heat tolerance. “The bacteria enter the plant as soon as the seeds germinate, and they live happily in symbiosis for the plant’s entire life,” said Shekhawat. The researchers then grew wheat in natural fields in Dubai for several years. Here, the temperatures can reach 45 ° Celsius. Due to the heat, wheat is usually only grown during winter in Dubai. However, the bacteria coated crops consistently produced yields between 20 and 50% t higher than normal. Many other bacteria hold the ability to protect plants against a diverse range of threats, from droughts to fungi. The research team is currently testing bacteria on other crops, including vegetables. “We have just scratched the surface of this hidden world of soil that we once dismissed as dead matter,” commented Professor Hirt. “Beneficial bacteria could help transform an unsustainable agricultural system into a truly ecological one,” he added.

The sister motor ships Saturnia (1927) and Vulcania (1928) are still remembered today on both sides of the Atlantic for their long and remarkable careers, both in times of peace and of war, ending respectively in 1965 and 1974. When they were conceived for the Cosulich Line of Trieste in the first half of the 'Twenties, they represented a great novelty in the conservative field of naval architecture, just as the Kaiser Franz Joseph I had before the Great War and as the unfortunate Kaiserin Elisabeth would have done had she not been devastated during the hostilities. After the difficult years of the post-War reconstruction, the Cosulich Line turned its attention to developing the concept of these two superliners which would represent its reply to the similar fleet renewal programme undertaken by the Lloyd Sabaudo with the construction of the Conte Biancamano, and later the Conte Grande, and by the Navigazione Generale Italiana with its steamship Roma and the motor ship Augustus. The design of the hull of the Saturnia was the first significant project allotted to the engineer Niccolò Costanzi. As Antonio Cosulich recalled in an interview on board the ship during her first crossing to Latin America, the company had opted for a completely new external appearance for its liner which would easily distinguish her from the traditional steamships. “One of the projects which we considered in the early stages was a low, latticed tower instead of a funnel. This structure would also have served as an observation tower, like a very short Eiffel Tower in the middle of the ocean. Obviously, passengers would have enjoyed the opportunity to rise over the bridge and to admire the movement of the sea. But this beautiful idea had to be abandoned. The tower gave the ship a too static aspect and we dropped the idea. Instead, we needed a type of funnel which would seem to increase the appearance of speed in conjunction the lines of the hull.” In fact, the great novelty of the Saturnia and Vulcania in the field of naval propulsion was that they were among the very first large transatlantic liners driven by diesel engines: each one had a pair of Burmeister & Wain motors of 28,000 bhp in total. For this reason, they were given a profile which distinguished “the ships without smoke”; even in the years soon after the War, the Cosulich company had been interested in this new system, building small cargo ships without funnels which enabled their engineers to familiarise themselves with the working of this new type of engine. Speaking of the advantages of the new system, Antonio Cosulich continued during the interview: “Thanks to these engines, the Saturnia can comfortably carry 300-400 more passengers than a similar ship powered by turbines. Our engines save a great deal of fuel. In order to attain 19 knots, the normal service speed, they need 100 tons of nafta every 24 hours. Had we adopted turbines and boilers, to develop the same power would have required 300 tons per day. This would have required much bigger tanks holding about 7,000 tons of fuel instead of 2,300. There are also great savings in the number of engine room staff. On the Saturnia, we need 45 men. On a turbine ship this number would have been easily doubled.” KEEL LAYING: 05/03/1925 MAIDEN VOYAGE: Trieste-La Plata ports 21/09/1927 SHIP YARD: Cantieri riuniti dell Adriatico, Monfalcone HULL NUMBER: 160 COMPANy: Cosulich Soc. Triestina di Nav., Trieste LENGTH OVERALL: 632 ft WIDTH: 79,7 ft GROSS TONNAGE: 23.940 tsl PROPULSION: Burmeister&Wain diesel from builders, twin screw TOP SPEED: 21,00 knots SERVICE SPEED: 19,25 knots POWER: 20.000 horsepower FIRST CLASS: 370 SECOND CLASS: 412 THIRD CLASS: 319 FOURTH CLASS: 564 FATE: 1965 october 7 arrived at La Spezia to be broken up. GENERAL ARRANGEMENT PLANS Cut-away printed in 1927, before the maiden voyage, by Arti Grafiche Modiano of Trieste. The ship portrayed is the Saturnia. GENERAL ARRANGEMENT PLANS The brochure containing isometric plans published by the Italian Line in 1939: external view. The brochure containing isometric plans published by the Italian Line in 1939: sun deck. The brochure containing isometric plans published by the Italian Line in 1939: main deck The brochure containing isometric plans published by the Italian Line in 1939: external view. 1925, 30th May: the first keel plates are laid on the slipway at Monfalcone, with Yard No. 160. 1925, 29th December: launched by Her Royal Highness Giovanna of Savoia. 1927, 1st September: maiden voyage from Trieste to the ports of the River Plate. 1928, 1st February: first voyage from Trieste to New York; she could be used on either route as traffic required. 1932, 2nd January: the Cosulich Line becomes part of Italia Flotte Riunite, maintaining, however, a separate administrative office in Trieste; the ships now assumed the colours of the new company. 1935, 8th May: is taken over for trooping service for the Abyssinian campaign. 1935, 24th December: arrives at her builder's yard to be re-engined with two new Sulzer diesels of a total power of 41,000 bhp; 22 knots; 24,470 gross tons. She resumed service in the following August. 1937, 2nd January: the Cosulich company is placed in liquidation when the Italia Flotte Riunite is superseded by the Società Anonima di Navigazione Italia, to which the ship is transferred. 1938, 23rd November: special Trieste-Genoa-Buenos Aires voyage as a replacement for the motorship Augustus which is undergoing maintenance work. 1939, 15th February: leaves New York for a 59 day Mediterranean cruise. 1939, 2nd April: the route to North America is changed, with new calls on the so-called Tourist Route: Trieste, Venice, Dubrovnik, Patras, Naples, Palermo, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Vigo, Ponta Delgada, Boston, New York. 1939, 27th October: stopped off Gibraltar by the British who wished to confiscate a cargo of copper and steel destined for Bohemia; the captain orders that the cargo be thrown overboard and proceeds with the voyage. 1939, 16th December: intercepted in the Atlantic by a French submarine which takes on board seven Jewish passengers of German nationality. 1940, 30th April: arrives at Genoa at the end of her last pre-War voyage and is adapted for a special voyage to Tripoli, arriving back at Siracuse on the 10th June, 1940, the day when Italy enters the War. 1941: spends the greater part of the year in lay-up at Genoa except for a voyage to Spalato in March; later transferred to Trieste. 1942, February: transformation works begin following an agreement with the International Red Cross for the repatriation of Italian civilians interned in the East African colonies which are now in British hands. 1942, 4th April: leaves Trieste to join her sister Vulcania two days later 20 miles south of Majorca. On the 8th April they arrive in Gibraltar; on the 12th they are in São Vicente (Cape Verde Islands) for refuelling; on the 26th they are at Port Elizabeth; and on the 5th May they arrive in Berbera in British Somaliland. 1942, 21st October: leaves Genoa together with the Vulcania, Giulio Cesare and Duilio for the second repatriation mission to East Africa, ending in Brindisi on the 12th January, 1943. 1943, 22nd May: the four ships leave Trieste on the third and last repatriation mission of ex-African colonists who are landed in Taranto on the 11th August. 1943, 4th September: arrives at Trieste where, on the 8th September, after the Armistice, she receives orders to proceed to Venice, arriving around midnight. 1943, 10th September: manages to escape from Venice where she would have been seized by the Germans and makes for Brindisi, where she is handed over to the Allies. 1943, 14th October: leaves Taranto, heading first to Malta, then to Algiers and then to Gibraltar where she is taken over by the U.S. War Shipping Organisation for whom, after being camouflaged in grey, she starts an intense programme of troop transportation in March, 1944, while still with an Italian crew and flag. 1945, 17th January: enters service as the American hospital ship Frances Y. Slanger. 1945, November: reverts to become a transport for military personnel; on the following 28th February, she re-assumes her original name, Saturnia. 1946, 12th August: after several repatriation voyages between France and the United States, she returns to Italy for the first time, docking at Genoa. 1946, 15th November: is returned to the Italian government despite demands by the Greeks that she should be given to them; refitted in Genoa. 1947, 21st January: sets sail from Genoa in her first post-War commercial voyage to New York; from June, 1948 she calls also at Halifax. 1955, 2nd November: returns to Trieste, which she has not visited for twelve years; on 8th November, resumes the Trieste – New York service with calls at Venice, Patras, Naples, Palermo, Gibraltar, Lisbon and Halifax. 1965, 10th April: arrives in Trieste at the end of her last crossing from New York and is laid up. 1965, 7th October: arrives at La Spezia to be broken up. The long career of the Saturnia, often in parallel with that of her sister Vulcania, meant that the ship made a great variety of voyages – liner crossings and cruises in times of peace but also service as a hospital ship and a troop transport during the Second World War. It was during those wartime years that the Saturnia made some of the most adventurous and extraordinary voyages of her long life. At the beginning of 1941, after the occupation of Italian Somalia and Ethiopia by British forces, the government in London intimated to the administration in Rome, through the intermediation of the International Red Cross, that it could not guarantee the safety of the Italian civilians in the former colonies – thousands of women, children, old people and invalids were crowded into insanitary internment camps where, exacerbated by the climate, epidemics were wiping many of them out. The Governor of the colonies, Caroselli, who had enjoyed cordial relations with the authorities in London, was given the task of organising the repatriation. At the end of November, during a meeting held in Genoa between the minister and the Società Italia, it was decided that the Saturnia, Duilio, Giulio Cesare and Vulcania, which were similar in speed and capacity, would be chartered and that they would undergo work to make them suitable for the task. This would be undertaken at Trieste in the case of the first two and at Genoa and Naples, respectively, for the others. Following the agreement, reached through the mediation of the Swiss, the Saturnia and Vulcania left Genoa for their voyage round Africa. They were painted entirely in white with red crosses on each side and with blue discs bearing white crosses on the funnels. In conformity with the agreement, they were “totally illuminated like meteors” so that they could be easily identified. By the end of three missions, the ship would had repatriated 30,000 colonists. Pre-maiden voyage introductory brochure for the Saturnia; the cover, including the font, was the work of Argio Orell. Equally adventurous was the voyage which was unexpectedly undertaken by the Saturnia and Vulcania after the Italian Armistice: on the afternoon of the 8th September, 1943 they managed to escape from the port of Trieste and make for Venice where they had been ordered to embark the cadets of the Naval Academy (which had been transferred from Leghorn at the outbreak of the War). The Saturnia had reached Brindisi on the 11th September, carrying her cadets to safety, and then handing herself over to the Allies. The Vulcania, on the other hand, at the insistence of the pro-Fascist director of the Naval Academy and with the support of the Naval Commander at Pula, had disembarked her young cadets at Brioni, an island near Pula, causing them to be handed over to the Nazis and held in their concentration camps. Without changing her name, the Saturnia continued her wartime activities on behalf of the Allies until December, 1944 when she reached New York to be transformed into the hospital ship Frances Y Slanger, in honour of the first American Red Cross nurse to be killed during the War. After the end of hostilities, the Saturnia spent the first post-War years in an intense service of troop repatriation to America, the exchange of prisoners and the transport of war brides and their babies. Afterwards, with so many of her former fleetmates gone, she and her sister took over the prestigious service between Genoa and New York With the arrival on the scene of the Andrea Doria and the Cristoforo Colombo and the restitution of Trieste to Italy, in the Fall of 1954, the two sisters returned to their home port amid great rejoicing to restart their service between the Adriatic and New York for which they had become so popular with an international clientele before the War, especially with Americans who particularly enjoyed the long, luxurious cruises to the West Indies and to the Mediterranean. The Saturnia left New York for her last liner voyage on the 25th March, 1965, reaching Trieste on the following 10th April; thus concluded the long and fascinating career of one of the most beloved and long-lasting Italian liners which had started at the same port on the 21st September, 1927 when she set sail on her maiden voyage to the cheers of an enormous crowd. The activity to make known to the public the new motor vessels Saturnia and Vulcania was possibly the greatest effort ever of the publicity department in the whole history of the Cosulich Line. Indeed, the two ships brought so many novelties, not only when compared to the previous ships of the company, but also to the international shipping world; therefore, it was necessary a totally renewed and strong publicity intended to offer a new image of their shipowners. When the Saturnia entered service, in 1927, it was a time of interesting artistic and cultural rejuvenation; particularly in the Trieste of those years, the avant guard movements propelled a noteworthy creative fervour. This is witnessed by the quantity of proposals to advertise the new sister ships received by Cosulich among the artists they consulted, such as Argio Orell, Filippo Romoli and Augusto Cernigoj; artists who, despite with their different styles, were capable to manage the new trends imposed by the “roaring 'Twenties”. It was somehow no surprise that the initial publicity material was entrusted to Argio Orell, the most eclectic of the three but also the closest one to a certain traditionalism imposed by the client. The artist would conceive a coordinated image Cosulich/Saturnia, designing as well a new company logo, the “C” encircled by the Savoy knot. It is known that the Saturnia was a revolutionary ship in the filed of liners design, but her internal décor – despite bombastically celebrated in the inaugural book devote to her – were as well her weak point: in less than a decade the baroque ballroom was refurbished in modern style by Gustavo Pulitzer, together with several other lounges. In occasion of this refurbishment in a much more contemporary style, the promotional strategy is also renewed, as testifies the beautiful brochure devoted to the 1936 revamping. Of tasteful and endearing design, in balance between Art Déco and modern minimalism, the brochure is enriched by a series of wonderful watercolours signed by Franz Lenhart. During the refurbishment of 1936 the steerage areas were also removed to make space for a comfortable tourist class and much more decent third class cabins. New brochures, one for each of these new classes, had also an endearing graphic design to attract above all the American public; both booklets feature on their pages other nice artworks by Franz Lenhart while the covers were by Govanni Patrone for the tourist class and by Filippo Romoli for the third class. The Cosulich Line capitalised on the enthusiastic reception of the American public for their new flagships producing a new series of advertisement in English specially and exclusively conceived for the US market, such as the large folders for the luxury cruises of the 'Thirties signed by celebrated American advertising artists such as Fred J. Hoerts and Victor Beals. The early post-War publicity material, printed by the Italian Line in the late 'Forties, despite reflecting the austerity of those days, has anyhow its charm, starting from a large brochure of album format illustrated in colour by Giovanni Patrone. If you wish to read entirely the Premium Brochures please SUBSCRIBE to our society and access the PREMIUM area reserved to our members. If you are already a member click here The last publication specifically devoted to the now ageing Saturnia and Vulcania is dated 1954 and is devoted to their last transatlantic commitment on the Trieste-New York route, promoted as a tourist itinerary for the many picturesque calls defined “cruise journeys”. It is noteworthy the – never adopted - white hull of the two ships on the cover; this could suggest the the white livery of the hulls had been actually considered. In the inner pages there are as well some rare colour photographs of the interiors. A large number of the first class public rooms, starting from the dining room, had not been greatly modified since the origins and, to board the Saturnia and the Vulcania in the 'Sixities, was an authentic time travel. There was no correspondence between the modern silhouette of the Saturnia and the Vulcania, dominated by the large and ample stack positioned at midships, and the old fashioned interiors. The architectural coordination was entrusted to the well-known architect from Trieste Arduino Berlam, but he unfortunately had little room for manoeuvre towards the old fashioned wishes of his customer: the ballroom “magnificent and lordly as Versailles the palace of the Sun King” was the amazing phantasmagoria of the most extravagant rococo conceived by the brothers Coppedé from Florence, to whom was entrusted as well the furnishing of the rotisserie à-la-carte and of the indoor swimming pool. The neo-classic dining room sported a full scale reproduction of the Parthenon frieze and was the work of the British furnishing house Marsh, Jones & Cribb of Leeds; the same company fitted out the library and the writing room. The only original lounges – despite far from being modern – were those conceived by the Trieste – based design studio STUARD, of which one of the founders was Gustavo Pulitzer Finali. The young architect was at his début in the sector of on board furnishing, thus starting a career that would soon mark him at international level for many years to come. On board the Saturnia, he designed the smoking room and the gallery repeating, in a relatively linear and sober way, the atmospheres of an ancient manor. It is worth to remember that, less than a decade later – in 1936 – Pulitzer would obtain the appointment The first folder printed to illustrate the third class of the motorship, printed in three colours; the artwork is by Paolo Klodic. to refurbish many of the most representative lounges of both sister ships in a much more contemporary style; Pulitzer himself put forward the name of the famous Milanese architect Gio Ponti to design the first class bar and the latter was as well at his first commitment on a ship. The only grate novelty brought by these vessels in the field of the passenger liners outfitting – maybe even more striking than their propulsion system – was the presence of a whole deck of luxury cabins with private verandahs; a “must” of all the cruise ships of nowadays which, with the Saturnia, went to sea for the first time in history. The sumptuous but frankly démodé of these ships, in a time of a general rethinking of the interior style for a modern passenger liner were presented to the public in a large book printed by the Cosulich Line early before their entry into service in this way: “A monumental parade staircase, from which summit vigils the bronze statue of the goddess after which the ship is named, rises to the Atrium, where are the offices, to the Deck of the Promenades and descends to the lower floors [sic] until reaching the Swimming Pool, sumptuous reproduction of the magnificent Pompeian bath. Small poster on cardboard by Filippo Romoli for the travel agents; the central part was reserved to print (or write) the next scheduled departures. “The deck of the Promenades is occupied by the Rooms for Meetings, which cluster around the Ballroom, centre of the on board worldly life, in a fascinating variety of styles and décors. Rich in carved woods, of precious stuccoes and of shimmering golds, the Ballroom recalls the pomp of the Royal Court of Versailles […]. Adjacent on the other side, the Rotisserie (Grill-room) with its enormous historiated fireplace, jocund like a tavern of reveler writers of the Florentine Renaissance; and also the Writing Room, all light blue lacquers and chinoiserie. “Amble solemn galleries, with the coffered ceiling, the painted beams, tense curls at the walls like in the palaces of the Tuscan Fifteenth century. They lead to the Library furnished according to the taste of the early English Eighteenth century, and to the Smoking Room, a well-guessed modern adaptation of motifs flourished at the times of the Tudor […]. The Dining Room presents a décor of classic style that take its inspirations from the noble grandeur of the best models of the Ancient Greece […]. “The rooms are jewels of good taste and comfort […]. The terraces on the sea provided in many cabins, are one of the most joyful novelties of the naval architecture […].” All the exaggerations and pompousness of the first class décor were fortunately put a side in the second and third class where Berlam free to escape from the decorative obsession of the owners, created some nice lounges, such as the dining room, the smoking room, the music room of the second class and the dining room, the smoking room, the music room and the reading room of the third class; the decorative elements were sober and functional and a wise use of natural woods and essences was made without the useless intrusion of any decorative tinsel. Cover for a first and second class passenger list of the 'Fifties. Backboard for the 1928 calendar of the Cosulich Line; the design, the font, the ship portrait and the company's logo were by Argio Orell.

Also known as "converted rice, Parboiled rice is made from the edible seeds of the Oryza sativa cereal. It is a processing method that can be applied to different types of rice. To obtain Parboiled rice, in fact, the seeds, when they are still wrapped in their fibrous coating (the husk), are subjected to a partial boiling (steam). This process consists of three essential steps: Soaking in hot water; Steaming at high temperature and under pressure; In this way, Parboiled rice is easily processable, more preservable and richer from a nutritional point of view. Tying us to the concept of "nutrition", Parboiled seems to have the ability to partially convey nutritional molecules from bran to endosperm (especially vitamin B1 or thiamine), making its nutritional spectrum much more similar to the brown rice (of course, with less fiber). In addition, due to the greater consistency of its surface, a grain of parboiled rice releases fewer nutrients into the cooking water. In addition, this rice has a rather high energy intake. The calories are mainly provided by carbohydrates, followed by proteins and finally (negligible) lipids. Carbohydrates tend to be complex, peptides are of medium biological value and the few fatty acids are mainly unsaturated . The cholesterol is absent and the fibers are absolutely not too abundant. We can also say that the parboiled rice uses a good content of iron and phosphorus, but there are discrete concentrations of microelements. WARNINGS: The advice dispensed is in no way to be considered of medical / prescriptive value . The information provided is for purely informative and informative purposes, therefore it is not intended in any way to replace medical advice. In the presence of pathologies it is always necessary to consult your doctor. The images are inserted for illustrative purposes, the product may undergo changes based on stock availability and the selected weight.

A RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive – or Independent – Disks) is a specialized hardware configuration that offers a tremendous amount of versatility in its usage. Generally used for data storage and, more specifically, to achieve data redundancy, it’s useful in applications that require a large amount of data – such as surveillance. While full-scale surveillance systems were once reserved for large businesses and enterprises, their affordability, as well as the affordability of modern hard drives, now makes them a viable option for home use, too. But a digital home surveillance system requires a lot of data storage space as well as routine management and maintenance of that data – and that’s exactly where RAID comes in. RAID Configurations for Surveillance Data Storage Let’s face it: there are a number of different RAID configurations to choose from. But how do you know which one is right to store the data from your surveillance system? Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid the first two levels of RAID 0 and RAID 1. Since the former doesn’t provide any sort of data redundancy at all, it’s basically useless for the purpose of protecting your surveillance data. Next up is RAID 1. This is slightly more useful since it provides data mirroring, but that just writes the same data across multiple hard drives. As such, it’s not a cost-effective solution when it comes to data redundancy. This really leaves us with three potential choices: - RAID 3: This RAID configuration uses data striping to store data across a minimum of three different drives. While this rarely results in lost data, as that would require multiple disk failures simultaneously, the technical complexities involved in setting up a RAID 3 configuration means that most users ignore it in favour of RAID 5 or RAID 10. - RAID 5: Considered to offer the best balance of system performance data protection, RAID 5 uses three or more hard drives to store data and parity information across the entire array. If one drive fails, the data can usually be recreated immediately and seamlessly. - RAID 10 (or RAID 1+0): One of the newest RAID configurations, RAID 10, also known as RAID 1+0, is quickly growing in popularity. Since it uses both data mirroring and data striping, users can benefit from improved data redundancy and system speed. Unfortunately, the fact that it uses mirroring is cost-prohibitive in many cases. While it’s really up to you – and your budget – to make the decision, most users opt for RAID 5 when configuring their system for digital surveillance. Although it still requires three or more hard drives, the data isn’t simply being mirrored across all drives; so you’ll still be able to benefit from the storage capacity of every drive in your array. Now that you have a better idea of the various RAID levels and how they function, it’s time to maximize the effectiveness of your surveillance system with RAID-based data management and protection. It doesn’t matter if you’re a home user or if you’re tasked with securing a business, a proper RAID configuration can help keep your data safe, secure and organized. By Staff Writer.

- Business Resources - Tax Exemptions - Landlord Agreement Program - Commercial Deposit Information - Commercial Forms and Policies - Economic Development Incentive Program - Natural Gas - Commercial Standby Power - Telecom Services - Commercial Electric Rates - Commercial Account Update Form - Power Conditioning Equipment - Commercial Water, Wastewater or Irrigation Bill Adjustments - Fire Hydrant Meter Policy and Applications - Claim Resolution for Businesses - Small Business Hub - New Business Customers - JEA Landlord Agreement Program Form - JEA Landlord Agreement Program Adding and Removing Addresses - Save Energy and Money Understanding Commercial Electric Rates When talking with commercial customers about their utility bill, the conversation inevitably leads to a discussion about rates. Although the rates are important, the bill is predominantly tied to the facility’s consumption, rather than the rate. Nevertheless, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the rate structure to understand how power and energy consumption affects your company’s utility bill. In order to understand rates, one must first examine how they are designed. Electric utilities must provide power in real time, and the electric system is designed to do that. Energy is the total amount of electricity consumed and is a function of time. Power Usage Fluctuations Power usage fluctuates as utility customers go through their daily routines. It’s further impacted by changes in weather. Power requirements on a mild day are much different than power requirements on very hot or very cold days. JEA must consistently provide the power the community needs every second of every day. This is known as demand and is recorded in Kilowatts (kW). The energy consumed through the use of this power is recorded in Kilowatt-Hours (kWH). Driving a car is a useful analogy to help understand the relationship between demand and energy. When driving a car, the speed, or demand, is recorded by the speedometer. The total distance traveled by the car, as recorded by the odometer, is energy. At any given time, the speed of the car may change, but if the car is travelling, the odometer is turning. The higher the speed, the faster the odometer turns. Keep this analogy in mind for our discussion of rates and the bill later on. Instantaneous Demand (kW) If JEA doesn’t provide instantaneous, consistent power, customers will experience brown outs or possibly even blackouts, when the electric system can’t provide the power the community is requiring. In order to ensure consistent flow of electricity for the community, the electric grid is sized to account for demand at its highest peak. This is why demand is the primary determinant of electric rate structures. As the services demand increases, the rate structure for the facility changes at specific set points. Look at any commercial bill and you will see at least two line items in the consumption section: energy (kWH) and demand (kW). - General Service Rate (<75kW) The small commercial rate, also known as General Service (GS), is designed for small commercial customers that use less than 75 kW in demand. This rate is very similar to the residential rate in that you do not pay a charge for your demand. You pay an energy charge and the cost for your demand is built into the energy charge. Although you will see a metered demand on the bill, the charges are dominated by the energy used during the service period. - General Service Demand Rate (75kW - 1000kW) Once you use more than 75 kW in demand four times in a rolling twelve month period, you will automatically be switched to the large commercial rate, also known as General Service Demand (GSD). At this rate, you are charged for the demand the facility uses, however, your energy rate drops accordingly because you now have a demand charge. The increase in demand could be due to additional equipment installed as the business grow or it could be the result of redeploying of equipment that had been retired for some reason and is now needed again. - General Service Large Demand Rate (>1000kW) If the service has a demand of 1000 kW or more it will switch to the industrial rate, also known as General Service Large Demand (GSLD). The difference between GSD and GSLD is that GSLD has a higher demand rate but a lower energy rate. Also, a third player comes into the mix with industrial customers: reactive demand. Industrial customers with high demands usually have large motors and other electric equipment that build up large magnetic fields. This is the source of reactive demand. Reactive demand is read in kVAR and if the customer’s reactive demand gets too high, they will be charged at the demand rate for the excess reactive demand. How Rates Affect the Bill These three rate structures comprise the vast majority of JEA’s commercial customer electric bills. Think back to the car analogy. JEA meters for demand and energy, but the values are captured differently, just like with the speedometer and odometer. Every fifteen minutes, a demand reading is determined and saved. During the service period, the highest kW demanded by the facility is billed. This is called peak demand. The Speedometer and The Odometer Imagine for a moment the car speedometer had a red max needle attached to it and you went for a long drive. You may have been at many different speeds during your trip, but when it was over, the red needle would be sitting on the fastest speed you traveled during that trip. This speed (or demand) is what you would be charged for. The fluctuation in demand at your facility is in a much lower range than the fluctuation of the speed in car. During a trip, the speed of a car can be anywhere from starting point to the highest speed the driver chooses and this can fluctuate depending on the number of stops during the trip. In a facility, your equipment might only be at the starting point at the beginning of the day or after equipment is restarted following a shutdown. The power drawn by your equipment will ramp up to a demand level that depends on the rating, efficiency and type of application of your equipment and will most likely remain in that range for the time the equipment is on. Energy is like the odometer and the meter will just roll off how many kWH you used during that period. The metered demand and energy usage during the service period has the corresponding rate applied to it and that determines the charges on the bill. Why is the “peak demand” billed? Well, JEA must provide that peak power needed for your equipment to run at its highest operating demand. Remember, the electric system is built to provide demand, so it must be sized for the peak demand the community and your facility requires. Understanding demand and energy is essential to understanding how they affect the bill. Since demand is logged every fifteen minutes, the equipment only needs to run for that long for it to affect the bill. Demand is not a function of run time; it’s a function of the power requirements of individual equipment and how much equipment is on at any given time. By understanding the concept and how your facility and equipment operates, it is possible to manage your demand to a certain extent. Once the demand is managed, then you can control the energy consumption by reducing the amount of time the equipment is running. Other Rate Options While the majority is best served by these standard rates, there are a few other rate options for customers. - Time-of-Day Rate The first is a Time-of-Day (TOD) rate. With this rate, the energy rate during peak hours is nearly twice as high as the standard rate and during off peak hours is nearly half as much. TOD rates are used by companies that operate 24/7/365 which generally have a high Load Factor or those that have operational schedules that fall predominantly during off peak hours. - Energy-Only Rate For GSD customers there’s also an Energy-Only rate (GSD-Optional) they can choose if their load profile is such that this rate is beneficial. The energy rate is nearly two and half times that of GSD, but they do not pay a demand charge. This rate can be beneficial to GSD customers who don’t use the facility that much during the service period, but when they do the demand can be somewhat high. These are customers with low Load Factors. Churches are a great example of GSD-Optional rate customers because the facility is not used much throughout the week so monthly energy consumption is somewhat low. However, on Sunday, when they have services, everything comes on at once so the demand is high, but only for a short period of time. Base Charge and Fuel Charge It is also important to know that there are two charges for energy, a base charge and a fuel charge. Fuel is a separate charge because it pays only for the fuel JEA purchases. (In all the foregoing examples, the base charge was discussed.) All customer rate classes pay for fuel at the same rate, except for Time-of-Day customers, whose fuel rate changes during peak and off peak times. Read Our Tariff Schedule We hope this explanation helps improve your understanding of your rates and how they correspond to your electric bill. By closely watching and tracking your demand and energy consumption, and understanding the effect equipment and operations have on consumption, you can track the impact your usage has on the size of your bill. Business Energy Advisor JEA’s Business Energy Advisor can help you save time, money and energy. It's your source for actionable advice on proven energy management strategies and technologies.

Israel is experiencing a heat wave that began Monday and is expected to last at least until Thursday. A heat wave is defined as a period of at least three consecutive days of excessively hot weather, when the air temperature is higher than 32.2 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit). According to the Israel Meteorological Service, some parts of Israel could see temperatures higher as 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) – and some areas already have. The temperatures are expected range this week from 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) in Tel Aviv to as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 Celsius) in the Jordan Valley. Forecasters are predicting “very hot and dry conditions prevailing in most regions” with “heavy to extreme heat stress” and “mugginess” along the coast. Such high temperatures – and in some cases, high humidity – cause people to be at greater risk for heat-related illnesses, Israel’s Health Ministry warns. “The risk is much greater during a heat wave, and when the heat index is high.” As of 7 pm Monday, the temperature was still as high as 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius) in the Red Sea resort city of Eilat – and that was down from 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius) earlier in the day. At the Dead Sea, it was 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) at 7 pm, down from 102 degrees Fahrenheit earlier in the day. In Jerusalem on Monday, the temperature went as high as 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius). It had dropped to a cool 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius) by 7 pm. Temperatures in the Negev capital of Be’er Sheva were the same as those in Jerusalem. The Health Ministry has published a list of recommended health and safety measures for those who are coping with a heat wave, which can be accessed by clicking here.

Altstoff Recycling Austria AG (ARA) and the JKU are driving the Austrian circular economy forward by creating the "Circular University" program. The JKU aims to usher in a new era of waste management on campus by implementing an effective campus-wide recycling program. ARA and the JKU are joining forces to protect the climate and conserve resources by kicking off the summer with a forward-thinking campus recycling and waste management program. Separating recyclable waste on campus will also contribute to attaining EU recycling targets. ARA CEO Harald Hauke remarked: "This collaboration effort is not only innovative but raises awareness as well. Our goals include obtaining as much recyclable material as possible in order to support a successful long-term waste management program at the JKU. The program also shows students and employees just how important each individual’s contribution to a successful circular economy is. This program at the JKU is a pioneering pilot program and ultimately we aim to implement similar programs at as many Austrian universities as we can." The potential is there as currently, approximately 275,000 students are enrolled at over 70 universities and universities of applied sciences in Austria. The JKU has approximately 22,000 enrolled students and 3,600 employees. JKU Rector Meinhard Lukas added: "As a university, we have a great responsibility when it comes to the way we treat our environment and handle our resources. Waste can be a valuable raw material and in the spirit of the circular economy, recycling plays a key role. Careful waste management coupled with innovative recycling technologies, such as the kind we are currently researching at the LIT Factory, are important when it comes to creating a more sustainable future." Smart Solar-Powered Waste Bins and Creating Awareness about Recycling As part of the collaboration with ARA, the program includes placing more waste collection bins around campus, providing color-coded bins to help separate waste and improve waste transport and cleaning logistics, and placing digital, solar-powered ‘smart’ waste bins in outdoor areas. Solar-powered waste bins called "BigBelly", for example, send automated e-mail notifications in regard to capacity and also shows the intervals when last emptied. In order for the program to be effective, most people need to be on board. The JKU is planning an awareness campaign that will publicize information about the waste management program using various internal and external channels. Maria Buchmayr (JKU Office of Sustainability) stated, "I am happy that the Circular University program will serve as an important step towards a future-oriented way of managing waste at the JKU. This is an important resource-saving element when it comes to supporting a circular economy." Enthusiastic Support by Businesses: Collaboration with Coca-Cola Strong partners, such as Coca-Cola HBC Austria, are committed to creating additional awareness. Herbert Bauer, general manager of Coca-Cola HBC Austria, commented: "In the spirit of our ‘world without waste’ program, by 2030 we aim to recover all our packaging. Collected PET plastics are an important recyclable material that allow us to produce new bottles. Consumers, however, must dispose of their beverage packaging properly. Programs such as a Circular University are important steps in this direction." For many years now, Coca-Cola HBC has been committed to using recycled PET plastics. Since 2019, 100% recycled PET has been used as packaging for Römerquelle mineral water. Sustainability at the JKU: Living Up to a Sense of Responsibility The JKU strongly believes that supporting the sustainable use of resources is a natural part of the university’s social responsibility. The JKU supports additional sustainability programs on campus, including switching over to locally-sourced and organic food at the JKU cafeteria. Researchers, scientists and academics at the JKU also focus on sustainability issues and climate protection by conducting research in renewable energies, converting harmful CO2 into industrial-use alcohol, and implementing a recycling program and circular economy that will be tested at the LIT Factory on campus. The JKU’s on-campus Office for Sustainability is led by Maria Buchmayr and coordinates sustainability programs at the JKU. https://www.jku.at/en/campus/the-jku-campus/sustainability, opens an external URL in a new window Future. Circular. Economy. Altstoff Recycling Austria AG (ARA) has been a driving force in the Austrian waste and recycling industry for the past 30 years. ARA is a national market leader providing systems throughout Austria to sort and manage waste, recyclables, and oversee the disposal of old electrical equipment and batteries. ARA makes a total of approximately 1.91 million collection containers are available to consumers and an additional 1.78 million households collect recyclable plastic with the “Gelber Sack” program. ARA’s waste management and collection system is growing steadily and is very popular among residents in Austria. During 2020, households in Austria collected over 1.08 million tons of recyclable packaging and paper. Along with its subsidiaries ARAplus Ltd, Austria Glass Recycling Ltd, DiGiDO Ltd and ERA Ltd, ARA today is considered a best practice example on an international level, working together with business partners to develop customized waste management solutions for both waste and recycling. ARA’s range of services extends from collection services, material flow and waste management to the ARA Circular Design aimed at pushing recycling management digitization. Owned by domestic companies as a non-profit organization, ARA AG serves over 15,000 customers. About the JKU Strongly rooted in the region but committed to supporting an international direction, the Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) is wholeheartedly committed to high quality research and education with a goal of becoming one of Europe’s top-rated universities. The JKU is a proven success story, progressing over its 50-year history from a college of social sciences, economics and business to one of Austria's largest academic institutions for research and education. New findings by JKU researchers consistently contribute to existing areas of science, further deepening continual dialogue with the public, the local business community, and those involved in the arts & culture. The JKU not only focuses on the local and global challenges of our time in research and education, but also as part its third mission (science with and for society). Today, JKU is a broadly positioned university with core expertise in technology (engineering, computer sciences, natural sciences), social sciences, business & economics, education, law, and medicine. The university’s values, visionary outlook, and interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary direction – particularly in regard to digitalization, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion - make the JKU predestined to take on the academic and scientific challenges of our time. The JKU is continuing to set standards by, for example, creating Austria's first academic degree program in Artificial Intelligence, Medical Engineering, Austria's first medical degree program as part of a Bachelor’s/Master’s system as well as a test Bachelor’s degree in Law program. These programs demonstrate a desire and passion to continually critically question oneself and adjust research and education to fit the current times. The campus’ newly enhanced modern infrastructure provides students, employees, and local residents with space to live, work, and play. The JKU’s main aspiration is to support its students as well as researchers and contribute to a progressive future focusing on technologies that will serve the people and conserve the environment.

RSA encryption is based on the assumption that factoring large integers is hard. However, it’s possible that breaking RSA is easier than factoring. That is, the ability to factor large integers is sufficient for breaking RSA, but it might not be necessary. Two years after the publication of RSA, Michael Rabin created an alternative that is provably as hard to break as factoring integers. Like RSA, Rabin’s method begins by selecting two large primes, p and q, and keeping them secret. Their product n = pq is the public key. Given a message m in the form of a number between 0 and n, the cipher text is simply c = m² mod n. Rabin showed that if you can recover m from c, then you can factor n. However, Rabin’s method does not decrypt uniquely. For every cipher text c, there are four possible clear texts. This may seem like a show stopper, but there are ways to get around it. You could pad messages with some sort of hash before encryption so that is extremely unlikely that more than one of the four decryption possibilities will have the right format. It is also possible to make the method uniquely invertible by placing some restrictions on the primes used. I don’t know that Rabin’s method has been used in practice. I suspect that the assurance that attacks are as hard as factoring integers isn’t valuable enough to inspire people to put in the effort to harden the method for practical use . There’s growing suspicion that factoring may not be as hard as we’ve thought. And we know that if large scale quantum computing becomes practical, factoring integers will be easy. My impression is that researchers are more concerned about a breakthrough in factoring than they are about a way to break RSA without factoring [2, 3]. Related encryption posts One necessary step in practical implementation of Rabin’s method would be to make sure m > √n. Otherwise you could recover m by taking the integer square root rather than having to take a modular square root. The former is easy and the latter is hard. There are attacks against RSA that do not involve factoring, but they mostly exploit implementation flaws. They are not a frontal assault on the math problem posed by RSA. By “breakthrough” I meant a huge improvement in efficiency. But another kind of breakthrough is conceivable. Someone could prove that factoring really is hard (on classical computers) by establishing a lower bound. That seems very unlikely, but it would be interesting. Maybe it would spark renewed interest in Rabin’s method.

Quiet Time Advent Bible Study Throughout the Bible we read the central theme of waiting, anticipation and desire for the “coming”; the coming of our savior and our Lord. Coming has been celebrated as a season, called Advent, throughout church history in the weeks prior to Christmas. TJC as a body of believers will be studying the Bible together in the four major coming themes of hope, love, joy and peace. Join us on this journey, as we all go deeper into the word. For many Bible study is an old habit, for others it’s intimidating. Press in with us and embrace spending quality time, reading and reflecting on brief verses, and hearing from God. Each of four weeks we will be looking at an essential verse, each day that points to Christ as our hope, our love, our joy, and our sense of peace. Each week we will introduce a new skill for you to practice and use in drawing closer to our Lord Jesus. As we celebrate his coming and await his return. Week 1: HOPE Day 3 - Isaiah prophecizes the birth of a child who will bring God among us and destroy our enemy 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.[a] 15 He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the child knows to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you abhor shall be forsaken. Isaiah 7:14-16 (WEB) We live in a time that makes it so easy to research and study the Bible with countless online resources. Early Christians had historic Jewish manuscripts and had to memorize scriptures. The book of Isaiah was very popular. In Isaiah, especially chapter 7, believers read a promise that God will destroy His enemies. Isaiah illustrates an 18th-century BC prophecy, that God will destroy his enemies in Ephraim and Syria. In these verses, a child is born of a young woman (not necessarily a virgin), and the enemy will be destroyed before the child is weaned. At Christmas, we often read Matthew using Isaiah 7:14 to interpret Jesus's virgin birth. Today we are reflecting in our quiet time on the major theme of hope that God promises to destroy His enemies. That is not quite the loving nativity scene and story we share with our kids. But Kingdom man - get real about this hope - that indeed Satan is defeated and will be destroyed by God and His son our savior Jesus Christ. QUIET TIME CHALLENGE During this Advent, we are going to learn the Every Man a Warrior Method for Bible Study. Today, we focus on “Major Themes that I see in this Scripture”. What are the “Major Themes” that you see in today’s Scripture reading? Find a Quiet Place. Pray to Jesus Christ and ask for his presence guiding you in your studies. Re-read the Verses Above and ask yourself: Can you complete the TJC Quiet Time Challenge? We’re challenging men to follow the Every Man a Warrior Method for Bible Study. We have a special web page where you can do your quiet times in accordance with this amazing method. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR QUIET TIME JOURNAL ABOUT EVERY MAN A WARRIOR Every Man A Warrior is a discipleship Bible study that “Helps Men Succeed in Life". It helps them win the battles they fight every day. Since 2011, 50,000 men in 40 countries and in 18 languages have been impacted by the Every Man A Warrior curriculum. The Every Man A Warrior ministry joined Trans World Radio (TWR) in 2017 in order to take discipleship around the world. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EMAW and learn about how you can implement this training series in your men’s group.

Mass Hysteria and Mass Media In the age we live in, nothing escapes the eye of the media – this is often useful to spur action regarding matters that otherwise go unnoticed. When no one listens to you, and there are no other means of sharing your message, the last help you can expect to get in order to create some public awareness is from the media. From Edward Snowden to Channel Miller, the media has brought attention to various issues that would otherwise stay in the dark. Yet, we also have stories like that of Diana Spencer where the media was literally accused of murdering her, and court cases like O.J Simpson where the mass outrage and/or hysteria driven by the media has done more harm than good. Mass media’s coverage of events and the mass hysteria which follows are matters that are discussed more often today, as the impact media has on people’s lives, opinions, and attitudes increase by the day. Mass hysteria is defined as “a condition affecting a group of persons, characterized by excitement or anxiety, irrational behaviour or beliefs, or inexplicable symptoms of illness”. For as long as humans have gathered into groups, there have been, and there are cases of mass hysteria which at times turn the whole socio-political structure upside down. In the past, the village rumour mill kept spinning stories for the people to share. The Salem Witch trials in the 17th Century provide a dangerous example of mass hysteria founded upon rumours. Today with the mediatized portrayals of events, there is mass hysteria surrounding Islamophobia, both globally and locally. The fears and anxieties regarding COVId-19, at its inception, have been so high that people were ready to attack their neighbours if they tested positive and were wary of those who came to the island from overseas. These examples show how media and hysteria share a relationship, where the former creates the latter. Over and above mass media, the rates at which social media such as Facebook and Whatsapp spread frenzied messages and ‘news’ are quite alarming. Considering that more than half of these forwards and shares are fake, they are also capable of creating anxiety and irrational fears in people. So, these platforms are twice as damaging as traditional news channels. While people are aware of fake news, like moths to a flame, herd mentality enables the masses to share these messages. The situation of mass hysteria created by the media, therefore, needs serious attention. We already have laws that govern news reporting and recently, with regards to the alarming levels of fake news that spread following the Easter Attacks in 2019 and the COVId-19 outbreak in 2020, the government and the security forces have taken measures to penalize the spread of false messages. Nonetheless, it is important to address the root causes as to why people knowingly fall prey to media frenzies. One reason is that people have lost faith in traditional news reports, as they feel that certain elements are not reported in an honest manner. Measures must be taken to ensure that important information is not withheld as it could lead to assumptions being made and spread. Transparency is necessary at a rational level as complete transparency is also not wise. Further, it is important that media personnel are made aware of media ethics and responsibilities- that just by having a camera and a notepad one does not become a journalist/reporter. Instead of relying on strict laws to reduce hysteria, regulation of mass media should happen.

Time-lapse photography is some really cool stuff, but when you apply it to space, it becomes even more amazing, especially given the scale of things. Who doesn’t love to watch the light from distant stars blink into existence? And further, who doesn’t stand in awe of their luster, especially when compared with the lights from cities on the nearby Earth’s surface? The distances are so enormous between the two yet the light so similar in intensity – is this not truly what photography is all about? To celebrate twenty years of international collaboration in space, the European Space Agency produced a 15-minute long video that shows a time-lapse shot from space that the ESA claims is the longest ever recorded. What really makes the time-lapse particularly cool is that it labels locations on the Earth’s surface as the space station passes over them. There’s even a map in the corner of the video to help you keep track of where the ISS is in relation to geographical locations. Captured by German astronaut Alexander Gerst, the 15-minute epic was taken while the International Space Station passed over the surface, traveling at 28,800 km/h (17896 mph). Orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes or so, the ISS took 21,375 photos during this pass which were then strung together into a video running at 12.5 speed. The ESA writes on their blog: “As the Space Station flies into the night the solar wings rotate to get ready to capture the next rays of sunlight when the orbital outpost moves outside of the shadow of Earth. On the right is Japan’s cargo spacecraft HTV-7 that was docked with the International Space Station until 7 November 2018. …Numerous flashes of light can be observed at night time from around 02:00, this is lightning from storms and is common on our planet. Stars can be seen rising above the horizon through the faint glow of the atmosphere that is still illuminated by the Sun.” You can watch the video here on YouTube.

During the late Jurassic, a pterosaur with an unusually shaped bill lined with hundreds of tiny, hooked teeth stalked the waters of what is now Bavaria, Germany. The now-extinct animal likely gulped down its seafood prey while wading in ancient ponds and lakes, just like flamingos chow down today, a new study shows. The newfound species was accidentally unearthed at an abandoned mine in the Franconian Jura area of Bavaria, a hotspot for pterosaur fossils. The researchers had been attempting to uncover crocodile bones from a limestone slab when they stumbled across the new specimen, which was incredibly well preserved and contained a near-complete skeleton along with some intact ligaments. The remains are likely between 157 million and 152 million years old, based on the surrounding sediments. In a study, published Jan. 21 in the German journal PalZ (opens in new tab), researchers described the new species, which had a number of striking features that set it apart from other pterosaurs — flying, bird-like reptiles that were cousins of the dinosaurs and roamed the skies during most of the Mesozoic era (252 million to 66 million years ago). "The jaws of this pterosaur are really long and lined with small, fine, hooked teeth, with tiny spaces between them like a nit comb," study lead author David Martill (opens in new tab), a paleobiologist at the University of Portsmouth in the U.K., said in a statement (opens in new tab). The creature's bill had a shape similar to modern spoonbills in the genus Platalea and was slightly curved upward, he added. "There are no teeth at the end of its mouth, but there are teeth all the way along both jaws right to the back of its smile."(opens in new tab) The specimen, which had a wingspan of around 3.6 feet (1.1 meters), contained 480 teeth that were between 0.08 and 0.43 inches (2 and 11 millimeters) long — the second-highest number of gnashers found in any pterosaur. The hooked shape of the teeth was something "we've never seen before in a pterosaur," Martill said. "These small hooks would have been used to catch the tiny shrimp the pterosaur likely fed on — making sure they went down its throat and weren't squeezed between the teeth." This is similar to how flamingos filter out tiny crustaceans and algae from muddy or silty water in shallow lakes and lagoons. The only difference is that flamingos use small, bristly hairs called lamellae to filter their food instead of hooked teeth. The spoonbilled pterosaur's filter-feeding skills have also been compared to whales' feeding habits. The newfound animal was named Balaenognathus maeuseri — the genus name is a nod to the living genus Balaenoptera, which contains filter-feeding baleen whales such as blue whales (B. musculus), fin whales (B. physalus) and minke whales (B. acutorostrata). The toothy pterosaur's species name, maeuseri, was given in remembrance of one of the studies authors, Matthias Mäuser, who died as the paper was being written. The new species has been placed in the family Ctenochasmatidae, which contains other pterosaurs that use their teeth to filter feed. But the "new specimen is very different from other ctenochasmatids" because the teeth on its upper and lower jaws are "a mirror image of each other," Martill said. In other species, the lower jaw normally houses slightly longer teeth, he noted. The fossil's pristine condition enabled the team to infer such detailed characteristics about the new species. "The carcass must have been at a very early stage of decay" when it fossilized, meaning it was likely buried almost straight after it died, Martill said. The specimen is currently on display in the Bamberg Natural History Museum in Germany.

The refrigerant in industrial cryogenic refrigerators is the blood of compressor. The purity of refrigerant is particularly important for industrial cryogenic refrigerators. The high purity refrigerant has obvious refrigeration effect, fast temperature drop and large cooling capacity. Low purity refrigerants not only fail to achieve the desired temperature, but also damage the compressor. When debugging industrial cryogenic refrigerators, refrigerants should be checked if the refrigeration capacity of the system is obviously insufficient and no other abnormalities are found after inspection; Or the drying filter or expansion valve of industrial cryogenic refrigerator system is blocked, and the blockage is a tan wax or black oily sludge foreign body; Or abnormal high or low pressure or temperature occurs during the system operation, or abnormal balance pressure occurs when the system is shut down. When low-concentration refrigerants are used in industrial cryogenic refrigerators, their high moisture and acidity will corrode the piping system inside the compressor. This will cause the industrial cryogenic refrigerator compressor internal blocking, shorten the service life of the compressor. On the other hand, industrial cryogenic refrigerators using low-concentration refrigerants are prone to leakage, the compressor is always idle, the operating temperature is high and the parts wear out, which will also shorten the service life if the compressor. At the same time, it will increase the operating load of the compressor, increase the consumption of electric energy, increase expenditure, poor refrigeration effect, frequent problems. The inferior refrigerant will affect the operation performance and stability of industrial cryogenic refrigerator system, and more seriously will cause the damage of industrial cryogenic refrigerator system components and compressors. It is necessary to pay attention to whether to purchase refrigerant produced by regular manufacturers through regular channels. If the price is significantly lower than the market price of the refrigerant, should be high degree of vigilant. Once the use of poor quality refrigerant is found, it is recommended to replace in time to avoid compressor and industrial cryogenic refrigerator system failure after a long time of use.

You may not see the technology behind a Luminit Light Shaping Diffuser, but you'll notice the effects of our optical diffusion lenses and light shaping diffuser film. Light Shaping Diffusers expand what’s possible with light using Luminit's advanced holographic beam shaping technology. Unlike conventional plastic light diffusion panels, Luminit's patented technology shapes light energy with holographic patterns embedded on polycarbonate film or rigid sheets. These patterns create a pseudo-random surface that can manipulate light by changing the direction of its energy. Available in both circular and elliptical formats, the diffusion ability of Luminit led light diffusers is remarkably efficient so high efficacy fixtures are possible. Many of our customers use Luminit diffuser sheets to diffuse LED strip lights to hide hotspots and produce a more uniform appearance. We also have the largest library of circular and elliptical beam angles in the world, ranging from 1° to 100° so there is an angle to tackle just about any application. How Do LED Diffusers Shape An LED Beam? How does a Luminit LED hiding film help lighting designers and lighting manufacturers? Luminit diffuser sheets and films “clean up” and shape a light beam to suit a particular purpose and that’s big. For example, LEDs are very efficient but hot spots and uneven light distribution remain a problem for lighting professionals. Our Light Shaping Diffuser sheets homogenize and shape the light with 85% to 92% transmission efficiency. The above picture demonstrates options for LED strip diffusion and the effects of a 60° x 1° elliptical Light Shaping Diffuser on an LED strip light. The light is shaped by spreading the horizontal radiation 60° only 1° in the vertical direction. The result is the elimination of hotspots on LED lighting as well as CCFL, fiber optic and laser light sources. There's a reason Luminit is one of the leading light diffusing manufacturers in the world. We have the largest catalog of LED light shaping diffuser sheets and light bending material as well the most angles and formats available to diffuse LED lighting for architectural environments, bio-medical illumination, semiconductor metrology, aerospace, automotive, laser and display applications. Our diffusion technology is based on a very thin microstructure on top of the clearest substrates available. The transmission efficiency of our thin film and thick rigid diffusers is practically equivalent. Light Shaping Diffusers use surface relief structures that are replicated from a holographically-recorded master. These pseudo-random, non-periodic structures can manipulate light by changing the direction of its energy. The result is the elimination of Moiré, color over-angle, and precise angular beam control. What is Circular, Elliptical, and Extreme Angle (Linear) Diffusion? Luminit's Light Shaping Diffuser is available in three type of angles: circular, elliptical, and extreme angle elliptical (also called linear). Circular angle diffusers are popular across multiple industries and spread a light source into a wide circular pattern depending on the angle selected. Our standard angles include 80°, 60°, 40°, 30°, 20° 10° and 5°. That is, if you purchase a 40° circular diffuser, the beam will be spread 40 degrees in every direction. This makes circular diffusers a popular choice for spotlights, downlights, flashlights, etc., where the light beam of LEDs is narrow (i.e., directional). Elliptical diffusers incorporate two different angles in order to spread light asymmetrically and diffuse one axis more than the other. Elliptical angle diffusers are help lighting designers highlight a specific area more than another area. Our standard elliptical diffuser angles for lighting class include 80° x 50° and 60° x 10° and are commonly used in hallways and specialty lighting to highlight a specific area. Stairway lighting is a good example of how our elliptical angles can highlight the walls but place more light toward the stairs for obvious safety reasons. Extreme elliptical angle, or linear, diffusers such as our 60° x 1° (i.e., 60° along the width and 1° along the length) are commonly used in wall washing, wall grazing, and cove lighting applications where the beam angle must not increase in one axis. We have a helpful blog that covers our extreme angle diffusers in more detail. Circular, elliptical, and extreme elliptical diffusers not only provide precise beam angle control, but our diffusers homogenize LEDs and fluorescent lamps and clean up striations for pleasing, human centric lighting. Luminit diffusers are popular in indoor and architectural lighting and can be found in some of the world’s most famous building, bridges, and structures. Our unique technology is also instrumental in high tech, display and automotive applications where we provide highly specialized Light Shaping Diffusers and linear micro-prismatics. What are the Benefits of Surface Scatter over Bulk Scatter? High Transmission Efficiency Because the principle of surface scatter is used instead of volume or bulk scatter, our LED diffuser sheets have a much higher transmission efficiency (~92%) than a conventional LED light diffuser. Holographic Light Shaping Diffusers offer superior optical transmission between 400nm and 700nm. Depending on the angle of distribution, Luminit LED light diffusers achieve between 85% and 92% transmission efficiency. The low backscatter of the diffuser structures are anti-reflective in nature and utilize light that would otherwise be wasted due to Fresnel loss. A clear piece of polycarbonate substrate is 89% transmissive. With a Luminit LED light diffuser added, transmission improves to 92%. Note that Luminit measures transmission utilizing an integrated sphere with the Light Shaping Diffuser structure incident to the light source. Luminit LED light diffusers precisely shape, control and distribute light. The patented holographic master recording process allows a variety of circular, or elliptical light patterns, and a wide variety of standard elliptical angles are available. To find out more about how Luminit light shaping diffuser film for LEDs can solve your next challenge, contact one of our light diffusion experts. “Hotspots” and uneven light distribution are common problems with filament, arch, LED, CCFL, fiberoptic and laser light sources. Our LED light diffuser films smooth and homogenize sources while providing uniform light in critical applications such as LCD backlights, LED displays, machine vision, automotive lighting and viewing screens. Luminit LED light diffusers: Provide precise beam control Eliminate striations and beam non-uniformity Supply direct view homogenization Provide superior near-ceiling wall washing Offer even illumination from ceiling to floor Allow light diffusion even in damp or wet locations

What is the Purpose of Thermal Insulation? Thermal insulation is an insulation namegiven to the whole of the systems designed with the aim of minimizing the heat exchange between one region and the otherExterior cladding systems , especiallysheathingwhich became widespread in the century we left behind in Europe,have recently started to become widespread in our country. Thermal insulationis one of the most important things that should be doneof sheathing and for people to live a more comfortable life in buildings. Thermal insulation is the best way to save energy without compromising the quality of life and comfort . The examinationsdifference of 50% between the buildings with sheathing and the buildings Thermal insulation is a natural or manufactured material that reduces or slows down the flow of heat. Built-in insulation materials ; It can slow down heat transfer to or near walls, pipes or equipment and is adaptable to many shapes and surfaces such as walls, pipes, tanks or equipment. Insulation is also produced as rigid or flexible sheets, flexible fiber pads, granular fill or open or closed cell foam. Various finishes are used to protect the insulation from physical and environmental damage as well as to improve the insulation's appearance. Archeology has shown that prehistoric people used various natural materials as insulation. They were dressed or covered with the wool, wool and skins of animals; Houses made of wood, stone and earth; And to protect against the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer, he used other natural materials such as straw or other organic materials. In the Middle Ages, the walls were filled with straw in the cold northern climate. Clay plaster was mixed with straw to try to keep the cold out. Since large structures could be arranged and shifted by the weight of the walls, tapestries were hung on the walls of palaces or palaces to combat drafts between stones. Old buildings were cold and suspicious places and lacked draft insulation and sealants. During the construction of modern living and working spaces, siding represents one of the solutions that should definitely be applied. Among the façade programs where the efficiency and quality to be obtained according to different sheathing program forms vary, technique suddenly comes to the fore. The main purpose of thermal insulation is to provide a comfortable life. While the conditions are like this, it shows us that an average natural gas user will incur jacketing costs in two or three years with the help of the savings they provide after the sheathing or thermal insulation systems program. The increase in energy needs and the use of fossil fuels, especially for heating, increase air pollution significantly. Buildings supported by external insulation and then jamb applications will use this type of fuel less than half, so they will cause less damage to the environment or not at all. Therefore, exterior cladding materials are systems thatare friendly to the environment and nature, as well as being economical What is sheathing? You can also use our article. Making thermal insulation in buildings with a thermal insulation strategy is a smart and sustainable investment, and it is a process that we will see the benefits of in the short and long term. It was written to give creative exterior cladding ideas about how the right insulation should work when we dress our buildings with quality thermal insulation materials . Sheathing applications are applications made to increase comfort in living spaces. When the most suitable and best jacketing method for the structure is done with the right application techniques, the contributions of the jacketing to the family and country economy are quite efficient. The insulation material used in construction to control the heat output of the conventional material from the indoor environment is called the insulation material used to prevent the outdoor heat in the indoor material. According to its structure, the commonly used insulation material can be divided into two categories: organic and inorganic. According to its shape, it can be divided into fibrous, porous microporous, bubble, granular, layered and others, and some more common materials. These include industrial insulation products and the application of natural elements as thermal insulation and jamb models . Measures taken to prevent heat transfer in exterior walls, glass and joinery, roofs, flooring and installations bring savings as well as exterior cladding . You can find a comfortable use in living spaces with the hel of exterior cladding models that minimize the effects of factors such as sound, water, humidity, heat and cold in the building environment, which will negatively affect human health.

Netherlands History Timeline The Netherlands is a country in Western Europe. The country consists of the 7 northern provinces of the historic Netherlands, whereas the 10 southern provinces seceded as Belgium in 1830. The country forms together with Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the special municipality the BES islands ( Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba ), the Kingdom The Netherlands. According to Computerannals, the country is the most densely populated in Europe except for the small states of Monaco, Vatican City, Malta and San Marino. It is also one of the lowest countries in the world, to which the name Netherlands refers. 26% of the land is reclaimed by embankment and protected by dikes. The Netherlands has 16,677,469 residents called Dutch. (April 2011). The Netherlands has historically been a strong trading nation, and has therefore for many periods been among the richest countries in the world. It was, among other things, the Dutch who invented the stock market. Amsterdam is the official capital, while The Hague ( Den Haag ) is the seat of government and parliament consisting of Eerste Kamer and Tweede Kamer. The Hague is also home to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. De Wallen, also known as Walletjes is the largest and most famous red-light district in Amsterdam. 1568-1648 – The Dutch War of Independence breaks out. 1581 – The United Netherlands is a European republic that emerged during the Eighty Years’ War and ended with the French invasion in 1795. It became one of the leading maritime nations and most important economic forces in Europe, with Amsterdam as the new center of world trade. Colonies and trading posts were set up all over the globe, such as the Nieuw Amsterdam trading post, which was later renamed New York, the discovery of Australia, called Nieuw Holland, and the establishment of a large colony in present-day 1890 – On July 29, Vincent van Gogh commits a failed suicide after being insane for the last part of his life. He suffered from manic depressive psychosis. He survived unbelievably when he shot himself in the chest, but died 29 hours later of infection. 1933 – Anne Frank who later became famous for her diaries when her family was forced to flee to Amsterdam, and only from 1940 the family was trapped in the city due to the Nazi occupation of it. When the persecution of Jews escalated in July 1942, the family went underground in hidden rooms in Anne’s father, Otto Frank’s office building. After two years in hiding, the group’s hiding place was revealed and they were all transported to concentration camps. Anne Frank and her sister, Margot, were later transported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they both died of plague in March 1945. 1940 – On May 8, German soldiers in Dutch uniforms cross the Dutch border to take some bridges, as a strategic location in the upcoming campaign – Operation Yellow. Read more here. 1940 – May 10 at 05:35 the Germans invade Holland and Belgium. Four days later, Holland surrenders. 1940 – On September 23, the Dutch collaborator Anton Mussert had his first meeting with Adolf Hitler. 1942 – From 15-16. July the first transports of Dutch Jews to Auschwitz took place. It is estimated that approx. 107,000 Jews were deported from the Netherlands to the concentration camps. Only about 5,000 of the deported Dutch Jews survived the war. 1943 – On June 8, 3,000 Jewish children and their mothers are deported from the Netherlands to Sorbibor and gassed on arrival. 1944 – During Operation Market Garden, Arnhem suffered a heavy fate at the Battle of Arnhem in September, when the city was bombed and almost wiped out. The residents had to leave the city after the battle, as the Germans cordoned off it completely. The residents were scattered for all winds and were not allowed to return until well after the liberation in May 1945. 1971 – The James Bond film “ Diamonds Are Forever ” records scenes in Amsterdam, where Bond is in town to meet Tiffany Case at Reguliersgracht 36. See a page here with clips from the movie. 2004 – The film Ocean’s Twelv e was shot in these places in Amsterdam: Pulitzer Hotel, Koningsplein, Coffeeshop De Dampkring, Kalverstraat, Heiligeweg, “golden bend” by the Herengracht canal. Read more here about the canals in the city.

Agya Rinpoche, former Senior Abbot of Kumbum Monastery and former Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China, joins his hands in prayer to finish his testimony at a hearing of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in Los Angeles, 2000. Agya Rinpoche, the respected leader of Tibetan Buddhism spoke out against religious persecution by the Chinese government, saying it required monasteries to teach communism and renounce Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent organization created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The act also established an office to oversee diplomatic missions to promote the First Amendment right of religion around the world. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, used with permission from the Associated Press.) The International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998 offers an example of how the principles of the First Amendment can influence not only U.S. domestic policy, but foreign policy as well. IRFA promotes worldwide religious freedom The act established the Office of International Religious Freedom within the Department of State to oversee numerous diplomatic missions to promote religious freedom. An ambassador-at-large heads the office and acts as the principal adviser to the president and secretary of state in matters concerning religious freedom abroad. The ambassador-at-large is also a nonvoting member of the Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent organization created by the IRFA. Office of International Religious Freedom submits annual report The Office of International Religious Freedom prepares and submits the Annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom, which examines: - the status of religious freedom in foreign countries; - government policies in conflict with the religious beliefs and practices of groups, religious denominations, and individuals; and - U.S. policies to promote religious freedom around the world. Based on these findings, the secretary of state can designate as “countries of particular concern” those nations guilty of particularly severe violations of religious freedom. The law authorizes the president to respond to such countries in a manner ranging from a private, but official, expression of concern to economic sanctions. Commission on International Religious Freedom makes policy recommendations based on report The Commission on International Religious Freedom is charged with reviewing the Annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom and making policy recommendations concerning particular countries. Thus, the report by the commission differs in scope from the State Department report and is sometimes critical of the State Department’s analysis of individual countries. The commission also gives independent policy recommendations to the president, the secretary of state, and Congress. The IRFA established the position of special adviser on international religious freedom and assigned it to the National Security Council to “serve as liaison with the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Congress and, as advisable, religious nongovernmental organizations.” Other key elements of the IRFA are the establishment of guidelines delineating religious persecution and identifying specific actions constituting violations of religious freedom. The IRFA draws heavily on international law, referring to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Charter of the United Nations. Regardless, some critics view the IRFA as a unilateral attempt to dictate policy to other countries (Shattuck 2002). IRFA uses freedom of religion as fundamental right The first sentence of the first substantive section of the IRFA reads, “The right to freedom of religion undergirds the very origin and existence of the United States,” and the act proceeds to laud the “religious freedom” that the nation’s founders sought to establish. Discussions of the fundamental nature of the right to religious freedom permeate the IRFA and the subsequent reports mandated of the State Department and the commission created by the IRFA. Lemon Test may restrain IRFA effectiveness According to Farr (2006), the First Amendment and the test set out by the Supreme Court in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) to interpret the establishment clause restrain the effectiveness of the IRFA. Farr cites an unwillingness on the part of U.S. diplomats to engage international religious communities because of a fear that such actions will appear to advance or inhibit religion. This cautious approach creates a dilemma for policymakers because the IRFA specifically charges that the effect of any policies implemented under the IRFA be evaluated in regard to the potential impact on religious communities. Therefore, although section 2(b) of the IRFA states that “[i]t shall be the policy of the United States...[t]o seek to channel United States security and development assistance to governments other than those found to be engaged in gross violations of the right to freedom of religion, as set forth in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, in the International Financial Institutions Act of 1977, and in other formulations of United States human rights policy,” potential actions may be inhibited by concerns related to the First Amendment. Critics, including the former director of the Office of International Religious Freedom, charge that after the initial fanfare with which the IRFA emerged, it has brought few tangible improvements. They cite the relegation of the ambassador-at-large to the Human Rights Bureau, which is largely outside mainstream diplomatic circles, as indicative of the role of the IRFA in foreign policy and diplomacy (Farr 2006). This article was originally published in 2009. Karen Petersen is dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of Political Science at Middle Tennessee State University. Her publications include journal articles on the causes of interstate conflict, terrorism, the federal courts and FISA, and pedagogical issues related to online learning along with a co-authored book, Prospects for Political Stability in a Democratic Iraq, with Stephen Saunders.Send Feedback on this article

Receiving any type of diagnosis can be difficult if you don’t know how to cope with it or understand how it impacts your body. It is important to understand how a health condition, such as scoliosis, affects your day-to-day life. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that typically occurs after puberty and develops gradually. It is possible for it to go undetected since it develops slowly and is sometimes unnoticeable. A chiropractic assessment is important for early detection. Symptoms of scoliosis include: - Uneven shoulders - One prominent shoulder blade - An uneven waist - Uneven hips Scoliosis by no means has to be a debilitating diagnosis. While under chiropractic supervision, many people with scoliosis may live active and healthy lives. Following the proper treatment given to you by your chiropractor can have you on your way to accomplishing your goals. Doctors are not 100% sure of the cause of scoliosis but there are a few things that put patients at higher risk. Some of the causes include genetic defects that influence how your bones develop, neuromuscular conditions, or injuries and infections. Risk factors that can contribute to the development of Scoliosis are: - Age: Adolescents going through puberty are more likely to develop scoliosis - Sex: The curvature is more likely to affect girls as compared to boys - Genetics: It may be familial (in the family), but has not been 100% proven to be the direct cause There are seven types of scoliosis, with idiopathic scoliosis being the most common form. Scoliosis is generally associated with children, but adults can have it, too. This typically happens when scoliosis is not detected during childhood or the disease progresses aggressively. Spine Universe states that most cases of scoliosis—more than 80%, in fact—are idiopathic, meaning they don’t have a known cause. Congenital Scoliosis is a rare form of scoliosis and it only affects newborns that develop spinal abnormalities in the womb. This form of scoliosis is typically diagnosed sooner because of its early onset. Some symptoms specific to Congenital Scoliosis are uneven shoulders and waistline, protruding ribs on one side and leaning body stature. Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis occurs is diagnosed in children ages 0-3. Any scoliosis diagnosed before the age of 10 may be considered early on-set by your specialist. When it is diagnosed in the earlier developmental stages, because the spin is still growing, spinal malformations can result in a problem with rib and lung development. Idiopathic Scoliosis is developed in children and adolescents. A variety of factors can cause this such as hormonal imbalances or asymmetrical growth. Once the spine has an abnormal curvature it can worsen scoliosis with age. Symptoms are exhibited in the form of uneven shoulders, uneven ribs, or a distorted torso. Degenerative Scoliosis is caused by a sideways curve in the spine and the degeneration of joints and disk tissue with age. It is most commonly found in the lower back. Studies show that over 60% of the population has some form of degenerative scoliosis because of the inevitable degenerative process. Neuromuscular Scoliosis is a specific type of scoliosis that develops as a side effect of neuromuscular diseases. It can be the result of brain, spinal cord, or muscular system disorders. Syndrome Scoliosis, as indicated by the name, is a symptom of a specific syndrome and can manifest differently as a result. If a patient is diagnosed with scoliosis, with proper chiropractic care and treatment, they can live a healthy, active life. Chiropractic care may consist of spine adjustments, to promote optimal spine alignment and joint motion. The chiropractor may use physical modalities to promote healthy muscles, tendons and ligaments. Proper exercises, stretches and posture are also imperative in the treatment regimen. There are other, more invasive treatment options that may be appropriate pending a proper chiropractic diagnosis: - Bracing: This helps to fix the spinal curvature without move forward with back surgery. - Scoliosis Surgery: Bracing typically is used prior to this, however, if the bracing is not able to circumvent the curvature enough, spinal surgery is the last option. Receiving a scoliosis diagnosis can be confusing and overwhelming, especially for children. Scoliosis can be difficult. Learning how it impacts the overall functionality of your body is a great step toward healing and finding a treatment plan unique to you. A chiropractor can tailor your treatments specifically for you and to get you functioning at your greatest capacity. Working closely with your chiropractor and following a carefully constructed treatment plan can help to optimize your life. At Auburn Chiropractic Associates we work to create an individualized treatment plan that works best for you and your lifestyle. We want to get you back to the best version of you! If you or anyone you know is showing signs or symptoms of scoliosis call us at (334) 826-2225

Government power is substantially delegated to local authorities. The right to public protest is considered to be essential. Only native-born citizens may hold elected office. Elected representatives must leave office after a legally mandated amount of time. Citizens of the same sex may marry. Artificial beings are legally recognized citizens. School-age children receive mandatory sex education. Smoking is prohibited, even in private. Law & Order Citizens may be executed for crimes. Citizens are forbidden from owning firearms. Private industry is permitted within a market-based economy. Women receive paid leave from employment for childbirth. Universal Health Care The state provides health care to all citizens. Cannabis may be legally purchased. Organizations are required to meet demographic quotas. The nation runs a space program. The state mandates the use of the metric system. The nation opposes the use of WMDs. The nation is a signatory to an international climate treaty.

Nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals cope daily with the reality and horror of illness, suffering, and death. If you are unable to cope effectively with this, you would experience “a burnout” or more accurately called “a compassion fatigue”. Your compassion and caring may leave you vulnerable to feelings of sympathy for those we serve. There is a great difference between sympathy and empathy. Both arise from compassion and caring, but they relate to the suffering person in different ways. Sympathy feels the “other’s pain” as if it were our own; you feel frightened with them, angry with them, depressed with them. As you might imagine, sympathy decreases our effectiveness as caregivers because we lose our objective perspective. Empathy, on the other hand, employs a “detached concern.” You still express your compassion and caring, but without identifying with the patient’s pain as if it were your own. Humour is a coping tool that provides you with a similar “detached” perspective. Caregivers will often use humour as a means of maintaining some distance from the suffering and protecting themselves from a sympathetic response. Christina Maslach, in her book, Burnout: The Cost of Caring, describes how nurses use humor and laughter to cope with the stress and horror they frequently witness. “Sometimes things are so frustrating that to keep from crying, you laugh at a situation that may not be funny. You laugh, but in your heart you know what’s really happening. Nevertheless, you do it because your own needs are important–we’re all human beings and we have to be ourselves”. Your ability to laugh provides you with a momentary release from the intensity of what otherwise might be overwhelming. You use humour to gain a new perspective and to find a way to function in a situation that could otherwise be intolerable. “Gallows humour” is a type of medical humour usually seen as hostile, inappropriate, or “just plain sick,” by the people who are unfamiliar with healthcare professions. Gallows humour acknowledges the disgusting or intolerable aspects of a situation, and attempts to transform it into something lighthearted and amusing.

By PARAG KHANNA Iraq remains a violent place, but in recent weeks attention has increasingly shifted toward the long-term process of its reconstruction and political rehabilitation in the wake Saddam Hussein's capture. In both processes, Lebanon can play a crucial role. As the US experiments with democracy in Iraq, it should seek lessons in Lebanon's complex history and current political structure to understand both the difficulty of democratization in the Arab world and the perils of Western-driven "nation-building." Furthermore, as a hub of economic activity in the region, Lebanon's business community and its expertise can make it a key player in both Iraq's and the region's resurgence. Commentators on Iraq's reconstruction have frequently invoked the post-World War II experience in Germany and Japan for guidance in restoring order and prosperity, but lessons from Lebanese history could be far more useful as America struggles to keep the lid on a looming civil war in a country many times Lebanon's size. During Lebanon's first civil war in the 1860s, French colonialists, equating Christians anywhere with Europeans, forced the Ottoman sultan to form an autonomous province on Mount Lebanon for the Maronites, a move which a century later continued to be favored by many Christians who sought an independent "second Israel." Osama Makdisi, a Lebanese historian and author of The Culture of Sectarianism, writes that traditional Lebanese social hierarchies which bridged religious differences were supplanted by the prevailing religious-nationalist ideology favored by the influx of European Jews. Orientalist influenced and politically convenient sectarian divisions swayed the British to give 80 percent of the Palestinian mandate of land and industries to immigrants instead of locals, which included many Arab Jews. Lebanese intuitively recognize this substitution of religion for family and clan-based social structures, and observe that their own history of "divide and rule" is being replayed in Iraq without regard for the consequences. Sectarian divisions were heightened in the process of selecting the interim Iraqi Governing Council. In late December, dissatisfied with the current arrangement, Iraqi Sunnis formed an autonomous State Council to represent their positions and interests. Despite the good intentions of achieving equal representation while juggling the interests of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, US interference in structuring the now de facto Iraqi regime may serve only to solidify potentially disastrous divisions. As in Lebanon, the agents of resistance in Iraq have similar motivations. Furthermore, it has been reported that Hizbullah agents have increased their presence in Iraq, but have thus far been restrained by Iran from conducting attacks on American forces. The hard lessons of Lebanon's political history provide ample guidance for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Though Lebanese differ vastly in their opinions on the continuing relevance of sectarian divisions in social life, it is hard to deny that in politics, religion is hard-wired into the system. The favoring of Christians by the 1943 National Pact was a leading cause of Muslim riots in the 1950s, yet the post-civil war arrangement continues to mandate that the president be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni, and the head of Parliament a Shiite. Lebanon's "consociational democracy" is a system designed to provide all groups - Christian, Shiite, Sunni and Druze -some representation in an elected government. As such, neither Sunnis nor Shiites can constitute a legislative majority without Christian support. In Lebanon, the current reconstruction effort funds the rebuilding of mosques, churches, offices and housing, making it a nonsectarian venture. Can it help make sure the same is true in Iraq? Lebanon can help Iraqis avoid repeating their fate while building a stronger state. It can serve as a base of operations for foreign firms operating in Iraq over the long-term, providing them with cultural and business expertise. Lebanon has itself developed expertise in the area of construction over the last two decades, and must assert themselves as viable candidates for Iraqi contracts as the bidding process is opened. Between 1998 and 2001, Iraq rose to the third leading market for Lebanese exports. With the military conflict in the region over, Lebanese agricultural exports should find their way back to provide for Iraq's growing demand, and its strong banking and maritime transport sectors can become key links in the new investment chain into Iraq. According to the World Economic Forum's Competitiveness reports, overall investment in Arab region has steadily decreased, yet strong opportunities exist. Given the weak levels of cellular penetration in the region, both Lebanon and Iraq are ripe for greater investment in information technology. In Lebanon, political reform is underway to make the sale of the Cellis and Libancell networks possible, which could raise up to $5 billion. The capital brought in by privatization could spur an expansion of these networks into Iraq, where cellular coverage is a lucrative proposition. Lebanon itself has only 800,000 cellular subscribers, about 20 percent of the population, thus there is plenty of room for growth in the domestic market as well. In other ways as well, Lebanon's strategic location will raise its profile in the region. The United Nations, poised to renew its operations in Iraq, may for some time to come rely on its regional headquarters in Beirut to coordinate that effort. The UN's presence also highlights the need for a regional economic development paradigm, as suggested in the widely cited Arab Human Development Report. The proposed Arab Free Trade Area (AFTA) would greatly benefit Lebanon, from which 30 percent of exports go to other Arab countries (and 40 percent to Europe). Building on the model of ASEAN or MERCOSUR, AFTA would combine Arab League and Gulf Cooperation Council countries into a customs-free zone, spurring countries in the region to overcome their reliance on import duties as a key source of revenue in favor of expanded bilateral exchange. Furthermore, this would bring Lebanon closer to more favorable trade relations with the US, which has already signed free trade agreements with Morocco and Jordan.

Electricity is a naturally occurring phenomenon that people have learned to harness through a series of creative inventions. Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are created by the flow of electric current and occur near any device or wire on which electricity is moving. Underground lines are typically built when there are no feasible overhead alternatives. Transmission lines are the heavy cables strung between lattice towers or single shaft poles that carry power from where it is generated to areas where it is needed. Your safety is important to us. Always call 811 before you dig or drive equipment into the ground. We provide you with information to help you understand your electricity bill and rates. New technologies are making your everyday items better, faster and cheaper. And how we deliver your electricity is also improving, thanks to innovative technologies. Renewable energy is energy that is generated from natural resources that are continually replenished. When power goes out, our restoration process begins as soon as conditions are safe for our professionals. Learn about how Pepco improves your service through ongoing reliability efforts. Tree pruning is a critical part of our responsibility to deliver safe and reliable electric service.

Martin Thiel will establish a research network to expand scientific knowledge of the sources and impacts of plastic marine debris in Latin America.Patricio Mercado Tackling marine debris along the Pacific shores of Latin America Martin Thiel will create a research network to collect and analyze information on the composition and abundance of marine plastic litter, its potential to transport invasive species, and social attitudes in the target countries toward various conservation actions. Plastic debris in the oceans can entangle marine life and cause internal injuries when ingested as food. It also can carry species to new habitats and is one of the principal threats to healthy oceans. The network will comprise 40 schools and a leadership team from at least five Latin American East Pacific (LEAP) countries. It will be based on the successful Chilean program “Cientificos de la Basura” (Litter Scientists), which provided scientific knowledge about marine debris sources and people’s attitudes, information that is fundamental to design efficient mitigation strategies. The results of the LEAP project will be shared with the public and decision-makers to guide development and implementation of actions and programs to reduce marine plastic debris. Thiel will harness the LEAP program to investigate the abundance, composition, and sources of marine debris. Based on the findings, the schools will develop local programs to reduce plastic litter to help mitigate this serious environmental problem. To learn more about Martin Thiel, read his bio.

Free addition worksheets for grade 1 to practice addition to 20 without regrouping. If you have a first-grader at home, then you know that learning addition strategies is a big part of the math curriculum. Let’s start with simple addition without regrouping practice with one-digit and two-digit numbers up to 20. For beginner worksheets, use my addition to 20 with pictures! Addition without regrouping grade 1 worksheets These worksheets are perfect for math drills! You can set the timer and see how fluent your child is in addition to 20. You can also let your kids work on the problems slowly and do a few per day. There are twenty addition problems on each page, two pages total in this PDF. And more addition worksheets are coming, so stay tuned! To download, just go to the end of this post and get your PDF there. Free printable addition without regrouping worksheets And please keep in mind that these addition worksheets for first grade are for personal and classroom use only. Thank you.

The diatonic major scale is one of the most common scales in music. In this article we will discuss how to play the major scale on the guitar. What is a Guitar Scale? A guitar scale is an arrangement of notes played in succession from low to high. In a scale, the starting note and the ending note are the same name but the ending note is one octave higher. The notes found in between are what determines the type of scale. What is the Major Scale? If you take a piano and play all the white keys successively, from C to C, you will end up playing the major scale. The C Major Scale consists of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The major scale is the most common scale in Western music, upon which the Western musical system of tonality is based. It is a diatonic scale and contains seven notes. The major scale can also be referred to as the Ionian mode. In Western Music, the most common scale type is the diatonic scale. This scale, of which the Major Scale is a type, consists of seven notes. The scale contains five whole steps and two half steps - these are just measures of the distance between the notes. You can use the intervals in the scale to calculate which frets to place the fingers. The intervals in the major scale are: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step. How to Play the Major Scale on The Guitar Knowing the interval distance between the guitar strings, as well as the intervals in the major scale, can help you to memorize the fingering for the major scale on the guitar. Here is how to play the major scale on the guitar: Start on the 6th string and play three notes: the first note is the tonic, followed by the supertonic which is a whole step (two frets) above the tonic, then the mediant which is a whole step above the supertonic. Repeat these same intervals on the 5th string. Switch to the 4th string and move up one fret. Now play the subtonic note followed by the tonic a half step above. The G Major Scale on the Guitar It's possible to play any major scale on the guitar using this fingering pattern. Here we will look at the G Major Scale, starting on the sixth string note, G. The notes in the G Major Scale are G, A, B, C, D, E, and F♯. The tonic note, G, is found on the sixth string at the third fret. Here is the fingering for the two-octave major scale as I learned it, taken from Classical Guitar manuals. The C Major Scale on Guitar The Royal Conservatory Scales and Arpeggios book contains the exact fingering for the G Major scale shown above, which contains no position changes. Unfortunately, this fingering is not practical if you want to increase your playing or memorization speed of the scale. The diatonic Major Scale just isn't as easy to play on the guitar as on the piano. When we play the major scale on the guitar over several strings, there are an unequal number of notes per string. This type of fingering isn't very logical. Sometimes there are two notes per string; other times there are three. Sometimes we need to use fingers 1,2,4; other times it’s 1,3,4. There is another way to finger the two-octave major scale: using a three-note-per-string pattern and using fingers 1,2,4 for most of the scale. The fingering is simplified, but this causes larger finger stretches. Here is the three note per string fingering pattern for the ascending G major scale: Why I Prefer Three Notes Per String Notice that we now play three notes per string, instead of a mixture of one, two or three notes per string. Thankfully at the very last page of the Royal Conservatory Scales and Arpeggios Book, we find a helpful half-page about an alternative fingering to the major scale. This is the three-note-per-string fingering favoured by both heavy metal and flamenco guitarists for blazing fast performance speed of the Major Scale. Here is the two octave G major scale, ascending and descending, fingered this time to have the exact same number of notes per fret: How to Play the C Major Scale on the Guitar I recommend playing the C Major scale, or any major scale for that matter, using the three-note-per-string method discussed above. The notes in the C Major scale are C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C. Here is the fingering for the C Major scale starting on the note "C" at the fifth string third fret. Problems with Fingering the Major Scale The problem is that the three note per string pattern in the major scale generates some pretty wide stretches. You can solve this either by only playing in really high positions or just growing longer fingers. What if we could find a scale that is as nice on the fingers as the major scale is to violinists, mandolinists and banjo pluckers? Because of how those instruments are tuned (in fourths instead of fifths) the major scale is relatively straightforward to play. There are always an equal number of notes to play per string and there are no large stretches. Licks that Use the Major Scale The lick that is at the end of the Sungha Jung song "Riding a bicycle" uses the notes from the G Major Scale.

The country of England is home to a large variety of trees. Due to the temperate climate, there are many trees which grow well in this region. Some of these species have been introduced, while others naturally occur within the country’s borders, which makes England an interesting place for tree enthusiasts. - 1. Alder (alnus rubra) - 2. Beech (fagus sylvatica) - 3. English Oak (quercus robur) - 4. Hawthorn (crataegus monogyna) - 5. Hazel (corylus avellana) - 6. Holly (ilex aquifolium) - 7. Norway maple (acer platanoides) - 8. Rowan (sorbus aucuparia) - 9. Silver birch (betula pendula) - 10. Small-Leaved Lime (tilia cordata) - 11. Sycamore (platanus occidentalis) - 12. London Plane Tree (platanus × acerifolia) - 13. Yew (taxus baccata) - 14. Glastonbury Thorn (crataegus monogyna) - 15. Chestnut (castanea sativa) - 16. Horse Chestnut Tree (aesculus hippocastanum) - 17. Bald Cypress Trees (taxodium distichum) The climate of England can be compared to that of a more northern version of California, due to the relatively warm summers. With this mild climate, many species of deciduous trees can grow in some parts of England. In fact, some species do not even need frost to fully develop their leaves and spread them out as they grow taller throughout the spring months. Autumn brings cooler weather and the trees’ leaves turn into an array of reds, yellows, oranges and more. This striking display of color is one reason that England is loved by many people around the world. The most common trees in England can be found on private properties, both large and small. It doesn’t matter whether you live in a suburban area or in the middle of England’s countryside, there are likely to be many trees surrounding you. For those who are interested in learning more about England’s native flora, here are some of the most common trees in England. 1. Alder (alnus rubra) The alder tree is common to the UK. It has been recorded as being one of the most common trees in England and Wales. The species does not grow well in Scotland or Northern Ireland, however. You can find this tree near rivers and brooks throughout the country, but it doesn’t tend to be very tall – growing up to 65 feet in height. 2. Beech (fagus sylvatica) The beech tree is a native species to the UK, and it thrives in England. It can also be found in Wales as well as parts of Scotland. The tree grows up to 100 feet tall and has smooth leaves that grow between 2-4 inches long. 3. English Oak (quercus robur) The English oak tree is a popular choice of tree throughout the UK. It can be found in various locations throughout England, and it has even been introduced to Wales. The leaves on this species are lance-shaped, as well as being mid-green colored with white underneath. 4. Hawthorn (crataegus monogyna) The hawthorn tree is closely related to the apple tree, and it grows quickly. It is considered to be one of England’s most common trees. If you live in an area with old hedgerows, there will likely be many hawthorn bushes along them. The leaves are bright green with white flowers that bloom during springtime (April-May). 5. Hazel (corylus avellana) The hazel tree does well throughout the UK, especially in England. It is often used for making baskets and fish-traps, but it can also be planted as a hedge or even used to create pergolas. The leaves on this species tend to grow between 5-7 inches long; they are dark green with tinges of bronze. 6. Holly (ilex aquifolium) The holly tree is a common sight in England. It is one of the most recognizable trees you can find throughout the country, as well as being rather easy to identify. The leaves on this tree are green with sharp points, as well as small red berries that grow during wintertime. 7. Norway maple (acer platanoides) The Norway maple tree is not a native species to the UK, but it has been introduced throughout England. You can find this tree in towns and cities across the country. The leaves of this species are quite large (7-8 inches long), while the branches tend to extend outwards from the trunk. 8. Rowan (sorbus aucuparia) The rowan tree is a unique species that can be found in the UK. It thrives throughout England, especially along hedgerows and road-sides. The leaves on this plant tend to be small with pointed tips, while the bark tends to have a brown appearance when viewed from afar. 9. Silver birch (betula pendula) Birch trees are another common sight in England. They aren’t just found growing along the water, but throughout the country wherever there is adequate sunlight for them to thrive. The species can grow to be around 66 feet tall and will start to produce seeds when it reaches 40 years of age. 10. Small-Leaved Lime (tilia cordata) The small-leaved lime tree is a species of tree that can be found throughout England. It tends to grow in most areas of the UK, with the exception being Ireland and Scotland. This plant is typically grown for ornamental reasons, planting it near dwellings or streets, so you can enjoy its lovely flowers. 11. Sycamore (platanus occidentalis) The sycamore tree is another commonly found species in the UK. They tend to thrive best in areas with moist soil, so you can find them near rivers and creeks throughout England. This species of tree is often planted as an ornamental plant throughout towns and cities; it’s easy to recognize by its smooth bark. 12. London Plane Tree (platanus × acerifolia) The London plane tree is another non-native species that can be found in the UK. It’s rather easy to identify, as it has smooth bark and long leaves (8 inches). These trees tend to grow between 65-100 feet tall and are often planted on main roads where there is plenty of sunlight. 13. Yew (taxus baccata) The yew is one of the most ancient trees in Britain, as well as being a native species to England. It can be found all over the country and grows slowly. In fact, some yews have been around for more than 3,000 years! The oldest living organism is a yew tree that can be found in Perthshire, Scotland. 14. Glastonbury Thorn (crataegus monogyna) The Glastonbury thorn is a common sight in southwest England. It is often identified by its long, sharp thorns and pink flowers. If you wish to plant this tree outside your house or business, be sure that the climate will allow it to thrive (typically warmer than Scotland). This type of tree has survived harsh winters, so it can handle cold, wet weather. 15. Chestnut (castanea sativa) The chestnut tree is another common sight in the UK, and in England specifically. It’s a great species of tree that can be planted along streets or on public pathways to help beautify an area. The leaves on this species tend to grow between 4-7 inches and the flowers will turn into chestnuts (aka fruits). 16. Horse Chestnut Tree (aesculus hippocastanum) The horse chestnut tree is another great species for ornamental purposes. It will often grow to be around 70 feet tall, with the leaves falling during autumn. The seeds it produces are known as “conkers”, which are used in games by children. 17. Bald Cypress Trees (taxodium distichum) The bald cypress tree is another common species in the UK. It thrives best in areas that are damp but well-drained, so you can find it growing near rivers and ponds throughout England. This tree is often planted around houses or businesses because of its pretty flowers.

8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars In 1693 Colonel Conyngham, under the authority of The King, raised a regiment of dragoons in Ireland. Early active service of the 8th Hussars, known then as Pepper’s Dragoons, was during the War of Spanish Succession, at Almenara, where on the 27th of June 1710 they defeated a Spanish Cavalry Corps and to add insult to injury, stole their crossbelts and killed them with their own swords. They were afterwards known as the “Crossbelt Dragoons”, and the Regimental Journal is still called “The Crossbelts”. After service in England which saw extensive action to suppress the 1745 Rebellion, a quieter period was then enjoyed until the start of the Napoleonic Wars. The 8th Light Dragoons distinguished themselves in the 1794 Flanders Campaign although at a very high price and then continued with active duty in South Africa and Egypt. It fought against the Russians at Silistra on the Danube, en route to the main theatre of the Crimean War (1854-56). There, it served at the Alma and took part in the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava. The charge was led by the Earl of Cardigan, who had been an officer in the 8th Hussars from 1824 to 1830. Only 154 members of the 8th Hussars returned from the Crimea in 1856. They were in Ireland for less than a year before being dispatched to deal with the Indian Mutiny (1857-59). In 1858, a Squadron of The 8th Hussars charged a vastly superior enemy force at Gwalior winning four Victoria Crosses in the process. A fifth Victoria Cross was added at the Battle of Beejapore a few months later. Central India 1857-58 became a Battle Honour for the Regiment. It then formed part of India’s garrison until 1864, and again from 1878 to 1889, guarding lines of communication between Kabul and Peshawar during the Second Afghan War (1878-80) and fighting against the Shinwarrie tribe. It spent the rest of the 19th century in England and Ireland. And from there, it sailed to the Boer War (1899-1902) in 1900, taking part in the anti-guerrilla operations. The 8th Hussars were stationed once more in India when The Great War broke out. Like The 3rd and 4th Hussars, they spent the duration of the war winning the bitter struggle on the Western Front. For almost all of the war, the Regiment was confined to the trenches, however at Villers-Faucon, ‘D’ Squadron managed to mount the last heroic charge of The 8th Hussars in 1917. The last mounted parade of the Regiment was on Armistice Day in 1938. The 8th Hussars landed in Normandy on the 9th of June 1944 as the armoured reconnaissance regiment of the 7th Armoured Division and fought all the way across North-West Europe to Hamburg with the Allied advance. In 1950 The Regiment was sent to the aid of the UN forces in Korea, only to find them in full retreat before the more numerous Chinese forces. The UN force gradually took up the offensive again and The 8th Hussars fought gallantly in the Battle of Imjin River and the actions around Seoul and Kowan-San before returning to Germany in 1952. In 1958, The 8th Hussars amalgamated with The 4th Hussars to form The Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars. Titles of The Regiment - 1693 – Henry Conyngham’s Regiment of Dragoons - 1751 – 8th Regiment of Dragoons - 1775 – 8th Regiment of Light Dragoons - 1777 – 8th (The King’s Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons - 1822 – 8th (The King’s Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Hussars) - 1861 – 8th (The King’s Royal Irish) Hussars - 1921 – 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars - 1958 – Amalgamated with the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars as The Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars

In this tutorial, we will understand the basic concepts of abstract, absolute, relative, and canonical pathnames in java with suitable examples. What are Path and Pathname? A path is a hierarchy of directories that locate a file or a directory. A pathname is a string representation of a path. A separator character (such as Windows backslash [\] ) that is platform-dependent is present between the consecutive names. For example, suppose we create two objects of the File class that stores two pathname strings. The statements are: 1) File file = new File("/Java/myfile.dat"); // For Unix or Linux platform. 2) File file = new File("D:\\Java\\myfile.dat"); // For Windows platform. In the first statement, a pathname starts with the root directory symbol /, and continues with directory name Java, separator character /, file name myfile.dat. In the second statement, a pathname starts with drive specifier D:, and continues with root directory symbol \, directory name Java, separator character \, and filename myfile.dat. Abstract Pathname in Java When a file or directory is stored in a system, the pathname string that represents the name is machine-dependent. An abstract pathname consists of an optional prefix string, such as disk drive specifiers, “/” for Unix, or “\\” for Windows, and a sequence of zero or more string names. The prefix string is platform-dependent. The last name in the abstract pathname represents a file or directory. All other names represent directories. When an abstract pathname is converted into a pathname string, each name is separated from the next name by the default name separator character. For example, File(String pathname) converts pathname string /Java/myfile.dat to abstract pathname \Java\myfile.dat on a Windows platform and /Java/myfile.dat on the Linux platform. Absolute Pathname in Java An absolute pathname is a pathname that starts with a root directory symbol. It is considered a complete name. Complete means no other information is required to locate a file. For example, suppose the file ScienceDemo.java is placed at the following location: This complete name is the absolute pathname of the file ScienceDemo.java. No other information is required to locate this file in the system. Relative Pathname in Java A relative pathname is a pathname that does not start with the root directory symbol. It is interpreted through information taken from some other pathname. For example, JavaProject\src\JavaProgram\ScienceDemo.java is a relative pathname. JavaProject is the current user directory. The current directory can be determined by the following syntax: Canonical Pathname in Java A canonical pathname is a pathname that is considered both absolute and unique. This pathname is system-dependent. For example, suppose an absolute path of a file on Microsoft Windows machine is Consider the following statements below: // Creating an object of File class. File file = new File(d:\\Java\\workspace\\JavaProject\\src\\JavaProgram\\ScienceDemo.java); System.out.println(f.getAbsolutePath()); System.out.println(f.getCanonicalPath()); The call to getAbsolutePath() method will display the following string: The call to getCanonicalPath() method will display the following string: As you can observe in the canonical path, the drive letter is converted to upper case on a Microsoft Windows system. Hope that this tutorial has covered almost all the important points related to abstract, absolute, relative, and canonical pathnames in Java. I hope that you will have understood the basic points of path and pathnames. Thanks for reading!!!

Numerous studies report that financial (and money) concepts are ingrained in children at a very early age. A 2013 Cambridge University study showed that kids as young as seven years old had already developed several basic concepts related to finance. Despite this early learning, a challenge for all kids (and many adults) - is delayed gratification. Kids want things now. It's no surprise that many young adults get in debt trouble with their first credit card! How do we help our kids develop this skill? We recommend practice!! No fancy piggy bank needed. - Create savings goals together at home. The goals should resonate with your kids - a new bike, concert tickets, a cell phone - something they really want! - Chart the progress. Coloring milestones give kids a tangible way to stay engaged before they've reached their goal. - Brainstorm ways to save and earn at home to support them. We've put together a fun activity for the kids in your life: creating a savings jar and star tracker. Clear jars are ideal to see savings balances grow and the star tracker is a fun way to measure progress! We are happy to support you and your family as you work to instill money skills in the next generation. We have kits, including jars and stars ready to go at our office. Let us know when you want to come by and we'll have your kit ready!

A common reason to get rid of trees is that leaving them where they are is a danger and a liability. A common reason to get rid of trees is that leaving them where they are is a danger and a liability. As people who make a living taking down trees, we see a lot of dangerous trees. We remove them, and we see a lot of them as we’re out and about in the community. It’s important to note that all trees are dangerous. Even a perfectly healthy tree can suddenly take a dive if, say, the ground gets saturated just in time for a bad wind storm. There’s no sense in becoming paranoid that a tree is suddenly going to fall on your car as you drive down the road, but as far as your own trees go, there are a few things to keep an eye on. 1. Rot. A rotten limb or trunk can break and fall on someone or something important. 2. Disease. Disease might seem like the same thing as rot, and, in effect, it is. It can cause limbs and trunks to fall. In addition, disease in one tree can lead to disease in neighboring trees, so its best to eradicate it as soon as possible. 3. Water weight. Some trees, like cottonwoods, absorb a lot of water when its available. The added weight makes trunks and limbs more likely to break. It also makes the falling debris more destructive. 4. Unreliable ground. Trees typically have a good sense of how well supported they are by the earth, and grow accordingly. But that doesn’t help if the soil is destabilized after the fact, by things like natural erosion, moisture or human activity. 5. Size. Obviously a 1’ thick, 15’ tall cottonwood is somewhat less a concern than an 8’ thick, 150’ tall Douglas fir.5. Proximity. A 20’ tall rotten cottonwood can be a problem if its right next to where you park your car, or where your kids play. If the same tree is out in an unused pasture, its less a threat to life, limb and property. 7. Snow weight. A tree that can usually bear its own weight, no sweat, can be dangerous under the weight of a healthy snowfall. What’s more, some trees grow brittle in cold weather, to the point where they break rather than bend. 8. Dryness. A different kind of threat that trees can pose is fire. In the dry season, foliage can act like tinder for wildfires. Branches can act as a “fire bridge”, giving the fire a path to follow from tree to tree. In some cases, solving the problem just takes removing a certain tree that’s in proximity to a heat source, like a hot exhaust or a chimney. In other cases, you might need to thin a stand of trees and remove underbrush to slow down a potential wildfire. 9. The type of tree. Certain types of trees just tend to be more dangerous. In a peculiar current case, the Western Hemlock has been highly susceptible to disease. This means you should take a good look at the state of any large Western Hemlocks on your property, and advise your neighbors to do the same. We’ve covered this problem in a previous post you can find here. Here are four trees common to the area that are particularly dangerous, and should have a close eye kept on them: Cottonwoods: These trees grow like weeds, and are common in wet areas like swamps and riverbanks. The wood is soft, and breaks easily. Add in the fact that they absorb water to the point of total saturation, which can lead to them breaking under the added weight. Maple. These deciduous trees have a large spreading canopy that takes up a lot of space overhead. The problem is that its perfectly normal for a big maple tree to have deadwood limbs in its canopy. These limbs should be pruned before they fall on somebody. Western Hemlock. Our state tree is experiencing a blight, currently. The insides of the tree are being eaten away, making them likely to fall. We’ve removed entire stands of Western hemlocks for this reason. If you have these trees on your property, we recommend keeping an eye on them. Learn more about their predicament here Alder. The alder is typically not a healthy tree. Expect them to be brittle and have dead rot. Although they are not particularly large trees, we recommend not having them close to your house. For estimates on tree removals, stump grinding and brush clearing in Snohomish and surrounding areas, you can click here to fill out an estimate form. SNOHOMISH TREE COMPANY Follow our blog for industry insights, company updates, and tips for working with trees.

https://code.sololearn.com/c7r247tcwo2Y/?ref=app Correct me for error Sry for late . May it already solved. But adding my correction : Corrected code, making strings of integers instead of int comparisions, because according your logic ,it is simple way... # pattern1 = ["!","@","#","quot;,"%","&","*"] pattern2 = list(map(str,range(0,10))) #making list to string of digits.. password=input() def func_count(password ,x): d=0 for i in password : if i in x: # using in here, d+=1 return d #for pattern1 in password : count1=func_count(password ,pattern1 ) #for pattern2 in password : count2=func_count(password ,pattern2 ) if count1>=2 and count2 >=2 and len(password)>=7: print ('Strong') else : print ('Weak') print (count1 ) print (count2 ) print (len(password )) How take int as input for pattern 2. Done changes suggested, but getting results always 'weak' pattern1 = ["!","@","#","quot;,"%","&","*"] pattern2 = range(0,10) #pattern2 now here stores an iterator. not a list of unpacked numbers from 0 to 10 . and its numbers is in form of integer but when you checking in loop, there your having charecter like '1' , not 1. password=input() def func(x): d=0 for i in password : if i==x: #this means char==list, false always.. may i in x works for pattern1 only.. for pattern2, as already told it comparing like string: '1' in integers of range(0,10) so always false. you should need int(i) in x for pattern2 d+=1 return d #ident this out of loop #these 2 statement have no use , you are not storing returned values and using again in if condition hence no need. #func(pattern 1) #func(pattern2 ) if func (pattern1 )>=2 and func (pattern2 )>=2 and len(password)>=7: print ('Strong') else : print ('Weak') so because of wrong check in i==x , tjis cide failing.... hope it helps to correct it... password = list(input()) str = " ".join(password) #a string with space b/w the items import re symb = re.findall("[[email protected]#\$%&\*]+", str) num = re.findall(r"[0-9]+", str) filt = filter((lambda x: x in symb,str), (password)) print ("Strong" if len(symb) >= 2 and len(num) >= 2 and len(password) >=7 else "Weak") What is the problem 🤨🧐?? Problem Statement Given two integers a and b, your task is to calculate and print the following four values: Generador de divicion python. Broken Image in Sololearn App

Scientists from Australia have managed to develop a much thinner display technology than the screens of existing smartphones. Thanks to its incredible thinness and flexibility, this new technology can be folded into rolls just like newspapers. Scientists from RMIT University in Australia produced a new material that can be used in display technology while working on indium tin oxide used on mobile screens. The highly conductive material was pretty fragile at the start of the work. Researchers understood that the fragility of the material was due to thickness, making the material thinner and more flexible. “We took an old material and transformed it to create an extremely slim and flexible new version,” said Dr. Torben Daeneke, the team’s chief researcher who developed the new display material. Daeneke stated that the new material can be produced cheaper and more efficiently than the touch screen technology used now. Researchers have developed a method called liquid metal printing process to achieve new display technology. In the liquid metal printing process, indium tin alloy heated to 200 degrees Celsius is used to form nano-thin layers. However, the unique fineness is that the substance has a different crystal structure. Full flexibility is the main feature of the new material, but 5 to 10 percent light absorption in ordinary conductive glass goes down to 0.7 percent in the new material. Less light absorption causes less energy to be spent on screens where the material is used. Speaking about the energy savings the material will offer, Daeneke says it will save 10 percent battery life on devices where the new material will be used. The research team, which developed the new material, also created a touch screen that works with the material. The material developed by the team may not only be used to develop smartphone screens. New material can also be used on tablets, television screens, advanced touch screens. Dr., the leader of the research team from RMIT University. “Completely flexible, conductive and transparent material cannot be produced outside of our new liquid metal method,” said Torben Daeneke. Researchers are now looking for industry partners to produce the material they have developed.

Bulgaria was a province of the Ottoman Empire from the 14th century until support from Russia enabled it to become an autonomous principality in 1878. Revolution in Turkey in 1908 undermined the power of Abdul Hamid II and enabled Bulgaria to become an independent kingdom under Prince Ferdinand. Bulgaria's parliament was elected by manhood suffrage and had the power to veto royal legislation. The most powerful political group in parliament was the Nationalist Party. In 1913 Vasil Radoslavov became Bulgaria's prime minister. Prince Ferdinand favoured an expansionist foreign policy and during the Balkan Wars joined with Serbia, Greece and Montenegro to drive Turkey out of Macedonia. In 1913 Prince Ferdinand launched an attack on its former allies. Bulgaria was defeated in six weeks and as a result lost Bulgarian-speaking parts of Macedonia and the coastal region of Dobrudja. In 1910 the Bulgarian Army comprised some 85,000 troops in peacetime. All men aged between 20 and 46 could be called up during a war. After the Balkan Wars (1912-13) the size of the army was increased to ten divisions. Each division of 24,000 men were supported by cavalry squadrons, machine-gun troops and field artillery. With no major arms industry, the Bulgarian Army relied heavily on supplies of shells, bullets, artillery and machine guns from the German Army. The German Army Air Service also provided both personnel and aircraft. In 1915 the Bulgarian government decided to join the Central Powers in the war with the Allies. Bulgarian troops were concentrated on the Balkan Front and took part in the invasion of Serbia in October 1915. They also protected the Thrace border against attack from Greece. The Bulgarian Army retreated during the Vardar Offensive and this continued until the Armistice was signed on 30th September, 1918. About 1.2 million Bulgarians fought during the First World War. An estimated 100,000 were killed and some 160,000 wounded. After the war the Neuilly Treaty restricted the Bulgarian Army to 33,000 men. In 1919 Alexander Stamboliyski, the leader of the Agrarian Union, gained power. He was murdered in 1923 and attempts were made by the communists to gain power. Political instability persisted until a dictatorship under Boris III was established. The new king cooperated with Nazi Germany and in March 1941 Bulgaria joined the Axis. Later that year the Bulgarian Army joined the German Army in occupying Yugoslavia.

At Sri Lanka’s Independence: Revisiting the crimes and communal disharmony created by the British The British ruled parts of Sri Lanka from 1796 and the whole of Sri Lanka from 1815 to 1948. Sri Lanka marks 4 February 1948 as its day of Independence. When our history is related by the very nations that occupied us or by twisted versions from their local clones the true history is often wiped under the carpet for the embarrassing nature of crimes and the dirty tactics adopted. A 1904 British newspaper pokes fun at the Sinhala elite “Ceylon is Our Happy Possession, while other colony’s make noise for more reforms, Ceylon makes Money”. Old practices die hard and the very nations that colonized nations and destroyed ancient cultures and native governance systems are on course to continuing their destructive nature. We look at some of these crimes that attempted to divide the people and continue to destable the nation inspite of being independent.

Geography this week. We are going to find out about famous landmarks in the UK. 1. Read the Go Jetters power point I have attached. It is in 2 parts because it was so big. 2. In the second power point you have to guess what the landmark is - you may need some help from a grown up for this! The answers are on the final slide. 3. Which land mark would you like to visit? How would you get there? What would you do when you got there? What would you need to take with you? Design a leaflet to encourage people to go to the landmark you have chosen. I have put on an example of a leaflet. It does not have to be done on a computer. Draw your own pictures. Make your writing bold and colourful. In History this year we found out about two famous explorers, Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong but there are many more. Choose an explorer (the websites below have lots of suggestions) and make a fact file about them. You can present your findings in any way - a poster, a piece of writing, a recording of you talking about them or use the template I have included. Remember to include: who they were when they were born where they lived why they were famous any other interesting facts, pictures, maps. When you were in Year 1 you found out all about the Great Fire of London. I found this activity and thought you might enjoy it. I wonder how much you can remember? This great online game allows the player to take on the character of a child during the fire. It explores the causes and how we know about the fire, supporting children in understanding the nature of history as well as developing factual knowledge and understanding. Friday is the 75th anniversary of VE day. There is a power point which explains what VE day is. Read it through with an adult. You do not have to do all the activities on it. VE day activity sheet has lots of suggested tasks. A template to make some bunting. 1. Read the information power point. 2. Use the concertina book template or draw the food chains in your book - the tasks are on slides 15,16,17 - choose which food chains you want to create. 3. Food chain activities - other ways to create food chains, including out doors. 4. If you are not too keen on spiders (and I'm not!) you might not want to do the Science Fun at Home activity!

Housed in the photographic collections of St George’s Chapel is this photograph of RMS Titanic, under construction at Belfast in August 1911. Built between 1909 and 1911 by the Harland and Wolff shipyard, she was one of three Olympic class ocean liners operated by the White Star Line. Titanic was launched on 31 May 1911, with thousands of spectators watching as 22 tons of soap and tallow were spread on the slipway to lubricate the ship’s passage into the River Lagan. This photograph shows her in the fitting-out berth she was towed to, where, over the next year, her engines, funnels and superstructure were installed and her interior fitted out. These photographs appear in a set of over 100 images of Ireland, depicting people, sites of interest and landscapes. They are, essentially, someone’s holiday snaps of their trip to Belfast, Co. Donegal, Co. Kerry and Co. Cork. There is no note of who took them, and the envelopes which house them are marked “Rejected”. Some photographs are labelled, and the handwriting bears some resemblance to that of Robert Burns Robertson, Chapter Surveyor from December 1912 to August 1936. Prior to working at St George’s, he first found employment in the shipyards of John Elder and Company, Glasgow where he worked on the construction of the RMS Umbria and RMS Etruria, launched in 1884 and 1885 respectively. Built for the Cunard Line and used on the prestigious Liverpool to New York route, these were the largest liners then in service. Perhaps he maintained a professional interest? Eleanor Cracknell (Assistant Archivist)

Students work in group. Students write about what they want to be when they grow up on the leaves templates. For eg: I’m Ali. I want to be an engineer. Students fold the leaves into half , apply glue on one side of the leaves and stick the leaves on the tree template. Students decorate their ambition tree MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS (To download, click on the image, right click and save image as) MATERIALS FOR TEACHER (FOR DEMONSTRATION & DISPLAY PURPOSES) (You can print the template on a green coloured paper) but if you dont have the green coloured paper, you can print the below templates on a white blank paper (front & back) Have your tried this activity with your students? Send us your photos with the materials above and we will feature your photos on our website.

Q: Is belching really caused by swallowing air? Yes, that’s the most common cause. If you eat quickly, you swallow more air, and that air gets pushed down into your stomach along with the food you’re eating. Once it hits your stomach, the stomach expands. If the pressure reaches the point of discomfort, a sensor in your stomach triggers an impulse to relieve the pressure — and a burp does the trick. Other things that might lead you to swallow extra air include drinking carbonated beverages, wearing loose-fitting dentures and chewing gum. Most sugar-free gums also contain sugar substitutes, such as sorbitol or xylitol. These hard-to-digest sweeteners tend to act as laxatives, causing even more bloating and belching. Q: What causes extra gas at the other end? Most flatulence happens when food passes into the colon before it’s been fully digested in the small intestine. Bacteria in the colon finish breaking it down, producing gases in the process. Foods that are harder to digest cause more gas for everyone. These include fatty processed foods as well as nutrient-dense foods such as beans, cabbage and onions. Certain people also have more difficulty digesting specific foods. Those with lactose intolerance, for example, have trouble digesting milk, which ferments in the colon and causes gas. Less commonly, some digestive conditions, such as celiac disease, cause similar digestive symptoms, but have more significant health consequences. The physician’s role is to help differentiate between benign issues and those that could be more harmful. Q: What can you do to reduce gas? Avoiding foods that seem linked to your gas is a simple first step. Over-the-counter remedies such as Beano and Gas-X also can quell occasional episodes, but if you find yourself reaching for them frequently, there could be something else going on. Q: What’s a normal amount of gas, and what’s not? Everybody’s different. Anything that’s out of the ordinary for you, such as new, bothersome or worsening symptoms, could be abnormal. On the other hand, if you’ve had an undiagnosed condition like celiac disease all your life, problematic symptoms might seem very normal to you. If family members or friends make comments about the frequency of your bathroom trips, pay attention. Q: When should you see a health care provider? The examples above are worth a visit. Related symptoms — such as weight loss, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation or bleeding from the GI tract — definitely require attention. Our intestines are extremely efficient at processing food, so when symptoms like these arise, they need to be checked out.

Wooden building blocks are a fun and educational way for toddlers and older kids to learn about construction, shape, size, and pattern. These blocks can be used to build toys, models, and other structures. There is no better feeling than to see your kids having fun with the wooden blocks. However, as they grow older, the wooden building blocks become a little boring and monotonous. It would be nice if you can add some color to your kids’ lives. It will also be helpful for them to be more creative and imaginative. What Age Are Wooden Blocks Good For? The wooden blocks are good for ages 2 to 6 years old. You can use them to build things. You can make a house, a car, or a train. You can also use them to make a puzzle. You can even make a fort or play with them. You can also make a maze. They are also great for pretend play. You can choose from different types of wooden blocks. You can choose from hard blocks, soft blocks, and foam blocks. You can also get the wooden blocks that are made of plastic. You can buy them from the store or you can make them yourself. You can make them out of wood or you can make them out of foam. You can also make a set of wooden blocks that are made of metal. You can make a toy car or a truck. Are Wood Blocks Safe? Wooden blocks are safe. You can use them for a long time. You should never leave them in the sun. It can damage the paint on the block. You should also never leave the blocks in water. You could get the wood wet and it can swell. This can cause the block to break. You can use wooden blocks for many different things. You can use them to play with your kids. You can use them to build houses or other structures. You can use them to teach your kids how to write their names or numbers. You can even use them to practice your spelling. The most important thing is to build blocks that are safe, attractive and fun to play with. Here are some of the best wooden building blocks for toddlers and older kids. 1: The first one is the LEGO building blocks. It is the most popular building block on the market. It is made of plastic and is safe to use. You can use it to build a variety of structures. There are also a lot of models available in different colors. You can buy these at any store that sells toys or games. 2: The second one is the Erector set. This is an educational toy that helps your kids learn about science. The blocks have different shapes and sizes. Your kids will enjoy playing with this set. 3: The third one is the Tinker Toys. This is a set of building blocks that are made of wood. They are easy to assemble. There are different shapes and sizes of blocks. You can use them to teach your kids how to build a variety of things. 4: The last one is the K'NEX building blocks. These are also made of wood. They come in many different sizes and shapes. Your kids will love playing with these because they are easy to put together and take apart.

What is a luminous flux? The answer to the question of what exactly a luminous flux is is quite simple. A luminous flux is the total amount of light that a light source emits per second in all wavelengths of visible light. The luminous flux can be seen as the photometric equivalent of the power output. Photometric equivalent is the technique of measuring the radiation of light. The ratio of luminous flux to the power required for it is called the specific luminous flux (or luminous efficiency). Luminous flux units There are various terms to consider when it comes to light currents. Some terms are also sometimes mixed up. That's why we explain all the terms relating to luminous flux here. The number of lumens of your lighting tells you how much light a lamp actually emits. Lumen therefore indicates how much light a lamp emits, but not how much light you get on a particular surface. An example: when you have two LED work lights in the same place on your vehicle, the worklight with more lumens will emit more light. The Wattage indicates how much power is required per unit of time to operate LED lights. The wattage is always specified for TRALERT® LED lights. Wattage is indicated by the letter "W". The wattage can be calculated via a formula. The formula reads as follows: the number of Volts x the number of Amps = the Wattage. In short, the wattage indicates how much energy your LED lighting consumes. The number of Volt indicates the voltage of a connection. Volt is an abbreviation of the word voltage. In the world of lighting terms, the word Volt is expressed with the letter "V". For vehicles, LED lights are usually equipped with either a 12-volt or a 24-volt connection. The number of Ampère indicates the amperage. In the world of lighting, the word Ampère is indicated by the letter "A". The stronger the current, the stronger the magnetic field. As a result, two parallel current wires are attracted to each other. When these two cables are connected to the same power source and they attract each other with the right force, each cable has one ampere.

Christchurch (Māori: Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the third most-populous urban area in the country. As well as having the most attractions of any place in the South Island, it's the major international entry point for visiting the rest of the island. It is on the east coast of the South Island, and is the centre of the Canterbury region. Christchurch is rebuilding after an earthquake in February 2011 that severely damaged it. The city is back in business and open to visitors – you will just encounter construction sites, roadworks and vacant land as you travel around. Christchurch has a rich English heritage. This especially shows in the older buildings, especially in the cultural precinct along Worcester Boulevard (which is open from the Avon River towards the west), where most heritage buildings remain. The Avon River flows through the central city and disrupts the regular rectangular layout of the city streets. Christchurch is known as the Garden City, a well-deserved name. Looking from a few floors up, one is struck by the number of trees that grow like a forest throughout the suburbs. The Canterbury Association was established in London in 1848, with the intent of settling English emigrants in what was to become Christchurch and the Canterbury region. The city's name was chosen on 27 March 1848, named after the Christ Church college at the University of Oxford. The first settlers arrived in the future Christchurch in December 1850. Christchurch was declared a city in 1856, New Zealand's first. Construction began on the landmark ChristChurch Cathedral in 1864; the cathedral was completed and consecrated in 1881. At 04:35 on Saturday, 4 September 2010, the city and region was hit by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, located 10 km deep and 40 km west of the city centre. Parts of the city were damaged, but there were no fatalities. However, 5½ months later, at 12:51 on Tuesday, 22 February 2011, a magnitude 6.3 aftershock struck 10 km south of the city centre at 5 km deep. Already damaged buildings collapsed, killing 185 people, 115 of which resulted from the six-storey Canterbury Television building collapsing and catching fire. Many other central city buildings, old and new, were damaged beyond repair and were subsequently demolished. The landmark ChristChurch Cathedral lost its spire tower and most of its western facade. Liquefaction severely affected the eastern suburbs, resulting in 10,000 homes having to be abandoned due to land damage (the "residential red zone"). Some residents moved out of the city after the quake – many moved out to the Waimakariri and Selwyn Districts north and south of the city respectively, and some moved to other areas in Canterbury and further afield. A very hip scene has developed in some of the suburbs close to the centre, and many 'gapfiller' projects (as part of the earthquake recovery) are stunning. In 2013, Lonely Planet declared post-earthquake Christchurch as one of the top 10 travel destinations in the world. In March 2019, an Australian man carried out a terrorist attack on two mosques in the city, killing 51 people in the deadliest mass shooting in modern New Zealand history. He has been sentenced to life in prison. The attacks resulted in a significant tightening of gun laws in New Zealand. |Climate chart (explanation)| Like the rest of New Zealand, Christchurch has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, mild to warm summers, cool winters, and rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year. The city is the driest of New Zealand's major cities with only 630 mm of rain per year, half of what Auckland and Wellington receive. This is due to the city being in the lee of the Southern Alps, which blocks the moist westerly winds off the Tasman Sea and causes the moisture to fall back as rain on the West Coast. The Southern Alps also causes a hot and strong foehn wind, locally known as the "Nor'wester", to blow across Christchurch and the Canterbury plains. The Nor'wester is most pronounced in summer and can cause temperatures in Christchurch to soar over 35 °C (95 °F). Christchurch occasionally receives snow during winter; on average one significant snowfall occurs in the city every 1 to 3 years. - 1 Christchurch International Airport (CHC IATA). It's 12 km northwest of the city centre, and has regular international services from eastern Australia, Fiji, Guangzhou, Singapore and Dubai, and seasonal services from Hong Kong, Perth, Rarotonga and Taipei. There are frequent flights each day from most New Zealand airports, with direct flights to and from Auckland, Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, Queenstown, Rotorua, Wellington and many more places, provided by Air New Zealand and Jetstar Airways. There is a single terminal building that serves international and domestic flights. - There are two regular public bus services from the airport to the city centre. The number 29 bus travels via Fendalton, while the Purple Line bus travels via the University of Canterbury and Riccarton. The 30-min trip costs $8.50 (or $2.55 with a Metrocard) and between the two routes buses operate every 15-30 minutes during the day, 7 days a week. The fare can be reduced to $4 by catching the bus a seven-minute walk from the airport at the stop on Memorial Ave in front of the Sudima Hotel sign. A door-to-door shuttle service to all parts of Christchurch is available; the price to the city centre is $24 for the first person and $5 for each additional person travelling to the same destination. Taxi stands (about $45-65 to the city centre) and rental car parks are close to the terminal building. - If you have a few hours to spare and no heavy luggage, you can walk to the airport. There is a footpath alongside Fendalton Road/Memorial Avenue all the way to the airport and the 8 km walk through residential neighbourhoods is quite pleasant. Christchurch lies at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 73. State Highways 1, 74 and 76 form a ring road through the outer suburbs of the city. From the Upper South Island, follow State Highway 1 southbound through Waipara, Amberley, Woodend and Kaiapoi to approach Christchurch from the north. From the West Coast, follow State Highway 73 over Arthur's Pass and via Darfield and West Melton to approach Christchurch from the west. Alternatively, you can follow State Highway 7 over the Lewis Pass, meeting State Highway 1 at Waipara and approaching Christchurch from the north. From the Lower South Island, follow State Highway 1 northbound through Ashburton and Rolleston to approach Christchurch from the south-west. Typical distances and non-stop travel times to Christchurch are: - Picton – 340 km, 6hr (via Kaikoura); 480 km, 7hr (via Lewis Pass) - Blenheim – 310 km, 5hr 30min (via Kaikoura); 450 km, 6hr 30 min (via Lewis Pass) - Nelson – 420 km, 6hr (via Lewis Pass) - Greymouth – 240 km, 3hr 15min - Timaru – 170 km, 2hr 15min - Dunedin – 360 km, 4hr 30 min - Queenstown – 480 km, 6hr - Invercargill – 570 km, 7hr National operators InterCity and Newmans Coach Lines[dead link] provide multiple daily connections to destinations throughout the South Island. There are daily bus services to and from Picton to the north, Dunedin, Queenstown and Mt Cook to the south, and the West Coast (Greymouth, Hokitika). The bus stop is outside the Bus Interchange on Lichfield Street, and there is an Intercity office inside the Interchange. Newmans Coach Lines buses (to Tekapo/Queenstown) depart from outside Canterbury Museum in Rolleston Ave, nearest the Worcester Boulevard intersection. Smaller shuttle operators also operate from Christchurch: - Atomic Shuttles, a local operator with services to Greymouth via Arthur's Pass - East West Coaches run shuttle buses from Westport via the Lewis Pass, and via Greymouth and the Arthur's Pass. The bus stops at the Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Ave. - See also: Rail travel in New Zealand - 2 Christchurch railway station, Troup Drive, Addington (adjacent to Tower Junction shopping centre). Shuttles from the station are chargeable, or you can walk into town along the edge of Hagley Park in about 45 minutes. The station has limited facilities. - The TranzAlpine can take you coast-to-coast between Christchurch and Greymouth, a town on the West Coast. This scenic train journey can be done as a day trip. The train departs from Christchurch daily at 08:15, arriving at Greymouth at 12:45, then leaves Greymouth at 13:45, getting back to Christchurch at 18:05. During the trip you’ll see the fields of the Canterbury Plains, followed by spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. The train then climbs into the Southern Alps before descending through lush beech rain forest to Greymouth. - The Coastal Pacific runs between Picton and Christchurch. At Picton the Coastal Pacific connects with the Cook Strait ferries from Wellington in the North Island. The train departs Christchurch at 07:00 and arrives in Picton at 13:15, connecting with the 14:00 ferry to Wellington. The 09:00 ferry from Wellington connects with the train departing Picton at 14:15 and arriving in Christchurch at 20:30. Canterbury Shuttles pick-ups for the Coastal Pacific are 06:00-06:30. Christchurch is mostly flat with a grid-pattern layout, so navigation by road is generally simple. The central city is contained by the "four avenues" – Bealey Ave in the north, Fitzgerald Ave in the east, Deans Ave in the west, and Moorhouse Ave in the south. Watch out for one-way streets and bus-and-taxi-only intersections in the central city. Many people get around on bicycles, and special-purpose bicycle lanes have been added to many streets to help promote cycling. Parking in the city uses a pay and display system and costs $2.60/hour. You can pay with coins, credit card (Visa, MasterCard or AmEx) or with a mobile phone text message (the latter two attract a 50c surcharge) then display the ticket with the expiry time visible on the kerbside dash. Rental cars are available. Most depots are on the airport side of town, with just a few near the CBD. The city has a small tram loop, best regarded as an attraction rather than a transport system due to its small size of coverage, high price ($25 day pass for adults, free for children) and limited hours. The city bus service is called Metro. Buses interconnect through the 3 Bus Interchange on Lichfield St, just east of Colombo St. A standard cash bus fare within the city is $4 or $2.55 with a Metrocard. The Metrocard costs $10 and needs to be topped up with a minimum of $10, its purchase will then cost you $20. By using the card you will travel for free the same day after paying two trips. Services cover the whole city and areas of interest for a visitor that lie outside the central city, such as Sumner and New Brighton beaches, Lyttelton, and the Gondola. The core bus network has four cross-city routes and a circular route through the inner suburbs. Buses on these routes run every 15 minutes during the day, seven days a week. The four cross-city routes converge at the Bus Interchange. |#||Route Name||Start||Major destinations||End||Notes| |Or||Orbiter||Eastgate Mall||St Martins Shops, Princess Margaret Hospital, Barrington Mall, Riccarton Mall, Canterbury University, Northlands Mall, The Palms Mall||Eastgate Mall| |1||Rangiora – | |Princess Margaret Hospital | |Sydenham Shops, Bus Interchange, Bealey Ave, Northlands Mall||Belfast or | |1x||Rangiora – City | |Ara Institute||Bus Interchange, Bealey Ave, Northlands Mall, Belfast, Kaiapoi||Rangiora||Weekdays only| Crescent – Sumner |Airport or Sheffield Crescent||Avonhead Mall, Canterbury University, Riccarton Mall, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange, Ara Institute, Ferrymead Shops||Sumner| |5||Rolleston/New Brighton||The Hub Hornby or | Rolleston via Templeton |Church Corner, Riccarton Mall, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange, Fitzgerald Ave, Eastgate Mall||New Brighton| |5x||Rolleston/New Brighton||Rolleston||Templeton, Hornby Hub, Church Corner, Riccarton Mall, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange||Ara Institute||Weekdays only| |7||Halswell/Queenspark||Halswell||Addington, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange, The Palms Mall, Burwood Hospital||Queenspark| - Route 1 - Runs north–south between Belfast and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). Every other service continues north of Belfast to Kaiapoi and Rangiora, and every other service continues south of PMH to Cashmere. Connects with Orbiter at Northlands (north) and PMH (south). - Route 3 - Runs northwest–southeast between the Airport or Sheffield Crescent (alternating services) and Sumner. Connects with Orbiter at University of Canterbury and Westfield Riccarton. - Route 5 - Runs west–east between Hornby and New Brighton. Every other service continues west of Hornby to Rolleston. Connects with the Orbiter at Westfield Riccarton (west) and Eastgate Mall (east). - Route 7 - Runs south-west-northeast between Halswell and Queenspark. Connects with Orbiter at The Palms Mall. - The Orbiter (Or, green) - Runs a circular route through the inner suburbs, starting and ending at Eastgate. In some areas buses may be infrequent, particularly at the weekend, when there may only be one or two buses per hour. - Metro Info, Bus Interchange, cnr Lichfield St and Colombo St, ☏ . M-F 07:30–18:00, Sa Su 09:00–17:00. - Lime and Beam electric scooters can be hired by the minute using a phone app. They do not come with safety equipment such as helmets. Pedestrians may need to watch out for inexperienced riders. - 1 Air Force Museum, 45 Harvard Ave, Wigram (take Yellow or #80 bus from Central Station platform C), ☏ . Daily 10:00-17:00. Opened in 1987 before the closure of the Christchurch RNZAF base, this museum has full-size replicas of fighting planes and dramatizes the history of New Zealand's Air Force from World War I to Vietnam and beyond. Free. - 2 Arts Centre, Worcester Blvd, Central City. Gothic Revival stonework of former University campus. This area was damaged during the 22 Feb 2011 earthquake. While reconstruction work is taking place some of these buildings are closed to the general public. However, the beauty and historical significance of these building can still be appreciated by viewing them from surrounding streets such as Worcester Blvd and Hereford St, and the excellent Canterbury Cheesemongers still operates from a modern building within its precincts. As of December 2018, the I-Site, a commercial gallery and the Great Hall (and the courtyard outside) are open. Rutherford's Den ($20 admission), an exhibition on physics, is open. Centre entry free. - 3 Botanic Gardens, Rolleston Ave, Central City (car park entrance opposite Armagh St), ☏ . Gates open 07:00 until one hour before sunset, conservatories 10:15-16:00. Information centre open 10:15-16:00 daily summer, 11:00-15:00 winter. 30 hectares of exotic and indigenous plants and trees wrapped in a loop of the picturesque Avon River and linking to the 160-hectare Hagley Park. These put the "Garden" in the "Garden City", and the combined total with Hagley Park makes them the second largest inner city park in the world (after New York's Central Park). A new visitor centre and cafe opened in 2014. Free. - 4 Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel St. A memorial to those lost in World War I and subsequent conflicts. A memorial arch was added to an existing bridge over the River Avon in 1923-24. The arch was damaged in the 2011 quake and reopened after repairs on Anzac Day 2016. The bridge is open all the time to walk across, but has been closed to vehicles since 1976. - 5 Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Ave at end of Worcester Blvd (adjoining Botanic Gardens), ☏ . Daily 09:00-17:30 summer, 09:00-17:00 winter. Includes colonial, Māori and natural history sections, Antarctic exploration display, and visiting exhibitions. Admission free to main exhibits (but donation appreciated), $2 for Discovery children's section. - 6 Cardboard Cathedral (Transitional Cathedral), 234 Hereford St, Central City, ☏ . Designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, well known for his use of cardboard elements in buildings, the cathedral was completed in August 2013 to serve as the Anglican cathedral while ChristChurch Cathedral is rebuilt. It is built on the site of St Johns church, which was demolished after being severely damaged in the 2011 quake. - 7 Christchurch Art Gallery, Worcester Blvd and Montreal St (one block east of Botanic Gardens), ☏ . Th-Tu 10:00-17:00, W 10:00-21:00. Spectacular $47-million facility opened in 2003, the largest in the South Island, with over 5000 items and visiting exhibitions. The gallery reopened in Dec 2015, after 5 years of being a Civil Defence Centre and then repairs. You can store your suitcase at the reception, so it is a nice place to go in the morning if you are leaving in the afternoon. Usually free. - Earthquake tourism. Tours of affected sites are available. Visitors can also make their own way to sites of particular significance such as: - 8 Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial. Dedicated to those who died or were injured in the 22 February 2011 earthquake. It is beside the Avon River, immediately downstream from Montreal St and upstream from Rhododendron Island in the Avon. - 9 185 Empty Chairs, Madras/Cashel Sts. An art work that is a memorial to the 185 people who died in the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The chairs are on the site of the demolished St Paul's Church, across the road from the site of the most casualties, the Canterbury Television building, where 115 people died. There are actually 186 chairs, the extra one being for people who died in Christchurch on the day, but were not directly killed by the quake. - 10 Site of Canterbury Television building. The site of the CTV building, where 115 people died was planted as a memorial garden in 2018. - 11 ChristChurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Central City. The Gothic revival cathedral was consecrated in 1881 as the seat of the Christchurch Anglican diocese. Damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, the cathedral sat largely untouched for years due to debate over what should be done with it. Removal of rubble commenced in late 2018 and rebuilding work is expected to take 10 years. - 12 Quake City, 299 Durham St North. Daily 10:00-17:00. Coordinated by Canterbury Museum, it has exhibits about earthquakes in Christchurch, particularly the quakes of 2010–11. Adult $20. - 13 Ferrymead Heritage Park, Ferrymead Park Dr (off Bridal Path Rd; take Purple bus east to Ferrymead, then 20-min walk or change to #535 bus), ☏ . 10:00-16:30 daily. A recreated Edwardian township and museum with horse and carriage (daily), tram (weekends and school/public holidays) and train (first and third Sunday) rides. Not all attractions run at all times, due to the voluntary nature of the historical societies managing the park. Special events are often held and the park has been used to film the TV One reality show Colonial House. Admission price is based on whether trams/trains are operating or not, and include unlimited rides if available. Train & tram days, adult $30, student $25, child $15; tram, no train, days, adult $20, student $15, child $10. - 14 International Antarctic Centre, 38 Orchard Rd, Christchurch Airport (take Purple or #29 bus from Central Station platform C), ☏ , toll-free: 0508 736 4846. 1 Oct–30 Apr: daily 09:00-19:00; 1 May–30 Sep: daily 09:00-17:30. A world-class Antarctic experience with simulated polar weather, Hagglund All-Terrain Vehicle ride, penguins, extensive exhibits about Antarctic science missions, café and gift shop. $55, $36 child. Unlimited Hagglund all day rides $20, Penguin Backstage Pass $20, $15 child. - 15 Orana Wildlife Park, McLeans Island Rd (10 min drive W of airport), ☏ . Daily 10:00-17:00, last entrance 16:30. New Zealand's largest wildlife sanctuary and conservation project featuring endangered animals from around the world. The park's design minimises fences and cages in favour of natural boundaries and habitats. Lion Encounter (limited 20 tickets per day, participants must be above 1.4 metres in height). Adult $34.50, child $9.50. - 16 Riccarton Bush (Dean's Bush). The last remaining forest remnant on the Canterbury plains is in Christchurch city. If your time is limited in NZ, this is a great way to experience an example of the country's native forests. The circular track passes under tall kahikatea trees, and there is a diversity of small trees, shrubs, climbers and ferns. Christchurch's oldest house, Dean's Cottage (built 1843), is adjacent. Five minutes drive from central city and easily accessible by bus. - 17 St Michael and All Angels Church, 86-90 Oxford Terrace. Services Su 08:00, 10:00, 19:00; M-F 09:00; and for viewing at other times. This wooden Anglican church dating from 1872 suffered only minor quake damage (it was closed for three months). It has an unusual separate bell tower. - 18 Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, 3 Hereford St, Arts Centre (entry off the South Quadrangle). W–Su, 11:00–15:00. A collection of artefacts from Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Near Eastern cultures. Free (suggested donation of $5 per adult). - 19 Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, 60 Hussey Rd (off Gardiners Rd), ☏ . Daily 10:00-22:00, kiwi viewing from 11:00. A smaller park than Orana, with a focus on New Zealand species including kiwi in a natural environment. The site also houses Ko Tāne replica Maori village which offers cultural performances and hangi dinners. $16, $8 child. - 20 Yaldhurst Museum, Main West Rd (near the airport, first right past Yaldhurst Hotel), ☏ . 10:00-17:00 daily (17:00-21:00 by arrangement for groups of 10 or more). Mostly interesting for its collection of over 150 classic and vintage vehicles. $20, $5 child. - 1 Antigua Boatsheds, 2 Cambridge Tce, Central City, ☏ . Daily; summer 09:30-17:30, winter 09:30-17:00. Boat hire from historic British boatsheds for a hands-on water experience. $12/hr canoe, $25/half-hr rowboat, $25/half-hr paddle boat. - 2 Christchurch Adventure Park, 225 Worsleys Rd, Cracroft. Very good mountain biking trails for advanced, intermediate and beginner bikers, and also zip-lines. Take the chairlift up then bike down. There are bike and gear rentals, lessons and skills clinics, and a cafe and bar. There are charges for the chairlift, rather than the biking as such – you can take the uphill trail for free. - 3 Christchurch Casino, 30 Victoria St, Central City, ☏ . Daily except Good Friday, 25 Apr, 25 Dec. Dress code (jeans now allowed). You get a free meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) if it is your birthday (booking essential). - 4 Christchurch Gondola, 10 Bridle Path Rd, Heathcote Valley (take #28 bus southeast, or take Purple bus and change to #535 bus at Ferrymead), ☏ . Daily except 25 Dec 10:00-17:00. Ride in an enclosed gondola car up to the summit of the Port Hills then view the Heritage Time Tunnel exhibit, take an outdoor nature walk, visit the cafe and shop. The trip takes 10 min but it is recommended to allow an hour all up. A shuttle bus runs daily from Cathedral Square (beside the tram stop). Adult $25, child (5-15 years) $12, passenger & own mountain bike $30, or with mountain bike hire $70. Discount of 10% when booking online 7 days in advance. - 5 Garden City Helicopters, 515 Memorial Ave (next to Christchurch Airport), ☏ , toll-free: 0800 359 424, [email protected]. Scenic flights from 20 min to 3 hours. From $199. - 6 Punting on the Avon, 2 Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch Central, ☏ , [email protected]. Punts depart from Antigua Boatsheds (see above). Glide down the river in Cambridge University style with a uniformed boatsman. $25. - 7 Summit Road. Drive it or bike it or take a bus then walk it. The road (and the Crater Rim Walkway) traverses the crest of the Port Hills, which separate Christchurch from Lyttelton Harbour. Breathtaking views over Christchurch, the Southern Alps, Pegasus Bay, Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula – often all from the same vantage point. Lots of sheep on the walkways, some of which traverse working farms. It is not possible to drive along all of Summit Rd because part is closed due to earthquake damage. The route passes through countryside that was badly burned by the Port Hill fires in Feb 2017. - 8 Tram ride. Sep-Mar: 09:00-18:00, Apr-Aug: 10:00-17:00. Runs every 8-10 mins on a loop in the central city that takes 25 min in total. Get on and off as you please with your day-long ticket. Adult $25, 15 years and under free (up to 3 children per adult). - 9 Christ's College, Rolleston Avenue. Oct - Apr: M-F 10:00. 80-minute tours of the independent (fee-paying) boarding school. The school was established in 1850 and follows the English public school model. The school has about 650 boys who wear a black and white striped blazer. Tour tickets can be bought from the i-Site. $10. Christchurch has the busiest program of annual festivals of any New Zealand city. - Electric Avenue. Music festival running in February in Hagley Park. - The World Buskers Festival. Runs for two weeks in January and usually features about 30 comedy, street, and circus acts from around the globe. - Kidsfest. July. During the midwinter school holiday. Programme is announced in early June. - Christchurch Arts Festival. The largest arts festival in the South Island, it takes place every second year around Aug-Sep. Next held 26 Jul – 4 Aug 2019. - Carnival Week. Centred on a number of events taking place in November - Guy Fawkes' night (a major public firework display at New Brighton Pier), the two New Zealand Cup (trotting and galloping) horse racing meetings, and the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral show, which is the largest in the country. - Carols by Candlelight. 24 Dec 21:00-22:00. A long-standing tradition on Christmas Eve. See the Christchurch City Council website for a directory of smaller events. The famous Container Mall, a temporary replacement for the earthquake-damaged City Mall, closed in Jan 2018. - 1 Riverside, 100 Oxford Terrace (On Oxford Terrace / Lichfield St / Cashel St). Daily. Indoor market with fresh produce and food stalls - full of artwork, local products and seating areas - 2 Ballantynes, cnr Colombo and Cashel Sts (adjacent to Container Mall), ☏ . M–F 09:00–17:30, Sa 09:00–17:00, Su 10:00–17:00. This major upmarket department store has been through its fair share of disasters – as well as the earthquakes of the 2010s, in 1947 the store was gutted by the deadliest fire in New Zealand history, with 41 deaths. - 3 Christchurch Farmers' Market, 16 Kahu Rd, Riccarton. Sa 09:00–12:00. Meet the growers, farmers, brewers and other artisan producers. A lively affair in the grounds of Riccarton House. - 4 New Regent Street. A beautiful street of terraced Spanish Mission-style speciality shops that opened in 1932 and have reopened since the quake. The tram runs along the street. - Suburban malls include: - 5 Northlands Shopping Centre, 55 Main North Rd, Papanui (Blue or Orbiter bus), ☏ . M–W Sa 09:00–18:00; Th F 09:00–21:00; Su 10:00–18:00. 135 stores over 42,000 m2, including Countdown, Farmers, Hoyts cinemas, Pak'nSave and The Warehouse. - 6 The Palms, cnr Marshland & New Brighton Rds, Shirley (Orange or Orbiter bus), ☏ . M–W Sa 09:00–18:00, Th F 09:00–21:00, Su 10:00–18:00. 110 stores over 34,000 m2, including Countdown, Farmers, Kmart and Reading Cinemas. - 7 Westfield Riccarton, 129 Riccarton Rd, Riccarton (Purple, Yellow or Orbiter bus), ☏ . M–W Sa 09:00–18:00, Th F 09:00–21:00, Su 10:00–18:00. The South Island's oldest (1965) and largest (55,000 m2) mall. 200 stores, including Briscoes, Farmers, Hoyts cinemas, Kmart and Pak'nSave. - 8 Riccarton Rotary Market, Riccarton Racecourse, 146 Racecourse Rd, Sockburn. Su 09:00–14:00 (wet or fine). Selling all sorts of things from plants, fruit and vegetables to kiwi souvenirs and cheap Asian wares. Has performances, bouncy castles and food. Fruit and vegetable shops offer locally grown high quality fresh produce for prices often much cheaper than supermarkets. - 1 Fresh Choice, Lichfield St (Across the road from the Bus Interchange). The most central supermarket, but also the smallest, and not the cheapest. - 2 Countdown, cnr Moorhouse Ave & Madras St. Daily 07:00-23:00. Supermarket. - 3 New World, South City Mall, 555 Colombo St. Daily 07:30-21:00. Supermarket in a small shopping centre which also has The Warehouse. - 4 Pak'n'Save, 297 Moorhouse Ave. Daily 07:00-23:00. The cheapest supermarket chain overall, but may not have as wide a range as Countdown and New World. - 5 Aha Wildlife Bakery, 100 Oxford Terrace (Inside Riverside Market), [email protected]. Daily 07:00-18:00. Wildlife themed bakery shop - bakes delicious animal-shaped bread and cookies fresh on the market. Try a kiwi, have a whale - and enjoy the artwork on the walls! 10. - 6 Funky Pumpkin, 290 Colombo St, Sydenham. Daily 08:00-18:00. Fresh fruit and vegetables and some meat. - 7 Holy Smoke, 650 Ferry Rd, Woolston (cnr Catherine St), ☏ . Tu-Sa 09:00-15:00. Deli specialising in food that has been manuka-smoked in house. The smoked salmon alone is well worth the trip. (No longer has a restaurant.) |This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:| Fish'n'chips is the cheapest meal out. The Asian district is mainly in the Riccarton/Upper Riccarton area. Church Corner is often considered the unofficial 'Chinatown'. It has Chinese supermarkets, all kinds of Asian restaurants and more. There are many Korean restaurants there, and in the shopping precinct near Westfield Riccarton. KOSCO, a Korean supermarket, has several branches in Christchurch, including one in Riccarton. - 8 Perry's Cafe, 145 Madras St (opposite Ara Institute of Canterbury – formerly Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology). M-F 07:00-16:30. Surprisingly good cafeteria-style food with touches of cafe class, gets crowded around lunchtime. mains $7-12, coffee $4. - 9 Welcome, 2 Wharenui Rd, Riccarton (just off Riccarton Rd). Delicious Chinese vegetarian meals. Don't miss the hotplate and clay pot special dishes too! Mains around $20. - 10 Afghan Restaurant (AFG), 314 Lincoln Rd, Addington (Orange Line bus), ☏ . 17:00-20:00. A rustic place that offers tasty chicken or lamb cooked over an open flame grill, served with rice and salad. A chicken curry is usually available too. Large portions, and you can takeout any leftovers. There is no menu and no toilet on site. $18. - 11 Addington Coffee Co-Op, 297 Lincoln Rd, Addington, ☏ . M–F 07:30–16:00, Sa Su 09:00–16:00. Sells fair trade coffee and clothing in a lively atmosphere. Also has a laundry. Brunch dishes $9–22. - 12 Dux Dine, 28 Riccarton Rd, ☏ . Pescatarian restaurant with lovely garden seating, the pizzas are good value to share, and the salads are fantastic. Also serves their craft beers including alcoholic ginger beer. One half of the erstwhile Dux de Lux in Hereford St. Mains $19 (pizza) – $35 (salmon). - 13 Under the Red Verandah, 29 Tancred St, Linwood, ☏ . Breakfast and lunch 07:30-15:00. Offers a range of food incorporating fair trade coffee, free range eggs and gluten-free baked goods. Big breakfast $25, coffee $4. - 14 Velvet Burger, 111 Riccarton Rd, ☏ . Daily 11:30 'til late. Gourmet burger joint which also offers local beers. Burgers $7.40–22.90. - 15 King of Snake, 145 Victoria St, ☏ . Offers Thai and Asian fusion food. mains $26–42. - Pascatore and 50 Bistro, The George hotel, 50 Park Terrace (see listing in sleep), ☏ . Two restaurants in this upmarket hotel. Great views of Hagley Park from Pescatore. Pascatore: mains $44, degustation menu $129; 50 Bistro: mains $27–39. - 16 Strawberry Fare, 19 Bealey Ave, Merivale (cnr Carlton Mill Rd), ☏ . Carries an extensive menu of modern interpreted New Zealand dishes and many dessert dishes. Reservations are required. Mains $26–44. - 17 @Tony's, 2 Waterman Place, Ferrymead Central, ☏ . M-F 12:00–14:30, M-W 17:30–22:00, Th-Sa 17:30–01:00, Su 17:30–21:00. Good Japanese teppanyaki with special all-you-can-eat deals Su-Th ($42). Mains around $30, set menus $56. - 18 The Watershed Restaurant & Bar, 12/23 Humphrey's Drive, Ferrymead. Overlooking the waterfront in Ferrymead. Main $25–37. - 1 Aikmans, 154 Aikmans Rd, Merivale. An upscale bistro and bar in trendy Merivale. Mains $25–35. - 2 Bealey's Speight's Ale House, 263 Bealey Ave. Mains $21–34. - 3 The Craic Irish Bar, 84 Riccarton Rd. - 4 No. 4, 4 Mansfield Ave. Bar and restaurant. Relaxed during the day and busy (but not too busy) on weekend nights. Great wines, Monteiths beers and a solid menu. Pint of beer $10, mains $25–44. - 5 Speight's Ale House Tower Junction, Tower Junction Mega Centre, 55 Clarence St, Riccarton (near the railway station). A relaxed atmosphere bar, a great place for meals. Mains $23–38. - If you fancy a short drive or bus ride (approx. 15 minutes from city centre), go to The Wunderbar in Lyttelton. It has a small room for gigs and is popular with artists. The Monster Bar (downstairs, next door) is an excellent Yakitori restaurant and bar though smaller and with more of a focus on DJs. |This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:| Following the earthquakes, some major hotels were demolished. This reduction in supply and the increased demand due to construction work means that accommodation in Christchurch is a little more expensive than other cities in New Zealand. Backpackers are safe, clean, cheap and cheerful. The cheapest option is a share/dorm room usually costing around $30 per night. Most offer single rooms, twin and double rooms and shared rooms. The standard of backpackers is very good in New Zealand. Motels are a notch up. Low end around $79 per night. There are also many good quality B&Bs in Christchurch and surrounding district. - 1 Christchurch Top 10 Holiday Park & Motels, 39 Meadow Street, Papanui, ☏ , toll-free: 0800 396 323. Check-out: 10:00. Deluxe motels, cabins and tent site facilities for overnight stays, group trips and longer vacations. 5 minutes walk to Northlands Shopping Centre, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, cinema and bus stop. 10 minutes drive to Christchurch Airport and 5 km to city centre. Non-powered tent site $39, powered tent site $48, rooms $75-188. - 2 Dorset House Backpackers, 1 Dorset St, Central City, ☏ , toll-free: 0800 367 738, [email protected]. Check-in: From 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Charming hostel accommodation in an 1871 heritage home, top-rated. Open again after full renovation and re-decoration. Free Wi-Fi, car-parking, spacious rooms, no bunks, all beds fully made. Set among flower gardens and 50 m from Hagley Park. On the airport bus route. Multi-share and family rooms available. Secure online bookings available. Share rooms from $41, doubles, twins, single rooms from $89. - 3 Jailhouse Accommodation, 338 Lincoln Rd, Addington, ☏ , toll-free: 0800 524 546, [email protected]. Check-out: 10:00. Renovated heritage backpacker accommodation with a colourful history - the former Addington Prison (closed to inmates in 1999). The Jailhouse has single, double, twin, dorm and family rooms. Wi-Fi and free parking. Secure online bookings available. Dorms from $32, rooms from $89. - 4 The Old Countryhouse Backpackers, 437 Gloucester St, Linwood, ☏ , [email protected]. Backpacker prices for hotel grade mattresses and linen, spotlessly clean hostel facilities, guest telephone with free local calls, Wi-Fi, Spa Sanctuary with spa pool & sauna. From $42. - 5 YMCA, 12 Hereford St, ☏ . Modern hostel/basic hotel next to the Botanic Gardens. Dorm beds $30, apartments $220. - 6 AAA Northlands Motel, 232 Main North Rd, Northcote (on SH 74, cnr Momorangi Cres), ☏ , toll-free: 0800 24 01 22, fax: , [email protected]. Close to Northlands Mall and QE2 Park. $120-160. - 7 Addington Court Motel, 197 Lincoln Rd, Addington (cnr Twigger St), ☏ , toll-free: 0800 782-978, fax: , [email protected]. Close to Addington Raceway, A&P Showgrounds and Westpac Trust Stadium. $150-270. - 8 Airport Christchurch Motel, 55 Roydvale Ave, Burnside (just off SH1 at the airport roundabout. Take first L on Memorial Ave going towards the city), ☏ , toll-free: 0800 800 631, fax: , [email protected]. 4 minutes drive to the airport, but not on any flight path. $175-305. - 9 City Central Motel Apartments, 252 Barbadoes St, Central (cnr Hereford St), ☏ , toll-free: 0508 800 888, fax: , [email protected]. 5 minutes walk to Lichfield St restaurants and 7 minutes walk to Cathedral Square. $140-235. - 10 Classique Lodge Motel, 290 Blenheim Rd, Riccarton, ☏ , toll-free: 0800 45 40 45, fax: , [email protected]. 5 minutes to Westfield Riccarton Shopping Mall. $99-150 (2 people). - 11 Designer Cottage, 53 Hastings St West, Sydenham, ☏ , [email protected]. A charming and cozy bed and breakfast that served as a sailors' retreat in the 1970s. Accommodations also include a self-contained cottage in the back garden. Guests gather every morning for a friendly breakfast with the hosts, who are extensive travellers in their own right and have many stories to tell. The hosts are local architects who are very involved in the local community and are more than happy to recommend various places to visit and to dine at. Both can also share valuable perspectives on how the city and the region have changed and evolved over the years. Rooms range from $82-191/night. - 12 Heartland Hotel Cotswold, 88-96 Papanui Road, Merivale (between Holly Rd and Merivale Ln), ☏ , toll-free: 0800 69 69 63, [email protected]. Check-in: 2pm, check-out: 10am. Free WiFi, free parking, on-site restaurant & bar, large guest rooms. $99-300. - 13 Milano Motor Lodge, 87 Papanui Rd, Papanui (between Holly Rd and Merivale Ln), ☏ , toll-free: 0800 878 766, fax: , [email protected]. 5 minutes walk to Hagley Park or Merivale Shopping Mall, 2-3 minutes walk to restaurants $159-269. For travellers who want to stay a month or longer, there are a number of furnished flats for rent advertised in the papers. A local company called Urban Rooms has furnished rentals specifically for travellers, ranging from rooms in a shared house to self-contained flats with garages. - 14 Red Door Cottage, 115 Merivale Ln, Merivale, ☏ . Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Self-catering for up to 5. Close to City Centre, public transport, restaurants, shopping. Sky TV, free Wi-Fi, rate includes continental breakfast first day. King & queen beds, warm and private, with off-street parking. Minimum stay 2 nights. $170 for 2, $20 each additional person. - 15 West Fitzroy Apartments, 66 Armagh St. Large apartments with parking, short walk to city centre, balconies with views. - 16 Eliza’s Manor Boutique Hotel, 82 Bealey Ave, Central, ☏ , fax: , [email protected]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 10:30. Luxury B&B with 8 ensuite rooms, smoke-free. $235-345 double including breakfast. - 17 The George, 50 Park Tce. Luxury boutique hotel by the river Avon and Hagley Park. Two restaurants, 50 Bistro and Pescatore. From $295. - 18 Novotel Christchurch, 52 Cathedral Square. Built in 2010 and reopened in 2013. Meeting and conference rooms, restaurant, bar, gym and 154 rooms. Qualmark rating of 4 Star Plus. From $219. - 19 Rendezvous Hotel, 166 Gloucester St. Built in 2010 and reopened in 2013. From $229, but discounts for advance booking or minimum stays. Christchurch has a problem with smog during the winter, but only at night. Although conditions have improved over the years due to the intervention of the city council, take care venturing out on calm frosty evenings if you have a breathing-related medical condition. While violent crime is relatively rare, some people do have a tendency towards aggression when drunk, as in most cities. Linwood is one of the lower socio-economic area of Christchurch, and is rougher than some other neighborhoods, but is still considered safe. As in any city, take care late at night, especially on Friday and Saturdays, as levels of intoxication can lead to unwanted attention or unprovoked violence. Avoid dark alleyways and confrontations and, if in doubt, make haste to a populated area and call the police (dial 111). Aftershocks from the 2010-11 earthquakes have long since subsided. There is still a risk of another major earthquake rocking Christchurch, but the chances are comparable to any other New Zealand city. - 2 Christchurch Central Police Station, 68 St Asaph St (cnr Antigua St), ☏ . - 3 24 Hour Surgery, 401 Madras St (just south of Bealey Ave), ☏ . 24 hours. Urgent accident and medical centre, with on-site facilities for fractures. Medical $85-190; Accident (ACC) $70-155. - Austria, 19 Joyce Crescent, Ilam, ☏ (Mobile), fax: , [email protected]. Honorary Consulate-General - the embassy is in Canberra, Australia. Can issue emergency travel documents. This consulate deals with Tasman, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Stewart Island and the Chathams and there are other honorary consuls in Auckland and Wellington. - Cyprus, 50-58 Parkhouse Rd, Sockburn, ☏ , fax: , [email protected]. M-F 09:00-16:00. Mr Kypros Kotzikas, Honorary Consul. As a major gateway to the South Island, Christchurch is often the starting or finishing point for touring the rest of the island. The Greater Christchurch area covers the Banks Peninsula southeast of Christchurch and the lowland areas of the Waimakariri and Selywn district, approximately in a 50 km radius of central Christchurch. - Lyttelton, the port town just over the Port Hills from the city, is accessible by car/bus through the tunnel, or by the scenic Port Hills route via the seaside suburb of Sumner. (The road from Sumner over Evans Pass to Lyttelton is closed because of earthquake damage; the epicenter of the 2011 earthquake was close to the surface here.) Although only 15 km (9 mi) from the central city, Lyttelton feels like another world entirely, with its cafes, bars, shops and locals, its ever-busy port, its stunning hilly backdrop and beautiful harbour. But because of the 2011 earthquake damage, Lyttelton is no longer the port of call for cruise ships visiting Christchurch; it has been shifted to Akaroa. - Banks Peninsula is on the edge of the city, and offers a quieter beauty than the Alps, but quite lovely. At its southern end of the peninsula is Akaroa – beautiful, quaint and packed with good eateries. Try out the "Swim with the Dolphins in the sea" trip. - Arthur's Pass National Park for a bush getaway, a fantastic train journey and on to the West Coast, containing the Glacier Region, Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks), Greymouth and Hokitika with its Wild Foods Festival - Hanmer Springs to soak in the hot pools and then via the Lewis Pass to Nelson for sun, wine, art and the beaches of the Abel Tasman NP - Kaikoura for crayfish and whale watching, on the way visiting Waipara, the newest wine region - Timaru and on to Otago - Queenstown for high-octane pre-packaged adventure tourism and stunning scenery |Routes through Christchurch| |Kaikoura ← Kaiapoi ←||N S||→ Timaru → Dunedin| |West Coast ← Arthur's Pass ←||W E||→ END| |END ←||N S||→ Akaroa|

Since South Sudan's conflict began in 2013, nearly 2.3 million people have fled their homes. Parents and children have taken refuge in South Sudan's vast swamps. Many have drowned or died from hunger and disease. Other children have been the the victims of targeted attacks — nearly 2,000 have been killed. Child soldiers: the war's darkest dimension The use of children as combatants adds an even darker dimension to an already terrible conflict. An estimated 16,000 have been recruited by armed groups. Many, if not most, are coerced. “Forces attacking villages often grab children and force them, at gunpoint, to fight while others join to save themselves from being beaten or killed and to protect their communities,’’ said Forsyth. If they don't send their children to serve as soldiers, families are threatened with the theft of their cattle, a major source of wealth in South Sudanese society. In 2015, significant progress was made in the effort to end the recruitment of children as soldiers. UNICEF oversaw the release of 1,775 former child soldiers in what was one of the largest demobilizations of children in history. Since their release, UNICEF has been working to provide these children with livelihood and educational opportunities. The goal: reintegrate them into their communities and give them futures away from the armed groups. Removing factors that could cause re-recruitment is a key part of UNICEF's program. But despite the committments of South Sudanese leaders to end child recuitment, children continue to be used as soldiers. And renewed fighting has sparked fears of a new surge in the use of child combatants. UNICEF has reported that hundreds of children have been recruited into armed groups since January. 650 children have being recruited into the fighting since January “The dream we all shared for the children of this young country has become a nightmare,” said Justin Forsyth, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “At this precarious stage in South Sudan's short history, UNICEF fears that a further spike in child recruitment could be imminent,” he added. Grave violations against children Recruitment into battle isn't the only threat to an entire generation of South Sudanese children. Thousands have been killed, injured, sexually violated and abducted by both sides to the conflict. Gender-based violence is extremely prevalent. Rape, sexual exploitation and abduction is pervasive. Attacks on women and girls outside Protection of Civilian (POC) sites have occurred continuously over the past two and a half years. They have greatly intensified with the recent outbreak of violence in Juba. And with shortages of food and firewood, women and girls are increasingly forced to put their safety at grave risk by leaving the POC sites to meet their daily survival needs.

Sometimes astronomers come up with awesome names for certain phenomena and then feel like they can’t use them in formal scientific contexts. Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs) are one of those – colloquially they are known as “spaghettifications” where a star is pulled apart until its constituent matter looks like a string of spaghetti. Astronomers have long known of this process, which takes place when a star gets too close to a black hole, but most of that knowledge has come through studying radiation bursts emitted by the blackhole as it devoured the star. Now, a team led by Giacomo Cannizzaro and Peter Jonker from SRON, the Netherlands Institute for Space Research, and Radboud University now think they have captured the first glimpses of a star actively being spaghettified around the pole of a black hole. Those filaments of material have never been imaged before, as most images instances of an “accretion disk”, as the disks of material surrounding black holes are known, have been seen from edge on, meaning they appear as a band of material in front of the black hole, much as Saturn’s rings would appear if they were viewed edge on. What the SRON team did for the first time was capture information about the accreditation disk while looking at one of the poles of the black hole. Remove All Ads on Universe Today Join our Patreon for as little as $3! Get the ad-free experience for life Accretion disks emit X-ray radiation, but do not do so edge-on, so when the SRON team saw that they had captured X-ray signatures in their spectra, they realized they were looking at the accretion disk of a black hole from a new perspective. That perspective would be like looking down at Saturn’s rings from far above the pole of the planet, finally be able to truly appreciate how many there are. And there truly are many strands of material wrapped around this observed black hole – the team captured separate absorption lines that would indicate there are multiple strings of material wrapped around the star multiple times. That ball of yarn pattern is similar to what would be expected to happen in a spaghettification process. Additionally, there was no Doppler shift in the data, indicating that the material was not rotating, again hinting at the underlying cause of the disk. While the spectral data hasn’t yet been translated into a pretty picture for public consumption, it does put another feather in the cap of the TDE theory of how stars interact with black holes. Let’s hope astronomers can come up with some other unique names for more esoteric processes – doughification perhaps? SRON – Astronomers see first hint of silhouette spaghettified star MNRAS – Accretion disc cooling and narrow absorption lines in the tidal disruption event AT?2019dsg UT – Astronomers Watch a Star Get Spaghettified by a Black Hole UT – Matter is Incinerated When it Falls into a Black Hole Tech Explorist – Astronomers see the silhouette of the spaghettified star Artist depiction of a black hole spaghettifying a star. Credit: NASA / CXC / M. Weiss

The process people who weren’t born in the U.S. go through to become U.S. citizens is also known as naturalization. The U.S. citizenship process can be complex hence we have put together these 10 common steps in which you can go through the us citizenship process. There are 10 steps you usually follow to become a naturalized U.S. citizen and the whole U.S. citizenship process takes approximately 6 months from the time of filing your application to getting it approved. Below are the steps involved in the U.S. citizenship process - Check if you are already a U.S. citizen - Check Your Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship - Prepare Your U.S. Citizenship Application - File Your U.S. Citizenship Application - Attend your Fingerprints Appointment (if required) - Attend Your Citizenship Interview - Find Out if Your Application Has Been Approved - Find Out the Date of Your Citizenship Ceremony - Take the Oath of Allegiance at Citizenship Ceremony - Know Your Rights and Responsibilities as a U.S. Citizen Below we describe each of the steps. Step 1: Check if you are already a U.S. citizen Even if you were born abroad, it’s possible for you to already be a U.S. citizen (or to have an easier path to citizenship). You can already be a citizen though your parents. In general, “Citizenship through parents” can work in two different ways: - The first is if one or both of your parents were U.S. citizens at the time of your birth and your parents meet certain requirements of time lived inside the U.S. - The second is if you’re currently under 18 years old, are a permanent resident, and one of your parents has become a U.S. citizenship through naturalization. The requirements for this type of U.S. citizenship, also known as derivative citizenship, may be complicated since they depend on the U.S. immigration laws at the time of your birth or at the time when you were under the age of 18. Step 2: Check Your Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship In general, to become a U.S. citizen, you must make sure you meet the following: - You are at least 18 years old - You have been a legal permanent resident (a green card holder) for at least five years. (Three years if you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen. One year if you are a member of the military) - You have had continuous residence in the U.S. (have not left the country for long periods of time) for at least the five years before the filing of the citizenship application. - You have been physically present inside the U.S. for at least 30 months in the five years before the filing of the citizenship application. - You have lived for at least 3 months in the state where you will be filing your citizenship application. - You are of good moral character. - You are able to read, speak and write in English - You have knowledge of U.S. history and civics. Step 3: Prepare Your U.S. Citizenship Application You have to complete and file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization with the USCIS to apply for citizenship. Besides completing all the questions on the form that pertain to your situation, you also have to gather a list of required supporting evidence (usually photocopies of your important documents and translations to English, if necessary) and make sure you pay the appropriate filing fee. Step 4: File Your U.S. Citizenship Application You have two options to file your Form N-400 with the USCIS: - Filing online (only available for some applicants) - Filing by mail (paper) If you file by mail, the location where you send your application package will depend on the state you live in and whether you are sending your package by U.S. Postal Service or specialized mailing services like FedEx, UPS or DHL. Step 5: Attend your Fingerprints Appointment (if required) If your application requires it, you will receive a notice in the mail, Form I-797C, Notice of Action, letting you know the date of your biometrics (fingerprints, photograph and/or digital signature) appointment. Biometrics appointments help the USCIS confirm your identity and do background checks. Step 6: Attend Your Citizenship Interview You will receive a notice in the mail, Form I-797C, Notice of Action, letting you know the date of your citizenship interview. During the citizenship interview, a USCIS officer will ask you details about yourself and your application. If your application requires it, you will also take your English and civics test. The English test has three parts (reading, writing and speaking). The civics test consists of 10 questions asked orally about U.S. history and government. Step 7: Find Out if Your Application Has Been Approved You will receive a notice in the mail, Form I-797, Notice of Approval, letting you know that your citizenship application has been approved. This is a moment to celebrate. However, the process is still not complete. You still have to attend the citizenship ceremony! Step 8: Find Out the Date of Your Citizenship Ceremony You will receive a notice in the mail, Form I-797C, Notice of Action, letting you know the date of your citizenship ceremony. During the citizenship ceremony, you will turn in your green card and take the oath of allegiance. Step 9: Take the Oath of Allegiance at Citizenship Ceremony Taking the Oath of Allegiance is one of the most important steps of the citizenship process. Here, you will raise your right hand and swear, under oath, your loyalty to the U.S. After taking the oath you will receive the Naturalization Certificate and be officially able to call yourself a U.S. citizen. Step 10: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities as a U.S. Citizen As a U.S. citizen, you now have full protection under the U.S. Constitution, you can vote in federal elections, and live, work and travel without restrictions. Among your new responsibilities as U.S. citizen, you must support the U.S. Constitution, obey the laws, and be involved in the political process while remaining informed on issues in your community.

Margin trading is borrowing funds from a brokerage house to purchase stock in an open exchange. Trading on margin allows an investor to avoid using his own funds — which may have strict limits if the investor has low capital — when making trades in the stock market. Not all investors qualify for margin trading. Brokers typically have strict requirements to ensure they do not extend capital to individuals who are incapable of generating returns that will repay the loaned funds. Many investors use margin trading when selling stocks short. Investors short stocks by selling shares they do not own. This is common when an investor believes a stock is going down in price. As the company’s stock price decreases, investors selling stocks short make money. In order to do this properly, investors often need margin in order to “sell” stocks in their trading account. The brokerage house will loan the investors money to sell the stock, expecting to recover the funds after the investors “buy” stock at a gain to cover their position. Margin trading is extremely risky because the shorted position can quickly be wiped out if the stock experiences huge gains in one day. In margin accounts, brokerages may require investors to deposit a certain amounts of funds into their accounts as a safety deposit. This ensures the investors remains financially vested in the trading process. For example, margin trading accounts may require a $5,000 US Dollar (USD) deposit by the investor. When buying stocks or selling them short, the investor can borrow a certain percentage, such as 50 percent, of the total stock purchase that is financed through the broker’s funds. For example, a total purchase price for a group of shares may be $2,500 USD; the investor will put $1,250 USD of the total $5,000 USD in the investment and borrow the remaining funds from the broker. Trading stocks on margin is not free. Most brokerage firms charge fees or interest on the borrowed funds. Making large trades using margin accounts will result in lower returns, as the brokerage firms will deduct the fees and interest from the money received by the investors. These funds will either reduce future investment gains or increase the losses on a stock trade. Margin trading may also have specific limits imposed by a government, resulting in further limits imposed by brokerage houses. For example, penny stocks or initial public offerings are typically not stocks an investor can sell short per government regulations.

People pack up and leave their homes for many reasons – economic, social, political – and these drivers are often interconnected. A more complete picture of patterns of mobility must now include those moving due to climate change – a trend expected to increase over time - as people journey from one part of their countries to another such as: - The Moroccan teenager wondering whether to leave the mountain farm where his family grows olives and fruit to work in construction outside Rabat for more reliable pay, as decreasing water supply makes agriculture more uncertain. - The factory worker on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City who misses her coastal fishing community in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta but knows they need the money she sends home to help cope with flash floods, dry spells, heavy rains and rising seas. - The family in an informal and poorly served settlement at the edge of Bishkek, having moved from the rural southern region of the Kyrgyz Republic after their water source dried up and made their pastoral livelihoods difficult to sustain. These are just a few examples of the kinds of decisions that people and communities make as they counter the consequences of a changing climate. : Over 216 million people could move within their countries by 2050 across six regions, according to the World Bank’s latest Groundswell report. "Over 216 million people could move within their countries by 2050 across six regions, according to the World Bank’s latest Groundswell report." The report includes new projections from three regions, East Asia and the Pacific, North Africa, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It builds on the first Groundswell report from 2018, which covered Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Taken together, projections across all the regions out to 2050 find that: Sub-Saharan Africa could see as many as 86 million internal climate migrants; East Asia and the Pacific, 49 million; South Asia, 40 million; North Africa, 19 million; Latin America, 17 million; and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 5 million. Internal climate migration is projected to grow for the next several decades and then accelerate through the second half of this century if countries do not reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to current and future climate change impacts. So-called ‘hotspots’ of climate migration emerge within countries as early as 2030: with climate out-migration occurring in areas where livelihoods are threatened by climate change, and climate in-migration in areas with better livelihood opportunities. “Climate change – particularly impacts such as increases in water stress, drops in crop productivity, and sea-level rise compounded by storm surge – could force people to migrate in distress. Countries could see an emergence of climate migration hotspots, as early as 2030, which will then continue to intensify and expand” the reports two lead authors, Kanta Rigaud and Viviane Clement note, adding that there is hope. “But the window to act is still open. Certainly, cutting emissions and ensuring that development is green, resilient, and inclusive is at the heart of curbing the human cost of climate change. At the same time, countries can also anticipate and prepare for the drivers of migration, for instance by supporting communities to adapt in place by diversifying livelihoods or by facilitating mobility when needed.” , the report finds. Lower global emissions pathways could translate into reduced climate change impacts, including declines in crop productivity, water stress and sea-level rise. "Early and concerted action both to cut global greenhouse gas emissions and to ensure inclusive and resilient development is essential, and can reduce the scale of internal climate migration by as much as 80 percent, the report finds." A closer look at some of the key findings from the three new subregions of focus in this second Groundswell report sheds light on how regions with very different climatic, demographic, mobility, and development contexts can plan for climate migration. A Closer Look at Internal Climate Migration Patterns in Three Subregions , pushing people out of coastal and inland areas where water scarcity is on the rise and slowing population growth in these climate out-migration hotspots along the northeastern coast of Tunisia, the northwestern coast of Algeria, western and southern Morocco, and the already water-stressed central Atlas foothills. In Egypt, the eastern and western portions of the Nile Delta, including Alexandria, could also become out-migration hotspots due to both declining water availability and sea-level rise. Several places with better water availability, meanwhile, are projected to become climate in-migration hotspots, including important urban centers such as Cairo, Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, the Casablanca-Rabat corridor, and Tangiers. In Morocco, for instance, expanding coastal cities will need to undertake climate-resilient and inclusive urban planning that accounts for climate risks and their impacts on key economic sectors and urban infrastructure. Meanwhile, adaptation measures will continue be critical for climate-sensitive sectors, including agriculture, given its importance for livelihoods and employment in the region. In Morocco, integrated water resource management and development will be vital as will efforts to deliver economic growth that is low-carbon and resilient. They pose threats to key local livelihoods, including rice production, aquaculture, and fisheries. Climate in-migration hotspots are projected to emerge in areas where the population is already growing, such as the Red River Delta and the coastal central region of Vietnam where water availability and crop productivity conditions are more favorable. But the region is also expected to be very vulnerable to increasingly frequent and severe tropical storms. The country is already working to address climate change risks, and stepping up those efforts—including proactive, multisectoral planning and the adoption of transformative solutions—will be crucial to maintaining the country’s robust development trajectory. In Central Asia, both water availability and crop productivity will create climate in-migration hotspots in already densely populated and economically productive areas, such as the Ferghana Valley, and into new areas of potential livelihood opportunities, such as northern Kazakhstan. However, important agricultural and pastoral mountainous regions of the Kyrgyz Republic that would experience greater water scarcity could see increased rural-urban migration. The Kyrgyz Republic is already taking steps to address the resilience of climate-sensitive sectors and economic diversification through the integration of climate priorities in national development strategies and processes. Both Groundswell reports provide policy recommendations to support efforts that would slow climate migration and prepare for the millions that could be on the move out to 2050. And solutions go from global – including reducing emissions and integrating climate change into far-sighted development planning – to national and local – supporting communities to adapt or move. To Learn More To learn more, please see the full report:

This beautifully illustrated picture book, Pies from Nowhere, tells the story of Georgia Gilmore and the Club from Nowhere — a grassroots project to provide food and funds for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Gilmore founded the Club from Nowhere, an organization of maids, service workers, and cooks seeking to aid the boycott. The name was an attempt to shield members from the consequences of openly supporting the boycott. “Some colored folks or Negroes could afford to stick out their necks more than others because they had independent incomes,” Gilmore explained, “but some just couldn’t afford to be called ‘ring leaders’ and have the white folks fire them. “So when we made our financial reports to the MIA officers we had them record us as the money coming from nowhere. ‘The Club from Nowhere.’” Only Gilmore knew who made and bought the food and who donated money. The underground network of cooks went door-to-door selling sandwiches, pies, and cakes, and collecting donations. The proceeds were then turned over to boycott leaders. Donations came from whites as well as blacks. That “was very nice of the people because so many of the people who didn’t attend the mass meetings would give the donation to help keep the carpool going.” Continue reading. This children’s book does an excellent job of describing Gilmore’s work and the day-to day-challenges faced by the organizers of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. ISBN: 9781499807202 | Little Bee Books Eyes on the Prize interview transcript with Georgia Gilmore (February 17, 1986) The Club From Nowhere: Cooking for Civil Rights. NPR series: Hidden Kitchens: The Kitchen Sisters (March, 2005) Georgia Gilmore, Overlooked Activist of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. By Premilla Nadasen, Beacon Broadside, March 18, 2016

Day 8 — Axial Volcano, Western part of the Caldera August 23, 2009 Latitude 45 degrees 58.06 minutes N Longitude 130 degrees 1.01 minutes W The dive today traversed older lava flows on the western side of the caldera floor and up the caldera wall to the southwest flank. We collected 31 rocks from flows we have identified from the AUV map which have not been sampled yet by us or by any of our research colleagues. We also groundtruthed the AUV map in the sense that we could see the structures on the seafloor that appear as different textures on the one-meter resolution AUV map, so we can predict what the seafloor might look like where we haven't yet done an ROV dive. On the caldera floor, we went through a very complicated area of pillow mounds, lava lakes, and jumbled sheet flows. It was not always clear at the contacts which flow was overlying which. Our assessment of the amount of sediment cover and biological recruitment is not calibrated enough on such varied, older terrain to be unequivocal. It will require results of the lava chemistry analyses to sort out the relationships between these flows. We collected several samples in the caldera wall of massive lava flows that built the edifice and pre-date the formation of the caldera. Up on the caldera rim, we sampled clastic units and nearby lava flows. Since the vibracore hasn't been successful in recovering this sandy sediment, we had to be creative to get enough material to analyze. In a fine-grained volcanic clay unit, we push-cored horizontally into the wall. Below that, a thick, black, glassy unit was so coarse-grained that we used a push-core as a scoop and deposited the sample in the biobox. This sample contained an amazing collection of large limu o Pele flakes, complexly folded tissue-thin limu, and Pele's hairs up to three centimeters long. These are products of lava bubbles being blown and collapsing in mildly explosive eruptions. Once we have all the older-younger flow relationships worked out, we can determine changes through time of the volcano's chemistry. The amount of time over which those changes occurred will be determined using sophisticated age-dating techniques. How lavas change through time has been a goal of work on mid-ocean spreading ridges for a long time, and with high-resolution maps, precise sampling, and thorough analysis of lava chemistry, it may finally be possible. The R/V Atlantis and manned submersible Alvin are still working in the area, so for safety reasons we had to stay two kilometers away and modify our dive plan. Once again, we watched as they recovered the Alvin aboard the stern of the vessel. I've been down twice in the sub, and it is fun to see it from this perspective and to reminisce. Small flow channel, which overtopped its levee on either side. Volcaniclastic (broken volcanic rock) unit at the top of the caldera wall with black sandy units above and a finer tan muddy unit below. It consists of ejecta from the recent, vigorous eruptions at Axial, during or since the caldera collapsed. Crab feast: spider crabs gather to devour a jelly that sank to the sea floor. A deep-sea octopus, Graneledone, crawls across a lava pillow. (Red dots are lasers set 29 cm apart for sizing objects in the image.) Well, when we started this cruise over a week ago, it seemed like deja vu from three years ago - it seemed as if the almighty gods of the sea were not in particular favour of our mission. But as the first days went by, I recognized, it’s not us they are concerned with, but rather the meteorologists and their attempts to forecast the weather - how dare they! And as the gods of the sea interfered with the meteorologists, the mostly unpleasant forecasts didn't materialize. At least not for the predicted time and space. So, the cruise went on, the pile of collected samples on board grew piece-by-piece, we went sight-seeing around hydrothermal vents and their wild-looking inhabitants, we visited “ancient pillar cities” (I was almost convinced we had discovered the ancient drowned city of Atlantis), our remote controlled vehicle “Doc Ricketts” made friends with rays and octopuses, we stopped by a jellyfish sushi party hosted by a few spider crabs, in other words: everything seemed to follow its normal path - a few drawbacks, a few surprises – nothing entirely out of range. Until a few days ago when a UFO was claimed to be spotted… An omen, as it turned out. The next day, we had visitors nearby, simply appearing out of nowhere (the R/V Atlantis). Maybe another omen, maybe the last warning by the gods of the sea. Foolish as most of us were, we gave that incident little attention only. A mistake we would have to pay for… It became clear today, the almighty gods of the sea had turned against us. We were unable to proceed today on our mission as planned out, and seemingly powerless against the will of the gods, we gave in, adjusting our plans… The R/V Western Flyer is a small water-plane area twin hull (SWATH) oceanographic research vessel measuring 35.6 meters long and 16.2 meters wide. It was designed and constructed for MBARI to serve as the support vessel for ROV operations. Her missions include the Monterey Bay as well as extended cruises to Hawaii, Gulf of California and the Pacific Northwest. ROV Doc Ricketts ROV Doc Ricketts is MBARI's next generation ROV. The system breaks new ground in providing an integrated unmanned submersible research platform, with many powerful features providing efficient, reliable and precise sampling and data collection in a wide range of missions. R/V Zephyr is the primary support vessel for MBARI's autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) program. This 26-meter vessel is also used to maintain environmental moorings, collect time-series data along the California Current, and support scuba divers as they study near-shore habitats. AUV D. Allan B. The MBARI Mapping AUV is a torpedo-shaped vehicle equipped with four mapping sonars that operate simultaneously during a mission. The multibeam sonar produces high-resolution bathymetry (analogous to topography on land), the sidescan sonars produce imagery based on the intensity of the sound energy's reflections, and the subbottom profiler penetrates sediments on the seafloor, allowing the detection of layers within the sediments, faults, and depth to the basement rock. A push-core looks like a clear plastic tube with a rubber handle on one end. Just as its name implies, the push core is pushed down into loose sediment using ROV Tiburon's manipulator arm. As the sediment fills up the core, water exits out the top through one-way valves. When the core is pulled up again, these valves close, which (most of the time) keeps the sediment from sliding out of the core tube. When we bring these cores back to the surface, we typically look for living animals and organic material in the sediments. Niskin bottles are used to collect water samples as well as the tiny bacteria and plankton in that volume. The caps at both ends are open until the bottles are tripped, when the caps snap closed. The box fits in a partition in the sample drawer. It is shown open, with an animal being placed into it by the ROV's manipulator. When the lid is closed, the box will hold water to protect the animals inside. This device is used to collect volcanic glass fragments from the surface of a flow. It is made of about 450kg of lead and steel and is launched over the stern of the ship on a wire. Fragments of rock that break off of the lava flow on impact are trapped in wax-tipped cones mounted around the crusher. The wax is melted in the lab to liberate the rock particles for analysis. Sample drawer with partitions The benthic toolsled is attached to the bottom of the ROV for our geology dives. Its components are the manipulator arm and the sample drawer. The sample drawer is shown open on deck, full of rocks. Normally it is closed when the vehicle is operating and is opened only when a sample needs to be stowed. Partitions in the drawer help us keep the rocks in order. The rocks often look alike, but the conditions and chemistries of the eruptions are different so it is important that we know where each came from. Glass suction sampler This equipment is used to vacuum glass particles and larval animals from cracks and crevices. The carousel of small plastic jars fitted with wire mesh will be mounted in the benthic toolsled. The hose will be held by the ROV's manipulator and a suction will be drawn by the pump. Canvas bags on a T-handle for collecting gravel or other materials that fall out of a push-core. Held by the ROV's manipulator, the wire on the right is placed into the fluid emitted from a hydrothermal vent to record the temperature. Vibracoring is a common technique used to obtain samples from water-saturated sediment. These corers work by attaching a motor that induces high frequency vibrations in the core liner that in turn liquefies the sediment directly around the core cutter, enabling it to pass through the sediment with little resistance. Senior Scientist, MBARI Dave's research interests are nearly all related to the formation and degradation of oceanic volcanoes, particularly Hawaiian volcanoes, mid-ocean ridges, and isolated seamounts. Topics of interest include: compositions of mantle sources for basaltic magmas and conditions of melting; volatile and rare-gas components in basaltic magmas and their degassing history; chronostratigraphic studies of eruption sequence and evolution of lava chemistry during volcano growth; subsidence of ocean volcanoes and its related crustal flexure, plate deformation, and magmatic activity; geologic setting of hydrothermal activity; origin of isolated seamounts; and monitoring of magmatic, tectonic, and hydrothermal activity at submarine and subaerial volcanoes. Senior Research Technician, MBARI Jenny works with Dave Clague in the Submarine Volcanism project. On this expedition, Jenny will be in charge of the GIS work, including use of the recently acquired, high-resolution MBARI Mapping AUV data of our dive sites. She will also stand watches in the ROV control room, help with rock and sediment sample workup and curation once the vehicle is on deck, and coordinate these cruise logs for our group's two legs of the expedition. She is now quite solidly a marine geologist, but her degrees are in biochemistry (Smith College) and biological oceanography (Oregon State University). She is thankful for the opportunities that have led her to study volcanoes, and loves being involved with the research and going to sea. She looks forward to discovering more about how the Earth works. Science Postdoctoral Fellow, MBARI Brian completed his Ph.D. in igneous geochemistry at Washington University in Saint Louis in 2007 and has since been working in MBARI's Submarine Volcanism Group. Brian applies the principles of isotope geochemistry to young samples of volcanic rocks to gain insight into aspects of magmatism. Much of his postdoctoral work focuses on eruption and petrogenetic timescales of Axial Seamount, the most volcanically active portion of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. His other research interests include geochemistry of the Earth's mantle, magmatic interaction between oceanic spreading centers and hotspots, and exploiting the systematics of rare isotope species to quantify material flux through subduction zones. Senior Research Technician, MBARI Kyra has been working in the Video Lab at MBARI for 13 years. She received her BS from the University of Victoria, BC, and her MS from Moss Landing Marine Labs. Kyra's specialty is identifying deep-sea fish and invertebrates and operating MBARI's video and annotation system, VARS. On this expedition she will assist in the identification, collection, and preservation of biological organisms. She is looking forward to some time in the field getting up close and personal with interesting spineless subjects. Karen worked as a research technician for many years at MBARI before moving into the software engineering department. She was recruited for this cruise due to her knowledge and experience with ocean sediments and marine geology. Karen's duties on the cruise will include control room work and sample handling for the scientists. She is excited to participate on a marine geological research cruise again after working on computers for so many years. PhD Student, McGill University Christoph completed his degree in geology at the University of Munich and is a Ph.D. student at McGill University, Montreal since 2006. His research focuses on Axial Volcano, specifically on the processes that lead to the formation of the hyaloclastites, the evolution of the magmatic gasses and potential trigger mechanisms for the explosive eruptions. He has been out on a MBARI cruise before, on the Vance 2006 expedition. PhD student, La Sapienza University Rome, Italy Marilena is a marine geologist. Her research focuses on submarine flanks of volcanic islands. She mainly works with seafloor mapping and samples collected around Aeolian and Pantelleria volcanic islands, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. Her active research interest is the combination of marine morphologies and volcanological data. John Skutnik Student, Endicott College John will be experimenting with newly modified squeeze water samplers at hydrothermal vents on Axial Seamount during this expedition. He will perform various chemical analyses of the samples on two dives. He feels the opportunity to participate in this expedition provides great insight and experience for his future. Graduate Student, Naval Postgraduate School Lieutenant, Royal Navy Nicola graduated from University of Plymouth, UKwith a BSc (Hons.) in Ocean Science. Her research topic included determining the turbidity of seawater using an ROV and modulation transfer theory. In 2001, she joined the Royal Navy becoming a Hydrographic, Meteorological and Oceanography Officer in 2004. She has been involved in hydrographic survey operations, meteorological and oceanographic forecasting and more recently instructed tactical oceanography and meteorology. Currently, she is studying for her MS in Physical Oceanography at the Naval Postgraduate School. Nichelle Baxter University of Florida, Gainesville Nichelle is a PhD student at the University of Florida. Her research interests are in near-ridge seamounts, such as the Vance and Lamont seamount chains. By studying trace elements and isotopes in lavas from both chains, she hopes to better understand how these seamounts form and what they may illustrate about melting processes in the underlying mantle.

Accessibility at Camps A presentation how to create a fun, inclusive camp environment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants. Recognizing difficulties of campers, and using appropriate technology to create a culture of inclusion will make camps enjoyable for Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants. Click here for the PDF More examples of Inclusive Activities Here’s some awesome activities that work great for DHH kids – no modifications needed! - Bed sheet ping pong Each team holds opposite end of bedsheet and tries to get ping pong ball in middle to roll off other team’s side! - Marshmallow toss Sit in circle with bowl of marshmallows in front of each child. Goal – be first one to throw all your marshmallows into someone else’s bowl! - Balloon pop Tie balloons onto kids’ ankles with string. Goal – pop other kids’ balloons and be last kid with an unpopped balloon! - Human alphabet Children move around circle until camp leader holds up sign with letter – have to make shape of letter with their bodies! - Blanket balloon toss Throw water balloons into air and teams have to cooperate to catch balloons on blanket. Challenges – throw balloons into bucket, pass balloons to another team, be the team to fling the balloons the highest into the air! Kids sit in circle and pick card from deck. Kid with the Ace of Spades puts others to sleep by winking at them – remaining kids have to identify the “winker”. If they are wrong…they too fall asleep and game continues! 2 teams line up beside each other. Leader stands at head of line and rolls die. They have to squeeze the hand of the person beside them the number of times indicated on the die, and the squeezing continues down the line. The last person in line grabs an object between the two teams and holds up the number of fingers for the number of squeezes they felt. If they’re right…they score those points for their team! - Treasure hunt Promotes collaboration and connection with teammates! Adapting Activities (National Deaf Children’s Society): https://www.ndcs.org.uk/our-services/services-for-professionals/deaf-friendly-youth-activities/deaf-friendly-resources/adapting-activities/

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Szabolcs Vajay Library Szabolcs Vajay’s collection is the bequest of a Hungarian scholar who represented classic European erudition. It also documents the efforts to save a marginalized culture. The collection offers insights into a way of life in exile which is centered around efforts to preserve heritage abroad, a lifestyle which arose in part as a response to political assault on culture. Fehérvárcsurgó Petőfi Sándor utca 2, Hungary 8052 Show on map Name of collection - Szabolcs Vajay Library Provenance and cultural activities After the Communist takeover in 1947–1949, genealogy (the history of families) and heraldry were basically prohibited in Hungary. Politicians of the Rákosi era and the Kádár era thought of genealogy as a retrograde science which served the interests of former ruling classes (aristocrats, the bourgeoisie etc.). Communists criticized genealogy because they thought it dealt only with the “oppressive classes” and neglected the study of the “working classes,” which constituted the majority. (Although sometimes writings about the origins of peasant families were published before 1945.) In 1950, the Hungarian Genealogical and Heraldic Society and their periodical Turul were abolished. The teaching of genealogy was prohibited at the universities. Szabolcs Vajay played an important role in ensuring continuity in Hungarian genealogical and heraldic research. Vajay chose to flee Hungary in 1944, after the putsch of the Arrow Cross Party. Vajay despised the dictatorship, but he didn’t move home after the rise to power of the communist government. As an émigré, he tried to preserve or reconstruct Hungary’s ties to the rest of the world. He moved to Argentina in 1948, and he founded the Pázmány Péter Free University. He was the main cultural editor of the periodical South American Hungarianness, but he wrote for other immigrant newspapers too (Literal News, Horizon, etc.). In 1955, he became a cultural coworker at Radio Free Europe. In the 1970s, the strict taboo against of genealogy was lifted in Hungary, and writings about the histories of families could be published again. Szabolcs Vajay played a role in this process. He first returned to his homeland in 1971, and he regularly donated books to the National Széchényi Library. In 1978, when the U.S. government gave back the Hungarian Holy Crown at the request of the Hungarian government, Vajay became the primary expert on the committee for the study of the Crown.Szabolcs Vajay’s collection basically evolved in the course of his work and his genealogical, heraldic, and historical research. He used his books and notes to write his own books. However, his collection belongs among the collections which constituted a form of cultural resistance to the socialist regimes becausethrough his work, Vajay contributed to the later revitalization of a science which was prohibited for ideological reasons in Hungary. Vajay’s bequest of personal documents reflects pursuits which remained part of scholarly endeavor in the West but which the regimes in the Eastern Bloc attempted to elimate. His correspondence with Hungarians who had to leave their homes contributes to research on and among members of the Hungarian émigré community. Vajay’s bequest was purchased from the heirs by Albrecht von Stetten for the Hungarian Association of the Order of Malta in 2010. In February 2011, thanks to an agreement with the Joseph Károlyi Foundation (Vajay was a member of the foundation’s curatorship), the collection was moved to the Károlyi castle at Fehérvárcsurgó. The foundation pledged to maintain the collection and make it accessible to the public. Description of content The collection consists of two parts: books and the complete personal bequest of Szabolcs Vajay (correspondence, notes etc.). The library, which has some 6,000 books, basically contains historical, genealogical, and heraldic works in Hungarian, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and other languages. The historical writings mainly deal with Hungarian history (especially from the beginnings to 1686 and the history of The Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849), local history, and the history of Hungarian and European coronations. It also contains biographies, memoirs, and diaries by Hungarian historical figures. The unique genealogical and heraldic collection mainly deals with Hungarian aristocratic families (organized by family and county) and European noble families (especially the French nobility). The collection also has works by the most prominent Hungarian genealogists (for example Iván Nagy). The library includes 100 historical, genealogical, and heraldic periodicals (for instance Acta Historica, Adler, Magyar Családtörténeti Szemle, Le Parchemin, Századok, and Turul). Vajay’s card catalog, which is stored in 40 cases, completes the collection. Researches can use it to find sources on Hungarian noble families, events of ennoblement and donating coat-of-arms . There is at least one book about each of the important Hungarian aristocratic families (history of possessions, diploma materials, or other works).The personal collection of the bequest includes Szabolcs Vajay’s correspondence (mainly about his genealogical research) and materials which were created or discovered in the course of his scholarly work (manuscripts, copied articles, notes from conferences, drafts of lectures, necrologies, invitation cards for weddings, birth certificates, etc.). Vajay’s research materials are under the series Opera Impressa. The bequest includes materials about UNESCO because Vajay was an official of the organization, and letters from the Order of Malta, the Hospitalers, several associations, and companies. Drafts of writings of Vajay, and educational documents (for example dissertations) also endured in the bequest. The systematization study of the collection are underway. The Foundation has a plan to digitalize some of the materials in the future. - manuscripts (ego-documents, diaries, notes, letters, drafts, etc.): 1000- - publications (books, newspapers, articles, press clippings): 1000- Geographical scope of recent operation Date of founding Place of founding Fehérvárcsurgó Petőfi Sándor utca 2, Hungary Show on map Important events in the history of the collection - visits by appointments Part of network Author(s) of this page - Pál, Zoltán Károlyi, Angelica, interview by Pál, Zoltán, February 27, 2018. COURAGE Registry Oral History Collection

Lessons from the fall of Jericho walls Introduction:- We are in a series on the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11. Today we look at the fall of Jericho walls. Hebrews 11:30 NIV - By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the army had marched around them for seven days. How did the walls of Jericho fall? By faith. The walls fell after the army had marched around them for seven days. But it was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell. Let's look in detail at what exactly happened and what we can learn from it. Scriptures - Joshua 5 & 6 The Story – After crossing the Jordan river, the Lord asked Joshua to circumcise the males and Joshua obeyed. After circumcision, they could start possessing the promised land. But for that, they had to first conquer the city of Jericho. Conquering Jericho was difficult as there were huge walls around it. According to archaeologists, there were two walls. One outer wall and one inner wall. The outer wall was a mud brick wall around 20 feet tall and 6 feet thick. This wall was on top of a 12 feet high retaining wall made of stones. The inner wall was also a mud brick wall around 20 feet tall and 6 feet thick. The inner wall was at a higher place as compared to the outer wall. To put this into perspective, for the Israelites standing below the walls looked as tall as a 4-storey building. During those times, it was humanly impossible to penetrate those walls. In such cases, an army would try to conquer the city through the siege. The army surrounds the city and stops its supplies. Lack of food and supplies would force the people in the city to come out. However, this would have taken a long time as Jericho had a sufficient food supply. How do we know that? Joshua 3:15 says it was harvest time when the Israelites crossed over. Jericho also had a spring which supplied water. Bible calls Jericho the city of palm trees (Deuteronomy 34:3). Palm trees can thrive only where there is plenty of water. In short, water and food supply were not a problem for the people of Jericho. So conquering Jericho through siege would have taken years. When Joshua was nearing Jericho, he has an encounter with the Lord. The Lord asks the army to march around the city with priests carrying the ark of the covenant and blowing trumpets. They were to march around the city once for six days and seven times on the seventh day. When Joshua and the army did all that the Lord asked them to do, the walls of Jericho fell and they conquered Jericho. The enemy builds huge walls between us and our promises. The bricks he uses to build the walls are lies. Bible calls these walls strongholds. These strongholds distort the true nature of God and try to stop us from possessing God’s promises. But don’t worry. God has given us spiritual weapons to pull down these walls. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6, Ephesians 6:10-18) Now let’s look into some key verses from these chapters. Joshua 5:1 NIV - Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. We often think that we have to live our life saving ourselves from the enemy’s attacks. But the fact is this - our enemies are scared when they see us. Why? Only because the Lord is with us. Joshua 5:2-3 NIV - 2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. The Lord asked Israelites to circumcise as the males born during their long wilderness journey were not yet circumcised. The uncircumcised had to be circumcised before the Israelites could possess the promised land. This is according to the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17). As per the covenant, the Lord promised to give the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants. But their part in the covenant was that they should be circumcised. Promised Land is a shadow of God’s Kingdom and His promises. 1. God's promises are for His children. God's promises are for the circumcised. God's promises are for His children. Colossians 2:11 NLT - When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. Thanks to Jesus, we are circumcised. We are now His people. We are now His children. 2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV - For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him, the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. All of God's promises are 'Yes' in Jesus. I like the way NIV puts it. It says It doesn’t matter how many promises God has made. According to a Canadian school teacher Storms who counted God’s promises in the bible, there are more than 7400 of them. Whatever may be the count, they all are ‘Yes’ in Christ. We can through Jesus agree to them by speaking ‘Amen’ and this brings glory to God. Amen. So, to receive God's promises, you should first receive Jesus. If you have not yet given your life to Jesus, today is the day. He died for your sins so that you could have eternal life. Eternal life is not only living forever in heaven in the future. It is also enjoying God and His promises now itself. All you need to do is accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Joshua 5:9 NIV - Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. Egypt signifies sin. So, when you receive Jesus, the Lord has not only forgiven your sins, but He has also rolled away the shame of your sins. If you are already a follower of Jesus, then I encourage you to read the bible and know the many promises that God has given you. Personalise them for yourselves. After circumcision and rest, Joshua and his army proceeded towards Jericho. When Joshua was nearing Jericho, he has an amazing encounter with a man. I believe this was Jesus. Encounter with Jesus is the beginning of faith. Jesus is the author of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Joshua 5:13a NKJV - And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. Notice how the Lord stood. He stood with His sword drawn. Some think that God is sleeping during our times of trouble. No! Not at all. His sword is already drawn, and this sword is spiritual – The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Whatever may be the trouble we are facing, He has a word for us which will rescue us. Later on, we can see that the Lord did give a now word for the situation to Joshua. Joshua 5:13b-14a NKJV - And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” 14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” When Joshua asks Him ‘“Are You for us or for our adversaries?”, He gives a strange answer. He said ‘No’. Basically, what the Lord is saying here is that I am not your team member. I am actually the One who is in charge. Notice what the Lord says. He says He has now come as Commander of the Lord’s army. This means this time He has come as Commander of the Lord’s army. When you are in a battle, Jesus comes as commander of the Lord’s army. When a perfect sacrifice was needed for our sins, He came as the spotless lamb. When you need peace, He comes as the prince of peace. When you need comfort, He comes as the comforter. So, when you need faith, He comes as the author and the finisher of your faith. Jesus and only Jesus is the answer to all our problems. Amen. Joshua 5:14b NKJV - And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” When Joshua heard Lord’s answer, he understood who this man is. So, he fell on his face and worshipped Him. This shows that this person was actually Jesus. Joshua 5:15 NKJV - 15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. When Joshua asks the Lord what He wants to tell him, the Lord asks Joshua to take off his sandal and Joshua obeyed. Taking off sandals shows total surrender. A soldier is helpless without his sandals. Basically, Joshua removed himself from being in charge and made Jesus in charge of the situation. During times of trouble, we should totally surrender our cares to Jesus. 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV - casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. The word ‘cast’ used here in the original language Greek means ‘Throw away’. Doesn’t matter what your care is. Small or big. You should give it completely to Jesus. Sometimes, immediately after giving our care to the Lord, we take it back. We then by our own efforts try to solve the problem and we end up more worried than before. After praying, if you are still worried and feel burdened, then you have not yet surrendered your troubles to Jesus. Joshua 6:2 NIV - Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. God asked Joshua to see that He has delivered Jericho into his hands. Did this happen yet in the natural? No. But Joshua was asked to see it as it was a truth in the spiritual realm. 2. See the things that God has already given us. The word ‘see’ used here in the original language Hebrew is deep. Some of the meanings are see, perceive, discern, gaze, think, enjoy etc. We should see with our spiritual eyes the things God has already given us. We should perceive and discern that they have been already given. We should think, imagine, and visualise ourselves enjoying them. The ability to imagine is a powerful gift that God has given us. Use it to visualise the wonderful things of God. Don’t use it to visualise things of the enemy. Let’s look at another place where the same word ‘see’ is used. 2 Kings 6:15-17 NIV - 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. 16“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Here the servant was not able to see the protection around Elisha because it was not visible in natural. But when Elisha prayed and the Lord opened his eyes, he could see the horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 1 Corinthians 2:12 AMP - Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God. We should know the things God has given us freely. 2 Peter 1:3 NKJV - as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, Ephesians 1:3 says we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Then in Ephesians 1:18-19, Paul prayed for Ephesians that the eyes of their heart will be enlightened to see what God has given them. Ephesians 1:18-19 NIV - I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. We should pray this prayer for ourselves daily so that we would start seeing the things God has already given us freely. This gives us the faith required to possess God’s promises. So, the author of our faith – Jesus birthed faith in Joshua through His words. Then He gave him some instructions. Joshua 6:3-5 NIV - 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” What was the response? Joshua and his army persevered and obeyed all that God asked them to do (Joshua 6:6-21). As a result, the walls of Jericho fell (Joshua 6:21). There is a waiting period between receiving the word from the Lord and the fulfilment of the promise in the natural. We should persevere and do all that the Lord asks us to do during this waiting period. How many days did Joshua and the army persevere? Seven days. This doesn’t mean that 7 days after we receive the word from the Lord, we would possess in the natural what He promised. 7 signifies completion, and perfection. So, 7 days signifies the completion of time. When we persevere and obey all that the Lord asked us to do till the completion of time, we receive in the natural what God promised. A blessing before the appointed time will destroy you. Sometimes it is not the appointed time yet as we are not yet ready for the blessing. Sometimes it may be also that the others involved in that blessing are not ready yet. Whatever may be the reason, God knows the right time. So, we should persevere and do all that the Lord asks us to do till the completion of time to possess His promise. 3. Persevere till you possess God's promise. Hebrews 6:12 NIV - We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. The word patience used here in the original language Greek also means persevere. So, you should persevere till you possess. However, always remember that obedience comes from faith. Faith does not come from obedience. Romans 1:5 NIV - Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. Now let’s look in detail at what all the Israelites did during the seven days. They marched around Jericho once for six days and seven times on the seventh day. What else did they do? Joshua 6:12-13 NKJV - 12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. The priests marched around Jericho carrying the ark of the Lord. There were armed men before the ark and behind the ark. So, the ark was in their midst throughout the march. The ark of the Lord signifies Lord’s presence. During the waiting period also, the Lord is with us. If you feel you lack faith during the waiting period, remember the Lord is with you. Look to Him. He is not only the author of faith, but He is also the finisher and perfecter of our faith. Seven priests were blowing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord. Ram is a male sheep. So, the ram signifies Jesus. A ram has to be killed to get its horns. So, the blowing of trumpets of rams’ horns signifies proclaiming Lord’s death. That is precisely what we do when we break the bread (1 Corinthians 11:26). So, I encourage you to break the bread at home as well often. It is powerful. Joshua 6:10 NKJV - Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout. Joshua commanded the people to not speak a word till they shout on the final day. It is better not to speak anything than to speak words of unbelief during the waiting period. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. Acts 2:18 NLT - 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike — and they will prophesy. Prophesy in the bible means to speak forth under divine inspiration. Of course, if we talk under divine inspiration, we won’t be speaking contrary to the written word. In other words, if we are speaking contrary to the written word, then we are not speaking under divine inspiration. Acts 2:19 NLT - 19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. For some reason, the conjunction ‘And’ is missing in some translations. But ‘And’ is very much there in the original language Greek and it is important. Basically, these verses are saying that when we prophesy, God shows signs and wonders. So, we should prophesy during the waiting period. If you cannot prophesy at least don’t speak words that cancel the things, you are praying for. I encourage you to speak in tongues as well more and more during the waiting period because when you speak in tongues you may be prophesying as well. That too ideally in an unknown language. You will also be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit as a result. Last but not least the Israelites shouted. Joshua 6:16 NIV - The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! In the end, Joshua commanded the army to shout. The reason for this shout was the truth that the Lord has given them the city. So, it was a shout of victory and praise. This they did before the walls fell. This is amazing faith. So, the word says by faith the Jericho walls fell. Conclusion: To possess the promises of God, we should first receive the word from the Lord. Once we receive the word, we should start seeing that the Lord has already given the thing to us. However, there is a waiting period between receiving the word and the fulfilment of the promise in the natural. During the waiting period continue to walk in faith and do all that the Lord instructs you to do. This is active waiting. I would like to conclude this message the way the author of Hebrews concluded the topic of faith which he started in Hebrews 11. The conclusion is however in Hebrews 12. Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV - 1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. If you are struggling with a situation and you need a breakthrough, look unto Jesus. He is the author of our faith; you will see the breakthrough by faith. If you have been waiting for long for the fulfilment of a promise and you feel like giving up, look unto Jesus. He is the finisher of our faith. He will perfect your faith so that you will continue to wait patiently and confidently. Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again), Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.

SOURCE: The Washington Post November is Native American Heritage Month. Critics say Trump is subverting it with a new celebration of the Founding Fathers. Last week, President Trump declared November as “National American History and Founders Month,” a celebration of the country’s “dedication to promoting liberty and justice.” SOURCE: Washington Post Long before President Donald Trump, there was President John Tyler. - Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham on the AP Af-Am Studies Controversy - 600 African American Studies Faculty Sign Open Letter in Defense of AP African American Studies - Organization of American Historians Statement on AP African American Studies - Historians on DeSantis and the Fight Over Black History - How the Right Got Waco Wrong

The definition of Ayurveda is simple and straightforward. Ayurveda is defined as a traditional medicinal system with Hindu roots. It is based on the belief that health and wellness are dependant on a delicate balance between mind, body, and spirit. However, there is more to Ayurveda than achieving balance in the body. Read on to find out more about its history, beliefs, mind/body constitution, and more. The Sanskrit term Ayurveda is made up of two words – “ayus” and “veda”. Ayus means life and the latter means science or knowledge. The term Ayurveda refers to the knowledge of life or the science of life. According to Charaka, an ancient Ayurvedic scholar, “ayu” is comprised of the mind, body, senses, and soul. Ayurveda In The Past Ayurveda has been widely regarded as one of the oldest forms of health care in the world. It has a long history, with experts tracing its roots way back to 5,000 years. The fundamentals of Ayurveda can be found in Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas – the ancient Indian book of wisdom. There are conflicting beliefs when it comes to validating its origin. Some experts say that it originated from the Atharva-Veda. At the same time, some people are of the belief that it is supplementary to the Rigveda – written over 6,000 years ago – which contains a series of prescriptions to help humans overcome various ailments. The Eight Components Of Ayurveda Speaking of Ayurvedic writings, there are eight components of Ayurveda that deal with different subjects. In Sanskrit, writings have stated that Ayurveda is “the science of eight components”. These eight components have served as the official texts of Ayurveda. Here are the eight components: “Kaya” means body, “chikitsa” means treatment. Combine the two and it refers to the cure of diseases and illnesses that affect the body. Its counterpart is general medicine. The cure for diseases and illnesses that affect children. This is related to pediatrics. The extraction and operation of substances which have entered one’s body. This is related to surgery. The treatment of issues of the eyes, nose, ears, throat and teeth by sharp instruments. It is related to the field of ophthalmology and dentistry. This component is about treating mental issues. Its counterpart is psychiatry. This is about toxicology so this component refers to antidotes. The component of lengthening one’s life span. Associated with anti-aging. - V?j?kara?a tantra This is about the study and use of aphrodisiacs and curing problems like impotency and infertility. By understanding these eight components, you should have a clearer picture of Ayurveda’s definition and its principles. The Principles Of Ayurveda The principles of Ayurveda revolve around the belief that there are five classical elements that make up the human body. These are water, air, fire, earth, and ether. In addition, Ayurveda names seven bodily tissues. These are plasma, muscles, blood, bone, fat, reproductive fluid, and bone marrow. An important principle in the Ayurveda definition states that there are three elemental energies, also known as doshas. If these energies are balanced, you are able to experience good health. However, an imbalance in the accumulated doshas would lead to poor health in the form of diseases and illnesses. The Three Doshas Ayurveda also states that every human being features a unique mixture of these doshas. Every individual’s health and well-being depend on getting a right balance of the three doshas. This mixture dictates the characteristics of that specific person. In addition, each person also has a natural dosha. In order to enjoy good health and well-being, balance must be obtained in the body by making specific changes. Here are the three dosha types along with some characteristics about them: If you are dominant in Vata dosha, you are the creative type that is quick to learn and grasp new knowledge. You are all about change and movements. You’re energetic and have a creative mindset. When you achieve balance, you need to be constantly energetic. You’ll also be enthusiastic in your day-to-day life. You are also more likely to have a lean body. Pitta predominant types have a medium physique, are strong and well-built. They have sharp minds and good concentration powers. Pittas are also known to have warm bodies which could be related to the belief that they have good sex drives. A balanced Pitta has a healthy appetite with good digestion. The ability to focus is also top-notch which makes them good decision-makers. Kapha predominant types are known to be easy going, relaxed, and slow-paced. This is why Kaphas are known to be solidly-built, with good athletic stamina. They also can easily sleep soundly at night. Kaphas need to be careful though, as an imbalance can lead to weight gain and water retention. However, achieve balance and you can be strong and steady. Kaphas are slow to learn new things, but have an outstanding long-term memory. Now that you know more about Ayurveda, it is important to know how you can achieve balance. First of all, you should know what your dosha is. This is very important and everything will depend on this. You can know your dosha by taking an Ayurveda questionnaire online or by being tested by an Ayurvedic specialist. After taking a dosha test or quiz, you will get recommendations on some of the changes that you would have to make. Generally speaking, an Ayurveda definition will expound on the need to make lifestyle changes, especially when it comes to a diet and exercise regimen. While a good diet and exercise program can help you, a specific diet and exercise program along with some lifestyle changes based on your dosha can help you achieve balance. This can lead to the best health and wellbeing that you can experience. There are also supplements that you can research on. But first, check out the different recipes of meals that you can incorporate and then supplement these meals with effective Ayurveda supplements. These are products and natural herbs that can help improve your balance. After finding out the meaning and concepts surrounding Ayurveda, it’s time for you to start living a balanced life. You can start by finding out your specific dosha and follow the recommendations on the changes to make in life and you’ll be on your way to good health!

Understanding that most of our learning is not obvious at all. In fact, it is called The Nature of Implicit learning Movement, dance, physical education, theater, recess, aerobics, energizers and sports all comprise a different kind of learning than lecture. To do them certainly requires knowledge and skill. We call this kind of learning implicit. While the more common, test-oriented, explicit learning (lecture, textbooks, research, video and discussion) is obvious and we’re aware we’re doing it, implicit is different. Implicit learning is the acquisition of knowledge that takes place primarily outside of conscious attempts to learn it. It takes place normally in the absence of knowing that it was learned, and how it was acquired. Many types of learning can be implicit including, but not limited to, movements (sports, games and play), trauma (emotional learning), stimulus-response learning (hand on the hot stove), generalized learning (the nonconscious extraction of patterns), procedural learning (riding a bike) and imitation learning (learning by demonstration). The focus here will be on the types of learning more typically found in an educational setting. Brain based learning is knowing how our brain works, then using that to foster better student outcomes. To Understand It Is To Love it If you hadn’t changed a light bulb for five years, could you still do it? But if you hadn’t heard the name of the longest river in Europe for five years, would you still know it? The likely answer is yes to the light bulb and no to the river question. When students learn, scientists often describe the kind of learning as either explicit (semantic and episodic) or implicit (reflexive or procedural). Researchers believe that these two systems operate somewhat independently, with some overlap. This book will explore how and why learning by doing may be far more important than you thought. Examples of explicit, semantic learning are what you are currently learning as you read this book. The explicit, episodic learning is the memories you’ll store of where you were when you read this book, what was around you, who did you talk to about it and other related context questions. So the explicit system works by gathering information about the world in “what” (semantic) and “where” (episodic) pathways. Whether at school or at home, you learn content in a context. Both of these memory pathways are highly engaged in a school setting. Explicit learning is information gathering Implicit learning is organizing responses The implicit system, in contrast, work by organizing your responses to the world around you. This includes the “wow” responses (“knee- jerkers”) like instant emotions, conditioned responses, trauma, reflexive behaviors) and the more measured “how” responses (procedural, skill-based, operational, tactile). Both of these systems work well together– take in the information about our world, then organize your response to it. Could you use all four of these memory pathways? Yes, and we often do. Most commonly, we use the semantic learning pathways for so-called seatwork and the procedural learning pathways for skills-based learning, more typical in an arts or P.E. class. Brain based learning is knowing how our brain works, then using that to foster better student outcomes. Before getting too deep into the understanding of implicit learning, and important caveat needs to be introduced here. While I’m making many distinctions between explicit (the more overt) and implicit (more covert) types of learning, there is, in fact no clean distinction. Learning that begins as explicit may become implicit over time (reading about how to do a task, then doing the task, then forgetting what you read). Or, learning may begin explicit (playing a sport), then become explicit (coaching the sport). It is helpful to think of them as complementary systems for navigating successfully in this world. They are being “separated” into distinct systems only for the purpose of getting some clarity about how they operate and what they can do your learners. It’s almost as if, once you have taken apart a clock and found out how it makes time (it’s now broken), then you can put it back together again so it can tell time. For a more thorough discussion on this topic, the reader may explore Implicit Learning and Tacit Knowledge by Arthur Reber. 10 Reasons to LOVE More Implicit Learning Having said that, implicit learning is special for many reasons. It is in fact, much more reliable than the old-style classroom, text-book read and memorize system of education. As compared to the “talking head” teacher in a traditional classroom, implicit learning, active learning, shows the following distinctions and advantages. 1. Robustness. The effects are greater, with more duration. With implicit learning, we can take more of it in per day. The length of time that implicit learning lasts is significantly longer than that of explicit learning. There’s a large, unambiguous data base which supports the size and magnitude of in-the-body learning (Greenwald 1992). 2. Age independent. Students from pre-K to university level (and well into the senior years) demonstrate the ability to learn and retain implicit knowledge. (Parkin and Streete 1988) It’s limitless. 3. Ease of learning. A great deal of implicit learning can happen from role-modeling, nonconscious acquisition, trial and error, video, experimentation and peer demonstrations. (Reber 1993). Currently, neurophysiologists believe that our brain is forming very simple inputs that can be predicted, and over time, to become massively complex neural networks. These parallel systems have been computer modeled and applied to implicit learning with good success (Jennings and Keele 1991), suggesting that the connectionist model may be responsible for easy, yet ultimately complex learning. There is also a better understanding of the cortical mechanisms for imitation learning, another form of implicit and one of the easiest of all learning types. (Iacoboni et al. 1999) 4. Cross-cultural. This method of learning shows robust effects across the entire range of human cultures. Implicit learning effects show low variability from one individual to the next. This argument is particularly easy to make. When you have traveled from urban to rural, from state to state and country to country, is there really much difference in how people learn? In a classroom or business context, maybe yes. In the hands-on, real-world of life itself, there are no differences. 5. Intelligence independent. There are a surprisingly number of ways that we learn implicitly. In fact, most standard classroom explicit learning, implicit tasks show little concordance with measures of intelligence like an IQ test. (Reber et al. 1991). Dr. Frank Wilson, author of The Hand, discovered very little difference in the learning capacity or intelligence of a wide range of professions including juggling, neurosurgery, puppeteering and mountain climbing. (Wilson 1998) 6. Efficiency. They take place outside of conscious awareness and require few attentional resources. One can, and often does, learn different information, both explicitly and implicitly at the same time. Go for a bike ride with a friend and you’ll learn content information, rules about bicycling, draw generalized conclusions about your friend and maybe learn about yourself, too. (see Reber 1991, page 16) 7. Value. Virtually all complex behaviors are primarily implicit. The greater the skills or topic knowledge of an expert, the harder it becomes to explain it. This one is quite intuitive, too. Ask a 10-year old how to hit a golf ball and you’ll get a simple straightforward answer (“Just swing at it!”). Ask a Tiger Woods and the answer becomes so complex, he’ll tell you it just has to “feel right.” To understand how to hit a ball right, he goes to his coach, Butch Harmon. To a mathematician or chess player, it’s no different. They often solve problems by “feel” but may not be able to explain it easily. 8. Integrity. Implicit learning is less susceptible to brain insults, Alzheimer’s, dyslexia, aphasia, drug usage and memory decay. Patients who have no conscious memory of a word list can pick out the list from memory with stem completions (when given just the first three letters). There are far too many studies which support this assertion to mention here. (For a good review of the literature, see Reber, pages 18-21) 9. Transfer. While there is limited transfer in explicit learning (does knowing names and places, formulas and theories really help outside of a test?), there is evidence of considerable transfer with implicit learning (Manza and Reber 1992) 10. Integrative. Implicit learning is powerful because it is the bridge between the body and the mind. This enables us to enhance the learning. Dr. Robert Malmo at McGill University has researched the link between the two. His conclusion, after thirty years of study is that all thinking has a physical link. Malmo has used EEG monitors to record mental activity during a variety of experiments. He found that during cognitive activity, muscle tension varied dramatically depending on content and context. Listening to a story trigger muscular tension. Even telling stories engages muscular tension. Getting praised or criticized impacts muscle tension (Hanna, 1993). Bottom line here is that even when you think we’re doing something mental, it’s physical too. And when you think we’re doing something physical, it’s mental, too. Now that you’ve read the ten reasons behind explicit learning, tell me: can classroom lectures stand up to that kind of scrutiny or impact? Have you been using something that is more effective than what implicit learning can bring to your learners? If so, you’ve got magic formula and ought to bottle it and sell it. More Ways to Remember It There’s a way of thinking about learning that might change how you view the power of activities. If one of our goals is better student performance, that means what is learned has to be available at test time. There is a hierarchy of remembered items in our brain, because nature has learned what preserves a species. When trauma is induced, we tend to remember it. We also remember places and situations of great pleasure and great pain. We know where good food sources are. We retain the most important numbers and may struggle with the lesser ones. But we also retain motor skills like walking, talking and activities that seem important. At test time, students are, unfortunately, less likely to remember lectures that they heard. Those are typically pretty low on the survival scale. But there is a solution. That’s what brain based learning is all about: knowing how our brain works, then using that to foster better student outcomes. By engaging the active pathways (the “how” and “wow”) of implicit learning, you add an additional “hook” to the material learned. The strength of the synaptic connection is enhanced with movement (the “how” pathway) and the emotive “binder” (the “wow” pathway) of shock, fear, surprise or excitement attached to the information (Cahill et al. 1994). In addition, you’re engaging many more parts of the brain than are engaged through simple seatwork. If you want your learners to remember what they are learning, there are many strategies you can use. Using more pathways is better than fewer pathways. Repetition is good. Emotional engagement is good. Rest or settling time is good. These are all things that play can do for your learners. Take the Long view of Play Too often, because of time pressures and high-stakes testing, we forget that we are part of the long view. Will a learner be better off on any given day if they played yesterday? That’s unlikely. But the long view takes the side of nature and says that we must respect the biological imperatives for our species survival. Why? What does movement, games and play do for us as a species? Surprisingly, some answers are fairly easy. Cultures have engaged in play for countless generations. Is there genuine value of play among humans? In a nutshell, yes. The first reason for it is survival-oriented. We play because it is a activity that lets us learn without lethal feedback. Lion cubs play so that they may someday hunt. Fish play to practice avoiding predators. Our play, everything from Barbie Doll to jumprope, and Batman to army man, all have the same elements. Soon they’re playing “let’s pretend” and although the first games are simple, they grow in complexity. This valuable exploration play has no end-product and children often have no goals or limitations (Wohlwill 1984). It let’s us act out scenarios in a way that we can learn from them without paying heavy penalties. It’s low threat, high feedback and high fun. A perfect example of Brain based learning at work, then using that to foster better student outcomes. Many trials, many chances to learn, low risk and time to correct mistakes. Learners have heavy consequences for mistakes at test time (e.g. poor grades, embarrassment, loss of privileges, etc.). But play allows humans to learn quickly from mistakes (a poor throw, a missed social cue, a step too slow, a confused set of directions or inappropriate comment. etc.) without lethal consequences. Learn fast, learn right, minimal downside risk. From the point of view of learning, you can’t beat play. The inverted U-shaped distribution suggests that play maximizes the critical period during the selectively experience-dependent stage of synaptic elimination. This is occurring in all areas of the brain, but particularly in the neuron-packed cerebellum with the Purkinje cells, where fine motor output is delineated (Beyers 1998). Researchers say, “Playing animals, including humans, are motivated to repeat newly acquired skills in the absence of immediate external goals, thereby increasing the strength of neurological structures underlying these skills and opening opportunities for further learning (Byers and Walker 1995). In addition, there is clearly some imitation learning. If a child sees another child doing something and getting the teacher’s positive attention, it may encourage imitating that behavior (Bandura 1977). Vygotsky understood that play was a leading factor in development (Vygotsky 1978). With play, children learn socially and culturally appropriate ways of behaving among peers in a low-threat context. It allows us to be influenced by cultural values while engaging in usually supportive actions by either adults or peers. By engaging in play, children can enlarge their own understanding of skills, people and knowledge that often furthers their own understanding of the world. Play continues throughout life. As we adults become parents and grandparents, the cycle begins anew. We make faces to our infants, play peekaboo and make noise games. For many, play serves to enhance the mechanisms for both cooperation and compromise, which are clearly of benefit to our species (Boulton & Smith 1992). Humans go to amusement parks, party with friends, dance the night away, dress up for Halloween and play games from cards to bingo to volleyball. Interestingly, it does not stop as we age, it just changes. Dogs play, monkeys play, dolphins, gorillas, birds, and kids, all play. Adult dogs still chase Frisbees, adult cats still chase the ball of string. The same games that a four-year old is playing; jumping over a puddle, skipping rope and make believe are later turned into real world activities. The adolescent can now play a sport, or the adult dodge a skateboard left in the driveway, and mentally rehearse an upcoming conversation with the opposite sex (McCune 1998). Play allows us to take charge of events in our lives, to be in control while still living in a frightening world. Activities like haunted houses, Marti Gras and Halloween are classic examples of this. We can interact with evil and feel in control. Especially for children, they can act on fantasies, wishes, fears about adults in their lives. This allows them to take charge of those fears and reduce those feelings of fear, anxiety and helplessness to those of control and calm (Levy 1978). The very pleasure of play becomes a vehicle by which life’s moments can be understood and played out in a safer more therapeutic way. Brain development may be enhanced by play. In the early years, the complex interaction of social, physical, emotional factors contribute towards neural connectedness. In fact, one researcher said, “Connectivity is a crucial feature of brain development, because the neural pathways formed during the early years carry signals and allow us to process information throughout our lives” (Shore 1997). Play provides the vehicle for the countless interactions necessary between child and caregiver. The close, emotional attunement play is critical to the healthy development of a child’s brain (Gunnar 1996). In fact, one of the single most powerful aspects of play is its ability to unite the developing areas of the brain (van Hoorn et al. 1993) It helps orchestrate the intricate tuning of emotions, social skills, cognition and motor development. In brief, play can enhance the following learning: - making predictions - organizing a project - developing symbolic capacity - practicing newly acquired skills - comparing and contrasting attempting novel or complex tasks enhancing literacy skills - developing a better understanding of time - solving problems drawing conclusions 2. Creativity extending ideas improvising ideas - use of new mediums for expression flexible thinking - using rhythm, singing, music experimenting with “make-do” items improvising 3. Healthy Lifestyle - improving large/gross motor skills - learning safety concerns - interpreting rules better use of outdoors developing fine motor skills learning nutrition concepts - improving self-trust and competence 4. Social Skills - making and being a friend - understanding feelings - sharing and taking turns - conflict resolution - becoming sensitive to other’s feelings learning multiple roles Brain based learning is knowing how our brain works, then using that to foster better student outcomes. Now you have some examples of it. Can you think of any other activity that does all of the things listed above? Probably not. Play has the capacity to integrate all of those social, cognitive and motor skills at once. From the constructivists view, which hold that the build and create our own realities, through a continuing spiral of mental construction, play is one of the best ways to do it. Researcher believe that play ought to be an essential part of teaching (Bredekamp and Copple 1997). It’s not only a way that children learn, but it’s an effective way to learn. Many teachers who have tried more play and given up on it did so because of the intricacies of this seemingly simple activity. But why do some of us play more and others less? Clearly, it’s a case of both environment and genes. Nature has sprinkled humanity with a wide range of behaviors. it may be a vehicle to “get into shape” for youngsters and adolescents (Pellegrini and Smith 1998). Some play is assimilation (process oriented) while other play is more pursuit of an objective or aggressive (goal-directed). While the more rough and tumble play may be gender-related (Silverman and Eals 1992), there is value of some kind of play for most. In education and training contexts, play has some other important agendas, too. They include enhanced cognition, motivation, and memory. Now, let’s use what you just learned.

More specifically, Milo is meant to help students with ASD tune in on emotions, express empathy, act more appropriately in social situations, self-motivate, and generalize skills they’ve learned. Before jumping into the review, this video provides an overview of how Milo can be used to by therapists and special education teachers to support the development of social and communication skills for students with ASD and transform the way therapy is delivered. And for those more interested in the technology side of Milo, this video explores the technology and design process behind creating the robot. Before moving further, it is incredibly important to note that Milo is not meant to be used as a replacement for therapists or special education teachers. Milo’s curriculum is meant to be used in conjunction with a therapist or educator, where the student would work with Milo for a set time each week, but would not be seen as a replacement. It’s also important to note that this isn’t the type of situation where a school or district would want to purchase 1 robot for each student. In general, you would need one Milo robot per school or even per district, depending on how many students you are trying to support. The general use case would be a situation where students with ASD spend an hour weekly or biweekly session with Milo. Based on this, a single robot can potentially meet the needs of around 30 students. Milo is designed to help deliver the following evidence-based practices in order to help students with ASD practice and develop social skills: • Social narratives • Video modeling • Visual supports (picture symbol icons) • Natural modeling • Prompting verbal and visual • Reinforcement of target behaviors • Social skills training Milo does this through the use of features such as modeling expressions with its facial muscles, walking, moving its arms, etc. The robot can also deliver repeated instructions, as many times as needed, in a consistent, repetitive, supportive way. Additionally, Milo verbally delivers interactive lessons with a simplified language while at the same time providing visual support icons to aid auditory processing and comprehension. Plus, Milo can collect progress data from students to share with parents, facilitators, and therapists. To explore what this looks like in action, this video provides an overview of Milo and how the robot is being used in South Carolina to support students with ASD: As mentioned above, Milo also includes a complete social emotional learning curriculum. The curriculum was developed by autism experts from the Autism Treatment Center of Dallas and the Callier Center for Communication Disorders at University of Texas–Dallas. The research-based curriculum has been specifically designed to teach students with autism the understanding and meaning of emotions and expressions and to practice appropriate social behavior and responses. The curriculum is broken down into the following modules: • conversational modules (e.g., initiating greetings, conversation dynamics) • emotional understanding modules (e.g., identifying and imitating facial expressions) • situational modules (e.g., playdates, being a guest at a birthday party) Additional information on the curriculum and how Milo’s lessons work can be seen in this video: Finally, for those interested in further exploring the curriculum, implementation examples, or reasoning behind Milo, the Robokind Vimeo channel is full of additional resources. Overall, students and teachers working with Milo have experienced numerous successes in supporting the development of social and communication skills. Additionally, the research that has been conducted with Milo has shown impressive efficacy and engagement results from students using the robot and curriculum. If you work with or support students with ASD, and are interested in exploring the Milo robot further, you can contact the Robokind team to request additional details, pricing, and demos. Based on the numerous successes and beneficial experiences teachers and students have reported with Milo and the curriculum, I believe this would be a beneficial resource for anyone supporting students with ASD. I was not compensated for writing this review.

|A white fungus is visible on the center bat's nose. | It will spread to his companions and kill most, if not all, of the bats living in an abandoned mine in the Wayne National Forest. Wildlife officials have confirmed the first Ohio case of white-nose syndrome in bats hibernating in an abandoned mine in the Wayne National Forest in Lawrence County, the Department of Natural Resources announced this morning. The fatal disease was first found in a New York cave in 2006. It has since spread through 15 states and two Canadian provinces, as scientists scramble to try to understand it. A fungus, Geomyces destructans, grows into white tufts on a bat's nose then spreads to other bats. The fungus does not kill the bats directly, but seems to cause them to rouse from hibernation too often and too early, which leads to starvation. Humans can transport the fungal spores on their shoes, clothes and gear from contaminated caves and mines. Officials are asking that people help slow the spread of white-nose by staying out of caves and mines. The fungus requires cool temperatures and does not affect humans. More than 1,300 bats are hibernating in the closed-to-the-public Lawrence County mine; 69 percent are little brown bats, 21 percent are endangered Indiana bats and 10 percent are tri-colored bats. There were fewer big brown bats and northern bats. A Georgia laboratory evaluated samples collected in the mine this and last month and confirmed the fungus. Bats are important predators of mosquitoes, beetles, moths and agricultural and forest pests. "Recent research predicts that white-nose syndrome will likely drive even the once-common little brown bat into regional extinctions," says Nina Fascione, director of Bat Conservation International. "We are struggling against the most precipitous decline of North American wildlife species in a century. The future for hibernating bats looks grim." Anyone who sees more than six dead bats or large numbers of bats flying when it is less than 40 degrees outside is asked to call 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or email [email protected]. Learn more at White Nose Syndrome, Bat Conservation International and Fish and Wildlife Service/whitenosesyndrome.

January 19 is the feast of a martyred monk of Iona, Saint Blaitmaic (Blathmac). Last year I posted on the martyrdom of this brave monk at the hands of the Vikings, using John Marsden's book 'The Fury of the Northmen' to put the event into its historical context. He believes that the saint was subjected to a particularly gruesome form of blood sacrifice. That post can be found here. It contains extracts from the biography of the saint written by Walafrid Strabo within a couple of decades of the event, and Marsden also makes some interesting points about the transfer of saints' relics at this time. This year, however, I offer a paper from the Irish Ecclesiastical Record which summarizes the life and death of Saint Blaitmaic. Although the contribution is unsigned, the author is in fact none other than dear old Canon O'Hanlon and represents his entry for the saint at January 19 in the first volume of Lives of the Irish Saints. ST. BLAITMAIC, OF IONA, MARTYR.SOME individuals are heroic in action; others in patient suffering. This noble saint, whose memory is held in honour on the 19th day of January, justly deserves the meed of praise for his fortitude under both aspects. Blaitmaic's biography has been elegantly composed, in Latin hexameter verses, by Walafridus or Galafridus Strabo, a learned Benedictine monk, who died A.D. 847. This celebrated writer was an accomplished mediaeval poet. His greatly admired composition was written at the instigation of a venerable superior, Felix, and it appeared most probably some short time after the tragic but glorious death of the noble subject, suggesting Strabo's fine poem.We are unable to state on whose authority events associated with the life of Blaitmaic depend, as they are metrically narrated by Strabo; but it is probable, they had been taken from some relation given by monks connected with Iona monastery. These informants, too, might have had a personal knowledge concerning the martyred Christian hero, and even of the circumstances attending his death. His interesting Acts have been frequently written in various forms, as well in prose as in verse.St. Blaitmaic or Brah Mac, which name, according to Strabo and Bollandus, means " the beautiful son," seems to have been gifted with singular graces even from his very infancy. This child, the delight of his parents, was of Royal extraction, and of noble birth. He was born in Ireland, most probably, about the middle of the eighth century. St. Blaitmaic was prospective heir to his father's possessions, the ornament and hope of his family and country.At an early age he was distinguished for almost every virtue and merit. He is described as being of sound judgment, prudent, a great lover of holy purity, and humble, notwithstanding his exalted birth. The innate nobility of his soul surpassed that of his race. Accomplishments were not wanting to add a royal grace to his character ; sober and circumspect, he was pleasing in mien, and agreeable in disposition . Although remaining in the world he was not one of this world's votaries. He had resolved upon devoting himself wholly to religious services, but kept this secret locked up within his own breast, until such time as he could most conveniently put his resolution into practice. Without his father's knowledge, Blaitmaic withdrew privately to a monastery, where he practised all exercises of a monastic life, until his retreat was discovered.Hereupon, the fond parent, who loved his son according to the instinct of worldlings, repaired to this monastery; and he brought a band of friends and acquaintances, whose exertions and entreaties it had been supposed must have exercised great influence in changing Blaitmaic's purpose. Besides the chiefs and people, a bishop and several abbots united their persuasions with those of his father to induce the Saint to resume his former rank. But the pious prince resisted all these solicitations, and persevered in his happy course of life.He looked upon himself as a servant to all the religious in the monastery, although esteemed beyond expression by his fellow-cenobites. He was distinguished by religious silence, and the observance of monastic discipline: by attentive study of the sacred Scriptures and books of ecclesiastical science, he edified all through his conduct and conversation. In due time, he was made superior of the religious community; and this band of religious he governed more by example than by precept. Christ Jesus was the sole object of his praise and glory, as of his discourse and allusions. Peace was his shield, prayers were his coat of mail; patience was his field for victory, and the word of God his sword; mildness characterized his conduct towards the monks; he became all things to all of them, that he might gain all to Christ. He was ever hopeful and loving; practising every virtue and avoiding every imperfection; and ever referring his actions to the great Author of our being. Thus his example brightened as a beacon before the eyes of his disciples; and these latter progressed towards perfection under the directing zeal of their saintly superior.Our Saint burned with a desire of martyrdom; and to attain this object, he had often attempted to visit strange lands, but had been prevented by his people. On a certain occasion, Blaitmaic thought to effect his retreat under cover of night, and through a secret path. He was accompanied by a small band of disciples; but the fugitives were arrested and brought back. However, his wishes were at length gratified; for he contrived to escape from his native country. Blaitmaic directed his course to Iona, "the sacred isle" of Columba. The Danish ravages had been frequently directed against the shrines and altars of unprotected religious that peopled this known island. But, in a knowledge of this fact, Blaitmaic grounded his hopes for securing to himself the palm of martyrdom.He had been gifted from on high with a spirit of prophecy. Hence, before a hostile irruption, which took place after the commencement of the ninth century, Blaitmaic predicted to his companions, in Iona monastery, a storm which was about to burst upon them. This seems to have occurred during the incumbency of Diarmait, the twentieth abbot in succession to the great St. Columkille.Before the northern pirates, with their fleet, had reached the shores of Columba's sacred isle, Blaitmaic called the monks together, addressing them as follows: " My friends, consider well the choice which is now left you. If you wish to endure martyrdom for the name of Christ, and fear it not, let such as will remain with me arm themselves with becoming courage. But those who are weak in resolution, let them fly, that they may avoid impending dangers, and nerve themselves for more fortunate issues. The near trial of certain death awaits us. Invincible faith, which looks to a future life, will shield the brave soldier of Christ, and the cautious security of flight will preserve the less courageous."These words were received by the religious with resolutions suited to the confidence or timidity of each individual. Some resolved to brave the invaders' fury, together with their holy companion ; some betook themselves to places of concealment until this hostile storm had passed.On the morning of January the 19th, A.D. 823, 824, or 825, St. Blaitmaic, robed in vestments of his order, had been engaged in celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Whilst he offered up the Immaculate Host, he stood as a self-immolated victim, prepared for sacrifice. The band of his faithful religious, anticipating a coronal of martyrdom, knelt around ; with tears and prayers they besought mercy and grace before the throne of God. This, truly, must have been a sublime spectacle, and one never yet surpassed in the records of human heroism. Whilst engaged in these services,the loud shout of their destroyers was heard thundering without the church. The Pagan and pirate Danes rushed in through its open doors, threatening death to the religious, and almost immediately afterwards these barbarous threats were put in execution. The monks, expecting this irruption, had the precaution to remove a rich shrine, containing St. Columba's relics, from its usual place. They buried it under ground, so that it might thus escape the profanation of those savage invaders. That rich prize was what the Danes chiefly sought. They urged Blaitmaic to show them the place of its concealment. But our Saint, who knew not the particular place where it was buried, with unbending constancy of mind opposed himself to this armed band. Although unarmed himself, he put forth some futile efforts of strength to stay the ravages of his enemies. He cried out, at the same time, "I am entirely ignorant regarding those treasures you seek for, and where they are buried. But, even had I a knowledge of all this, my lips should yet be closed. Draw your swords, barbarians, take my chalice, and murder me. Gracious God, I humbly resign myself to Thee!" The barbarians immediately hewed him into pieces with their swords, and with more diabolical rage, because they were disappointed in their expectations for obtaining spoil. At this time the Abbot Diarmait was probably absent from Iona, and the holy martyred priest it would seem, worthily represented their Superior's authority among the religious. The body of St. Blaitmaic was buried in that place where his glorious crown of martyrdom had been obtained, according to his biographer Strabo; and many miracles were afterwards wrought in favour of several persons, through the merits and intercession of this great soldier of Christ.We have not been able to discover whether our Saint ever enjoyed any superior dignity at Iona; but it would seem, from the preceding narrative, that he exercised considerable influence over the minds of his brethren on that island. We are told that in the Irish language this Saint is called Blathmhac. The first syllable of this compound name has an equivocal signification. Blath, when pronounced long, has the literal meaning " a flower," and the metaphorical signification "beautiful;" when pronounced short, it is rendered into the English words "honour" or "fame." The word Mhac is Anglicised "son." Truly was this heroic man named. For not alone was he the son and heir apparent to his father's temporal possessions, but he became one of God's glorified children, secured in the enjoyment of a heavenly inheritance. He plucked the flower of martyrdom with unbending constancy, and he blooms with distinguished brilliancy, "as the apple-tree among the trees of the woods." His memory deserves to be honoured in the Church, since he achieved a distinguished reputation. This is one, likewise, which no concurrence of events can ever tend to tarnish or destroy. Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 9 (1873), 502-508. Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved. Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

During the long past, most of the travelling was done on foot. It was only in case of kings and rich persons that animals-driven or sometimes human-driven chariots were used. Horses, elephants or camels helped the travelers to a large extent. During the middle ages sailing-ships and coaches driven by horses were widely used to carry travelers from one country to another. History tells us much about International travel as well as India travel through the famous travelers of the world .The Hindu philosopher, Shankaracharya (788AD-820AD) traveled from Kerala to Kamroop and Kashmir. Megasthenes, the Greek traveler visited India during 4th century. Marco Polo and the Polo brothers started from Venice and went all the way to China during 13th century. Prior to the event Western ideas about Asia were just like fables and stories.Huen Tsang ,the Buddhist pilgrim of 7th century and Fahien, of 5th century , the two famous Chinese scholars came all the way from China to India. The other travelers to India include Al Beruni (973AD-1048 AD), Ibn Battuta(1304 AD-1368AD) and Vasco Da Gama ( 1460AD-1524AD) who was from Portugal. Today things have completely changed. Means of transport have widely improved. Steam-ships on water,aeroplanes in the air and trains,buses,luxury coaches on land have come to the help of the travelers everywhere. There are hundreds of travel advisors and travel guides with numerous travel deals available for local as well as International travel. Travel and tourism tips are found on different website portals. With the help of this, one can be aware of different global international travel scams well in advance. The information about tours and travel agencies & International travel agents in India and abroad are available on the net. Anybody can comfortably plan for an India travel or Global travel within an affordable budget. Read Also : Click Here

Government of India has approved the Mars voyage of ISRO in the cabinet meeting . On July ' 2011 , NASA has postponed the space shuttle ' Atlantis ' program . On this issue , the famous magazine , ' The Economist ' published a cover story article mentioning that there was a temporary full stop to America's outer space research program . As a comment to the headline ' The End Of Space Era ' , the science fiction writer , Bruce Sterling , wrote that in the coming days astronauts from India and China would be able to hoist their national flags on Moon . The Head of Rosetta Lander Mission of European Space Agency , Jean Pierre Bibringh , says that the thinking of the Chinese and Indian scientists are very clear and bright , in this regard . Such type of interest has not been noticed by American space mission . But they request for symbiotic collaboration in stead of mindless competition , in this context . Just after one year from this event , India declared the proposal to send a manned space ship to Mars . Some critics pointed this move as India's Space Audacity. This manned space program to Mars will take place from Sriharikota ( Andhra Pradesh ) , towards November' 2013 . Mars revolves in an elliptical path round the Sun . It has 55 million Km. at it's nearest and 401 million Km. at the farthest point from Earth . So it is not possible to reach Mars any time starting from here . The oppertunity for us to reach Mars happens in the interval of 26 months . The next opportunity will be towards the end of 2013 . While the time taken for the journey to Moon is less than one week , this will be nearly 300 days for reaching Mars . The budget for the Mars voyage would be around Rs.480 crores . It is well mentioning here that personalities like Elon Musk of USA and Richard Branson of UK are planning space vacations already .

Making more efficient use of the sun’s energy A new coating is intended to make conventional solar collectors up to 30 per cent more efficient. Researchers at the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), the EPFL site in Neuchâtel and EMPA in Dübendorf are working on the groundbreaking technology, which will make solar power cheaper and should be ready for the market by 2025. Support by Innosuisse - BRIDGE Discovery

A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy. Common Raven Scientific Classification - Scientific Name - Corvus corax Common Raven Conservation Status Common Raven Facts - Insects, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, spiders, eggs - Group Behavior - Fun Fact - A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy. - Estimated Population Size - 16 million - Biggest Threat - Most Distinctive Feature - Their intelligence - Other Name(s) - Corby, corbeau, western raven, northern raven - 45 to 51 inches - Incubation Period - 18 to 25 days - Litter Size - Three to seven - Open areas such as tundras, taigas, cliffs, deserts, plains, but can be found in just about every habitat save rainforests - Owls, eagles, martens attack their eggs, larger birds of prey such as great horned owls and mammalian carnivores such as coyotes or cougars might prey on younger ravens. - Common Name - Most countries in the northern hemisphere, including most of North America, southern Greenland, north Africa, most of Europe, Russia and China - Average Clutch Size - Nesting Location - Old trees, ledges, cliffs, even utility poles - Age of Molting - 35 to 42 days This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world's species.. “The Common Raven is arguably the smartest bird of all!” Common Raven Amazing Facts - Ravens are extraordinarily intelligent, with brains larger than any other kind of bird. They are capable of solving complex problems and can even tell other ravens about events and objects that they can’t immediately see. They’ve even been known to notify wolves of carcasses so the wolves can open the carcass up for them. - Ravens love to play, especially young ravens. They will even play with members of other species such as dogs and even make toys to play with. - As of 2021, seven ravens guard the Tower of London. It is believed that if the ravens ever left the Tower, the kingdom would collapse. There need to be six ravens guarding the Tower, with one as a spare just in case. - Ravens are passerines or songbirds. Where To Find Common Raven Ravens can be found in the northern hemisphere. They can be found in places where humans live, but not as plentifully as is their cousin the crow. Ravens prefer wild, open spaces such as grassland, tundra, and somewhat open forests. Common Raven Scientific name The scientific name of the common, or western raven is Corvus corax. “Corvus” comes from the Latin word for raven, and “corax” is a Latinized Greek word for “raven” or “crow,” so the bird can be thought of as a double crow. Some biologists believe there are 11 subspecies of western raven while others believe there are only eight. They are: - C. c. corax - C. c. varius - C. c. subcorax - C. c. tingitanus - C. c. tibetanus - C. c. principalis - C. c. kamtschaticus - C. c. sinuatus Common Raven Appearance The raven is one of the largest of the passerine birds. Its feathers are glossy black and can show blue or purplish iridescence when a light shines on them. The length of the body is between 21 and 26 inches, and it has a thick, curved bill and a wingspan of around 4 feet. It can weigh close to 4 pounds. Females may be a bit smaller than males. The tail is wedge-shaped, and the throat has feathers called hackles, which the bird can raise or lower to communicate. The shape of the tail, the hackles, the robustness of the bill and the size of the bird differentiates it from a crow. Also, ravens are more likely than crows to glide or soar in flight. This unlikely songbird has a variety of vocalizations. Scientists have identified as many as 30 of them. Even their wingbeats have an evocative sound when the birds are in flight. Common Raven Behavior Ravens are often solitary, but they sometimes travel with their mates and form flocks when they are young. Flocks, also called unkindnesses, may form when food is concentrated in an area. Young ravens seem to be fascinated with new objects, especially if they are bright and shiny. Older birds become staider with age, even though they are better at problem-solving. Common ravens don’t seem to migrate but may move around their range if the weather becomes too hot or too cold. A breeding pair is territorial and staunchly defends their young against would-be predators. They not only chase and scold potential threats but are clever enough to drop rocks on their heads if they come too close. Common ravens can also recognize individual ravens and even individual humans. Common Raven Diet One of the things that makes the common raven so successful is that it is an omnivore and will eat just about anything that agrees with its digestive system. This includes both plant and animal material. They hunt small rodents, reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, and insects. They eat grain, fruit, and berries and can be pests to farmers. They scavenge and will not only eat carrion but the insects and insect larvae that are drawn to carrion. They enthusiastically eat roadkill, human garbage and will pick out the undigested food in feces. They raid food caches of both ravens and other animals and hide that food in their own food caches. Common ravens eat the eggs and young of other birds and if the bird is small enough, it will eat the adult as well. Ravens have been known to kill and eat newly born lambs, goats, and calves and don’t care if the animal is endangered. If a young raven finds a large carcass being enjoyed by adult ravens, it will call its friends to the food source. But the common raven’s diet isn’t bottomless. Like other birds, chocolate is poisonous to it. Heavy metals such as lead and copper can make the raven sick. The seeds and pits of pears, apples, peaches, apricots, and related fruit are also not good for the bird, as they contain cyanide. What does the common raven eat? The common raven eats other animals, including mice, spiders, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. It eats human garbage, the undigested parts of animal droppings, and carrion. It will also eat plant material such as fruits, grains, and seeds. Common Raven Predators and Threats This songbird is so big, intelligent, and vigilant that it is difficult for an animal predator to get the best of it. Yet owls and other birds of prey sometimes steal its eggs, as does the marten, a type of weasel. Sometimes a bird of prey will successfully attack an adult raven. These include bald and golden eagles, goshawks, great horned owls, eagle-owls, and red-tailed hawks. Cougars, lynxes, and coyotes may also go after adult ravens, but this is unusual. Common Raven Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan Ravens become mature when they’re about three years old, but they’ve been seen to court each other long before then. Ravens start to court in earnest in autumn and winter, with most eggs being laid in early spring depending on the birds’ range. Scientists believe that pairs of ravens stay together at least during the breeding season, but they’re not sure if they mate for life. They court through performing acrobatics, showing off their intelligence, and showing a would-be mate that they’re good at finding food. When the female is ready to mate she crouches, drops and shakes her wings, and raises her tail. The pair finds and defends a territory then builds the nest. It’s a deep but asymmetrical bowl of sticks and twigs lined with mud and tree bark and softened by materials such as fur. Nests are about 16 to 60 inches in diameter and 5 to 6 inches deep and placed in a big tree, at the edge of a cliff, in an abandoned building, or even on a telephone pole. Here, the female lays between three and seven eggs. They are pale blue-green and freckled with brown. The female incubates them for about 21 days. Only she incubates the eggs, but the male will protect the chicks by standing over them. Both parents feed the chicks. Ravens only have one brood per year. The chicks fledge when they’re a little over a month old but can stay with their parents for half a year. Common ravens can live a long time, and ravens at the Tower of London have lived over 40 years. Less pampered ravens live around 13 years in the wild. Common Raven Population There are about 16 million common ravens in the wild, and their numbers seem to be increasing. Indeed, there are places where the raven’s numbers are exploding as landfills, highways, parks and artificial bodies of water are set up to see to the needs of humans. There are areas such as Alaska where ravens need to be culled from time to time to protect vulnerable species.View all 213 animals that start with C Common Raven FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) Does the Common Raven migrate? The common raven doesn’t really migrate but may move around its range to avoid harsh winters. How many eggs does the Common Raven lay? The common raven lays from three to seven eggs. How fast does the Common Raven fly? The common raven can fly 25 miles per hour, though a trained raven once flew at 40 miles per hour. What is the Common Raven’s Wingspan? The wingspan of this passerine is a little less than 4 feet across. When do Common Ravens leave the nest? Common ravens leave the nest when they are between five and seven weeks old. Are ravens dangerous? Ravens aren’t dangerous to humans, but a person should be careful of a nesting pair. They will defend their nest vigorously and have formidable claws and beaks. What does a Common Raven eat? Basically, a raven seems to eat anything it can digest, including animal and plant materials, garbage, and carrion. What is the difference between a crow and a raven? A raven is bigger than a crow, has a heavier beak, a wedge-shaped tail, and hackles on its neck. Its call is different from a crow’s and probably more varied, and it has a more graceful flight. What is the raven a sign of? In some cultures, the raven is a sign of death and bad fortune because of its inky black feathers and its habit of eating dead things. But in other cultures, the raven is a deity. Kutkh, or Kutcha, a raven god, was believed to have created the Kamchatka Peninsula. Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. - The Guradian, Available here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/30/ravens-fly-fast-game-of-thrones - Godchecker, Available here: https://www.godchecker.com/siberian-mythology/KUTKH/ - Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_raven - Bird life International, Available here: http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/common-raven-corvus-corax/text - Animal Diversity Web, Available here: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Corvus_corax/

Music is one of the most beautiful things in the world. It's an outlet that has been invaluable to people of all ages practically since the beginning of time. It can be a particularly positive thing for impressionable and bright-eyed children, too. If you want to rear a child who is well-adjusted, confident and content, then it can help to expose him or her to music from an early age. Doing so can lead to self-confidence levels that are strong. It can be an amazing idea to showcase the power of creative outlets to youngsters who are just learning about their places under the sun. Why exactly is music such a wonderful outlet for kids? Growing up in modern society isn't exactly the simplest thing. It can be hard to combat pressure from peer group members. It can be hard to cope with all of the ups and downs of society. Dealing with the pressures of the media can be enough to make any sensitive youngster feel more than a little uneasy at times. If you want to teach a child how to respond to pressure with grace and ease, then the assistance of music can go a long way. Music is a pastime that can lead to results that are tangible and "real." If a child learns how to play the piano, the violin or the guitar on a weekly basis, then that may provide him or her with a channel for emotions. This can be helpful. Kids benefit significantly from being able to let off steam. If you want your child to channel his feelings into something productive rather than destructive, music can work like a charm. Focusing on music can help kids feel good about themselves. If a child practices the piano frequently and notices that he's getting better and better all of the time, it may lead to an epiphany that relates to hard work and diligence. Getting better at music can showcase the strength of diligence to young folks. It can prove to them that hard work pays off. Music can also be good for perspective. It can be so easy for kids these days to get wrapped up in the worlds of their peers. If you want your kids to be able to see the big picture, it can help to motivate them to put a lot of time and care into music. Music can help kids steer clear of thinking about things that just aren't important in the long run. If you want your child to think about things that go beyond just the kids who are in her classroom, then you should motivate her to prioritize music day in and day out. Music can make kids feel hopeful. It can give them something to look forward to daily. Kids often get a lot out of having hobbies and pastimes that offer rock-solid value. If you want your kid to learn focus and self-discipline, then music lessons can help in a big way. Learning how to perform music can get young people to think intuitively. It can get them to organize their brains and studying habits as well. Parents who get their children to learn about music often start to notice them thriving in other classes at school. Learning about music and learning in general often go hand in hand. Music can confirm to young people that the sky's the limit. The last thing you ever want is for a child to think that something is out of reach or impossible. You want your child to grasp that he or she can do anything positive. If your child admires a musician on the television screen, you want to make sure that he grasps that he can do the same exact thing in the future. Music isn't something that's restricted to celebrities or to people who were around centuries ago. It's something that any hard-working and tenacious individual can master. This article was written by Paige Walter from Powell Academy of Music

Seroquel is a drug often prescribed to patients with schizophrenia. The drug is sometimes used in the treatment of other mental health conditions, too, including bipolar disorder, for example. Individuals who take the medication may be at risk of developing abusive behavior. Understanding how Quetiapine metabolism works is essential for people who want to stop the use of Quetiapine. The chemicals in the drug may remain in one’s body for some time. By understanding Seroquel half-life, a person can know when the chemicals will be out of their body. So, how does Seroquel work, and what does it do? Does it show up on a drug test? And how long does Seroquel stay in your system? Seroquel Mechanism of Action Quetiapine is classified as an antipsychotic medicine. The resulting calming activity from the drug administration is believed to be down to the combination of antagonism at specific brain receptors. These include the 5HT2A receptors in the frontal cortex and D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway. These effects become dangerously increased when one overdoses on the medication. How Does Seroquel Work For Mental Diseases? Concerning the treatment of schizophrenia, it is believed that antipsychotics such as Quetiapine work to reduce all symptoms of this condition – negative and positive. They do so through the modulation of central serotonergic and dopaminergic activity in the brain. The activity in the D2 receptors suppresses the positive symptoms of the condition, while the activity in the 5HT2A receptors suppresses the negative symptoms. Serotonin and dopamine have differing roles regarding the effect of Seroquel on the brain, and the introduction of Quetiapine into the system directly affects the production of both. It happens because an excess of dopamine in the mesolimbic tract is believed to be a major cause of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Thus, the introduction of Norquetiapine – an active metabolite of Quetiapine that causes antagonism of dopamine in the D2 receptors – directly suppresses dopamine levels, consequently reducing or eliminating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. In the same way, excess serotonin at the 5HT2A receptors is believed to be the cause of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The antagonism of serotonin production at these receptors (through the administration of Quetiapine) directly suppresses those negative symptoms. Quetiapine mechanism of action shows the effectiveness of administering Seroquel for depression and other mental health conditions, such as major depressive disorder. It is believed to be down to the potent inhibitory effects and high affinity of the norquetiapine metabolite at the norepinephrine transporter. How Long Does It Take For Seroquel To Work? The period it takes for the Seroquel mechanism of action to kick in depends on the medication variant that is administered, and it may also vary according to the condition suffered by the user. The tablet is available in immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (XR) states, and both variants require different amounts of time to reach peak levels in the body. The immediate-release tablets typically reach peak levels at one and a half hours after administration. In contrast, the extended-release tablets may take up to six hours to reach peak levels. Due to the Seroquel mechanism of action, it can take up to three months for the full effects of the medication to show. However, the first improvements will be seen just after one week. Quetiapine overdose deaths can happen; that is why patients should not intake more Quetiapine than a physician prescribed. When a person stops taking Quetiapine, they need to realize that the active chemicals found in this medicine will not be expelled from their system immediately. It can take a while for Seroquel metabolites to be removed from the body effectively. Recognizing Seroquel half-life can help a person to understand when 50% of all active chemicals will be removed from their body. At this point, some Seroquel drug test may yield a negative result. Quetiapine MOA is relatively short-lived. The drug is metabolized in one’s body, and the active chemical goes to work within the first hour after the person taking medicine. It takes between one and two hours for Seroquel to reach a peak concentration in a patient’s body. When a person asks what Seroquel half-life is, they should note that about half of all active chemicals will be removed from their body within the first 6-7 hours following the last administration of Quetiapine. Observing the drug’s half-life, people should note that this only refers to half of the substance that was administered. Following this six-seven-hour period, there are still some traces of the active chemicals in the drug circulating in patient’s body. Variables That Influence How Long Seroquel Stays In The System Many people may find that the chemicals in this drug are expelled from their bodies within 48 hours after the last administration. It does not refer to the Quetiapine half-life but rather to the body’s ability to eliminate all traces linked to the drug. The specific time varies from one person to the next, however. The classification of Seroquel means some factors may affect how the body metabolizes the drug. How long does Seroquel stay in your system? A few factors should be considered. Below are the important factors that may affect the period during which the drug will still be present in a person’s body: One of the most critical factors is age. Older people have reduced hepatic blood flow. This can alter the way that Quetiapine is metabolized. It may also affect how long the medicine will remain present in a person’s system. The poor metabolism in the elderly further contributes to an extended medication half-life. A person’s weight also presents as a factor in determining Seroquel half-life and how long the medicine stays in your system. A person with a higher body weight may find that their body takes longer to metabolize and dispose of the active chemicals in this drug. Food intake also seems to play a role in the period it takes the body to remove all traces of Quetiapine. In addition to food, hydration also appears to have a role to play. Inadequate hydration affects urinary flow, which may cause the drug to circulate in one’s body for a more extended period. A person with hepatic impairment may also find that Seroquel remains in their system for longer. When a person has a liver problem, a high dose of this drug can cause poor metabolism. It extends the half-life and time it takes the body to clear the substances from the system too. The specific dosage that a person takes also affects how long it will take for the body to get rid of the chemicals. Quetiapine 25mg dose will undoubtedly be removed from the body significantly faster compared to a higher amount, such as 200mg, for example. Duration Of Administration Another factor that comes into play when considering the Seroquel drug test is the treatment duration. A person who has been taking it for a longer period will find that it takes their body longer to get rid of the chemicals. When more than a single drug is taken at the same time, then interactions can occur. Sometimes, these interactions cause the body a delay in how long it will take to metabolize and expose the chemicals. When Quetiapine is taken with other drugs, there may sometimes be a delay in how long it takes the body to get rid of the chemicals. Seroquel Drug Tests The chemical accumulates in various areas of the person’s body. Quetiapine half-life refers to how long it takes for only half of the substances to leave the body. Following this period, the person will still find that some drug’s active compounds are present in their body. Standard drug tests are not designed to detect Quetiapine. They can detect illicit substances or some prescription medications, like opioids. However, different other types of tests may be performed to detect the presence of Seroquel in a patient’s body. Some parts of one’s body may have remaining drug compounds for an extended period compared to other parts. Thus, it is important to differentiate between blood, urine, hair, and even saliva. How Long Does Seroquel Stay In Your Blood and Urine? It is generally thought that Seroquel will leave the system entirely within 48 hours. In one study about the detection of Quetiapine in a person’s blood, urine, and hair samples, the initial test was done in 43 hours following the drug administration. The researchers describe that traces of Quetiapine were found in both blood and urine samples. This was within the 48 hours during which the drug is metabolized by the body. This period already exceeded the Quetiapine half-life, which explained the low concentration of the chemicals detected in urine and blood samples. How Long Does Seroquel Stay In Your Hair Follicle? At six months following the drug administration, traces of its active chemicals were still detectable in the patient’s hair samples. Thus, Seroquel does seem to remain active in hair follicles and in hair itself for a much more significant period compared to urine and blood samples. Clearing Quetiapine From The System When it comes to detoxing from the drug, it’s not advised to quit it cold-turkey. It will lead to Quetiapine withdrawal, and to make it easier, the dose should be tapered off gradually. It is crucial that the patient initially considers factors that affect the metabolism of Quetiapine in their body. The person should also have a thorough understanding of Quetiapine warnings and consider the dosage – high doses lead to more serious adverse effects and causes the drug to remain active for longer. Speaking about such a side effect as Seroquel weight gain, it is not dose-dependent. So, even with a low dose, a patient can experience this side effect. While one is tapering off the drug, withdrawal may still appear. It is advisable to undergo medical detoxification to manage it faster and more effectively. If one feels unable to function daily without this drug, they may be addicted to Seroquel. This condition may lead to irreversible health damage and needs to be observed by addiction treatment experts. Help from a rehabilitation center should be admitted to begin a healthy and addiction-free life. Hope Without Commitment Find the best treatment options. Call our free and confidential helpline Most private insurances acceptedMarketing fee may apply - Johansen, S. S. (2017). Detection of the antipsychotic drug quetiapine in the blood, urine and hair samples of the victim of a drug-facilitated sexual assault. Forensic science international, 270, e12-e15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28012825 - U.S. Food and Drug Administration, SEROQUEL (quetiapine fumarate) TABLETS, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2004/20639se1-017,016_seroquel_lbl.pdf - DeVane, C. L., & Nemeroff, C. B. (2001). Clinical pharmacokinetics of quetiapine. Clinical pharmacokinetics, 40(7), 509-522. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11510628/ - López-Muñoz, F., & Álamo, C. (2013). Active metabolites as antidepressant drugs: the role of norquetiapine in the mechanism of action of quetiapine in the treatment of mood disorders. Frontiers in psychiatry, 4, 102. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3770982/ - Li, D., Duan, Y., & He, L. (2006). Association study of serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) gene with schizophrenia and suicidal behavior using systematic meta-analysis. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 340(3), 1006-1015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16405867/ - Small, J. G., Kolar, M. C., & Kellams, J. J. (2004). Quetiapine in schizophrenia: onset of action within the first week of treatment. Current medical research and opinion, 20(7), 1017-1023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15265246/ - Woodhouse, K. W., & Wynne, H. A. (1988). Age-related changes in liver size and hepatic blood flow. Clinical pharmacokinetics, 15(5), 287-294. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3203484/

High Achievement is a bit of a loaded term. Depending on where you start, high achievement means something different. Someone growing up in poverty might consider any college degree high achievement. Someone growing up with a lot of resources might only consider Ivy League schools high achievement. Also, it might not be academic high achievement you are interested in. Athletics and having well rounded skills are outside of typical academic achievement but can also be influenced with these same strategies. Here are five “big picture” tips that can help you raise a high performer in all these areas. More detail is available at AllProParent.com if you are interested in free access to individual high-performance techniques broken down by the age of your children. - Start Early – If you start working towards a high achievement outcome from the beginning it will be easier because your child will be accustomed to active learning and training, as well as having a big head start over kids who are not starting early. 30 minutes a day for four years turns into 730 hours of learning. Since preschool and kindergarten are usually short days and only about half of the days in a year, this puts a 4-year-old around 1st grade level right at the get go. - Never allow bad habits to form – For example, the weekend is not two days to take off and watch TV. They are two days where you can be more creative and hone new skills that are less academic and more athletic or soft skill oriented. - Encourage and reward strong work ethic – Do not focus on “winning” or having perfect days. Focus on the value of outworking other people over time. If you repeat these values, they stick with most kids. - Craft stories – Make sure your child understands and buys into a story you are crafting with them. This could be going to a certain level of school, graduating early, becoming a professional athlete, being good at science, etc. Ideally your child agrees with this and it makes them feel special and motivates them. If they do not like your story, then work with them to create a story (vision) of what they will look like when they are older and very successful. - Reduce bad stress and increase good stress – Minimize problems in family, fighting, complaining and stress related to losing a game, not getting a good grade, etc. Instead, create good stress when they try to succeed but they know it is OK to fail as long as they continue to improve and learn. This all seems fairly obvious, but it is very hard to do unless you take a long-term, steady approach. Staying the course is easier with support from other parents and information from people who have raised high achievement kids. That is why www.AllProParent.com was founded. To help you plan a better outcome as well as stick to the plan over time.

The Ultimate Writing Arabic Guide الــكــتاب المساعــد فـي كــتــابة اللغة العربية – The writing topics according to the areas of activities of the Edexcel syllabus and specification. – 129 ready-written pieces, suitable for the four GCSE writing examination questions. – 16 ready-written pieces, suitable for the AS writing examination question. – Brief and easy coverage of the Arabic grammar topics. – Detailed advice on punctuation, style and handwriting. – Clear presentation of the best ways of planning writing pieces, with examples, implementing this in many of the ready-written pieces. – English footnotes and various exercises (the latter for the extended writing only).

The average number of individuals directly infected by one infectious case during the entire infectious period of a specific disease is defined as the basic reproductive rate. Infectious diseases have individual characteristics, such as the route of transmission and the number of organisms needed to cause infection, which make this calculation different for each disease. Variables such as population immunity will also affect the reproductive rate. One of the most contagious human diseases is Measles, an airborne virus which spreads rapidly in non-immune populations. A person with Measles is infectious from four days prior to the rash appearing, until four days after the rash appears. Assuming contact in a non-immune population, the index case will infect between 12 to 18 people during this short period. Today we are seeing outbreaks of Measles in certain first world populations who have become opposed to vaccination. It also causes outbreaks in conditions of overcrowding such as refugee camps where people have migrated from places with disorganised health care systems where vaccination programs are either absent or unreliable. A high rate of vaccination in populations is needed to prevent this rapid transmission in such a potentially deadly disease. In brief, this is why organisations such as Medecins Sans Frontieres run mass vaccination programs in refugee camps. A single case of Influenza will infect between 2 and 3 non-immune people during the infectious period which lasts approximately eight days. In Australia we see 10,000 people hospitalised with Influenza each year and up to 4,000 deaths. This often comes as a surprise to people who have come to consider Influenza an unimportant disease, perhaps because of the over-use of it’s name in people suffering from a common cold or other mild winter-associated viral infections. Epidemiologists keep a very close eye on Influenza patterns in populations as it is highly likely to cause the next global disease pandemic due to it’s ability to spread rapidly whilst constantly mutating into potentially more virulent strains. In 1918 the world saw an Influenza pandemic known as Spanish Flu, which killed an estimated 20 to 40 million people. The next time this happens is a matter of when, rather than if. I am a strong proponent of Influenza vaccine and one of my biggest work frustrations is when I am unsuccessful at convincing Influenza Doubters that there is good reason to have the annual Influenza vaccination. Those of us who are young, strong and healthy can assume we don’t need the vaccination but part of the purpose of vaccination is the protection of vulnerable people by reducing disease transmission. Personally I would hate to be responsible for spreading a disease which may not threaten my own health, but which kills thousands of susceptible people. Ebola is considered infectious for the duration that a person is unwell with symptoms. Symptoms of Ebola in the West African outbreak last year, lasted an average of ten days before patients either recovered or died. During this ten day average, each index case infected between 1 and 3 secondary cases. The outbreak was only contained when appropriate preventive measures were able to be implemented, such as early diagnosis and isolation of cases. Tuberculosis is vastly different from the above three examples of viral infections which spread quickly and have very short incubation periods. Not only is Tuberculosis a bacterial disease, requiring much closer and more prolonged contact to spread between people, it also has a unique and complicated incubation period which depends on multiple host factors such as age, presence or absence of other sicknesses and risk factors such as smoking, certain immune-suppressing medications etc. The bacteria is slow-growing and usually causes a slow onset disease in people unable to contain it. TB disease can present in many ways, with 70% of all TB disease occurring in the lungs, but 30% occurring in other parts of the body. Only a proportion of TB disease is infectious, but when an index case does have infectious TB, World Health Organisation estimate that on average they will infect between 12 to 18 people per year (assuming a person remains infectious with untreated disease). Despite it’s much slower reproductive rate than many other diseases, and despite the human immune system’s ability to contain the bacteria in up to 90% of people infected, TB is nevertheless the world’s leading killer over any other single infectious organism. Because of this, it causes fear and anxiety across the globe. In countries of high prevalence, people have often watched loved ones or neighbours die from TB, which leads to fears about transmission resulting in stigma and discrimination. In wealthy countries similar concerns happen thanks to the disease’s reputation, combined with low incidence rates which have made it a mysterious disease that few people understand well. This is exacerbated by the fact that the disease is complicated in the way it interacts with human hosts, sometimes causing disease whilst other times not; and causing a very wide range of disease presentations. Recently a friend working as a photographer in Cambodia sent me this message: Hi , visiting a man living alone with TB this morning, some of the saddest photos I’ve taken so far. He is taking medication but has to walk from the community to the bridge and then take a remorque for 5 km to the TB clinic, every day, because they don’t want to give medication for more than a day at a time. He leaves at 5am in the morning, returning around 11am. We are trying to help, with food and shelter and maybe finding a clinic that is closer. He is sharing his platform with another family, a grandmother who had a stroke but is looking after three grandchildren while the parents are working. I’m not quite sure how easily TB is transmitted, so we just asked him to wear a mask all the time. He spends his nights sitting up because it is too painful to lie down. And apart from a really lovely young couple, the rest of the neighbours don’t want him out of his platform. I thought that maybe if we could have like a simple information meeting about TB, people would not be so afraid of him… Do you have anything, or MSF, for that purpose? Like with drawings for example. In the poor world, where 95% of all TB cases occur, stigma, social exclusion and discrimination such as this are a common experience of TB patients. In the rich world, where TB is far less common, the same fears exist but often steeped in incorrect assumptions about the disease. A quick Google News search of Tuberculosis this morning comes up with the following items: - More than one-third of refugees in Vermont test positive for tuberculosis The article then goes on to describe Latent TB Infection, which is not TB disease but simply shows that a person has been exposed to TB. One third of the global population has Latent TB Infection, most of them untested and unaware and 90% of them will never get sick or be infectious. That includes me. The article is potentially misleading and could easily cause fear and discrimination in a community of low TB prevalence. - Is Tuberculosis Making a Comeback? This article tells the story of a woman in Vermont who became unwell with TB and spent 3 months returning to the doctor looking for a diagnosis before it was finally pin pointed as active TB disease. It also mentions briefly the extreme measures that are taken in the rich world, with low prevalence rates, to identify contacts of an active TB case in order to reduce their chances of developing active TB. Nowhere in the first page of Google news feeds on Tuberculosis is there a headline about the 95% of TB patients living in poverty with challenges such as the elderly Cambodian man my friend is trying to help. Contact tracing in places such as Cambodia and East Timor is a very limited activity as services buckle under the pressure of active disease. By comparison, the rich world offer the opposite extreme, spending almost all of our resources on trying to identify contacts and reduce their risk of developing disease. TB is a curable disease, with the exception of MDRTB and XDRTB which present challenges for treatment and cure. Yet, almost exclusively because of poverty in far away countries, it remains one of the world’s biggest public health challenges. In the 1700s in England, 1 to 2% of the population died of TB. The reduction of poverty and improvement in living conditions across the country, all but defeated this and many other diseases. History has demonstrated repeatedly, that when social conditions improve, so does population health. Instead of talk about closing borders and stopping travel, as some politicians did during the Ebola outbreak last year, we should be promoting information and involving ourselves in trying to make the world a more equitable place for everyone.

Introduction to the Associations, Synagogues, and Congregations website - Navigate this site by topics (view index of entire site) - View photo gallery only - View abbreviations and site bibliography IntroductionAssociations and guilds were small, unofficial groups (ranging from about 10-100 members) that met together regularly for a variety of intertwined social, religious and burial purposes. These groups were widespread in the Roman empire, especially in regions like Asia Minor, and they went by a variety of ancient terms including koinon (“association”), synedrion (“sanhedrin”), thiasos (“cult-society”), synodos (“synod”), synergasia (“fellow-workers” or “guild”), collegium (“college”), and corpus (“body”). They could draw their membership from numerous social settings, including connections associated with the household or family, the work-place, the neighbourhood, and the temple or shrine. There were also associations consisting of persons from a common ethnic or geographic background, like the associations of Phrygians (from Asia Minor) that existed in the city of Rome and the group of Samaritans that gathered together on the Greek island of Delos. Included among these various types of associations were the many groups of initiates that devoted themselves to “the mysteries” of specific deities, which you can read about here, including Demeter and Kore (see photo of Demeter below), Dionysos, Isis, Mithras, the Great Mother, and the Great Gods of Samothrace. But virtually all kinds of associations chose a deity as patron of the group, honouring the gods in a variety of ways. On this web-site you can learn about these associations and guilds in various places, including Ephesos, Sardis, Pergamon, Bithynia-Pontus, Hierapolis, Laodicea, Colossae, and Ostia(a port-city of Rome). You can explore specific topics relating to religious life, including the mysteries and worship of the emperors (imperial cult). You can also read full articles on related topics concerning Greco-Roman religions, early Judaism, and early Christianity (accessible from the publications page). See more of Phil Harland's Websites

Kenya is a sovereign state in-east Africa which is known together with largest city and Nairobi the main city. The united states lieson theequatorbordered by the-indian Oceanto the south-west andTanzania, still yet another East African American countryto the south east west, Ugandalies in the west while South Sudan is situated in the southern portion of Kenya,Ethiopiato the north west andSomaliato the north east. This report highlights a number of the and fascinating facts about Kenya. Kenya FactsEveryone Must-know Inch. Kenya’s Legitimate Meaning It’s thought that the phrase Kenya hails from theKikuyu,EmbuandKambanames forMount Kenya, ” Kirinyaga “, ” Kirinyaa ” along with ” Kiinyaa “. There still yet another narrative that followed the name to the Hebrews at which this indicates ‘monster horn’. Back in Russiathey have the name at which this means ‘innocent’ or’ ‘benign ‘. In English, like you’ve got in Russia, innocence is meant by the name. Still another versionassociatesit witha historic mistake of life, the story goes that once the British landed in Kenya, they discovered that the Kikuyu already calling present Mount Kenya,” ‘Kirinyaga’ but as the Brits saw it tricky to announce kirinyagathey put down it since Kenia, that was later adopted as the name of the entire British protectorate.Prehistoric underwater eruptions of Mount Kenya (that will be nowextinct) might possibly have resulted in the institution of this name together with divinity andcreationamong the native Kikuyu-related cultural groups inhabiting the agricultural land surrounding Mount Kenya. There’s still yet another variant thatassociates the name with all the Kamba word, ‘kiinyaa’ that, such as Kirinyaga, has been usedto refer to-mount Kenya.Controversy within the authentic meaning of the term Kenya notwithstanding, it’s apparent that the hill ‘s name became widely acceptedPars expert totoas the name of the nation, we also realize that it’ named after Mount Kenya, the second greatest mountain in Africa. 2. Geography and freezing of Kenya Kenya is your planet ‘s forty-seventh biggest country at 580,367 kilometers 2 (224,081sqmi), only afterMadagascar, about the exact identical size with Texas. The nation is located between latitudes5Nand5S, also longitudes34and42E. By the coast to the Indian Ocean, the low plains rise to central highlands.The Highlands of Kenya is composed of a few of the very successful agricultural production regions in Africa and its own highlands will be the site of the maximum point in Kenya, the second greatest summit in Africa Mount Kenyawhich reaches 5,199m (17,057ft) is located, additionally Mount Kilimanjaro(5,895 m or 19,341feet ), thehighest mountaininTanzaniaand also the maximum mountain inAfrica, and also the greatest freestanding mountain at theworldat 5,895 yards or 19,341 feet abovesea levelcan likewise be seen out there. Kenya’s climate changes from place to put it’s almost always cool at night and early each daytime blasting at higher elevations. The rainy season “long rains” does occur from March/April into May/June as the “brief storms ” season occurs from October into November/December. It’s normally hot in February and March. 3. Income-generation (Espresso, Tourism) For the many Kenyans, java is recognized as a export product, not some thing for local consumption. Many Kenyans prefer beer and tea regardless of the undeniable fact that java could be the largest income generator, that really can be followed closely by Tourism. 4. The Drinking Water sources of kenya You’ll find five big drainage basins from Kenya, namely: Lake Victoria, the Athi-Galana-Sabaki River (along with Coastal areas to the south west ), the Rift Valley,the Tana River and the northern Ewaso Ng’iro. Even though Kenya has onlya little portion of Lake Victoria’s water surface, its own catchment leads a disproportionate 33 percent of its own surface in flow that sums for a 470 million cubic yards per year. More Exciting Truth about Kenya Fact 1-9: At the entire world period of sporting actions, Kenya is famous for Athletics Fact 17: The Money of Kenya is currently shilling, 1 shilling = 100 cents. Fact 1 3: Kenya’s wild life is unrivaled by any in the world, both regarding amounts and wide range of species. Countless tourists see Kenya each year to observe the wild life specially the wildebeest migration.Animals like leopard, lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino,giraffe, zebra, crocodiles, hippopotamus, gazelles, cheetahs, hyena and a vast assortment of bird species may be seen in Kenya. Fact 14: Around 2000 B.C.. Scientists discovered that the earliest-known remains of humans at Kenya. Even though very little is understood about those folks however it’s believed they have been the ancestors of now ‘s Kenyans. Fact 1-1: Around 70 per cent of Kenyans are Muslims, roughly 25 per cent are adherents of religions whereas the rest of the 5 to 6 percentage are Muslims. Fact 18: Kenya gained liberty in 1963 and was a republic since 1964. Swahili can be referred to as ‘Kiswahili’. Fact 20: Around 99 percent of Kenya’s populace is composed of black Africans however in addition, there are white Kenyans. Fact 1: Around 44 million people reside at Kenya as during that time of the writing. Fact 3: Kenya’s Great Rift Valley is made approximately 20 million decades ago as soon as the crust of the planet earth has been divided. Fact 4: Kenya includes just two seasons. 1 rainy season and one dry season. Fact 5: Kenya’s funding is Nairobi. Fact 6: there was excellent disparity between the rich and poor people, those which are rich are extremely rich and the ones which are poor are inadequate with not many from the midst income Truth 7: Jomo Kenyatta National Airport is the largest airport in East Africa. She had been the first African woman to acquire which deal Fact 9: Mount Kenya is the maximum mountain in Kenya using a elevation of 5199 meters. Fact 10: The Vast Majority of the people in Kenya have been all Protestants. Fact 1-5: Masai People, a tribe at Kenyaare tall and slim and are famous for their skill in using their ardently separate ways. Fact 1-2: Embu tribe at Kenyais famed for dance on stilts conducted by men wearing black coats and black masks?

Washington: A recent study claims that obesity can break down the protective blood-brain barrier, which can result in memory loss and learning issues, claim researchers. The details were published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The blood-brain barrier is comprised of high-density cells which restrict the passage of substances in the body from the bloodstream. Chronic activation of brain receptor Adora2a that line this important barrier in our brain can let factors from the blood enter the brain and affect the function of our neurons. Researchers have found that when they block Adora2a in a model of diet-induced obesity, an important barrier function is maintained. “We know that obesity and insulin resistance break down the blood brain barrier in humans and animal models, but exactly how has remained a mystery,” says Dr. Alexis M. Stranahan, neuroscientist. In the brain, adenosine is a neurotransmitter that helps us sleep and helps regulate our blood pressure; in the body, it’s also a component of the cell fuel. Adenosine (the chemical found in living being) also activates receptors Adora1a and Adora2a (brain receptors), which normally supports healthy relationships between brain activity and blood flow. Problems arise with chronic activation, particularly in the brain, which is what happens with obesity, says Stranahan. Fat is a source of inflammation and there is evidence that reducing chronic inflammation in the brain helps prevent obesity-related memory loss. For the study, mice fed a high-fat diet got fat within two weeks. By 16 weeks they increase in fasting glucose and insulin concentrations, all signs that diabetes is in their future. The investigators saw that obesity first increased permeability of the blood brain barrier to tiny molecules. When they looked with electron microscopy, they saw a changed landscape. Resulting diabetes promoted shrinkage of the usually tight junctions between endothelial cells and actual holes in those cells. When they gave a drug to temporarily block Adora2a, it also blocked problems with barrier permeability. Whether that could work in humans and long term as a way to avoid the cognitive decline in obese humans remains to be seen, Stranahan notes. Next, they developed a mouse in which they could selectively knock Adora2a out of endothelial cells. In this transgenic mouse, they turned off Adora2a in the endothelial cells at 12 weeks, and at 16 weeks, when mice should have been exhibiting cognitive impairment and a leaky blood brain barrier; they instead had normal cognition and barrier function and no inflammation. When they compared the transgenic mice that were on a high- or low-fat diet, they found evidence that the increased permeability of blood vessels in the brain initiates the cycle of inflammation and cognitive impairment. While it’s typically hard to jump from mice to men, the fact that this type of work actually started with human findings likely means that avoiding insulin resistance could potentially halt the increased permeability of the blood brain barrier and decrease in cognitive function, Stranahan says. “If an individual has already progressed to insulin resistance, these studies underscore the importance of controlling blood sugar levels and avoiding progressing to insulin deficiency (diabetes), which opens the blood brain barrier even further.” The scientists report that the relative accessibility of blood vessels in the brain may also make them a good avenue for preventing obesity’s effects on the brain. It also points to the reality that a variety of drugs given to obese patients may impact their brains to a higher degree, which might be something for patients and their doctors to consider. Some commonly prescribed drugs like prednisone, on the other hand, already are really good at getting through and can potentially be bad for the brain, she says. The researcher notes that the brain is a huge consumer, sucking up 70 to 80 percent of our oxygen and glucose, but also more fragile than other tissues, super sensitive even to our own immune cells.

A few weeks ago, I was visiting McDonald’s and I noticed an advertisement about artists where the tag line was, “Play like an Artist.” The advertisement featured a picture of a young child with art supplies in its mouth and surrounded by various artwork pieces, wearing, of course, the inevitable beret hat that defines a stereotypical vision of an artist. This advertisement highlights the prevailing beliefs in American culture that one, art is for kids and two that artists just play all day… And what are some other common artist stereotypes? I did some research online to find out. On one blog called Endpaper, The Paperblanks Blog, the author listed a variety of so-called traits that all artists share in common. For example, all artists are out of touch with reality, perfectionist, a Casanova, moody or flakey. Source: http://blog.paperblanks.com/2016/04/the-top-20-artist-stereotypes-you-cant-avoid/. Where did these stereotypes come from? My guess is that many of the celebrated artists that we have heard of from books or movies fit this stereotype, like Van Goh, who was mentally ill, or Picasso who was a lady’s man, or Monet who lived an impoverished lifestyle, (before he was discovered by American art collectors). And these stereotypes are continually reinforced by popular culture such as the well-known TV sitcom, Friends. For example, in one episode of Friends, the character, Ross, talks to his girlfriend Rachel about baby names and she suggests the name, Rain. Ross responds with the following comment: “Hi my name is Rain. I have my own kiln and my dress is made of wheat!” Source: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/who-art-thou. So if you are an artist, then you must be eccentric seems to be the message. While there is some truth that art is an important part of child development and education and that there is some element of play in the life of an artist, it is not all fun. For instance, according to, author, Grace Hwang Lynch, the art classes teaches children a variety of skills such as “fine motor skills, language development, decision making and visual learning.” Source:http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-importance-of-art-in-child-development/. Also, regarding the element of play in art, there are times when art can be considered fun, like that light bulb moment when I get an inspiration for a new art series and feel excited about getting in the studio and making my vision come to life with paper and pencil or oil paint and canvas. However, it is not called art work for nothing. For example, in the case of a hobbyist artist who is trying to imitate a certain style of painting or get into an art show, or a professional artist who is trying to make a living out of their art, or someone who straddles both worlds as a semi-professional artist, who still works a day job to support them, there are many tasks involved in getting your art work ready to be viewed by the outside world in art shows, art festivals, etc. For example, in addition to juggling everyday demands, the artist must contend with a variety of other things such as: bad days in the studio when the artwork is not going well, difficult art clients, rejections for art shows or grants, working the day job, marketing yourself, perfecting your craft, etc., etc. And if you want to become a professional artist, there are many, many hats to wear. According to Art Business Coach, Alyson Stanfield, who is the author of, I’d rather be in the Studio! (2008), if you are trying to sell your artwork “You are no longer only an artist. You’re a businessperson as well.” For example, in my experience as a semi professional artist, I have found that there are many other administrative tasks that do not come under the category of “fun”, like accounting, marketing on social media, setting up online commerce sites such as Etsy or Shopify, writing custom art contracts, keeping time sheets, etc. And with so many demands on my time, making time to actually do the art can be a real challenge. I personally have struggled to make time to make art every day, and am currently participating in a 100 faces in 100 days challenge, where I am drawing one celebrity portrait a day, for 15 minutes a day and then posting the results on Instagram. I’m hoping this practice will enable me to be a better portrait artist and that it will help me to build the skills of discipline and time management. By the way, the BBC has created a documentary tv series entitled, What Do Artists Do All Day?, which features several well known artists , such as Norman Ackroyd, and Michael Craig-Martin, which went live in 2014. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/49j3ZhwyXyPq703lDJzrNfc/what-do-artists-do-all-day. I haven’t seen this series yet, but I am wondering if the series will simply reinforce commonly held stereotypes of artists or hopefully, offer some more balanced insight into all the work that goes into making art.

The Quaternary geology of the central coast of British Columbia contains a rich and complex record of glacial activity, post-glacial sea level and landscape change, and early human occupation spanning the last ~10,000 years. At present, however, this region remains a largely understudied portion of coastal North America. This study describes the luminescence characteristics of quartz and K-feldspar from coastal dune and beach sands on Calvert Island and develops a suitable optical dating protocol that will allow for a more rigorous chronology for post-glacial landscape evolution and human occupation on British Columbia's central coast. Luminescence signals from Calvert Island quartz are dim, and appear to lack the so-called "fast" component that is most desirable for optical dating. K-feldspar signals are sufficiently bright for optical dating. We test and refine a single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol for K-feldspar specific to Calvert Island samples through a series of dose recovery and preheat plateau tests. Two approaches for correcting a sample age for anomalous fading are compared and a correction for phototransfer is introduced and applied. Measured fading rates vary from sample to sample implying that, in this region, it is not sufficient to rely on two or three representative fading rates as has sometimes been done elsewhere. Refined age estimates show consistency with independent radiocarbon dating control and help identify radiocarbon-dated organic-rich sediments that have been reworked. - Anomalous fading - British Columbia central coast - Coastal geomorphology - Optical dating ASJC Scopus subject areas - Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)

All of us in the Bed Bug world had always believed that bed bugs didn't cause any harm other than bites and itchy welts. Now researchers from North Carolina State University think otherwise. A new study discovered that bed bugs could increase the risk of deadly asthma and other allergic reactions, even after the bed bug infestation has been cleared. This is due to insects abandoning histamine in their fecal matter, which inflames allergy symptoms in humans. These uninvited guests suck our blood, but upon leaving, they also drop unpleasant remnants of them on our mattresses, bed frames, baseboards, and furniture. The droppings, filled with histamine, stay long after the exterminators have cleared the bed bugs. The histamine can cause lingering illness and allergic reactions, such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and difficulty breathing. What does affect people living with asthma is histamine can cause skin rashes and inflammation of the airways. Sufferers of respiratory conditions and asthma could be in quite a precarious situation. Published in PLOS One, the study tested 30 North Carolina apartment complexes. Some homes were infested, some had recently been treated, and others were never infested. Histamine levels 20 times greater than homes with no bed bugs were found in the infested dwellings. This elevation remained for months after the bed bugs were removed. The report's lead author, Zachary DeVries, said, "Infestations can reach exceedingly high levels, especially among the elderly and in disadvantaged communities, where interventions may be unaffordable. While bed bug bites have been recognized as a dermatological concern that can be exacerbated and lead to secondary infections, bed bugs have not been implicated as disease vectors or allergen producers. The results of this study demonstrate that the presence of bed bugs strongly correlates with histamine levels in homes and thus may adversely affect the health of residents through exposure to exogenous histamine." DeVries concludes that the danger related to bed bug histamine could rival that caused by allergies from dust mites and cockroaches. Since bed bugs like to remain close to humans, this only increases the impact. Low-income households could be hardest hit, as they cannot afford the necessary treatments to remove bed bugs. Let us at Bed Bug Store assist you. All our products come with a 90-day, 100% satisfaction guarantee. Since 2003 we have been the bed bug treatment to turn to. Our products are 100% all-natural, chemical and pesticide-free. The smell you notice when using our solution is the fresh scent of peppermint.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of fitness myths. But, perhaps, the most common one is the belief in the slogan, “no pain, no gain”. Scientific evidence has ruled this a myth as pain shows that your body is signaling that something’s wrong. So, you must stop and attend to your body’s needs. One saying that leaves many people on the fence is believing that you can turn fat into muscle during weight lifting. Some people think it is factual, while others consider it a myth. But what does science say? Can you really turn fat into muscle by lifting? This read explores this concept and provides scientifically backed evidence to support the answer. Can You Turn Fat Into Muscle By Lifting? If you have looked for workouts to burn fat and build muscle, perhaps you have come across pieces that recommend weight lifting. They argue that lifting helps in turning fat into muscle. But what does science say about this theory? Unfortunately, all scientific evidence points to no. No scientific process, mechanism, or formula shows you can turn fat into muscle by lifting. Regardless if you lift weights, practice clean eating, portion control, and follow a muscle-building diet, the answer remains no. You cannot turn fat into muscle. Perhaps the most straightforward analogy to answer this is that you cannot turn an orange into an apple or vice versa. The main reason why this is scientifically impossible is that fat and muscle are two different tissues. What Is The Difference Between Fat And Muscle? The primary reason why you cannot turn fat into muscle is that fat and muscle are two entirely different types of tissue, as mentioned earlier. Fat refers to a natural oily substance that is mainly deposited as a layer underneath the skin and other body organs. Meanwhile, muscle is a band or bundle of fibrous tissue that can contract to produce movement or maintain the position of different body parts (5). Based on the two definitions, it is evident that fat and muscle are different elements. So, neither can be converted directly to the other. Another difference between fat and muscle worth noting is that fat is less dense and has more volume compared to muscle. Additionally, it uses lower calories during metabolism, unlike muscle. What Happens To Fat When You Lift Weights? We all know that weight lifting helps in building muscle. But is the theory that it turns fat into muscle plausible? Of course not. We have determined that the two are different tissues, meaning they cannot be directly converted into the other. So what happens to belly fat when you lift weights? Whether it is your belly, back, or thigh fat, science shows that when you lift weights, you burn calories. One pound (0.45 kg) of fat contains 3, 500 calories (7). So, when you burn calories, you indirectly lose fat. The Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) states that a healthy weight loss pace would entail shedding a pound or two a week (4). So, if you want to lose one pound a week, you would have to burn 500 calories (3, 500 calories/7 days). What Happens When You Lift Weights? Weight lifting or resistance training has been linked to significant lean body mass and strength gains. For example, a 2012 study showed that resistance training significantly increased body mass and strength in overweight individuals (2). However, there have been conflicting reports in the literature about whether or not resistance training induces fat mass loss. Some randomized controlled trials show that resistance training significantly reduces fat mass (5). However, others either report a statistically insignificant rate or no change in fat mass, with the argument that lifting has too little to no effect on fat cells (3). So, it would be best to look for other more effective fat loss exercise programs instead of lifting. BetterMe app will provide you with a host of fat-frying fitness routines that’ll scare the extra pounds away and turn your body into a masterpiece! Get your life moving in the right direction with BetterMe! Effective Ways On How To Lose Fat Losing fat is not an easy task. That is why most people secretly wished they could convert fat into muscle by lifting. However, since that is out of the window, you have to put in the work if you want to lose fat. But how? Most scientific studies point to making dietary changes (1). After all, weight loss accounts for 20% of exercise and 80% of the diet. But then again, the aspect of dietary changes is also confusing. This is because the market is filled with fad diets and so-called “magical” fat-burning supplements. Additionally, several studies show a no-fit-for-all fat loss diet as the optimal diet is still under debate (1). So does it mean you gamble until you get a diet that promotes fat loss? Thankfully, that is not the case. The same studies reveal that the ideal diet for long-term fat loss has to be healthy, nutritionally adequate, affordable, culturally acceptable, and helps you maintain a calorie deficit. Some of these diets and the most recommended for weight loss in today’s society are: A Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial was conducted alongside a low-carb and low-fat diet in 322 obese subjects in a workplace setting (6). After two years, the men reported a mean weight loss of 2.9 kg for the low-fat group, 4.4 kg for the Mediterranean diet, and 4.7 kg for the low-carb group (6). Besides fat loss, this diet has been linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular-related diseases and improved longevity (6). A Low-Fat Diet A low-fat diet is effective in weight loss for several reasons. Firstly, consuming low-fat foods means lowering the proportion of calories you consume from fat. Typically, one gram of fat contains more than twice the calories of a gram of carbs or protein (9 kcal/gram vs. 4 kcal/gram) (1). Secondly, fat is less satiating than energy from carbs, meaning cutting fatty foods will prevent overeating (1). These diets operate on the weight loss principle of reducing the number of calories you consume compared to what your body burns. So they reduce your daily calorie limit by 500 to 700 calories. The restriction ranges from 1, 200 to 1, 500 in females and 1, 500 to 1, 800 for males. Similarly, these diets balance the macronutrient composition as 30% fat, 50% carbohydrate, and 20% protein (1). Betterme will keep you laser-focused on your weight loss journey! Nutrient-packed meal plans, fat-blasting workouts, galvanizing challenges and much more. Try using the app and see for yourself! The Bottom Line Can you turn fat into muscle by lifting? The answer is no. Lifting is most effective for building muscle and not fat loss. Again, fat and muscle are two different tissues that cannot be directly converted into each other. The most recommended fat loss strategy is healthy dietary changes. It is worth noting that there are many fad diets in the industry. So, consult with your doctor and dietitian before trying any diet for fat loss. This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility! - Defining the Optimal Dietary Approach for Safe, Effective and Sustainable Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults (2018, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) - Effects of aerobic and/or resistance training on body mass and fat mass in overweight or obese adults (2012, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) - Lifting Weights? Your Fat Cells Would Like to Have a Word. (2021, nytimes.com) - Losing Weight (2020, cdc.gov) - Muscle hypertrophy with large-scale weight loss and resistance training (1993, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) - Weight loss with a low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or low-fat diet (2008, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) - Why do doctors recommend a slow rate of weight loss? What’s wrong with fast weight loss? (2020, mayoclinic.org)

Pregnancy Overview — Before and After Over 130 million women give birth each year and for women with type 1 diabetes, while the risks and challenges are of course magnified, the reality is that you can successfully navigate the before and after phases of pregnancy—it just requires a solid game plan and an incredible team. This will not be the spontaneous adventure it is for some, but rarely is that the reality for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). At the end of this road lies an even greater adventure, motherhood. 1. Before you get pregnant The resources are not robust and in many cases you will have to be your own advocate—you will have to fight to maintain control of your body and your care, but if you work hard to be healthy, assemble the best team, seek the best information, you will be ready. The key is getting blood glucose levels in range three to six months before conception. Your baby’s organs will be fully formed just seven weeks from your last period and high blood glucose levels increase risks to your baby. Additionally, a healthy body weight and exercise routine should be established before pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins with folic acid can be added beforehand as well (this may reduce the risk of your baby developing spina bifoda). This preplanning will give your baby the healthiest start possible. 2. Assembling your team, know your hospital Find an ob/gyn who is experienced in caring for women with T1D if possible, and schedule an appointment to understand your care and delivery. Know the hospital where you will deliver and how they will approach diabetes management during delivery and time in the hospital. For example, some hospitals require you to disconnect a pump, many have a common protocol for all people with T1D, and others have never worked with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Know what to expect and how you will navigate. Schedule a pre-pregnancy exam with your endocrinologist to check your A1C levels (target range is less than 7 percent), thyroid level and identify any potential complications, such as eye, nerve or kidney damage, heart disease or high blood pressure. Discuss changes to medication and insulin doses; in most cases you will need more insulin, especially in the last trimester. If you don’t currently use a CGM, this is an ideal time to start. This tool will give you greater access to information as you navigate uncharted waters for your body, allowing you to react to blood glucose readings more immediately and efficiently. Find other women who have successfully become mothers and join their group, whether online (like the Sugar Mommas) or in person. These women will be an invaluable resource, helping you trouble-shoot most every situation, offering advice and real life experience. Talk to other type 1 women who have gone before you. This will ease the burden of trying to figure it out all on your own. Brooke Gibson, founder of the Type 1 Diabetic Sugar Mommas, a T1D mother’s support group in the San Francisco Bay Area, says that “finding other type 1 women who have become mothers, helps give others the confidence that they can have healthy babies.” T1D Sugar Mommas began as a Facebook group and has grown into a vibrant association of T1D women who are an invaluable resource for each other, helping trouble-shoot most every situation, offering advice and real life experience. Finding a network such as this can not only give you added confidence but it also can be a vital source of emotional support for the challenges you may be facing. 3. Baby on board You are pregnant and while you require additional monitoring, your body will change just like every pregnant woman—you will experience highs and lows that have more to do with emotions than sugars, and your baby will grow, develop and move! What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Eisenberg Murkoff and Sharon Mazel provides tremendous resources both online and in your local community for pregnancy and parenting. Think ahead about your delivery and the care for both you and the baby; select a pediatrician who is familiar with children of women with T1D or at a minimum is willing to learn more. Continue to work with your team to maintain good control of your T1D and prepare for changes with each trimester. For example, insulin resistance is often higher in the third trimester; so constant blood glucose monitoring is paramount. High blood glucose levels will pass through the placenta to the baby, increasing the chance of birth defects, so diligence is not only important for you, but also for your baby. Put together a plan for your diabetes management to keep your blood glucose levels in range, which may include switching to a pump and CGM if you haven’t already. 4. Labor and delivery Don’t forget to prepare for this moment with the usual birthing classes, hospital tours and preparations for heading to the hospital. In addition to the usual bag, make certain to include extra supplies, batteries for pumps and CGMs, chargers, medication and snacks. While you will be in a hospital, you don’t want any added complications (or to have to send your partner on an errand) due to malfunctioning equipment. While many women have a complication-free vaginal birth, the odds of having an induced labor or C-section are increased for women with T1D. Know your hospital’s protocol for managing your diabetes—some will allow you to maintain control, but if you have a C-section you will most likely be handing over the reigns and put on an insulin IV drip. After delivery, your blood glucose levels will drop as will your insulin needs. Work with your endocrinologist ahead of time to develop guidelines for cutting your doses. Expect to decrease insulin by at least a third and then further a day or two after delivery. Be prepared to manage your own insulin and eating after delivery, not the hospital staff. 5. Your baby is here Although your baby will be at increased risk of hypoglycemia after nine months in an environment of heightened glucose, this should subside within a few days of birth. Your pediatrician will anticipate this and the baby will be carefully monitored. If you plan to breastfeed, continue to pay close attention to your blood glucose levels, as hypoglycemia is common. If you need extra motivation, breast-feeding provides your baby with immune antibodies and can reduce your baby’s risk of developing type 1. Like every new mother, you will experience moments of joy, anxiety, frustration, sleeplessness and overwhelming love. As you planned for your life before your baby, you must continue to plan for your new life, managing all of these emotions and experiences with T1D. Keep up the team approach, accept those helping hands, surround yourself with new mothers and remember to take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Also, take a moment to be proud of all you have accomplished. For heavier reading: Guide to pregnancy.

Every purchase a company makes represents either an expense or an asset. Expenses, like supplies, rent and utilities are purchases that are quickly used up. Assets meanwhile add value to the business and have an economic life of at least a year. Capital expenditures are assets that a company must depreciate over the economic life of the asset. Types of a capital expenditure can include purchases of buildings and machinery. Basics of Capital Expenditures Capital expenditures are purchases made to acquire or improve a fixed asset. According to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), a fixed asset is a physical asset the company expects to hold for more than a year. Such capital expenditure examples include buildings, equipment, software or machinery. A purchase represents a capital expenditure whether the company purchases the item from someone else or constructs the asset itself. Any money spent on the asset going forward is a capital expenditure if it lengthens the economic life of the asset or increases the asset's value. For example, adding solar panels to the building is a capital expenditure; replacing broken windows with windows of the same quality is not. Capitalizing Costs for Capital Expenditures Rather than being expensed immediately, capital expenditures are capitalized as an asset and depreciated. For example, say a company spends $50,000 to purchase a building. The accountant would debit a building asset account for $50,000 and credit cash for $50,000. When the company generates the financial statements, the balance sheet will show a $50,000 fixed asset. Because the transaction was classified as an asset purchase rather than an expense, the purchase will not appear on the expense portion of the income statement. Capital Expenditure Accounting for Depreciation Under capital expenditure accounting, the company records expense for capital expenditures by identifying the life of the asset and the asset salvage value, and assigning depreciation expense each year. One of the most common depreciation methods used in GAAP is the straight line method. With this method, the company books an equal amount of depreciation expense each year. For example, if the $50,000 building has an economic life of 10 years and no estimated salvage value, the company would record $5,000 of depreciation expense each year. Meanwhile, if there was a $10,000 associated salvage value — the value of the capital after its economic life is up — you would depreciate only $40,000 over the ten years, or $4,000 of depreciation expense each year. Depreciation and Asset Value Adjustment The company records depreciation on the capital expenditure by debiting depreciation expense and crediting accumulated depreciation. The accumulated depreciation reduces the value of capital expenditures on the balance sheet. For example, if the asset was purchased at $50,000 and accumulated depreciation is currently $5,000, the value on the balance sheet will be $45,000. If the company makes $6,000 worth of improvements to the building, the net value would be $51,000 ($50,000 original price plus $6,000 in improvements less $5,000 accumulated depreciation).

The objective of this report, published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is to shed light on opportunities to strengthen the effectiveness of policies for sustainable consumption in both developed and developing countries. The publication provides evidence-based insights from behavioural science, detailing five key behavioural barriers to sustainable consumption. It also includes concrete examples of how behavioural science has been successfully coupled with policy action to cost-effectively achieve sustainable consumption. Human demands on Earth’s natural resources have outpaced what can be produced. A shift to more sustainable growth is dependent on changes in current patterns of both production and consumption. While recent policy has largely focused on addressing production and supply, consumption and demand must also be addressed. Today, in less than nine months, we consume more resources than our planet produces in a year, and our rate of consumption continues to grow. We are in a time of flux in the world economy, where the growth of emerging economies is driving a rise in consumption across the globe. An increasing number of households in developing economies are joining the consuming class; experts estimate 2-3 billion additional middle-class consumers will be added by 2050. This growth in demand and consumption of our planet’s natural resources is unsustainable in the long term. Solving this problem is vital to the future of our and other species. As such, we must develop strategies to decouple economic growth and human wellbeing from the unsustainable use of natural resources. In September 2015, this critical goal was reaffirmed by the international community at the UN Sustainable Development Summit, with the adoption of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the recognition of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) as an essential building block across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 10 Year Framework of Programmes on SCP patterns (10YFP), which brings together over 450 actors from all over the world, is an essential platform for action to support the achievement of the SDGs through the shift towards SCP in all countries. In view of the importance of behavioural insights for consumer information, this publication is developed in cooperation with the Consumer Information Programme for Sustainable Consumption and Production (CI-SCP) of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on SCP. The objective of this publication is to shed light on opportunities to strengthen the effectiveness of policies for sustainable consumption in both developed and developing countries. The publication provides evidence-based insights from behavioural science, detailing five key behavioural barriers to sustainable consumption. It also includes concrete examples of how behavioural science has been successfully coupled with policy to cost-effectively achieve sustainable consumption. Today, inequalities in consumption exist across and within countries—with countries facing the simultaneous challenges of over and underconsumption. Keeping this reality in mind, the opportunities to shift consumer behaviour are immense. Each day, across the world, individuals make small choices and take small actions that have, as a whole, momentous impacts on our planet’s natural resources. Policies that focus on shifting these everyday behaviours toward more sustainable outcomes are crucial to achieving more sustainable consumption patterns. Yet changing human behaviour is often challenging. As humans, we do not always make standard decisions or behave in predictable ways. The field of behavioural science, which includes behavioural economics, psychology, and other social sciences, offers practical insights for designing policies that are better aligned with human decision-making processes. Behaviourally informed policy tools can help consumers better evaluate costs and benefits and act on their preferences, enhancing the effectiveness of government interventions. Already, an increasing number of governments, with developed countries taking the lead, across the world are incorporating behavioural science into many aspects of their policymaking. Understanding human behaviour is crucial to achieving sustainable consumption. For example, what might prevent an individual who generally understands the importance of sustainability, and has access to sustainable options, from shifting their behaviour? This phenomenon is seen in both developed and developing countries—despite knowing what is best for the wellbeing of themselves and their communities, many people do not take the optimal action. Behavioural science demonstrates how the influence of context (mental, social, and physical) and the mental shortcuts used by the human mind can result in otherwise unpredictable outcomes in our individual behaviour. This paper describes in detail the five following ways that behavioural barriers might affect decision-making about sustainable consumption: - Many “choices†in consumption are often habitual behaviours; - Consequences of consumption are often hard to see; - Sustainable consumption may not seem personally relevant; - Behaviour is influenced by peers and social groups; and - It can be hard to follow through on sustainable choices. Designing policy and interventions to address these barriers can lead to cost-effective and practical solutions. This report includes several examples of solutions successfully applied to key consumption areas, including energy, water, transportation and mobility, food and diet, and waste and disposal. There are many more opportunities to apply behavioural approaches to shift consumption patterns. For example, few behavioural applications have thus far focused on managing the unsustainable consumption of low-quality, disposable consumer goods. Even more critically, to date behavioural insights have disproportionately focused on developed countries, while there are many opportunities to apply behavioural insights in developing countries. This paper ends with a call to action to policymakers and practitioners. It offers three broad recommendations to achieve better outcomes in sustainable consumption policy: - Incorporate behavioural science into policy processes and tools; - Build internal behavioural policy capacity within policymaking entities; and - Expand behavioural science research efforts and dissemination. Achieving sustainable consumption will require great global effort — it is critical that we employ all of the tools at our disposal. By using the deep understanding of decision-making offered by behavioural science, policymakers can design more effective policies to shift consumption patterns and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The publication was developed with the support of the European Commission under the supervision of the Secretariat of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production patterns (10YFP on SCP) within the Economy Division of UN Environment, in cooperation with the 10YFP Programme on Consumer Information for SCP. The publication was authored by Kanyinsola Aibana, Jamie Kimmel, and Sarah Welch of ideas42. ideas42 is a not-for-profit behavioural design and consulting firm headquartered in New York that uses insights from behavioural science to achieve social impact in a broad set of domains across the world.

List of Contents Source: The post is based on the article “50 ASI-protected monuments disappear: How did they go ‘missing’, what happens next” published in Indian Express on 4th January 2023 What is the News? According to a submission made in Parliament by the Ministry of Culture, as many as 50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments are missing. What are centrally protected monuments? The centrally protected monuments are sites which have been declared so under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act). The AMASR Act regulates the preservation of monuments and archaeological sites of national and historical importance that are more than 100 years old. Under the act, the conservation, preservation and environmental development of the protected monuments are undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI). How can a monument go missing? Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham when he realized the need for a permanent body to oversee archaeological excavations and conservation. But the body remained largely dysfunctional in the 19th century owing to the fund crunch. Even after independence, the focus of successive governments was to uncover more monuments and sites instead of conservation. So in due course, many monuments and sites were lost to activities like urbanization, construction of dams and reservoirs, and even encroachment For instance, as per the ASI submission in Parliament, 14 monuments have been lost to rapid urbanization, 12 are submerged by reservoirs/dams, and 24 are untraceable which brings the number of missing monuments to 50. Is this the first time monuments have been reported missing? As per ASI officials, a comprehensive physical survey of all monuments has never been conducted after Independence. However, in 2013, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report said that at least 92 centrally protected monuments across the country had gone missing. Out of these 92 monuments, 42 have been identified due to efforts made by the ASI. The CAG report also said that the ASI did not have reliable information on the exact number of monuments under its protection. It recommended that periodic inspections of each protected monument be carried out by a suitably ranked officer. What is the process of deleting the lost/untraceable monuments from the protected list? The deletion requires denotification of the said monument under Section 35 of the AMASR Act, which happens to be a long-drawn process. Hence, the Parliamentary Committee recommended that the untraceable monuments may not be removed from the list, because once that is done, there would be no imperative to find them. Instead, the committee recommended that the list of Untraceable Monuments may be maintained as such and if necessary, the AMASR Act be amended to include this terminology.

Sivakumar Dhar Malingam presented a seminar yesterday on "Analysis of self-reinforced polypropylene based composite-aluminium hybrid structures" at the Australian National University. Material science is outside my usual area of interest but lightweight sandwiches of metal and plastic can be used to replace heavy panels in cars and aircraft to Reduce your Carbon Foot Print. Such panels have been used for the skin of aircraft such as the Airbus A380. But mass production at low cost requires flat sheets of the material to be stamped quickly into complex shapes. Unlike plain sheets of steel or aluminium, the composite material (such as Twintex) tends to tear or wrinkle when stamped. The research is looking at how much heat is needed to to make the process work and how quickly the material can be deformed. The research shows that moderate heat (enough to make the meta more malleable but not enough to melt the plastic layer) helps the process. While use for the mass production of car panels is a long wahy off and large passegner air caraft are not produced in sufficient numbers for mass production, the process might be applied to UAVs. Small pilot-less aircraft are being produced in increasing numbers and so mass production techniques could be applied. They would be small enough to be made with just a few stamped panels. A small UAV might be be made in just two pieces: top and bottom. UAVs are not subject to the same safety requirements as passenger aircraft and so could be made with a new and relatively untested process. Complex blended wing shapes, designed for low radar cross section could be made to fine tolerances using a stamping process.

Concrete is by far the most common structural substrate on which resinous flooring materials are applied. Its most basic description: a mixture of cement, various grades and sizes of aggregate, and water. While the makeup of concrete is basic in design, the proper placement, curing, and drying of concrete is an extremely complex process requiring a high degree of expertise. There are many different mix designs that are used to modify the performance and physical characteristics of concrete. Each design has its pros and cons, but generally, factors that contribute to the amount of concrete cracking include add-mixtures, weather conditions, proper grade selection and compaction, water-to-cement ratios, moisture barriers, proper curing and drying of the concrete, proper layout and cutting of contraction joints (or control joints) and overloading the slab. And while there is no way to definitively predict when and where concrete will crack, by understanding what caused the crack, flooring contractors can avoid concrete cracking problems. Top Seven Reasons for Concrete Cracking The reasons are many but the most common are as follows: Cracking Due to Corrosion The corrosion of reinforcing rebar and other embedded metals is a major cause of cracking in concrete. As reinforcing steel corrodes, it expands. That creates internal forces that eventually overcome the tensile strength of the concrete, resulting in cracking and other concrete surface failures. Rust can often be seen at the surface and can help in quickly identifying this type of cracking. Expansion Cracks As with many materials, concrete will expand exponentially as it gets hotter. This expansion can cause immense stress on a concrete floor. As the concrete expands, it pushes against all obstacles in its way. When it comes against an unmovable object, such as another concrete floor, the weaker of the two obstacles will be forced to crack. Designers plan for this by placing expansion joint material -- such as foam, asphalt, and cork -- at the interface between the concrete floor and walls, columns, and other structural components. Loss of Subbase Support Most often caused when the subbase is washed-out or settles from its original compacted state, loss of support causes an implosion of the concrete slab. Although commonly seen in older slabs, it can be seen in new construction when the concrete form work has been removed too early in the curing stage. Thermal Cracks Thermal cracks are caused when the temperature increases in the interior portions of the concrete, causing it to expand, while the outside surface of the concrete is cooling, causing it to contract. When the temperature differential between the interior and exterior is too great, consequential tensile stresses can cause thermal cracks at the surface. This kind of cracking is usually seen when concrete is in mass but can also be found in thicker concrete floor pours. Crazing Cracks Crazing cracks are very common and exhibit themselves as small pattern cracks occurring in a floor slab surface. They are caused when the surface of the concrete floor dries earlier than the underlying concrete. These cracks are usually smaller than 1/8‒1/4-inch (3.2‒6.4 mm) deep and are usually not detrimental to the performance of the concrete. Plastic Shrinkage Cracks Plastic shrinkage cracks are caused when moisture evaporates faster from the surface of newly poured concrete, and then bleed water comes to the surface to replace the evaporated water. Low humidity, elevated temperatures, and high winds can all play a part in drying out the top of a concrete slab. As the top of the slab dries, it begins to shrink. The underlying concrete, still wet, restrains this shrinkage, causing tensile stress to develop in the weak uppermost part of the concrete surface. This results in shallow cracks of varying depths. These cracks tend to run in parallel with one another, about 1‒3 feet (30.5‒91.4 cm) apart and can be wide at the surface. Normally, they are a cosmetic defect, and if repaired, they are not detrimental to the performance of the concrete floor. Drying Shrinkage Cracks In its plastic state, concrete gains volume due to the exothermic hydration reaction of cement and the reaction of calcium sulfate and calcium aluminate to form calcium sulfoaluminate. This gain in volume occurs within the first few hours after mixing with water. As the concrete loses moisture and begins to harden, it loses volume and acts much like a wet sponge as it dries. When shrinkage is restrained by contact with the subbase, surrounding structural components (such as walls, columns, steel reinforcement within the concrete, and piping in and through the concrete) tensile stress is developed within the concrete itself. Concrete, while being strong in compressive strengths, is weak in tensile strength (approximately 10 percent of its compressive strength) and this weakness is greatly tested as the concrete shrinks and literally pulls itself apart. The result is cracking of the concrete at its weakest points. Designers plan for this by specifying contraction joints at intervals spaced at distances equal to 24 to 30 times the slab thickness and in areas such as re-entrant corners. To be effective in controlling shrinkage cracks, joints must be troweled into the plastic concrete, or cut to a minimum depth of 25 percent of the actual slab thickness before the concrete has already cracked. Usually, this is as soon as it can be walked on without damaging the finish and almost always before 24 hours of placement. Failure to properly weaken the plane at the proper time can result in cracking alongside the planned joint or at random locations. Crack issues can be a common experience in the flooring business and often results in finger pointing as to who ultimately is responsible for them. Documentation can help in determining responsibility for those that appear after the installation of coatings or overlays. The American Concrete Institute’s Guide to Design of Slabs-on-Ground, ACI 302 and ACI360R-10, outlines the most current recommendations for constructing concrete floors and slabs. These standards most likely governed the placement of the concrete that you have been hired to coat. Understanding what should and should not have been done when the concrete was placed is extremely important to reducing cracking. Stay current with the latest protective coating tips, techniques, and technologies with a free subscription to CoatingsPro Magazine. Source: Article repurposed with permission from CoatingsPro Magazine; written by Chris O’Brien, president and CEO of Rock-Tred Corporation.

It had to happen: after decades of scholarly effort to make its history and society less of an anomaly, archaic Sparta has finally been declared ‘even more normal than other communities’. These are the closing words of Mischa Meier’s Aristokraten und Damoden, the book of a very recent thesis which easily meets the criteria of demonstrating the author’s scholarship and originality, and poses a series of important questions about seventh-century Sparta. Unfortunately, I find many of its answers quite unconvincing. Before I launch into the discussion, it is only fair to declare an interest: I have an article in press on pretty much the same subject, and have previously published on two other subjects which also play a significant part in Meier’s argument, Homeric society and early Greek warfare, so that on almost all of the questions tackled in his book I cannot help but be exceptionally opinionated. In outline, Meier’s reconstruction of early Spartan history runs as follows. In the eighth and early seventh century BC, the community was dominated by an elite of wealth (not of birth, but nevertheless loosely called an ‘aristocracy’ because it had a distinct style of life, 18-19), which was organized into informal bands of drinking companions ( hetaireiai) and into ‘secret societies’ ( Geheimbünde) of the kind often encountered by anthropologists, exclusive and prestigious male cult associations. The aristocratic bands energetically raided neighbouring territories, provoking the First Messenian War — dated to c. 700-680 or 690-670 BC — which was an essentially ‘private’ conflict between aristocrats from either side of the border and led to only partial annexation. The secret societies, meanwhile, abused their traditional, informal role in the administration of justice ( Rügerecht) and resorted to plundering, raping, and killing fellow-Spartans. The common people, suffering both these depredations and the counter-raids of the Messenians, resisted, and rivalries within the aristocracy added to the tension. The first crisis came near the end of the war, when the poet Terpander intervened to effect a reconciliation. A second crisis occurred c. 660-50 BC, when the Parthenioi, a disgruntled aristocratic group, possibly one of the secret societies, attempted a coup but failed and emigrated to settle Taras. A major reform, promulgated in the Great Rhetra, followed around 650 BC. It reduced division within Sparta and gave the common people a formal role in politics while preserving aristocratic domination; it also provided the basis for the creation of a citizen army. Yet tensions persisted, and when the new citizen phalanx was mobilized to suppress a revolt by the Messenians, c. 640-30 BC, there were popular demands for a redistribution of land. The elite diverted these demands into a drive to occupy the rest of Messenia. During the war, the poetry of Tyrtaeus helped forge a new sense of citizen identity and of the primacy of the ‘common good’, and after the final victory, c. 600 BC, the Spartans closed ranks against the subjected Messenians and began to create a new regime of Eunomia. This involved the ‘domestication’ of aristocratic organisations: the secret societies were secularised and turned outward to form the notorious krypteia, while private drinking groups were subject to increasing restraints and slowly superseded by public messes. In the course of the sixth century these changes produced the notion that all Spartans were equal, and by the end of the fifth century the whole regime had come to be attributed to the legendary Lycurgus. Meier’s version of early Spartan history is eventful and exciting indeed and offers a blend of the conventional and the unusual which is at first sight quite appealing. Its main virtue lies in focusing on the social structure of Sparta as the key to understanding political and military change. When investigating changes in warfare, for instance, he helpfully concentrates on the nature of military organization, rather than on introduction of hoplite armour and the phalanx formation with which much of the debate has traditionally been preoccupied. With most of the contemporary evidence Meier deals rather well, and his analysis of Spartan aristocratic culture (18-44) is certainly worth reading, even if it contains some minor oddities. (I have great difficulty swallowing pea-soup as an aristocratic prestige food [65-6], which is surely just the opposite of what Alkman says [F17 Page].) His long discussion of citizen ideology in Tyrtaeus, ‘an aristocrat in civic garb’ (236), is also important, despite a whimsical reading of the fragments of Eunomia which involves, among other things, the gratuitous deletion of the last two lines of F4 West (246-7) and the interpretation of F2 West as if it stated Sparta’s claim to rule the Peloponnese, when it so obviously states instead the kings’ claim to rule Sparta (253-8). Several important parts of Meier’s case, however, seem to me really very weak, especially where he draws on stories and institutions of classical, or later, date. Take his most striking innovation, the secret societies. He substantiates the idea that these existed and played a crucial historical role with three arguments: (a) secret societies are attested as an Indoeuropean phenomenon and therefore, even if there is no direct evidence for them in Sparta, ‘we may nevertheless assume that such societies played a central role in daily life, especially in the archaic period’ (151); (b) two classical stories about archaic events may refer to their activities (151-4); (c) the classical krypteia is best understood as derived from earlier secret societies (154-70). The first argument, of course, has no force. Even if one accepts the notion that there are institutions shared by all Indoeuropeans, and even if one further accepts that the occurrence of secret societies among Germanic tribes and Persians (142-50) makes them such an Indoeuropean institution — two Big Ifs — there is no reason to suppose that this Ur -phenomenon still existed in seventh-century Sparta. Of the two stories adduced, one is the tale of the Parthenioi (Strabo 6.3.2-3) which tells us that the plotters were mostly young men who on the day of the coup somehow identified themselves by means of headgear (153-4). Only the eye of faith can see this as evidence of secret society membership. The second story is the Messenian version of the first clash between themselves and the Spartans (Pausanias 4.4.3), which features a surprise attack by young Spartans in female dress, suggestive of the mix of ritual transvestism and terror tactics which secret societies have been known to practice (151-3). Unfortunately, this tale is clearly a later invention rather than an authentic tradition about archaic practice: the Spartan version claimed that the Messenians had started it all by attacking a group of Spartan women (Pausanias 4.4.2), and the Messenian story was invented as an answer to this charge: the ‘women’ killed had been youths in disguise, not helpless victims but devious aggressors. Meier himself, in fact, concedes that the only argument which carries much weight is his third, that one can find traces of the original secret societies in the classical krypteia (154). But even this is fatally undermined by its corollary, that the krypteia as we know it lacked most characteristics of a secret society since it was deprived of these in the process of its sixth-century ‘domestication’ (208-16). This amounts to the creation of history out of thin air: first one posits an archaic form of social organization for which there is no evidence, and then one posits a major transformation to explain why there is no evidence. The procedure may not be unprecedented, but that does not make it valid. Secret societies, we are told, typically have initiation rituals and common cults, and enjoy a kind of supernatural status which entitles them to their role in upholding common law within the community (146-9). The krypteia, however, had none of these ‘constituent elements’ (168), except that the participants were allowed to kill helots and steal supplies. As for the licence to kill, all Meier has to offer is one sentence with the deeply questionable assertion that it ‘sicherlich’ pre-dated the creation of helots, and that it was ‘natürlich’ fellow-Spartans who were the original victims (167). He makes more of a case for the secret-society origins of the licence to steal (164-7), but overlooks that this was extended not only to the kryptoi but to boys at all stages of their education (Xenophon, Lak. Pol. 2; Plutarch, Lycurgus 17). The argument will thus only work if one is prepared to trace the entire agoge back to secret societies, and to envisage marauding gangs of seven-year olds terrorizing early Sparta in the company of their older brothers. The problems with the second main plank of Meier’s argument, the transformation of the military and social functions of aristocratic drinking groups, are of a different kind. As I noted above, it is good to have an attempt to pinpoint these key historical changes: the replacement of symposia by public syssitia and the conversion of Homeric-style armies comprised of leaders and their bands of personal followers into state-organized forces. Meier puts the turning point for both developments around 650 BC, when, he argues, the syssitia were introduced as part of the new military units provided for by the Great Rhetra (119-20, 196-7, 217). Symposia long continued to exist alongside the public messes, which only began to assume their later dominance in the course of the sixth century (42-3, 216-21). In outline, this is a tenable position, although I myself would not accept this date for the Rhetra (see below) and do not find Herodotus’ attribution of the messes to the military reforms of Lycurgus (1.65.5) a good reason to connect the syssitia with the Rhetra. In detail, however, Meier’s picture of military changes relies on a selective and superficial reading of Homer. He is particularly selective in taking a single private raiding expedition in the Odyssey as the model for all early warfare (101), when, as Oswyn Murray pointed out almost twenty years ago, and as I have sought to show in my own work, there clearly is such a thing as community warfare in the epics.1 His unrepresentative picture is reinforced by a no less selective reading of Pausanias’ stories about the First Messenian War. These are probably best not used at all, but if they are going to be used, it is simply not legitimate to say that their clear statements of the public nature of the conflict ‘cannot erase the impression’ that it was private, after all (86-7, 102-6). Similarly, only a superficial reading of Homer will support Meier’s view that war bands consisted exclusively of aristocrats, and that aristocratic champions decided battles. He is aware of the influential work of Joachim Latacz demonstrating that even in the Iliad the masses are mobilized and ultimately play a decisive military role, but he counters that it is the heroes who are constantly in the foreground and with whom the audience empathizes, while the masses are despised (232-4). This entirely misses the point: Homer shows the masses in action and occasionally gives them their due despite hints of contempt for the common man and the highlighting of aristocratic heroes (for both literary and ideological reasons), which goes to show just how significant was the role of the multitude.2 Meier’s interpretation of military changes, then, seems to me inaccurate, and provides no basis for his image of the common Spartan passively suffering the effects of the First Messenian War, but finding his voice when actively drawn into the Second War. Finally, I would draw attention to the unconventional arguments which lie behind a couple of the key dates adopted in this book. With many other scholars, Meier argues that the Great Rhetra must pre-date Tyrtaeus’ Eunomia. This is odd, because, unlike these other scholars, Meier deletes the lines which seem to echo the Rhetra most closely, and indeed argues that Tyrtaeus’ poem studiously avoids mentioning any of the Rhetra’s most significant clauses (207). His reasoning seems to be, then, that the Rhetra must be pre-date Tyrtaeus because the poet does not refer to it. As it happens, I would agree (on other grounds) that Tyrtaeus does not allude to the Rhetra, but, if so, the more logical conclusion is that we cannot derive a date for the law from the poem (and a case can be made that it post-dates the poem3). As a terminus post quem, Meier offers the date of the Parthenioi-affair, which, he believes, was just the sort of conflict which inspired the Rhetra’s legislation. This is not a strong argument in itself, but more significant is the weakness of his dating for the affair. Meier shows quite well that the late eighth-century date usually given for the Spartan settlement at Taras is not necessarily correct (137-41), but proceeds to base his revised date on the story, which he rejects as mere fiction (125-6), that the Parthenioi were born during the First Messenian War so that their attempted coup must be dated a generation later. Why one would accept a date while denying the historicity of the information from which it is derived, I fail to see. Almost as strange is the supporting argument that the Olympic victor lists confirm a date of c. 650 BC for the Rhetra (31-5, 187): this supports a problematic assumption (that the elite would turn to sport when their political power was slightly reduced) with a dubious use of statistics (is an increase from 18 victors in 720-650 to 26 in 650-580 significant?) applied to unreliable data (even if the lists are genuine, they are not a complete record or random sample) in an arbitrary manner (why draw the dividing line at 650 in the first place?). It is no mean feat to write, without being repetitive, more than 300 densely printed pages on a place and period so poorly attested, and Meier deserves credit for trying to do something exciting and of undoubted importance. The result, however, is sadly marred by a cavalier use of evidence, and in the end succeeds only in replacing one Spartan mirage with another. 1. Oswyn Murray, Early Greece (1980), 53-4; Hans van Wees, Status Warriors (1992), 167-207. 2. Joachim Latacz, Kampfparänese, Kampfdarstellung und Kampfwirklichkeit in der Ilias, bei Kallinos und Tyrtaios (1977); Hans van Wees, ‘Kings in combat’, CQ 38 (1988), 1-24. In my view, there is a disjunction between drinking groups and war bands in Homer: see ‘Princes at dinner’, in Homeric Questions, ed. J.-P. Crielaard (1995), 168-74. 3. For this view, see Van Wees, ‘Tyrtaeus’ Eunomia : Nothing to do with the Great Rhetra’, in Sparta: New Perspectives, ed. A. Powell and S. Hodkinson (1999, forthcoming), 1-41.