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By George Weigel/The Patriot-News Q: I just planted more than 250 pachysandra plants in a large shady backyard area. When I awoke this morning, I noticed that about a dozen of the plants were lying on their side, the stem broken right at ground level. At first I thought an animal had tromped through the yard, but the stem cuts were just too clean, as if they had been cut with a sharp knife. The plants and leaves themselves were not touched - just lying there. Do you have any idea what could have made these kinds of clean cuts and left the plant alone? A: I'd bet on a curious rabbit. Rabbits have very sharp front teeth that make tell-tale sharp, angled cuts that look just like someone has cut stems with scissors. Rabbits usually don't eat pachysandra, which explains why the plants are still there. I think a rabbit was either preparing the area as a good nesting site or curious enough to sample this lush new planting you set out. The pachysandra most likely will grow through this little setback and fill in within a couple of years (or sooner) even if you do nothing. If Mrs. Rabbit continues to do damage, either fence off the area until the pachysandra thickens or put down a rabbit repellent such as fox urine or Ropel.

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The 2012 "fire season" will officially begin at 8 a.m. Monday, and fire officials urge residents, especially those living or recreating in rural areas, to use caution as the state enters a period of increased risk for wildfires. The state's final snow survey May 1 found the statewide snowpack water content is only 40 percent of normal. From January though April, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection crews responded to more than 800 wildfires, nearly two and a half times the approximately 300 the agency responded to during the same period in 2011. This year's number also exceeds the five-year average of more than 600 wildfires for January through April, said Terri Mizuhara, spokeswoman for Cal Fire's Amador-El Dorado Unit. So far this this month, she said, Cal Fire crews have responded to numerous small fires. Several in Amador and El Dorado counties have been escaped debris fires, Mizuhara said. In response to the increased fire risk, Cal Fire's Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit announced that it will increase staffing levels and is staffing many of its fire stations around the clock. Officials remind residents that maintaining defensible space is the best way to increase chances that a home will survive an oncoming wildfire. To prepare a home for the fire season, they advise residents to: Remove all flammable vegetation 30 feet from all structures. In an additional 70 feet, space trees and plants away from each other. Clear all needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters. Trim branches six feet from the ground. Use trimming, mowing and power equipment before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Landscape with fire-resistant plants. Use fire-ignition-resistant building materials.

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As the 5th of November approaches, I invite new Boston 1775 readers to check out the Bostonian Society’s online exhibit about how New Englanders celebrated that holiday, which they called “Pope Night.” The day featured a wagon carrying effigies of the Pope and the Devil, along with the latest political enemies. After independence, it was no longer politically appropriate for Americans to get excited about Parliament and a British king being preserved from a bomb. And with Catholic French allies helping to win the war, it was awkward to say that the Pope was in league with the Devil, even if many Americans still believed it. But folks missed the Pope Night fun: parades, costumes, noise, burning someone in effigy! Fortunately, in 1780 Gen. Benedict Arnold (shown here, courtesy of the National Park Service) revealed himself as a traitor to the U.S. of A. So Americans had a new villain! On 30 Sept 1780, Philadelphians held an anti-Arnold parade that borrowed a lot of the Pope Night imagery and customs. Here’s a detailed description from Boston’s Independent Chronicle, published on 19 Oct 1780: A Concise DESCRIPTION of the FIGURES exhibited and paraded through the streets of this city on Saturday last.(Jacqueline Carr’s After the Siege says this parade took place in Boston, but the newspaper report was datelined Philadelphia. Another clue to the location is the word “city”; Boston was proud of still being a “town.”) A STAGE raised on the body of a cart, on which was an effigy of General ARNOLD sitting; this was dressed in regimentals, had two faces, emblematical of his traiterous conduct, a mask in his left hand, and a letter in his right from Belzebub, telling him that he had done all the mischief he could do, and now he must hang himself. At the back of the General was a figure of the Devil, dressed in black robes, shaking a purse of money at the General’s left ear, and in his right hand a pitch-fork, ready to drive him into hell, as the reward due for the many crimes which his thirst of gold had made him commit. In the front of the stage and before General Arnold was placed a large lanthorn of transparent paper, with the consequences of his crimes thus delineated, i. e. on one part General Arnold on his knees before the Devil, who is pulling him into the flames—a label from the General’s mouth with these words, “My fear Sir, I have served you faithfully;” to which the Devil replies, “and I’ll reward you.” On the other side two figures hanging, inscribed, [“]The Traitor’s Reward,” and wrote underneath, “The Adjutant General of the British army, and Josh. Smith; the first hanged as a spy, and the other as a traitor to his country.” And on the front of the lanthorn was rote the following:... “MAJOR GENERAL BENEDICT ARNOLD, late COMMANDER of the FORT WEST-POINT. THE CRIME OF THIS MAN IS HIGH TREASON. “He has deserted the important post WEST-POINT, on Hudson’s River, committed to his charge by his Excellency the Commander in Chief, and is gone off to the enemy at New-York. “His design to have given up this fortress to our enemies has been discovered by the goodness of the Omniscient Creator, who has not only prevented him carrying it into execution, but has thrown into our hands ANDRIE, the Adjutant General of their army, who was detected in the infamous character of a spy. “The treachery of this ungreatful General is held up to public view, for the exposition of infamy; and to proclaim with joyful acclamation, another instance of the interposition of bounteous Providence. “The effigy of this ingrate is therefore hanged (for want of his body) as a Traitor to his native country, and a Betrayor of the laws of honour.” The procession began about four o’clock, in the following order: Seated Gentlemen mounted on horseback. A line of Continental Officers Sundry Gentlemen in a line. A guard of the City Infantry. Just before the cart, drums and fifes playing the Rogue’s March. Guards on each side. The procession was attended with a numourous concourse of people, who, after expressing their abhorrence of the Treason and the Traitor, committed him to the flames, and left both the effigy and the original to sink into ashes and oblivion. TOMORROW: Engraving this event.

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A tattoo is body art made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification purposes. Tattooing has been practiced for centuries worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, traditionally had facial tattoos. Today one can find Berbers of Tamazgha (North Africa), Māori of New Zealand, Hausa people of Northern Nigeria, Arabic people in East-Turkey and Atayal of Taiwan with facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples and among certain tribal groups in the Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo, Mentawai Islands, Africa, North America, South America, Mesoamerica, Europe, Japan, Cambodia, New Zealand and Micronesia. Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular in many parts of the world. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the etymology of tattoo as "In 18th c. tattaow, tattow. From Polynesian tatau. The word tatau was introduced as a loan word into English, the pronunciation being changed to conform to English phonology as "tattoo".Sailors on later voyages both introduced the word and reintroduced the concept of tattooing to Europe. Tattoo enthusiasts may refer to tattoos as "Ink", "Tats", "Art", "Pieces", or "Work"; and to the tattooists as "Artists". The latter usage is gaining greater support, with mainstream art galleries holding exhibitions of both conventional and custom tattoo designs. Beyond Skin, at the Museum of Croydon, is an example of this as it challenges the stereotypical view of tattoos and who has them. Copyrighted tattoo designs that are mass-produced and sent to tattoo artists are known as flash, a notable instance of industrial design. Flash sheets are prominently displayed in many tattoo parlors for the purpose of providing both inspiration and ready-made tattoo images to customers. The Japanese word irezumi means "insertion of ink" and can mean tattoos using tebori, the traditional Japanese hand method, a Western-style machine, or for that matter, any method of tattooing using insertion of ink. The most common word used for traditional Japanese tattoo designs is Horimono. Japanese may use the word "tattoo" to mean non-Japanese styles of tattooing. The anthropologist Ling Roth in 1900 described four methods of skin marking and suggested they be differentiated under the names of tatu, moko, cicatrix, and keloid. Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice at least since around Neolithic times. Other mummies bearing tattoos and dating from the end of the second millennium BC have been discovered, such as the Mummy of Amunet from ancient Egypt and the mummies at Pazyryk on the Ukok Plateau. Pre-Christian Germanic, Celtic and other central and northern European tribes were often heavily tattooed, according to surviving accounts. The Picts were famously tattooed (or scarified) with elaborate dark blue woad (or possibly copper for the blue tone) designs. Julius Caesar described these tattoos in Book V of his Gallic Wars (54 BC). Tattooing in Japan is thought to go back to the Paleolithic era, some ten thousand years ago. Various other cultures have had their own tattoo traditions, ranging from rubbing cuts and other wounds with ashes, to hand-pricking the skin to insert dyes. Tattooing in the Western world today has its origins in Polynesia, and in the discovery of tatau by eighteenth century explorers. Types of tattoos The American Academy of Dermatology distinguishes 5 types of tattoos:traumatic tattoos, also called "natural tattoos", that result from injuries, especially asphalt from road injuries or pencil lead; amateur tattoos; professional tattoos, both via traditional methods and modern tattoo machines; cosmetic tattoos, also known as "permanent makeup"; and medical tattoos. According to George Orwell, coal miners could develop characteristic tattoos owing to coal dust getting into wounds. Similarly, a traumatic tattoo occurs when a substance such as asphalt is rubbed into a wound as the result of some kind of accident or trauma. A common example of such accidental tattoos is the result of a deliberate or accidental stabbing with a pencil or pen, leaving graphite or ink beneath the skin. Amateur and professional tattoos Many tattoos serve as rites of passage, marks of status and rank, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, punishment, amulets and talismans, protection, and as the marks of outcasts, slaves and convicts. The symbolism and impact of tattoos varies in different places and cultures. Tattoos may show how a person feels about a relative (commonly mother/father or daughter/son) or about an unrelated person. Today, people choose to be tattooed for cosmetic, sentimental/memorial, religious, and magical reasons, and to symbolize their belonging to or identification with particular groups, including criminal gangs but also a particular ethnic group or law-abiding subculture. In Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand, the yantra tattoo is used for protection against evil and to increase luck. In the Philippines certain tribal groups believe that tattoos have magical qualities, and help to protect their bearers. Most traditional tattooing in the Philippines is related to the bearer's accomplishments in life or rank in the tribe. Among Catholic Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, tattoos with Christian symbols would be inked on to protect themselves from the Muslim Turks. Extensive decorative tattooing is common among members of traditional freak shows and by performance artists who follow in their tradition. People have also been forcibly tattooed. Tattoos have also been used for identification in other ways. Gladiators and slaves were likewise tattooed, exported slaves were tattooed with the words "tax paid" and it was a common practice to tattoo "Stop me, I'm a runaway" on their foreheads. Emperor Constantine I banned tattooing the face around AD 330 and the Second Council of Nicaea banned all body markings as a pagan practice in AD 787. The Latin word for "tattoo" was "stigma", hence the English word "stigmatise". In the period of early contact between the Māori and Europeans, Māori chiefs sometimes drew their moko (facial tattoo) on documents in place of a signature. Tattoos are sometimes used by forensic pathologists to help them identify burned, putrefied, or mutilated bodies. Tattoo pigment is buried deep enough in the skin that even severe burns are not likely to destroy a tattooFor many centuries seafarers have undergone tattooing for the purpose of enabling identification after drowning. An identification tattoo on a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Tattoos are also placed on animals, though very rarely for decorative reasons. Pets, show animals, thoroughbred horses and livestock are sometimes tattooed with identification and other marks. Also, animals are occasionally tattooed to prevent sunburn (on the nose, for example). Such tattoos are often performed by a veterinarian and in most cases the animals are anesthetized during the process. Branding is used for similar reasons and is often performed without anesthesia, but is different from tattooing as no ink or dye is inserted during the process. When used as a form of cosmetics, tattooing includes permanent makeup and hiding or neutralizing skin discolorations. Permanent makeup is the use of tattoos to enhance eyebrows, lips (liner and/or lipstick), eyes (liner), and even moles, usually with natural colors, as the designs are intended to resemble makeup. Medical tattoos are used to ensure instruments are properly located for repeated application of radiotherapy and for the areola in some forms of breast reconstruction. Tattooing has also been used to convey medical information about the wearer (e.g. blood group, medical condition, etc). Tattoos are used in skin tones to cover vitiligo, skin pigmentation disorder. Tattoos have experienced a resurgence in popularity in many parts of the world, particularly in North and South America, Japan, and Europe. The growth in tattoo culture has seen an influx of new artists into the industry, many of whom have technical and fine arts training. Coupled with advancements in tattoo pigments and the ongoing refinement of the equipment used for tattooing, this has led to an improvement in the quality of tattoos being produced. During the first decade of the 21st century, the presence of tattoos became evident within pop culture, inspiring television shows such as A&E's Inked and TLC's Miami Ink and LA Ink. The decoration of blues singer Janis Joplin with a wristlet and a small heart on her left breast, by the San Francisco tattoo artist Lyle Tuttle, has been called a seminal moment in the popular acceptance of tattoos as art. Contemporary art exhibitions and visual art institutions have featured tattoos as art through such means as displaying tattoo flash, examining the works of tattoo artists, or otherwise incorporating examples of body art into mainstream exhibits. One such 2009 Chicago exhibition Freaks & Flash featured both examples of historic body art as well as the tattoo artists who In many traditional cultures tattooing has also enjoyed a resurgence, partially in deference to cultural heritage. Historically, a decline in traditional tribal tattooing in Europe occurred with the spread of Christianity. However, some Christian groups, such as the Knights of St. John of Malta, sported tattoos to show their allegiance. A decline often occurred in other cultures following European efforts to convert aboriginal and indigenous people to Western religious and cultural practices that held tattooing to be a "pagan" or "heathen" activity. Within some traditional indigenous cultures, tattooing takes place within the context of a rite of passage between adolescence and adulthood. Tattooing has become a fad among celebrities. David Beckham, an international soccer star, caught tattoo ‘fever’ beginning with the birth of his first son back in 1999 when he had Malloy ink his son’s name, “Brooklyn” at the bottom of his back. Many studies have been done of the tattooed population and society's view of tattoos. It found that 36% of Americans ages 18–29, 24% of those 30-40 and 15% of those 41-51 had a tattoo. In September 2006, the Pew Research Center conducted a telephone survey which found that 36% of Americans ages 18–25, 40% of those 26-40 and 10% of those 41-64 had a tattoo. In January 2008, a survey conducted online by Harris Interactive estimated that 14% of all adults in the United States have a tattoo, just slightly down from 2003, when 16% had a tattoo. Among age groups, 9% of those ages 18–24, 32% of those 25-29, 25% of those 30-39 and 12% of those 40-49 have tattoos, as do 8% of those 50-64. Men are just slightly more likely to have a tattoo than women (15% versus 13%) In Japan, tattoos are strongly associated with organized crime organizations known as the yakuza, particularly full body tattoos done the traditional Japanese way (Tebori). Many public Japanese bathhouses (sentō) and gymnasiums often openly ban those bearing large or graphic tattoos in an attempt to prevent Yakuza from entering. In the United States many prisoners and criminal gangs use distinctive tattoos to indicate facts about their criminal behavior, prison sentences, and organizational affiliation.At the same time, members of the U.S. military have an equally well established and longstanding history of tattooing to indicate military units, battles, kills, etc., an association which remains widespread among older Americans. Tattooing is also common in the British Armed Forces. Tattooing was also used by the Nazi regime in Nazi concentration camps to tag prisoners. Insofar as this cultural or subcultural use of tattoos predates the widespread popularity of tattoos in the general population, tattoos are still associated with criminality. Although the general acceptance of tattoos is on the rise in Western society, they still carry a heavy stigma among certain social groups. Tattoos are generally considered an important part of the culture of the Russian mafia. The prevalence of women in the tattoo industry, along with larger numbers of women bearing tattoos, appears to be changing negative perceptions. Modern tattoo machine in use: here outfitted with a 5-needle setup, but number of needles depends on size and shading desired. Tattooing involves the placement of pigment into the skin's dermis, the layer of dermal tissue underlying the epidermis. As healing proceeds, the damaged epidermis flakes away (eliminating surface pigment) while deeper in the skin granulation tissue forms, which is later converted to connective tissue by collagen growth. This mends the upper dermis, where pigment remains trapped within fibroblasts, ultimately concentrating in a layer just below the dermis/epidermis boundary. Its presence there is stable, but in the long term (decades) the pigment tends to migrate deeper into the dermis, accounting for the degraded detail of old tattoos. Some tribal cultures traditionally created tattoos by cutting designs into the skin and rubbing the resulting wound with ink, ashes or other agents; some cultures continue this practice, which may be an adjunct to scarification. Some cultures create tattooed marks by hand-tapping the ink into the skin using sharpened sticks or animal bones (made like needles) with clay formed disks or, in modern times, needles. Traditional Japanese tattoos (Horimono) are still "hand-poked," that is, the ink is inserted beneath the skin using non-electrical, hand-made and hand held tools with needles of sharpened bamboo or steel. Traditional Hawaiian hand-tapped tattoos are experiencing a renaissance, after the practice was nearly extinguished in the years following Western contact. The tattooist chooses the design, rather than the wearer, based on genealogical information. Traditional two coil tattoo machine The most common method of tattooing in modern times is the electric tattoo machine, which inserts ink into the skin via a single needle or a group of needles that are soldered onto a bar, which is attached to an oscillating unit. The needles are single-use needles that come packaged individually. The tattoo artist must wash not only his or her hands, but he or she must also wash the area that will be tattooed. The time it takes to get a tattoo is in proportion with its size and complexity. The modern electric tattoo machine is far removed from the machine invented by Samuel O'Reilly in 1891. Modern tattoo machines use electromagnetic coils. The first coil machine was patented by Thomas Riley in London, 1891 using a single coil. Rotation- Tattoo- Machine by Manfred Kohrs; Number 1978 K Another tattoo machine was developed 1970-1978 by the German tattoo artists Horst Heinrich Streckenbach (1929–2001) and Manfred Kohrs. Dyes and pigments Early tattoo inks were obtained directly from nature and were extremely limited in pigment variety. In ancient Hawaii, for example, kukui nut ash was blended with coconut oil to produce an ebony ink. Today, an almost unlimited number of colors and shades of tattoo ink are mass-produced and sold to parlors worldwide. Tattoo artists commonly mix these inks to create their own unique pigments. A variety of inks at a station in a tattoo shop. The small paper cups on the counter are used for mixing inks. A wide range of dyes and pigments can be used in tattoos, from inorganic materials like titanium dioxide and iron oxides to carbon black, azo dyes, and acridine, quinoline, phthalocyanine and naphthol derivates, dyes made from ash, and other mixtures. Iron oxide pigments are used in greater extent in cosmetic tattooing. Modern tattooing inks are carbon based pigments that have uses outside of commercial tattoo applications. In 2005 at Northern Arizona University a study characterized the makeup of tattoo inks (Finley-Jones and Wagner). The FDA expects local authorities to legislate and test tattoo pigments and inks made for the use of permanent cosmetics. In California, the state prohibits certain ingredients and pursues companies who fail to notify the consumer of the contents of tattoo pigments. There has been concern expressed about the interaction between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures and tattoo pigments, some of which contain trace metals. The television show MythBusters tested the hypothesis, and found a slight interaction between commonly used tattoo inks and MRI. The interaction was stronger with inks containing high levels of iron oxide. Professional tattooists rely primarily on the same pigment base found in cosmetics. Amateurs will often use drawing inks such as low grade India ink, but these inks often contain impurities and toxins which can lead to illness or infection. The properly equipped tattoo studio will use biohazard containers for objects that have come into contact with blood or bodily fluids, sharps containers for old needles, and an autoclave for sterilizing tools. Proper hygiene requires a body modification artist to wash his or her hands before starting to prepare a client for the stencil, between clients, and at any other time where cross contamination can occur. Also, disposable gloves should be taken off after each stage of tattooing. The same gloves should not be used to clean the tattoo station, tattoo the client, or clean the tattoo; the tattoo artist should change their disposable gloves at each stage. In some states and countries it is illegal to tattoo a minor even with parental consent, and (except in the case of medical tattoos) it is forbidden to tattoo impaired persons, people with contraindicated skin conditions, those who are pregnant or nursing, those incapable of consent due to mental incapacity or those under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Tattoo artist drawing a design on a client before permanent tattooing. Disposable gloves are used in modern tattooing for hygiene. Before the tattooing begins the client is asked to approve the final position of the applied stencil. After approval is given the artist will open new, sterile needle packages in front of the client, and always use new, sterile or sterile disposable instruments and supplies, and fresh ink for each session (loaded into disposable ink caps which are discarded after each client). While specific requirements to become a tattooist vary between jurisdictions, many mandate only formal training in bloodborne pathogens, and cross contamination. The local department of health regulates tattoo studios in many jurisdictions. For example, according to the health departments in Oregon and Hawaii, tattoo artists in these states are required to take and pass a test ascertaining their knowledge of health and safety precautions, as well as the current state regulations. Performing a tattoo in Oregon state without a proper and current license or in an unlicensed facility is a felony offense. Tattoo specific salves have become prevalent in recent years. Tattoo artists, and people with tattoos, vary widely in their preferred methods of caring for new tattoos. Some artists recommend keeping a new tattoo wrapped for the first twenty-four hours, while others suggest removing temporary bandaging after two hours or less to allow the skin to 'breathe'. General consensus for care advises against removing the scab that may form on a new tattoo, and avoiding exposing one's tattoo to the sun for extended periods for at least 3 weeks; both of these can contribute to fading of the image. Furthermore, it is agreed that a new tattoo needs to be kept clean. In recent years, specific commercial products have been developed for tattoo aftercare. Although opinions about these products vary, there is near total agreement that either alone or in addition to some other product, soap and warm water work well to keep a tattoo clean and free from infection.If a tattoo becomes infected (uncommon but possible if one neglects to properly clean their tattoo) or if the scab falls off too soon (e.g. if it absorbs too much water and sloughs off early or is picked or scraped off), then the ink will not be properly fixed in the skin and the final image will be negatively affected. Because it requires breaking the skin barrier, tattooing may carry health risks, including infection and allergic reactions. Modern tattooists reduce such risks by following universal precautions, working with single-use items, and sterilizing their equipment after each use. In amateur tattoos, such as those applied in prisons, however, there is an elevated risk of infection. Infections that can theoretically be transmitted by the use of unsterilized tattoo equipment or contaminated ink include surface infections of the skin, herpes simplex virus, tetanus, staph, fungal infections, some forms of hepatitis, tuberculosis, and HIV. In the United States there have been no reported cases of HIV contracted via commercially-applied tattooing process. Tattoo inks have been described as "remarkably nonreactive histologically". However, cases of allergic reactions to tattoo inks, particularly certain colors, have been medically documented. Occasionally, when a blood vessel is punctured during the tattooing procedure a bruise/hematoma may appear. While tattoos are considered permanent, it is sometimes possible to remove them with laser treatments, fully or partially. The expense and pain of removing tattoos will typically be greater than the expense and pain of applying them. Pre-laser tattoo removal methods include dermabrasion, salabrasion (scrubbing the skin with salt), cryosurgery, and excision which is sometimes still used along with skin grafts for larger tattoos. Temporary tattoos are popular with models and children as they involve no permanent alteration of the skin but produce a similar appearance that can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. The most common style is a type of body sticker similar to a decal, which is typically transferred to the skin using water. Henna tattoos (Mehndi) and silver nitrate stains that appear when exposed to ultraviolet light can take up to two weeks to fade from the skin. Temporary airbrush tattoos (TATs) are applied by covering the skin with a stencil and spraying the skin with ink. In the past, this form of tattoo only lasted about a week. With the newest inks, tattoos can reasonably last for up to two weeks. Airbrush tattoos are generally sprayed with cosmetic paints. Unlike henna tattoos, the cosmetic paints can be rubbed off with isopropyl alcohol.

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Adam and Noah; two beginnings December 31, 2012 The parallels between Creation Week and Noah’s Flood underline the worldwide nature of the Flood. Time, eternity, and the creation of the universe December 30, 2012 Can the universe be caused by something immaterial and eternal? Can we ‘conclusively’ say that dinosaurs were created on Day 6? December 29, 2012 We were not there, but the God of the Bible was, and we can trust His word. Is the faint young sun paradox solved? December 28, 2012 The earth would have been a ‘snowball’ if an evolutionary origin of the solar system was true. True versus false humility December 27, 2012 How does a person’s view of Genesis relate to the humility of the incarnate Son of God? If he or she desires to be Christ-like, there is a very clear relationship. ‘Living fossils’ enigma December 26, 2012 Gingko trees, crocodiles, horseshoe crabs, coelacanth fish, tuatara lizards, Lingula lamp shells and Neopilina molluscs haven’t changed in at least a hundred million years. How come? The genealogies of Jesus December 25, 2012 The genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke are different. In-depth study of Scripture and Jewish methods explains why. Both genealogies explain important facets of the Gospel message. Egyptian blue December 24, 2012 The science of the ancients and their ‘eternal’ colour. Physicist: Evolution more scientific than quantum mechanics? December 23, 2012 So why then is there no Nobel Prize for evolution? Stephen Hawking’s end of the universe December 22, 2012 Will the universe end in a ‘big chill’, as Stephen Hawking predicts, or is there a better future for those who acknowledge God’s sovereignty and lordship? Does the Bible really describe expansion of the universe? December 21, 2012 What does ‘stretching out the heavens like a tent’ mean? Further restrictive legislation to keep Creation out of UK state-funded schools December 20, 2012 Aggressive secularists relentlessly push ahead with even more pervasive evolutionary indoctrination in British schools, backed by the Royal Society no less! Claim Robert Ballard discovered Noah’s Flood in the Black Sea is not correct December 19, 2012 Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic but not Noah’s Flood. Telling the Christmas story from Creation December 18, 2012 Why did Jesus come? At a ‘Christmas outreach’, one pastor focused on creation, sin, judgment, and salvation instead of angelic visitation, shepherds, and wise men. Soil microbiologist: Evolution no help in research December 17, 2012 Professor Skipper speaks about the divine design of microbes beneficial to plant nutrition and ecology. Sitting on the fence December 16, 2012 Either Jesus is Lord, or he was wrong. Did Charles Darwin become a Christian before he died? December 15, 2012 The evidence both for and against the suggestion that Darwin converted to Christianity before he died is presented and evaluated. What are type 1a supernovae telling us? December 14, 2012 Perhaps the oft-revered Cosmological Principle is wrong, and they support creationist cosmologies. Roots are important December 13, 2012 What we believe about our origins can (and should) make a real difference to our lives here and now—and after death too! Eat your Brussels sprouts! December 12, 2012 The variety in the cabbage family speaks of how God created plants with a built-in capacity to diversify—within limits. DNA and bone cells found in dinosaur bone December 11, 2012 Dino bone has DNA in just the right positions to be from the dino. But measured rates of DNA decay in bones prohibit survival for 65 million years. How does the Bible teach 6,000 years? December 10, 2012 Calculating the dates from the Flood to the Exile. Why do some Christians suffer more than others? December 9, 2012 The Lord never promised his people freedom from suffering before until the eternal state. Discovery Channel program: How the Universe Works December 8, 2012 It promotes a worldview involving the big bang, but how truly scientific is it? Three early arguments for deep time—part I: time needed to erode valleys December 7, 2012 Part I: Time needed to erode valleys. Perils of Theistic Evolution December 6, 2012 The case against theistic evolution must not be silenced by claims that creationism brings the gospel into disrepute—on the contrary, the stakes are high and this is no time for surrender! The bamboozling panda December 5, 2012 China’s peaceful and solitary mountain dwellers—a puzzlement to evolution; a friendly reminder of Creation. Carrying the Creation Torch December 4, 2012 The London Olympics were widely considered a success, the result of a combination of good organisation and great athleticism, two attributes Christians should be demonstrating on the race track of life. Rodhocetus and other stories of whale evolution December 3, 2012 Rodhocetus, a key fossil in the story of whale evolution, proves to be nothing like textbooks and articles portray. Ice core clamour December 2, 2012 CMI hoses down a blizzard of objections from a rabid anti-creationist. Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking: Aliens December 1, 2012 Stephen Hawking looks for alien life in our solar system and the universe beyond, but offers nothing other than his own wishful thinking manifested in assumptions, speculations, and computer simulations. Evolutionary troubles with the origin and demise of dinosaurs November 30, 2012 Lack of information and heated debates divide evolutionist researchers. CSI and evolution November 29, 2012 Are the historical scientific methods used to supposedly ‘prove’ evolution just as reliable as CSI? Speedy species surprise November 28, 2012 The rapid appearance today, of new varieties of fish, lizards, and more defies evolutionary expectations … but fits perfectly with the Bible. Evolution and the breakup of Christendom November 27, 2012 What is the most serious ‘battering ram of unbelief’ affecting today’s Church? Over 80 years ago, a leading Christian scholar argued that it was evolution! Understanding death November 26, 2012 Answering the question, ‘Why does God allow bad things to happen?’ To whet your appetite, we hope you enjoy this sneak peek of an interview from the soon-to-be-released Creation magazine. The Bible: Jewish folklore and nothing more? November 25, 2012 Today’s feedback features a skeptic who questions the authenticity and reliability of the Bible, positing hopeless contradictions between Jesus and Paul and portraying the Bible as Jewish folklore. How evolution has harmed science and society November 24, 2012 Setting science back and justifying horrific social policies. The proportion of polypeptide chains which generate native folds—part 2: theoretical studies November 23, 2012 Do theoretical studies show that enough protein chains are able to form biologically useful protein folds can be generated randomly to make abiogenesis plausible? The Nazareth Inscription: Proof of the Resurrection of Christ? November 22, 2012 Does an obscure Greek inscription give evidence for the Resurrection? The ‘bird of prey’ that’s not November 21, 2012 This fierce looking bird, with its sharp, hooked beak, and vicious ‘raptor’ talons, looks ‘obviously’ designed for tearing and devouring flesh—but it normally nibbles nuts. The Dalai Lama, the Templeton Prize and Buddhism November 20, 2012 The Dalai Lama’s receipt of the Templeton Prize highlights Buddhism with its beliefs of no God, no Creation, no Saviour, no soul, no sin, no forgiveness, and no salvation. Slavery and ‘one drop of blood’ November 19, 2012 What came first, slavery or racism? Did the Fall destroy God’s image in man? November 18, 2012 Do we have the image of God in our fallen state? Hell questions answered November 17, 2012 Does the doctrine of Hell make God into a cruel monster? The proportion of polypeptide chains which generate native folds—Part 1: analysis of reduced codon set experiments November 16, 2012 Have experiments using reduced codon sets to form small proteins shown that large proportions of biologically useful protein folds can be generated randomly? The Nazareth Inscription: Proof of the Resurrection of Christ? November 15, 2012 Does an obscure Greek inscription give evidence for the Resurrection? After devastation … the recovery November 14, 2012 An amazing bounce-back after catastrophe gives us insights into how the world recovered from the Flood. Dinosaurs ate birds November 13, 2012 Evolution textbooks, museum displays and television documentaries say that dinosaurs gave rise to birds. But now it turns out that dinos ate them. Fragile Faith November 12, 2012 Get the basic thinking skills to avoid it. Enjoy this preview of the editorial from the soon-to-be-released Creation magazine. Subscribe and be delighted. Seekers and scoffers November 11, 2012 Today’s correspondence illustrates some of the reasons why CMI exists: to help seekers understand the truth of the Bible, and to stand as a public challenge to scoffers. Building a better biology? November 10, 2012 It’s not as easy as some skeptics seem to think it is. The biomedical properties of ancient Egyptian black eye makeup November 9, 2012 Ancient man was at least as intelligent as his modern counterpart. North American ‘feathered’ dinosaurs a flight of fancy November 8, 2012 Artist’s drawing is a flight of fancy. Encyclopedic ‘truth’ … or worldly wisdom? November 7, 2012 Encyclopedias have been regarded by many as being reliable ‘fonts of knowledge’. But when it comes to evolution, can you trust them? Biology exam fraud November 6, 2012 Fraudulent embryo drawings (a la Ernst Haeckel) said to provide evidence for evolution. Jellyfish judgment November 5, 2012 Evolutionary theory adjudges jellyfish to be ‘primitive’. But a right judgment of the evidence impels a very different conclusion. Is God a particle-wave duality? November 4, 2012 Mixing biblical metaphor with the physics of light is not enlightening. Interpreting the early chapters of Genesis November 3, 2012 Lita Cosner and Don Batten answer questions about how to interpret specific points within the early chapters of Genesis. Desperate attempts to discover ‘the elusive process of evolution’ November 2, 2012 A review of The Altenberg 16: An Exposé of the Evolution Industry by Suzan Mazur. Answering Grandma Mildred November 1, 2012 How do you answer a family member who challenges your faith? We present our response to a skeptical grandmother’s national radio broadcast. Piranha October 31, 2012 Piranhas are renowned for tearing the flesh off live animals that venture into South American rivers. But has their fearsome reputation been greatly exaggerated? Huge dinosaurs flee rising waters of Noah’s Flood in Australia October 30, 2012 ABC’s Catalyst program reports Kimberley dinosaur stampede. Young saturn October 29, 2012 Cassini space probe destroys billion-year beliefs Do correspondents’ letters mean what they intended? October 28, 2012 A correspondent writes that ‘what the author intended to convey’ is ‘subjective and debatable’. Why do Christians want to defend evolution? October 27, 2012 Evolution is naturalism for biology and undermines the integrity of the gospel; so why marry it with the Bible? Genomic monkey business—estimates of nearly identical human–chimp DNA similarity re-evaluated using omitted data October 26, 2012 According to the latest data, this claim is vastly overestimated. Genetic Entropy and Simple Organisms October 25, 2012 There are good reasons for believing that the survival of complex species is threatened by genetic entropy. The same may not be true of simpler species like bacteria, however. The ‘fungus’ that ‘walks’ October 24, 2012 Genesis liberates women in the Binumarien tribe of New Guinea October 23, 2012 How social transformation began in the Binumarien tribe of New Guinea. The so-called ‘Age of Dinosaurs’ October 22, 2012 Why there never was a ‘land before time’ millions of years ago! Being prepared—facing the tough questions October 21, 2012 Facing the tough questions. Is nature clearer than written language? October 20, 2012 Nature can’t speak for itself. Did birds evolve from dinosaurs? October 19, 2012 Do Archaeopteryx and so-called ‘feathered dinosaurs’ support dino-to-bird evolution? Our Triune God October 18, 2012 How do we explain how God is Three in One? Wings on the wind October 17, 2012 How do migrating birds know exactly when, and where, to go? Why would a loving God send people to Hell? October 16, 2012 Can God be loving and judge sin at the same time? It’s supernatural (naturally) October 15, 2012 The Bible can explain miracles that supposedly ‘violate natural law’. Thinking biblically about termites and lizards October 14, 2012 Only when we use the Bible consistently as our foundation can we properly make sense of life. Correcting misconceptions on creation and the gospel October 13, 2012 CMI’s Dr Jonathan Sarfati and Lita Cosner help some correspondents through some misconceptions of biblical creation and the assurance of salvation believers have. Cladistics, evolution and the fossils October 12, 2012 How are all those nicely presented evolutionary trees put together? Do they really demonstrate evolution? Conservation and a biblical approach to nature October 11, 2012 When man correctly understands his God-given place in nature, he can understand how he is supposed to treat nature. Fossil folly October 10, 2012 A misleading museum display seems to want to exclude the truth of Genesis ‘by definition’. How the Binumarien people of New Guinea discovered Jesus is real October 9, 2012 How the Binumarien people of New Guinea discovered Jesus is real. Lifting the veil on the UFO phenomenon October 8, 2012 A new age UFO investigator finds that only the Bible can explain the phenomenon. He now works to reveal the light of the gospel in dark places. Questioning God’s many attributes October 7, 2012 An inquirer asked how Christians can defend the claims that God is Omnipotent, Eternal, Spiritual, and Omniscient. The answer includes defining them correctly, and far more. Did God use a big bang? October 6, 2012 Is the big bang compatible with God’s creation described in Genesis? Antifreeze protein evolution: turning wrenches into hammers October 5, 2012 Evidence of mutations and natural selection leading to microbes-to-man evolution? Biologos and the age of the earth: Pushing an anti-biblical doctrine October 4, 2012 Pushing an anti-biblical doctrine. Mokele-mbembe: a living dinosaur? October 3, 2012 A creature known to locals in the Congo as the ‘blocker-of-rivers’ bears a startling likeness to a small Apatosaurus. It’s not Christianity! October 2, 2012 The fallout of theistic evolution is often a ‘shattered’ worldview, and sometimes the loss of faith altogether. Turtles at loggerheads with evolution October 1, 2012 Hatchling loggerhead turtles not only know which way to go, but where they are. Answering a reasonable atheist on deep philosophical questions September 30, 2012 Atheist argues that meaning and morality are possible without God. Is brother-sister intermarriage intrinsically immoral? September 29, 2012 Does Leviticus 18 imply that brother-sister intermarriage was always wrong? The chromosome 2 fusion model of human evolution—part 2: re-analysis of the genomic data September 28, 2012 Part 2: re-analysis of the genomic data ‘Sexual perversion is good for you’, claims BBC September 27, 2012 According to the BBC, sexual perversion improves relationships. Did Jesus have a wife? September 26, 2012 Is a new Coptic fragment evidence that some early Christians thought Jesus was married? In pursuit of plant power September 25, 2012 There’s a long way to go yet, if we are to ever copy photosynthesis. Life is in the blood September 24, 2012 Blood is the transport system of the body that keeps everything alive and connected. Trinity: analogies and countering critics September 23, 2012 Answering questions about the Trinity: does God have parts, good vs. fallacious analogies, the Holy Spirit’s personality, the early Church’s recognition of the Trinity, what ‘God is one’ means. Can evolution and religion co-exist? September 22, 2012 It depends on the religion! The chromosome 2 fusion model of human evolution—part 1: re-evaluating the evidence September 21, 2012 Part 1: re-evaluating the evidence Don’t ignore the main weapon! September 20, 2012 Social, moral, political and economic problems abound, but rather than merely ‘holding the fort’, Christians should be advancing—which means engaging where the battle is raging. How to build a bomb in the public school system September 19, 2012 The 1999 Columbine massacre prompted people to ask, ‘How could they do this?’ How indeed … Horse Shoe Bend, Arizona September 18, 2012 Carved by the receding waters of Noah’s Flood. Horsetails are ‘living fossils’! September 17, 2012 Long familiar to keen gardeners, horsetails are ‘living fossils’, unchanged from their supposedly ‘prehistoric’ ancestors. Should we trust ministries that don’t support biblical creation? September 16, 2012 As always, the Scriptures are to be our ultimate guide. Does archaeology confirm the Bible’s historical record? September 15, 2012 The archaeological record corroborates the Bible’s record. Argon diffusion data support RATE’s 6,000-year helium age of the earth September 14, 2012 Supports RATE project’s 6,000-year helium age of the earth Thank you, ‘blogosphere battlers’—you’re making a difference September 13, 2012 Even stay-at-home grandmothers are becoming online ‘soldiers for Christ’ at the frontline of the origins debate—and making a difference Golden oldie September 12, 2012 Today, Koelreuteria lives in its natural state only in China, Japan and Korea. Why so far from its fossils found in USA and Germany? What the New Testament doesn’t say September 11, 2012 The New Testament doesn’t specifically cite every detail from Genesis 1–11; and this is evidence for creation’s importance in the earliest church. Bees outsmart supercomputers September 10, 2012 Even the best supercomputers struggle to solve the ‘Travelling Salesman Problem’. Yet bees do it as a matter of course. Answering questions about discrimination and information September 9, 2012 Should we discriminate against homosexual practices? And is the information problem a valid argument against evolution? Other possible mechanisms for abiogenesis and evolution? September 8, 2012 Evolution is unlikely from a scientific perspective not just because of a lack of evidence, but also because what we know works against it. Seeing Noah’s Flood in geological maps September 7, 2012 How can geological maps be used to interpret the geology of an area from a biblical perspective? Teaching children about animal death September 6, 2012 Children can take it hard. What to tell them? Atheists in the pulpit—the sad charade of the Clergy Project September 5, 2012 When the American Atheists convention was told “I’m a pastor currently serving a Methodist church … and I am an atheist”, the crowd hooted and clapped for over a minute. Geologists see effects of Noah’s Flood in Africa September 4, 2012 But their beliefs prevent them recognizing it. Marvellous Meerkats September 3, 2012 To whet your appetite, we hope you enjoy this sneak peek of the ingenious design of the ‘Kool kats of the Kalahari’ from the soon-to-be-released Creation magazine. Origin of the elements—Bible vs the big bang September 2, 2012 Bible vs the big bang Are we allowed to eat all animals today? September 1, 2012 Are Christians bound by Mosaic (or Edenic) food laws today? The origin of the Carboniferous coal measures—part 2: The logic of lycopod root structure August 31, 2012 Part 2: The logic of lycopod root structure Will Nibiru collide with Earth? August 30, 2012 Yet another end-of-the-world scenario with lots of panic, but no substance. The lion that wouldn’t eat meat August 29, 2012 Really? A vegetarian lioness? Yes indeed, an ‘echo’ of Eden … Fishy Dawkinsia tales, tragic Dawkinsian philosophy August 28, 2012 In the wake of having a new fish genus named after him, Richard Dawkins defends his philosophy of life. Common errors made by deniers of a young Earth August 27, 2012 Appealing to the text and history against the plain evidence Does the universe need a cause? August 26, 2012 The cosmological argument shows that the existence and nature of the universe is thoroughly consistent with the existence of the biblical God. Logic and lesbianism August 25, 2012 ‘Natural’ behaviours are not necessarily moral. The remarkable African Planation Surface August 24, 2012 A new synthesis of African planation surfaces concludes that there is one large, warped planation surface on Africa, called the African Surface. More ‘dino’ sightings in Papua New Guinea August 23, 2012 The people of West New Britain in Papua New Guinea tell of seeing some interesting creatures in recent years. The Koran vs Genesis August 22, 2012 Do Muslims and Christians have the same account of creation? Stephen Hawking: Key to the cosmos August 21, 2012 Stephen Hawking fails in his latest attack on God, as well as in his attempt to explain the universe without God. Termite mounds: cities in miniature August 20, 2012 How are these veritable cities in miniature built? Why should science make it difficult to believe the Bible? August 19, 2012 A commenter claims that discoveries about the universe make the Bible hard to believe, causing him to feel that God is distant from us. Atheism—no objective morality? August 18, 2012 Does common human agreement on morality make it objective? Some bugs do grow bigger with higher oxygen August 17, 2012 Does that mean that the pre-Flood atmosphere had higher oxygen levels? Drawing power: People get the point when they see these two pictures August 16, 2012 A carefully crafted but simple drawing can overturn some people’s millions-of-years ideas more effectively and quickly than could a thousand words. And two drawings can double the impact. A tale of two theologians August 15, 2012 Evolution and the Bible don’t mix. A sneak preview of the editorial from the soon-to-be-released Creation magazine. Subscribers will be delighted with the magazine’s powerful content and brilliant graphics. Anyone for tennis? August 14, 2012 When you successfully return your opponent’s shot, does he acknowledge the point? Y chromosome shock August 13, 2012 Chimps and humans have similar genomes, right? Wrong! Just look at the Y chromosome. Human fossils from the Flood and ancient climate patterns August 12, 2012 Should we expect human fossils and how did they measure atmospheric CO2 over the last 400,000 years? Does Christianity lead to true morality or just obedience from fear? August 11, 2012 Christianity is often characterized as a religion of fear. However true ‘fear of God’ is quite different from what many think. Is the K/T the post-Flood boundary?—part 3: volcanism and plate tectonics August 10, 2012 Do volcanism and plate tectonics in the Tertiary provide strong evidence for identifying the post-Flood boundary with the K/T boundary? The Namblong people: ‘We need to know where we come from!’ August 9, 2012 Do you find the Bible’s ‘so-and-so begat so-and-so’ boring? The people of Papua don’t—and they rebuked the SIL translator for wanting to skip over Genesis 5. Radiometric dating and the age of the Earth August 8, 2012 The 4.5 billion-year radiometric ‘age’ of the earth is based on faulty assumptions even secular researchers have acknowledged. Did God really say? August 7, 2012 What would the Bible need to say if old-earthers were right? And what would their reactions be? Abandoned transitional forms August 6, 2012 Evolutionists have abandoned many famed ‘missing links’ through sheer weight of contrary evidence. Don’t bother me with your religion! August 5, 2012 Freedom of religion means living peaceably with people who disagree with you. Objecting to a biblical age for the earth August 4, 2012 The only so-called ‘science’ that contradicts the Bible’s age for the Earth makes baseless anti-biblical assumptions. Excellent summary of scientific evidence for Creation and the Flood, but controversial in some areas August 3, 2012 A review of Earth’s Catastrophic Past: Geology, Creation & the Flood, volumes 1 and 2 by Andrew Snelling No fence to sit on August 2, 2012 Neutrality is impossible in the creation/evolution debate. A look at some figures August 1, 2012 The very first article in Creation magazine showed the impossibility of a naturalistic origin of life. Nothing has changed since then. Supposed ‘icon of evolution’, Archaeopteryx, was ‘dressed for flight’ in modern, probably black, feathers July 31, 2012 Extract the exciting new fact about Archaeopteryx from the ‘paleobabble’ and evolutionary hype—and the conclusion is obvious. Natural rafts carried animals around the globe July 30, 2012 How they carried animals around the globe. Hawkesbury Sandstone deposited from a wall of water? July 29, 2012 Did CMI put words into the mouth of a geologist that he never said? Science, history, and the Bible July 28, 2012 Where do evolution and the Bible fit into how we investigate science and history? The workings of nature combined with a sprinkling of evolutionary storytelling July 27, 2012 A review of Darwin’s Island by Steve Jones. Cape Peninsula sandstones, South Africa, deposited during Noah’s Flood July 26, 2012 Deposited during Noah’s Flood. Darwin’s mentors July 25, 2012 Two prominent clergymen unwittingly gave Darwin the long-age time frame he needed to make evolution ‘work’. ‘Feathered’ dinos: no feathers after all! July 24, 2012 Detailed analysis of Sinosauropteryx and decaying animals provides evidence for rapid burial, consistent with a global Flood. Also, claimed protofeathers were really support fibres for a single structure, like a crest. Darwin, slavery, and abolition July 23, 2012 Did Darwin’s abhorrence of slavery have anything to do with his theory of evolution? Stephen Hawking: Is there meaning to life? July 22, 2012 Stephen Hawking takes on God as to the meaning of life. God takes on Stephen Hawking. The Prometheus movie and the ever challenging quest for our origins July 21, 2012 Another sci-fi movie raises questions about our origins and who created us. Darwin is the universal acid that affects everything July 20, 2012 A review of The Political Gene: How Darwin’s Ideas Changed Politics by Dennis Sewell. Evidence for Creation now banned from UK religious education classes July 19, 2012 New UK government regulations now prevent some schools teaching the evidence for creation even in Religious Education classes. Mercury’s crust is magnetized July 18, 2012 More good news for creation science Mantis shrimp ‘fist’ could inspire new body armour July 17, 2012 Mantis shrimp has incredibly strong ‘punch’, but its club can withstand the impacts thanks to three intricately designed regions. This could inspire strong, lightweight body armour. Spiderweb stickiness secret July 16, 2012 How spiderweb glue works: multi-functional adhesive—a ‘smart material’. Genetic entropy and human lifespans July 15, 2012 If the human genome is degrading, shouldn’t lifespans be getting shorter? Haeckel the hero? July 14, 2012 Far from being a hero, Ernst Haeckel perpetrated a number of frauds. Two more late Ice Age megafloods discovered July 13, 2012 More megafloods are being discovered as geologists are forced to abandon a strict uniformitarianism. Bacteria not made of arsenic after all July 12, 2012 Claims of ‘new biology’ and ET life fall flat. Darwin and the Fuegians July 11, 2012 Darwin used the indigenous people of Tierra del Fuego to illustrate his ideas about human evolution. How could he have been so wrong? New visitors’ centre opens at Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland July 10, 2012 World-first innovation includes creation explanation From skepticism to faith in Christ: a Nobel Laureate’s journey July 9, 2012 This ‘stickler for scientific credibility and integrity’ looked into evolution and got angry. Alien intrusion helps experiencer to make sense of childhood ‘visitations’ July 8, 2012 Finding out the truth about this phenomenon gives comfort to many who have experienced it. Has the ‘God particle’ been found? July 7, 2012 Scientists working at the Large Hadron Collider claim to have found the Higgs boson or ‘God particle’. Is this true, and what does it really mean? Shared mutations in the human and chimpanzee β-globin pseudogenes is not evidence for a common ancestor July 6, 2012 Not evidence that humans and chimpanzees have a common ancestor. Creation Answer Book raises questions July 5, 2012 Problematic statements about the age of the earth mar a new book about creation. The struggle for the soul of Adolf Eichmann July 4, 2012 Darwinism inspired Adolf Eichmann’s participation in the Nazi Holocaust, as well as his total rejection of the Gospel. A new view of Chapman’s Peak Drive, Cape Town, South Africa July 3, 2012 Revealing spectacular evidence for Noah’s global Flood Indonesian mud volcano keeps erupting July 2, 2012 Geological forces inside the earth unleash disaster The glasses of ‘deep time’ July 1, 2012 The assumption of long ages determine the results because it is assumed before the evidence is considered. Gay ‘marriage’ and the consistent outcome of Genesis compromise June 30, 2012 A former lecturer at a compromising evangelical institution is at least consistent—his rejection of Noah’s flood is an excuse for rejecting biblical teachings on marriage as well. The basement rocks of the Brisbane area, Australia: Where do they fit in the creation model? June 29, 2012 Where do they fit in the creation model? Evangelicals and biblical creation June 28, 2012 Many evangelicals are biblically ‘spot on’—everywhere but Genesis. With the biblical evidence being so clear, what barriers do they face with respect to Genesis? Darwin’s bulldog—Thomas H. Huxley June 27, 2012 The ‘success’ of Darwin’s theory of evolution in the 19th century was largely due to the work of this man. So who was he and what motivated him? Incredible Kinesin! June 26, 2012 Science reveals an unimaginable level of technology and design in living things supposed to have evolved by chance billions of years ago! The Colugo Challenge June 25, 2012 Perfectly fit for its life in the trees, the colugo just doesn’t ‘fit’ into the evolutionary ‘tree of life’ The limits of Neo-Darwinism June 24, 2012 What are mutations and natural selection capable of? The myth of neutrality June 23, 2012 Rather than promoting neutrality, as some claim, secularism is a dogmatic belief system that is changing society beyond recognition. What does min mean? June 22, 2012 How closely does the Hebrew word min (‘kind’) match the modern creationist usage of the term ‘baramin’ (‘created kind’)? Turtles fossilized while mating! June 21, 2012 According to paleontologist Walter Joyce, ‘there’s really no reason to enter the fossil record while you are mating.’ He’s right—and wrong. Darwin’s arguments against God June 20, 2012 How Darwin rejected the doctrines of Christianity. Researchers: Evolution of insect flight? Let’s look at flightlessness instead June 19, 2012 If insects evolved the ability to fly, then they also evolved the ability not to fly, as well. No, wait, that can’t be right … Trouble over ET news reporting June 18, 2012 Aliens are indeed a ‘hot’ media topic. But over-hyping the hype can disappoint—requiring even more ‘spin’. Could Adam and Eve have given rise to all the ‘races’? June 17, 2012 ‘Races’, genetics, and the biblical history of the world. CMI booklet reflects ‘stubbornness and arrogance’ (?) June 16, 2012 An African supporter sent CMI’s 15 Reasons to Take Genesis as History to a Christian friend and got a withering response. He asked CMI to comment on the response … How did they build the Great Pyramid?—an architect’s proposal June 15, 2012 An architect shows how it was feasible, and maybe even how they did it! Naturalism in the light of reality June 14, 2012 There’s more to reality than naturalism can fathom … Stalin June 13, 2012 How belief in a creatorless universe helped shape the thinking of one of history’s greatest tyrants—Joseph Stalin. ET-rex: dinosaurs on other planets? June 12, 2012 An absurd journal paper inadvertently points out some very real problems with evolution. Mutant (non-ninja) turtle? June 11, 2012 Two-headed turtles are obviously defects, but are they caused by DNA mutation? Subscriber objects to Creation magazine interview June 10, 2012 How we pick the people we interview for Creation magazine. The limitations of physical evidence June 9, 2012 Sometimes physical evidence isn’t available for some claims of the Bible—is this a problem? Darwin’s apemen and the exploitation of deformed humans June 8, 2012 The exploitation of deformed humans for the cause of Darwin’s apemen Time to think June 7, 2012 Maybe young-earth creationists should sometimes just ‘shut up’? … Anyone for fundamentalism? June 6, 2012 Those who believe the Bible are often linked with Islamic terrorists through a term that used to have an honourable meaning, but is now viewed as derogatory. What does ‘fundamentalism’ mean nowadays? Physicists: The universe had a beginning June 5, 2012 Evolutionists can’t escape this problem: How do you get a universe, complete with the laws of physics, out of nothing? Full-size Noah’s Ark in Hong Kong June 4, 2012 A spectacular full scale Ark, right next to the highway of one of the world’s busiest airports. ‘No death before the Fall’? June 3, 2012 The importance of the distinction of nephesh chayyah life. Dealing with claims of Bible ‘contradiction’ June 2, 2012 Skeptics come up with Bible contradiction claims all the time—from the superficially plausible to the supremely preposterous. How do we deal with them? Also, does the Bible say pi = 3, and what does it mean by “God is light”? The portrayal of creationists by their evolutionist detractors June 1, 2012 Where they are not ignored, creationists are invariably disparaged and misrepresented. A candid admission May 31, 2012 The real issue behind the creation/evolution battle over origins. Nietzsche May 30, 2012 The evolutionist who was anti-God and anti-Darwin The evolutionary parade of ‘missing links’ May 29, 2012 The floats keep changing! Evidences for a young earth and universe May 28, 2012 ‘Billions of years’ is accepted without question but there is lots of evidence that the earth and universe are much, much younger. Islam, testimony, and the Trinity May 27, 2012 Refuting Islamic criticisms of the Trinity, and the difference between Islamic and Christian conversion testimonies. Do animals possess morality? May 26, 2012 Do humans only differ in degree from animals? The origin of the Carboniferous coal measures—part 1: Lessons from history May 25, 2012 Part 1: Lessons from history. The global flood—according to the New Testament May 24, 2012 The New Testament authors do not allow for a local Flood. A remarkable witness to creation—Satan May 23, 2012 Could the devil be a witness to the truth of Genesis creation? Remarkably, yes. Billions of years? Appraising the dangers May 22, 2012 Hot on the heels of Richard Dawkins’ The Magic of Reality is a book intended for even younger readers, to pre-prime them with evolution’s ‘billions of years’ message. Rock-solid butter! May 21, 2012 Soft tissue fossilization was thought impossible in Darwin’s day but rocky ‘bog butter’ is one of several modern finds which refute the millions-of-years dogma. What happened before the big bang? May 20, 2012 Top secular scientists are now challenging the idea that everything began with the big bang. What do the atheopaths have to hide? May 19, 2012 Skeptics who refuse to reveal their name—do they have something to hide, or something to fear? 4 Vesta, achondritic meteorites and Flood bombardment May 18, 2012 What do 4 Vesta and achondritic meteorites tell us about the origin of impactors from the Flood bombardment? The mythology surrounding James Hutton and Hadrian’s Wall May 17, 2012 It’s a nice story but it’s not accurate. Hooray for eugenics May 16, 2012 Last century many religious leaders embraced eugenics, the elimination of the ‘unfit’ from mankind’s breeding pool. Invented by Darwin’s cousin Francis Galton, it reached its apex in Nazi Germany. Time—no friend of evolution May 15, 2012 ‘Millions of years’ don’t help—in fact they make it worse. Creation and Redemption May 14, 2012 Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Seminary, explains why biblical creation is vital. Can pantheism explain morality? And, the fight-or-flight response and the Fall May 13, 2012 The Bible can explain both. Anisotropy Synchrony Convention May 12, 2012 What does CMI think about an alternative solution to the distant starlight problem? A Possible Creationist Perspective on the Tyrolean (Oetztaler) Ice Man May 11, 2012 Since his discovery in 1991, Ötzi the Iceman has been an enigma for evolutionary ideas but no problem for the creationist perspective. The ‘Hong Kong ark’ fiasco May 10, 2012 Looking behind the marketing hype—a summary of the reasons why it is more certain than ever that the claimed ‘find on Ararat’ is a product of modern-day workmanship. Zoogenesis—a theory of desperation May 9, 2012 An astonishing ‘alternative’ theory of evolution shows the lengths people will go to in believing anything other than divine creation. Is God watching? May 8, 2012 The sidelining of Christianity in our evolutionized age leads to a loss of God-consciousness and a rejection of God’s moral law. Jesus on the age of the earth May 7, 2012 Jesus believed in a young world, but leading theistic evolutionists say He is wrong. ‘Acellular’ first life? May 6, 2012 Did the hypothetical ‘first life’ need to be cellular? Did CMI use a bad argument against homosexuality? May 5, 2012 If homosexuality was found to have a biological basis, would that make it morally acceptable? A receding Flood scenario for the origin of the Grand Canyon May 4, 2012 How the receding stage of the Flood explains it. The theological case against evolution May 3, 2012 Numerous theological problems are created by maintaining an evolutionary account of origins. Hitler’s ‘master race’ children haunted by their past May 2, 2012 The living remnants of Hitler’s plan to specially breed a race of ‘superbabies’ are a tragic testimony to the effects of Darwinian thinking. Time is the hero May 1, 2012 We hope you enjoy this sneak preview of the editorial from the soon-to-be-released Creation magazine. Subscribers will be delighted with the printed magazine’s powerful content and brilliant graphics. Should we trust the Bible? April 30, 2012 Since CMI is based on the Bible, why should the Bible be trusted? Does our current text represent the original, and is the original accurate? Does inbreeding always decrease genetic variety? April 29, 2012 Inbreeding effects in post-Flood populations. Of missing gaps and magic bullets April 28, 2012 Does the Bible teach any sort of a ‘gap’ theory? Is there such a thing as a universal ‘knock down’ argument against evolution? Anders Breivik—Social Darwinism leads to mass murder April 27, 2012 He believed modern Darwinian eugenics could create a utopia. Enjoy this preview from the current Journal of Creation. Subscribe and be delighted by the powerful, stimulating content. A conversation arising April 26, 2012 The visiting CMI–USA (formerly CMI-Au) speaker did not mention radiometric ‘dating’ in his presentation to an Aussie church. So guess what two members of the congregation discussed afterwards … Archaeologist confirms creation and the Bible April 25, 2012 Interview with archaeologist Dr Clifford Wilson on the historical reliability of the Bible. An unconvincing Shroud story April 24, 2012 This book presents a fascinating but impossible thesis for the origin and significance of the Shroud of Turin. Replenish the earth April 23, 2012 How come Adam and Eve were told to ‘replenish’ the newly created earth with their descendants if it had never been previously filled? Creation and evolution: teaching two histories April 22, 2012 It’s about teaching opposing histories of the world, and (where possible) showing how biblical creation is overall the one that best fits reality. Did fish die before the Fall? April 21, 2012 Were fish a category of nephesh chayyah life that did not suffer death before the Fall? Post-Flood mutation of the KIT gene and the rise of white coloration patterns April 20, 2012 How did white coloration patterns arise in animals and humans post-Flood? More ‘monkey business’ in Tennessee? April 19, 2012 From a hot July courtroom in 1925, the battle rages on today in Tennessee. Mission not impossible! April 18, 2012 Eastern religions might have a superficial appeal to some, and have seemingly absorbed Darwinism readily, but only the Bible has the true answers that all need to hear. Pistol packing … Shrimp?! April 17, 2012 Technology has just recently enabled us to develop sonic guns but ‘simple’ creatures like pistol shrimp have had them all along. The great chromosome fiasco April 16, 2012 For years, scientists kept ignoring the evidence of their own eyes because of the pressure to ‘conform’. Entropy at work: skeptic blunders on thermodynamics April 15, 2012 Skeptic blunders on thermodynamics. Answering close family on creation questions April 14, 2012 Biblical creationists are used to the outright rejection and ridicule so common in today’s world, but it can be very hard to deal with when it occurs within marriage. Evolution Answers Book? April 13, 2012 We hope you enjoy this sneak preview from the now-released April issue of Journal of Creation. Subscribers will be delighted by the powerful, stimulating content. Animal suffering and western sensibility April 12, 2012 Christians who believe in ‘millions of years’ argue that animal suffering and violence in the wild are ‘good’, and are problems only for oversensitive Westerners. The Bible indicates otherwise. Could Adam have appealed the verdict? April 11, 2012 How does Adam’s conviction and sentence by God for the sin of ‘rebellion’ compare with today’s legal procedures? Is killing wrong? April 10, 2012 An ‘ethics’ article gives a chilling glimpse at secular ‘morality’ The Resurrection and Genesis April 9, 2012 Jesus’ resurrection was a historical event, and it depends on the historical reality of the events of Genesis 1. The Resurrection of Jesus April 8, 2012 This vital Christian doctrine has its roots in Genesis history. Did the witch of Endor call up a ghost? April 7, 2012 If God sent Samuel’s spirit to deliver judgment to Saul, does that make Him guilty of witchcraft? Inscriptions on the Cross April 6, 2012 Why do all four Gospels contain different versions? Does this indicate error? Stalin’s ape-man Superwarriors April 4, 2012 The ruthless dictator’s dream of a race of ape-human hybrids to use as ‘cannon fodder’—fantasy or plausible history? The colourful Cassowary April 3, 2012 Created ‘as is’ or retro ratite? Of Moas and Men April 2, 2012 When scientists set out to analyse the DNA of moa feathers, they were in for a big surprise. Australia: The Time Traveller’s Guide—ABC Mythology April 1, 2012 Mudskippers and apemen March 31, 2012 How useful are cladograms and ‘transitional’ creatures as evidence for evolution? Is there a future for Christian education? March 30, 2012 Religious discrimination is rampant against creationists: the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board’s decision to deny the ICR Graduate School the right to grant accredited advanced degrees is one example. Tabor’s choice March 29, 2012 A leading Christian educational organisation in Australia again signals its departure from its ‘Scripture-based’ teaching commitment—via widely promoted national seminars. Raymond Dart and the ‘missing link’ March 28, 2012 Famous for promoting evolution through a fossil ‘ape man’, Raymond Dart wanted to be a medical missionary in his youth. What happened? At a loss to answer objections? March 27, 2012 Many times we can be at a loss when trying to answer objections when ‘on the front lines’ of evangelism, and CMI exists to equip Christians with those answers. Living Fossils: the Shovelnose Ray March 26, 2012 A living Shovelnose Ray is almost identical to a ‘dinosaur era’ fossil ray, a living fossil, challenging both evolution and geological time. Does CMI misrepresent evolution? March 25, 2012 A visitor to our website claims that CMI does not treat arguments for evolution fairly. In reality, it is creationist arguments that are often misrepresented. Vaccines and abortion? March 24, 2012 A few vaccines use cells from babies that were aborted—is it immoral to receive these vaccinations? Life’s irreducible structure—Part 2: naturalistic objections March 23, 2012 <div>Naturalistic objections to the design argument from autopoiesis fail by begging the question. </div> Jewellery stores on the moon March 22, 2012 Raw materials are not enough to make either jewellery stores or life. Who really is the God of Genesis? March 21, 2012 Does Genesis chapter 1 mention the Trinity? A riff on Genesis hits a few sour notes March 20, 2012 The Bible’s message is spiritual, but it would be meaningless if it were not also historical. Enzyme expert exposes evolution’s error March 19, 2012 Jonathan Sarfati interviews Finnish biochemist Matti Leisola. Ghosts, experience, and the Bible March 18, 2012 The Bible is our ultimate authority, not experience. ‘One long ad hominem’? March 17, 2012 When they can’t fault our arguments, often our critics turn personal. Identification of a large sparrow-finch monobaramin in perching birds (Aves: Passeriformes) March 16, 2012 Hybrid data suggests a large sparrow-finch baramin that includes over 1,000 modern species! What part of Genesis should we believe? All of it! March 15, 2012 A conservative columnist slips up on Genesis. Encyclopaedia Britannica: supporting a young earth! March 14, 2012 Before the promotion of uniformitarian (i.e. long-age) ‘science’ by Lyell, Darwin and others in the 19th century, the concept of billions of years for the age of the earth was unknown to science—and the church. Is information a ‘false metaphor’ for DNA? March 13, 2012 If information is too simplistic a metaphor for DNA, how does that help evolution? Radioactive dating methods March 12, 2012 Ways they make conflicting results tell the same story. Abortion, brain development, and brain death March 11, 2012 Does an embryo become a person only once brain cells begin developing? Does the Bible promote injustice? March 10, 2012 Slavery, morality, and the positive effect of the Bible on society. Is the K/T the post-Flood boundary?—part 2: paleoclimates and fossils March 9, 2012 Do the Tertiary fossils and ‘paleoclimates’ provide strong evidence for identifying the post-Foood boundary with the K/T boundary? Abortion ‘after birth’? Medical ‘ethicists’ promote infanticide March 8, 2012 Evolutionary ‘ethicists’ promote infanticide and deny sanctity of innocent human life. Does God have body parts? March 7, 2012 Moses describes God’s activities in human terms such as speaking, seeing, hearing, walking, etc. Should we regard these descriptions as being ‘literal’? ‘Keep religion out of science classes’ March 6, 2012 Keep faith and science separate, we’re told. Why, then, do we teach evolution in school science classes? Sedimentary blankets March 5, 2012 Visual evidence for vast continental flooding The relentless dragon March 4, 2012 Some Christians have tried to deal with the topic of evolution by simply avoiding it. Has it helped? Immigration, culture, and Christ March 3, 2012 Did God intend for culture groups to remain separated? Manganese nodules and the age of the ocean floor March 2, 2012 Manganese nodules are supposed to be millions of years old, but what do actual growth rates show? Of barons, bones, birds and dinosaurs March 1, 2012 Evidence for a dinosaurian Galapagos, or a snapshot of the Flood? Missing the mark February 29, 2012 How a missionary family gave rise to the top name in ‘apeman’ research! The Church Fathers on the Genesis Flood February 28, 2012 The Church Fathers were practically unanimous in affirming the historical reality and global extent of the Genesis Flood. An eternal perspective on creation February 27, 2012 To whet your appetite, we hope you enjoy this sneak peek of an interview from the soon-to-be-released Creation magazine. Animal numbers on the Ark and the amoral nature of atheism February 26, 2012 Was there enough room? Genesis Verse-by-Verse February 25, 2012 CMI announces Genesis Verse-by-Verse, a new Bible study tool on creation.com that links individual verses in Genesis directly to articles pertaining to that verse. Using facial angle to prove evolution and the human race hierarchy February 24, 2012 How a pseudo-scientific, racist idea was used to promote evolution, and what led to its demise. Newest Oldest Living Thing? February 23, 2012 Why this seagrass patch is not as old as they say. The ten plagues of Egypt February 22, 2012 Are naturalistic explanations of the ten plagues of Egypt valid? The lies of Free Inquiry—a response February 21, 2012 Prominent atheist magazine attacks the faith of nursing home residents. Super scented February 20, 2012 When it comes to sniffing out odours, nothing beats a dog’s nose. Losing ancient technology and the definition of ‘evolution’ February 19, 2012 How quickly was technology lost after the Flood? And, what is the right definition of evolution? Will humans explore the stars? February 18, 2012 And colonize other planets? Making sense of how an atheist is made February 17, 2012 A review of The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief by James S. Spiegel. Genesis 1 and theories of origin February 16, 2012 Dr John Dickson responds to Prof. Zuiddam’s criticism of his attempt to make room for secular origins ‘science’ in Genesis 1 and Prof. Zuiddam replies. Potatoes and ‘white chimpanzees’ February 15, 2012 The ‘failure’ of natural selection resulted in the death of millions during the Irish potato famine. Scott Stephenson: a testimony and a funeral February 14, 2012 How a tragedy was used to witness to a community about biblical truth. Correcting wrong ideas February 13, 2012 We hope you enjoy this sneak preview of the editorial from the soon-to-be-released Creation magazine. Subscribers will be delighted with the printed magazine’s powerful content and brilliant graphics. The mental furniture of ‘deep time’ February 12, 2012 Throwing out the really old furniture. Skeptic puzzled by ‘Question Evolution’ campaign February 11, 2012 CMI’s point-by-point response to a respectful, thoughtful enquiry by professed atheist and evolutionary neuroscientist. Flood models and biblical realism February 10, 2012 Much disagreement exists among biblical creationists about how the Flood occurred. How should we proceed? More space travel problems: g-forces February 9, 2012 A spacecraft travelling at merely a third of the speed of light would take over four years to reach the nearest star. But slowing down and turning would generate fatal g-forces. Meeting the ancestors February 8, 2012 Noah’s father, Lamech, could have talked to Adam! The Fall and the existence of other religions February 7, 2012 If there is only one true god, then how come the world today has diverse religions? Herbert Spencer February 6, 2012 Spencer is most (in)famous for applying survival of the fittest to human society—the strongest and fittest should flourish, while the weak and unfit should die! Is evolution to blame? February 5, 2012 Is evolution really at the heart of race-based atrocities and abortion? Is ATP synthase found in all life? February 4, 2012 Must naturalism account for the existence of ATP synthase in first life? A sloppy kind of Christianity February 3, 2012 A review of A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith by ‘emergent church’ leader Brian McLaren How does DNA language work? February 2, 2012 In different contexts, the same sequence of DNA bases can have vastly different meanings. Darwinism: it was all in the family February 1, 2012 Darwinism began not with Charles but with his grandfather Erasmus. The Year the Water Dragon Roared January 31, 2012 The Chinese year that began in January 2012 gives a powerful opportunity to witness. Our young solar system January 30, 2012 Multiple lines of evidence support the Bible’s age of the solar system. Does the UFO phenomenon marginalize the Christian worldview? January 29, 2012 Christians are often marginalized by UFO/ET adherents because of their spiritual view of the phenomenon. So what’s the best way to reach this group of UFO ‘true believers’? Paleoenvironments and the Bible January 28, 2012 The role of assumptions and worldview in geological interpretation Dubious and dangerous exposition January 27, 2012 A review of The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton Does CMI ministry to churches reach unbelievers? January 26, 2012 You might be surprised to know who attends church these days. Jesus teaching the ‘big picture’ from Genesis January 25, 2012 Today’s evolutionized society needs Gospel preaching based on Genesis. Scrambling scripture January 24, 2012 Prominent UK theistic evolutionist denies doctrine of original sin. More Mekong ‘hidden animals’ found January 23, 2012 Over 1,000 new species have been discovered in the Mekong River region. Does Genesis allow any scientific theory of origin? January 22, 2012 The church fathers did not allegorize Genesis, as John Dickson claims, and his approach undermines the Gospel. Dawkins gloats over boost to evolutionary dogma in schools January 21, 2012 Richard Dawkins and British Humanist Association celebrate censorship of creation teaching in UK schools. Further expansion of evolutionary fossil time ranges January 20, 2012 More confusion and contradiction in the evolutionary story about the fossils. Croc-nosed dinosaur bone surprises researchers January 19, 2012 Does the find of a croc-nosed dinosaur better fit the evolutionary story of millions of years or the biblical history of Noah’s Flood? The Future January 18, 2012 The future—some issues for ‘long-age’ Christians by Russell Grigg The far-distant future is a subject that is seldom mentioned in creation vs evolution discussions, but actually presents substantial problems for Christians who say that the earth is millions (or billions) of years old. Long-age Christians face a problem: a long-age evolutionary past implies a long-age heat-death future. Global Atheist Convention stimulates Christian evangelism January 17, 2012 Stimulates Christian evangelism Planets around other stars January 16, 2012 Many extrasolar planets have been discovered. But they pose many problems for evolutionary theories of stellar system origin. How precise is the Bible about the date of creation? January 15, 2012 Can we discern from the Bible the exact year or day for the date of creation? The ‘giant footprint’ of South Africa January 14, 2012 Firewalking giant or fortuitous weathering? The Fall and the inspiration for science January 13, 2012 A review of The Fall of Man and the Foundations of Science by Peter Harrison Is Christianity ‘for whites only’? January 12, 2012 ‘Racist Christianity’ is a contradiction in terms Are there apemen in your ancestry? January 11, 2012 Apemen? There are, in fact, no such creatures. Steve Jones and Hans Christian Andersen January 10, 2012 What do they have in common? Are praying mantises kosher? January 9, 2012 Can the Bible count the number of legs on an insect? Water and death throes January 8, 2012 Why have so many fossil creatures been preserved in the ‘dead dinosaur posture’? When skeptics ask January 7, 2012 Big bang blowups and the moon age mystery. Neutrinos—the not-so-neutral particles January 6, 2012 Calling into question the constancy of radiometric decay rates. Sound bites vs sound science January 5, 2012 If you want to be ready to defend your faith, it pays to be aware of some of these very common sceptical ploys. Pre-Adamic man: were there human beings on Earth before Adam? January 4, 2012 The Bible in no way supports the theory of pre-Adamites, so why do some Christians accept it? Is the Bible one book or 66? January 3, 2012 Our answer to this question affects how we interpret the Bible. Plants and animals around the world January 2, 2012 Why are they found where they are? Truth decay January 1, 2012 Does the Western Church lack a critical element for revival?

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The Integumentary System When we first started our series on the Human Body, we started with the skeletal system which serves as the structural frame that supports the entire body. From there we have looked a numerous systems as if we were building a human body on the skeleton. Today we will look at the system that holds everything together on the skeletons – the Integumentary System. Surprisingly, many people have never heard of the Integumentary system or that it contains the largest organ in the human body. The Integumentary system consists of the covering of tissue that holds everything in and protects it from the outside environment, namely the skin, hair and nails. I. Hair – Hair grows from the hair follicles in our skin and it consists of three basic layers: A. Medulla – The medulla is the inner most layer of a hair and is also referred to as the pith or marrow of the hair. The medulla is composed of several rows of cells. Naturally blonde hair, as well as some other thin hairs, lack a medulla. The coarser the hair, the more rows of cells can be found in the medulla. B. Cortex – The cortex is the middle layer of a hair and makes up over 80% of the total weight of the hair. It is composed of long narrow cells which contain fibrous proteins. Melanin pigments which determine the color of the hair are found in the cortex. The strength and elasticity of a hair is maintained by the cortex. C. Cuticle – The cuticle is the outer layer of a hair. It is composed of a single layer of transparent cells that overlap each other much like the shingles on a roof. It serves to protect the cortex layer beneath it. The cuticle layer is directly affected by the pH of whatever it comes in contact with. A high pH (alkaline solution such as many soaps and shampoos) makes the cuticle layers expand, which will allow fluids to infiltrate into the cortex. Lower pH (acidic solutions) cause the cuticle layer to contract and harden, preventing anything from infiltrating into the cortex. II. Nails – The human body has nails on the end of the fingers and toes. They are a hardened layer of protein called keratin that grows out from the skin at the base of the nail. The main function of the nails is to protect the nerve rich tips of the fingers and toes. Most people look at their nails and think of just the cuticle and the hardened nail itself, but there is much more to the nail than just those two parts. A. Germinal Matrix – The germinal matrix is the layer of tissue underneath the nail bed. It produces the cells that become the nail bed. 1. Lunula – At the base of the nail can be seen a white crescent shape feature knows as the lunula. This is the visible part of the germinal matrix. B. Nail Bed – The nail bed is a layer of skin that lies on top of the germinal layer and directly below the nail plate. This layer of skin moves forward as the nail grows out. The nail bed often becomes thinner with age. As it thins, the small ridges will appear on the nail, running the length of the nail. These ridges are caused by the matrix crests below with are what connect the two layers of the skin to each other. C. Nail Plate – The nail plate, also known as the nail body, is the hardened plate that covers the top tip of the fingers and toes. Basically, this is the part that some people put polish on. It is composed of layers of dead cells that flatten and harden into the nail as we know it. The nail plate is fairly translucent and appears pink because of the tissue and capillaries beneath it. D. Nail Root – The nail root is the part of the nail that is set in the skin at the base of the nail. It is formed by the matrix layer immediately below it. E. Nail Sinus – The term sinus generally means cavity or hollow. In this case, it refers to the cavity in which the nail root sets in to. F. Eponychium – The eponychium is a thin layer of epithelium cells that runs across the top of the base of the nail plate. Most people refer to it as the cuticle. It forms a protective seal at the base of the nail plate as well as laying down a thin protective layer of dead cells on the top of the nail plate as it grows out. G. Distal Edge – The distal edge, also known as the free margin, is the outer tip of the nail plate. This is the part of the nail that you actually clip. H. Hyponychium – The hyponychium is the layer of skin immediately below the distal edge of the nail and is more commonly referred to as the quick. I. Nail Groove – The nail groove is the groove along both sides of the nail plate. III. Skin – if you ask most people what the largest organ in the human body is, you will get answers that include the lungs, liver, intestines, etc. However, to their amazement, the skin is actually the larges organ in the human body. The skin consists of three layers: A. Epidermis – The epidermis is the outer layer of skin. The cells of the epidermis contain a large amount of keratin, the same protein that forms the hair and nails. This makes the epidermis tougher and more durable than most other tissues in the body. The epidermis layer is thickest (~0.06 inches) at the soles of the feet and palms of the hands, and thinnest (~0.002 inches) at the eyelids. The epidermis also contains three types of specialized cells: 1. Melanocytes – Melanocytes are cells that contain the pigment melanin which determine a person’s skin color. The more melanin in a person’s melanocytes, the darker their skin tone and the lesser amount of melanin results in a lighter skin tone. 2. Langerhans Cells – Langerhans cells, first discovered in 1868, are involved with the immune system and fighting pathogens on the surface of the skin. 3. Merkel Cells – Merkel cells are a oval shaped sensory cells that function with the recognition of light touch, shapes and textures. The epidermis is divided in to 5 layers: 4. Stratum Basale – The stratum basale is the lowest layer of the epidermis. It is composed of a single layer of basophilic cells. 5. Stratum Spinosum – The stratum spinosum is the second layer of the dermis. It is composed of the spinosum layer with consists of prickle cells. Prickle cells form intercellular connections making skin stronger. They also produce keratin. 6. Stratum Granulosum – The stratum granulosum is the middle layer of the epidermis. The cells of this layer contain granules that can be easily seen under a microscope. 7. Stratum Lucidum – The stratum lucidum is a very thin layer of translucent dead cells. It is only present in thicker areas of the epidermis. This layer helps reduce frictional and shear forces between the stratum lucidum and stratum corneum to help prevent tearing of the skin. 8. Stratum Corneum – The stratum corneum is the outer most layer of the epidermis and composed of dead flat cells that arise from the stratum granulosum and stratum lucidum. The dead cells are held together by a type of glue. The stratum corneum serves as the first layer of defense and protection from pathogens, insects, toxic substances, excessive water loss and many other things that could cause the body harm. If you’ve ever heard of the saying, ‘beauty is only skin deep’, realize that our outer beauty is nothing more than a layer of dead cells. B. Dermis – The dermis is the middle layer of the skin. The dermis contains collagen and elastin fibers that help strengthen the skin and keep it elastic and pliable. Unlike the epidermis, the dermis contains blood vessels. These blood vessels dilate and constrict in conjunction with the outside temperatures the body is exposed to. The dermis is divided into two layers: 1. Reticular – The reticular layer is the lower and thicker layer of the dermis. It is characterized by thick collagen fibers. 2. Papillary – The papillary layer is the upper and thinner layer of the dermis and is characterized by a narrower arrangement of collagen fibers. C. Subcutaneous Tissue – Also known as the hypodermis or hypoderm or superficial fascia, the subcutaneous tissue is the lowest layer of the skin. This layer contains larger blood vessels and nerves than those found in the dermis. It is characterized by the loose connective tissue and quantities of fat that is stored here. The Integumentary system, like so many of the other systems in the human body is complex and many faceted. And when you put all of these systems together it forms one of the most amazingly designed bodies in all of creation. The human body could not survive without all of these systems in place and functioning. And yet evolutionists want you to believe that all of this is a mere product of random chance mutations that occurred over time. The disordered became ordered. The simple became complex. Life arose from non-life. Information and intelligence arose from nothingness. Every one of these facets of evolution defy the very laws of science that all scientists profess to believe in. And evolutionists call biblical creationism a blind faith. I don’t know about you, but when look at the complexity of the human body; I see the wondrous works of an omniscient Designer who created man in His own image. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 When does life begin? Take a journey from conception to birth with Dr. David Menton, former professor of anatomy at the prestigious Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Menton provides both a biblical and scientific answer to the question of when life begins. Taken from one of Dr. Menton’s lectures, this video will reveal the wondrous design of the womb along with the numerous miracles involved along every step of the development of the unborn child. Following the tragic starvation induced death of Terry Schiavo, Dr. Menton clearly shows the value and sanctity of human life. With grace and sensitivity Dr. Menton concludes with a salvation message and explanation of the second birth process as described in John 3.

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CSADV provides educational opportunities to the communities we serve. Educational presentations are available to all segments of the community and can be modified to best target your group and fit your schedule. Presentations are informative and assist the public in becoming more aware of the issues surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault. All educational programs are offered free of charge. If your class, group, or organization would like to schedule a presentation, please contact our agency. CSADV provides educational prevention programming for preschool children through college level. All curriculum concepts are age and developmentally appropriate and each level builds upon the previous section. This programming is designed to address the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault in a non-threatening fashion. The educational programs incorporate role plays, skits, live characters, printed materials, film and video, discussion between the presenter and audience, and much more. It is our belief that prevention education is vital to ending child and adult victimization. All education programs, as are all CSADV services, are offered free of charge. Prevention Programming, Elementary School PreK, ,Kindergarten, First Grade, Happy Bear: Happy Bear utilizes a panda mascot to help children understand safe vs. unsafe touch and how to tell an adult if they are touched. This is an interactive, fun program. Kindergarten—Third Grade, Quit It! This research-based program gives children a vocabulary and conceptual framework that allows them to understand the distinction between teasing and bullying and how to respond to bullying . Fourth and Fifth Grade, Bully Proof: This research-based program engages children to think about the distinctions between teasing and bullying. Activities help children focus on the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate, playful and hurtful behavior. Included are useful tips on how to safely respond to a bully. Second and Fourth Grade, Body Safety and Me: The focus of this program is to help students identify what sexual abuse is and how to respond. The program empowers children that their bodies are their own and no one has the right to touch them inappropriately. Children are taught how to tell and who to tell. Grades 4 through High school, Sexting and Cyber bullying A new phenomena … sexting and cyber bullying are quickly becoming a major problem in our schools and communities. Recent suicides of cyber bullying victims have brought this issue to light. Students receive information about the serious consequences including possible criminal actions. Step by step instruction is given to students on what they can do if they become a victim of these crimes. Middle School and High School, Gender Violence/Gender Justice: This research-based program explores power, inequalities and violence in relationships, as well as in friendships. The program creates discussion about the larger topics of gender violence, including sexual harassment, and sexual assault. Flirting or Hurting: This research-based program explores student– to-student sexual harassment in schools. Topics covered include flirting versus sexual harassment, identifying and standing up for ones rights, and appropriate responses to sexual harassment. Love is not Abuse: This program focuses on issues of teen dating violence. Students will learn to identify the warning sings of an abusive relationship, how they can support a friend who is being abused and how to confront a friend who is abusive. CSADV staff recognizes that these are sensitive issues. Presenters are certified as sexual abuse and domestic abuse counselors/advocates and are trained in each of these curricula. To schedule any of these presentations, please contact the Education Coordinator (712)277-0131.

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Fort Saybrook Monument Park, near where the Connecticut River empties into Long Island Sound, marks the site of a 1636 fort constructed by English military engineer Lion Gardiner to defend the Old Saybrook settlement during fighting between English settlers and the Pequot tribe. Gardiner is honored with a 1930 statue created by sculptor William Ordway Partridge, who was also responsible for at least 60 other public statues and busts. A dedication on the front (south) face of the monument’s pedestal reads, “In memory of Lion Gardiner, builder and commander of Saybrook Fort, 1635-1639.” In 1639, Gardiner, who became friendly with local Native Americans, settled an island off the east end of Long Island that would later bear his family’s name. Descendents continue to own the island 11 generations later. Along with the Gardiner statue and a small fence marking the site of the original fort, the 18-acre park also features the former site of the Connecticut Valley Railroad’s roundhouse and end-of-the-line turntable. Train tracks and wheels show where trains were once turned around for northbound trips. A number of wayside markers provide information about the fort, the settlement of Old Saybrook, the railroad, and the nearby river and marshlands. An extensive network of boardwalks across the marsh area provides the opportunity to see coastal birds and wildlife.

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SMILES (Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System) is a line notation (a typographical method using printable characters) for entering and representing molecules and reactions. Some examples are: SMILES contains the same information as might be found in an extended connection table. The primary reason SMILES is more useful than a connection table is that it is a linguistic construct, rather than a computer data structure. SMILES is a true language, albeit with a simple vocabulary (atom and bond symbols) and only a few grammar rules. SMILES representations of structure can in turn be used as "words" in the vocabulary of other languages designed for storage of chemical information (information about chemicals) and chemical intelligence (information about chemistry). Part of the power of SMILES is that unique SMILES exist. With standard SMILES, the name of a molecule is synonymous with its structure; with unique SMILES, the name is universal. Anyone in the world who uses unique SMILES to name a molecule will choose the exact same name. One other important property of SMILES is that it is quite compact compared to most other methods of representing structure. A typical SMILES will take 50% to 70% less space than an equivalent connection table, even binary connection tables. For example, a database of 23,137 structures, with an average of 20 atoms per structure, uses only 1.6 bytes per atom when represented with SMILES. In addition, ordinary compression of SMILES is extremely effective. The same database cited above was reduced to 27% of its original size by Ziv-Lempel compression (i.e. 0.42 bytes per atom). These properties open many doors to the chemical information programmer. Examples of uses for SMILES are: There are five generic SMILES encoding rules, corresponding to specification of atoms, bonds, branches, ring closures, and disconnections. Rules for specifying various kinds of isomerism are discussed in the following section, ISOMERIC SMILES. Atoms with valences other than "normal" and elements not in the "organic subset" must be described in brackets. Within brackets, any attached hydrogens and formal charges must always be specified. The number of attached hydrogens is shown by the symbol H followed by an optional digit. Similarly, a formal charge is shown by one of the symbols + or -, followed by an optional digit. If unspecified, the number of attached hydrogens and charge are assumed to be zero for an atom inside brackets. Constructions of the form [Fe+++] are synonymous with the form [Fe+3]. Examples are: For linear structures, SMILES notation corresponds to conventional diagrammatic notation except that hydrogens and single bonds are generally omitted. For example, 6-hydroxy-1,4-hexadiene can be represented by many equally valid SMILES, including the following three: Branches are specified by enclosing them in parentheses, and can be nested or stacked. In all cases, the implicit connection to a parenthesized expression (a "branch") is to the left. Examples are: There are usually many different, but equally valid descriptions of the same structure, e.g., the following SMILES notations for 1-methyl-3-bromo-cyclohexene-1: Many other notations may be written for the same structure, deriving from different ring closures. SMILES does not have a preferred entry on input; although (a) above may be simplest, others are just as valid. A single atom may have more than one ring closure. This is illustrated by the structure of cubane in which two atoms have more than one ring closure: Generation of SMILES for cubane: C12C3C4C1C5C4C3C25. If desired, digits denoting ring closures can be reused. As an example, the digit 1 used twice in the specification: The ability to re-use ring closure digits makes it possible to specify structures with 10 or more rings. Structures that require more than 10 ring closures to be open at once are exceedingly rare. If necessary or desired, higher-numbered ring closures may be specified by prefacing a two-digit number with percent sign (%). For example, C2%13%24 is a carbon atom with a ring closures 2, 13, and 24 . Matching pairs of digits following atom specifications imply that the atoms are bonded to each other. The bond may be explicit (bond symbol and/or direction preceding the ring closure digit) or implicit (a nondirectional single or aromatic bond). This is true whether or not the bond ends up as part of a ring. Adjacent atoms separated by dot (.) implies that the atoms are not bonded to each other. This is true whether or not the atoms are in the same connected component. For example, C1.C1 specifies the same molecule as CC(ethane) The SMILES isomer specification rules allow chirality to be completely specified for any structure, if it is known. Unlike most existing chemical nomenclatures such as CIP and IUPAC, these rules are also designed to allow rigorous partial specification of chirality. Aside from use in macros, substructure searching, and other pattern matching operations, this is important because much of the world's available chemical information is known for structures with incompletely resolved chiralities (not all possible chiral centers are separated, known, or reported). All isomer specification rules in SMILES are therefore optional. The absence of a specification for any attribute implies that the value of that attribute is unspecified. An important difference between SMILES chirality conventions and others such as CIP is that SMILES uses local chirality representation (as opposed to absolute chirality), which allows partial specifications. An example of this is illustrated below: The simplest and most common kind of chirality is tetrahedral; four neighbor atoms are evenly arranged about a central atom, known as the "chiral center". If all four neighbors are different from each other in any way, mirror images of the structure will not be identical. The two mirror images are known as "enantiomers" and are the only two forms that a tetrahedral center can have. If two (or more) of the four neighbors are identical to each other, the central atom will not be chiral (its mirror images can be superimposed in space). In SMILES, tetrahedral centers may be indicated by a simplified chiral specification (@ or @@) written as an atomic property following the atomic symbol of the chiral atom. If a chiral specification is not present for a chiral atom, its chirality is implicitly not specified. For instance: Looking from the amino N to the chiral C (as the SMILES is written), the three other neighbors appear anticlockwise in the order that they are written in the top SMILES, N[C@](C)(F)C(=O)O (methyl-C, F, carboxy-C), and clockwise in the bottom one, N[C@@](F)(C)C(=O)O. The symbol "@" indicates that the following neighbors are listed anticlockwise (it is a "visual mnemonic" in that the symbol looks like an anticlockwise spiral around a central circle). "@@" indicates that the neighbors are listed clockwise (you guessed it, anti-anti-clockwise). If the central carbon is not the very first atom in the SMILES and has an implicit hydrogen attached (it can have at most one and still be chiral), the implicit hydrogen is taken to be the first neighbor atom of the three neighbors that follow a tetrahedral specification. If the central carbon is first in the SMILES, the implicit hydrogen is taken to be the "from" atom. Hydrogens may always be written explicitly (as [H]) in which case they are treated like any other atom. In each case, the implied order is exactly as written in SMILES. Some of the valid SMILES for the alanine are: The chiral order of the ring closure bond is implied by the lexical order that the ring closure digit appears on the chiral atom (not in the lexical order of the "substituent" atom). The general chiral specification used in SMILES has three parts: the @ symbol, followed by a two-letter chiral class indicator, followed by a numerical chiral permutation designator. A default chiral class is assigned to each degree (number of connections); the default class for four connections is tetrahedral (TH). Most chiralities have more than two possible choices; the choices are assigned from a table numerically. In most cases, the @1 designation means "anticlockwise around the axis represented by SMILES order" and @2 means "clockwise". Notations in the form "@@" and "@@@" are interpreted as "@2" and "@3" (analogous to "+++" meaning "+3"). The "@" and "@@" notations used above are shortcuts for the full specifications "@TH1" and "@TH2". In practice, full chiral specifications are not often needed. SMILES handles the full range of chiral specification, including resolution of "reduced chirality" (where the number of enantiomers is reduced by symmetry) and "degenerate chirality" (where the center becomes non-chiral due to symmetrical substitution). As with other aspects of SMILES, the language guarantees the ability to specify exactly what is known, including partial specifications. The SMILES system will generate unique isomeric SMILES for any given specification, and substructure recognition will operate correctly on all types of chirality. The rest of this section will be limited to discussing the following chiralities: tetrahedral, allene-like, square-planar, trigonal-bipyramidal, and octahedral. Although many more chiral classes can be handled by this system (it's table-driven), these five classes are very common in chemistry and cover most of the issues to be encountered in the remainder. Tetrahedral. The tetrahedral class symbol is TH. This is the default chiral class for degree four. Possible values are 1 and 2. @TH1 (or just @) indicates that, looking from the first connected atom, the following three connected atoms are listed anticlockwise; @TH2 (or @@) indicates clockwise. Allene-like. The allene-like class symbol is AL. This is the default chiral class for degree 2 (the chiral center is the central atom with two double bonds). Although substituted C=C=C structures are most common, C=C=C=C=C structures are also allene-like, as are any odd number of serially double-bonded atoms. Possible values are @AL1 (or just @) and @AL2 (or @@); these are interpreted by superimposing the substituted atoms and evaluating as per tetrahedral. Hydrogens attached to substituted allene-like atoms are taken to be immediately following that atom, as shown below: Square-planar. The square-planar class symbol is SP Possible values are @SP1, @SP2, and @SP3; this is not the default chiral class for degree four, so shorthand specifications are not allowed. Square-planar is also somewhat unusual in that the ideas of clockwise and anticlockwise do not apply. Trigonal-bipyramidal. The trigonal-bipyramidal class symbol is TB. This is the default chiral class for degree five. Possible values are @TB1 to @TB20. @TB1 (or just @) indicates that, when the SMILES is listed from one axial connection to the other, the three intermediate, equatorially-connected atoms are listed anticlockwise; @TB2 (or @@) indicates clockwise. This is illustrated below. Octahedral. The octahedral class symbol is OH. This is the default chiral class for degree six. Possible values are @OH1 to @OH30. @OH1 (or just @) indicates that, when the SMILES is listed from one axial connection to the other, the four intermediate, equatorially-connected atoms are listed anticlockwise; @OH2 (or @@) indicates clockwise. This is illustrated below. There is no distinction between "organic" and "inorganic" SMILES nomenclature. One may specify the number of attached hydrogens for any atom in any SMILES. For example, propane may be entered as [CH3][CH2][CH3] instead of CCC. There are four situations where specification of explicit hydrogen specification is required: The SMILES algorithm uses an extended version of Hueckel's rule to identify aromatic molecules and ions. To qualify as aromatic, all atoms in the ring must be sp2 hybridized and the number of available "excess" p-electrons must satisfy Hueckel's 4N+2 criterion. As an example, benzene is written c1ccccc1, but an entry of C1=CC=CC=C1 - cyclohexatriene, the Kekulé form - leads to detection of aromaticity and results in an internal structural conversion to aromatic representation. Conversely, entries of c1ccc1 and c1ccccccc1 will produce the correct anti-aromatic structures for cyclobutadiene and cyclooctatetraene, C1=CC=C1 and C1=CC=CC=CC=C1. In such cases the SMILES system looks for a structure that preserves the implied sp2 hybridization, the implied hydrogen count, and the specified formal charge, if any. Some inputs, however, may not only be incorrect but also impossible, such as c1cccc1. Here c1cccc1 cannot be converted to C1=CCC=C1 since one of the carbon atoms would be sp3 with two attached hydrogens. In such a structure alternating single and double bond assignments cannot be made. The SMILES system will flag this as an "impossible" input. Please note that only atoms on the following list can be considered aromatic: C, N, O, P, S, As, Se, and * (wildcard). In addition, exocyclic double bonds do not break aromaticity. It is important to remember that the purpose of the SMILES aromaticity detection algorithm is for the purposes of chemical information representation only! To this end, rigorous rules are provided for determining the "aromaticity" of charged, heterocyclic, and electron-deficient ring systems. The "aromaticity" designation as used here is not intended to imply anything about the reactivity, magnetic resonance spectra, heat of formation, or odor of substances. Note that the pyrrolyl nitrogen in 1H-pyrrole is written [nH] to distinguish this kind of nitrogen from a pyridyl-N. Alternative valid SMILES for 1H-pyrrole include [H]n1cccc1 (with explicit hydrogen) and N1C=CC=C1 (aliphatic form) all three input forms are equivalent. Given one valence model of a structure, chemical database systems such as THOR and Merlin have the ability to retrieve data about that structure even if the data were stored under a different valence model of the structure. With such systems, the choice of valence conventions is not critical to either database design nor database query. The SMILES language is extended to handle reactions. There are two areas where SMILES is extended: distinguishing component parts of a reactions and atom maps. Component parts of a reaction are handled by introducing the ">" character as a new separator. Any reaction must have exactly two > characters in it. ">>" is a valid reaction SMILES for an empty reaction. Each of the ">"-separated components of a reaction must be a valid molecule SMILES. As an aside, molecule SMILES never have a ">" character. In a program, one can quickly determine if a SMILES refers to a reaction or molecule by searching for a ">" character in the string. Reaction SMILES Grammar: reaction : reactant '>' agent '>' product | reactant '>>' product ; reactant, agent, product : molecule | <null> ; molecule : SMILES ;For example: In the above example, note that the reaction is ambiguous with respect to the carbon atoms involved. One might assume that a normal Sn2 displacement is occurring. In fact, an equally reasonable allylic displacement is possible, via either an Sn1-like allyl cation. Recognize that the reaction SMILES given above do not say which carbons are which and hence do not discriminate between the two alternate mechanisms. This case demonstrates the use and need for atom maps for reaction processing. Atom maps are used primarily to further define the overall reaction in cases where the reaction mechanism may not be evident from the reactant and product molecules. Atom maps are non-negative integer atom modifiers. They follow the ":" character within an atom expression. They must be the last modifier within the atom expression: SMILES Atom Expression Grammar: atom : SYMBOL | [ WEIGHT SYMBOL mods ] | [ WEIGHT SYMBOL mods : CLASS ] ; mods : mod mods ; mod : HCOUNT | CHARGE | CHIRAL ; Atom maps are an atomic property. They can legally appear in a SMILES for any atom, whether or not it is part of a reaction. Atom with atom map labels in a molecule SMILES are considered valid; the atom maps are ignored for molecule processing. Absolute and unique SMILES generated by the system for molecules never include atom maps. Finally, there are some differences in the handling of atom maps and agent components in the unique versus absolute SMILES for reactions. Atom maps and agent components are not part of the unique SMILES specification. This is important for the THOR database, where the datatree roots are formed from the unique SMILES. The net result is that each reaction datatree may contain multiple specific reactions with different agents and atom maps. Atom mappings are properties of the atoms in the reaction molecules. The mappings represent equivalence classes of atoms within a reaction. In effect, the map tells the computer which atoms are the same on the reactant and products sides of a reaction. Without this map information, it is difficult to derive the reaction bond changes which occur. Within the SMILES language, atom maps are represented as a non-negative numeric atom modifier following the ":" character (e.g. [CH3:2] is a carbon in class 2). Within the Daylight toolkit, the atom maps are manipulated as sets of mapped atoms. The atom map class numbers which are used in SMILES do not appear in the toolkit interface to a reaction. The map class numbers in SMILES do not have any additional significance, except to associate all atoms with the same map class label to one another. There are no requirements for completeness or uniqueness of the atom mappings. Atom mappings are independent of the connectivity and properties of the underlying molecules. This is so for several reasons: first, there are limits to the valence representation of molecules which appear when processing reactions. For example the oxygens in sodium acetate (CC(=O)[O-].[Na+]) are chemically indistinguishable, even though the valence model used in the toolkit requires that they be connected differently. Some systems (CAS, for example) recognize this equivalence in their structural representation (the tautomer bond). It is often useful to map these to the same class for reaction purposes: [CH3:1][C:2](=[O:3])[O-:3].[Na+:4] A second case is where there is ambiguity in a reaction mechanism which one wants to express: can undergo a cope rearrangement before reaction (which yields the same molecule graph). In effect, there are two distinct mechanisms by which the product is produced. This can be expressed as part of a reaction by: [CH2:1]=[CH:2][CH2:1][CH2:3][C:4](C)[CH2:3] A third case is simply a lack of information about the reaction itself. It should be possible to omit some atom maps or specify partial information for sets of atoms which *might* end up in a given position in the product. It is never acceptable to force a user to make up data in order to register a reaction. One should only store exactly what is known about the reaction. Atom maps are, by definition ambiguous with respect to the underlying molecules. Atom maps do not appear in the lexical representation of a unique SMILES. They do appear in the lexical representation of an absolute SMILES. Finally, atom maps are arbitrary class designations; the values of the numbers have no meaning. The Daylight system reserves the right to change the class numbers upon canonicalization of a reaction. The system will reorder the atom map classes over the entire reaction during canonicalization. The resulting maps are guaranteed to have the same meaning as the reaction before canonicalization. Practically, the maps are renumbered as small, dense integers in canonical atom order, but this is not guaranteed. Also, during canonicalization, the atom map classes for agent atoms are removed. Hydrogens in reactions are handled as with molecules; they are suppressed unless "special". Recall that for molecules, hydrogens are special if they are: charged, isotopic, bonded to another hydrogen, or multiply bonded. With reactions, there is an additional case which will make a hydrogen special. It is often desirable (eg. 1,5-hydride shift) to store information about the location of hydrogens as part of the atom map of a reaction. Hydrogens with a supplied atom map are considered "special" and these hydrogens are not suppressed. These mapped hydrogens appear explicitly in Absolute SMILES for reactions. Otherwise, atom-mapped hydrogens do not appear in Unique SMILES. Go To Next Chapter... 4. SMARTS - A Language for Describing Molecular Patterns

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WETLAND FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT 1. NEED FOR FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT a. To assess mitigation ratios b. To assess both losses in function and gains due to mitigation 2. FUNCTIONS USED Three major categories: water quality, hydrology, habitat (see listing below) 3. APPLIED ASSESSMENT a. Measurements taken before impact and estimated after b. Reference wetlands function set at 1.0 c. Impacted and restored wetlands function compared to reference standard 4. ESTIMATING FUNCTIONS Two sources of variation: a. Natural variation should be accomodated in reference measurements b. Changes due to impacts will be separable and detectable 5. BUILDING ASSESSMENT MODELS a. Measurable indicator variables are combined into indices of function b. All variables are scaled from 0 to 1. 6. OUTPUT OF HGM MODEL a. Project wetland functional loss is estimated b. Mitigation wetland gain is estimated c. Loss of function in the impacted wetland must be offset by an adequate acreage of increased function in the restoration site. HGM: Using the Functional Assessment Guidelines 1. The accounting matrix: Function Loss vs. Function Created (Damage/Mitigation) (Project/Restoration Wetland Index) 2. Use of reference wetlands a) Establishes highest function that may be expected (Reference Standard Wetlands) in - a similar kind of wetland - in the same watershed b) Takes into account - seasonal differences - climatic cycles c) Should pick up changes due to impacts 3. The function with the biggest ratio of function lost to function established is the one that controls (the one that requires the most acreage in return for acres damaged). 4. 1999 "Methods for Assessing Wetland Functions: Riverine and Depressional Wetlands in the Lowlands of Western Washington" a) Focus is on Riverine and Depressional Wetlands 5. Functions are placed in three categories Water Quality Improvement Potential for removing sediment Potential for removing nutrients Potential for removing heavy metals and toxic organics Potential for reducing peak flows Potential for decreasing downstream erosion Potential for recharging groundwater Anadromous fish habitat Resident fish habitat Wetland-associated bird habitat Wetland-associatesd mammal habitat Native plant richness Potential for primary production and organic export 6. Example of assessment of a function a) A function (such as sediment removal) is represented by a score that combines several variables (V). b) Variables represent measurable environmental characteristics (D - values or Data values) that are considered important in the performance of a function. c) Function scores are calculated for 7. Water quality category, "Sediment Removal" example a) Calculation page for "Depressional Outflow Wetlands - Function: Removing Sediment" b) "Model at a Glance" Variables (V storage, etc.) -what is measured c) D - (Data) values

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(CNN) -- Hurricanes can be some of the deadliest forces of nature, but they also follow a set of patterns and rules when they form. Some parts of the storms can be more treacherous than others. Geography also can play a huge role in how big and strong they will grow before they strike the United States. CNN meteorologist Reynolds Wolf talked with CNN.com about Hurricane Gustav's path and potential for damage. Q: There's been a lot of talk about the storm hitting to the west of New Orleans being worse for the city. Why is that? The most dangerous part of the storm, when it comes to a hurricane, is always going to be the eastern side. One of the reasons why is simply because a lot of these tropical storm systems, they carry the greatest amount of wind, the greatest amount of storm surge, the heaviest rainfall ... on the right side of the storm simply because of the counterclockwise rotation. When Katrina passed in 2005 and made its way just east of New Orleans, it did quite a bit of damage, but New Orleans actually was affected by the weakest part of the storm. This time, the storm is going to be pushing a little bit more to the west, which means New Orleans will be affected by the strongest part of the storm, the most damaging part of the storm in terms of wind, in terms of rain, in terms of storm surge. It's going to be a huge problem for many people. The big threat also with this storm is not really what is going to happen today but possibly tomorrow through Thursday. The system is going to stall out over parts of extreme western Louisiana and parts of extreme eastern Texas and even into Arkansas, and some places could see well over a foot of rainfall. So we're going to go from it being a tropical system to a dying system. The winds will subside in a couple of days, but the rain is going to be a tremendous threat. Flooding is going to be a big issue. Q: Where is the flooding potential the greatest? The flooding potential in the next couple of days will be actually at its greatest in parts of northwestern Louisiana, eastern Texas and extreme southwestern Arkansas. You might even want to include parts of southeastern Oklahoma in that as well. Q: Can you explain the storm surge and how that works? What happens is when you have strong winds that spin around the center of circulation from these tropical systems, the wind is so strong that it actually causes the water to pile up. The stronger the winds, theoretically, the greater the storm surge. Say, for example, with a storm like this one, which was a Category 3 storm [it came ashore as a Category 2], you could have a storm surge that would be, say, 10 to maybe 15 feet higher than normal. A Category 4 storm would have a storm surge that would go up to, say, 18 feet. A Category 5, the most devastating, would have a storm surge in excess of 18 feet. Q: Has the technology of tracking these storms changed since Hurricane Katrina? It's essentially the same. I think we're better in terms of observing [hurricanes] on the ground. We've got better, more experienced trackers that are actually watching and monitoring the storm as it comes in. We've got better weather stations that are actually unmanned that are out on the open water, that are onshore. They certainly make a big difference. We've got better technology in terms of our hurricane hunter aircraft; they've got better technology in reading and determining the power and intensity of these storms. One thing you have to remember with these storms, they form over open water. It's not like having a bunch of thunderstorms in the central Plains where you have radar stations all over. You have to really rely on what we refer to as remote sensing -- satellites -- and satellites can only you tell you one part [of the story]; they tell you what's happening from way high above in space. You have to have something go in there and get some information from inside the storm. To do that, you have these C-130s, the aircraft that go out there and they drop these little things of instrumentation they refer to as dropsondes. As they drop through parts of the hurricane, you can pick up barometric pressure, wind speeds, moisture content, stuff that's very crucial for scientists to get a good idea of when the storm is going to strengthen or weaken. Q. Whenever hurricanes pass, there's also the threat of tornadoes. Why? When you have these systems and they come on shore, they tend to be pretty volatile. There's a great deal of instability in the atmosphere with them. When these storms come through, they can produce tornadoes. Usually, they're relatively weak, of the F0 to F1 variety [on the Fujita tornado damage scale]. Very, very weak tornadoes. They usually don't last very long; they're not like your tornadoes in the central Plains. And a couple of things to remember about them too is even though they're small, they can still be really dangerous because they tend to be rain-wrapped; there's a lot of rain around them. They're very hard for people to see. They also strike very quickly and dissipate. So they can hit quickly, hit hard and then they're gone. They normally form in the upper right or northeast quadrant [of the storm]. Q. Hurricane Gustav was very well-organized when it passed over Cuba and seems less organized right now. Is that better news for New Orleans? I would definitely say so. We ought to be sending gift baskets to Fidel Castro, and the reason why is because if it were not for Cuba and many of the islands in the Caribbean, the U.S. would be suffering, we would be losing a heck of a lot more lives. [Cuba] has been a buffer for us; it really has. Q. Gustav is hitting New Orleans just three years after Hurricane Katrina. Has something changed in the weather patterns to spawn more of these storms in the Gulf? It's not global warming; it's not climate change; it just happens. You have to remember the Earth is 4.6 billion years old, and we've only been keeping track of weather [events] with reliable weather equipment, I'd say, for the past 40 to 50 years. So as long as there has been a Gulf Coast, as long as you've had a Gulf of Mexico, you could argue that hurricanes have been hitting the Gulf Coast for millions of years; there just hasn't been anyone to report them.

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Employed by Fouquet in Vaux-le-Vicomte along with Le Brun, Le Vau and Le Nôtre, Girardon was then hired by Louis XIV for Versailles. Along with Coysevox, he is the most important sculptor of Versailles both for the extent of his production and its quality. He produced there the finest groups of French sculpture of the 17th century. Born in Troyes, Girardon was the closest collaborator of Le Brun, and also the protégé of the Chancellor Séguier. Sent to Rome where he studied antique art, he worked on the decor of the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre, his first royal commission (1659), then in the Tuileries. Arriving in Versailles in 1666, he began with a masterstroke: the group of Apollo Served by the Nymphs. Placed in the centre of the grotto of Thetys, it was installed in the 18th century in the grotto designed by Hubert Robert. Inspired by antique models, the elegance of its figures made it the manifesto of classical statuary of the 17th century. Girardon revealed equal audacity in the Pyramid Fountain borne by tritons, crayfish and dolphins, as well as in the fluid feminine figures of the Nymphs’ Bath, a lead relief that was to mark the painter Renoir. His talents earned him other important commissions: the Saturn Fountain (1672-77), the statue of Winter (1675-83) depicting a freezing old man with a heating pot-stove at his feet, and especially the famous group of the Ravishment of Proserpine (1677-99). Originally intended for the Orangerie parterre, it was finally placed in the centre of the Colonnade in 1699, a location that marked the consecration of Girardon. Baroque in its composition but classical in its figures, the group with its three interlocked figures was intended to be a challenge to the similar group of Bernini that had only two. The rivalry with Bernini became even more outspoken when, disappointed by the equestrian statue that he had commissioned from him when he arrived in France in 1665, the king entrusted its transformation into Marcus Curtius to Girardon in 1688. Exiled at the end of the Swiss Ornamental Lake, it aroused new interest in the 20th century with the lead replica of the pyramid of the Louvre. Girardon produced his last masterpiece in Paris: the bronze equestrian statue of Louis XIV, on the place Vendôme. Designed on a scale with the setting, it was to influence all similar statues in France and in Europe. A faithful servant of the king, Girardon showed how attached he was by dying on the same day as him: on 1 September 1715!

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International Research Collaboration Key to Tackling Global Health Issues Professor Madou and MAE students travel the globe to advance research in Bio-MEMS Marc Madou, Ph.D., chancellor's professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, is already quite the world traveler; now he can add a meeting with ’s prime minister and a seventh visit to to his overseas journeys. Madou embarked upon a five-week travel spree last winter to visit his UC Irvine students participating in the National Science Foundation’s Indo-U.S. Program at the Indian Institutes of Technology in Kanpur and Kharagpur, give 12 invited lectures at seven universities and five conferences, and meet with prominent government officials in both India and Malaysia to discuss his research and technology in bio-micro-electro-mechanical system (Bio-MEMS) advancements being developed at UC Irvine. Involved in numerous international multidisciplinary projects, Madou began his trip with a stop in as a plenary speaker on Bio-MEMS at the 3rd Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Biomedical Engineering 2006. While visiting, Madou met with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and other government ministers to discuss collaboration opportunities with UC Irvine in combating dengue fever and diabetes. Part of Madou’s research focuses on compact disc microfluidic platforms - a promising approach for the integration of multiple functions on the same substrate. These platforms can be used in the development of a fast, efficient test for dengue fever in the field, rather than waiting for lengthy laboratory testing. Lab results could be returned in as little as 20 minutes, instead of waiting the typical four to five hours as currently in practice. This is possible due to the miniaturization of the components on the disc, the optimized operation fluidics at small-length scales, and fast DNA amplification, all integrated together on the same platform. In addition to being faster and smaller, these advances could make such tests less expensive and enable their use in the field rather than in specialized laboratories. Another international collaboration conducted by Madou and his team involves the creation of a “smart pill,” designed for the responsive delivery of insulin in diabetic patients. This drug delivery system would supply insulin according to the specific needs of the patient, as measured by a sensor in the patient’s body. In place of daily insulin doses, a diabetic individual would undergo a minimally-invasive procedure every one to three months to insert the delivery system under the skin. While overseas, Madou, who is an honorary distinguished professor at IIT Kanpur, also traveled to to visit two of his students participating in the NSF Indo-U.S. Program; Genis Turon, a third-year Ph.D. student in mechanical and aerospace engineering and Ruth Lambert, a fifth-year mechanical and aerospace engineering Ph.D. student. Designed to encourage interdisciplinary research between and Indian scientists, the Indo-U.S. Program was initiated in 1997 and cooperating agencies include the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in and the NSF in the Both support workshops and joint research projects in fundamental areas of science and technology. Turon spent three months at the Indian Institute of Technology, Faster reaction rates could mean a doctor and patient will have DNA test results back faster. The collaboration supports numerical and experimental work on mechanical actuators - devices used to apply a force, push and pull, or move to a position and hold by mechanically converting rotary motion into linear motion, in Madou’s BioMems research group. Madou’s grant of $140,000 over three years from the NSF/DST began two years ago, and four students have traveled as part of the program; two students from UC Irvine and two that have traveled to the Madou plans to continue sending students to to advance their research projects in both countries, and promote the spirit of global interdisciplinary work. Students will be chosen based on academic performance, the quality of their research, the overlap of their work with the collaborating groups in , and their potential for adaptability in a new society. “An understanding of Asian cultures, and exchanges in science and technology, are important to future innovation and commerce because of the implications of large markets and populations in

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Mucor rot develops at the calyx end of fruit or at wound punctures in the skin. Infected fruit completely decay after about two months in cold storage. Decaying fruit become very "juicy" and within this juice are abundant spores of the fungus . This is how secondary spread occurs, which is more common in pears but not in apples. Mucor rot is caused by the fungus Mucor piriformis. The fungus survives in the soil as spores. Populations of these spores in the soil increase one to two months after fruit have been harvested. Spore populations severely decline during winter. Fruit that have fallen on the orchard floor are infected through contact with infested soil. Throughout the fall and winter, spores are dislodged from the decaying fruit into the soil. Spores are also dispersed by mowing, which scatters pieces of infected fruit. The fungus survives best in cool, dry soils. Fruit become most successful to infection one month before harvest. Fruit that are overmature are more susceptible to infection. The fungus enters the packing house in soil that adheres to fruit bins. Fruit infection occurs during harvest or in the dump tank with rot developing in storage. - Remove fallen fruit from the orchard floor and destroy. - Do not put fallen fruit in bins with harvested fruit. - Harvest fruit in dry weather. - Rinse fruit with fresh water to remove spores. - Dry fruit before placing in cold storage. - Keep soil and debris off the underside of fruit bins. - Disinfect dump tank solutions. - Individual fruit wraps impregnated with copper helps reduce rot. This publication is available in alternative media on request.

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What are the symptoms of bronchiolitis? At first, the symptoms of bronchiolitis may resemble the symptoms of a common cold. Your child will probably have a runny nose and a slight fever for 2 to 3 days. Then your child may begin to cough, breathe fast and wheeze (make a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing) for another 2 or 3 days. When should I call the doctor? Call your doctor if: - Your child is vomiting and can't keep liquids down. - Your child is breathing very fast, more than 40 breaths in 1 minute. - You can see your child's skin pull in between the ribs with each breath or your child has to sit up to be able to breathe. - Your child has had heart disease or was born prematurely. In this case, call the doctor at the first signs of this illness. If your child's skin develops a bluish color, especially around the lips or in the fingertips, it may be a sign that he or she is not getting enough oxygen. Seek medical care or go to the emergency room right away. Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff

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Recent research has shown that Carbon Monoxide is a cheap, humane and effective euthanasia agent. Tidemann and King 2009 (PDF, 180kb) in Wildlife Research 36(6) 522–527 CSIRO publishing - www.publish.csiro.au/journals/wr Trapped mynas were previously killed humanely (euthanased) by enclosing the holding section of the trap with a canvas sleeve and flooding it with industrial grade carbon dioxide (PDF, 144k) This method of euthanasia is widely viewed by animal welfare agencies in Australia and elsewhere to be humane and accords with the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia’s Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific and the policy of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) on the Control and Use of Feral Animals: The killing of pest birds must be conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice (COP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the humane capture, handling or destruction of feral animals in Australia. The Methods of Euthanasia SOP (PDF, 288k) describes the general use of carbon dioxide as a method; the Trapping of Pest Birds SOP (PDF, 227k) has further specific information on the method for use with birds in traps, and it also provides advice on trapping. Both publications are available at: Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

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EasyLanguage is a computer program for teaching foreign language in an easy and enjoyable way aimed mainly at learning new vocabulary. The Method of teaching is intended for students of all age categories from complete beginners to intermediate learners. EasyLanguage contains over a thousand words and phrases that are divided into groups in the learning topics. Each word is accompanied by a hand-drawn picture and the voice of a native speaker. Using the teaching topics editor it is easy to create new teaching topics with your own desired vocabulary and by that extending the teaching possibilities of the software almost indefinitely. You can learn how to read, write and understand a foreign language using an intelligent system of learning that passes the selected learning topic step by step while it retains information about the problems with learning and determines frequency and repetition rate. After finishing learning the topic, the user has a chance to see the percentage of passes in particular items and the number of repetitions needed for a complete pass. Through a number of tests, you can check your achieved knowledge. Each test result is evaluated and placed on the list of achieved results of the learning topic. You can find out what and how many mistakes you have made, how long the test took and your success percentage rate and whether or not you have improved. For learning and testing each of the teaching topics you can select the appropriate difficulty and set the time limit. It is possible to learn and test more of the teaching topics at the same time. Among other options of working with the program, belongs practising pronunciation. You can record your own pronunciation to each item in the topic using a microphone and then easily compare to the pronunciation of a native speaker. EasyLanguage also contains a two-way dictionary that enables you to easily and quickly find all available translations of the expression.

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|Silver tureen and stand. Ignaz Joseph Würth. 1779-1782. Photo: Metropolitan Museum| Another mystery about this object was its gilt lining, which can be seen clearly in the photo below. The probable explanation for this, was that this small tureen was actually designed for serving pickled radish pods. The vinegar in the pickle would chemically attack silver, but not neutral gold, so the Archduchess's pickled radish pods would be untainted! This a nice example of how food history studies can inform decorative arts scholars about the forgotten purpose of an item of table equipage. |Detail of the tureen, showing the radish pods and the gilt lining. Photo: Metropolitan Museum| |Rat tailed radish pods in the Food History Jottings garden| |Farley's recipe, or in truth, a recipe pinched from another author.| |The young radish pods soaking in salt water| |The finished radish pods in their pickle of vinegar. Note the long pepper and horseradish added for flavour| The tureen belongs to the so-called Second Sachsen-Teschen Service, which comprised more than 350 items. Dr Koeppe curated the wonderful exhibition about the service Vienna Circa 1780: An Imperial Silver Service Rediscovered at the Met in 2010. Learn more about the Second Sachsen-Teschen Service This blog is created by Historic Food. Go to the Historic Food Website.

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For years accepted wisdom had always been that the only two venomous lizards in the world were the Gila monster and the beaded lizard, two closely related stumpy beasts from the deserts of the southwestern United States down as far south as Guatamala. As far as I was aware until about ten minutes ago this was still the case, and I was just about to write an "Everything We Know Is Wrong Bloody Hell" piece until I decided to check my facts. The report in The Australian reads in part: ...the lizard uses sharp, serrated teeth to open gaping wounds in its prey into which the venom easily flows. The wounds naturally bleed profusely while compounds in the venom increase blood flow and reduce blood pressure, inducing shock in the victim. They findings debunk a common belief the dragon's prey is killed by deadly bacteria in rotting food stuck in its mouth. "Their teeth are shiny white and their gums pink. They are remarkably clean animals," said Dr Fry, who worked with captive Komodo dragon's in Singapore. But it also included this tell-tale line: Komodo dragons lack the grooved-tooth venom delivery system found in other varanids. What "grooved-tooth venom delivery system found in other varanids" I thought to myself, and did a little digging. Ten minutes later I found a learned paper published in letter form in Nature only three years ago, and entitled Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes. I quote: Here we report the presence of venom toxins in two additional lizard lineages (Monitor Lizards and Iguania) and show that all lineages possessing toxin-secreting oral glands form a clade, demonstrating a single early origin of the venom system in lizards and snakes. Bloody Hell. I thought to myself, and carried on reading: Demonstration that the snakes, iguanians and anguimorphs form a single clade provides overwhelming support for a single, early origin of the venom system in lizards and snakes. And what's more, there is even a cryptozoological aspect to the story, because it turns out that: What's more, new research shows that the mega-meat eater probably inherited its "biggest" and "most venomous" mantle from its extinct Australian ancestor, the 7m-long dragon, Megalania, The Australian reports. And the story ends: "Australia's Megalania was probably the largest venomous animal that ever lived," he said.So, I very nearly managed to do what I set out to do at the beginning of this article. I haven't posted an "Everything we knew was wrong" article, but I have posted an "Everything I knew was wrong" article which is the next best thing, because if you can learn something interesting and enlightening each day, like I just have, then life is still definitely worth living.

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Civil War Sesquicentennial Book Review: Will at the Battle of Gettysburg 1863 (Boys of Wartime series), by Laurie Calkhoven (Dutton Children's Books, 2011) This second offering in Laurie Calkhoven's Boys of Wartime series for middle-grade readers tells the compelling story of 12-year old Will, who lives in the quiet town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and dreams of glory as a Union drummer boy. He's too young to enlist without his parents' permission, which his mother is not about to give, but when the book opens Will has no idea of the important role he'll be asked to play for the Union cause. As Confederate troops march into the town, prowling the streets "like hungry wolves," even forcing the local candy story owner to open his shop so they can clear out the goodies, Will makes an unexpected friend--a drummer boy his age from Tennessee, a friendship that will soon prove more valuable than he can imagine. Will is as surprised as can be when he finds himself inviting the hungry and dirty boy to supper, where he is greeted with courtesy by Will's family (his mother even offers the ragged boy clean clothes). Through Will's eyes, we see how the battle came about, with the two sides meeting pretty much by chance at the crossroads of ten major roads at Gettysburg, making a battle at a town the commanders of both armies had never heard of all but inevitable. As the battle draws near town, Will's sisters are taken to a neighbor's farm nearby, where his mother thinks they will be out of the way of the battle. As Confederate soldiers take the town on July 1, Will meets an injured Union officer who is desperate to get a message to General Meade. Can Will help him get through the Confederate lines to complete his mission? Should he join up with the Union officer and become his messenger? This is an exciting war novel for middle grade students; as a civilian, Will's character offers a different perspective on the war than we find in many children's novels. First he's excited to see all the soldiers, and dreams of enlisting himself. Soon, however, he experiences the horrible sights, sounds, and even smells of battle as he discovers that the peaceful farm where his sisters had been sent has been converted to a hospital, crammed with injured and dying men moaning in pain, begging for water, and filled with the noise of the surgeon sawing off ruined limbs. He finds himself on the battle's front lines in spite of himself, as the battle progresses to different locations around the town. Calkhoven vividly describes the sights and sounds of the battlefield--the cannon fire shaking the earth, the roaring of the guns--making us feel that we are right beside young Will. She also gives us a good perspective on what is happening in the town, where Union soldiers are hiding in Will's mother's house, which is searched by Confederates who Will's mother winds up cooking dinner for. His house, too, fills up with wounded soldiers. Calkhoven concludes her novel with Will hearing Lincoln's very short--but later very famous--address at the dedication of the cemetery for the thousands of dead soldiers at Gettysburg. Will even has a chance to shake the famous man's hand. The novel includes an historical note, brief biographical information on real historic characters who appear in the novel, a timeline of the battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War, and a glossary.

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NASA researchers have announced that they've successfully designed, built and tested a new chip which can resist extremely high temperatures. The chip exceeded 1,700 hours of continuous operation at 500 degrees Celsius. The space agency claims that this is a 100 fold increase on previously available designs. NASA has developed the new silicon carbide differential amplifier integrated circuit chip technology for use in jet engines. The addition of such components in the combustion sections of turbofan engines should help monitor the combustion process, thus improving fuel efficiency, safety and reducing emissions. The developers also see a potential use for the new technology in the oil and natural gas well drilling industry and space exploration.

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Winter rain and snow is welcome during a drought, and this year, it also has contributed to an explosion of wildflowers and tree blooms—wonderful to look at, but a little hard on the pollen-sensitive. If you are welcoming the spring colors through itchy eyes and a runny nose, this article is for you. The number of people with allergies is on the rise in Western Countries, perhaps, believe it or not, because we are “too clean”. In fact, studies have shown that children exposed to dogs, cats and other animals when they are young are less likely to become allergic to them than children who are not exposed. Coming into contact with normal bacteria, animals, and dirt—the traditional exposures that all humans in agrarian societies have had, actually helps our immune systems to develop in a balanced way. Living in an “anti-bacterial” society may cause the immune system to be “over-zealous” against non-threatening exposures, such as animals, pollen, dust mites, or mold. What’s the take-home message here? Avoid anti-bacterial soaps and hand gels—regular soap works just well to clean one’s hands. And don’t worry too much about your children rolling around with the dog and eating dirt. If we can’t prevent the development of allergies, the best way to prevent allergic symptoms is to simply avoid the allergen. You can find out your specific allergies through tests performed by your doctor. Avoidance is easier for certain allergens, such as dust mites, mold, and animals that can be prevented or avoided in your home. Simple measures, such as washing your bedding in hot water once weekly, using “dust covers” for your pillows, comforter and mattress, avoiding carpet and upholstered furniture if possible, using shades rather than curtains, and having someone else “dust” and use a HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner frequently, can dramatically decrease your exposure to dust mites. And cleaning with a weak bleach solution and dealing with household moisture problems can reduce mold spores. If Fido is the issue, the problem becomes a little more emotional, but keeping pets out of the bedroom will at least guarantee that a third of your life will not be spent with allergen exposure. HEPA air filters can also help with floating allergens. If pollens, grasses and trees make you sneeze, avoidance is a little trickier. Airborne pollen levels are usually highest between 5:00 am and 10:00 am, so avoiding outside exercise during those times, and especially on dry, windy days, can help. One of the newer “old” remedies, now back in fashion, is nasal irrigation for the prevention of allergies. The “neti pot” comes out of the Ayurvedic tradition, where washing the nasal passages with salt water is thought to be effective for treatment of allergies and chronic sinus conditions. Research now shows that saline nasal rinse 1-3 times daily reduces allergy symptoms because you are flushing the allergens from the nasal passages and the salt acts as a mild decongestant. You can do this with a traditional neti pot, found at health food and herb stores, or with one of the modern versions, such as Sinus Rinse, which is a plastic bottle that comes with pre-packaged salt and baking soda in the correct ratios to mix with water. Nutritionally, some allergic people respond positively to lower levels of dairy products in the diet. It may be worth a 2-week trial off of dairy to see if this is helpful for you. Omega -3 fatty acids are also helpful, as they reduce inflammation, so eating fatty fish, taking a quality fish oil supplement, eating freshly ground flax seed or flax seed oil can all be helpful. Walnuts and other nuts are also great sources of omega 3’s. Eating an “anti-inflammatory diet” (see my blog Anti-inflammatory Living) is also helpful, including anti-oxidant rich foods, such as berries, beans, pomegranates, etc. Quercetin is found in apples and onions and acts as an “anti-histamine” to prevent the redness and swelling of allergy season. Taken as a supplement, I would recommend 1 gram twice daily. Vitamin C also helps and is abundant in red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, as well as dark leafy greens. Supplement doses of vitamin C for allergies range from 1-3 grams daily. Magnesium glycinate can also be helpful at 400 mg daily. Two herbs have shown benefits in research on allergies. Freeze dried stinging nettles (yes, those nasty green weeds growing in your yard this spring) are powerful antioxidants and can help with allergy symptoms at 100-200 mg twice daily. And if you’re really mad at the nettles that just stung you while clearing the brush in your yard, you can (carefully) harvest them and make them into a spring tonic soup. Once they’re boiled (ah, revenge) they cannot sting you anymore. Butterbur extracts are also helpful at 50-100 mg twice daily. Be sure that the butterbur you choose is free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be toxic to the liver. If these measure fail to help, allergy medications may be just what the doctor ordered. Loratidine (10 mg) is an antihistamine tablet available at your local pharmacy that for most people is “non-sedating”. Taken once daily, it will help with runny nose as well as eye itching, though it will dry out your mouth and nasal passages. Be sure to drink a lot of water while taking it. Other medications in this category are fexofenadine and cetirizine. All of these are also available in a “D”, or decongestant formulation that will give added drying effect to the nasal passages, but will also dry out your tissues, keep you awake at night (it’s a stimulant), and increase blood pressure, so be careful. Also available by prescription are steroid nasal sprays, which are generally more effective than the anti-histamines for runny nose symptoms. They can cause bleeding of the nasal passages in some folks, particularly if they are overused, so, as always, consult with your doctor before using. I hope you enjoy the gorgeous colors and sounds of spring and that the suggestions above keep the sounds of sneezing at bay! Rachel Carlton Abrams, MD, is a family practice physician and the Medical Director of the Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine & Chi Center, a multidisciplinary holistic health clinic serving Santa Cruz County: www.santacruzintegrativemedicine.net, 831-465-9088, 21511 B East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95062

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Question: "What is the Parousia?" Answer: The Greek word parousia (pronounced pair-oo-see-ah) is a noun that means "a coming" or "a presence." As it is used in the New Testament, it can refer to any individual's coming or presence to a specific place or to be with specific people. For example, in 1 Corinthians 16:17, Paul writes of "the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus." In 2 Corinthians 7:6, Paul writes of "the coming of Titus." In Philippians 2:12, it is used to refer to Paul's presence. Most importantly, however, if you were to do a search of the Greek New Testament, you would find that primarily this word refers to the Coming of the Lord Jesus. It can refer to either His second coming at the END of the 7-year tribulation period (Matthew 24:27, 37, 39; Revelation 19:11 ff), or to His coming to rapture His Church PRIOR to the 7-year period known as the tribulation (1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 5:23; James 5:8; 1 John 2:28). So, the Parousia is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you have to look at the context to determine whether it refers to His appearing in the air to rapture or catch away the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), or whether it refers to His second coming to Earth to setup His millennial kingdom (Matthew 24-25; Revelation 19:11ff; 20:4-6).

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Champaran and Kheda Main article: Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha Gandhi in 1918, at the time of the Kheda and Champaran satyagrahasGandhi's first major achievements came in 1918 with the Champaran and Kheda agitations of Bihar and Gujarat. The Champaran agitation pitted the local peasantry against their largely British landlords who were backed by the local administration. The peasantry was forced to grow Indigo, a cash crop whose demand had been declining over two decades, and were forced to sell their crops to the planters at a fixed price. Unhappy wIth this, the peasantry appealed to Gandhi at his ashram in Ahmedabad. Pursuing a strategy of non-violent protest, Gandhi took the administration by surprise and won concessions from the authorities. In 1918, Kheda was hit by floods and famine and the peasantry was demanding relief from taxes. Gandhi moved his headquarters to Nadiad, 39] organising scores of supporters and fresh volunteers from the region, the most notable being Vallabhbhai Patel. Using non-cooperation as a technique, Gandhi initiated a signature campaign where peasants pledged non-payment of revenue even under the threat of confiscation of land. A social boycott of mamlatdars and talatdars (revenue officials within the district) accompanied the agitation. Gandhi worked hard to win public support for the agitation across the country. For five months, the administration refused but finally in end-May 1918, the Government gave way on important provisions and relaxed the conditions of payment of revenue tax until the famine ended. In Kheda, Sardar Patel represented the farmers in negotiations with the British, who suspended revenue collection and released all the prisoners.

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The biosphere is the conglomerate of all ecosystems on earth. In order for the Earth to survive as it has for millions of years, all of these systems must be functioning properly. If one system is not operating as it should, then it can effect the others negatively and all down the line. You can think of it much like a human body. We each have myriad intricate systems that all have to work in tandem with each other for our survival. This means that every living being on the earth makes a difference in the flow of life as we know it on earth. This is especially important when looking at the consequences of our actions as an inhabitant of this Earth. Click here to cancel reply. Sorry,At this time user registration is disabled. We will open registration soon! Don't have an account? Click Here to Signup © Copyright GreenAnswers.com LLC

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Elizabeth Grossman reviews The Hydrogen Economy by Jeremy Rifkin A review of The Hydrogen In his new book, The Hydrogen Economy, Jeremy Rifkin argues that throughout history, the use of energy has determined the rise and fall of civilizations. In this analysis, a civilization is successful until it begins spending more of its energy supply to maintain its infrastructure than to enhance the lives of its citizens. For example, ancient Rome began to falter when it expanded its domain at the expense of the health and welfare of its people, exploiting slaves, practicing unsustainable agriculture, and exhaustively felling forests for firewood. Later, the burning of coal, gas, and oil ushered in the industrial era — the age of fossil fuel. Now, writes Rifkin — author of several books of social criticism and president of the Washington, D.C.-based Foundation on Economic Trends — we are approaching a time when the pursuit of increasingly scarce supplies of petroleum may cause a “series of breakdowns in systems … across the spectrum of modern life.” To avert such a crisis, says Rifkin, we must usher in a new energy age, one in which hydrogen will replace the hydrocarbons of fossil fuels. The success of contemporary civilization in a world dominated by American-style capitalism depends on the steady supply of relatively inexpensive energy. Most of that energy now comes from fossil fuels. According to Rifkin, U.S. oil production peaked in the 1970s; since then, we have become increasingly reliant on oil from the Middle East. Our current “highly centralized, hierarchical energy infrastructure, and accompanying economic infrastructure,” Rifkin writes, makes for a precarious and potentially unstable situation, especially when coupled with the social and political differences between oil-producing Muslim countries and the United States and other Western nations. The solution to this dilemma, writes Rifkin, is to accelerate our transition to a hydrogen economy. In his vision, the hydrogen economy will be one in which power, generated by myriad fuel cells, is delivered by decentralized networks, a system analogous to the World Wide Web. Power sources will be locally — and often publicly — owned and operated. This “democratized energy web,” as Rifkin calls it, would exist in the form of small individual power plants in homes and businesses. It would alter the current balance of our power structure, both literally and figuratively. The web would mean that the world’s growing number of energy users would no longer be vulnerable to the fortunes of a handful of enormous corporations and their diminishing, hard-to-reach sources of raw energy. While Rifkin describes the research and regulatory groundwork being laid to enable such a change, he does not detail the many practical hurdles confronting such a dramatic transition — or how to overcome them. Photo: National Energy Conversion to a hydrogen rather than hydrocarbon-burning energy regime would have environmental advantages. Among other things, it would help decrease emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global warming, and curb the pollution generated by extracting and processing fossil fuels. Curiously, the scenario Rifkin lays out in The Hydrogen Economy seems to assume that current rates of consumption will continue, leading to an ever-escalating demand for energy. That we might live as well or better while conserving and using energy more efficiently is not addressed, either for fossil fuels or for the projected hydrogen economy. The hydrogen power network Rifkin envisions would require a substantial new infrastructure — hydrogen fueling stations, a revamped electrical grid that enables hydrogen fuel-cells in cars and homes to send energy into the power system — as well as considerable revision of existing energy delivery systems. To make hydrogen financially and environmentally persuasive, we would also need to find cleaner, cheaper ways of producing fuel cells than those currently available. Rifkin describes these changes in broad strokes, but does not detail how the shift to hydrogen fuel cells will be achieved. For readers interested in an informative overview of how energy use has influenced the evolution of civilization, The Hydrogen Economy is a handy reference. But of the book’s nine chapters, only the last two address how a hydrogen economy would actually work, so readers eager for specifics on the political, technological and business strategies that will produce the “life affirming and regenerative” future Rifkin sees in a hydrogen economy may grow impatient; in the end, they’ll have to look for answers elsewhere.

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the cost of your Red Ear Slider was small or large, you should try to provide the best care you can give your Slider. When providing it with a suitable aquarium, cleanliness, healthy diet, and a warm stress free environment you can minimize a huge potential of health problems that they can develop. As you would with any other pet, find a veterinarian who is qualified to offer care and treatment of a Red Ear Slider. From reading books, here are some of the common illnesses and medications, which you can use if your Slider becomes ill. Always remember that the first thing you should do is take your sick turtles to the veterinarian before doing anything on your own. rules you should follow when sickness is suspected temperature to 80 or 85 degrees Fahrenheit the water neatly clean offering different food items to the turtle out for unusual stools there are no results in a few days see a me say this first: A cold is a serious condition for get colds, just like people and most other animals. They may sneeze, but sneezing is not always a sign of a cold; dust or just "stuff in the nose" can make a turtle sneeze occasionally. The turtle may have a bit of a runny nose, too. Again, this can be causes by allergies, or by a cold. If you are not sure, whether your turtle has a cold, have a veterinarian evaluate symptoms could also be a harmless little cold, or they could be the only sign of the beginning of a more serious respiratory infection, which must be treated with medication. a turtle doesn't get a cold from being cold, keeping a turtle too cold, or under less than ideal conditions, will weaken its immune system, and it is more likely to catch the disease. respiratory infections, and pneumonia can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Just like in people, if a bacterium is the agent, antibiotics are used for treatment, and there is a good chance the animal will recover. If a virus is the cause, which is hard to determine, since it won't show in a culture, nothing much can be done, except to keep the turtle warm and wait and first measure for any cold-like symptoms is to raise the temperature in the turtle enclosure. Raising the temperature helps the turtle's immune system become more active. Also, make sure the turtle has the cleanest possible environment. How much to raise the temperature? Maybe a few degrees for water, to around 28 - 30C (82 - 85F). Better even, is to take the turtle, if it is a water turtle, out of the water. Put the turtle into a heated box, use a thermometer! make sure it doesn't get too hot!!! You can use a heating pad or a lamp to heat the box. Leave the turtle in the box except for two soakings of 1/2 hour each mornings and evenings, for eating and drinking. your turtle gets worse, or if it does not improve within a couple of days, you should see a veterinarian as soon as possible. any of the symptoms are more than minor, or if the turtle also gasps, has a rasping breath, or swollen eyes, is sluggish or doesn't eat, see a veterinarian you are not sure, see a veterinarian. Colds, respiratory infections, and pneumonia are probably one of the most common causes of death for turtles. for colds, respiratory infections, and pneumonia include warmth, antibiotics (oral or injected), steaming (with or without medication), breathing oxygen (if the turtle has water in its lungs and cannot get enough oxygen), and X-rays, to check for water in the lungs. Vitamin K deficiency is almost always a result of long-term antibiotic therapy, which causes the destruction of the intestinal bacteria that synthesize Vitamin K. Occasionally, it can occur without known cause. However, lack of vegetables might be the cause. The usual symptom is bleeding of the gums. The treatment consists of giving the animal Vitamin K and changing the diet to include more vegetable matter. other animals and people, turtles carry all sorts of bacteria on them. The same way that you should not let your dog lick your face, you should not kiss your turtle. Small children should not be allowed to put the turtle in their mouth. Always wash your hands after handling turtles. In rare cases a turtle may carry salmonella. Often, the disease is acquired, if the turtle is fed raw chicken. If you are worried about salmonella, you can have your vet test the turtle and treat it. There are several excellent articles on turtles an salmonella in some of the herp magazines and books mentioned below. Red Eared Sliders and other turtles can develop fuzzy gray and white patches that are fungal growths. One of the major causes of this is poor water quality and an improper basking area. Make sure you have a good full spectrum or UVB Light that gives off some good heat. Sliders need this for the prevention of Acriflavan is available at most pet stores and will often stop fungal infections when it's added to the water. I also recommend Hagen Sulfa bath. If this isn't working to well, Please consult your veterinarian. on your turtle If algae grow in your rocks and tank decorations, unless they disturb your sense of beauty, you can let them grow. An exception is the long, hairy kind which also makes the water slimy. Those, you should remove. Algae grow in healthy water with enough light. They are a sign, that you are doing something right. Do not use chemicals to kill algae!!! If you don't like the algae, brush them off every time you change the water, change the water more often, use a stronger filter, and add a little salt to the water (see further up). In the wild, it is normal for turtle to grow algae on their shells. It helps them camouflage! In captivity, the algae should be removed every once in a while, since they can encourage growth of fungus in a confined environment. To remove the algae, hold your turtle under warm tap water and gently brush it with a soft vegetable brush. This is very dangerous to turtle and should be monitored very carefully. Obesity in turtles can cause the functions of liver and other organs to become impaired. Correct the Sliders diet in both quality and quantity. Swollen eyelids and Skin peeling Vitamin A deficiency causes swollen eyelids, which can result in vision problems and bloody skin patches. Swollen and shut eyes used to be a common symptom in baby Red Eared Sliders fed an inadequate diet. Swollen and shut eyes can also be symptoms of a respiratory infection and may require antibiotic therapy. Better Vitamin supplementation and antibiotics from your vet is mandatory for this dilemma. Gaping can be either totally harmless--turtles do yawn, or a sign of a serious respiratory problem, including pneumonia. You have to watch the turtle carefully and put all the different signs together. If the animal gapes and yawns frequently, and if there are any other symptoms, like swollen eyes, a runny nose, rasping while breathing, or loss of appetite, have a veterinarian evaluate the turtle immediately. a veterinarian will do an X-Ray to determine whether a gaping turtle has pneumonia and water in its lungs. If a water turtle swims lop-sided, mention it to your veterinarian. This is a pretty sure sign, that the turtle does have water in its lungs. Here are some symptoms I have run into: Clogged and runny nostrils, gasping with the mouth open and wheezing, excessive mucus in the nose and mouth and bubbling at the nose and mouth. These problems indicate serious respiratory issues. Antibiotic treatment is mandatory but may differ on which problem it has. Sick turtles will also show signs of decreased appetite and inactivity. In water turtles, a frequent symptom is the inability to maintain normal equilibrium when swimming. The turtles appear to swim lopsided. Because lungs play a key role in maintaining buoyancy, when one side is congested or infected, the normal balance is lost. When both sides are affected, a turtle will be seen to constantly struggle to remain at the surface of the water or to dive. Go to the vet and get medication. Make sure your water temperature in the tank is between 88 and 94 degrees F. Also check for drafts in the tank. The most effective course of treatment is to administer injectable aminoglycosides such as Gentamicin or Amikacin. Except in the earliest stages when the heat treatment may be effective, a veterinarian should be consulted for safe and effective administering of antibiotics. If caught early, the prognosis is generally good. It's usually of bacterial origin and has haunted keepers for years. It usually starts off by an injury, Bruised shell, burn or a crack in the shell surface. If your tank isn't clean and well maintained this disease will spread very rapidly. Clean water will also prevent this infection from happening. A complete sterilization of the aquarium and appropriate medication from your veterinarian is needed. This is one problem like I said that could spread very rapidly. Make sure to take the Slider to the vet. Also try a Betadine solution until the infection has Turtles shed occasionally the outermost layer of their scutes. They are thin, translucent scutes. If the whole scute is shed and the bone becomes visible, or if shedding is continuous, you may have a fungus problem and should have your turtle inspected by a veterinarian. As an immediate measure, remove the turtle from the water except for a 30 minute bath twice a day; keep it warm and dry; soak twice a day for 15 minutes in iodine solution or sponge off with little peeling occasionally is fine. Turtles shed their skin like other reptiles, but more continuously. Mine usually shed more for a while, then less or not at all. As long as the shed skin is thin and translucent, and you don't see anything unusual on the skin, and the shedding is not excessive, don't worry. If the shedding is continuous, or the skin looks sore or red, or the shedding is very heavy, you may have to deal with a skin fungus. Have your turtle checked by a veterinarian. You may also soak the turtle in an iodine solution twice a day for 15 minutes and keep it warm and dry outside the water overnight for spots under the top layer of shell The silver spot is most likely air trapped under a scute that might shed soon. (Not the whole scute to the bone, just one layer, which turtles shed periodically.) Just keep an eye on it. Sometimes, the spot turns green from algae that grow on it. You may try, gently, to see whether to scutej (just a transparent layer) is loose and comes off. It's basically the Slider's intestine coming out of its anus. It usually goes back right in but you have to be very careful that it does not bite it or other turtles do not bite it. If they do it can cause serious damage. If the prolapse does not go back in, take it to the vet and they can stitch it up so it doesn't happen again. A lot of turtles will at some point in time prolapse, (i.e. turn inside out and outside of their body) their cloaca or for males their penises. Occasional prolapses are common and more annoying than dangerous if dealt with properly. There is little pain involved for the turtle. It is not known for sure, what causes prolapses. Diet, stress, parasites and intestinal infections, general disease, obstructed intestinal tract, and weak cloacal muscles have all been suggested, but there are no final conclusions. And, too much sex...(no joke). So, there are no known preventive measures, either. If your turtle seems otherwise healthy, an occasional prolapse is nothing to worry about. If the prolapses happen frequently and cause too much distress to you and your turtle, you might consider asking a herp vet to apply a purse string suture. If you catch your turtle in the act, watch and keep dirt away form the exposed parts. If they don't go back in immediately, make sure, they stay moist (you may even want to put the animal in a pan with a little luke warm water) and massage the surrounding area gently and make the turtle move. For water turtles, keeping the parts moist is less of an issue than for land turtles, but putting the turtle into clean water is still recommended. With water turtles, other turtles might try to bite the prolapsed body part which can lead to heavy bleeding and ugly consequences. Land turtles may step on their intestine, or tear it with their hind feet when trying to remove the 'thing' extending from their body. The turtle is not aware, that this is a body part. Observe the turtle, until the prolapse has gone back inside. Purse String Suture: The suture basically keeps the cloaca from opening too wide, and so the intestine should stay in. The turtle can still pass feces, of course. If the intestine does dry off, usually, the vet will put a suture around it and eventually remove the dead part completely. This is done under anesthesia and can be more or less complicated, depending on the size of the dead parts. This operation has a guarded Some Sliders are very aggressive and territorial. If you see a good cut on the Slider, I'd recommend putting some Polysporn on it. Polysporn is completely harmless to Sliders and very safe. Try not to get it in there eyes or mouth though. This could hurt the Slider. Always clean the cut daily with Hagen Sulfa bath or Herpcare skin and shell treatment. I noticed the healing speeds up too if they are out of he water. This gives the cut a chance to scab and You must take the proper steps to prevent shell-rot, shell fungus and other bacteria from taking advantage of this wound. I recommend Herpcare skin and shell treatment and clean water. You will notice with a wound, your Red Ear Slider will also bask a lot. This helps the healing of the shell. DO NOT pick at the shell or brush it with anything, this will cause slower Shell fungus is white patchy fungus that can grow on the shell. Shell Fungus is usually caused by bacteria getting under the Sliders shell. To get rid of your Sliders fungus, bath him daily in Hagen Sulfa bath, or a salt water bath for about a half an hour each day. You want to use a toothbrush to scrub the infected area. Clean water will also prevent this infection. In hatchling turtles, this used to be known as soft-shell disease. It was one of the more common causes of deaths during the days of the large scale sale of baby Red Eared Sliders in the 1960's. The causes of metabolic Bone disease are inadequate calcium and/or inadequate calcium/phosphorus ratio and/or a vitamin D3 deficiency. This disease used to be common at a time when worthless turtle diets such as dried flies were commercially marketed in pet stores. The earliest symptoms are the softening of the plastron, underside of the shell, and the rear marginals, back edge of the shell. When examining for metabolic bone disease, apply slight, gentle pressure to these areas. Applying too much force and pressure can injure the turtles. Be gentle! By feeding your turtles an adequate diet your turtles will not have metabolic bone disease. Symptoms in larger animals include soft shells, deformed shell growth, and the inability to support themselves on their hind legs. As long as your turtles still appear active and are feeding, this disease can easily be handled. If caught in the earliest stages and treated early on, no long term effects will be present. In severe cases, a veterinarian should be consulted to administer injectable calcium gluconate. In more severe cases, the effects of the disease will not reverse and skeletal deformities and abnormal shell growth will remain for the rest of the turtle's life. Providing an adequate diet and treatment by supplementing the diet with a calcium/phosphorus/vitamin D3 supplement such as Osteoforme will stop or end the progress of Red Eared Sliders can harbor many parasites including roundworms, flukes, and protozoans. If your turtle is stoolless, not feeding well, has poor weight, runny and/or bloody stools, stools with large amounts of mucus, stools with worms present, then you should consult a veterinarian to perform a stool check for parasites. A qualified reptile veterinarian will be able to prescribe and perform the best course of treatment. See a Veterinarian!! or Cheek Infections The most obvious symptom of an ear or cheek infection is the asymmetrical appearance of the head whereby one side will appear more swollen than the other. The causes of these infections can include unsanitary or inadequate husbandry, inadequate maintenance temperatures, superficial lacerations and inadequate diets. Treatment involves draining the infected area through a small incision, both the site of infection and the tool should be disinfected with Betadine and alcohol. The area should then be flushed with hydrogen peroxide and then with Betadine. This is a procedure that is readily preformed by more experienced herpetoculturists and inexperienced hobbyists should consult a veterinarian. The turtle should then be kept relatively dry during healing by allowing only limited periods of activity in water once a day. Upon removel from the water, the surface of the infected area should be disinfected with Betadine. If these infections persist, a veterinarian should definently be consulted for administration of injectable antibiotics. In water turtles, loss of appetite, listlessness, and runny stools are often a sign of gastroenteritis. A veterinarian should be consulted to perform stool checks or cloacal smears to determine the causal organism(s). Untreated, the prognosis for this disease is poor, but early treatment is often successful. Various bacteria and protozoa are common causes. Salmonella organisms can make up a significant portion of the normal intestinal flora of turtles when an animal is sufficiently stressed, these can become pathogenic for the hosts. In turtles symptoms include enteritis, pneumonia, mucus-covered, blood-tinged and discolored stools, runny stools and loss of appetite. If the above symptoms are present, the turtles should be taken to a veterinarian for a check-up and testing. Salmonellosis can easily be treated with injectable antibiotics. Salmonellosis can also easily be spread to the rest of one's collection or infect people. Take all neccessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease by quarantining sick animals, and routinely disinfecting hands and any tools or utensils following handling or treatment of sick animals. Your Turtle Will Not Eat the turtle kept warm enough? If turtles get too cool, they will stop eatingDoes the turtle like the food you offer? Try out different foods. Some turtles can be very finicky eaters, especially in the beginning. And they have definite likes and dislikes. Most turtles will eventually take small earthworms that are wiggling in front of their nose. Start feeding favorite foods, then slowly introduce other items..Is your turtle exposed to too much stress? This is often a cause in new animals.Stress can be caused by handling, travelling, tank mates. New turtles will often not eat properly for several weeks. Be patient and keep trying.Is your turtle healthy? Not eating can be a symptom of other problems. If your turtle has been eating well and suddenly stops, a health problem is a likely reason. Take a fecal sample to your veterinarian. (Fecal samples need to be no older than 4 hours, and you need to store them in water in the refrigerator.)Don't panic! A turtle can go without food for weeks, even months, and when it feels well again, it will eat again. See a veterinarian, if you thing you are doing everything right, and the animal does not eat for more than 2 your turtle for any signs of illness: Cloudy, closed or swollen eyes; swollen cheeks; open mouth breathing; bubbly mucous around the nose or mouth; runny stools; loss of appetite; listlessness; spots appearing on plastron (bottom shell), carapace or bode; soft shell or excessive shedding. Newly acquired turtles are under a lot of stress and may be riddled with bacterial or parasitical infections that may be passed along to you or your kids. Always take a sick turtle to a reptile veterinarian. Always take a sick turtle to a reptile veterinarian, and have your children checked out by their physician if they begin to exhibit any signs (nausea, stomach aches, is important: Eye problems can be a symptom of respiratory infection or, any other serious health problem. You have to watch out for other signs of respiratory problems, like noise while breathing, floating lopsided in the water, or if your turtle have bubbles around the nose or mouth. Take your turtle to a reptile veterinarian eyes incombination with any other signs of bad health like shell rot, diarrhea, is a cause for concern and should be seen by a reptile veterinarian. If you delay veterinary care under these conditions, it can cost the life of your turtle. If the problem is not accompanied by any other symptoms, there may by some simple changes you can do that will clear up the minor eye infection. Puffy, irritated or closed eyes can be an indication of poor condition and supportive therapies can clear up the eye problem and prevent more serious illness to your turtle. is a short list of what you can do: 1. You have to check everything about your overall husbandry. Keep the tank clean and well lighted. Make sure you are providing a varied diet with lots of calcium, a good basking area. Your turtle have to get out of the water completely, and correct temperatures for your turtle, 25 - 32 C (78-85F). If you are using an undergravel filter, the water can look clear and clean but still have too much ammonia. You have to clean out the tank, gravel, filter, rock, root, everything need to be clean. I regularly clean my tank every week, and I clean out the tank every 3rd or 4th week. Lack of Vitamin A can cause puffy eyes (swollen membranes). Use a supplement that has Vitamin A occasionally. Too much Vitamin A is toxic, so don't overdo it. You can get Vitamin A supplement at your local pet store, you can also use aquatic plants since these have Vitamin A in them. If the eye problem is caused by lack of Vitamin A, it will clear up very quickly with a dose or two of Vitamin A. Injury can cause puffy, red eyes, another turtle may have scratched near the eye or the turtle may have injured itself on something in the tank. Even a tiny scratch can become inflamed. An ophthalmic ointment might be helpful in that case, ask your vet. Provide supportive therapies for your turtle. While your turtle is ill, raise the water temperature to about 35C (about 90 - 95F). This will boost up the immune system. Turtles that are stressed by illness can go rapidly downhill and refuse to eat. Pub Staff with questions, turtle pictures, etc. TurtlePub Staff - Webmaster - E-mail

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After a brainstorm, cultivate the idea garden What do you do with the 50 ideas you have written on the whiteboard? One of the most common methods of solving problems is by brainstorming solutions—listing every possible solution you can think of, regardless of the quality of the idea. But what do you do next? What do you do with the 50 ideas you have written on the whiteboard? Once you have listed your ideas, follow these steps: - Highlight the most promising ideas. Start judging the list. During this stage, you are not yet deciding on which solution to use. You are only nominating ideas that are worthy of further consideration—and weeding out those ideas that would never work. - Improve those promising ideas. Once you’ve identified the ideas that have promise, take each one and invent ways to make it better. Make the idea as attractive as you can; come up with ways to carry it out; make it as realistic as possible. - Set up a time to evaluate the ideas. Often, it’s a good idea to let people “sleep” on ideas for a while—to give them a chance to think about them on their own time, without the pressure of having to perform in front of other people. After you give everyone a list of the selected solutions, break up the brainstorming meeting and set up a “solution meeting”during which you will narrow down the list to one workable solution. —Adapted from Getting to Yes , by Roger Fisher and William Ury (Penguin)

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B vitamins play a key role in converting the foods you eat into energy, but unhealthy diet choices, too much stress and certain drugs can rob you of their vital benefits. Although they are available in wide array of animal- and plant-based foods, B vitamins are water soluble and cannot be stored in body tissue. As a consequence, you must renew your supply each day and avoid the forces that can rapidly deplete them from your body. Refined Sugars and Starches A diet rich in refined sugars and starches tends to deplete your body of vitamins in general but hits the B-complex vitamins especially hard. Foods high in white sugar and bleached flours demand additional amounts of B vitamins to convert them into energy, according to the authors of “Essentials for Health and Wellness.” Generally speaking, these foods add little or no nutritional value but put sharply higher demands on nutrients you’ve derived from other dietary sources. Alcohol, like refined sugars, presents your body with large amounts of carbohydrates but no built-in B vitamins to help metabolize them. Consuming large quantities of alcohol quickly depletes your body’s stores of B vitamins. John D. Kirschmann, author of “Nutrition Almanac,” points out that alcohol also interferes with your body’s normal absorption and utilization of B vitamins and other nutrients. He notes that chronic alcoholics tend to be deficient in certain B vitamins, including B-1, also known as thiamine; B-2, or riboflavin; and folic acid. Coffee, tea, cola and other caffeine-containing drinks and foods have a mildly diuretic effect on your body. Moderate consumption of caffeine should present no problem for people with well-balanced diets that supply all the nutrients their bodies need to function properly. However, because B vitamins are water soluble and are flushed out of the body through excretion, heavy caffeine users may need to supplement with B-complex vitamins to compensate for nutrients lost through diuresis. Naturopathic doctor Linda Page, author of “Healthy Healing,” says excessive caffeine consumption hits your body’s stores of thiamine particularly hard. The B-complex family of vitamins plays a key role in maintaining the health of your nervous system. When you’re under stress, your body calls upon its store of B vitamins to cope with this added pressure, according to nutritionist/pharmacist James B. LaValle, author of “Cracking the Metabolic Code.” Particularly essential in stressful situations are B-5, or pantothenic acid, niacin and folic acid. Although it is virtually impossible to avoid stress altogether, steering clear of stressful situations can prevent rapid depletion of these nutrients. Because of their physiological effects, certain medications can leach B vitamins from your body or interfere with their normal absorption and utilization. Powerful diuretics that flush excess water from your body can take water-soluble B vitamins along with it. Antibiotics and birth control pills also can deplete B-vitamin stores, while all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can leach folic acid from your body, according to Dr. Edward Pazuchowski, founder of the St. John Center for Wellness and Family Medicine in Roseville, Michigan. Prednisone and other corticosteroids also deplete folic acid, and the heart drug digoxin impedes absorptions of vitamin B-1. Ulcer medications can interfere with proper absorption of folic acid and vitamin B-12. - MedlinePlus: B Vitamins - Essentials for Health and Wellness; Gordon Edlin, et al. - Nutrition Almanac; John D. Kirschmann - Linda Page’s Healthy Healing; Linda Page - Cracking the Metabolic Code; James B. LaValle - St. John Center for Wellness and Family Medicine: Drugs That Can Deplete Vitamins and Minerals - Alcohol image by Sergey Yakovenko from Fotolia.com

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King Goshawk (17) April 24, 2014 The 1926 satirical sf novel King Goshawk and the Birds, by Irish playwright and novelist Eimar O’Duffy, is set in a future world devastated by progress. When King Goshawk, the supreme ruler among a caste of “king capitalists,” buys up all the wildflowers and songbirds, an aghast Dublin philosopher travels via the astral plane to Tír na nÓg. First the mythical Irish hero Cúchulainn, then his son Cuanduine, travel to Earth in order to combat the king capitalists. Thirty-five years before the hero of Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, these well-meaning aliens discover that cultural forms and norms are the most effective barrier to social or economic revolution. HiLobrow is pleased to serialize King Goshawk and the Birds, which has long been out of print, in its entirety. A new installment will appear each week. Chapter 3: The Education and Early Life of Cuanduine Meanwhile Cuanduine grew up to be a fine sturdy lad, very bold and ready with tongue and hand. Nor was he by any means the nasty little leecher and sinkhole that the Professors would make you believe our earth children are. Indeed he had but three faults: that he was very disobedient (Adam Complex), that he was addicted to lying (Ulysses Complex), and that he was infernally curious about women (Gynaecothaumastic Libido); as to which last, though it seems natural enough to me, no doubt the Professors would explain it in this way. You may remember that when his father, Cúchulainn, returned to Emain Macha on the day that he first took arms, all red with battle fury, the men of Ulster, fearing lest he might run amok and do himself and them some injury, sent out a band of women to meet him, with their breasts uncovered; at sight of whom, as he was an innocent and bashful youth, his wrath left him, and he hid his face in the cushions of the chariot. Now from that day to the end of his life he ever regretted his modesty on that occasion, and though there were many fair bosoms were his for the taking, the desire for those particular dames, thus thwarted, never left him; but, being rudely thrust down into the subliminal recesses of his ego, went on smouldering in his subconsciousness: from which repression it sprang forth with hundredfold vigour in the ego of his son. And the moral of this is: Do evil, that your offspring may escape temptation. In spite of these faults Cuanduine was, as I have said, a fine little lad, and he grew well and rapidly. When he was seven years of age he was as big as any other lad of fifteen, and ten times riper in intelligence and character. It was at this time that Cúchulainn took him, by way of object-lesson, down to the neighbouring heaven of the Idealists. This was a planet consisting for the most part of vast arid plains, with a few solitary mountain peaks of naked rock incredibly high. The rays of the golden sun that bathed the meadows of Tír na nÓg in living light were here tempered to a dull grey by a veiling of cloud that obscured the sky. Vague formless beings, each with a human head, drifted over the plains and among the jutting crags, driven before the cold currents of the wind: the ghosts of men and women who wrought by principle and conviction; martyrs and makers of martyrs; tyrants and tyrannicides; teachers and preachers and other moulders of minds. To this heaven go all who know they are in the right, a bloody throng, with more cruelties to their credit than all the child-beaters and murderers in Tartarus. Marcus Brutus was the first the visitors encountered, a gloomy ghoul, muttering to himself as he was blown along: “Hear me for my cause, and be silent that you may hear. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? As he was ambitious, I slew him. I slew him though I loved him: and yet the people around Philippi do stand but in a forced affection. This is beyond reason: I cannot understand it. I tell you I know I did right to slay him. My motives were of the purest. Yet Caesar, who slew more than I, is in the higher heavens. Is that just or reasonable? But here I know that I did right to slay him: therefore I will go no higher.” A very choice collection of opposites was to be found here, all luxuriating in the same conviction of righteousness: Torquemada and Queen Elizabeth; Martin Luther and Ignatius Loyola; Oliver Cromwell and Charles the First; Marat and Charlotte Corday; Trotsky and Tzar Nicholas. All these had but one interest to keep them alive: each was eternally wondering why his opposite, who was clearly in the wrong, was not in Tartarus. Wrapped in contemplation of his own perfection, each went his separate way as the wind listed; but at long intervals they were swept together as by a cyclone, and then they would join as one voice in a proud hymn, worded somewhat after this fashion: The blood we shed with knife or spear, The widow’s and the orphan’s tear: Of guilt they leave us unconvincible; For what we did, we did on principle. Then the gusts would dissipate them again, each on his separate course. Having seen this much, the hero and his son returned to Tír na nÓg. There Cuanduine grew rapidly to manhood, which he reached at the age of ten years. Cúchulainn then, having trained him in all the heroic virtues, and having taught him his salmon leap and all other feats meet for one who had such perils before him to encounter, sent him on to the Fourth Heaven, which is the heaven of Realities, where he might gain more wisdom and knowledge than himself could impart. Thence he presently returned well dowered with gifts: namely, the gift of self-distrust, the gift of incredulity, the gift of incertitude, the gift of clear-sightedness, the gift of hardness, the gift of kindness, the gift of unscrupulousness, the gift of shamelessness, the gift of humour. When he saw the lad thus equipped, Cúchulainn considered it was time to send him to Earth: so, summoning him to his knee, he told him of the existence of that planet, and of the manners and customs (so far as he had himself observed them) of its inhabitants, dwelling on those that had seemed to him strangest, in order to whet the youth’s curiosity to visit it. Then he told him of King Goshawk and of his encroachments upon the liberty of birds and men; whereupon Cuanduine’s eye kindled, and he cried out that it was shame that the stars should witness such villainy. As he spoke, the mind of the Philosopher came up once more from Earth, laden with bitter tidings. “Woe! Woe!” said he. “Goshawk has put another rivet in our shackles. In return for a rebate of one penny on sugar, they have surrendered to him all the wild flowers of the world; which his henchmen are even now uprooting and transplanting to his gardens. The primrose from its shady bank, the bluebell from the woodland, the loosestrife and mallow from the river’s brim, the buttercup and the clover from the pastures, the gorse and the heather from the mountains, the ragged robin from the hedgerow, the foxglove and meadow-sweet, the pimpernel and prunella, even the little pink saxifrage from the crevices of the rocks: they are rending them all from their settings to deck his pleasure-grounds.” “What?” said Cuanduine. “Has no voice nor hand been raised to stay him?” “But one,” said the Philosopher. “My own. I went to the Finance Minister to urge that he should not take the sugar reduction on such terms; who, being friendly disposed towards me, as we had been at school together, heard me out very patiently, though he was not to be moved by my arguments. These, he admitted, were excellent in theory; but, said he, a statesman and economist must look at the thing from a practical point of view. A scheme which involved an immediate reduction in the cost of an essential commodity, and would give badly needed employment to thousands of workers, counted more with him than fine-spun theories of academic democracy and dilettante aestheticism. Private enterprise was coming into its own, and we could not stop the flowing tide. Besides, if the Government did not adopt the scheme, the Yallogreens would make it a plank in their programme, and would infallibly sweep the country with it. “After that,” the Philosopher continued, “I went out and denounced the proposal at every street corner, and in letters to all the newspapers: for which I was derided as a crank, scorned as a madman, and roundly abused as one that for a few paltry weeds would tax the sugar of the children of the poor and keep their fathers out of employment; or as a bloodsucking investor in the Sugar Trust, disgruntled by the magnanimous action of King Goshawk. By God, if you do not come soon to our help, young man, he will put the very soil of the Earth in his voracious pockets; nor will our people complain until he orders them into the void that he may take the rock as well.” “I will come straightway,” said Cuanduine. “Neither will I rest until the birds and the flowers are freed, and Goshawk chastened in his insolence.” “Spoken like your father’s son, my lad,” said the Philosopher. “I must learn to speak better, then,” said Cuanduine. “For if a man is no more than his father’s son, what is any of us but the great-great-granddescendant of a protozoon? Tell me now: when a protozoon first produced bicellular offspring, which do you think should have been proud of the relationship?” “That is easily answered,” said the Philosopher. “But Should is not Would. I’ll guarantee that youngster was well snubbed and spanked for his presumption. Nor have we earthlings yet cut our cousinship with the primeval slime.” “We must alter that,” said Cuanduine. “Do not think I will rest after the liberation of the birds and the overthrow of Goshawk. I have heard from my father of your other follies: I will teach you the wisdom of Charity.” “Too soon for that,” said the Philosopher. “First teach us the folly of killing.” “Too soon for that,” said Cúchulainn. “First teach them to fight decently.” With that advice Cúchulainn bade farewell to his son. Then Cuanduine by his will, and the mind of the Philosopher by the tug of his body, fell swiftly to Earth. RADIUM AGE SCIENCE FICTION: “Radium Age” is HiLobrow’s name for the 1904–33 era, which saw the discovery of radioactivity, the revelation that matter itself is constantly in movement — a fitting metaphor for the first decades of the 20th century, during which old scientific, religious, political, and social certainties were shattered. This era also saw the publication of genre-shattering writing by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Sax Rohmer, E.E. “Doc” Smith, Jack London, Arthur Conan Doyle, Aldous Huxley, Olaf Stapledon, Karel Čapek, H.P. Lovecraft, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Yevgeny Zamyatin, Philip Gordon Wylie, and other pioneers of post-Verne/Wells, pre-Golden Age “science fiction.” More info here. READ GORGEOUS PAPERBACKS: HiLoBooks has reissued the following 10 obscure but amazing Radium Age science fiction novels in beautiful print editions: Jack London’s The Scarlet Plague, Rudyard Kipling’s With the Night Mail (and “As Easy as A.B.C.”), Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Poison Belt, H. Rider Haggard’s When the World Shook, Edward Shanks’ The People of the Ruins, William Hope Hodgson’s The Night Land, J.D. Beresford’s Goslings, E.V. Odle’s The Clockwork Man, Cicely Hamilton’s Theodore Savage, and Muriel Jaeger’s The Man with Six Senses. For more information, visit the HiLoBooks homepage. SERIALIZED BY HILOBOOKS: Jack London’s The Scarlet Plague | Rudyard Kipling’s With the Night Mail (and “As Easy as A.B.C.”) | Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Poison Belt | H. Rider Haggard’s When the World Shook | Edward Shanks’ The People of the Ruins | William Hope Hodgson’s The Night Land | J.D. Beresford’s Goslings | E.V. Odle’s The Clockwork Man | Cicely Hamilton’s Theodore Savage | Muriel Jaeger’s The Man With Six Senses | Jack London’s “The Red One” | Philip Francis Nowlan’s Armageddon 2419 A.D. | Homer Eon Flint’s The Devolutionist | W.E.B. DuBois’s “The Comet” | Edgar Rice Burroughs’s The Moon Men | Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Herland | Sax Rohmer’s “The Zayat Kiss” | Eimar O’Duffy’s King Goshawk and the Birds | Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Lost Prince | Morley Roberts’s The Fugitives | Helen MacInnes’s The Unconquerable | Geoffrey Household’s Watcher in the Shadows | William Haggard’s The High Wire | Hammond Innes’s Air Bridge | James Branch Cabell’s Jurgen | John Buchan’s “No Man’s Land” | John Russell’s “The Fourth Man” | E.M. Forster’s “The Machine Stops” | John Buchan’s Huntingtower | Arthur Conan Doyle’s When the World Screamed | Victor Bridges’ A Rogue By Compulsion ORIGINAL FICTION: HiLobrow has serialized three novels: James Parker’s The Ballad of Cocky The Fox (“a proof-of-concept that serialization can work on the Internet” — The Atlantic); Karinne Keithley Syers’s Linda Linda Linda (which includes original music); and Robert Waldron’s roman à clef The School on the Fens. We also publish original stories and comics. These include: Matthew Battles’s stories “Gita Nova“, “Makes the Man,” “Imago,” “Camera Lucida,” “A Simple Message”, “Children of the Volcano”, “The Gnomon”, “Billable Memories”, “For Provisional Description of Superficial Features”, “The Dogs in the Trees”, “The Sovereignties of Invention”, and “Survivor: The Island of Dr. Moreau”; several of these later appeared in the collection The Sovereignties of Invention | Peggy Nelson’s “Mood Indigo“, “Top Kill Fail“, and “Mercerism” | Annalee Newitz’s “The Great Oxygen Race” | Charlie Mitchell’s “A Fantasy Land” | Joshua Glenn’s “The Lawless One”, and the mashup story “Zarathustra vs. Swamp Thing” | Adam McGovern and Paolo Leandri’s Idoru Jones comics | John Holbo’s “Sugarplum Squeampunk” | “Another Corporate Death” (1) and “Another Corporate Death” (2) by Mike Fleisch | Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer and Frank Fiorentino’s graphic novel “The Song of Otto” (excerpt) | “Manoj” and “Josh” by Vijay Balakrishnan | “Verge” by Chris Rossi, and his audio novel Low Priority Hero | EPIC WINS: THE ILIAD (1.408-415) by Flourish Klink | EPIC WINS: THE KALEVALA (3.1-278) by James Parker | EPIC WINS: THE ARGONAUTICA (2.815-834) by Joshua Glenn | EPIC WINS: THE MYTH OF THE ELK by Matthew Battles | TROUBLED SUPERHUMAN CONTEST: Charles Pappas, “The Law” | CATASTROPHE CONTEST: Timothy Raymond, “Hem and the Flood” | TELEPATHY CONTEST: Rachel Ellis Adams, “Fatima, Can You Hear Me?” | OIL SPILL CONTEST: A.E. Smith, “Sound Thinking | LITTLE NEMO CAPTION CONTEST: Joe Lyons, “Necronomicon” | SPOOKY-KOOKY CONTEST: Tucker Cummings, “Well Marbled” | INVENT-A-HERO CONTEST: TG Gibbon, “The Firefly” | FANFICTION CONTEST: Lyette Mercier’s “Sex and the Single Superhero”

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Native Americans In Film - Johnny Depp's Tonto Potowatomi Nation: Northeastern United States Four Native American Nations At least four Native North American Nations are involved with the portrayal of the fictional Tonto and this fact opens new opportunities to understand America's history and that of her Indigenous Peoples. For a Lone Ranger film re-make, Johnny Depp read a lot of historic materials before his portrayal of Tonto, yet some of the public complain about his taking on the role. They feel that to do so was disrespectful to the memory of Jay Silverheels and Indigenous peoples. Some hobbyists and some professional critics complain that Depp is not an "Indian" or not "enough of an Indian" to play Tonto. Many of these voices may simply be seeking attention for themselves. We see that behavior more and more with each new film release, especially since the passing of Roger Ebert. I would like to see Mr. Ebert's review of current critics, if he were still alive. Historic Native North American PhotosClick thumbnail to view full-size Many Americans have Native North American heritage, although some do not know it and some deny it. Others are pleased about the fact. How much "Indian blood" does it take to be "Indian?" Depp's great-great grandmother was full Cherokee, making Kentuckian Johnny Depp 1/16 or 6.25% Native American, if no other native married into his blood line. Elvis Presley was 3.125% Cherokee, his great-great-great grandmother being a full Cherokee. The Native American bloodline of Cherokee Nation makes Presley and Depp distant relations. How much Indian does one need to be to satisfy the critics in a fictional film role? Many well known peope are of Cherokee descent (see Cherokee VIPs) and producers could proobably find Cereokee actors to portray Tonto, if they wanted a Cherokee. However, Johnny Depp was adopted into the Comanche Nation and Tonto became a Comanche. Why not a Cherokee? This I do not know. About Kemo Sabe, a Campground 1933 radio series of The lone Ranger: ...'Kemo Sabe,' a phrase that is derived from the name of a boys' summer camp in Michigan owned by the director's uncle." Reference http://www.tcnj.edu/~hofmann/kemosabe.htm, retreived July 13, 2013. Crow warrior paiting by Kirby Sattler that Johnny Depp used for his Tonto makeup. the poster image has been used illegally in a number of blogs and content sights, inluding Pinterest, but it is copyrighted. Historical Significance of Depp's Portrayal The portrayal of Tonto seems to combine several North American Nations and draws attention to the Indigenous Peoples of the continent in USA and Canada. This led to greater numbers of people looking for more information on the various nations, tribes, and other groups. This is all likely positive, given the negative press received by some nations in blocking the advancement of oil pipelines through their lands and in standing up to illegal activities supported by a few local elected officials concering native reserves. One additional problem is that of a small group of voices broadcasting that Native Americans are in league with the devil to destroy the USA by means of multiculturalism. I hope that more frequently showing the various nations on film and PBS documentaries will dispel that movement. Below is some information about the various nations that viewers recognize in the portrayal of totno in the 2013 film The Lone Ranger. Mohawk First Nation The TV Tonto of the 1950s was Jay Silverheels, a Mohawk from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada that also gave us actor Graham Green and wrestler War Chief Flying Don Eagle. Silverheels's son is a pastor today. Film footage from a tongue-in-cheek commerical of Silverheels representing car company is presented below. Jay Silverheels Commercial - Video Credit: VintageTVCommercials - YouTube Visit: www.vintagetvcommercials.com VintageTVCommercials is an online resource for PUBLIC DOMAIN TV Commercials of the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. OUR ... Six Nations Of the Grand River Reserve, Ohsweken, Ontario Mohawk Nation Information - Traditional Mohawk Nation Daily and Ceremonial Cloth... What did Mohawk families wear from 1800 - 1900? - The Kahniakenhaka Mohawk Nation Council vs. the St. Regis Group The official, long-standing indigenous Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs (MNCC) represents the Sovereign Nation of the Mohawk (separate from the US Government) that still exists in America. The nation is called Kahniakenhaka. Three Cherokee Natives - Cherokee Nation Downsizes - 500 Years of Racism and Politics Claims of racism have been lodged, even against some of our Naive American Nations. - Famous and Inspiring Cherokee People Growing interest in researching family genealogies and in related television shows such as Who Do You Think You Are? Crow vs. Raven. Crow Nation members are called Children of the Large Beaked Bird. This is the crow. As a power animal and founder of the nation in its foundation stories, the crow may travel back and forth from the supernatural to the natural worlds and back. In the supernatural world, he may take the form of a man. In the film The Lone Ranger (2013), the crow flies away from places in which Tonto is unable to escape; for example, a crow flies over a cliff and immediately, Tonto climbs back the other way toward the camera. This gives a small idea of the nature of power animals, but in the case of Crow, that bird is said to transport souls to the afterlife. In the Pacific Northwest, Raven is carved into tall cedar poles of several power aninals in number. Sometimes, you see a man's face carved on his wing. This indicates that the power animal in the native history is a founder of the nation and may travel between supernatual and natural worlds, chaing from man to raven. Raven is credited with stealing the Sun and giving it to the people for light and energy. In the 2013 film, Tonto refers to John Reid as a spirit walker, one who cannot be killed in battle. This is linked the crow ability to walk between natural and supernatural worlds as bird and man. Crow Nation Links - Crow Nation: US President Barack Obama's Adopted Nation Adoption into a Native American Nation is a high honor and an act of generosity and respect from American's Indigenous Peoples. Crow Nation adopted President Barack Obama. - Native American Nations in The Canadian Territories The northern provinces of Canada are the coldest in the country. Yet, many Native Americans or First Nations peoples live in these very provinces. Their way of life is fascinating... - Native American Nations of the Far Western USA Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples developed different cultures from Alaska and Hawaii inward through the western United States... Crow Nation, Montana 2013 Movie Choice: ComancheClick thumbnail to view full-size Why the Comanche Nation was chosen as Tonto's home people is ot clear, but the writers and director of the film likely wished it. In the old photo above, you can see the chest covering similar to that adopted by Johnny Depp as Tonto in The Lone Ranger (2013). The feathers in the photo are used for ceremonial smudging. In the second image in the collection above, you can see the Comanche trousers and mocassins very similar to those worn by Depp. A short film made with Comanche actors was completed in 1920, although it was shown only once. You can watch it at the link below. - Oklahoma Native American Silent Film From 1920 Is Restored In 1920, a silent film was made by Kiowa and Comanche People, screened in Los Angeles, and placed into storage for 90 years. Discovered by a private eye, the movie has been digitally restored to travel the nation for screening at film festivals and m © 2013 Patty Inglish More by this Author Famous people of the 2000s that we cannot forget. These five teams of outstanding comedians have made me laugh when times were tough. They have done this for audiences from World War I, through the Depression, through Viet Nam, and continue to do so today on video.... After much hard work in writing countless resumes, cover letters, and job applications, employment candidates hope to interview well, impress the hiring officer, and secure the job. We can help with the information in...

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Sour cherry is more like the wild cherry, but it has an acidic fruit. Also known as Prunus cerasus, it is very tart to eat raw and is primarily used for cooking. The fruit is smaller in size than sweet cherry and has two varieties. One is the dark-red morello cherry and the other is lighter-red amarelle cherry. These are mostly used as an ingredient in soups, pies and pork dishes. These are used by combining with sugar to balance the tartness and also used in dried form. Thus, sour cherries are a common ingredient of various, preserves, drinks and desserts.

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Photo: John Loo (Flickr) Toss It Or Eat It? According to a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic, many consumers are throwing away food before it’s spoiled. This is in part due to confusion over the dates stamped on food labels. Use-by typically means a product is freshest before that date. Meanwhile, sell-by means that although a store won’t sell after that date, customers can still expect the product purchased to be safe to eat for a period of time after buying. Use-by or sell-by dates are meant as an indication of food quality, not as a hard and fast rule for food safety. Co-author of the study Emily Broad Leib told CNN, “You can make your own decision about whether a food still has an edible quality that’s acceptable to you.” Currently — with the exception of baby formula — there is no national standard for date-stamps on food. Congress has attempted to pass laws standardizing food dates since 1973. The most recent campaign came in the form of the Freshness Disclosure Act, which is currently being re-drafted by Representative Nita Lowey (NY). But don’t hold your breath — this bill was originally introduced in 1999. In the meantime, sites like Still Tasty provide a glossary of foods and their typical shelf life. (For instance, how long is that opened bottle of apple jelly at its highest quality?)

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China’s ability to set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, overriding the objections of the US, and the BRICS bank, which aims to start lending next year, are just two signs of how some earlier multilateral agency charters do not properly represent current global power equations. If we go back in time and evaluate how some of these agencies came about, it is wise to ponder on a piece George Orwell wrote in the Tribune in 1944, which was given the title “History is Written by the Winners”. The point that Orwell made in his article, where he took the specific instance of German claims about bombing London in 1941-42, when the Luftwaffe was busy in Russia, was that if Germany had won the war, that inaccurate assertion would have become historical fact. What Orwell does not mention in his thoughtful piece is that not only history but also the global institutions that are formed at such a time bear the full imprint of the winners. Once formed, these institutions continue to largely reflect the original power structure. A country’s power is reflected by its economic, military and cultural might — by GDP size, per capita income, the size of its army and weaponry (especially its ownership of nuclear weapons) and finally its ability to exercise cultural and moral power. After World War II, three important institutions were created — the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The charter of each of these institutions clearly reflected the results of the war. The primacy of the US was established. Germany, Japan and Italy were ignored. The five nations that formed the permanent members of the UN Security Council were the US, UK, France, the Russian Federation and the Republic of China (Taiwan), brought in by the US as a check on the Russians. This position was maintained until 1971, when the People’s Republic of China replaced Taiwan. The Russians did not join the IMF and the World Bank after the Bretton Woods Conference, and so the primacy of the US and Europe was established there. The president of the World Bank is always from the US and the managing director of the IMF, from Europe. Even in the IMF, the US has over 17 per cent of the voting rights. Japan and Germany were later allowed to join these institutions. Both Japan and Germany joined the IMF in 1952, Japan joined the UN in 1956 and Germany joined the UN in 1973. It is hard to get countries inside the club to vacate their spots, even if their positions have weakened dramatically since the original charter. Nor is it easy to get other countries to get into apex positions. For the 50 years post World War II, the original structure held up quite well. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the influence of the US became even sharper, but the Russian nuclear stockpile kept it in the Security Council. Over the last 15 years, however, the economic map of the world has been undergoing sharp change, and institutional structures are increasingly less reflective. Thirty years ago, the US economy was 15 times the size of both China and India. The Japanese economy was seven times their size. Even though China quadrupled between 1986 and 2000 from $290 billion to $1.2 trillion, even in 2000 it was just 25 per cent of the size of Japan, and only 10 per cent the size of the US. However, by 2014, the position with respect to China has changed completely. It has become 60 per cent the size of the US but has become more than two times the size of anyone else. Even if it continues to grow at only half its current rate, by 2028, it will be a $50 trillion economy. In other words, the US will then become 60 per cent of China. India’s rise was slower. From being roughly the same size as China in 1986, it barely doubled by 2000. But it quintupled between 2000 and 2014 to $2 trillion. Continuing at that pace, it will become a $10 trillion economy in 2028 — much bigger than Japan, Germany or France. Further, both China and India are nuclear capable. How much will the existing institutions need to adapt or risk obsolescence? Today’s global institutions largely reflect past global reality. China rightly believes that these institutions do not reflect its position. By 2028, China, but also India or Indonesia, will not accept the status quo. In terms of purchasing power parity, this position will become even more untenable. So multilateral institutions will need to adjust rapidly, or be faced with the emergence of more institutions like the AIIB proposed by China, or the New Development Bank set up by the BRICS nations. But that is not the only problem. How much sagacity must the newer powers show to manage a superior world order? The world will need to learn to deal respectfully with declining powers, especially those with nuclear capability. Russia is a case in point. As Russia declines economically, with poor demographics and an overdependence on one commodity, it is important not to allow the Russian people to feel marginalised and humiliated. Jingoism and calls to former glory can allow its leaders domestic popularity that will be at odds with their position in the world. A North Korea is bad enough, but a badly behaved Russia will be a much more serious problem. It has a massive nuclear stockpile, and if it starts to behave like a rogue state, global peace will be seriously threatened. This is the challenge for the world. We need global institutions to manage the world. Increasingly, the world will be challenged to recognise global best interest more than just national self-interest. We will be challenged to create new institutions that recognise the new but don’t humiliate the old. The new cannot be impatient and assertive, and the old cannot lack grace or act with belligerence. This will be the challenge to build a new stable world order. The writer is chairman, Asia Pacific, Boston Consulting Group. Views are personal

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Did you know that writing things out by hand keeps your brain cells active, and even helps you retain information? It also improves hand-eye coordination, and has a soothing, meditative effect on your entire body. January 23rd is the third annual National Handwriting Day, and people around the country (and beyond!) are celebrating by writing tweets, blog posts, Facebook updates, and even Instagram posts by hand. Join people like Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, Katie Couric, and countless other folks as we celebrate the pen and all that’s wild and wondrous about writing by hand. Those who tweet or post with the #HandwritingDay and #mHDay hashtags will be featured in Moleskine’s realtime gallery, and people can also win Moleskine products like pens, notebooks, and sketchbooks by submitting handwritten pieces here. The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat? Send us a tip by following this link. Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing!

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Listen to the podcast: If you have watched and shared PSY’s “Gangnam Style” video or gone into an unknown restaurant simply because it was full of people and appeared to be popular, you have the basis for understanding what makes things go viral. In Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger‘s new book, Contagious: Why Things Catch On, he identifies six principles that cause people to talk about and share an idea or product. Knowledge@Wharton recently sat down with Berger to learn more about his findings, including why people share cat memes, which organizations and individuals have conceived and implemented the most successful viral campaigns — from Blendtec to ‘Movember’ — and why making something contagious does not have to be expensive. An edited transcript of the conversation follows. Knowledge@Wharton: Jonah, thank you for being here today. Your book is all about what makes different products or ideas catch on. What do you think are the biggest misconceptions out there about why things go viral? Berger: The easiest place to start would be cats. [If you ask], “Why do things go viral?” people usually give one of two answers. They say, “Oh, it’s random. It’s luck. It’s just chance.” Or they say, “It’s cats.” If you look on the web, there are viral cat pictures, so it must be cats that drive things to go viral. There are definitely some cat things that become popular, but that really doesn’t tell us anything about why most things go viral. It doesn’t tell us why some cat videos are shared and others aren’t, and it doesn’t tell us why things that have nothing to do with cats go viral. It’s like noticing that Bill Gates, Bill Cosby and Bill Clinton are all names that start with “Bill” and deciding to name your child Bill because that will make them famous. It’s messing up correlation and causation. What the book is all about is teasing apart the luck and random stuff, with science, and actually trying to understand what makes people talk about and share things. Knowledge@Wharton: In the book, you actually outline a framework of six principles for why things catch on, using the STEPPS acronym. Can you describe those for us and discuss how you developed them? Berger: The books talks about the six key steps to drive people to talk and share. STEPPS is an acronym for: - Social currency:, It’s all about people talking about things to make themselves look good, rather than bad - Triggers, which is all about the idea of “top of mind, tip of tongue.” We talk about things that are on the top of our heads. - Ease for emotion: When we care, we share. The more we care about a piece of information or the more we’re feeling physiologically aroused, the more likely we pass something on. - Public: When we can see other people doing something, we’re more likely to imitate it. - Practical value: Basically, it’s the idea of news you can use. We share information to help others, to make them better off. - Stories, or how we share things that are often wrapped up in stories or narratives. Knowledge@Wharton: Which of these principles do you think are most difficult for companies or individuals to harness when they are trying to promote a product or an idea or just get something to catch on? Berger: People often say, “Well, we have to do something crazy.” Guerilla marketing and viral marketing is about dressing people up in chicken suits and running down to the subway and handing out $100 bills. That will get attention. That’s really not the right answer. It is true that remarkable things get talked about and shared. But there are a lot of other drivers of sharing. One big thing we talk about is triggers — how cues in the environment remind us of related things and cause us to talk about them. If I said, “peanut butter,” you might think of “jelly.” If I said, “cat,” you might think of “dog.” Peanut butter is basically a little advertisement for jelly. It’s not actually there, but it reminds you of that related thing. Cues in the environment can remind us of products and ideas and make us talk about them more. Companies often don’t think about, “Well, what in the environment is going to remind consumers of my product or idea?” Similarly, emotion. Companies recognize, “Hey, if we can get people to feel emotional, we’ll get them to talk and share.” Most companies get stuck because they say, “Well, hold on. Our product isn’t naturally emotional” or “Our product isn’t naturally remarkable — we just can’t do anything about it.” What the book is really about is showing both companies and individuals that anyone can craft contagious content. It’s not about having to have the right product. You have to think about what makes people talk about and share and then build that into your product or messaging. Any product can be remarkable. Any product can be emotional. Think about what makes people feel emotion or what makes them think something is remarkable, and then build that into your product or idea. Knowledge@Wharton: There’s actually a great example of this in the book that has to do with blenders. Tell us about how the people at Blendtec made blenders fit this framework. Berger: You could say new Apple products or hot cars or exciting Hollywood movies are naturally remarkable products. But who would talk about cement or toilet paper or a household appliance like a refrigerator or a blender? There’s nothing remarkable about a blender. But there’s a great example of a company, Blendtec, that actually made a blender video that’s gotten more than 10 million views…. They have a series of videos called “Will it blend?” — which has over 150 million views — where they stick all types of different things in a blender. In my favorite video, for example, they stick an iPhone in the blender. They actually drop an iPhone in. They close the top, they press the button, and you watch the iPhone get torn up by this really, really strong blender. It gets reduced to shreds. Little shards of glass and all the other things that make up an iPhone. Lots of smoke. At the end of the day, it’s basically powder. Now you’ve never seen a blender tear an iPhone. You’ve never imagined that a blender could do that to an iPhone. Yet you see it, and it’s pure remarkability. You’re so amazed you have to share that with someone else because it’s so impressive. People share these videos, even though they are about a blender. The point at the end of the day is anyone can craft contagious content. Yes, they are selling a blender. Yes, a blender doesn’t seem like a remarkable product. But by finding the inner remarkability in their product, they got people to talk and share. Knowledge@Wharton: What fascinated me about it was that the marketing director who had been hired realized that something they were doing every day — testing blenders — held opportunity for jumpstarting buzz for the firm. Berger: Yes, George Wright, a new marketing hire, comes into the office. He notices a pile of sawdust on the floor on one of his first days at work. He asks, “Are we expanding the office? Why is there sawdust on the floor?” His colleague responds, “No, the CEO is doing what he does every day: trying to break blenders.” The CEO would take two-by-four pieces of wood, golf balls, Bic lighters and throw them in the blender to see if the blender was tough enough to withstand the punishment. He wanted to make a really strong blender. George saw this and said, “This is a fantastic idea. This is gonna be a viral home run.” He took a $50 marketing budget — not $50 million, not $50,000 — but literally $50. Bought a white lab coat, some of those goofy glasses you often see people wear when they chop wood or something, and just filmed the CEO doing what the guy was already doing: trying to break blenders…. They distributed it to their mailing list, they distributed it to others, and it caught on like wildfire. People saw it, and they had to pass it on and share it with their friends. It’s a great example of why it doesn’t take a huge marketing budget. It doesn’t take a marketing genius — though they are smart marketers — to think about this. What it takes is understanding the psychology behind social transmission — what makes us talk about and share things. Then by generating content or building in features of your products, you create that viral user growth. Knowledge@Wharton: On the Internet, it’s often user-generated content that manages to generate giant page-view numbers and the viral sharing that many companies with much larger budgets and many more resources at their disposal would just die to have. What can companies learn from that? Berger: Companies often think it’s about advertising [or about] creating a really slick message and putting it out there. [They think] it will be really persuasive. It’s more about being open, being authentic and letting consumers create their own content. But also, creating ads that build in an understanding of why people talk about and share things. People don’t want to share things that look like ads. They don’t want to look like they are a walking advertisement for a company. But they will share really engaging content, even if that content happens to relate to a brand. A few years ago, Burger King had a great example on the web, the subservient chicken. You could go to this website, and you could type in whatever you wanted. This guy in a chicken suit would do whatever you typed in. For example, “Do a back flip,” and the guy in the chicken suit would do a back flip. “Hit a home run,” and he would look like he’s hitting a home run. But it wasn’t heavily-branded. It didn’t say, “Burger King, Burger King, buy Burger King” all over the page. The more you brand something, the more it looks like an ad, the less willing people are going to be to talk about and share it. You need to design content that’s like a Trojan horse. There’s an exterior to it that’s really exciting, remarkable and has social currency or practical value. But inside, you hide the brand or the benefit. “Will it blend” is a great example. It’s not a highly branded piece of content. People are watching it because they love to see this blender tear through things. But along the way, they’re learning about the brand. If, instead, they said, “Buy this blender. It’s fantastic. You’ll love it,” people wouldn’t share that with others, because it seems like an ad. But that’s not just online. It also happens offline. There’s a great local Philly example of a restaurant here called “Barclay Prime,” that has a $100 cheesesteak. Now, you might sit there and ask, “$100 cheesesteak? What could be on a $100 cheesesteak?” Well, it’s everything from Kobe beef to lobster to truffles. It comes with a little bottle of champagne. It’s a remarkable product, particularly for Philly, where we often think about cheesesteaks. Again, people don’t want to seem like an advertisement for Barclay Prime, but they do love to talk about this remarkable product. Along the way, they talk about the brand. It’s about understanding what consumers like to talk about and then attaching your brand or your idea to a story that they want to share. Knowledge@Wharton: You talked a little bit at the beginning about how a lot of people seem to think that going viral or becoming contagious is about luck, but that these six steps are what are really coming into play. For a company trying to harness these six steps, what kinds of issues do you see? How much do opposing market forces come into play? And what about sheer luck? Does luck have anything to do with it at all? Berger: Imagine you’re a baseball player, and you’re hitting pretty well, but you want to raise your batting average. This book will show you how to raise your viral batting average. Can I guarantee you’ll be the next “Gangnam Style” with a billion views? Definitely not. I can’t guarantee that. But I can guarantee that it will raise the likelihood that consumers talk about and share your ideas. If a person on average tells one person, we can increase it to two. If half the people are talking about your product, we can increase it to 60%. We have evidence-based principles that show why people talk about it and share. There is some luck to get a billion views. You can’t mathematically put something together to guarantee that you’ll get that many views. There is a snowball effect on the web. But you can guarantee that more people will talk about your brand or more people will share your idea, if you understand why people talk and share. Knowledge@Wharton: How have changes in the advertising and technology landscapes altered the nature of how things become contagious and, conversely, the reasons or the speed at which they maybe become uncontagious, or just peter out? Berger: Advertising is great for broad awareness. It’s great because it makes many people aware that your product exists. But it’s not very persuasive. If we think about it, we’re much more likely to believe what our friends say than to believe what ads say. I’m not against advertising. If you have enough money to buy a Super Bowl commercial, and that’s worth doing on your end, it’s definitely worth doing. It gets broad, broad awareness. But it’s not going to be very persuasive. What’s going to be persuasive is hearing from a friend or a colleague or someone you know that a product is good. Ninety percent of people believe what their friends say. Only about 30% of people believe what ads say. What I would say to businesses and organizations is, advertising’s not a bad thing. Indeed, it is one way to encourage word of mouth. But they should think about why people are going to talk about and share your ads once they’ve happened. How can you build content, both online and offline, that people will talk about and share? This conversation is focused a lot on the web, and the web is important. But actually, much more word of mouth is offline than online. There has been so much focus recently on social media technologies — Twitter and Facebook and the newest shiny tool that’s out there. But if you think about it, five or six years ago you could have been an expert on MySpace. You could have gone to a talk that says, “MySpace is where you should spend all your resources.” You could have gone after that tool. Now that useful knowledge would be pretty worthless, right? No one’s really on MySpace anymore. Will Facebook be around in 10 years? Will Twitter still be around? I don’t know. Will people still be talking and sharing? Certainly. It’s more about understanding why people talk and share, whether it’s online or offline, rather than focusing on the technologies they are sharing through. Knowledge@Wharton: Can you give an “offline” example of something that went viral? Berger: One example I really like is the example of Movember. Nonprofits have a problem: most donations to nonprofits are pretty private. You know what you donate to, and you might even know what your spouse or your best friend donates to. But you don’t really have any idea what your friends or people at the office donate to. That action is pretty private. But because it’s private, it’s hard for that to catch on more broadly. If you can’t see what others are doing, it’s hard to imitate it. One idea I talk about in the book is making the private public — making what people are doing more observable or visible. A favorite example of that is this campaign called “Movember.” A number of years ago in Australia, a couple of guys got together. They were drinking beers. They were talking and thinking about what would be fun to do just as a joke, for kicks. They decided to have a mustache-growing contest. They grew their best mustache. It happened to be the month of November, so they called it Movember. The next year, they had so much fun they wanted to do it again. They decided to raise money for men’s cancer. There are lots of campaigns for women’s cancers: the 5K races, Susan G. Komen Foundation and so on. Not so much for men’s cancers. But they had the really sharp idea of rather than just asking people for money, they would use mustaches as a public signal of that private behavior. For the month of November, you would grow a mustache, and you would ask people to donate money to support the cause for men’s cancers. But what’s really nice about that behavior, it’s a very public behavior…. If someone’s part of the campaign, you can see that he has a mustache on his face. If somebody in your office, who is a pretty buttoned-down guy starts sporting a mustache suddenly in the month of November — a big Rollie Fingers sort of mustache — you’re going to ask them, “Why are you doing this? What’s going on?” That will encourage them to talk about and share this Movember campaign, which will encourage you to do the same thing, either that year or next year. This is entirely offline, but public is a really simple way of getting ideas to catch on. Think about Apple’s headphones. It used to be that we all carried portable CD players. It was like carrying a pizza. You had to run like this, to make sure it didn’t skip. Then, they came out with these things called mp3 players. Really great technology, but they were super expensive. Is it worth adopting this new product? How do I know if it’s worth adopting this new product? If you looked around on the subway or the bus, you couldn’t tell [which products people were using] because everyone’s headphones were black. It was impossible to see what device someone was using, as opposed to another device. But what Apple did really smartly is they used white headphones. Once you start seeing a number of people wearing white headphones, you say, “Wow. A lot of people are using this. It must be really good,” which encourages you to adopt that product as well. It’s just like if you’ve gone to a foreign city and you don’t know where to eat. How you decide? You look for a restaurant that’s full of people. It’s a totally offline example. But you assume if it’s full of people, it must be really good. Thinking about how to make the private public, particularly in an offline environment, is a great way to help your product catch on.

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Moms-To-Be Are Eating Fish, But Choosing Low-Mercury Options It's been a conundrum for pregnant women: Forgo fish out of fears of mercury? Or eat it up to get the benefits of all the vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids found in many types of fish and shellfish? Increasingly, it seems women of childbearing age are opting for a smarter option: They're eating fish, but avoiding the species that are high in mercury. The Food and Drug Administration has long advised women of childbearing age who are thinking of becoming pregnant (along with those who are already pregnant or are breast-feeding a newborn) not to eat seafood that's high in mercury, such as swordfish and tilefish. And it seems lots of moms-to-be have been listening. According to a new study from the Environmental Protection Agency, the blood mercury levels in women of childbearing age dropped 34 percent in the decade between 2000 and 2010. And what's more, there's been a 65 percent drop in the percentage of women of childbearing age who have levels of mercury that are considered high enough to be of concern for health reasons. So the EPA concludes that women are making more informed choices and opting for low-mercury choices such as shrimp, canned light tuna and salmon. The EPA says women don't seem to be eating less seafood compared with a decade ago. In fact, the amount of fish and shellfish consumed by women of childbearing age changed "very little" during the survey periods between 1999 and 2010. Most fish and shellfish contain at least trace levels of the heavy metal mercury, according to experts. At very low levels, this mercury content is not thought to be a risk. But if mercury levels start to escalate, at higher levels the EPA concludes that mercury "may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system."

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Nice quote below. By orienting the craft toward the sun, the MESSENGER team was able to use the resulting solar pressure - in effect, a solar sailing technique - to fine tune the trajectory of the spacecraft on its second flyby of Mercury, achieving a record for precision. It missed its targeted altitude by only .6 kilometers, according to the blog, Musings of a MESSENGER Fellow. That’s pretty remarkable targeting, given that MESSENGER has traveled 668 million kilometers since its last deep space maneuver in March, [MESSENGER Mission Design Lead Jim] McAdams says. 'It’s as if we shot an arrow from New York to a target in Los Angeles – nudged it three times mid-stream with a soft breath – and arrived within the width of the arrow’s shaft at the target.' Above is an artist's impression of the long, steep cliffs that extend for hundreds of kilometers on Mercury¹s surface in both Mariner 10 and MESSENGER images. These giant cliffs are believed to have formed when Mercury's interior cooled and the entire planet shrank slightly as a result. Credit: Michael Carroll/Alien Volcanoes by Lopes and Carroll, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.

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the top of the paper says "Rational Expressions" Solve the equation. equations at the link Follow Math Help Forum on Facebook and Google+ For the first one, multiply both sides through by 6 and then by 9, what do you get? Originally Posted by pickslides For the first one, multiply both sides through by 6 and then by 9, what do you get? How about just multiply both sides by 18? Originally Posted by masters How about just multiply both sides by 18? I agree that this is a better step towards the answer. I think my step(s) are easier to follow for someone who is new to algebra. The candidate can see the 6 and 9, the 18 might be a mystery! Well, pretty difficult to help, since we don't know how far Mr Myers can get on his own... Can you show your work, please? for each equation, multiply every term by the common denominator to clear the fractions. common denominators are ... remember the restrictions on certain values that make the denominator value 0. View Tag Cloud

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When they say "most repeated occurrances" of a factor, I don't think they mean "in each factorization", but "in any one". For instance, 4 and 8 each contain factors of 2, but 8 contains three copies, so that's what you use: three copies of 2. The factorizations of 12 and 18 each contain factors of 2 and 3; 12 contains two copies of 2 and one of 3, while 18 contains one of 2 and two of 3. You use two copies of each, for an LCM of 2*2*3*3 = 36. In your case, the one factorization is 3*3*7 and the other is 3*19. You need one 7 (because that's the most that any of the factorizations contains), one 19 (for the same reason), and two 3s. While the one factorization contains only one 3, the other contains two 3s, and you need to include whatever is the maximum number of copies from either of the factorizations. For further information, try here.

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Morelia: The Heart of Mexico Guadalajara is often called “the Mexican’s Mexico,” and it’s true that tequila, mariachis, and charrería---which originated, or have been, er … distilled in Guadalajara---embody Mexico’s spirit. It’s my opinion, however, that Morelia is just as representative of Mexico ... on a less tangible level. Mexico is an amalgam of indigenous and European cultures. Capital of the state of Michoacán, Morelia’s strong indigenous background can be noted in the faces of its people and the place names of surrounding towns. Its European roots are equally evident in stately architecture imported from Spain juxtaposed with wide, straight streets and numerous monuments and plazas. Morelia’s “Mexican-ness” isn’t its tequila or rodeos. It’s the subtle fusion of competing cultures, which is, after all, what Mexico is all about. Heart Still Viable Despite Expanding Girth Today a city of more than 700,000, Morelia has nearly doubled in size since the mid-1980s, when a massive earthquake sent many Mexico City natives looking to relocate. In the past two decades, new homes and housing developments have spread up the hills above town and traffic has becomes noticeably worse. But Morelia still feels small town and Old School; it is still a pleasant city with a historical heart. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a great place for just walking around to admire the scenery. The main plaza and its lovely pink sandstone cathedral sit at the center of the city. Within a 10-block zone more than four dozen impressive edifices tell the story of Morelia’s colorful history. Downtown buildings span the centuries, from baroque to plateresque, neoclassic, and ostentatiously Porfirian. (The latter defines the style of early 20th-century “president for life” Porfirio Diaz.) Some of the restored mansions and churches serve their original purposes, while others have been co-opted for use as museums or government buildings. Although architectural styles vary, neoclassic and plateresque buildings of locally quarried limestone stone predominate. They are interspersed today with one-, two-, and three-story buildings of newer vintage whose warm color palate of coral, sand, and yellow ochre for the most part harmonizes well with the older buildings. At the northern end of Morelia’s historical center are several icons of the city. Across from Jardín Villalonguín, the bronze sculpture of three indigenous women is said to have been made with keys collected among the city’s residents. From there the city’s 250+-arch aqueduct is visible. Built at the end of the18th century, it served as a water source until the beginning of the Mexican Revolution, in 1910. Not so interested in history or architecture? How about a rock concert at the bullring, classical ballet at Teatro Morelos, or a drink at an open-air cafe at Parque de las Rosas, adjacent to the oldest music conservatory in the Americas. Maybe instead of museums you’d prefer to enjoy a movie at one of a half dozen multiplexes or an evening of live rock, salsa or trova in a downtown bar. Morelia is a great city to just do Mexico; you don’t necessarily have to do the sights. Lovers of handcrafts will be quite content to visit Morelia, where boutiques and government-run shops sell folk art and items from nearby towns and villages. That Michoacán state produces a great variety of handcrafts is by design rather than by accident. In the chaotic years after the Conquest, the enormously energetic Spaniard Bishop Vasco de Quiroga came to the region with ideas to improve the lives of the natives. (All but a privileged few natives lacked any sort of financial security. They had no land and no status.) Empowered by a book entitled Utopia, de Quiroga expanded upon indigenous knowledge of copper smithing, pottery making and other arts. Artisans in each town were given specific glazes or techniques, leaving a legacy that still fuels local economies. Morelia still has a relatively small foreign community, and most vacationers are from Mexico City or elsewhere in Mexico rather than from Canada or the United States. And if many of the shopkeepers and cabbies you’ll encounter speak English well, it’s probably because they spent years working in el norte rather than attending foreign tourists. (Michoacán habitually has the highest percentage of its population emigrating for work than any other state in Mexico.) In other words, in Morelia you’ll find a quintessentially Mexican city. If you still want to see “the Mexican’s Mexico,” however, Guadalajara is only about three hours away. For more things to do as well as hotels and restaurants, check out our Morelia Travel Guide. MORELIA LOCAL LISTINGS

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UK officials worked to halve the time it would take the country to go to war after the Cuban missile crisis, according to newly released documents. Macmillan ordered a review of the UK's war preparedness plans Prime Minister Harold Macmillan ordered a review of war preparedness plans following the stand-off, say official documents from the National Archives. The US-Soviet row over Russian missiles based in Cuba brought the world to the brink of nuclear conflict. As a result the UK decided to ensure it could be war-ready within two days. The National Archives published records of a Cabinet meeting which took place in November 1962, a month after the crisis ended. President John F. Kennedy announces the Cuba blockade during the missile crisis They reveal urgent work by ministers to make certain war procedures were up to date. A secret simulation exercise, Operation Felstead, had previously shown that under existing Government powers it would take four days to mobilise forces. But after the Cuban crisis, there were fears that such arrangements did not offer enough flexibility to counter the threat of a nuclear strike, or to cope quickly with the aftermath. Minutes of a Cabinet office home defence committe meeting show that officials therefore resolved to halve the preparation time. The Government decided to rewrite part of the War Book, its guidelines for the countdown to conflict.

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WEDNESDAY, July 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Muscle, bone and joint injuries, as well as mental health disorders, are the main reasons why U.S. soldiers who served in Iraq left the military, a new study finds. Researchers followed more than 4,100 Army soldiers, aged 18 to 52, from the start of a 15-month deployment in Iraq in 2006 until the end of four years after their return to the United States. Among those who were unable to return to a military career after the deployment, 60 percent had muscle, bone or joint injuries and nearly half had mental health conditions, according to the study published recently in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. Low back pain, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder were the most common reasons why soldiers left the military. The researchers also found that lower rank was associated with an increased likelihood of a soldier leaving the military after suffering physical or mental injuries during deployment in Iraq. “Our findings indicate a substantial burden in deployment-related injuries and disability that result from exposure to the combat environment. They also highlight influences that may impede a person’s ability to return to work after similar injuries in the civilian sector,” study author Dr. Andrew Schoenfeld, of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, said in a university news release. He noted that the study participants “not only included infantry fighters but also doctors, truck drivers, cooks, mechanics, legal clerks and others with various positions with the Army — and most of the injuries weren’t related to combat.” Along with having long-lasting physical effects, injuries may cause mental health problems that hamper physical recovery, according to Schoenfeld. “Our findings suggest that trauma from the incident that caused the injury may not only have long-lasting negative mental health effects but may also impede the physical recovery itself,” Schoenfeld said. “In the civilian world, people may experience the same kind of injuries from events such as car or motorcycle accidents. Recollection of the accident that caused the injury, witnessing a loved one get hurt or killed or complications stemming from the injury may also be triggers for psychological issues that cause difficulties for recovery,” he explained. The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about injuries and wounds.

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NORRIS – ADV PTG – PROJECT 1 - ABSTRACT OBJECTS This project’s purpose is two-fold: 1) to introduce us to abstract painting by examining its connection to observational painting and 2) to get the semester ball rolling with a quick, small project that will get us back in the studio and working. Abstraction, put simply, means removing something from its original source. If you think about, talk about, take a photo of or make a drawing of an object, those ideas, words, photographs or drawings are not the object itself; they are all, on some level, an abstraction of that original object. However when we think about “abstraction” in terms of painting, we tend to think of something else. Paint splatters, huge swaths of color, energetic gestures or geometric patterns come to mind. Therefore, to really begin investigating abstraction, we need to first examine what abstraction really means and how in fact it can mean many things at once. This project is designed to get us thinking about these issues through a simple exercise. First, we are each going to make a simple “abstract object” sculpture. Choose a basic, easily workable material (cardboard, wood, construction paper, etc). Use your chosen material to make a small (between 8”-18” or so) three-dimensional geometric form. This form should not represent a recognizable object, it should simply be a shape that is three dimensional and geometric. It can be as basic as a cube or a pyramid, or it can be something slightly more complex. Once you have completed the form, you are going to paint it (I recommend acrylic, or you can gesso it and paint it with oil). Paint each side of the object differently. One may be a plain white, one may have stripes, one may be a bright green with dots, etc. Never repeat the same side twice. Try to make the colors work together. Make something that is aesthetically appealing. Second, we are going to bring our new abstract object to class and make an observational still-life painting of it. You will set your painting up on a surface, light it, choose a background, and then paint it as faithfully as you can using your observational painting skills. We may choose to cluster several of the objects together. Your painting should be somewhere between 16 x 20” and 18 x 24”. You can work indirectly with an underpainting, or go straight into working with color. We will spend this time trying to make the most accurate painting we can and shaking some of the rust off for those of us who haven’t painted in a while. The final result will be a representational painting of an abstract object. Does that make it an abstract painting as well? Maybe the line between the two is less clear than one might think. This project will hopefully get us thinking about these questions and allow us to move towards abstraction, but in a way that is connected to how we’ve worked in the past. Thursday, August 25: Introduction to Project Homework: Make your “abstract object” sculpture over the weekend. It should be completely finished and ready to be the subject of our painting by Tuesday. Tuesday, August 30: We will set up our abstract objects and begin our paintings of them. Thursday, Sept. 1: We will continue work on them. Homework: Finish your abstract object painting. Tuesday, Sept. 6: We will critique the paintings and I will introduce Project 2. Images Below: Victor Pesce (studio), Victor Pesce, Jessica Stockholder, Andrew Holmquist, Richard Tuttle

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Optical Absorption of Melanin by Steven Jacques, Oregon Medical Laser Center The building blocks of eumelanin and pheomelanin. Curly red lines indicate sites of attachment to the extended polymer and possibly to proteins. The details of these attachments in the total complex structure are not known. Click here to see synthesis of melanin from tyrosine or DOPA. Melanin is a very complex absorbing material. Melanins from natural sources fall into two general classes: A black-to-dark-brown insoluble material found in human black hair and in the retina of the eye. A yellow-to-reddish-brown alkali-soluble material found in red hair and red feathers. A variety of low molecular weight pheomelanins are called "trichromes". The melanins are considered to be polymers of the basic building blocks shown in Fig. 1. However, the details of the polymerization and the role of protein linkages in the natural melanin complex are not known. Although the widespread belief is that the insoluble eumelanins are highly polymeric cross-linked structures consisting of several hundred monomeric units, Prota et al. (1988) point out that this belief is based on still ambiguous evidence. REFERENCE: G. Prota, M. D'Ischia, A. Napolitano, The chemistry of melanins and related metabolites, in "The Pigmentary System", ed. JJ Nordlund et al., Oxford University Press, 1988. - How should the extinction coefficient for absorption of melanin be expressed? The molecular structure of the extended melanin polymer is neither well characterized nor unique, so citing the concentration as [moles/liter] is difficult. There is possibly some degree of protein incorporation in the polymer, so citing the concentration as [mg/ml] may be misleading. - How does one encounter melanin? Melanin is synthesized enzymatically at roughly 10-nm granular sites studding the internal walls of the melanosome, a roughly 1-µm diameter organelle. Melanosomes may contain a variable amount of melanin. The melanosomes of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) have a very dense concentration of melanin. Cutaneous melanosomes are variable and may have 1/4th to 1/10th the melanin concentration of the RPE melanosomes. And there are some melanosomes devoid of melanin. - How are melanosomes distributed? The volume fraction of melanosomes in a particular epithelial layer, such as the cutaneous epidermis or the RPE, can vary. The average epidermal absorption coefficient depends on both the melanosomal µa and the volume fraction (fv) of melansomes in the epidermis. In skin, the volume fraction of melanosomes is estimated to vary as [Jacques 1996]: - for light skinned caucasions, fv = 1-3% - for well-tanned caucasions and Mediterraneans, fv = 11-16% - for darkly pigmented Africans, fv = 18-43%. The absorption information desired depends on one's intended use of the information. - Extinction coefficient of chromophore monomer subunits within polymer, ext.coeff [cm-1 (moles/liter)-1] If one is in interested in the stoichiometric efficiency of photon absorption by the chromophore monomers in melanin and any subsequent photochemical reactions, then one would like to know the extinction coefficient for the chromophore monomers incorporated in the extended melanin polymer. The concentration (moles/liter)-1 refers to the number density of chromophore monomers which comprise the polymer. Click here for discussion of extinction coefficient, ext.coeff - Absorption coefficient of melanosomes, µa [cm-1] If one is in interested in the effects caused by irradiating melanosomes in vivo, then one would like to know the average absorption coefficient µa [cm-1] for the interior of a melanosome. For example, the amount of thermal heating of a melanosome by a pulsed laser is of current clinical interest due to the various laser treatments of skin and retina. The amount of photons absorbed by a melanosome is pertinent to oxidative reactions catalyzed by melanosomes exposed to blue or ultraviolet light. Click here for discussion of absorption coefficient, µa - Optical depth of the epidermis, b [-] If one is interested in the amount of light transport into the skin and out of the skin which is important for dosimetry of laser treatments and interpretation of optical spectroscopy and imaging, then one would like to know the optical depth (µad, where d is epidermal thickness) of the epidermis. The epidermis is so thin that its optical effect can be treated as a simple absorption filter (epidermal transmission T = exp(-µad) for collimated beam normal to skin surface). If one wishes to model the distribution of photons in the epidermis and reflectance from the epidermis using Monte Carlo simulations, then one desires the average absorption coefficient of the epidermis: µa = (Optical depth)/d. Click here for discussion of optical depth, b

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Changing climate is accompanied by changing energy in various climate system components including the continental landmasses. When the temperature at ground surface rises, more heat will be deposited to the rocks beneath the ground subsurface, whereas when ground surface temperature falls, certain amount of heat will escape from the ground into the atmosphere. Based on the land-only global meteorological record, I analyze the annual heat budget of the world continents except for Antarctica. I show that between the period from 1851 to 2000 a total of 10.4 ZJ (Zetta-Joules or 1021 J) of thermal energy had been absorbed by Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America landmasses. An additional 1.34 ZJ of heat has been stored beneath the ground surface of these continents over the first four years of the 21st century from 2001 to 2004. The recent global climate change has led to an intensified heating in the continental landmasses.

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In the last post on Giraffatitan, we focused on just how strange the head is, and explored some hints about the ontogeny of the animal's face. However after a deeper exploration of the actual fit of the skull bones, dumping all stylizations and previous conventions of illustrating this iconic brachiosaur, a few things started dawning after being hidden and dissociated for mission of years. Giraffatitan is even weirder than I thought last time. Not that it's easy to tell from three fragmentary skulls and a fourth that, while largely complete, has undergone massive distortion from crushing. That skull, HMN t1, which was reconstructed in the 1930s, was cast in fiberglass recently by Research Casting International (RCI) in their 2007 revamp of the Humboldt Museum's dinosaur hall - one that was long overdue. The cast was scaled up by around 15% or so on a 3D printer to match the body of the larger HMN SII, whose associated (and far less complete) skull SMN S116 was significantly larger than HMN t1. Apparently an earlier cast of HMN t1 existed as far back as the 30s and stood in a glass case in front of the old mount. From the sides the distortion is more apparent. Left: moderate vertical crushing in the upper jaw. Right: more severe crushing in upper jaw, including lateral splaying of the lip region and artificial progmathism and splaying of the premaxilla and snout tip. This actually results in a different observable lip line on one side than on the other. Of course the teeth are seriously falling out of their sockets here. They did not extend out that far in life. Another problem is that the warping and crushing is in more than one direction, so that you are literally getting a different face looking at it from different angles. Judging the ideal "shape it should be" from a few photos at odd diagonal angles is asking for trouble. So how do you reliably uncrush this thing evenly, without photographic distortion on top of physical distortion, and get an idea of what the skull originally looked like? Well you can go based on photos by amateur photographers from slightly off angles in a small cramped basement room, or go by professional drawings from the past, or use published photos. I prefer published photos from the paper, but for Janensch (1935) these are rather old and grainy, and I assumed a better result could be had from bigger, newer, sharper full-color photos, or from supposedly well-measured professional drawings of the skull in its hypothetical pristine form. Initially the design for the Giraffatitan skulls in the skeletal redux went like this: The first version was on the old Giraffatitan skeletal I posted. The drawing I used for inspiration (artist unknown) was rather grainy, and I ended up exaggerating the proportions and the shape of the teeth somewhat. On a 1950s brachiosaur drawing this head may have looked okay, but the shape of the nose and the jaws just seemed contrived based on what I had seen of the skulls - and the snout was a bit too beak-like in profile. The second version came to me after hunting down a photo from a not-quite-profile angle on the web. Upping the contrast and then editing out the further premaxilla yielded a good snout profile, and this time with the nasal arch editing looking much better. The nasals of HMN t1 do appear a bit flattened so will need to be edited each time. Here the angle itself helped counteract the appearance of the crushed snout that plagues ride-view verbatim restorations.We end up with more robust jaws and a more believable gumline for a brachiosaur. But still, this image was based on a photo from an angle and so necessitated some distortion due to perspective as well. Out of frustration some may resort to simply taking Janensch's drawing of a "de-crushed" composite skull as the true path. The problem here is that Janensch made a glaring error - the snout in his engraving is far too long. I shortened it a bit, but even then this version seems to shrink the nose and the rear skull and overgrow the snout and jaws. None of the Giraffatitan skulls have these proportions, they all reflect proportionally shorter jaws than that. Finally a real edge-on profile photo of the right side of the skull surfaced on the internet. It was poorly lit and grainy, but it was the best profile available at the time - the picture was taken from some distance, so no "fish-eye" shape distortion, and also no angle distortion. Of course the crushing was still there, but now there was no extra visual illusion on top of it to undo. Rapidly this became a line-drawing, but then the flattened upper jaw and prognathic snout tip had to be corrected. With the jaws deepened to make up for crushing and possible erosion, the teeth back in their sockets, and the back of the skull at its proper proportions, this fourth attempt looked like the answer. Based on it, I crafted the previous incarnation of the ontogenic sequence of Giraffatitan skulls, with some more modification. Unfortunately, this assumed the other skulls were more or less identical to HMN t1. And it also utilized an excessive amount of morph change from the original despite compensation for crushing being necessary. A better photo was needed. Actually several better ones were needed for these skulls turned out to be unique individuals with different faces. Looking closer at photos of the skulls, it became clear that this little happy family just looked wrong. Pretty messy, pretty horrible. But let's clean up the process a bit... |How to draw accurate Giraffatitan skulls without going insane| It is often helpful to invert colors in MS Paint and work "in negative" - it allows you to avoid distracting and potentially artificial structures and visual illusions caused by too many changes between black and white regions. Now the process of following the skull photos much more closely than in the last set of reconstructions becomes very simple. The published photos from Janensch (1935) are rather grainy compared to more recent ones, but at least they were taken professionally, from proper lateral angles at a good distance, and thus can be used to make a skull recon while both removing crushing and avoiding the pitfalls of having to worry about camera angle distortion from amateur photos of the skulls (or of t1 anyway, since the other skulls have never been reconstructed or cast, and are off limits to the public). Reversing one side of the skull and overlapping it in Paint and Pixia allows you to get an idea of the relative crushing and distortion in different directions on both sides of the skull, and average their outlines to compensate for it. Some additional decrushing was also done with the snouts, which were all a bit more flattened than normal. So in the end we have a rather different set of skulls than the speculative versions in the last post. Interestingly enough, the large HMN S116 has an absolutely huge nose, even by the standards of the more famous HMN t1. While the nasal arches are not preserved in S116, the enormous and massively buttressed shape of the upper maxillary process means that the nasals begin higher up on the skull than in HMN t1. In addition, the higher slope of the maxilla's upper surface indicates the nasal arch was also more elongated from front to rear (relative to the snout) than in t1. This overall indicates a nose that was oversized in all dimensions relative to t1. The lower jaw by contrast seems a bit undersized. This can be easily explained as the result of ontogeny, as the large S116 - probably the same animal as the huge mounted postcrania labeled HMN SII - is actually still growing, its coracoids being unfused to scapulae, though it is still more mature than the smaller t1. However, there is probably more to this bulbous difference in nasal size than just ontogeny. Note that the immature HMN S66, which is smaller than t1, also shares the large S116's trait of very large and tall upper maxillary processes and thus nasal bones that are rooted very high on the head. The nasal of S66 is flattened, which is to be expected as it has disconnected from the premaxillary (whose upper portion, making up the lower half of the nasal arch, has long broken off and disappeared) . However judging by the high-sloping upper surfaces of the maxillae in this specimen, the full nasal arch was likely also proportionally taller and longer than in t1. The fact that both the more mature S116 and the slightly smaller and (likely) less mature S66 have significantly more massive and taller upper maxillary processes and larger noses overall than t1, as well as a different shape to the maxillary processes altogether, indicates we may actually be looking at sexual dimorphism - perhaps with the large S116 and the much smaller S66 both being males, and the intermediately sized t1 being a female. This possibility indicates that dimorphism in Giraffatitan could have progressed, at least in the skull, from a relatively young age. HMN SII/S116 was roughly 74ft. long, even with the substitution of the smaller correct tail HMN Aa for the oversized tail "HMN Fund no" used in the mounted exhibit. Judging by the unfused coracoids (and overlapping unfused scapula from the similar-sized HMN Sa9 - which may also be part of the same individual), the animal was likely a subadult, perhaps in its tens or early 20s assuming these animals took around 30 years to reach adulthood, which seems to be the indication in osteological sauropod studies. HMN S66, by a very rough estimate, was probably around 50ft. long, and may have been in its early teens. Unfortunately there has not been much histological work done on Giraffatitan to determine the ages of various specimens so these are speculations for now, but it is likely that if we are seeing sexual dimorphism in skulls, it probably began well before Giraffatitan reached physical maturity. Of course, adult Giraffatitans (of which HMN XV2 and "HMN Fund no" may be examples) would have had even bigger heads. As these larger specimens, likely ranging between 85 and 90ft. long when alive, are not known from shoulder material, whether they are full-grown or not is impossible to determine. So the typical adult size of Giraffatitan - let alone its upper limit - is not determinable with any certainty, and neither is its maximum likely adult skull size. But we can at least scale up S116 to get a rough model of how big XVs's skull may have been. Eventually thus we end up with an ontogenic sequence, which can be compared to other brachiosaurs known thus far: Yes, those are some pretty huge skulls. And it makes sense, as they needed a big head, and especially a big mouth, to pack down all the food needed to grow to such huge sizes and beyond. HMN XV2 could have taken in 30gk in a single bite (though given how Jurassic conifer tendrils were built, much of each bite would have been air). And things get even stranger when you realize that even in the smaller HMN t1, the braincase was about 500 cc's, far larger than in many dinosaurs, and comparable to a chimpanzee brain, which is considered pretty large in terms of raw size. Nobody will ever see sauropods as "pin-headed" ever again. So to recap, not all Giraffatitan skulls were copies of HMN t1. There is significant variation, enough to suggest a possible dimorphism in addition to ontegenic changes. The Jurassic weirdness continues! The last post on Giraffatitan focused on the torso, and how it had often been inaccurately restored. But I didn't appreciate just how strange this animal's spine was until I got down to business, and started articulating images of the bones to see exactly how the centra and zygapohyses actually fit together. In the process I discovered that the actual 12th dorsal, though published by Werner Janensch in his 1950 monograph, was never scaled or reproduced in the mounted skeleton, nor was it used by any of the previous artists who had done skeletals of Giraffatitan. Greg Paul, Scott Hartman, Stephen Czerkas and or course (ironically) Janensch himself had left it out of their full-body skeletals. In addition it appears that they all changed the bizarre proportions of dorsal 9 - which has a relatively compact neural arch but a hugely elongated centrum - in order to make it fit in sequence such that the spine was more or less straight. But D9 (as heavily restored in plaster by Janensch anyway) has to be tilted upwards by around 40 degrees in order to have the short hyposphene reach far back enough to properly lock into place with D10, which indicates that their angle of articulation is anything but straight, and that D9 probably fits into the dorsal column like an upward-pointing wedge of sorts. The result is a bizarre double-kink in the lower dorsals which both reinforces the lower back and makes the torso shorter and more compact. The fact that D10's centrum (again, going off of Janensch's restoration) has a condyle that is tilted up and back further reinforces this tilted angle of articulation demanded by the hyposphene of D9, as does the resulting snug fit of the neural spines of D9 and D10, without an excessive gap between them. Oddly Janensch doesn't carry over the weird shapes of both bones to his own full-body skeletal, though he does illustrate them individually in his paper, odd shapes and all, just it as his team restored them. But this is far from the only strange thing about Giraffatitan that has been overlooked for decades. Nearly every part of its body turned out to have unexpected features not included in ANY previous restorations. And one of the most commonly oversimplified, blurred, or just flat-out distorted parts in many restorations is... the head. That's right, Giraffatitan's head is truly weird. A marvel of natural engineering and stress distribution through struts that in some places appear thinner than a human finger. The skull was light and hollow, yet could get up to a meter long (estimated size for adult individuals such as HMN XV2). And yet it was packed with big teeth resembling a cross between spoons and railroad spikes, built to crunch through hard branches high in the ancient conifers. As you can see in the above picture, the skull is partially reconstructed with plaster, including one of the eye struts and the region just below the base of the nasal crest. But there are in fact four skulls in existence. At least that is how many Janensch mentioned. Three of them are missing a great deal of material, but the most well-known one, HMN t1, is nearly complete. We know this skull very well. Anyone who has seen photos of the Berlin mounted specimen (mostly based on HMN SII) has also probably seen this t1 skull, which is actually from a smaller individual. A scaled up cast of this skull was mounted on the skeleton itself in 2007, replacing an older crude sculpted skull. The skull you see at the feet (or rather hands) of the Giraffatitan in these photos is actually only a cast of HMN t1. The real skull is stored in a museum vault and is (supposedly) off limits to the public. Now at one point this face was cute. Then it got fossilized and crushed. A few pieces such as the upper part of the eye socket are missing or broken. The upper jaw is partially collapsed in the middle, causing the sides of the maxillae to turn up and flare out. The sides of the jaws are thus artificially bowed out sideways. This led Dr. Matt Wedel to comment that it looks like a toilet seat today. Honestly I feel sorry for this poor creature. But sauropod skulls being delicate and easily smushed is a fact of life. Some of them had such loose connections between the skull bones that they actually dislocated during fossilization! The crushing is easier to see from the side: The snout has been flattened in the center, and to some extent the top of the nasal arch has also been squashed. Also notably, the teeth appear artificially long because they have slipped out of their sockets (or been pushed out by inclined crushing during fossilization) and the roots are visible. The skull itself had to be glued together from many fragments, and when first excavated was a bit of a jumble, like this: But the trickiest aspect of this whole story is that there are a number of different ways the skull could have looked in real life. The crushing was uneven, which means the left and right sides of the skull appear rather different, with the right upper jaw considerably flatter than the left. Also we may be dealing with the possibility of ontogeny, that the skull of Giraffatitan would have changed shape with age and maturity. This is usually not a big concern in sauropods, as they do not develop any horns or massive butting surfaces on their heads, but that doesn't preclude the possibility that the shape of the head itself changed with age. In trying to reconstruct a profile of Giraffatitan's head, I had to get around a few things. First, the specimen I'm using for the skeletal is HMN SII, so the skull has to closely match the S116 skull, which is from the same or similar-sized individual. This skull has somewhat different proportions to some of the bones than HMN t1, although part of this may be due to either ontogeny or sex of the individual. That said, I wanted to create a reconstruction that adequately combines the most consistent aspects of all the skulls and eliminates crushing so that we can see the "ideal" morph of how SII's head would have looked on the living animal. This was going to be a literal headache. It didn't help that Janensch and other early authors had themselves illustrated the "generic" Giraffatitan skull a number of different ways, with varying proportions. So in brief, below, is the progress of morphs, trying to get the uncrushed proportions just exactly right (with a similar but shorter process for the referred Felch Quarry skull of Brachiosaurus - also an immature specimen - shown below it.) By comparison with many photos from different angles and all the known Janensch engravings, gradually a more complete picture emerged. And so with a few remixes for different specimens, ultimately the conclusion was that the typical Giraffatitan head - hypothetically a mix of t1 and S116 - would look as follows. So after about 30 variations and tweaks, this is what we've got. Overall a LOT better than the ugly derpy overbite version you see in most books and websites (basically a caricature of the crushed t1 skull), or for that matter the oversimplified blurry Greg Paul version which is sorely lacking in detail and deviates substantially from the fossils in several ways. |Pauly DERP that you can get sued for imitating.| So yes, Giraffatitan - when uncrushed - has a rather different head than we've long been lead to believe. Feel free to comment below. I knew this day was coming! Lacovara's titanosaur has been described, named, and even 3D imaged! Dreadnoughtus schrani, read about it here: http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140904/srep06196/full/srep06196.html . I saw this animal in preparation at the lab in Carnegie Museum long before it had a name, and I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Lacovara himself at SVP 2010 and 2011 about this animal's morphology and likely lineage, so seeing the fruits of the Drexel team's work is personally satisfying. And unlike many instances of new dinosaur names, this one fits the bill perfectly. Dreadnoughtus is indeed a dreadnought of the dinosaurs. Not the only one by any means, but it's about time sauropods got some really imposing-sounding names, not just predatory theropods like T. rex. At some point sauropods really do get too big for any predator to mess with. Now as usual with these giant dinosaur discoveries there are a number of myths floating around with the facts. Some of the most common rumors media reports that we can scrutinize are as follows: 1. This is the biggest dinosaur yet found. Actually, no it's not. Argentinosaurus, Alamosaurus, Puertasaurus, Ruyangosaurus, the Chubut Monster, "Huanghetitan" ruyangensis, and maybe even Paralititan and Argyrosaurus sp. likely outclass it for raw size and mass. And there are a few brachiosaurs which also might be larger, including a very big referred specimen of Brachiosaurus itself. Of course neither specimen of Dreadnoughtus is fully grown (unfused scapula-coracoid suture is a dead giveaway of immaturity) so perhaps an adult Dreadnoughtus could rank higher in the "top 10 biggest". It is however among the biggest dinosaurs that are actually complete enough to reasonably estimate their size without much room for guesswork. But nobody is officially claiming it to be the "biggest" - we know based on general large titanosauriform proportions that most or all of the aforementioned animals are larger, even if estimating just how much larger is a bit more tricky. 2. This is the most complete giant titanosaur found. This is technically true. Although it's missing most of the neck and ribs, which are largely present in Futalognkosaurus, the other contender for "most complete giant titanosaur". The fully tally of bones from the two Dreadnoughtus specimens adds up to more, especially considering the limb material, but the published diagrams and 3D scans still look less complete than Futalognkosaurus - when you composite all 3 specimens of Futa together, anyway. Surface area-wise, Futa's huge and deep neck bones at least make it appear more complete. And the referred juveniles contribute some limb material. Both animals appear to be similar in size. 3. This animal is a lognkosaur, as the paper seems to imply. What's funny is that when the fossils were still under preparation back in 2010-11, both Dr. Lacovara and myself thought it might be something much more derived, like a record-sized Aeolosaurus-grade saltasaurid, due to the forward-slanted, antenna-like prezygapophyses in the tail. Of course to be fair, most of the fossils were in fragments at the time and had to be painstakingly glued back together, and when part or all of a caudal neural spine is broken off, many unrelated titanosaurs can look deceptively like "aeolosaurs". However, after analyzing the paper I can say that a lognkosaur-like position is indeed more plausible. This animal however isn't quite a lognkosaur. Close, but not quite. The upper humerus bulges upward medially, much more like Argyrosaurus and Quetecsaurus, which has a very Argyrosaurus-like hand shape. Unfortunately hand material is missing for Dreadnoughtus, but the arm bones look Argyrosaur-like enough. The femur is very wide and robust with a large, midlevel 4th trochanter, convex-curved upper margin, and a reduced lateral bulge - very different from any known lognkosaur femur, but very similar to the two huge "Argyrosaurus sp." femurs in the Field Museum. The dorsal vertebrae are pretty wide with substantial laminae making the neural spines triangular, but just not as wide as in true lognkosaurians. They do however bear a passing resemblance to the dorsals of "Argyrosaurus sp." (=Elaltitan lilloi) specimen PVL 4628. The paper clusters it with Malawisaurus, which it places in a more derived position than true lognkosaurs - a position that isn't supported by the humerus and femur morphology and think should be re-examined. The Paleo King ranks this species as an Argyrosaurid, probably closest to Quetecsaurus. Which is a very good thing indeed, as it (along with the even odder Quetecsaurus) greatly improves our knowledge of this obscure titanosaur family. |Bones NOT to scale here!| |Or here, though looks may deceive!| 4. The neck was horizontal (?!?!?!?) The reality is that only two of the neck bones were found, and both exhibit pretty serious crushing. And the first 3 dorsal vertebrae are missing entirely, with the 4th being seriously crushed as well. So it's very difficult if not impossible to reconstruct its neck posture accurately. The honest answer is that we don't know what Dreadnoughtus' neck posture was. But I think it's a pretty good guess that the neck was vertical or semi-vertical as in Futalognkosaurus, not horizontal as in the published skeletal in the paper. We are definitely dealing with a high-browser here. Titanosaurs of such large size usually have the extremely long and vertical necks of high browsers - there is no point in wasting such necks to only bend down and eat ferns like Saltasaurus or Diplodocus. Even the paltry tooth material found with Dreadnoughtus is that of a high-browsing conifer eater. The 9th(?) cervical is big enough to indicate an even longer neck than Futalognkosaurus, and even with the 3D model omitting any speculative reconstruction of the hands (and leaving precious little space for them), the shoulders of Dreadnoughtus are still higher than its hips. Add in hands of correct lognkosaur or argyrosaur proportions, and this will tilt up the torso and shoulders even further. And the general rule with all high-shouldered sauropods is that they also tend to be high-browsers, regardless of neck length. So we have two patterns of evidence in favor of a vertical neck. |Original skeletal from paper - the neck seems to be horizontal to make room for more figures? The back is oddly curved, which isn't evidence by anything in the fossils, and the dorsal spines just look wrong. Where's the backsweep?| |Very hastily corrected version with correct-sized hands and a straighter back and more vertical neck. Now that's better!| 5. Dreadnoughtus and Puertasaurus were basically best chums. Doubtful. Although they were found very close together (something like only 13 miles apart) in Santa Cruz province in the far south of Argentina, their time horizons may be different. The exact stratigraphy of the Dreadnoughtus site is still a bit murky, and even if it is Maastrichtian in age, it may still be separated from Puertasaurus by hundreds of thousands of years if not more. And even if they did live at the same time, they may not have been buddies. Big sauropods in similar feeding niches were just as likely to compete over resources as share them. Notice that term similar niches. This did not mean that big herbivores always butted heads (or tails, as the case may be). Sauropods in vastly different feeding niches (such as brachiosaurs and diplodocids in the Morrison and Tendaguru formations) tended to coexist just fine. Plus, if the subadult type specimen of Dreadnoughtus (or one of similar size, around 50-60 tons) crossed paths with the Puertasaurus type (around 90-110 tons, which may or may not be an adult) then maybe "dread-nought" may have stopped being such an appropriate label! Comparing the dorsals of Dreadnoughtus with the one found from Puertasaurus, you will soon see that while Dreadnoughtus may be huge, it's definitely not in the same league. One of these days we may see a paper come out about this. France, as you may know, contains a dinosaur of truly gigantic proportions (and no, I'm not talking about the Algerian species "Brachiosaurus" nougaredi which seems to have disappeared into a black hole somewhere in Paris). No, this one's a local. A new "titanosaur" known only as the French Monster, or the giant of Angeac, has turned up in the past few years in a bone bed which contains a huge jumble of Early Cretaceous dinosaurs of various sizes - everything from baby abelisaurs to massive hundred-foot sauropods. Except it's not really a titanosaur, is it? The French Monster is another one of those legendary or semi-legendary sauropods which should have a name and a formal description, though it's unlikely most of them ever will. Even the pictures evoke something rarely seen in the fossil record. Mainly the image that sticks in your mind is the very long and oddly blackened right femur, over 2.2m long, with which everyone seems to be "doing the Jensen" though none of them come close to getting it right. But there is much more to the Angeac-Charente site where this bone was found. There appears to be part of a second femur also recovered at the site, and possible rib fragments. And different individuals of this species have been found, with the fossils in different shades of mineralization. These teeth have a very basal appearance, and so the labeling of this animal as a titanosaur is unlikely. The teeth could easily pass for Brachiosaur teeth. But there is more than just this first indication what what we are seeing may not be a true titanosaur. Between brachiosaurs and basal somphospondyli (creatures like Chubutisaurus, Ligabuesaurus, and some would say, Paluxysaurus and Sauroposeidon) and true titanosaurs, there was an amazing radiation of transitional forms. These appear to form at least two major families: Euhelopodidae, and Acrofornica (tall-arches). Both are characterized by extremely long necks, high cervical counts, and bifid neural spines in the neck. The Acrofornica are further distinguished by very tall neural arches, high diapophyses, and nearly no neural spine in the dorsals. They tend to have well-separated sacral ribs, whereas those of euhelopodids tend to be extensively fused together. And whereas euhelopodids (or at least some of them) have procoelous tail vertebrae (anticipating derived titanosaurs!) the tails of acrofornicans revert back to simple amphiplatyan tails, as in basal titanosaurs. After about 3 years of morphometric comparisons between various elements and overlaps between different specimens (some of them very fragmentary) the following family tree slowly began to reveal itself. This is not a complete family tree of titanosauriformes; only some of the more well-known ones intermediate between brachiosaurs and titanosaurs are included here. Well it turns out that the French Monster is more like Huabeisaurus than previously realized. Both are closer to Euhelopus and the acrofornicans than to true titanosaurs. Complicating matters is the fact that some lognkosaurian titanosaurs have a protruding femoral head and a high and prominent lateral bulge, which differs from all other titanosaurs, and converges on that of some euhelopodids and acrofornicans. However the distal end of the femur follows radically different patterns in the two lineages. Here's the comparison of posterior views, you be the judge (not to scale): Perhaps the biggest oddity of all is how slender the French Monster's femur is. The crushing is mostly from front to back, not lateral. So it really was this narrow. There is a possibility then, that this animal was not even close to the maximum size possible. As an adult it may have been more robust. There is no coracoid or scapula material, so the degree of suture fusion in the shoulders (and thus the animal's maturity) is open to speculation. As far as I can see it, this dinosaur is most likely a chubutisaur (or whatever Paluxysaurus is, seeing as it's more or lesss totally busted as a purported brachiosaur), but may also belong in acrofornica or euhelopodidae depending on how the cladistics stack up. In any case it's huge and unusual, and maybe soon we may get to see a description and some idea of its overall proportions.

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resources related to the experiences and contributions of Native Americans to our nation which would be useful for units during this Native American Heritage Month. It would be interesting for students to consider how many of the items were created by Native Americans versus how many were created about Native Americans? |New-York Tribune Article | on “The Iroquois Wampum” Students should also learn that there are multimedia items (such as Omaha Indian Music and Florida Folklife from the WPA Collection, 1937-1942) and that items related to Native Americans are intertwined throughout many of the Library’s online collections that also focus on other topics. For example, search the historic newspaper collections to analyze newspapers published by or dedicated to Indians of North America as well as articles and images published in newspapers serving a broader audience. To get started, search on terms such as Indian agency, Indian bureau, Indian war, or the names of particular groups or tribes, including Ojibwa, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Iroquois. Native Americans narrate their personal experiences serving in conflicts from World War II to Iraq in audio and video interviews collected by the Library’s Veterans History Project in “Willing to Serve: American Indians.” You can find primary sources and historical context for teachers and students in the presentation Immigration…Native American. A listing of Primary Source sites on the Library website is at http://blogs.loc.gov/teachers/category/primary-source-highlights/

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Peace Dollar mintages ranged from a low of 360,649 for the key date issue of the series to a high of more than 50 million. The highest mintages took place early in the series when heavy production was necessary to fulfill the requirements of the Pittman Act. The Pittman Act had authorized the melting of up to 350 million silver dollars for conversion to bullion and sale to Great Britain. The quantity of 270,232,722 silver dollars which were melted were required to be replaced with newly minted coins produced from the output of American mines. This large quantity was struck for the final year of the Morgan Dollar series and the initial years of the Peace Dollar series until 1928. The key date of the Peace Dollars series is usually considered to be the 1928 Peace Dollar since it has the lowest mintage. The 1934-S Peace Dollar is also considered to be a key date in mint state. Although over one million coins were produced, the coins saw extensive circulation making choice mint state examples rare.

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For over a year and a half, a mystery dinosaur has been hanging on the trophy wall of the Natural History Museum of Utah. The nameless Cretaceous herbivore isn’t quite like the neighboring horned dinosaurs arrayed in the display’s evolutionary rank and file. The deep-snouted dinosaur has a U-shaped set of long, curved brow horns and small, scalloped ornaments decorating the perforated frill – flashy headgear distinct from the short brow-horned, spiky-frilled look of the dinosaur’s close cousins Centrosaurus and Styracosaurus. Today, this bizarre 75 million year old dinosaur finally gets a name. Dubbed Nasutoceratops titusi, the “large-nosed horned face” is described by paleontologist Scott Sampson and colleagues in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. (The dinosaur’s species name, titusi, honors Bureau of Land Management paleontologist Alan Titus.) The paper is the culmination of a 2010 master’s thesis paleontologist Eric Lund undertook at the University of Utah in which the known remains of the dinosaur were prepared, studied, described, and even named, but could not be officially counted in the Mesozoic menagerie until the new publication. Now that the formalities are out of the way, Nasutoceratops can take its place within the wildly branching pattern of horned dinosaur evolution. About 75 million years ago, when Nasutoceratops roamed, southern Utah was practically shorefront property. Instead of being a landlocked four corners state, Cretaceous Utah abutted the edge of the long-vanished Western Interior Seaway that split North America into two continents – Appalachia to the east and Laramidia to the west. The part of Laramidia that Nasutoceratops inhabited is preserved in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument’s Kaiparowits Formation, recording an era when strange species of dinosaurs trod through lush coastal swamps. Species by species, paleontologists have been naming the unusual dinosaurs of the Kaiparowits Formation. In 2010, for example, some of the same researchers behind the Nasutoceratops paper described Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops from the same slice of geologic time. Nasutoceratops is the third horned dinosaur to have browsed the same humid habitats, but was a different sort of herbivore than those previously known. In technical parlance, large horned dinosaurs are called ceratopsids. There are two ceratopsid subgroups which split from each other between 90 and 80 million years ago. There were the chasmosaurines – such as Utahceratops, Kosmoceratops, and the famous Triceratops – and the centrosaurines, of which Nasutoceratops is the latest member to be described. Known from a mostly-complete skull, forelimb and neck elements, as well as several other disarticulated skull pieces, Nasutoceratops seems to retain an archaic centrosaurine skull type. Whereas early centrosaurines had long brow horns and short nasal horns, later forms – such as Centrosaurus and Styracosaurus – had short brow horns, long nasal horns or bosses, and extravagant frill decorations that were much more prominent than the little nubs on Nasutoceratops. While Nasutoceratops lived at about the same time as Centrosaurus and Styracosaurus, the newly-named dinosaur represents an early, persistent offshoot of the same subgroup that kept the long-brow-horns, short-nasal-horns style going. That such a strange centrosaurine existed in the southern ranges of Laramidia adds to the growing body of evidence that some sort of barrier caused dinosaurian evolution to diverge on the lost continent shortly before 75 million years ago. The genera and species of dinosaurs found in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and other southern sites are distinct from those previously discovered in Canada and other northern locales. The great, unresolved question is what this barrier was. The dinosaurs – hadrosaurs, tyrannosaurs, ankylosaurs, ceratopsids, and more – give away the pattern of a great evolutionary split, but the reasons and mechanics of that event have not yet come into focus. Not that there aren’t further mysteries within Nasutoceratops itself. Naming a dinosaur is just an initial step in understanding the animal. Nasutoceratops is found in the same formation as two other large ceratopsids, for example, not to mention several other heavy herbivores. Were all these dinosaurs neighbors that preferred different sorts of vegetation to circumvent competition – as megaherbivores of the same era in prehistoric Canada did – or did these dinosaurs occupy similar habitats at different times? The ecology of Nasutoceratops is an open question. And then there’s the dinosaur’s nose. Within that Jimmy Durante profile, the nose of Nasutoceratops had large air spaces – or “pneumatic excavations” – that have never been seen in any other horned dinosaur. Did these nasal spaces have a peculiar function? No one yet knows. That, and the rest of the dinosaur’s biology, is almost entirely unknown, particularly since most of the skeleton has yet to be found. Enough of the magnificent ceratopsid has been uncovered to know that Nasutoceratops was something different, but the life of the horned herbivore awaits discovery. [Full disclosure: I volunteer in the paleontology department of the Natural History Museum of Utah, where Nasutoceratops is curated and some of the new study’s research was conducted.] Sampson, S., Lund, E., Loewen, M., Farke, A., Clayton, K. 2013. A remarkable short-snouted horned dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous (late Campanian) of southern Laramidia. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 280: 20131186

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After journeying a bit more than an hour across the Solar System, bright sunlight reflects off the gleaming icy cliffs in the wispy terrain of Dione and is captured by the Cassini spacecraft's cameras several seconds later. Saturn's ringplane is here tilted slightly toward the Cassini spacecraft and is bisected by the planet's dark shadow stretching across the rings. This view looks toward the Saturn-facing hemisphere on Dione (1,126 kilometers, or 700 miles across). The image was taken in visible light with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Dec. 3, 2005, at a distance of approximately 2.8 million kilometers (1.7 million miles) from Dione and at a Sun-Dione-spacecraft, or phase, angle of 104 degrees. Resolution in the original image was 17 kilometers (11 miles) per pixel on Dione. The image has been magnified by a factor of two and contrast-enhanced to aid visibility. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging operations center is based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo. For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov. The Cassini imaging team homepage is at http://ciclops.org.

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As food. The picking time for this plant lasts only about two weeks. The rhubarb plant is ready to eat in mid-June when it is about 20 to 25 centimeters tall (eight to 10 inches). When the plant is young it can be eaten raw, after first removing the leaves and seedy tops from the plant, and peeling off the outer skin. It is very crunchy and juicy. Once the plant has gone to seed or has many white flowers, the plant is too dry to eat. Source: Andre, Alestine and Alan Fehr, Gwich'in Ethnobotany, 2nd ed. (2002) Wild rhubarb is best harvested in late June to early July. The leaves of the wild rhubarb, like fireweed or willow leaves, are used on burns. The leaves can also be dried and stored for later use. Source: Andre, Alestine, Nant'aih nakwits'inahtsìh (The Land Gives Us Strength) (2006)

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MALUS: Pacific Northwest Apples Don't miss our Annual Apple Tasting Event held each year in October. Anyone who has grown up in the Pacific Northwest or has lived here for very long is apt to answer ‘The Apple’ to the Trivial Pursuit question, “What is the most commonly cultivated fruit in the world?” It turns out that when we are talking globally, the answer is the mango but for most of the western world, the apple is probably the fruit that comes to mind as most familiar. Apple lore dates back to ancient times, but this adaptable member of the rose family was probably first cultivated in North America in the early 17th century. Early Americans used apples more as a source of alcoholic drink, substituting costly imports with hard cider or something harder. Since then, over 1000 varieties have entered cultivation, bred to fit various use and climate needs for this continent’s vastly diverse environments. The Pacific Northwest is one of the very best growing areas for this varied and popular fruit. The seasonal availability of the apple is fairly amazing. With the possible exception of the banana, I can’t think of another fruit that is found 12 months of the year in the markets. Apples in the Portland area begin to be ready from July (Yellow Transparent) to November (Granny Smith). For the home gardener, there are many possible choices. At Portland Nursery, we generally carry 16 to 20 varieties of apple trees each season. We stock varieties which we feel do well in our climate with both dwarf and semi-dwarf trees available. An apple grown on either a semi-dwarf or dwarfing rootstock can be an attractive choice as a small flowering tree for an urban garden. If you are considering adding a flowering tree, why not one that bears a crop of fruit? Before selecting the apple tree for your yard, there are a few important things to consider. - Choose the site where a rose would grow. Apples are members of the rose family, and need a lot of sunshine and good air circulation for healthy growth and production. - Urban gardens often have limited space so choosing a dwarf, columnar or espalier tree are all good space-saving options. - Be unique. Choose a variety that is not readily available in the grocery stores. Portland Nursery’s Apple Tasting Event is a wonderful place to sample lesser-known apple varieties and get an idea of the types of apple trees you would like to grow. Genus: Malus, Latin for Apple Common Name: Apple or Crabapple Origin: Apples originate in the Caucasus Mountains of Western Asia with 20-30 Crabapple species native mainly to China, Japan and the U.S. Characteristics: Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate and covered in downy white fuzz in youth. Pink flower buds open to white or pale pink single flowers in spring at the same time as leaves emerge. Branches have smooth gray bark that thickens and flakes with age, forming an interesting trunk. Fruit matures from July to October in the Portland area. Crabapples have fruit that measures less than 2 inches in diameter. Size: Apple trees are grafted at the base of the trunk to rootstock which greatly affects the ultimate size of the tree. Read through our rootstock list. Pollination: Most apples grown for fruit need to have another apple near by that produces flowers at the same time of year, and is a different variety of apple. We've provided you with this handy pollination list. In ideal weather, wind and bees may be relied upon to spread pollen from flower to flower. If weather is excessively wet and rainy during the bloom-period, pollen may be washed away and bees may not be present. This will cause a poor fruit set. Spreading pollen by hand using a small paint brush can help to increase fruit set. Culture: Apple trees are happiest growing in full sun, with regular water during the time while the fruit is developing, and with good air circulation. Fertilizing with a fruit tree fertilizer can be very beneficial in aiding with vigor and fruit set. Apples also need to experience a ‘chilling period’, a certain amount of time with temperatures below 45 degrees. This allows leaf and flower buds to form properly. The Portland area typically has plenty of winter days with such weather, so chilling should not pose a problem. Pests and Diseases: Apples are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases which can be very problematic in Portland. Many trees have been bred to resist disease, and starting with a healthy, vigorous, disease-resistant tree is a step in the right direction. Improving the soil drainage and air circulation in the area of the tree lends a healthier environment for a tree to become established. Select from our Apple Disease-Resistance chart. Dormant sprays can be applied in late fall and winter, mainly to prevent and fight fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, scab and rust. Wormy apples can be prevented! Traps for Coddling Moth and Apple Maggot can be set to alert the grower to their presence. Once insects are present insecticides can be applied.

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Did You Know? The Eurasian Eagle Owl is amongst the largest owls on earth -- with a wingspan of 6ft! The lion is the tallest (to the shoulder) of the felines, and like other cats, lions have excellent senses. The body of a lion is marked by powerful legs, a strong jaw, and canine teeth over 3 inches long! The colors of a lion vary from yellowish to an ochre brown, with their undersides generally being lighter in color. Male lions feature their famous mane, which makes them the only cats to exhibit a distinction between the males and females. Lions are very social animals that live in prides of 4 and 37 cats. At the core of the pride are 4 to 12 related adult females, their young, and 1-6 adult males. Lions spend over 80 percent of their time conserving energy, which is important for large animals to survive where food may be difficult to get. That adds up to your average lion spending up to 20 hours a day resting or sleeping! Dakota, our male, came to Potter Park Zoo from Sedgwick County Zoo. Our two female lions, Saida and Ulana, came to Potter Park Zoo from the Pueblo Zoo in Colorado in 2011. Our resident old lady, Amboseli, passed away in December of 2011. She was 22-years-old, making her one of the five oldest lions in captivity in the world! There are no photos available for this animal.

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In September of 2007, I had the pleasure of being a member of a team that traveled above the Arctic Circle to document evidence of climate change. Organized by InMER.org, the survey was meant to be a precursor to a larger, winter expedition and so much of the data collected was anecdotal, gleaned from interviews with Inuit Indian tribal elders and government officials, and from our own observations. The summer was also the season when the National Snow and Ice Data Center reported the lowest summer sea ice in recorded history, and we had the opportunity to fly over some and see it's cracked and patchy appearance - quite a difference from the solid sheet it was supposed to be. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other environmental research organizations continued to study the sea ice conditions, and in subsequent years it would fluctuate, showing some signs of improvement one year only to shrink drastically the next. 2011 has turned out to be not a very good year. "This year’s end of summer ice extent was the second smallest in the 32-year satellite record," says Don Perovich, a geophysicist with the US Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL). NOAA issues a report each year, its Arctic Report Card, and as they have had enough years to study the ice to establish a baseline for comparison, NOAA is now saying that the Arctic is definitely showing signs of change. With an overall trend of increasing temperatures and thinning ice, there are some definite shifts taking place. Nature is adjusting. However, that does not mean that a new norm will be a good thing for all species of flora and fauna. In essence, nature's drive is to survive in one form or another, and if that means that some plants or animals are lost in the process then so be it. And that can still portend some serious socio-economic impacts on all of us. The latest Arctic Report Card notes that the trend is toward longer periods of thin summer sea ice and more open Arctic waters. The melted ice and the exposed water is producing changes in the temperature, the salinity, and the acidic levels of the water. This impacts the growth of organisms, like plankton, at the base of the food chain. So, while polar bears and walruses struggle with thin ice that hampers their hunting (7 of 19 identified polar bear populations are in decline), migrating gray whales are finding a more robust food source and are staying longer to feed. Away from the water, vegetation is beginning to show adaptation to new conditions. Shrubs are now growing further and further north, in areas that once only had mossy tundra. This was something that the InMER team saw on our expedition. People whose families had been living in the Arctic for several generations were reporting the appearance of shrubs for the first time in their lives. Sightings of grizzly bears moving up from the south, and even the first appearance of a bee in the town of Kugluktuk all represent shifts towards a new norm. While shrubs may be expanding their range as a result of climate change, mosses and lichens are withering and so the Arctic's fundamental botanical ecology is in flux. "The Arctic is clearly experiencing the impacts of a prolonged and intensified warming trend," says Ms. Jackie Richter-Menge of CRREL . "Given the projection of continued warming, it is very likely, indeed expected, that these changes will continue in years to come, with increasing climatic, physical, biological and socioeconomic impact." As long as we stay committed to dependence on fossil fuels and through that dependence expel vast quantities of carbon emissions into the atmosphere then we will continue to see nature adapt itself in the Arctic and elsewhere with untold consequences for a variety of species, including mankind. Read NOAA's 2011 Arctic Report Card. Image: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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The next generation techniques now used for sequencing DNA are creating data sets on an unprecedented scale. Next generation techniques have applications in an incredibly diverse range of research. It’s the job of Dr Terry Bertozzi, bioinformatician from the Museum’s Evolutionary Biology Unit, to help researchers wade through a sea of sequences to find answers to the genetic questions they’re asking. Terry’s skills are sought after by researchers within the Museum as well as universities and other research institutes locally, interstate and internationally. Terry recently collaborated with a team of researchers including Ali Morton Walsh, an Honours student in the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science at the University of Adelaide. Ali’s project examined retrotransposons; transposable elements of DNA that are able to ‘copy and paste’ themselves within genomes. One of these elements found in cows, BovB, appeared to have a very strange distribution within animal groups. In fact, vastly different than what could be expected if it had been passed down by evolutionary means from parent to offspring. Amidst widespread public concern about genetically-modified organisms, the research suggests that genetic material has been transferred between different organisms for generations in nature. Using next generation sequencing and bioinformatics, the team were able to find BovB in sheep and horses — perhaps not a surprisingly evolutionary leap. However, they also found BovB in elephants, reptiles, many marsupials and even a monotreme – the platypus. It was not found in birds, frogs or most mammals. A phylogenetic tree of BovB shows that the presence of BovB in such a diverse range of species could not be explained by traditional means of inheritance. The researchers also sequenced ticks and found BovB in reptile ticks. They hypothesise that ticks may have been the means of horizontal transfer of these elements; not from parent to offspring but across species. The transfer is not a single event in evolutionary history — there have been at least nine different transfers. Terry’s role sees him collaborating with researchers looking at everything from black rats and subterranean beetles to gobies: the fish group with the most species worldwide. Older molecular techniques, like polymerase chain reaction (PCR), would typically generate hundreds of sequences for a project. Nowadays, researchers are able to generate tens of millions of sequences for a single project. Terry’s task is made somewhat easier since the Museum purchased a high-end large memory computer server that enables them to run long and complex analyses. For Terry and the researchers he collaborates with, the bioinformatics research area is a fast-paced but exciting world where putting together the pieces of a puzzle means the next discovery is always just around the corner.

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by Henry Fox Originally published 6 August 2003, revised 4 February 2005 - The Modern View: Modern Fencing Texts - The Modern View: Historical Texts - The Modern View: Social Commentary On The Renaissance - The Renaissance View: Castiglione's Book Of The Courtier, 1561 - The Renaissance View: Machiavelli's The Prince - The Renaissance View: Fencing Treatises - The Renaissance View: Shakespeare's Plays - Bibliography And Suggested Reading To set the cause above renown, To love the game above the prize, To honour, while you strike him down, The foe that comes with fearless eyes; To count the life of battle good, And clear the land that gave you birth, Bring nearer yet the brotherhood That binds the brave of all the earth... Sir Henry Newbolt (1862 -1938) (Evangelista, 2000:14) Fencing etiquette is the rules and customs, which are applied to the behaviour of the participants. It is important to the study of Renaissance rapier combat because it is what adds flavour to the combat art. It is also important because rapier combat in the Renaissance was the purview of gentlemen of the period, and as such for an accurate recreation of the combat art the participants should act in a manner which befits the ideal of the gentleman. Renaissance fencing etiquette is those rules and customs that were applied to the study and act of rapier combat in the period. It is important for a full explanation of this important concept, especially with regard to the Renaissance side of things for the concepts to be explained from a Renaissance viewpoint. This is not to say that modern views should be ignored, instead these should be included, as they are extremely relevant to the study of such etiquette. It is through the use of etiquette both on the tournament field and off it that a fencer in the Renaissance concept is imbued with the elements of the gentleman. Through such elements taken into account the gentleman gains renown for being an honourable opponent, and gentlemanly to his opponents. Without the use of the gentlemanly aspects, through pure combat ability the fencer gains notoriety rather than renown, and is known as a duellist and not a gentleman. It is a much higher station to gain renown and to be regarded as a gentleman rather than a duellist with notoriety. Such ideas and ideals are important to the approach and performance of the combatant. If the combatant accepts the ideals of the gentleman in his approach then he performs in a gentlemanly fashion and through such performance, becomes known as a gentleman rather than a duellist, and also is able to aspire to the higher ideals of rapier combat. If the combatant does not accept the ideals in his approach he does not in general consider performance as a gentleman to be important, and as such will not. Thus through his skill he may win but he is not able to aspire to the higher ideal of renown and only gains notoriety for his efforts. These concepts must be integrated into the fencer at the first instance of his training for them to take root and thus become a part of his approach. This should be executed through demonstration and inspiration through the fencer's teacher. In this, the teacher has a large role to play in the education of the mind of the fencer. The teacher can only do so much in the education of the fencer, it is up to the fencer to accept such ideas and concepts presented to him, but they should be presented to the fencer so that they do have the chance to accept such ideals. To be effective does not mean a reduction in courtesy, or vice versa. Effectiveness in combat can be maintained with courtesy and other gentlemanly attributes. In a lot of cases an increase in one means an increase of the other. The fencer should be taught the use of style and grace over brute power and force. To win by style, grace and true skill, is much more commendable than the use of brute force and power. To begin with general ideas of fencing etiquette will be drawn from the modern world of sport fencing. This will form a basis for the study of fencing etiquette. From these ideas the study of Renaissance fencing etiquette can proceed. Importantly the Renaissance fencing etiquette will rely heavily on texts from the period and important concepts, which are detailed in them. These concepts will be explained as the argument progresses. It is important that they are not isolated from the material from which they come but are explained and described from the point of view that such material expresses. This article is designed to educate the new fencer in the manners and courtesy of the art of fence, and bring to light the importance of such concepts for the more experienced fencer. It is hoped that through this article an appreciation of the concepts, which this paper brings to light, will eventuate in those who read it and an acceptance of the importance of such concepts to Renaissance fencing and fencing in general. "The accumulated collection of written and unwritten rules and customs, as well as the traits, characteristics, philosophy and behaviour of the ideal swordsperson, ... loosely and generally refer[red] to as the code. As in the code of chivalry or the code duello." (Evangelista, 2000:298) The code which fencers follow is important to their attitude to their game. It is this code which sets out modes of suitable behaviour both on and off the combat arena. This code of etiquette must be integral to the fencer as it sets out how the fencer will behave. It is through this code of etiquette that fencing gains much of its flavour, and as such it is greatly important; "an extensive code of etiquette defining the acceptable patterns of behavior has developed, giving fencing much of its unique flavor." (Pallfy-Alpar, 1967:60). It is important that this code is considered both inside and outside of the places in which fencing takes place. This is because without the use of the code outside as well as inside the code will not really become a part of the fencer, and will then seem artificial. "Both inside and outside the salle, the fencer ... subscribes to a code of conduct that is far beyond what most people think of as good sportsmanship" (Evangelista, 2000:297) This code goes far beyond good sportsmanship because it is not only applied while fencing but also before and after fencing. The fencer must act with courtesy to their opponents before and after the bout because it is important that the good opponent is respected, thus general manners are important. This involves acting in a congenial manner toward all that are present, and not just one's opponents. "Higher levels of behavior are required of the competitor in fencing than most other sports." (Pallfy-Alpar, 1967:60) This is because it is a past time that deals with weapons. The fact that fencing deals with weapons means that higher levels of behaviour are necessary to prevent careless acts which could result in injuries or even death. It is also within these levels of behaviour that the elements of safety, which are vital to fencing, are instilled. "Fencing is still a sport for people who conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen, and the accepted standards of fencing conduct are universal." (Bower, 2003) This statement says a great deal about what it means to be a fencer. There are standards of fencing etiquette, which are worldwide, unfortunately in the heat of competition in which sport fencing is involved; these manners sometimes go awry. The sense of manners is important, it is important that the fencers conduct themselves in a way, which brings credit to themselves and their masters; "As a fencer, conduct yourself with honesty, courtesy, dignity, and grace at all times, never engaging in any behaviour that would bring disgrace upon yourself, your Master, or the sword." (Evangelista, 2000:302) It has been said that; "The manners of the fencer are those of the instinctive gentleman." (Pallfy-Alpar, 1967:60) and it is to this standard that all fencers should measure themselves. To conduct oneself as a gentleman requires that the best thoughts of what is right are used by the particular fencer, and that they do not sink themselves by their conduct to anything lower than this standard. "The cardinal rule is always to behave as the born gentleman must, with toleration and restraint." (Pallfy-Alpar, 1967:61). Toleration needs to be used when confronting those, which do not accept the standard so that even in their disagreements the fencer is honourable and restraint in their defence. Restraint is also important so that the fencer does not commit any act that could be seen as lowering their standard of behaviour. "Fencing students should be especially courteous to their teachers at all times, they should stand at the ready in a respectful way, and listen attentively during instruction." (Docherty, 2001) One's fencing instructor demands respect at all times, and to discuss matters not pertaining to the class, or to speak while the instructor is speaking is to show a hight of discourtesy. It must be remembered that often, the instructor is teaching on a volunteer basis, and that they are teaching merely to impart knowledge, which they have gained. It is also important with regard to this aspect that the instructor is teaching from a position of knowledge and that the student does listen in an attentive way so that none of the instruction is missed. To show discourtesy to the instructor also demonstrates the fencer to be devoid of those qualities that make up the gentleman and true student of the blade. The qualities of the gentleman fencer are important to consider if it is going to be possible to address the idea and ideal of the gentleman fencer. It is also necessary to consider those attributes and qualities, which should not be present in such a person. Evangelista states that; "Conceit, arrogance, vanity, self-importance, and a swelled head are no substitutes for a good lunge." (Evangelista, 2000:220). This gives a list of those attributes that the gentleman fencer should avoid. Pallfy-Alpar enumerates in his Masque and Sword (1967) that; "The qualities of modesty, neatness, and polite demeanor are essential characteristics. They recommend their possessor to society much more than a conceited, slovenly, or aggressive self-presentation." (Pallfy-Alpar, 1967:60) These qualities are good for the fencer, either modern or Renaissance, if he is to be respected as a fencer. The negative attributes, which he names, will only lead to the fencer being less respected, no matter how many tournaments he wins. It is important that the fencer considers these attributes every time he's at the fencing school or out of it. Ego is an essential part of the fencer but he should not rely upon it or become egotistical in his fencing otherwise he will miss a great deal of the courtesy that is essential to the combat art in which he performs. Evangelista states; "You must keep egotism out of your fencing. Egotism has no place in your training, ... or your fencing persona. It is an ugly, misleading companion." (Evangelista, 2000:219). It is an ugly companion for if egotism is allowed to flourish then the fencer will see things in a much different light, each loss will be seen as a blow to the ego, rather than an educational experience. This is further highlighted in; "You stop measuring when you think you are the ruler by which all things are measured. And when you stop measuring, you stop thinking." (Evangelista, 2000:219). The thinking fencer has all of the mental attributes to succeed against any opponent, the fencer who does not think is doomed to have his game limited to only the physical. Thinking allows the fencer to evaluate and learn, and thus improve his game. The over use of ego will also lead to the fencer adopting a superior attitude to his opponents; "We should avoid a superior or disdainful manner towards any opponent at any time." (Pallfy-Alpar, 1967:61). If this happens then the fencer will not respect their opponents and this will also lead to their downfall. This will be due to overconfidence, which can be a direct product of this sort of attitude. The process of fencing also has rules of etiquette involved, from the moment a person enters the salle to the moment he leaves. "It is important that fencers are aware of other people and their equipment. It is a breach of etiquette to step over or knock another's sword or polearm, as is touching another's equipment unnecessarily. It is also poor etiquette to leave one's equipment, carelessly, where it might promote such a breach of etiquette. For instance a sword left standing against a wall may fall and distract someone or cause an accident." (Docherty, 2001) The placement and organisation of one's equipment is an important part of the process of etiquette that must be applied when one enters the salle. Leaving equipment lying about is also a matter of safety, as is stated above. A person should ensure that they leave their equipment in a place where it will not be in the way of anyone. In most salles sword-racks are supplied so that weapons have a safe place to be put. The next part of the process happens when the fencer steps on to the fighting arena. "Whenever you step onto the fencing strip, you should fence the very best game that's in you." (Evangelista, 2000:227). It is an insult to your opponent and your master not to fight with the full capacity that you have. Going soft on a newer fencer only means that openings in your defence may be left, and through this if the person can be beaten because they have underestimated your opponent, they lose due to your relaxed attitude. It is important also that a person fences the best game so that the opponent can also learn from the experience. At the beginning of the bout there is an element of etiquette, which should be observed. "Fencers always salute each other before putting on their masks. In a tournament the director, the audience, and then the opponent are quickly saluted." (Bower, 2003). The salute is important, as it is a mark of respect to the opponent and those who observe the bout. Pallfy-Alpar examines the process with more detail, and adds an important element to the process; "At the beginning of a bout, the fencer should always introduce himself to his opponent ... if they are unknown to him, and then salute them in greeting." (Pallfy-Alpar, 1967:61). The introduction should be friendly but formal in nature, this additional part of the process also means that the introduction will lessen some of the tension that will be evident. It is also a great way to promote friendship between the combatants, and encourage other points of etiquette during the bout. "During the bout, he should avoid rough or discourteous play or attacking an opponent who has not put himself on guard." (Pallfy-Alpar, 1967:61). Rough or discourteous play and attacking the opponent who is not ready is the sign of a fencer who has a complete disregard for the history and philosophy of the art in which they participate. It is also a hollow victory to score a hit on an opponent who is not ready. The fencer should be graceful and skilful in their assault, and not use brute power and force to score their hit. "A fencer does not claim touches against the opponent, but may refuse to accept a point if, in one's opinion, it was not a good touch." (Bower, 2003). Claiming touches against an opponent is also a sign of a lack of the gentlemanly graces, it is important that the acknowledgment of a hit comes from the person who received it, because they would be the best judge of the hit. The second part of the statement is also important. If the attacker feels that the touch was not good they should tell the opponent, and thus not take a touch, which they feel was somewhat dubious in nature. It is also important to remember that; "If a fencer scores cleanly and correctly, the touch will be called." (Bower, 2003). The process of how a bout is fought and won is more important than who wins the bout. "How you win is ... important, if not more important, than any individual victory. You must win decisively, cleanly, and gallantly." (Evangelista, 2000:301). A fencer who wins, or loses and fights with grace, skill and courtesy will be much more respected than one who fights and wins with brute force and power. The attitude of the fencer is exposed in the manner in which they fence, those which use dramatics in order to win show themselves to be shallow, and their game to be superficial; "The best fencers rely on ability, not on dramatics, in order to win." (Bower, 2003). Taking hits is part of the game, not everyone will win, and no one is totally untouchable. Remember the ebb and flow of wins and losses is fluid and can change without expectation. Taking the hit in a graceful manner is an important part of the game; "When you get hit, instead of taking it personally, acknowledge the skilful manoeuvre and congratulate your opponent on an excellent bit of fencing." (Evangelista, 2000:221). Congratulating your opponent on their skill is a gracious thing to do and demonstrates the fencer to be graceful and honourable. Resenting the hit will only cause the person to be come angry, and will often lead to the person becoming more vulnerable to other hits. Remember, what is past is past, and there is nothing that can be done to change it; "rather than wasting time resenting your opponent's touch, ... focus on the process of fencing and set about improving your lot." (Evangelista, 2000:221). To have an opponent who is a challenge is a great thing as it enables people to fence the best that they have in them and have a great bout. To have only opponents who are inferior in skill means that there is less of a challenge and the fencer will learn less, losing is a learning process, and it must be accepted as such. "At the end of every bout, whether you win or lose, salute, shake hands, smile, and say, "Thank you." No one should be able to tell from your expression, tone, gesture, or manner, whether you have just won or lost." (Evangelista, 2000:302) What happens at the end of the bout is as important as what happens during the bout. It is important that the fencer is able to show grace toward their opponent, and also to thank them for the bout. A fencer who storms off the field, and does not give their opponent the due credit shows a shallowness that is not respected. The process of fencing is far more important than the outcome, and a fencer who does not realise this is doomed to a shallow game of wins, losses, and point scoring. A person who does realise this opens themself up to a much more intricate game, and is a much better ambassador for the game. "This [philosophy] will influence all the choices you make throughout your fencing career. It will determine how deep or shallow your understanding of the game will be, the level of your eventual skill, your behaviour on the fencing strip, how you handle your winning and losing, the length of your fencing life, and even how others see you. This is your fencing worldview." (Evangelista, 2000:259) A fencer's attitude to combat and fencing in general will affect the level of etiquette that they subscribe to. The fencer's philosophy will assist in the definition of this. As Evangelista (2000) states above it is important in defining how the fencer will behave and their responses to winning and losing. It will also define how deep their game is, is the tournament the be-all and end-all of the fencer's existence, or is the process of fencing more important? This is involved in the development of character. "During the study of the sword, as well as learning to fence, the development of one's character is of paramount importance. It is said that Fencing begins with manners, and ends with manners. However fencing etiquette is not only for the practice arena but for everyday life, it costs us nothing to be polite." (Docherty, 2001) A fencer's development of their character will define to what importance that manners are held to the person. It is important that this development is headed in the correct direction from the beginning otherwise their outlook on fencing will be very limited. It is true that such etiquette is not only for the fencing arena but also for the outside world, a person's attitude to manners and etiquette will be influenced by their experiences in the salle and on the tournament field. Also the reverse is true, the manners developed in the outside world will influence the matters of etiquette while fencing and also before and after. It is the attitude of the fencer, which defines their fencing worldview and defines the depth of their game; "Those who do believe, as I do, that fencing is more than just racking up touches, know that understanding ... brings both strength and nobility to the game." (Evangelista, 2000:xix). "Honour is integrity; an extreme sense of regard and responsibility for personal behaviour. It includes such traits as honesty, self-control, gratitude, and courtesy." (Evangelista, 2000:271). Honour is an integral part of fencing without honour the fencer could be tempted to perform actions which would make him seem to be of a base nature. It is important that this important concept be an integral part of the fencer, as it is thorough honour that the fencer is able to aspire to higher ideals in his game. From the modern fencing point of view, and from the modern fencing sources, it is Evangelista (2000) who makes the most remarks about this important concept. As such this particular section of this article will focus on what he has said about honour with regard to fencing. Evangelista (2000) states that honour is an important concept to fencing and the fencer. He says; "In fencing, honour becomes a centering point, a quiet spot in your mind. Knowing that you will fence with self-control gives you balance of thought." (Evangelista, 2000:271). Balance of thought is essential for the fencer to progress past the simple game of touches and points, it is also necessary so that the fencer can see the advantages of having an opponent who is a challenge. "when you act with honour, you show respect to your opponent, the director, the audience, and the game itself. ... Through honour you enhance everything you do, and act as a good-will ambassador for fencing." (Evangelista, 2000:271) Honour in the fencer also affects their attitude to what happens while fencing. A fencer who acts with honour is seen as a great ambassador for fencing as he honours what he does, whom he does it with, and all those who came before him. Without honour, the fencer is less concerned about what is right in the game and tends to adopt an "anything-for-a-hit" attitude and this detracts from the game for all fencers. "With honour, you're never alone on the fencing strip. Also, you'll always be respected, no matter the outcome of your bouts." (Evangelista, 2000:271). Honour is a great companion and adviser. It helps the fencer decide what courses of action are open and which will benefit him and the game the best. It is important that this adviser is used so that the fencer does only those things, which will bring him respect. "Respect should always be shown to one's seniors, not only in the training area but outside as well. It is every student's duty to try to earn this respect. One should also respect one's juniors, thus showing them the way to respect themselves through respecting others." (Docherty, 2001) Respect is an important part of etiquette, because if a person does not respect others, why would they bother to show them courtesy? It is important that the seniors in the school respect the juniors so that they are able to learn respect through this and be more able then to respect the seniors. Respect for one's teacher or instructor should be a given. He or she should be respected for the knowledge that they possess and their willingness to teach others this knowledge. It doesn't matter whether they are more or less experienced, more or less skilled, or ranked more or less. "Treat all people with respect at all times." (Evangelista, 2000:298) Respect for others is not the only form of respect that is important to etiquette, self-respect is also important. If it is shown that the person respects themselves through the maintenance of their equipment, and how they present themselves, it is more likely that the person shall gain respect from others. This self-respect comes from etiquette, because it is important that this self-respect is shown, through the manner and appearance of the fencer. "Etiquette also becomes part of self - respect. It is important to look after one's equipment, uniform should be washed regularly. It is not pleasant to fence others who do not take this care with their equipment." (Docherty, 2001) The training area is the area in which people learn the skills that the instructor teaches. It is also in this arena that knowledge is gained and the skills are tested against one's opponents. Respect must be demonstrated for this area and the people within it, as each person is worthy of such respect for the time and effort, which they put into their training. "Before entering or leaving the training area, all fencers should bow, or show their respect in some other arranged way, this is to show respect for the training area, and those in it." (Docherty, 2001) Respect should especially be shown to one's opponent inside and outside the combat arena. The fact that the opponent is there and ready to face you means that they are worthy of respect. Each person should respect one another due to the common traditions and skills that they are learning, and because of the time and effort that goes into learning such skills. "Manners: Good for you. Good for fencing." (Evangelista, 2000:264) What is all talk of etiquette if not talk of manners? As Evangelista (2000) says above manners are good for the fencer and fencing. Manners are important for fencing; there is a great deal which relies upon them and their use. Evangelista (2000) has much to say on the subject and the points, which are raised, are more valid now than they ever were. It is important that a consideration of manners is discussed and thought about, as they are integral to an experience in fencing that is profitable for the fencer. He states that; "a fencer possessing genuine manners, with his eye on emotional equanimity, is more likely to fence a controlled and balanced game." (Evangelista, 2000:264). This consideration of control is important, it is not only control of actions which is being spoken about but control of the subconscious and what goes in the fencer's mind. A balanced game will assist in the victory of one fencer over another. The lack of manners is a detriment to the fencer and to fencing; "no manners equals both insufferable winners and graceless losers," (Evangelista, 2000:264). A fencer should have the manners to accept his victories with honour and his losses with grace. The fencer, who brags constantly about his victories or who complains about their defeats and does not accept them, is no asset to themselves or to fencing. Such things are a part of manners; there would be no victory without an opponent, and no challenge without the chance of defeat. The fencer should be honourable toward their opponent in victory and graceful in defeat. Manners are important to fencing as they also assist in the personal development of the fencer as a gentleman and fencer. As such Evangelista (2000) states; "caring about such things as manners gives you the opportunity to develop personal control, self-discipline, and strength of character," (Evangelista, 2000:264). Defeats should be looked upon as a learning experience, and there should be a serious consideration of how the win was gained. The acceptance of another's skill in defeat shows the fencer to be much more self-controlled, and disciplined than one who feels animosity toward the fencer who beat them. It also shows strength of character to be able to do such. A fencer should be courteous to their opponents both in the combat arena and outside of it. A lack of courtesy will be noticed by others and the respect for the fencer will be diminished if it is shown that they are discourteous; "To the swordsmen or swordswoman, discourtesy is a coward's imitation of courage; it is a weakling's imitation of strength." (Evangelista, 2000:298). A part of manners is accepting full responsibility unto oneself for the actions, which are performed by the fencer. "No matter what the circumstances, no matter what the provocation to do otherwise, you assume full and complete responsibility for your actions." (Evangelista, 2000:298). It does not matter what your opponent does, if the fencer replies with actions that are discourteous or rough they will be noticed and others' view of them, and respect for them will diminish. It shows strength of character to accept one's actions, and it shows more strength of character to avoid actions, which are discourteous, especially if there is provocation to do otherwise. "In addition, before pulling up beginners on etiquette senior instructors should also look to their own. After all, the beginners must get their bad habits from somewhere." (Docherty, 2001) Beginners learn from their seniors and instructors. Everything, which is not a part of their personal make-up before they enter the salle, is learnt from what they experience within the walls of the salle. Instructors and seniors should be careful only to demonstrate those attributes that they would be happy for the student to pick up as part of their training. Habits, bad, good, and indifferent are learnt by beginners from those around them. It is important that the seniors and instructors only demonstrate those good attributes, which they would wish their students to learn. "It is difficult for modem people to understand a culture in which mortal combat was an accepted part of the lifestyle of the elite. The Duello may only be understood when it is seen in its historical perspective and in the context of the culture in which it existed." (Dda, 2002) Perspective is important for any study of Renaissance concepts, as it is very difficult for people in the modern world to understand how important these concepts were in the Renaissance. The duello itself needs to be understood from the Renaissance perspective as an accepted method of dealing with personal quarrels. Combined with this is the concept of honour, which does exist in the modern world, but is typically taken much more lightly than it was in the period being discussed. Honour was an important part of the gentry's make up, honour was bound to reputation and reputation was how members of the gentry got ahead in their lives. Thus, all of these concepts must be understood from the Renaissance perspective. "In being out of touch with the latest cultural currents, however, Paradoxes of Defence is as much an example of Elizabethan social/cultural thought as it is of fight technique. Italian notions of honour - ideas brought from the Italian court society to the English and allowed to trickle down through the upper class - were sown through the writings of such authors as Castiglione and Sir Thomas Elyot, among others." (Turner and Soper, 1990:81) While George Silver was against the use of the rapier in combat, his treatise offers the perspective of "traditional" values of the Elizabethan English. His writing is a response to the "invasion" of the Italian and Spanish fashions which became a part of Elizabethan society. From this point of view Silver's work can much more easily be assessed as a work of Elizabethan social and cultural thought. The ideals of the Italian Renaissance were sown by the importation of writings from writers such as Castiglione and reinforced by local theorists. It is only once this Renaissance perspective is established that a discussion of the various historical phenomena can be discussed. "To Caranca [Caranza], fencing was no mere physical exercise, nor even a necessary skill for a chivalrous gentleman. The use of the sword implied an entire philosophy, an alchemical distillation of Christian mysticism and newly re-discovered classical science." (Willens, 2001:1) The same can be said for the examination of fencing etiquette, and for fencing etiquette itself. A person must approach the subject with an holistic approach, rather than looking at the topic from a narrow point of view. It is important with regard to etiquette that the whole story is examined so a more accurate view of the subject is possible. As Willens (2001) refers to Caranza's view of fencing, etiquette also affects a person's whole fencing philosophy, and their fencing through it. From the truly Renaissance perspective, it is impossible to divorce etiquette from the other important aspects of the gentleman, such as the ability to improve oneself through study and the ideal of the "universal person". "From it [The Courtier] the English ruling class derived much of its ideal of the soldier / poet / scientist / statesman. The Renaissance idea that a man could improve himself by study caught on like wildfire," (Turner and Soper, 1990:11) This holistic attitude to fencing is not only concerned with the improvement of the person, nor just with the importance of the whole story to the study of etiquette itself. The holistic attitude extends to the importance of teaching fencing in the Renaissance period and how this is important to the gentleman of the period; "It would have been impossible to have sold the merits of fencing technique ... without referring to noble causes, patriotism, and honour." (Turner and Soper, 1990:24). Just as it is impossible to engage in such combat without consideration of such important matters, so to would it be narrow-viewed to discuss the etiquette of such combat without consideration of all of the aspects, which are associated with it. "Since fencing is, perforce, a pastime of the elite, the segment of society most likely to have been schooled in depth in the various mental habits and viewpoints of their culture, it will reflect a "pop culture" version of this culture's biases. This group's perceptions of, and thoughts about, their leisure activity will, logically, reflect their ways of thinking, not only about practical matters, but about their aesthetic tastes, their hopes, dreams, and ideals." (Mondschein, 1999) Fencing, especially with the rapier in the Renaissance, grew to become a skill of the elite of society, and it is from this point of view that the etiquette, which is associated with fencing, comes. The gentlemen who attended classes in the art of fence had certain ideals that they held to in their engagement of their art. As such, it is important to discuss the "mark of the gentleman" as an important part of the investigation into fencing etiquette. "By the sixteenth century the sword had taken on the role of fashion accessory - a piece of masculine jewellery worn as a standard item by any gentleman, or anyone aspiring or pretending to be a gentleman." (Brew, 2001) The carrying of a rapier as part of the normal dress of the gentleman stated that the person carrying the weapon was a gentleman, or was aspiring to be a gentleman. This weapon was carried for personal defence and the defence of honour, and as such it is associated with concerns of etiquette, as a person who carried such a weapon was expected to have certain ideals about what was and was not gentlemanly behaviour. Skill with this weapon was also an integral part of the gentleman; "For the man of breeding, sword practice was a status symbol, and expertise in swordplay was considered one of the gentlemanly arts." (Turner and Soper, 1990:xx). It is important that these concepts are considered as correct etiquette, even in the modern world, is seen to be the mark of a person of high ideals, and it is to these ideals that the modern fencer, either modern sport or Renaissance, should aspire to. "Gentlemen throughout the courts of Europe wore rapiers both as a mark of rank and to be ready to defend their own or their ladies' honour. Codes of duelling were established and gentlemen attended schools of arms in order to practise fencing under the tuition of Masters of Fence." (Valentine, 1968:7) It is important that these codes of duelling are discussed so that it may be understood as to what code the gentleman of the Renaissance followed, and this will be done in a later section. Also, just as important as the codes of duelling themselves is the attitude, which the fencer carried and carries with them with regard to combat. This attitude defines what sort of approach a fencer has to their skills and the application of such. Attitude is an important factor when considering any form of combat and also the etiquette that goes with it. A person's attitude governs their view of etiquette and the other important factors, which need to be taken into account when discussing the subject. "Victory of one over the other is a matter if both the training and attitude as well as the conditioning of the fighter." (Clements, 1996:13). Victory is a matter of attitude and training, if the combatant carries the correct attitude and has completed all of the necessary training, there is no opponent that cannot be defeated. Attitude is an internal thing that is integral to the combatant and part of this attitude is calmness of mind; "Calmness of mind is essential." (Clements, 1996:45). This is an important part of etiquette also, as only through the calmness of the mind can the person apply the correct measured response to a situation. It is more a matter of whether or not to use the skills which, are possessed more than whether or not the skills are available to be used. This involves a great deal of patience not to go headlong into a situation with complete disregard for the consequences of the actions which are committed; "skilled, experienced fighters are patient and cautious, even when intense." (Clements, 1996:127). Possessing a cool demeanour under pressure is stressed in the Spanish school of fence (Smith, 2001:5). It is through this cool demeanour that a person is able to discover the most effective way through or around an obstacle. This is the same for a combat situation as it is for a social or political situation, both of which are of concern for the person concerned with the correct etiquette. It is personal motivation, which defines a great deal of the internal factors that will decide a person's response to a situation. "Attaining higher skill in swordsmanship as with other martial arts, eventually requires internal motivation, which is deeper and more personal." (Clements, 1996:133). This internal motivation is extremely personal, and it is only through this motivation that a combatant can attain those higher skills and mastery. Personal motivation is a key aspect to the etiquette of fencing also, the etiquette of the fencer must be a part of their internal motivation to exist in its truest sense, otherwise it will be an artificial addendum to the combatant. Personal motivation is also required in the attaining of new skills and using them in a combat situation. This happens at great risk to one's preconceptions of what the form of combat is all about; "Acquiring knowledge (skill) often means risking your self-esteem and reexamining preconceptions." (Clements, 1996:128). This is also the same for the attainment of true fencing etiquette, which needs to be addressed and redressed as the person progresses in their art. Things that may have been picked up as part of a person's code may be of an incorrect focus, or may simply be wrong. It takes great personal motivation and courage to realise this and address these issues. "As with any martial art that is practiced with sincerity and commitment, true swordsmanship cannot be taught - it must be self-learned. It has as its goal the defeat of the ego, the self." (Clements, 1996:132) This is also important with regard to etiquette, as this must also be practiced with sincerity if it is to become truly a part of the combatant. A superficial understanding or use of the codes of etiquette will be noticed by all that view them and their respect for such an individual will diminish over time due to this. It is also important that true etiquette must be self-learnt and this can be a difficult procedure. "The emerging gentleman's code of honour which swept Europe in this century [sixteenth] incorporated ... [the] ancient veneration of the sword and made it part of a new, more personal code of honour, expressed in the rising phenomenon of duelling with a new kind of weapon: the rapier." (Turner and Soper, 1990:xxii) The code of honour expressed by the gentlemen of this period was important to them in the extreme. Duelling became more common in the sixteenth century as a way to solve personal grievances between gentlemen, and the rapier provided a perfect weapon for the task. The veneration of the sword is an important part of the concept, as it was because of this idea that duels were fought with swords, rather than any other weapon. This code of honour was a significant influence on the etiquette of the gentleman of the period. "The code of honour is likewise a convention, being no more or less than what it is agreed to be by society. It is not based not on one's own feelings of self-worth and inner life, ... but on the acclamation of one's peers." (Mondschein, 1999) It is the influence of one's peers that inspires many to adopt such codes of honour, as especially in the Renaissance period reputation was an important part of everyday life. The fact that is agreed by society is an important point also, as it is from the view of members of the particular society that a person's reputation, either positive or negative, that the reputation is bound. Importantly this view of society became bound up in the unwritten rules of the duel of the period. "The unwritten rules for the duel after 1547 were clear: there must be equal numbers on each side; no man may have an unfair advantage in weapons (on those occasions where one person's dagger was longer than his opponent's, the two would often dice for the longer blade); that it be an affair of honour, fought to remove a slight. All else fell to the wayside. Duels were fought in public places, and their outcomes were known." (de Bethune, 2002) The fact that these rules are seen as significant in the Renaissance period is an important point that must be discussed. The duel was designed as an encounter between two men with equal weapons so that from this point of view the fight would be fair. The fact that these duels were fought in public places and their outcomes were known once again reinforces the importance of public opinion on the combatants and especially their reputations. A combatant who followed the conventions and rules, which were followed, was seen as honourable, even if he was defeated in the encounter. The combatant who contravened the rules was seen as dishonourable, and their reputation would suffer due to this fact. "the more honourable method of settlement by means of a fair fight in the presence of seconds was imposed by public opinion; and before long the English gentry had become as sensitive and punctilious about the point of honour as the French aristocracy." (Baldick, 1965:63) Previous to the introduction of the duel to England the gentry dealt with points of honour and grievances by hiring a gang of assassins to set upon their opponent in the quarrel. The duel between the two aggrieved parties was seen as an improvement and a much more honourable way of solving the grievance. The duel, as has been stated, was imposed by public opinion to lessen the bloodshed. As it was introduced, the English gentry became more and more sensitive about points of honour. There are also other factors, which influenced the duel and the conventions that were a part of it. "Whether for war or honour, personal combat has been as much a subject of fashion as efficiency. Rules for deciding which weapon to use and under what conditions a man might defend himself are influenced by status, teachers, personal experience, and a willingness to experiment. Even national pride and international trends affect how men decide to kill one another in single combat." (Turner and Soper, 1990:xvi) Fashion is an important part of the whole concept of duelling. It was fashion that made the rapier, and ironically, fashion that diminished its dominance. It is important that these aspects are taken into account as they also affect the etiquette of the period. As the influence of the Italians and Spanish became more prevalent in England in the sixteenth century so too did their ideas about combat and etiquette. People who were not up with the latest trends in such matters were seen as less civil than those who were. Public opinion of such matters was important, as has been stated, and as such, things such as this should be taken into account when discussing etiquette, and especially the etiquette of the Renaissance period. "the duel of honour in Selden's day , conducted at every stage in accordance with a strict code of rules, was a considerable step in the direction of humanity and law," (Baldick, 1965:32) Such rules are important to examine, especially with regard to fencing etiquette and the etiquette of the duel itself. This is of extreme importance, especially to those who study the art of fence from the Renaissance period. To ignore such rules would be to misrepresent the art which is being taught and learnt by the scholar. For an accurate recreation of such incidents, a person should consider such rules and apply them in the recreation of the duel and other encounters. "A person who was challenged to a duel would select time, place, and weapons to be used. Each combatant would choose a second, a person to come along and observe that no treachery or foul play was committed. The seconds also served to seek any possible means of reconciliation without bloodshed, although this was rarely successful." (Dda, 2002) It is an important point that it is the challenged person who selects the time, place, and weapons to be used. This could be seen as a deterrent to duelling as if a person was to challenge another, and weapons were chosen that the challenger was inexperienced with, then there is a problematic situation for this combatant. The seconds are an important part of the duel. They were there to attempt reconciliation and ensure that it was a "fair" fight between the two combatants. In this, it was the seconds' job to research the code of duelling to ensure that the combat proceeded as was written in the code. The importance of this code to the etiquette of the fencer is somewhat understated. It is here that the etiquette of fencing started, and as such it is important that the modern combatant, of whichever style of combat, understand the origins of the combat which they engage in. Unfortunately, in the Renaissance period, not all of the combatants followed such codes; "The romanticized view of gentlemen defending their reputations and character is dwarfed by accounts of sudden assaults, vicious ambushes and general street-fighting among all classes." (Clements, 2001) In the Renaissance period there was great respect for duelling and those who fought in the duels. These men were willing to risk their lives to remove the smallest mark against their honour. From the modern perspective, this can be a little difficult to understand, but from the view of the Renaissance, it made perfect sense. Similar acclimation is given to sportsmen and women who risk possible injury to compete in their chosen sport. What is more important from the Renaissance perspective is the importance of honour and reputation, which the gentlemen of the period lived by. Such a man who was not willing to fight for their honour was seen as somewhat of an outcast and looked down upon by the members of the society in which they lived. "The duellist was a romantic figure, ready to risk his life for the sake of his honour, and often for the sake of someone else's honour. People are forced to admire the sheer audacity and courage of someone willing to die to remove the smallest mark on their honour, or on the honour of a friend, or even of a stranger. In a society geared to respect only honourable men, men willing to fight and perhaps to die for their honour are deserving of the utmost respect. Even men who could see that the practice had been carried to extremes were unable to condemn duellists, because society demanded a demonstration of its collective honour and these duellists embodied it." (de Bethune, 2002) Even the critics of duelling were forced to see that duelling was a part of the society and important for demonstrations of honour and skill. Duelling was an improvement on the previous much less honourable method of solving grievances, which was stated above. The members of Elizabethan English society adopted duelling and all it entailed from the French and the Italians who had developed models for it, and it had a great influence on the members of society at the time. From the codes that were established, it can easily be seen that this concept is intimately related to the subject of etiquette, and the respect that was gained was mainly due to the following of such codes of duelling and therefore etiquette which were imposed on the members of society. "duelling was a useful element of the new code of honour and had an irresistible appeal to many men ... Derived from well-developed Italian and French models, by the seventeenth century this often-complex code exerted a strong hold on many Englishmen." (Turner and Soper, 1990:xxiii) The subject of self-defence, in the art of fencing, was seen as noble, and those who possessed such skills as noble along with it. It was seen that fencing skill was placed on a high platform and suitable to be written about, especially for the glory of the patron who commissioned such works. This idea of the nobility of the practice, in the use of the sword in combat in the defence of honour is not just confined to the Renaissance, but can be seen in later ages. The important thing for the current discussion is, however, is the important codes of etiquette which were imposed to ensure that encounters were settled honourably in affairs of honour. It is also important to note for the current discussion that it is these points of etiquette which must be considered by the modern Renaissance combatant, as it is an integral part of the art which is being practised and recreated. "In the Dedication, the English editor Thomas Churchyard refers to the "knowledge of Arms and Weapons, which defends life, country, and honour" and thus is a most fitting subject for the author's pen and for the glory of his lord ... Personal combat is placed in the context of a higher, collective good, not individual glory or violent instincts - an approach common to much fight literature, not only of the Elizabethan age, but of most ages." (Turner and Soper, 1990:24) "Aristotelian ethics was for them [Italian Aristotelians] a practical subject, telling men how to live usefully and well and how to govern themselves politically. Rhetoric was the science of persuasion, enabling men to use eloquence for socially useful goals." (Bevington, 1980:17) The subject of ethics is another topic, which has been debated throughout history. For the Renaissance upper classes it was extremely important. Ethics decided how a person would go about to achieve their personal goals, and it was all an integral part of the etiquette of the period as a great deal of the etiquette of the period was defined by the ethics of the period. Aristotelian ethics, as its name implies, originates from the classical period and especially from Aristotle and his thoughts. In the Renaissance the rediscovery of the classical works of the Romans and Greeks was seen as important and proper study for people of learning. Many of the great writings of the period are concerned with ethics and therefore with etiquette. "Chivalry helped fashion the idea of the 'gentleman,' in which concepts of courtliness/courtesy, skills in games and war, courage (especially in combat), loyalty to friends, personal honour (public approbation/esteem tied to the avoidance of anything shameful and commitment to doing the right thing, even if it meant risking life and limb), the idea of the 'constant quest to improve on achievement' ... and individualism were tied together." (Abels, 2001) The ideal of the gentleman has its origins in the older concepts of the medieval period, and more specifically in the ideals of chivalry. The ideals of chivalry were accepted in the ideal of the gentleman and "updated" to reflect the feeling of the period. What is most important that the Renaissance ideals added was the ability of people to improve themselves through study and the exercise of physical, mostly martial, pursuits. It is also from this ideal that the gentleman gained the idea of the importance of the defence of honour and reputation. What was seen on the outside, in the Renaissance, was seen to reflect the inner nature of the person; "The Renaissance concept that outward deportment and accomplishments should correctly and invariably mirror a person's inner nature." (Bevington, 1980:18). This is important, as it was not only the way that the person looked, in their manner of dress and carriage of the person, but also in their actions. A person who acted with courtesy, chivalry, and overall good manners was seen as also having a good nature. Whereas the person who was overbearing, arrogant, and discourteous was seen to have a much meaner nature, and therefore was less respected than the other. This ideal is important for the Renaissance fencer, as it is through these ideals that a person earns renown for their actions on the field and respect from their fellows. The ideal of the English Gentleman was seen to have; youth, disposition, education, vocation, recreation, acquaintance, moderation, which lead to perfection (Bevington, 1980:18). Each of these concepts is important to the idea of the English Gentleman; youth was a part as it was seen to be young and fresh. This was tempered with disposition and education, the idea of the gentle nature is seen in disposition and knowledge in education. Vocation was important, as it was important to be seen to be employed in something useful to society. Recreation demonstrates the importance of having something else besides one's employment to be interested in. Acquaintance refers to being acquainted with the right people and the right ideas of the time. Moderation was seen as important so that a person did not do anything to the extreme in action, look, or thought. To have all of the attributes in the right measure led the person to be seen as the perfect gentleman. It is the ideal of the gentleman that must be followed by the Renaissance combatant if they are to truly follow the ideals of the period. Acting in a manner appropriate to a gentleman of the period is also important so that they may also act in according to that which is seen as important in the period, which is being studied. Etiquette is extremely important and the ideals that have been laid out are those that will lead the modern Renaissance fencer to act in a manner appropriate to the period, which is being recreated in its combat forms. Castiglione's book on etiquette was very influential wherever the Italian Renaissance spread. His book was taken as a guidebook to etiquette, something, which every man claiming to be a gentleman should know. With reference to the topic being discussed overall, it is a useful source. If the Book of the Courtier is read and understood by those wishing to imitate and recreate the arts of the gentleman of the Renaissance, then there are important lessons that can be learnt in an effort to understand the social side of the combat which is being recreated. Castiglione discusses the appearance of the courtier, who can quite easily be interpreted as a gentleman as the terms were connected in many ways. He says; "To be handesome and clenly in his apparaile." (Castiglione, 1561). This is important for the fencer as if he turns up in an unclean state he will not be taken seriously. It is important that the appearance of the person is what gives the first impression. Castiglione discusses the first sighting of the individual, and names attributes which will endear the gentleman at the first sight; "wit, beauty of fisnamy, dispsicion of person, and that grace which at the first sight shal make him moste acceptable unto all men." (Castiglione, 1561). "How much more do we take pleaser in a gentilman that is a man at armes, and how much more worthy praise is he if he be modest, of few words, and no bragger, then an other that alwayes craketh of himself, and blaspheming with a bravery seemeth to threaten the worlde. And this is nothing els but a curiositie to seeme to be a roister. The lyke happeneth in all exercises, yea in everye thinge in the worlde that a man can doe or speak." (Castiglione, 1561) This is an important statement about how the gentleman should present himself with regard to speech. It is important that the good qualities, which are named in the passage, be considered by all of those who wish to exhibit the attributes of the gentleman. This is an important piece of etiquette, which can be applied not only to the fencer, but also to men in general. Being a bragger and a person who picks fights as a manner of course does not imbue himself to those in his company. A person's speech must be phrased carefully as to not insult anyone out of hand or appear to be arrogant or a braggart. Castiglione advises that; "Therefore manye there are, that delite in a manne of muche talke, and hym they call a pleasaunt felowe. Some wyll delite more in modestie, some other wyll fansye a manne that is actyve and alwayes doynge: other, one that sheweth a quietnes and a respecte in everye thynge." (Castiglione, 1561) Thus it is important to tread a fine line between talking too much and not enough. A person is often measured by the words that they say, and as such, these words should be chosen carefully, minding the company, which the person is in. As has been said it is better to stay quiet and seem stupid, than to open your mouth and prove that you are. Feats of arms and other physical activities are also important, as is the manner in which they are done. "To do his feates with a slight, as though they were rather naturally in him, then learned with studye: and use a Reckelesness to cover art, without minding greatly what he hath in hand, to a mans seeminge." (Castiglione, 1561) It states that feats should be performed as if they were natural, rather than having been studied. This concept of being able to do things with ease is meant to inspire others and gain the actor of the feats renown. Of the feats expected of the courtier, feats of arms were considered to be primary. The courtier was expected to know martial arts and be practiced in them as it is seen that such skill is commendable. "I judge the principall and true profession of a Courtyer ought to be in feates of armes, the which Armes the Courtyers chiefe profession. Above all I will have hym to practise lively, and to bee knowen among other for his hardinesse, for his acheving of enterprises, and for his fidelitie toward him whom he serveth." (Castiglione, 1561) As it states to practice such feats of arms is to be known for his skills and hardiness, for his achieving of victory of opponents and other enterprises, and most importantly of all, the loyalty to his lord in the execution of such feats. It is these concepts which are seen as important by Castiglione to the courtier. It is, however, also important that the courtier be a man of learning, and it is associated quite clearly that feats of arms are not only a physical skill but a mental one as well; "Nay the practisinge of armes beelongeth aswel to the mind as to the body." (Castiglione, 1561). These things are simply expected of the courtier as part of his profession, and as recreators of the arts and sciences of arms of the Renaissance it is important that this concept is accepted and embraced. It is also important to note that it is not only feats of arms that are important but also other physical pursuits. In such pursuits, the courtier should not expect immediate praise, or have it known that he has studied to become as such, but do it as a normal part of his activities. "I will have oure Courtier therfore to do this and all the rest beside handlyng his weapon, as a matter that is not his profession: and not seeme to seeke or loke for any praise for it, nor be acknowen that he bestoweth much study or time about it, although he do it excellently well." (Castiglione, 1561) The manner of execution of such feats is also important as stated above, but to reiterate this, it is seen that he should perform feats with good judgment, and grace so that he deserves the good favour that will accompany success in such pursuits; "But principallye lette hym accompanye all his mocion wyth a certayne good judgemente and grace, yf he wyll deserve that generall favour whiche is so muche set by." (Castiglione, 1561). This idea of good judgement is emphasised, especially with regard to involving himself in combats. It is said that it is important that he does not rush headlong into all combats but consider the consequences and the situation which he is in. Being in such a combat it is expected that the courtier will use all of his skill, courage and determination to succeed. The same can be said for the modern practitioner, it is important for them to consider what it is they fight for and the reasons behind this. It is also important that they should fight with skill, judgement and grace in their combat, as it is this way for the courtier of the Renaissance. "Neither let him runne rashely to these combattes, but whan he muste needes to save his estimation withall: for beside the greate daunger that is in the doubtfull lotte, hee that goeth headlonge to these thynges and without urgent cause, deserveth verye great blame, although his chaunce bee good. But whan a man perceiveth that he is entred so farre that hee can not drawe backe withoute burdeyn, hee muste, bothe in suche thinges he hath to doe before the combat and also in the combat be utterly resolved with hymselfe, and alwayes shewe a readinesse and a stomake." (Castiglione, 1561) In his skill with weapons it is expected of the courtier that he have skill in all kinds of weapons; "To play well at fense upon all kinde of weapons." (Castiglione, 1561). Knowledge of all kinds of weapons would ensure that he is able to defend himself in all martial situations, and as such it is important for the courtier to use all kinds of weapons. Earlier in the period it was thought that fencing was only for the rash duellist, or assassin, but in the later period and especially at the time of Castiglione's writing, it was considered to be a pastime considered proper for the gentleman and a useful skill to have; "some in playnge at fence, everye man accordinge to the moine of his mettall, wherby hath ensued (as you know) marveylous great pastime." (Castiglione, 1561). Interestingly enough, after the previous comment about having skill at all weapons, Castiglione then confines the amount of weapons to those, which are most gentlemanly, and those used by gentlemen. More importantly it was considered important to be able to use those weapons which the gentleman would have with him at the time of an encounter; "especially to be skilfull on those weapons that are used ordinarily emong gentlemen, for beside the use that he shall have of them in warre, where peradventure nedeth no great connyng, there happen often times variaunces betwene one gentleman and an other, whereupon ensueth a combat. And manye tymes it shall stande him in stede to use the weapon whiche he hath at that instant by his side, therefore it is a very sure thing to be skilfull." (Castiglione, 1561) Much has been said about the martial attributes of the courtier, and these are all evidently important to the Renaissance fencer in the modern world due to the martial nature of the activity, which is being recreated. But it is not only the martial aspects, which makes or made a man a courtier. The courtier had to adopt a more holistic approach to his life, and in the study of such a creature in the Renaissance it is important that this aspect be examined. "Therefore the more excellent our Courtyer shalbe in this arte, the more shall he bee worthy praise: albeit I judge not necessarye in hym so perfect a knowledge of thynges and other qualities that is requisite in a capitaine. But because this is overlarge a scope of matters, wee wyll holde oure selves contented (as we have sayde) with the uprightnesse of a well meaning minde, and with an invincible courage, and that he alwaies shew himself such a one: for many times men of courage are sooner knowen in small matters then in greate." (Castiglione, 1561) This passage states that it is not necessary for the courtier to have all the knowledge of a captain, this is military knowledge, but an overall knowledge of all things which are seen as important. In this way it could be seen that the courtier had to be a "jack of all trades". It is also stated that there are a lot of things to be considered, and that it is better that he have a quick mind to be able to pick things up and courage enough to speak on small matters. In all that the courtier does or says, however, he should show grace; "everie thynge that he doeth or speaketh, let him doe it with a grace." (Castiglione, 1561). These concepts are also important for the modern Renaissance combatant, as it is important that this person also consider various matters, and not only confine his skills to the physical. More importantly, it is important that the modern combatant also does and says things with all of the grace that they can muster. It is this grace that defines them as a gentleman. To conclude this section it is best that it is left to Castiglione himself; "in conclusion al these good qualities shal not suffise oure Courtyer to purchase him the general favour of great men, Gentlemen and Ladies, yf he have not also a gentle and lovynge behaviour in his daily conversation. ... he that must be pliable to be conversant with so many, oughte to guide himselfe with hys own judgement." (Castiglione, 1561) Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince, was a very influential political treatise, and it continues to be influential even in the modern era. From a narrow point of view it is difficult to see the relevance of this text to questions of etiquette, but if it is examined in detail there are various points which are raised which are extremely relevant to such a discussion. The text is addressed to a prince and details what he should do to maintain power and control, but it can also be interpreted as addressing any person with power. This includes the gentleman or courtier of the Renaissance period. Importantly, the points, which are raised, are of relevance to how this person should and should not act in their dealings. "the gulf between how one should live and how one does live is so wide that a man who neglects what is actually done for what should be done learns the way to self-destruction rather than self-preservation." (Machiavelli, 1981:91) This is an extremely relevant point with regard to etiquette, it is important that a person act in a manner which promotes good feeling toward them, even if at the time it seems that such actions are not in the person's best interest. For the Renaissance fencer, a person should deal with their opponent with all skill and not downgrade their skill for the benefit of the opponent. The speed of the defeat will not benefit the opponent in its execution, but will benefit them in their learning of responses. It is stated that; "whenever men are discussed ... they are noted for various qualities which earn them either praise or condemnation." (Machiavelli, 1981:91), it is important that a person strive for those qualities which would earn them praise, but not neglect the knowledge of the other, lest there be nothing to compare one with another. It is only the negative qualities that demonstrate the positive qualities to be positive. "a prince must be slow to take action, and must watch that he does not come to be afraid of his own shadow; his behaviour must be tempered by humanity and prudence so that over-confidence does not make him rash or excessive distrust make him unbearable." (Machiavelli, 1981:96) The consideration of the best response to a situation is important. If the response is immediate to an insult, it may be done in hot blood and therefore not be the best response to the situation. Once an action is committed though, it should be followed through, no matter what the outcome may be. It is important that the considered response be tempered with humanity and prudence, lest the actions be considered rash or flawed in logic, or cause the person to seem to be over-confident. Or having committed to a course that the result become so painful to consider that the action cause the person to be distrustful and thus unbearable. It is said in the text that; "Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are." (Machiavelli, 1981:101). This is true as it is said often that actions speak louder than words, and as such people are often judged, or misjudged by their actions. It is only the people who are close who really know about the person. Thus it can be that a person can appear to be gentlemanly and kind in their actions, but the motives are less congenial. Also in the text, it is stated that; "In the actions of all men, and especially princes, where there is no court of appeal, one judges by the result." (Machiavelli, 1981:101). This is true in a great deal of cases. For the Renaissance combatant, however, they should consider the method of how the result was achieved for them to be considered truly a gentleman. A victory may be scored in a tournament by a scoring blow, but if the gentleman is to secure true victory, this blow and all before it must be delivered truly and cleanly. "A prince also wins prestige for being a true friend or a true enemy, that is, for revealing himself without any reservation in favour of one side against another." (Machiavelli, 1981:121) Openness in behaviour is a benefit to anyone, and more importantly to a Renaissance fencer. One should be open in their preferences for method and ability. They should also be open about whom they consider a friend and whom they don't. One honours one's opponent by being a true opponent and fighting with all skill against them, and this also earns them prestige. It is important that a person, and especially a gentleman, is able to accept the skill of their opponent and honour them for this skill, no matter whether they are victorious or not. This statement is also reiterated in Machiavelli's text in; "A prince should also show his esteem for talent, actively encouraging able men, and honouring those who excel in their profession." (Machiavelli, 1981:123). This goes for all, the acceptance of skill in other combat arts or styles is important, and this should be expressed, and done without reservation. Skill in all the arts is something to be praised. This is a brief selection of passages from Machiavelli's work, The Prince. There are other sections that are relevant to all with regard to the question of etiquette. The text is also useful for knowing how to deal with various political situations, which arise, in groups of all kinds, and it is an advantage to know how to deal with them most effectively. While the fencing treatises of the Renaissance were mainly dealing with questions of actual combat situations, they also contain information from the point of etiquette, and it is important that these are examined to gain the best idea of the Renaissance view of etiquette. To get the best view of what is important with regard to etiquette in the Renaissance, especially with regard to the execution of the arte of defence, the best place to look is at the theorists and practitioners of such an arte. From these it is then possible to extract those important points which the practitioners and theorists raise and then apply them to the study of fencing etiquette. To do this, three manuals have been selected for their particular approach to the subject of etiquette that is found within the texts. The manuals are; Giacomo Di Grassi (1594) His True Arte of Defence, Vincentio Saviolo (1595) His Practice in Two Bookes, and Joseph Swetnam (1617) The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence. These have also been chosen because they allow the easiest access for the reader to the original text, being in English. The information needs to be extracted from such sources from amongst the advice of the author as to what to do in an actual encounter. The manuals are more guidebooks than anything else is and they read in a logical progression from one subject to another. This is useful but it means that questions of etiquette are embedded in the text amongst the advice, as such, it means that it needs to be separated from the other advice that the author is presenting to the reader. Various subjects were particularly present in the manuals and it is under these headings that the discussion will progress. "I say whosoever mindeth to exercise hemselfe in this true and honorable Art or Science, it is requisite that he be inbued with deep Judgement, a valiant hart and great activitie, In which three qualities this exercise doth as it were delight, live and florish." (Di Grassi, 1594) Di Grassi (1594) states three qualities, which should be possessed by a person wishing to learn the art of defence; judgement, a valiant heart and great activity. These are important because it is with judgement that a man is able to gauge his response, and is also important in combat to be able to judge one's opponent. The next is a valiant heart, valiant enough to continue through setbacks and valiant enough to defend his honour with his life. Great activity goes back to Castiglione's statements about the courtier and what a courtier should be engaged in. It is also only through hard work that skill in the art of defence is attained. These qualities should also be present in the modern Renaissance combatant, for the same reasons. Swetnam (1617) also names positive attributes, which a scholar should possess; "I fay, and this is my opinion, he fheweth the beft wit, and moft valour, which feeing a man out of the way, (as we terme it) will giue a milde and a quiet anfwere vnto a froward queftion: alfo the wifer will commend the patience of him that can beare with one that is paft reafon;" (Swetnam, 1617:76) Swetnam prizes the ability to give a mild answer rather than a quick retort; this demonstrates wit in his opinion. He also prizes the attribute of patience, which is mentioned by Di Grassi as judgement, being able to bear a person who is past reason. In this manner Swetnam promotes a sort of gentleman who is slow to anger and thinks before acting. He also gives reasons for promoting such attributes; "for kinde and curteous behauiour winneth fauour and loue wherefoeuer thou goeft, but much the better if it be tempered with manhood and skill of weapons. Now fome will fay that skill in weapons is good and moft chiefly for gentlemen, but I fay it fhould be in all men," (Swetnam, 1617:76) He also promotes, in his statement that skill at arms should not be only the prerogative of gentlemen, but of all men. This is an interesting statement, as it contravenes several general thoughts about the period and access to training in weapons, but is understandable due to the political situation in which Swetnam was writing. Saviolo (1595) plainly states those attributes which a man should possess if he is to be called a professor of the art or who wishes to engage in the art; "For in him that will bee rightly called a professour of this arte, and in him that shall goe into the field to fight a combat, are required reason, animositie, strength, dexteritie, judgement, wit, courage, skill, and practice:" (Saviolo, 1595) Swetnam and Di Grassi clearly, have mentioned both the attributes that are stated in their opinions of the matter. A required reason is something, which Saviolo highlights as important and further details reasons in his second book Of Honour and Honourable Quarrels. Reason on its own is also fundamental, because the ability to reason allows the combatant to assess their opponent and their reactions. Animosity is important because Saviolo does state that one should never enter into a quarrel with a friend, so a level of animosity is necessary. The other attributes have been detailed above or speak for themselves. As a Renaissance fencer it is important that the modern practitioner attempt to emulate these ideas in the practice of arms. It is these attributes which will be respected more than the victories which are attained. For the positive attributes to be known it is also important that the negative attributes are known. Both Saviolo and Swetnam make comparisons between those attributes that are desired and those that are not. "the more skill a man hath of his weapon the more gentle and curteous should he shewe himselfe, for in truth this is rightly the honour of a brave Gentleman, and so much the more is hee to bee esteemed: neither must he be a bragger, or lyer, and without truth in his word, because there is nothing more to be required in a man then to know himselfe, for me therefore I think it necessarye that every one should learne this arte," (Saviolo, 1595) Saviolo (1595) does a comparison of positive and negative attributes, and states that everyone should learn the arte. He also states that it is a man being gentle and courteous because it is this, which will bring him honour. It is important for the modern practitioner to take these attributes into account, and steer clear of the negative attributes that are stated. Saviolo's encouragement also shows that the learning of fencing should be open to all to learn. Of the negative attributes it was thought that to be a liar was the worst, and many duels were started over such accusations and insinuations. Swetnam (1617) goes further to explain what sort of speech a man should have about another and clearly censures any which is indecent about another man. "he carrieth the moft honourable minde, which in talking of his enemie, can fo bridle his affections, as to vfe no railing, nor vndecent fpeeches behind his enemies backe, for he that doth fo, difhonefteth himfelfe; befides, thofe which heare him, will iudge that hee had rather fight with his tongue this with his fword." (Swetnam, 1617:66) In his statement he states that a person who speaks about an enemy behind their back could be accused of being better able to fight with their tongue than their sword. It is this sort of feeling of other people which is at the base of reputation, especially in the Renaissance period. He states, indirectly, that a person should speak honourably about people, even if they are your enemies. It is this sort of idea which is important also to the modern Renaissance combatant, speech should be made only of a positive nature about one's opponents, and also against those of another style, accepting their skill. Saviolo cautions people on how they speak lest they grow a quarrel out of a small statement that is interpreted the wrong way by another; "especially he that is a Gentleman and converseth with men of honorable quality, must above all others have a great regard to frame his speech and answeres with such respective reverence, that there never growe against him anie quarrell upon a foolish worde or a forward answere," (Saviolo, 1595) Further investigation into the negative attributes is necessary so that they can be understood from the Renaissance perspective, and so that the modern practitioner can avoid them in the execution of his art. It is important that these negative attributes be discussed, no matter how distasteful they seem, because it is only through knowing both the positive and the negative that a complete understanding of such attributes can be had. "Againe, he which is a carrier of tales, can not truly deliuer a mans fpeech, without adding or diminifhing: ... the Tale-bearer bringeth himfelfe into many quarrells, and to be enuied on both fides: ... Tale-bearers are the breeders of great mifchiefe." (Swetnam, 1617:64) Telling tales is even thought of negatively in the modern world, in today's meaning it speaks of people telling lies about another. In the Renaissance term it is more related to those who embellish the truth, adding or taking parts from it. Thus, it can be related to lying, but it is somewhat more than that. The "tale-bearer" is also a person who spreads gossip, and it is usually gossip that is of a negative nature. Thus, Swetnam states that it brings quarrels and creates much mischief, just as it still does in the modern world. A person should learn to tell the story, or truth without adding or taking from it, this will cause much less grief for all who are concerned, and through this gossip-mongering is less likely to occur. "For among all the disgraces which a man may incurre in this world, there is none in mine opinion which causeth him to become more odious, or a more enimic to mortall men (yea, unto God himselfe) than ingratitude." (Di Grassi, 1594) The modern practitioner should be grateful for having opponents who test his calibre, he or she should also be grateful for the chance to be able to learn such an art with others and be able to exercise this art. Ingratitude is that which will make a person seem much less in others eyes, as Di Grassi states "causeth him to become more odious, or a more enimic". Nobody appreciates a person who is not grateful for what they have, and the image of this person will depreciate the less grateful they are, and the more they complain. "For whosoever will followe this profession must flie from rashnes, pride, and injurie, and not fall into that soule falt and error which many men incurre, who feeling themselves to be strong of bodie and expert in this science, presuming thereupon, thinke that they may lawfully offer outrage and injury unto anie man, and with crasse and grosse termes and behaviour provoke everie man to fight," (Saviolo, 1595) Saviolo (1595) makes an important statement in this particular point. It could be translated as saying, just because you can doesn't mean that you should. He is saying that the person who follows the art should not be rash, nor have too large a pride, and that he should not because he has skill and strength, offend everyone and fight them, just because he has the skill to. This is directly related to a section from Othello, which will be discussed in the section about Shakespeare's plays. A person who would challenge everyone would eventually earn themselves a reputation as a brawler, and would be shunned in polite company, so too, should the modern combatant not engage in every chance to compete, nor insult others in provocation. It was and is important, that the Renaissance fencing practitioner be a gentleman at all times, and only fight for the reasons of the attainment of renown, the challenge of the art itself, and that which will improve his esteem. This is an important part of the modern combatant, seeking skill and knowledge. "Wherefore knowing that such men as endevour themselves to attaine unto the excellencie of anie art or science, are worthie both of praise and preferment, because they seeke for that onely true nobilitie, which is in deede much more to be accounted of than birth and parentage." (Saviolo, 1595) In Saviolo's (1595) opinion, the pursuit of the skills attained in the practising of the martial arts is much more important than the nobility of a person's birth. It is in the seeking of such knowledge that the scholar is also in search for truth about the art. This passage also promotes the scholar of the blade to a higher position because of his search. In the case of the modern Renaissance practitioner, this is also important. He or she should not be searching for the most efficient way to dispose of an opponent, but the more important mysteries of the art. The other thing which is stated and that the modern combatant should consider is that all those who study the martial arts of the Renaissance are worthy of some praise for the effort that they put in. While some study from a less scholarly point of view, their efforts should also be recognised. In the seeking of truth of the martial arts, sooner or later a person will come to do more scholarly works if they are truly seeking skills. It is in these scholarly works that Saviolo (1595) sees importance; "The meanes whereby men from time to time have bene preferred even to the highest degrees of greatnes and dignitie, have ever bene and are of two sortes, Armes and Letters: weapons & bookes," (Saviolo, 1595) Thus, it is not only skill with a blade that should be commended but also the study, which the scholar puts into, understand the principles which the arts are based upon. Both arms and letters are put on the same pedestal in Saviolo's opinion, and they are the greatest of importance. Both through skill at arms and through skill with the pen a person can attain greatness. This is also important for the modern Renaissance fencer as it is through study that the physical skills can improve, and also through the execution of skills in competition that mental faculties can also improve. It is also important that for both the gentleman of the Renaissance and his modern counterpart in the recreator of the skills, that consideration must be given as to when a person should fight, and also when a person should not. These are questions of the reason to, or not to, duel. "at one time or another a mans reputation may be fo neerly touched, that it cannot ftand with his credit to pocket it vp, ... yet being wronged, it can not ftand with a mans credite, to keepe his weapon in his fheathe; neyther doe I counfell all men to pocket vp all iniuries which fome will proffer them, but to anfwer a good quarrell, not onely with words but with deeds, as followeth, for the further inftruction. Whofo is honourably challenged vnto fingle combate, the callenged may make choice of his weapon, and likewife of the time when, and of the place where." (Swetnam, 1617:32) Swetnam (1617) counsels the reader about when they should or should not enter into a quarrel with another. He states that an insult can be so grave that a man can not let it go but must respond to it or have his reputation ruined, yet in other circumstances the insult can be ignored. He says to choose the quarrel carefully and not to respond to all, but cautions that the person who is challenged has the choice of weapons, place and time for the duel to take place. The insult, states Swetnam, should be answered not only with words but deeds also if it is so grave that it cannot be ignored. Saviolo (1595) cautions the reader that they should be careful about how they speak to others, and give as little opportunity for a quarrel as possible. Thus he is saying that a person should be as inoffensive as possible to those around them. He also cautions the reader not to enter into a quarrel with anyone they would call their friend, but when forced into a situation where a friend is challenged or challenger, to fight the best that he can, for his own credit and to save his own life. "I woulde counsell and advise everie one, to give as small occasion of offence anie waie unto anie as may be, and especially unto his friend, to whom hee is in anie sorte beholding: but when that hee is forced to laie hande on his weapon, to doe the best hee can, as well in respect of his credite, as for to save his owne lyfe." (Saviolo, 1595) Swetnam further states that a wise man will have patience and be careful about what he says, and consider the approach and what is said so that a small mischief does not become a great quarrel, and that a quarrel is only started upon a great abuse. He cautions that it is easy for a small mischief between two people to develop into a much larger quarrel if a person is not careful about what is said between the two people. He also states that a man who, at the end of his life can state that he wronged no man in any way and bares none any malice is the happiest of all. "the wifer fort will neuer account the worfe manhoode in him; therefore except it be vpon a moft open and great abufe, let Patience be thy buckler, and a faire tongue thy fword, and alwayes haue a care in the beginning what wilbe the end; for a mifchiefe fometimes happeneth in an houre which happeneth not in feauen yeares againe, but Oh thrice happie were that man, which towards the latter end of his dayes, can withouta paire of lying lips fay, I thanke my God, I neuer bare malice, not I neuer iniurioufly wronged any man, in thought, word, or deed in all my life." (Swetnam, 1617:42) Swetnam cautions the reader of his work that a man should not make a habit of quarreling, but only fight upon a reasonable reason for a quarrel, lest he be seen as a common quarreler and refused polite company. This is linked with a section from Shakespeare's Othello which talks about how a reputation can be lost because of being a man who quarrels over nothing, or goes looking for quarrels. This particular section will be discussed in the next section. It is also said that a reputation for being such a man will continue and he will be considered much less for a long time. "he is a man of his hands, and that he dare fight vpon a good occafion; but if he make a common occupation of fighting, hee will then bee accounted for a common quarreller, and his friends will refufe his company many times for doubt of his quarrelling, and yet hee fhall neuer be accounted, more then a man againe." (Swetnam, 1617:41) For the modern Renaissance fencer, the arguments, which have been raised by both Saviolo and Swetnam, are of great importance and are central to the ideas of etiquette in the Renaissance. The reasons for duelling are important as it is not, as has been stated, good to acquire the name of a common quarreler especially if one is in the pursuit of the ideal of the Renaissance gentleman which is central to the art which is being studied. For the modern combatant arguments are much less likely but the attitude to the combat which accompanies them is important. A person can be remembered for the legacy, which they leave behind, and those, which live up to, the values of etiquette will be remembered in a positive light. "whereas on the fide the valiant and gallant minded men, although they dye, yet in their life time their manly acts and valiant deedes which they worthily performed, fome in the warres and fome at fingle combat, and fome at other honourable and laudable exercifes, whereby they merited to themfelues imortall fame for euer, for to fome no exercife nor weapon came amiffe as in ftead of many examples ... out of the book of God" (Swetnam, 1617:6) To be remembered as a gentleman and an honourable combatant is an accomplishment in itself. People are remembered for the positive or negative contribution, which they make to their particular society, and to be remembered as an honourable combatant in the Renaissance was seen to be a great ideal. For the modern practitioner there is an element of this immortality which is available, as long as the study and pursuit of the ideals of the gentleman are held true. Points of etiquette are important to the modern practitioner, and should be considered by all whom profess that they are in such a pursuit. The Renaissance theorists and practitioners who have been used in this particular section have many aspects of etiquette indispersed in their works and these ideas should be taken on board by the modern combatant so that they may be able to understand the combat art which they pursue and practice. Thoughts from the Renaissance may also be gained from other sources, the plays of Shakespeare are one very useful source that can be used, and these will be addressed in the following section. Shakespeare's plays were written in the Renaissance period and reflect some of the social and political thought of the period. Three plays especially are of interest to research into questions of etiquette in the period, and especially for the Renaissance gentleman. They are Hamlet, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet. All of these plays have incidences of conflict in which the rapier is used, and it is more useful to examine the dialogue, which surround these incidences for ideas and thoughts on the question of etiquette. These passages of dialogue, some of which are very well known reflect thoughts on questions of etiquette in the period in which they were set. One of the first and most famous pieces of dialogue from Hamlet is the piece where Laertes' father, Polonius addresses him before he leaves for France. In this he addresses various points of etiquette which Laertes should follow while he is in France to ensure that he is well respected. He first addresses aspects of speech and action, and that he should not speak his mind, or do anything without thinking before he commits to action. Next he addresses various aspects of association with people, saying that he should be familiar with people but in no way vulgar. With regard to friends he says that he should trust tried friends and keep them close to him, but any untried friend to be cautious of him. In matters of quarrels he says that he should not enter into a quarrel, but being in a quarrel fight so that the opponent should beware him. He then refers back to matters of speaking, saying that he should listen to all, but be careful to whom he gives his opinion. Take each mans' offence, but reserve judgment of the person. Finally he addresses matters of dress saying that it should be rich but not gaudy, and says that the men of France of rank and station should be observed for their manner of dress. "Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion'd thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel, But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatch'd, unfledg'd courage. Beware Of entrance to a quarrel, but, being in, Bear 't that th' opposed may beware of thee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each mans censure, but reserve thy judgement. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy, For the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they in France of the best rank and station Are of a most select and generous chief in that." (Hamlet in Bevington, 1980:1080 Act I, scene iii, lines 59 -74) This particular piece is of great interest to anyone who is interested in the etiquette of the period, and the points, which are raised, should be seriously considered. For the modern practitioner of Renaissance fencing, each point should be considered and pondered upon. A person should consider how one speaks to others, how one associates with others and also how one is dressed. With regard to the element of the quarrel, while it is less likely that such quarrels will come to blows the consideration of response to such quarrels is important. In the question of quarrels, Hamlet makes a very valid point in his address to his friends on his travels; "Rightly to be great Is not to stir without great argument, But greatly to find quarrel in a straw When honor's at the stake." (Hamlet) (Hamlet in Bevington, 1980:1106 Act IV, scene iv, lines 53-56) He states that to be great, a person should not stir without a great argument, but that any argument about a question of honour is one, which needs to be answered. This demonstrates the importance to which honour was held at the time of the writing of this particular play. In its own way it also questions the importance of quarreling itself, in that it questions the motives of a person who will find argument with regard to honour at the slightest insult. For the modern combatant, this is an important point. As was raised previously in this text, just because a person has the skill and can win in a particular argument, doesn't mean that he should. The exercise of such skill should be tempered with consideration. This question of quarrels is also highlighted in Othello, which has been mentioned in previous sections, which will be addressed in the next part. Othello addresses two of the gentlemen under his command, concerning a brawl which they have both just been involved in and asks them; "That you unlace your reputation thus, And spend your rich opinion for the name Of a night-brawler? Give me answer to it." (Othello in Bevington, 1980:1140 Act II, scene iii, line 188-90) Thus Shakespeare's piece highlights both the importance of reputation and the way that a negative reputation for brawling can cause a man's reputation to be much less. As was stated above it was important in the Renaissance period that a gentleman keeps his reputation intact if he was to be accepted into honourable company. Shakespeare highlights this point in this particular speech by Othello. It can be assumed that a man who quarrels at any provocation or for any unfounded reason could earn himself the reputation of a brawler, and thus not be accepted in polite company. For the modern Renaissance combatant this is an important point as such a reputation for fighting for any reason will also damage a person's reputation. It can be seen in a modern light from the point of view of people who are easily provoked into fighting. Such a person is regarded warily by those around them. For the modern practitioner this should be a serious consideration especially if they are attempting to recreate the gentleman as he was in the Renaissance. The final play that is examined is Romeo and Juliet. "More than the prince of cats, I can tell you. O, he's the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance and pro-portion; his rests his minim rests, one, two, and the third in your bosom. The very butcher of a silk button, a duellist, a duellist; a gentleman of the very first house, of the first and second cause. Ah, the immortal passado! The punto reverso! The hai!" (Romeo and Juliet in Bevington, 1980:1008 Act II, scene iv, lines 19 -26) Mercutio's comments regarding Tybalt are very poignant about the idea of the gentleman of the Renaissance, and therefore are worth study in the context of this paper. Mercutio comments about Tybalt's skill with words, calling him "the courageous captain of compliments" alluding to Tybalt's ability to be seen and heard as a gentleman in polite company. He then refers to Tybalt's martial prowess, which is a great deal of the monologue and therefore seen as very important to the skills of the gentleman. Interestingly Mercutio refers to Tybalt as a duellist and gentleman in the same statement this is; however somewhat of a comedic as is most of the monologue. Mercutio's statements highlight the important parts of what it means to be a gentleman in the period. For the modern practitioner, Mercutio's statements are worth examination as is the whole play for the importance of the gentleman and how one should act. Renaissance period sources are the best for ideas about what is considered to be good and bad etiquette, but a person's search should not only be confined to the fencing manuals of the period as much is said in other sources. The article above is an examination of fencing etiquette from both a modern and Renaissance point of view. For the modern Renaissance combatant who practices a Renaissance form of fencing in the modern world, both are worth consideration. The Renaissance view could be seen to be more applicable due to the art which is being practised, but due to the lack of information specifically on fencing etiquette and the origins of modern etiquette, modern etiquette is worth examination. The modern view was discussed first due to its familiarity considering the reader's point of view of living in the modern era. First there was an examination of the modern code of etiquette for the modern fencer. This was done in-depth so that the reader could understand how etiquette in the modern game should work. Sadly, this is not always the way that it does work. This difference of opinion and actual circumstance is the result of the competition-focused nature of the modern game. In many people's view, it is the point which is important and not how the point is acquired, this has led to the development of such moves in the modern game as the "flick" which have no basis in real combat with swords. The examination of the modern game also took into account, the attributes of the gentleman, which are important to the modern fencer, the attitude the fencer takes to their game, and questions of respect and honour. These are all important aspects and should not be glossed over, but studied in-depth so that the fencer is able to have a deep meaning of the art which he or she is involved in. Continuing with the modern perspective on the subject of fencing etiquette were discussions of historical texts and how they allow the modern practitioner to look back at what has come before them and examine it to find out points of note. It is important that this examination be done from an holistic approach so that all the available resources are recognised and utilised in the investigation. Questions of personal motivation, the code duello and the weapon as the mark of a gentleman were all discussed in this section. It is important that historians examine the complete picture, which is available to them and not to focus only on things concerned specifically with the combat arts as the whole question is extremely culturally based. Personal motivation has an obvious relationship to the overall subject as it is the person's own motivation which decides to what sort of degree they will follow points of etiquette. The other two subjects are of special import to the Renaissance fencer as these are what the whole idea of dulling was based on. The respect shown for duelling and duellists is also important as it demonstrates the practitioners in the era to be respected for their undertaking, and especially for being willing to put their lives on the line for the sake of honour. The final part from the modern point of view was a question of ethics and the gentleman from a modern point of view, but placed in the historical context of the Renaissance. This is obviously related to the whole question of etiquette and should be seriously considered by the modern practitioner. The Renaissance section of this article is actually the focus of the article, but the modern perspective was important to be discussed so that the reader would have some basis for what is being spoken about. The division of this section is more based upon type of sources rather than by topic, though within each section there are subject headings which are appropriate and important to the discussion. To start the discussion of the Renaissance view of fencing and fencing etiquette, one of the most influential and important texts on etiquette is discussed, Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier. This discussion delves into the depths of questions of the etiquette of the courtier and by de facto the gentleman of the period. It is advised that the reader acquires a copy of this work and read it, as it is most useful. From the point of the Renaissance fencer in the modern period it is useful so that an understanding of the gentleman in the Renaissance period may be accessed. Machiavelli's The Prince is more of a political treatise, but in his advice for the prince there are certain points that are of use for the modern Renaissance combatant. It is also through this most useful text that a person is able to access ideas of how to deal with sensitive situations and come out on top. The fencing treatises of the period are the most obvious place to access information on fencing and the etiquette of fencing as this is the primary purpose of these texts. Three of the many texts were used in the discussion, Di Grassi, Saviolo and Swetnam. Each has important points, which are of relevance to the modern recreator. These three theorists agree on several points but also disagree on several points and it is here where the most interesting ideas come to light. A difference of opinion must be noted and accepted and both sides evaluated before any judgement is made. If the reader has not read the complete texts from these particular individuals, it is advised that you do so. Importantly the reader should also access as many period treatises, as is possible. This is the only way to access the complete picture. It is the ideal set out by these theorists and practitioners which is most important for an accurate recreation, but this does not say that they should be used in isolation. Shakespeare's plays give both political and social commentary of the period from the point of view of someone from the period. The three plays that were selected were selected due to their fame and popularity as much as their usefulness. Imbedded in each are social and political comments that are of significance for the topic being discussed. There are others, which are also useful, and the modern practitioner should familiarise themselves with the works of Shakespeare due to his usefulness. In conclusion, each of the points which is raised in the article highlight important points which all fencers, and indeed all combatants of any form should take into consideration. These points are of special relevance to the modern Renaissance fencer due to the origins of the texts and hence the mode of etiquette. It is only through the true application of such standards and ideals of etiquette that the modern recreator is truly able to appreciate the art, which is practised to its full capacity. It is also the element of the gentleman in Renaissance forms of combat that makes ideals of etiquette important and for an accurate recreation the practitioner should act in a manner, which befits that ideal. It is also important that such participants appear to embody such ideals as this will create a better impression and will inspire others to take notice and include such considerations in their relationship with others. Abels, R. (2002) Medieval Chivalric Values, Ethics and Morals, Alaux, M. (1975) Modern Fencing, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, USA Anglo, S. (2000) The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe, Yale UniversityPress, London, UK Baldick, R. (1965) The Duel: A History of Duelling, Clapham & Hall, London, UK Bower, Muriel (2003) Foil Fencing, www.arch.ubc.ca/vds96/gymnasium/etiquette.htm Castiglione, B. (1997) The Book of the Courtier, University of Oregon, USA, (originally published 1561) Clements, J. (1997) Renaissance Swordsmanship: The Illustrated Use of Rapier and Cut-and-Thrust Swords, Paladin Press, Boulder, Colorado, USA Crown, A.A. (2001) Secrets of the Sword: Why Your Child Should Study Classical Fencing, www.classicalfencing.com/childstudy.shtml Curry, N.C. (1969) Fencing, Goodyear Publishing Company Inc, California, USA Dda, Maelgwyn (2002) The Duello in Elizabethan England, de Beaumont, C-L. (1970) Fencing: Ancient Art and Modern Sport, Kaye & Ward Ltd, London, UK Di Grassi, G. (1996) His True Arte of Defence, www.cs.unc.edu/~hudson/digrassi, (originally published 1570) Docherty, F. (2001) Etiquette, Swordsmanship is not just fencing, www.alliancemartialarts.com/etiquette.html Evangelista, N. (2000) The Inner Game of Fencing: Excellence in Form, Technique, Strategy, and Spirit, Masters Press, Illinois, USA Garret, M. and Heinecke, M. (1971) Fencing, Allyn and Bacon Inc., Boston, USA Hutton, Capt. A. (2000) Old Sword Play, www.people.cornell.edu/pages/bjm10/hutton/hutton.html, (First published 1892) Kiernan, K. (2000) The Tale of Two Trainee Courtiers, www.rdg.ac.uk/globe/Articles/PFK2Gents.htm Machiavelli, N. (1981) The Prince, Penguin Classics Series, Penguin Books, London, UK McKaughan, J. (2002) Paper Topic 6: The Renaissance Man, Mondschein, Ken (1993) Daggers of the Mind: Towards a Historiography of Fencing, www.ahfi.org/articles/art2.htm Palffy-Alpar, J. (1967) Sword and Masque, F. A. Davis Co., Philadelphia, USA Saviolo, V. (1595) His Practice in Two Books, www.cs.unc.edu/~hudson/saviolo/, (originally published 1595) Shakespeare, W. Hamlet in Bevington, D. (ed) (1980) The Complete Works of Shakespeare (3rd ed.), Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview Illinios, USA. Othello in Bevington, D. (ed) (1980) The Complete Works of Shakespeare (3rd ed.), Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview Illinios, USA. Romeo and Juliet in Bevington, D. (ed) (1980) The Complete Works of Shakespeare (3rd ed.), Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview Illinios, USA. Sheen, G. (1958) Instructions to Young Fencers, Museum Press Limited, London, UK Silver, G. (1968) Paradoxes of Defence, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, Amsterdam, Holland; DaCapo Press, New York, (originally published 1599) Swetnam, J. (1617) The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence, Nicholas Okes, London, UK Turner, C. and Soper, T. (1990) Methods and Practices of Elizabethan Swordplay, Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, USA Valentine, E. (1968) Rapiers: An Illustrated Reference Guide to the Rapiers of the 16th and 17th Centuries, and their Companions, Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, USA Walker, H. L. (2002 unpub.) Rapier Combat: A Social History, unpublished Honours Thesis, University of Queensland

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By Dr Michael Edmonds My fascination with science is closely mirrored by an enjoyment of science fiction. This is possibly because I see a lot of truth in physicist Edward Teller’s idea that ’the science fiction of today is the technology of tomorrow.’ However, having recently watched Iron Man 2 where Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) synthesises a new element in what looks like less than a week , I do wonder if such an optimistic portrayal of science and technology creates unreal expectations of what science can do in the real world. Common inaccurate portrayals of science in fiction: The scientific polymath — whether it’s Rodney McKay from Stargate: Atlantis or Spock from Star Trek, fictional scientists are often portrayed as not just being experts in a single area of science but as knowledgeable across all areas of science. While this may have been possible two or three centuries ago, the sheer bulk of current scientific knowledge makes it impossible for a single scientist to have an in depth knowledge of more than a few, typically related fields. It may be convenient for television and movie producers to concentrate scientific knowledge into one character, however in real life it can be a challenge just keeping up to date with all of the advances in a single field. The socially inept scientist — Perhaps carrying around all that knowledge in one’s brain leaves no room for storing the simple rules about social conduct, or the desire to play nice with others, however in the ’real world’ most scientists work effectively in teams and have completely normal social lives. The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon and friends may provide us with laughs, but is desirable to have the stereotype of scientists as arrogant and geeky reinforced at a time in history when public understanding and acceptance of science is vital? ’Instant’ science — Cures to life threatening diseases found within a week, disasters averted by with ’Macgyver-ish’ modifications of available equipment, unfamiliar computers understood and reprogrammed within minutes. Science fiction is filled with instant solutions to impossible tasks. Even the ’more realistic’ science based shows such CSI and Bones show scientific analyses as being much faster and more conclusive than most real world scientists would experience. Not to mention the technology they have available. Many forensic scientists can only dream of (and drool over) the expensive and/or imaginative technology displayed on some of these shows. Furthermore, no-one ever seems to refer to the literature — somehow everything they need to know is already in their heads. Certainty in science — in fiction even the riskiest plans and most improbable theories work the first time they are put into practice. Fictional scientists put together complicated pieces of equipment and they work first time (or occasionally second time if a bit of suspense is required). Gone are the real life experiences involving weeks and months spent tweaking experimental conditions, ordering and waiting for pieces of equipment to arrive and/or trying to interface incompatible pieces of equipment. Fictional science can serve to inspire those with an interest in science, but is it possible that erroneous fictional representations of science can result in unrealistic expectations of science from the general public? It’s an interesting thought. Science has provided us with so many advances — in health, communications, space travel — yet its progress can still seem slow to those waiting for their flying car or a ’cure’ to cancer. Dr Michael Edmonds is an educator, researcher and manager at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology. He has strong interests in the communication and promotion of science.

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Select Atoms Dialog The Select Atoms Dialog is one of the most frequently used in Java Molecular Editor and it is activated by many menues and other dialogs. Selected atoms will be highlighted. When Atom Expression dialog is invoked user can select atoms in the main display window using mouse by pointing cursor at particular atom and clicking left mouse button. Selection type Panel - Atom - Individual atom selection - Monomer - selecting an atom automatically select a whole residue selected atom belongs to. - Molecule - selecting an atom automatically select a whole molecule selected atom belongs to. Selection Rule Panel - Union (or Addition) - add a new selection to the previous one. - Difference (or Subtraction) - subtract new selection from the previous one. - Intersection - resulting selection consists of elements which are present in both new and previous selections. Quick Selection Panel All [push button] - Press this button to select all atoms in a molecule Clear [push button] - Press this button to unselect all selected atoms. Invert [push button] - Invert selection (Press this button to replace the list of selected atoms with the list of unselected atoms ) Atom Types [push button] Activates the Select Atom Types dialog Select atom types from the list Monomer Types [push button] Activates Select Monomer Type dialog with a list of all unique monomer names Substructure [push button] Activates Select Substructure dialog Send all questions, suggestions and comments to Vlad ([email protected]) Dr. Vladislav Vasilyev Supercomputer Facility, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia [Home] [E-mail me]

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At the 67th World Health Assembly Last month saw the occurrence of a development which, even if small and under-reported, I would consider to be of significant importance – when the 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) announced a decision to give the World Health Organization (WHO) Secretariat a mandate to create a pool fund that will allow the price of a drug to be delinked from the R&D costs involved in creating that drug. Though the fund is to be administered by the “Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases”, the WHA included a statement recognizing that the fund was not to be limited only to “Type III” (i.e., tropical diseases), meaning it was to be made available other types of diseases as well, including non-communicable diseases like cancerous diseases. The decision is available here. In order to understand why a movement towards delinkage is important, as several scholars have already pointed out, one only needs to look at the effects of ‘drug price – R&D cost’ linkage. Essentially, it means that drug innovation can be rewarded based on the usefulness of the drug, rather than the pockets of the patient. As drugs are expensive and risky to develop, there is little incentive for pharmaceutical companies to invest much in drug research but rather to invest in ensuring sales are made. And thus we have the problem of ‘evergreening’, wherein pharmaceutical companies are incentivized into trying to get successive patents on minor variations of a drug, so as to extend their monopoly period. Similarly, there is little incentive to developing treatments for diseases that predominantly affect the poor. That’s also why, for example, despite the stark warnings that scientists have been giving regarding the onset of a ‘post-antibiotic era‘ (where our current antibiotics are rendered redundant due to resistant, turning simple cuts, bruises and infections into potentially deadly conditions) the drug pipeline seems to be empty of new lines of antibiotics. Speaking of which… On 25th June, the Longitude Prize 2014 (named after the prize instituted by the British government in 1714) announced that their vote count had come in, and the public had voted for their £10 million prize to go towards solving this antibiotics crisis. The prize, which asks the public to vote on which problem’s solution they think is the most in need of a prize stimulation, puts forward global challenges under 6 broad headings – energy, environment, global development, technology and robotics, democratizing access to communications, and health and wellbeing. The prize is open to anyone – from amateur scientists to professional labs – for a period of 5 years. You can see more about how the prize works here. Just like the R&D fund mentioned above, a prize system also delinks R&D costs from the ability of patients to pay for a treatment. With more prizes like this coming to the fore, as well as mechanisms like the R&D fund gaining more ground, it looks like there is some badly needed recognition of the requirement to delink when it comes to public goods like public health!

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Drought is not an uncommon issue to deal with in the United States, especially when it comes to Arizona and New Mexico. However, this year the drought has been so intense that helping wildlife and keeping up food crops – as well as native vegetation – has been almost impossible. Making headlines is the Middle Rio Grande Valley, which has suffered a severe drought for almost two years now; a drought that all meteorologists are predicting will last long into the future. It has gotten to the point where even a normal amount of rainfall will not be enough to end the conditions. Landowners and wildlife managers are dealing with the fact that extra work and time needs to be invested in order to keep up the overall health of their property. What helps is that some plants react to droughts instinctively, slowing their water intake and conserving the water they already have in the roots. But one myth to be debunked is the fact that when grass turns into a yellowish-hardened state it is actually dead, which is untrue. The grass is literally conserving the water it has in order not to die. Water to plants is just as important as water is to people. Without water, the plant can not germinate and make food for the surrounding wildlife through photosynthesis. Sunlight, water and carbon dioxide is absolutely necessary for this process; hence, when a drought comes upon the land the grass and vegetation simply go into a catatonic state – no growth but no death…yet. Food plots must be planted and they must thrive even in the most difficult conditions to support the surrounding herds; they must thrive in order for those herds to grow and maintain overall health. Getting a food crop planted and begun is hard enough without the added extra of having to grow the crop when the water simply isn’t there. The hunters in the Southwest have invested a great deal of time and money in order for the food plots to win the battle over the drought; however, some feel the battle is being lost. Again, untrue. Even though the extremely long, dry spell has caused the crops to wither, success can be had! The first way to create that food plot in order to give it a better chance of living, is to make sure the soil has the right amount of nutrients before planting ever begins. Having that soil tested, realizing what minerals are lacking and then working to achieve healthy soil before the planting is even thought about, is a necessity. Plants can and will survive the stress of a drought far better if they are given the proper fertilizer and the pH level in the soil is balanced. Then, once that is accomplished, choosing the exact seed and plantings that are made to work well in a dry climate is the next step. Blends from the experienced team at Mossy Oak are expressly made to meet the challenges of a long, dry weather spell because they’re hardy plants that need very little moisture to thrive. By doing these two steps (soil health and then choosing the right plantings) a landowner will be able to grow a healthy stand of crops. Deer need water and protein in order to reach optimal growth. So in periods of severe drought, food plot acres must be specifically chosen to stand up to the arid land. Getting the moisture needed to begin the growth however, is also a necessity. And mowing or using fertilizers and sprays can be detrimental – not helpful – for the food crop to begin. With all food crops, the main focus is to be attractive to the deer so they will stay, grow and become homebodies that will help the hunter as well as the property. A pond, stream, or any man-made water source is needed for the whitetail’s health, although the species does consume water from cactus. The cactus is actually made up of 90% water and can offer the deer almost half of what it needs in its diet to achieve good health. The only thing missing is that protein. Nutritious and appealing forage is what landowners are trying to create during this seemingly unending drought, but because of the fact that there are certain high-protein plants and trees installed with their own drought survival tools, the deer can be saved. So when the rain clouds are absent, just make sure to follow the steps to creating healthy soil, and then pick the plantings that WILL thrive.

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Normally, officers of Candida (yeast) in the body of a person who occupied the tract from the mouth of the rectum, and urogenital system. Often, a Chinese medicine candida diagnosis will only come after the practitioner has considered all your symptoms. In Chinese medicine the body’s whole wellbeing is considered in the diagnosis, with an attempt to bring the body back into balance. Unfortunately, this particular form of cultivation of fungi that can cause problems for the patient. Although many people will participate in traditional Western medicine for the widespread use of antibiotics fungus is able to intensify the problem and in some cases lead to treat recurrent crises. That is why more people are turning to treatments of traditional Chinese medicine to help eliminate the spread of candida. While there are many herbs and lifestyle changes and a professional Chinese medicine, the general law biotic properties, which will give them an effective alternative or complementary medicine, which help the body to balance is recommended. Herbs and make the changes proposed in traditional Chinese medicine, balance, usually by reducing the number of bad bacteria that can stimulate the growth of Candida, but the bacteria may remain in our body. Find the good bacteria in the body is important and helps to eliminate, including fungal infections such as Candida. Normally, if you want to ensure treated by a doctor of Chinese medicine Candida them that your body is in balance because there is an imbalance in your yin and yang is often the cause of many diseases in humans. A special way to combat Candida with Chinese medicine is to provide a cleaning treatment to determine the body of waste, mucus and toxins that therapists have noticed in May, clearly contributes. These are considered as a cause of candidiasis infection. The herbs in this form of therapy there to clean the colon but to promote the elimination of mucus and toxins. In Chinese medicine, it is important to remove mucus, waste and toxins from the body, because they contribute to the development of yeast in the body is. The main types of herbs used to help the body of mucus, waste and toxic substances Long Dao Cao (Gentiana), Chuan Lian Zi (Melia), Huo Xiang (Agastache), Bai Dou Kou (cardamom) mu Xiang ( Saussarea), Huang Qin (skull cup), Hung Lian (Coptis), and Huang Bai (phellodendri). After the cleaning phase is completed, the patient with the next step is to go with graphite. Helping in this phase, the injury to recover from diseases such as Candida and repair balance your body. It was also during this phase of treatment, the therapist will try to avoid repetition in the future. Often, treatment will include Huang Qi (Astragalus), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes) and Shan Yao (Dioscorea). However, there is a guide to reduce the growth of yeast to changes in diet, take food from the growth of yeast.

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|Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute||Home| Grayce P. Storey Females reach puberty between the ages of 10 and 14 and is usually 1 1/2 to 2 years before males. The onset of puberty in males is from 12 to 16 years of age. On the average, once puberty begins it is usually complete within 3 years. Puberty is triggered by hormones. The maturation process of hormones involve highly complex interactions between parts of the brain and the reproductive organs. The hypothalamus in the brain produces a follicle-stimulating hormone releasing factor (FSHRF) and a luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (LHRF). These substances cause the pituitary gland to produce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). In the female, LH controls the production of estrogen, a female sex hormone, ovulation, and the production of progesterone, a sex hormone. FSH controls the maturation of ova. In males FSH controls spermatogenesis, the process responsible for the production of sperm. LH stimulates other testicular cells to produce testosterone, a male sex hormone. Hormonal shifts trigger behavioral changes. The child may experience moodiness or depression. As secondary sex characteristics begin to develop the child may feel ambivalent about the body transforming into that of an adult. Effects of Testosterone at Puberty Growth of pubic hair Growth of facial hair Deepening of voice Effects of Estradiol at Puberty Distribution of body fat Distribution of body hair There is no absolute age for a girl to start menstruating. The cycle usually starts between ages 10 and 15. In North America improved nutritional status and general good health lowered the average age of menarche to about 12 1/2 years. Some girls may feel self-conscious about menstruating later or even sooner than their friends. It is important to emphasize to them that each person is unique and that each matures and develops at her own rate. The menstrual period is part of the menstrual cycle. Most periods occur about every 28 days and a normal period can last anywhere from 2 to 7 days. Ovulation occurs about mid-cycle. The egg can only be fertilized before it reaches or while it’s in the fallopian tube. Conception cannot occur once the egg has left the tube. Ovulation is hard to predict and therefore cannot easily be used as a birth control technique. It is also noteworthy that menstrual cycles can be anovulatory for the first few years after menarche. Dysmenorrhea is usually associated with contractions of the uterus as it expels the menstrual fluid. LH controls the secretion of the primary male sex hormone (testosterone). FSH, in conjunction with testosterone, is responsible for spermatogenesis. Ejaculation is the reproductive indicator in the male. This may occur first with masturbation or nocturnal emission. The normal age range for a first ejaculation varies. Twelve to sixteen are common ages for the onset of puberty. Spermatogenesis usually occurs 1 to 2 years later. There are skin changes that are associated with puberty. The sebaceous glands secrete more sebum which can lead to excessively oily skin and acne. Changes in the voice is due to a change in the larynx in both males and females, but most noticeable in males. The possibilities and choices are numerous during the adolescent period. It is during this time that the child makes many discoveries about self, parents, friends, sexual relationships, and about the world as a whole. It is also during this time that ambivalence is experienced. The child is torn between the responsibilities of an adult and the security of being a child. It is during this period that the child is easily frustrated by limits on his or her controls. The child may become angry and hostile in response to preconceived threats to his or her state of independence. Psychologist Erik Erickson has described each stage of the life cycle in terms of universal “tasks.” The adolescent has tasks to complete in the transition from childhood to adulthood. Erickson has also described the adolescent period as one of identity role versus role diffusion. He concluded that the formulation of identity is an ongoing process through the stages of life. In Erickson’s description of role diffusion, he sees it as the opposite to successful identity integration. The adolescent experiences too many changes and not enough support. As the child grasps concrete concepts the formal abstract cognitive patterns develop. m is pattern development makes the child more inclined to think about morals, values, and ethics. It is through the refining of the adolescent’s skills and achievements that a healthy sense of competitiveness is developed. Ideas of contemporaries help to define lifestyle, career, and further education. Cliques are common among adolescents who desire to be included into the proper groups. When that does not happen some experience feelings of isolation and pain which leads to distress. It is imperative for the adolescent to engage in sound nutritional habits. Doing so will not only ensure the attainment of full height during the rapid growth period, but also enhance the foundation of good health as an adult. The eating habits of adolescents vary, reflecting family, society and peer influences. Females are especially prone to try new fad diets. Most adolescents enjoy snacking on junk foods that may not provide them with needed vitamins, minerals, and proteins for proper growth and development. If adolescents are given more responsibility for their nutrition, it may be a more successful approach to a proper diet than force. Proper classes and professional assistance can help adolescents choose a sound nutritional diet. Victims of anorexia nervosa, more often female than male, may have problems in asserting independence and effective control of their lives. The victim may also have deep ambivalent feelings about growing up, attaining mature sexuality, and dealing with various dynamics in the family. The victim holds a distorted self picture. They see themselves as fat, and become obsessed with food. Nuch time may be spent in preparation of food that they will not eat. They engage in extreme diets, and strenuous physical exercise, and occasionally in self-induced vomiting, or laxative abuse. This condition may lead to hospitalization. Treatment for anorexia nervosa is aimed at correcting the malnourished state and the emotional disturbance of the victim and the victim’s family. Psychotherapy is used to explore what caused the problem. Parental support is of great importance during the illness. The victim has to develop a sense of responsibility toward their health and their eating habits. When considering whether a person is obese, weight is not always an accurate indicator. The skeletal frame and muscle mass are to be considered in determining how much of the weight is in fat deposits. Genetics play a major role in childhood obesity. Primarily, overeating and a low activity level cause obesity. Compared to their nutritional needs obese individuals eat excessively, often rapidly, sometimes without hunger, and often at night. The adolescent who was obese as a child may have suffered early devaluation in a society oriented to thinness. This devaluation can cause low self-esteem. With a heightened sense of poor body image, obesity can mean a loss of self-worth. With added pressure from peer groups and society the individual may resort to food for gratification and comfort. Diets fail because the emotional need for food is outstanding. Early adolescent years are the periods of rapid growth and adequate nutritional intake is important. No weight reduction plan should be considered that will deprive the body of necessary nutrients. The adolescent is advised to seek professional guidance in choosing a weight reduction plan. As the adolescent increases his or her height, their weight will become more evenly distributed. In the behavior technique for weight loss the individuals are helped to realize the parameters of hunger and starvation. They learn to eat more slowly and to recognize the times of emotional stress that lead to finding comfort in food. It is essential to follow an exercise program. Physical activity helps the adolescent develop a sense of accomplishment. Support is greatly needed in any weight reduction plan. Other means must be considered to satisfy emotional needs other than food. Realistic and tangible incentives are good motivators. Low calorie food alternatives should be substituted for high calorie choices. By the adolescent assisting in food preparation a sense of responsibility and control over food intake can be developed. Gradual changes are advised, with the adolescent participating in what he or she can realistically accomplish. The treatment of obesity can be slow, difficult, and frustrating. Though the problem often times seems overwhelming to the adolescent, their family, and even professionals, the benefits of weight loss, both emotional and physical, are such that every effort should be made to assist the adolescent in a safe, effective reduction plan. Sexuality development is unique and everyone develops at their own pace. While some adolescents take an interest in sex at an early age, others start much later. With of some early interests, adolescents are considered at risk of becoming involved in situations they may not be ready to handle. Sexuality is essential to adolescent development. It is also important that adolescents adjust to their individual emerging sexuality. Open decisions between adolescents and parents on the general issue of sexuality will assist the adolescent in making life decisions. These decisions may include what the adolescent wants to do in terms of sexual activity and feelings about personal sexual development. Sexuality development in the adolescent can be very frightening for the parents. It appears to be tangible evidence that the parent is losing the child. The parent becomes overwhelmed by the thought of what lies ahead for the child. The risks of sexual relations, moral issues, and premarital sexual activity are predominant in their worries. The parents and adolescent benefit when they discuss feelings and related concerns of sexual activity together. When the adolescent thinks of sexual activity, they feel guilty. These feelings may arise from blatant warnings about sexual feelings and activities, from authority figures. Once adolescents become more comfortable with their sexuality, the guilt feelings usually subside. At times some feelings run deep which indicates that professional assistance is needed. As the adolescent becomes more aware of their feelings, they have sexual daydreams or fantasies. The fantasies assist them in seeing themselves as a sexual person, and therefore helps them to adapt to the role. As the young person struggles with identity, homosexual feelings are common. Discovering sex with a close friend of the same sex is not unusual as the adolescent tries to find himself in conjunction with more strong sexual feelings. These feelings usually pass as the adolescent becomes more comfortable with his sexuality, or they may develop toward definite homosexuality. Today’s society is biased toward heterosexuality. Homosexual feeling in the adolescent can bring about feelings of distress and support may be needed to understand these feelings and how to cope with them. STDs are infectiously transmitted, but not exclusively by sexual intercourse. Sexually transmitted diseases are more often acquired by people who have many new sex partners, or who share IV needles for some STDs are also transmitted through the blood. During the second World War, STDs increased in the United States and Europe and decreased with the introduction of penicillin, which provided a cure for syphilis and gonorrhea. In the 1960’s and 70’s STDs increased again with the introduction of the birth control pill. These inventions allowed couples not to use barrier contraceptives, which had also provided some protection against infection. In the 1970’s and 80’s antibiotics provided a rapid cure for most patients. Also in the 1970’s it became apparent that certain STDs (herpes and hepatitis B) could not be cured, with hepatitis sometimes being fatal. Promiscuous sex is now a high-risk activity. Chlamydia trachomatis causes infections in the genitals, eyes, lymph nodes, lungs, rectum and throat. Genital infections of Chlamydia trachomatis cause the STD, lymphogranuloma venereum in the tropics. In developed countries it causes nonspecific urethritis (NSU) or nongonococcal genital infection which is most common in the United States. NSU in men may cause penile discharge, infection of the epididymis, and if untreated may lead to infertility. In women NSU is usually symptomless: however, there may be a vaginal discharge or painful urination which may be associated with cervicitis (cervical inflammation), or salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tube). An estimated 5 to 13 percent of all women in the U.S. have a chlamydial inflammation of the cervix. Treatment for NSU is with antibiotics, such as tetracycline or erythromycin. Both sexual partners should be treated. Certain strains of Chlamydia trachomatis occur in parts of Africa and Asia where hygiene is lacking. The result is a serious eye disease, called trachoma. This disease is spread from eye to eye by flies. This strain is the most leading cause of blindness worldwide. Chlamydia trachomatis causes a serious respiratory infection and is a major cause of pneumonia among infants in the United States. Three to four babies out of a thousand are affected. The main symptoms are difficult breathing and staccato coughs. The treatment is,with antibiotics. Causes Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The bacteria are frequently passed during sexual intercourse with an infected person. The transmission can take place during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. The bacteria lives in moist, dark, and warm places. An infected woman is capable of transmitting the disease to her child during child birth. Gonorrhea cannot be contracted through inanimate objects. Gonorrhea is prevalent among young adults who experience many sexual partners and is the second most common STD. Symptoms & Signa The incubation period of gonorrhea is 2 to 10 days. Usually in men the symptoms include a urethral discharge and painful urination. Women may be symptomless, but about 40% of women experience some vaginal discharge or a burning sensation upon urination. Gonococcal proctitis (inflammation of the rectum and anus) is an infection acquired through anal sex. The symptoms are pain and discharge in about 10` of infected persons. Gonococcal pharyngitis results from experiencing oral sex with an infected person. The symptoms include a sore throat but then again, most people have no symptoms. An infected infant exposed by an infected mother during childbirth may acquire gonococcal ophthalmia (a severe inflammation of the eyes). Untreated gonorrhea may spread to other parts of the body, causing infertility in both males and females. Once the bacteria enter the bloodstream they can cause pain and swelling of the joints; and also septicemia (blood poisoning), which causes fever and malaise. It can even spread to the brain and heart, and cause death. A laboratory test is necessary in order to confirm a diagnosis of gonorrhea. Treatment Treatment is usually with antibiotics. Tests are also taken after the treatment to ensure that the infection has been cured. Sexual partners must be informed, because they may not have any symptoms to suggest that they need care. Causes Syphilis is caused by Treponema Pallidum, a spirochete. The spirochete penetrates broken skin or mucous membrane in the genitalia, rectum, or mouth during sexual intercourse with an infected person. After entering the body, the organism passes through the body in the blood stream and lymphatic system. In the late 1970’s and early 80’s the number of cases of syphilis in the U.S. increased. Further increases have occurred during the AIDS epidemic, as both infections shared the same pathways of transmission. Symptoms & Signs Untreated syphilis passes through three stages. In the primary stage a sore (chancre) appears 3 to 6 weeks after exposure and heals in 4 to 8 weeks. The chancre is a painless ulcer with a hard wet base. The base is covered with serum and spirochetes. These ulcers usually develop on the genitals, anus, mouth, rectum or fingers. The secondary stage is from 6 to 12 weeks after infection. A transient or recurrent rash may appear. In Caucasians the rash is a round, pinkish red spot. In Afro-Americans the rash appears darker than the normal skin. Accompanying the stage the infected person may suffer headaches, aches and pain in the bones, loss of appetite, fever and fatigue. The secondary stage may last for a year. The latent stage can last a few years or the duration of the person’s life. During this time, the infected person may appear normal. During the tertiary stage (which commences 10 years after the infection), there is a possibility that the aorta can be affected and an aneurysm develop. Syphilis in the tertiary stage can cause brain damage and general paralysis. Treatment Penicillin is used to treat the disease. Early infections can be cured by a single large injection. Later forms of syphilis requires a larger course of treatment. Organs that are damaged because of the disease cannot be repaired. Prevention A monogamous relationship can help prevent spread of the infection. Condoms offer some measure of protection. Syphilis is only infectious in the primary and secondary stages but not in the latent and tertiary stages. The incubation period for the herpes virus is about a week. The virus produces a burning, itching sensation and a small blister bursts. It then takes 10 to 21 days for them to heal. Lymph nodes in the groin may become enlarged and painful. The infection give leave the infected person a headache or a fever. Infected women with genital herpes may suffer painful urination when the urine comes in contact with the sores. In contrast, cold sores which appear around the mouth are a good indication of herpes type 1 infection. Treatment There is no cure for genital herpes; however, early treatment will likely prevent or reduce the severity of an attack. Treatment for the herpes simplex virus depends upon the type, site, and severity. Antiviral medication acyclovir makes the ulcers less painful and aids in healing. Attacks occur after sexual intercourse, sun bathing or when a person is run down. During an attack, sexual activity should be avoided. Also, if an attack of genital herpes occurs during the time a mother is in the delivery room giving birth, a cesarean section should be performed to prevent the baby from being infected. Once the virus enters a person’s body, it stays there for the rest of that persons life. Parents, too, are sometimes confused by the many mood swings and they may question if what is taking place is normal. There are times when the parents as well as the adolescent need to be educated in adolescent behavior and the transition into adulthood. The education can drastically reduce the amount of upheaval in the family. 1. syphilis 2. infection 3. spirochete 4. mucous membrane 5. genitalia 6. chancre 7. monogamous 8. herpes 9. incubation 10. lesions 11. masturbation 12. STD 13. gonorrhea 14. adolescent 15. ulceration 16. bulimia 17. dysmenorrhea 18. cliques 19. permiscuous 20. ambivalence 21. chlamydia s 22. permatogenesis 23. anorexia nervosa 24. obesity 25. sexuality 1. Nutrition: Young People What You Are is What You Eat 2. Nutrition: Psychosocial Physiologic Basis 3. Nutrition: Overweight 1. Dietician 2. Nutritionist 3. Pediatrician (school’s) 4. Child Psychologist After completing this unit 80% of the students will be able to list the means of transition, some signs and symptoms, the treatment and prevention of 4 types of sexually transmitted diseases. The students will act out skits on various aspects of STDs (the skits will be recorded and played back for class discussion). The students will write a report on a STD. 1. camcorder 2. VCR tape I. Lecture and discussion: Herpes, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea. A. Herpes 1. transmission 2. signs and symptoms 3. treatment * no cure 4. prevention B. Syphilis (same as “A” procedure) C. Gonorrhea (same as “A” procedure) D. Chlamydia (same as “A” procedure) II. Vocabulary 1. herpes 7. monogamous 2. syphilis 8. incubation 3. gonorrhea 9. lesion 4. STD 10. ulceration 5. spirochete 11. infection 6. chancre 12. mucous membrane III. Divide the class into groups of 4 and the groups act out a 10 minute skit on STD... skits are to be recorded and discussed in class. IV. Homework: write a one page report on a STD. The students will take notes and discuss obesity, bulimia and anorexia nervosa. The students will watch a video on nutrition and write a critique to be shared in class. 1. VCR 2. Television I. Introduction: Why good nutrition? II. Obesity A. What is obesity? B. What are some of the feelings of an obese person? C. Dieting D. Family support E. Peers F. Treatment III. Bulimia A. What is bulimia? B. Signs of being bulimic C. Treatment IV. Anorexia Nervosa A. What is anorexia nervosa? B. Some causes of anorexia nervosa C. Signs of anorexia nervosa D. Parental support E. Treatment V. Video: Nutrition: Young People. What You Are Is What You Eat. A. Write a critique on the video B. Share the critique with the class VI. Homework: Essay 1. Suppose you were a victim of obesity, bulimia or anorexia nervosa, how do you think you may feel? 2. How would you relate to a friend who may have one of the illnesses? 1. Agras, Stewart N. Eating Disorders. Management of Obesity, Bulimia. and Anorexia Nervosa. New York: Pergamon Press, 1987. 2. Gibson, R. S. Principles of Nutritional Assessment. New York: Oxford, 1990 3. Kimmel, D. C. and Weiner, I. B., Adolescence: A Developmental Transition. Hillsdale, NJ: LEA, 1985 4. McWilliams, M. Nutrition for the Growing Years. New York: John Wiley, 1986 5. The Family Handbook of Adolescence. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1981 1. Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Fairfield, New Jersey: American Council for Healthful Living, 1989. 2. Carter, John Mack, The New Goodhouse Keeping Family Health and Medical Guide. 513-555. New York: The Hearst Corporation, 1989 3. Clayman Charles B. The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine. 270, 289, 495, 888-889, 900, 961. New York: Random House INC, 1989 4. Hiatt, Jane; Clark, Kay, and Nelson, Mary. STD Facts. Santa Cruz, California: Network Publications, 1986. 1. Agras, Stewart N. Eating Disorders. Management of Obesity. Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa. New York: Pergamon Press, 1981 2. Carter, John Mack. The New Goodhouse Keeping: Family Health and Medical Guide. 513-555. New York: The Hearst Corporation, 1989 3. Clayman, Charlee, B. MD. The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine. 270, 289, 495, 888-889, 900, 961. New York: Random House INC, 1989 4. Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Fairfield, New Jersey: American Council for Healthful Living, 1989. Very informative brochure 5. Hiatt, Jane; Clark, Kay and Nelson, Mary. STD Facts. Santa Cruz, California: Network Publications, 1986 6. Schowalter, John E. and Anyan, Walter R. The Family Handbook of Adolescents: Comprehensive Guide. 11-13, 19, 23, 39, 46. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1981 7. Shryack, Harold. You and Your Health. vol II 521-530. Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Association, 1978. Contents of 1991 Volume V | Directory of Volumes | Index | Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute

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Check out Our Lunar Neighbor So, what DOES the Moon mean to you? That’s the question a group of folks interested in lunar exploration are asking as they prepare for International Observe the Moon Night, which is October 8th. The idea is to get folks interested in the Moon, either by observing it or by learning more about the science that astronomers are doing to learn about the Moon. Preferably both! The organizing team consists of scientists, educators, and Moon enthusiasts from all walks of life, the business community, and governments around the world. So, what’s it take to get involved? Have a moon-gazing event. It can be as simple as gathering in your neighborhood, a gazing session at your planetarium or science center or through your astronomy club. There are already some cool events planned, like moongazing at the Casper Planetarium in Casper, Wyoming, and observing at the South African Astronomical Observatory. You can peruse the current list of activities here. To get folks in interested in some of the science done on the Moon past, present and future, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific has posted a special episode of their podcast series, Astronomy Behind the Headlines, called “Science From the Moon.” It’s an interview with Dr. Jack Burns of the University of Colorado’s Lunar University Network for Astrophysics Research (LUNAR)—written, conducted and produced by yours truly for ASP (with music from Geodesium)! The podcast was made possible by NASA’s Lunar Science Institute. So, listen in on a great conversation about lunar science, and then get out there and enjoy the Moon!

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Yorkshire has more acres of land than there are letters in the Bible. I tell this to take away some-thing of the arrogance of my countrymen who imagine America to be all the world and other countries mere outlying fringes. Yorkshire has in its day been a kingdom. It is a great expanse of land that is mostly fertile and well farmed. Still in quest of sheep, I visited a sheep fair at Mallon. There I met J. Lett, who showed me the market. He told me that land on the Yorkshire wolds was renting for about $5 per acre, with “rates” (taxes to tenant) at about 60 cents per acre. The farms are large, averaging perhaps 800 acres (not counting small holdings). Many farmers were buying land at from $55 to $200 per acre. A farm of 800 acres would carry about 350 Leicester ewes. These might be crossed with Hampshire or Lincoln rams. The Lincoln, pure-bred, does not, however, find favor in Yorkshire except in certain spots. A Yorkshire shepherd has $5 per week, with a cottage and garden. In the summer he cares for 500 or more sheep, going to them on horseback. In winter they are folded on the turnips ; then a man is given 200 to care for, but he must clean and cut the “neeps” for the “hoggets” or coming-yearling lambs. The old ewes eat their neeps uncut. In summer they run on clover on the wolds or on crops sown for their use. They go fat to market in the spring when they are about a year old; some are kept at home to replace the ewes of the flock that are sent away. The ewes are not kept past four years. Leicester ewes give an increase of 125 lambs to 100 ewes. The fat yearlings usually bring $6.30 each and upward, and their 11 pounds of wool is worth about $2.40. Farmers in Yorkshire are making money, thinks Mr. Lett, but not so rapidly as in the ’60’s. London imports about 82 per cent of its meats. Mr. Lett said that the usual wage scale of Yorkshire would be for a head wagoner $140 per year, with board; for the second man, $120 and so on down to about $100. The foreman or “hind” boards the men and receives for this about $1.90 to $2.15 per week for such service. A boy begins at 14 years of age with $45 per year, advancing to $75 per year with board, by the time he is nearly grown. We discussed the breaking up of the large farms and the creation of small holdings. Mr. Lett did not think there was much chance of profit in operating a fifty-acre farm, unless one were a market gardener. At Fimber I saw Mr. M. His farm is high up on the chalk and of its 800 acres he plows 660. I had never before seen so thin a soil under the plow; go down six inches and one would be in clear white chalk over a large area. Shallow plowing is there-fore the rule. Mr. M. keeps 330 Leicester ewes and sells from them yearly 400 lambs. He said that this soil would not be at all productive if it were not trodden down often by sheep. He gave me an inventory of the men and animals needed to operate his farm. There were 20 Shire work horses, sixteen men for the 800 acres. He paid his foreman $210 per year with vegetables for him and his men, and beer for the men, and $40 extra per man for boarding them. His married laborers each received about $4.30 per week with a cottage and garden. Some-times they were given piece-work so that they could make larger earnings. Each of twelve single men had from $90 to $150 per year, with board. Two shepherds received $120 each, and one $160 per year, and two cattlemen received each $2.40 per week, with board. I was especially interested to know the number of men employed and the rates of their wages, because it gives one a basis for comparing conditions. One man is kept to each fifty acres. This surely is not an extravagant or excessive number. The wages are of course much lower than in the United States, as will be readily seen.

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Central to the Project Design process is the Logical Framework (LogFrame), which is developed from the CDCS Results Framework. The Logical Frame validates and potentially updates the Result Framework and includes detail on the inputs and outputs necessary to achieve the intended results or project's purpose as well as project assumptions. The Logical Frame provides a way to define, design, and budget for the USAID interventions necessary to achieve the CDCS Goal and DOs. The Logical Framework is as much a way of thinking about development projects as it is a one page tool for summarizing the key elements of a project design and establishing a basis for project monitoring and evaluation. Users already familiar with this tool may wish to jump directly to the kit's Logical Framework Template which can be used to prepare a project Logical Framework online and save, download or print it. Those less familiar with this tool will find introductory information on this page as well as highlighted terms that lead to more detailed explanations on how to prepare each of the columns of a Logical Framework matrix. A sample of a completed Logical Framework for a Trade Facilitation Project is also provided in this section. Central to the way in which the Logical Framework approach focuses thinking about development projects is its emphasis on the hypotheses embedded in project designs. These hypotheses are expressed as a vertical chain or hierarchy, in the Narrative Summary column of the matrix shown below. As the arrows at the top of the matrix shown below indicate, Assumptions in the far right column of a Logical Framework matrix are an integral part of the design aspect of this tool. To understand a project's design propositions, readers are encouraged to read these two columns together, i.e., Outputs plus Assumptions, at the Output level, taken together will yield the project Purpose. Additional pages in this kit provide more detailed information on the preparation of a Narrative Summary and Assumptions columns in the matrix. The vertical aspect of a Logical Framework is its scientific side. It reminds us that the development process is not fully understood, and in most environments factors beyond a USAID project's control introduce uncertainties into any design and implementation process. The scientific side encourages us to frame a vertical chain of results as hypotheses, which can be tested and from which we can learn and advance our understanding of “what works” to bring about progress in developing countries. Evaluations, particularly impact evaluations, focus on the vertical or scientific aspect of a Logical Framework. The horizontal aspect of a Logical Framework, particularly the first three columns capture the managerial and accountability side of a Logical Framework. The second column, Indicators, refines our understanding of results in the first column by telling us how we will know whether those results have been achieved. In a Logical Framework, targets as well as indicators are included in this column. The third column, Data Sources, identifies data sources, methods and the frequency with which performance information will be obtained to help project managers guide implementation. Performance monitoring in a Logical Framework is part of the horizontal aspect of the tool, as are many of the questions USAID asks in mid-project performance evaluations. Additional pages in this kit provide more detailed information on the preparation of the Indicators and Data Sources columns in the matrix. Both performance and impact evaluations draw on the two middle columns for guidance on measuring the changes that projects are intended to bring about.

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During the late years of the Spanish Era, several forms of governments were formed by the Filipinos with the aim to oppose Spain’s political power as well as to established self-governance. There are different forms of de facto government that were established in the Philippines during the Spanish period; these governments are the Katipunan, the Biak-na-Bato Republic, the Dictatorial Government, the Revolutionary Government as well as the First Philippine Republic. The Katipunan is a secret revolutionary organization in 1896 that was organized by Andres Bonifacio. The central government of this secret society was vested in the Supreme Council or called as the“Kataas-taasang Sangunian”. The Judicial council or the “Sanguniang Hukuman” is in-charge with the judicial power. After the founder Andres Bonifacio was executed, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo assumes power and established a new government. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo acted as the first president of the Philippines by the virtue of the Spanish periodelection held on the 22nd of March year 1897. The Biak-na-Bato Republic was founded by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on the 1st of November in the year 1897. The republic only takes effect for two years. However, the Republic of Biak-na-Bato declared the separation of the Philippine Islands from the mother country Spain. The Dictatorial Government is also founded by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on 24th of May 1898; The Revolutionary Government is another government established by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on the 23rd day of June in the year 1898; replacing the dictatorial government. This government aims to struggle for the Philippine independence until the foreign countries including Spain will recognized the Philippines. It also aims for the future establishment of the real republic. The First Philippine Republic was formed by the revolutionary congress of the Filipino Representatives through the Malolos Constitution. The free and Independent Philippine republic was inaugurated on the 23rd day of January in the year 1899, making Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo as the president. However, the new established republic was not recognized by the family of nations. In the month of February year 1899, the United States of America annexed the Philippine Archipelago as a result of the Spanish American War. After the World War II, the American government grants the Philippines with the Independence.

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Historians look at photographs and post cards from 100 years ago to see what Vermont looked like. Historians examine census records to know how many people lived in Vermont. And historians read what people wrote to learn about life in the past. In 1910, a famous photographer named Lewis Hine took a photograph of Albert Lavallee. Albert was a boy who lived in Winooski. He had just started working at the American Woolen Mill. Lewis Hine took his photograph to show that children should not work in factories. Historians can find Albert Lavallee in census records. Census records list all the people who lived in a place. The 1910 census tells the names and ages of Albert’s parents, brothers and sisters. The census also lists where people were born and where they worked. Historians can tell that Albert’s parents came to Vermont from Canada. Some Vermonters kept diaries that tell what they did and thought. In 1911, Alice Bushnell from Strafford, Vermont, wrote in her diary every day. She was 7 years old and lived on a farm with her family. Historians read diaries like this to learn about children in Vermont 100 years ago. On August 7, 1911, Alice tried something new. In her diary, she wrote, “I went swimming. It is the first time I ever did. I had lots of fun.” Alice liked school most of the time. But on Friday, December 8, Alice wrote “I went to school as usual. I have no history now. I am very glad.” Alice did not like to study history. But historians can use her diary to learn about being a kid in Vermont a century ago. |Land Use A Century Ago||Then & Now - Home| Thinking about History Write a diary entry about what you did today. What could a historian learn about you by reading your diary entry? |Borrow A Little Girl's Diary| |The Bitter Cry of the Children (PDF)| |Child Labor in Vermont| |Read Counting on Grace, a historical fiction book based on a photograph by Lewis Hine| |See other Lewis Hine photographs at the Library of Congress|

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- A weight tracking site like FitDay. People enter some information about themselves, what they eat every day, and how much they weight. The site lets them track the number of calories they eat along with their weight. Currently, these sites don't make recommendations about what to eat. - Data mining algorithms. Once you have over 5 million users on your weight tracking site, perform statistics to find out what actually makes people lose weight – e.g., “by eating one more cup of yogurt every day, you can lose 1lb per month.” As opposed to other diets that are pulled out of somebody’s behind, this one will be based on millions of data points. Start recommending what to eat. Alternative (Advanced) Preparation Instructions: Use collaborative filtering to determine what is the best diet for each individual. By looking at people who have similar profiles to each other (they weight the same, like to eat the same things, etc.), it may be possible to design a diet that works for you personally: “that person who is very similar to you lost weight by doing X.”

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Week 1, Monday Lecture Outline - Wednesday, 4:30 - 5:30 PM, Cava Java, South University @ East University - Thursday, 10:30 - 11:30 AM, Cava Java - or by appointment - BUT -- please no drop-in visiting! - I. Individualistic VS contextual tension - II. Classical models - III. Learning in communities of practice - Classical model: - bounded, autonomous actor made up of preferences, traits, interests, and - behavior is a consequence of these internal attributes - Contextual model: - importance of the relational, cultural, and interdependent features of - Positive reinforcement: - students attend to lecture when move to left corner - Negative reinforcement: - students stop whispering when move from right corner - Attend to president - He knows what to do (mental image) - Follow his lead (reproduce behavior) - participation, repetition, transfer, and feedback - Sources and occasions: - formal -- classroom and top-down - informal -- apprenticeship and peers - Situated learning: - activity in, with, and arising from interaction with people around you - Community of practice: - group that defines skill and mastery and provides the means to obtain skill - Legitimate peripheral participation: - learning through participation, organized through access to skilled - Barriers to learning: - lack of access due to physical separation - poor contact with skilled journeymen - How do organizations learn: - suitability of individual level models? - consequences for practice? Return to slides. Return to the Introduction to Organizational Psychology Home Page. Contact the author via e-mail. Or send e- mail to [email protected] Copyright © 1996, The Regents of the University of Michigan, All rights reserved. Revised - November 4, 1996

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Stocks and the Economic Cycle: What Performs Well--and When by Wayne A. Thorp As the last few years have shown, the economy can have a significant impact on a companys financial success (or failure). Many companies have seen their earnings fall because of the downturn in the economy and, consequently, the value of their shares has fallen. That is not to say, however, that all stocks react the same way during periods of economic expansion or contraction. This article will explore the general characteristics of the economic cycle during its various stages. It will also examine how various industries and investment styles react to these stages and how investors may be able to use the economic cycle to their advantage when developing an investment plan. The Business Cycle Over long periods of time, the U.S. economy expands. During the 20th century, the growth rate of real GDP—gross domestic product adjusted for inflation—averaged approximately 3% a year. According to data provided by the Commerce Departments Bureau of Economic Analysis, between 1929 and 2000, GDP (in 1996 dollars) grew at an annual rate of 3.5%. However, the pattern of growth of todays modern economies has been uneven. During the period of 1929 to 2000, the maximum annual growth rate in real GDP in the U.S. was 18.4% from 1941 to 1942, and the lowest was a 13.1% decline from 1931 to 1932. As this data shows, no economy grows forever and, inevitably, economic growth and expansion wanes, followed by slowdown and even contraction. This pattern of expansion and contraction in the economy is known as the business cycle. The business cycle can be further divided into its component parts. Through the course of expansion, a point will be reached where most businesses are operating at full capacity and real GDP is growing rapidly. This point in the business cycle is the business peak. Then, as business conditions slow, the economy enters a period of decline or contraction, oftentimes referred to as a recession. During the period of contraction, sales of most businesses fall, real GDP growth slows or even declines, and unemployment increases. If the recession is prolonged and severe, it could be classified as a depression. The bottom of the contraction phase is referred to as a recessionary trough, after which economic conditions begin to improve and the economy enters the expansion phase of the business cycle—sales rise, real GDP grows, and unemployment declines. Recessions, Expansions & The Stock Market The length of economic cycles, including periods of recession and expansion, has varied significantly over the years. The longest period of economic decline—from the business peak to the recessionary trough—since the beginning of 1855 to March of 1991, has been 65 months (from October 1873 to March 1879). This data is compiled by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER; www.nber.org), the organization charged with declaring when recessions begin and end. Although the most common definition of recession is when GDP declines for two consecutive quarters, the NBER bases its announcements on elements such as employment, industrial production, real personal income, and manufacturing and trade sales. On the flip side, the longest period of expansion during this same period—from recessionary trough to business peak—has been 106 months, from February 1961 to December 1969. Between 1965 and 1991, the average length of economic expansion has been 35 months—although the average has increased in the postwar years to 50 months. Contractions over the period of 1865 to 1991 have averaged 18 months, falling to 11 months since 1945. Figure 1 shows the performance of the S&P 500 against the backdrop of recessions and expansions since 1950. The shaded areas on the chart indicate recessionary periods. According to the NBER, we are currently in a recessionary phase of the economic cycle, which began in March 2001. This places us in the 30th month of contraction and counting, beating the previous longest postwar contraction by 14 months. There is a caveat to this, however. By the time a reversal in the economy is announced—either a peak or a trough—the trend is usually months or even years developed. Since 1980, the NBER has announced four business peaks and three business troughs. On average, there has been a seven-month lag between when a business peak forms and the NBER announces its formation. The longest delay was nine months between the formation of the July 1990 peak and the announcement on April 25, 1991, while the shortest was five months between the January 1980 peak and the announcement on June 3, 1980. For business troughs, the lag is even longer, averaging 13.7 months for the three that have formed since 1980. The largest delay in announcing a trough was 21 months between the formation of the March 1991 trough and the announcement on December 22, 1992. The shortest announcement gap was eight months between the November 1982 trough and the announcement on July 8, 1983. [For more on what indicators to watch for clues on the business cycle, see this month's Fundamentals article, The Top 10 Economic Indicators: What to Watch and Why.] What does all this mean for the stock market? As a general rule, economic declines tend to have an adverse impact on the overall stock market and individual stock prices, although there are exceptions, which we will discuss shortly. Specifically, data compiled by Jeremy Siegel in his book Stocks for the Long Run (Mc-Graw Hill Trade, 2002) show that for the 42 recessions that have occurred since 1802, 39 were preceded by stock market declines of at least 8%. For the period of 1948 to 1990, during which there were nine peaks in the business cycle, stocks lost an average of 8% between the peak of the stock index and the peak in the business cycle. The lead time over this period between the peak of the stock index and the peak of the business cycle was 5.7 months. Furthermore, during this period, the 12-month decline in stocks following the business cycle peak averaged almost 17.5%. Like all economic and investment models, the stock market does provide some false signals in terms of predicting recessions. Siegel points to 10 times between May 1946 and August 1998 when the Dow Jones industrial average fell by more than 10%, yet no recession occurred in the following 12 months. There were nine business cycle troughs between 1949 and 1991, and during this time there was, on average, a 5.1-month lead time between the trough in the stock index and the trough in the business cycle. The average rise in the stock index during this lead-time period was over 23.8%. This data bodes well for the current economic environment. The Wilshire 5000, the broadest index for U.S. equities, has risen 26.3% (as of July 11, 2003) since bottoming out on March 11 of this year, just over four months ago. Timing the Business Cycle As the data presented here indicates, there are opportunities to benefit from properly timing peaks and troughs in the business cycle. However, pinpointing these reversals is much easier said than done. Data shows that, for the vast majority of times, stocks fall prior to recessions. Therefore, a prudent investment plan would be to switch from stocks to Treasury securities when an economic downturn begins and switch back to stocks once the prospects for recovery look good. However, since World War II, if you were to follow this plan and switch exactly at the economic peaks and troughs, you would have done only slightly better than a buy-and-hold strategy. Siegel states that if you mistimed your switch by only one month, you would have underperformed buy-and-hold by 0.6% a year. His research shows that the maximum excess return generated by switching comes four months prior to the business peak or trough, which would have beat buy-and-hold by 4% a year. However, since it has taken economists an average of almost 14 months to call a business trough after it has formed since 1980, it is virtually impossible for individuals to reap these excess returns. That is not to say that other methods cannot be employed to benefit from the business cycle. The following will discuss stock market rotation—the shift of assets from one investment style, industry, or sector to another. Sector rotation is movement from one or more sectors into one or more other sectors and is based upon the premise that economic cycles exhibit characteristics that impact sectors or industries differently during the stages of expansion and contraction. The hope is that, by shifting between sectors, you can take advantage of how the various sectors (or industries) respond to the business cycle. While stocks, as a whole, do move in advance of the economy, specific sectors have different relative performance throughout the economic cycle. Depending on the business activities of a given sector or industry, there is generally a particular phase of the business cycle that is more favorable to those activities than are other phases. Table 1 shows which kinds of stocks do well in various economic stages along with a description of the economy at each stage. The table is divided into three major industry groups—cyclicals, defensive, and growth. Cyclical industries fortunes are tied to the performance of the economy. The cyclical industries have been further categorized depending upon when in the economic upturn they tend to perform well. Defensive industries (not to be confused with the defense industry) tend to perform well during recessions. Growth industries are in a stage of rapid expansion, relatively independent of the economys strength, or lack thereof. It is important to keep in mind that the table is a general characterization of economic or business cycles. In examining the groups, certain patterns become apparent. Cyclical groups, whose underlying demand is tied to consumers, tend to be very sensitive to turns in the economy. Consumers can react very quickly to changes in income and interest rates. Deferring the purchase of a washing machine does not require the approval of an executive committee or board of directors. Nor does a family need to do an extensive capital budgeting analysis to determine whether it makes sense. Capital goods producers, on the other hand, tend to perform strongly later in the economic cycle. Coming out of a recession, there is usually much unused capacity, so manufacturers of consumer goods can initially accommodate demand for their products without the need for additional investment. Farther into the cycle, when consumer goods manufacturers need additional capital goods, considerable time lags often exist between the time specialized capital goods are first ordered and the time they are finally delivered. This time lag helps to explain why capital goods manufacturers may report increased sales for some time after a downturn in the economy. Before an increase in the economy, some sectors tend to take off; the consumer housing market is an example of such a segment. Recession bottoms tend to carry low interest rates due to weak demand for loans, since fewer businesses need financing for expansion. Low credit demand coupled with the typical government policy of easier money at economic bottoms leads to lower interest rates, which in turn make it cheaper and easier to purchase large items such as residential housing. An increase in housing demand has many multiplier effects—consumer credit, construction, and consumer cyclical sectors benefit from such a move. When the housing boom incorporates many first-time homeowners, home furnishings and consumer durables manufacturers benefit as these new households require basic items such as furniture, stoves, and refrigerators. Consumer staples are often referred to as consumer non-cyclicals or defensive industries. The demand for the products of these industries tends to remain fairly constant throughout economic cycles. Health care providers, food producers, tobacco, and liquor producers face consistent demand for their goods. There are, however, other things to consider. While consumers must purchase food during good times and bad, shifts in purchasing habits are common with changes in the economic cycle. Consumers will probably substitute cheaper foods for higher-priced prepared foods during downturns. General industry trends independent of the economic cycle sometimes have an overriding effect on the demand for goods. The demand for tobacco, for example, is largely independent of the economic cycle; it is not immune, however, to changes in the lifestyle of U.S. consumers. The movie industry used to be considered a good defensive industry. In fact, it would often show growth during recessionary times as people substituted movie going for more expensive forms of entertainment. With the growth of cable TV and videotape/DVD rentals over the last decade, these newer industries have become inexpensive substitutes for the relatively high cost of movie-going today. Utilities also perform well during downturns. Utilities are huge borrowers of money. The low interest rates that accompany recessions lower utility operating costs, raising profitability. Additionally, their high dividend yields at these points will attract investors seeking both relative safety and high income. Of course, utilities also benefit from economic upturns as demand for energy and services from industrial customers increases. The Growth Sector Some industries experience growth without regard to the economy; although from economic cycle to economic cycle, growth industries change. These industries typically perform very well during recessions as investors flee companies releasing negative earnings reports and search out those firms with increasing earnings. The biotechnology industry is still in its growth stage with expanding sales independent of the economy. Just as certain sectors do better during various phases of the business cycle, so too do different investment styles. Two types of style investing that have garnered a significant amount of coverage over the years have to do with market capitalization (current market price multiplied by the number of shares outstanding) and the notion of growth stocks versus value stocks. Numerous academic studies and empirical data show that, over long periods of time, small-company stocks outperform stocks of large companies. Figure 2 shows the cumulative percentage return of the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, and S&P SmallCap 600 indexes since the end of 1993, when the mid-cap and small-cap indexes came into existence. While this is a relatively short time period from which to draw meaningful conclusions, some observations can be made. Large-company stocks, as represented by the S&P 500 index, dominated small- and mid-cap companies for most of the period, up until seven months before the beginning of the current recession (indicated by the shaded area on the chart). For the period of January 1, 1994, through February 28, 2001, the S&P 500 generated a cumulative return of 204.3%, while the S&P 400 and 600 indexes gained 208.1% and 129.0%, respectively; this amounts to monthly averages of 1.4% for the S&P MidCap 400, 1.4% for the S&P 500, and 1.1% for the S&P SmallCap 600. Since then, and throughout the current recessionary period, small-cap stocks have outperformed large- and mid-cap stocks, with a cumulative return of 4.9% through the end of June. The S&P 500 has generated a 18.5% return and the S&P MidCap 400 returned 0.9%. The beginning of the current recession was especially hard on the S&P 500 index, as it fell from its highs over the first several months. At the same time, the S&P 400 and 600 indexes managed to recover slightly from their initial declines before finally succumbing to the economic malaise in the middle of 2002. Looking at the make-up of these three indexes at the end of 2001, it appears that the S&P 500 was hurt by its exposure to large-cap industrial, financial, and information technology companies, which accounted for over 13% of the index and lost 7.0%, 10.5%, and 26.0%, respectively, in 2001. The S&P 400 index benefited from strong performance in consumer discretionary companies, which made up 14.3% of the index, and it gained 13.4% in 2001. These companies made up 17.6% of the S&P 500 index at the end of 2001, yet the large companies in this sector gained only 2.0% in 2001. All three indexes have rebounded from their March 2003 lows, further indication that the economy is showing signs of recovery. If so, this is encouraging news for small-company stocks, which tend to do well coming out of recessions. Growth Versus Value Value investing has been a popular topic since the research of Graham and Dodd. Stocks that exhibit low price-to-book or price-to-earnings ratios are often classified as value stocks, while stocks with high price-to-earnings or price-to-book ratios are often called growth stocks. Research has also shown that value stocks tend to outperform growth stocks over the long term. Furthermore, small value stocks tend to do better than large value stocks. Figure 3 shows the cumulative returns for the Barra/S&P 500 Growth index and the Barra/S&P 500 Value index for the period of January 1, 1975, through June 30, 2003. Over this time, the economy has seen three full recessionary periods, as well as the tail end of one that is still underway. Value stocks generally outperform growth stocks, with one exception (usually) being at the tail end of a bull market, as illustrated in Figure 3. For much of the period, value stocks outperformed growth stocks, and the gap between the two styles widened until the middle 1990s—when the markets were in the thralls of one of the biggest bull runs in history. At the peak of the bull market, the Barra/S&P 500 Growth index closed the gap and surpassed the cumulative return in the value index in March of 2000. In the aftermath of the stock market bubble, value stocks have fared better than growth stocks, with smaller value stocks performing much better than large value stocks: The Barra/S&P MidCap 400 Value index has returned 7.1% since March 1, 2003, while the SmallCap 600 Value index has returned 5.7% and the S&P 500 Value index has posted 19.4%. There are ways in which you can structure your investment portfolio to benefit from the ups and downs in the economy or, more exactly, from predicting the turning points in the business cycle. However, success may be hard-won, as timing the economy is a difficult task and is something that most professional economists cannot accomplish. No matter what your view of the economy, it is important to maintain a diversified portfolio. While the utility sector may outperform other sectors during specific stages of the business cycle, holding a portfolio that is exclusively utility stocks is not a prudent move. Only if you were 100% accurate at timing the business cycle would such a strategy prove profitable. Since we have shown that it is virtually impossible to accurately time the business cycle, a more prudent investment strategy would be to diversify your portfolio across sectors. The best policy is to make minor portfolio shifts in anticipation of longer-term market and economic trends. As this article went to press, the National Bureau of Economic Research declared on July 17, 2003, that the 2001 recession ended in November of that same year. This recessionary period was one of the shortest of the post-war era at just eight months. However, taking 20 months to declare this recessionary trough was the second-longest amount of time since 1980. In declaring the end of the 2001 recession, the NBER revised its complex formulation to include GDP in its analysis along with employment, real income, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales. However, saying that a recession is over does not necessarily make it so. While GDP has been growing since the fourth quarter of 2001, unemployment recently hit a nine-year high and the stock market, a leading economic indicator, is just now showing signs of a rebound after three years of declines. This only serves to reinforce the fact that economic recoveries are difficult to forecast and can be uncooperative. Wayne A. Thorp, CFA, is financial analyst at AAII and associate editor of Computerized Investing.

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Log In to abcteach Free Account (Settings) This list features books at a variety of levels, each set in one of the fifty states. From "Bird" (set in Alabama) to "Hope Was Here" (Wyoming), this book list will help students "read across America". Read the short story, then use context clues to answer questions about the author's point of view. Six pages, with answers. Common Core: ELA - RL5.6, RL4.6

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Economics & Social Sciences Research Program Analyzing the Economic Contribution of the Alaska Head and Gut Fleet Sector First wholesale revenues of the Alaska groundfish fishery plunged by more than 25% in 2009 to $1.7 billion, down from $2.3 billion in 2008. While fish stock levels played a role (e.g., reductions in the pollock TAC), the change in total production was less than 6% (from 699.6 thousand metric tons (t) in 2008 down to 656.3 thousand t in 2009). Therefore, a sharp drop in market prices was the primary factor for the significant reduction of Alaska groundfish revenues in 2009. In fact, negative price effects were seen in a decomposition of the 2008-09 change in wholesale revenues across market categories (pollock, cod, flatfish, rockfish) and product groups (fillets, roe, surimi, and whole head & gut). Because Alaska groundfish products are mainly exported, it was global market conditions that caused the negative price effects that dominated in 2009. The Alaska Head and Gut (H&G) fleet was rationalized recently, and it relies on global markets as a primary source of revenue. Thus, an economic assessment of rationalization should consider the effects of global market conditions on benefits and costs. In this project, we will develop a social accounting matrix (SAM) model that can be used to measure the contribution of the Alaska H&G fleet to the Alaska economy and calculate the economic impacts from a change in the global market conditions for the product (Alaska H&G) produced in this fleet. Because the currently available single-region Alaska regional economic models specify only one single rest of world (ROW) account, the project will need to disaggregate ROW into the rest of U.S. and foreign countries in order to examine the contribution and impacts of change in global market conditions. The SAM model can be used to quantify the contribution of an industry to a regional economy or to evaluate impacts of year-to-year changes in prices and quantities (e.g., total allowable catch) on regional employment and income. Regional economic models do not usually explicitly distinguish between domestic and foreign markets that are outside the regional economic zone, but that distinction is important for analyzing the regional impacts of price changes that are driven by global market conditions. The Alaska SAM model needs to distinguish between rest of U.S. and foreign countries. We will start from an existing Alaska SAM model and revise the model using U.S. trade statistics, the State of Alaska's Commercial Operators Annual Report (COAR), and H&G Fleet Economic Data Reports (which collect cost and earnings data from the H&G fleet). We will cooperate with industry in order to groundtruth the data for the fleet. By Chang Seung and Michael Dalton

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French aerospace manufacturer Safran has partnered with a historical archeology association on a mission to rewrite the history books. The group seeks to find incontrovertible proof that a French aircraft (l’Oiseau Blanc) flown by pilots Charles Nungesser and François Coli successfully crossed the Atlantic 12 days before Charles Lindbergh in 1927. The aircraft has never been found, but in some accounts witnesses claim to have heard the sound of a laboring aircraft engine over Maine. The program seeks to locate the aircraft’s engine, which was built by Safran progenitor Lorraine-Dietrich. Safran Joins White Bird Hunt - December 20, 2011, 3:45 PM

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Although black women s labor was essential to the development of the United States, studies of these workers have lagged far behind those of working black men and white women. Adding insult to injury, a stream of images in film, television, magazines, and music continues to portray the work of black women in a negative light. "Sister Circle" ... Although black women s labor was essential to the development of the United States, studies of these workers have lagged far behind those of working black men and white women. Adding insult to injury, a stream of images in film, television, magazines, and music continues to portray the work of black women in a negative light. "Sister Circle" offers an innovative approach to representing work in the lives of black women. Contributors from many fields explore an array of lives and activities, allowing us to see for the first time the importance of black women s labor in the aftermath of slavery. A brand new light is shed on black women s roles in the tourism industry, as nineteenth-century social activists, as labor leaders, as working single mothers, as visual artists, as authors and media figures, as church workers, and in many other fields. A unique feature of the book is that each contributor provides an autobiographical statement, connecting her own life history to the subject she surveys. The first group of essays, Work It Sista! identifies the sites of black women s paid and unpaid work. In Foremothers: The Shoulders on Which We Stand, contributors look to the past for the different kinds of work that black women have performed over the last two centuries. Essays in Women s Work through the Artist s Eyes highlight black women s work in literature, drama, and the visual arts. The collection concludes with Detours on the Road to Work: Blessings in Disguise, writings surveying connections between black women s personal and professional lives." Fair. 081353061X Student Edition. No apparent missing pages. Heavy wrinkling from liquid damage. Does not affect the text. Light wear, fading or curling of cover or spine. May have used stickers or residue. Good binding with NO apparent loose or torn pages. Heavy writing, highlighting and marker. Supplemental materials not guaranteed with used books. Good. 081353061X Lightly used ex-library. Mild shelf wear. Soft covers have been reinforced with sturdy clear plastic. No marking, other than library markings, found in text. Binding solid. No creases in spine or covers. Packaged carefully for shipping. Ships within 24 hours with tracking. Satisfaction guaranteed! ! Sorry, no APO/FPO. Alibris, the Alibris logo, and Alibris.com are registered trademarks of Alibris, Inc. Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited, Baker & Taylor, Inc., or by their respective licensors, or by the publishers, or by their respective licensors. For personal use only. All rights reserved. All rights in images of books or other publications are reserved by the original copyright holders.

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Man-made global warming creates 1 million sq miles more Arctic ice, say experts THE Arctic ice sheet is huge: A chilly Arctic summer has left nearly a million more square miles of ocean covered with ice than at the same time last year – an increase of 60 per cent. The rebound from 2012’s record low comes six years after the BBC reported that global warming would leave the Arctic ice-free in summer by 2013. Instead, days before the annual autumn re-freeze is due to begin, an unbroken ice sheet more than half the size of Europe already stretches from the Canadian islands to Russia’s northern shores. In 2010, BBC Science Reporter Jonathan Amos told us: Arctic summers ice-free ‘by 2013’ The Daily Mail adds: Only six years ago, the BBC reported that the Arctic would be ice-free in summer by 2013, citing a scientist in the US who claimed this was a ‘conservative’ forecast. Perhaps it was their confidence that led more than 20 yachts to try to sail the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific this summer. As of last week, all these vessels were stuck in the ice, some at the eastern end of the passage in Prince Regent Inlet, others further west at Cape Bathurst. Shipping experts said the only way these vessels were likely to be freed was by the icebreakers of the Canadian coastguard. According to the official Canadian government website, the Northwest Passage has remained ice-bound and impassable all summer. Today’s UK Daily Mail gives more evidence that would have made my mother, of blessed memory issue a major Jewish Mother Sweater Alert because the Arctic Ice cap grew by 60% this past year and more scientists are warning of the coming ice age. People are confused: Dana Nuccitelli wants to clear things up in the Guardian: “Arctic sea ice delusions strike the Mail on Sunday and Telegraph”: When it comes to climate science reporting, the Mail on Sunday and Telegraph are only reliable in the sense that you can rely on them to usually get the science wrong. This weekend’s Arctic sea ice articles from David Rose of the Mail and Hayley Dixon at the Telegraph unfortunately fit that pattern. Both articles claimed that Arctic sea ice extent grew 60 percent in August 2013 as compared to August 2012. While this factoid may be technically true (though the 60 percent figure appears to be an exaggeration), it’s also largely irrelevant… There’s a principle in statistics known as “regression toward the mean,” which is the phenomenon that if an extreme value of a variable is observed, the next measurement will generally be less extreme. In other words, we should not often expect to observe records in consecutive years. 2012 shattered the previous record low sea ice extent; hence ‘regression towards the mean’ told us that 2013 would likely have a higher minimum extent. The amount of Arctic sea ice left at the end of the annual melt season is mainly determined by two factors – natural variability (weather patterns and ocean cycles), and human-caused global warming. The Arctic has lost 75 percent of its summer sea ice volume over the past three decades primarily due to human-caused global warming, but in any given year the weather can act to either preserve more or melt more sea ice. Last year the weather helped melt more ice, while this year the weather helped preserve more ice. Both Rose and Dixon referenced a 2007 BBC article quoting Professor Wieslaw Maslowski saying that the Arctic could be ice free in the summer of 2013. In a 2011 BBC article, he predicted ice-free Arctic seas by 2016 “plus or minus three years.” Other climate scientists believe this prediction is too pessimistic, and expect the first ice-free Arctic summersby 2040. It’s certainly difficult to predict exactly when an ice-free Arctic summer will occur. So. Don’t trust the right-wing Press. Trust the Left. After all, it was the Guardian that told us on September 17 2012: “Arctic expert predicts final collapse of sea ice within four years.” Nuccitelli says that man-made global warming is driving the change. But these scientists say it’s about the sun, maybe: A paper published by the Danish Meteorological Institute finds a remarkable correlation of Arctic sea ice observations over the past 500 years to “the solar cycle length, which is a measure of solar activity. A close correlation (R=0.67) of high significance (0.5 % probability of a chance occurrence) is found between the two patterns, suggesting a link from solar activity to the Arctic Ocean climate.” The paper adds to several others demonstrating that Arctic sea ice extent and climate is controlled by natural variations in solar activity, ocean & atmospheric oscillations, winds & storm activity, not man-made CO2. So much for the settled science…

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In Ariadne issue 33 the Web Focus column encouraged Web developers to "get serious about HTML standards" . The article advocated use of XHTML and highlighted reasons why this was an important standard for Web developers. XHTML is just one of the standards which has been developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). W3C has also developed several standards for XML as well as standards in the area of hyperlinking, multimedia and graphics. However although an approach to Web development based on open standards may seem appealing, in practice there will be occasions when use of proprietary solutions may be needed (for example, there may be areas in which open standards are not available or are not sufficiently mature for deployment in a service environment). An awareness that Web developers may be faced with a choice leads to the need for that choice to be an informed one. This article aims to advise Web developers on several factors to consider when choosing formats for use when developing Web sites. The term "open standards" has been used without defining what this term means. It can mean: Note that not all open standards bodies will comply with all of these features. The standards-making process within the W3C, for example, is initially restricted to organisations which are members of the W3C and a small number of invited experts. There are a number of formats which are widely used by the Web community but are not open standards in the sense used above. The term "proprietary" is normally used to refer to formats which are owned by a company. However, to confuse matters, companies sometimes use the term "industry standard" or "de facto" standards to refer to proprietary formats. In addition to the use of confusing terminology, some proprietary formats may be more open than others. For example, proprietary formats may have a community development process, which allows users of the format to have some level of input into developments of the format, or the specification may be published openly. Ownership of format is not the only factor. There is also a need to consider issues such as cost, resource implications and the appropriateness of the format; and the need for a risk assessment of the dangers of adopting an inappropriate standard. You should remember that even choosing an open standard is not without its dangers - readers over the age of 35 involved in IT in the UK university sector may remember Coloured Book networking protocols (which were promoted as the path to the ISO-standard OSI (Open System Interconnection) networking protocols, but were eventually discarded in favour of Internet protocols). Rather than mandating a particular approach, the alternative is to provide a multi-dimensional pattern of relevant factors and leave it to Web developers to choose the appropriate approach for their particular project. The following factors need to be considered and the degree to which they apply to a project. Is the standard: If the standard is proprietary is it a proprietary standard for which: Are viewers for the format: Are authoring tools for the format: Does the standard provide: Does the standard: Is the standard: Will use of the standard: Is the format: If it becomes necessary to migrate to an alternative format will it be: As well as the various technical issues addressed above, there is also a need to consider the organisational culture of the developers. For example, is the organisation keen to make use of innovative developments or does it prefer to make use of mature solutions; is the use of open source software prevalent in the organisation; etc. This article has sought to address some of the difficulties likely to be confronted when choosing standards for use in the development a Web site. You may find it useful to make use of the list of factors given above as part of an overall strategy for the development of a Web site. Either way, there is little doubt that time devoted to such strategy formulation pays dividends in the long run. UK Web Focus University of Bath

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Born: August 5, 1868; Helsinki, Finland Died: February 17, 1924; Hausjärvi-Oitti Oskar Merikanto was undoubtedly overshadowed by his Finnish countryman and contemporary, Jean Sibelius. That said, Merikanto was an important musical figure in his sphere still, particularly for his work in opera, song, and church music. He was instrumental in bringing operatic performances to the stage in Finland, and his Pohjan neiti (Maiden of the North) was the first Finnish-language opera ever produced. In the realm of church music MerikantoRead more was active both as an educator and composer. But he will probably be best remembered for his songs. A good many of them from his numerous collections (nearly 50 in all!) and from among various lone efforts scattered throughout his output without opus, are regularly heard in recitals and on recordings. Perusing Merikanto's works list, one is struck by its enormity: for chorus alone there are well over 100 entries (some representing sizable collections), and for piano over 80, a body of work that contains, however, not one sonata or concerto! Merikanto typically wrote short works for solo instruments and voice, but his operas and incidental scores for the theater broke with this miniature-like pattern. Oskar Merikanto was born in Helsinki, Finland, on August 5, 1868. Like Sibelius, his parents were Swedish speakers. The family name, too, Mattsson, was Swedish, which the father changed to the more Finnish-sounding Merikanto. Young Oskar divulged musical talent early on, with exceptional skills on the organ and piano. In the period 1887-1888, Merikanto studied music at the Leipzig Conservatory. Even by this time, though, he was already active as a composer, with numerous piano works to his credit, including the Fantasia, for four hands (1885) and Two Träumerei (1887), as well as pieces for organ and songs. Merikanto concluded his studies in Berlin in 1890-1891. In 1893 his son Aarre was born. He would also become a noted composer, his father being his first teacher and a profound influence in his life. In 1898 the elder Merikanto wrote the aforementioned opera Pohjan neiti, but it was not staged until 1908. From the early twentieth century Merikanto worked to promote opera in Finland, conducting and arranging many major performances. Merikanto remained quite active in composition throughout his life. Perhaps his most popular sacred work, the hymn Thank you, Lord! from 1924, was among his last. But it still showed his usual mastery and inspiration. Merikanto died in Hausjärvi-Oitti on February 17, 1924. Read less There are 22 Oskar Merikanto recordings available. YOU MUST BE A SUBSCRIBER TO LISTEN TO ARKIVMUSIC STREAMING. TRY IT NOW FOR FREE! Sign up now for two weeks of free access to the world's best classical music collection. Keep listening for only $0.0/month - thousands of classical albums for the price of one! Learn more about ArkivMusic Streaming

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Bronchitis makes you cough -- a lot. It can make it hard to breathe, too, and can cause wheezing, fever, tiredness, and chest pain. The disease happens when ... Aug 6, 2016 ... Do you know whether or not bronchitis is contagious? Find out if it's something you should be concerned about and learn how it spreads. Bronchitis is caused by inflammation and swelling in the airways inside the lungs, which are called bronchi. So, is bronchitis contagious or is it caused by other ... Most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viruses and are contagious. Bronchitis (brong-KYE-tis) is a disease that involves inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the larger airways in the respiratory tract, which can result from ... 6 days ago ... Dr. Oz reveals in the clip above that bronchitis is actually generally not contagious. Who knew? SEE ALSO: Should you or shouldn't you be ... Aug 6, 2016 ... ... smoking, exposure to smoke, etc. As some cases of bronchitis are contagious, it is essential to be informed about this respiratory disease. Sep 24, 2015 ... Bronchitis is a lower respiratory infection. Is bronchitis contagious? In most cases, only acute bronchitis is contagious. Let's see more details of ... Jan 9, 2012 ... With this brief highlight, let's discuss 'is bronchitis contagious' and 'how long is bronchitis contagious after taking antibiotics' in the following ... The cough is what makes acute bronchitis so contagious, producing an aerosol of microscopic droplets that can carry the illness to people many feet away.

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This article on Black Holes is a condensed version of the talk I gave to the Society earlier this year. Most people are familiar with the term 'Black Hole' and have at least a vague idea of what they are. The very term conjures up the notion of a bottomless pit or abyss. Furthermore science fiction films on the subject such as Walt Disney's "The Black Hole" and "Event Horizon" have to a certain extent contributed popular general interest in this area. A Black Hole is, in simple terms, just a region of space-time where the gravitational field is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. So what made them such a topic of interest and why all the fuss about them during the second half of this century? What often surprises many people is that the idea of a 'Black Hole' was first contemplated more than two hundred years ago in the late 1700s. A paper written by the Rev John Michell in 1783 was discovered in the 1970s. This is the first known discussion of the concept of a black hole. John Michell (1724-1793) was born three years before the death of Isaac Newton. He became a well-known British geologist and astronomer and was later regarded as the 'Father of Seismology' in his study of Earthquakes. He is also credited with the idea of Binary Stars, the demonstration of an inverse square law in magnetism, and was the inventor of the torsion balance before instigating the experiment, later completed by Cavendish, to weigh the Earth. At the time the 'corpuscular' theory of light was the vogue. This regarded light as being made up of 'corpuscles' or particles similar in some respects to the modern idea of the photon. It was therefore considered a possibility that light could be affected by gravity in the same way as ordinary matter. Over one hundred years prior to this in 1676 Olaus Roemer had discovered that the speed of light was finite through observed variations in the period of Jupiter's moon Io. Observations of stellar aberration by James Bradley in 1728 produced further confirmation and a more accurate value for the speed of light of 295,000 kilometers per second compared to today's figure of 300,000 km per second. The Newtonian concept of escape velocity as being the minimum velocity needed to escape from a planet's surface to infinity was well understood. For a spherical mass M of radius R it is simply: sqrt(2GM/R) where G is the Gravitational constant. The escape velocity thus increases as the object's mass increases and also increases if the mass remains the same but the radius gets smaller. Michell pondered a body so massive that the escape velocity at its surface was equal to the speed of light. In his 1783 paper to the Royal Society Michell wrote: If the semi-diameter of a sphere of the same density as the Sun in the proportion of five hundred to one, and by supposing light to be attracted by the same force in proportion to its [mass] with other bodies, all light emitted from such a body would be made to return towards it, by its own proper gravity. In the above Michell contemplated the existence of a star 500 times the radius of the Sun and of the same density. For such an object he calculated that the gravitational field would be so strong at its surface that the escape velocity would exceed the speed of light. From this hypothetical star not even light could escape and the star would be invisible. Although he thought it unlikely, he considered the possibility that many such objects could be present in the cosmos without us being able to see them. In 1796, thirteen years later the great French mathematician, astronomer and physicist Pierre Laplace proposed similar ideas to those of Michell in his famous paper 'Exposition du Systeme du Monde'. In the early 1800's experiments on optical interference led to the predominance of the wave theory of light and the end of the corpuscular theory. Since light waves were thought to be unaffected by gravitation interest in the hypothetical "dark stars" ceased. In 1905 Albert Einstein published his Special Theory of Relativity and in 1915 his General Theory of relativity. The General Theory was a new theory of gravitation and one of its fundamental predictions was the effect of gravity on light. According to the theory matter causes space-time to curve. The paths followed by light rays or matter is determined by the curvature of the space-time and allowed a modern scientific proof of Mitchell's hypothesis. Further researchers followed on from Einstein and this will be described in Part 2.

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Race to Fluency! Growing Independence and Fluency • Rationale: Fluent reading is defined as reading in which words are recognized automatically. Reading becomes faster, smoother, and more expressive with automatic word recognition. Once this is acquired, students can begin to read silently, which is executed at a rate almost twice as fast as oral reading. The direct approach to improving fluency includes modeling and practice with repeated reading under time pressure. In repeated reading, students continue working with a single text until it is fluent. In this lesson, the students will practice fluency using repeated reading and graphing their progress on a chart. 1. Student copies of Curious George and the Firefighters (Margret and H.A. Rey, 2004) 2. Word Count sheet for each student (see example) 3. Reading Evaluation Form for each student (see example) 4. Timer for each pair of students 5. Progress chart for each student (This will be a race track with a moveable paper jogger. Numbers that indicate the number of words read in a minute will be placed around the track. Each time the student reads the text, he/she will move his/her jogger to the appropriate number. This will help to visually show the student the progress that has been made. These charts will be kept and used in future fluency lessons.) 1) “Today we are going to practice reading faster and smoother, which is called reading fluently. I am going to show you an example.” Teacher will read the first sentence of Curious George very slowly. “How did that sound? My words didn’t flow together very well because I was reading too slow. Let’s see if I can’t make it sound better.” Read it again, this time faster and more smoothly with less pause between words. “Did that sound better? What did I do differently? That’s right, I read it faster. Let’s see if I can do it even better.” Reread the sentence using speed, fluency, and expression. “That time, I read the sentence quickly and my words flowed together smoothly. Did you notice how my voice went up and down as I read specific words? That is called expression.” 2) Explain to the students what they are going to be doing. “ Today we are going to work on reading using speed, fluency, and expression. To help us do this we are going to the read the same book three times. Each time that we read it, we will become more familiar with the words in the book which will help us read more fluently.” 3) Divide the class into pairs of 2. Give each pair of students a copy of Curious George and the Firefighters along with two speed record sheets and reading evaluation rubric for their partner. 4) Give the students directions. “In this activity, each of you will have the job of being the reader and the listener. One of you will read while the other times the reading with the countdown timer. After the timer goes off you will switch jobs. You will repeat this until each of you have read the book 3 times. Each time you read, you will start at the beginning of the book and read for one minute. When the timer goes off, make sure to place your finger on the last word that you read. Your partner will then count how many words that you read and record the number on the word count sheet. Make sure to do this every time you read. After each of you have read the book three times, you will need to fill out the reading evaluation for you partner. Make sure your names are on the word count sheet because I will be taking these up at the end of the activity. ” 5) Give a booktalk about Curious George and the Firefighters. "George and the man with the yellow hat take a trip to the firehouse where George finds all sorts of new things to explore. When one curious monkey meets a company of unsuspecting firefighters, a big adventure follows. Want to know what their adventure includes? Read to find out!" 6) Give each student a race track and a paper jogger cut out. Explain how they are to use them. “You are going to use these race tracks and the joggers to help monitor your fluency. The numbers that are around the track represent how many words that you are able to read in a minute. After each time you read and count your words, move your race car to that number. Each time that you read, your jogger should move closer to the finish line. At the end of the today’s activity, I will take them up and hold onto them for you.” 7) Once everyone has finished reading three times and filling out the charts, I will ask the students to be sure their name and date are on their charts and then ask them to turn them in Speed Record Sheet Fluency Literacy Rubric Name:____________ Evaluator:____________ Date:___________ I noticed that my partner… (color in the circle) After 2nd After 3rd O O Remembered more words O O Read faster O O Read smoother O O Read with expression Evaluate the Word Count Sheet and the Reading Evaluation Rubric. On the Word Count Sheet, compare the number of words for each reading. The words/times should be scored using this formula: words x 60 / seconds. These numbers should have increased with each time. On the Reading Evaluation Rubric, each student should have accomplished each of the goals by the 3rd reading. Murray, Dr. Bruce. Developing Reading Fluency. Dr. Bruce Murray, Reading Genie Self, Jamie. Reading Race. Click here for Awakenings index

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Translated by Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum THE HUMBLE KING There was a certain king who had a wise man. The king said to the wise man: "There is one king who signs himself as being 'mighty, great and a man of truth and humility'. As for his being mighty, I know he is mighty because his kingdom is surrounded by the sea and in the sea stands a fleet of warships with cannons, which will not allow anyone to draw near. Inland from the sea is a deep moat that goes around the whole kingdom. To get in, there is only one tiny pathway wide enough for only one man, and there too stand cannons. If someone comes to make war, they fire with the cannons. It is impossible to get near. "However, as for his signing himself 'a man of truth and humility', I don't know. I therefore want you to bring me a portrait of that king." This was because this king had portraits of all the kings, but there was no portrait of that king in any king's collection. The reason was that he was hidden from everybody. He sat behind a veil, remote from the people of his country. The wise man went to the country. He realized that he needed to find out the nature of the country. How do you find out the nature of a country? You find it out through the people's humor. When you want to know something, you should find out how people laugh and joke about it. There are different kinds of jokes. Sometimes a person may really want to hurt another with words, but when the other takes exception to his words, he says, "I only meant it as a joke". "Like one who exerts himself to cast firebrands and arrows. and then says, I am only joking" (Proverbs 26:18-19) . There are other times when a person may say something that is truly intended as a lighthearted joke, yet his friend is hurt by his words. Thus there are various different kinds of jokes and humor. And among all the different kingdoms there is one kingdom that includes all kingdoms. In that kingdom is one city that includes all the cities of the entire kingdom that includes all kingdoms. In that city is one house which includes all the houses of the whole city that includes all the cities of the kingdom that includes all kingdoms. And there is one man who includes everything in that entire house. And there is also someone who produces all the mockery and joking of the kingdom. The wise man took with him a large sum of money and went there and saw how they were mocking and joking in various ways. From the humor, he understood that the entire kingdom was full of lies from beginning to end. He saw the way they would joke about how people defrauded and deceived others in business, and how the injured party would sue in the lower courts where everything was lies and bribery. He would then go to a higher court, where everything was also lies. They used to put on comedies about all these kinds of things. Through their humor the sage understood that the entire kingdom was filled with lies and deceptions and that there was no truth anywhere. He did some business in the kingdom, allowing himself to be defrauded in the transaction. He took the case to court, but the court was all lies and bribes. One day he would give them a bribe but the next day they would not recognize him. He went to a higher court, and there too it was all lies. Eventually he came before the Supreme Court, but they too were full of lies and bribery. Finally he came to the king himself. When he came to the king, he said, "Who are you king over? The whole kingdom is full of lies from beginning to end and there's no truth in it." He began enumerating all the lies in the kingdom. When the king heard his words, he turned his ear to the veil to hear what he was saying. The king was surprised that there was anyone who knew about all the lies in the kingdom. The ministers of state who heard what he was saying were very angry with him. Yet he went on telling about all the lies in the kingdom. "It would be proper to say," declared the wise man, "that the king too is like them - that he loves falsehood just as his kingdom does . But from this I see that you are a man of truth: you are far from them because you cannot stand the falsehood of the country." The wise man began to praise the king greatly. But the king was very humble, and "in the place of His greatness, there is His humility" ( Megilah 31a) . Such is the way of the humble person. The more he is praised and magnified , the smaller and humbler he becomes. Because of the sage's great praise, extolling and magnifying him, the king reached the utmost humility and smallness until he became literally nothing. He could not contain himself, and he threw aside the veil to see who this wise man was that knew and understood all this. His face was revealed, and the sage saw it and brought his portrait back to the king. By Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Greenbaum © AZAMRA INSTITUTE 5767 - 2006-7 All rights reserved

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Beacon Lesson Plan Library Creating and Interpreting Graphs DescriptionStudents use data collected at the beginning of the lesson, such as their favorite brand of sneakers or favorite soft drinks, to create graphs and to interpret the results shown by each graph. Note: This lesson assesses only the creation and interpretation of two types of graphs. ObjectivesThe student constructs and interprets displays of data, (including circle, line, bar, and box-and-whisker graphs) and explains how different displays of data can lead to different interpretations. Materials-Overhead, white/chalkboard or chart paper and appropriate markers -Samples of various graphs to aid in discussion (transparencies, textbook, or poster form) -Copies of handouts (See attached files) -Transparency of practice activity sheet or prepared chart paper for demonstration purposes -Transparency of checklist -Transparency or chart paper template of frequency table Preparations1. Make copies of the activity sheets and the checklist for each student. (See attached file.) 2. Make needed transparencies. (See Materials list.) 3. Gather enough protractors and calculators if students do not have their own. 4. Collect samples of graphs. Some should be missing important components for demonstration purposes. Have at least one graph without any labels. 1. Show students an incomplete graph, such as a circle graph without the labels and title. 2. Ask: Can you tell me what this graph is about? What must I add to the graph to make it meaningful? 4. One at a time add components (title, labels, etc.). Ask again what the graph depicts. 5. Inform the class that today we are going to learn how to construct a circle graph. Before we begin, we will review the construction of bar graphs and discuss the components of a good graph. 6. Have different graphs available for display. Point out the qualities of good graphs: appropriate title and subtitles, consistent and appropriate scale, accurate angle measures for each percentage in the data, and appropriate labels. 7. As you look at each graph include a discussion about what the graph indicates about the data. 8. Distribute the practice activity sheet (see attached files), protractors, and calculators. 9. Review how to use a frequency table to create a bar graph. 10. Students work independently to complete the bar graph on the activity sheet. Check for completion. 11. Show students the steps for creating a circle graph. Demonstrate the steps as students complete the next graph on the activity sheet with you. 12. Be sure to review the components of a good graph discussed at the beginning of class and check that these components are represented on these two graphs. 13. Discuss the graphs with the class and interpret the displays. Give needed feedback. Write the interpretation of each graph for the students to copy onto their activity sheets. 14. Check for understanding. 15. Use the remaining time for students to complete the activity sheet. 16. Take up protractors and calculators. 17. Summarize today’s lesson. Students should finish activity sheet for homework if necessary. 1. As a formative tool, check answers on yesterday’s activity sheet providing corrective feedback. 2. Inform students that today we are going to gather some data and as a class create a frequency table. Each student will then create two types of graphs from the set of data, and interpret the graphs they create. 3. Place a transparency of a blank frequency table on the overhead or display one on chart paper. (These two methods are preferred over the white or chalkboard if you have multiple classes.) Survey the class on their favorite brand of sneakers or favorite soft drinks. Complete the frequency table, tallying as you proceed around the classroom asking the question of each student. (You can substitute any appropriate survey item.) You may want to restrict the list to five or so categories. If more occur in your survey, you can discuss with class the option of creating an another category labeled [other] for infrequent answers. 4. Provide each student with the pre-printed circle and grids (see attached files), protractors, and calculators. 5. Display a copy of the checklist on the overhead or on the board. (See attached file.) 6. Remind students to refer to the checklist and to their completed activity sheets as needed. 7. Allow students time to create their graphs and write their interpretations of the data displays. Walk around and assist students providing feedback as needed. 8. Collect student work and materials. 9. Use the last ten minutes of class for several students to share their interpretations. Discuss the validity of their answers. 10. Evaluate students' graphs. (See Assessment.) Students create a circle graph and a bar graph from class-generated data. Students write a paragraph for each graph that interprets the display of the data. Formatively assess student progress as graphs are being produced, providing needed feedback. Before submitting their final products, students use the provided rubric to self-edit their work. Each graph must have the following: 1. Appropriate title. 2. Appropriately labeled parts. Bar graph must have an appropriate and consistent scale. Circle graph must have correct angle measure for each category in data set. Interpretation of the data is a clear and precise explanation of the data display. Interpretation should include at least three different inferences about the data. Assessment tool: Checklist (See attached file) ExtensionsThis lesson can be extended to include line and box-and-whisker graphs, and these graphs used to explain how different displays of data can lead to different interpretations of the same data. If all the different types of graphs have been taught in previous lessons, you can divide the students into groups of four students. Each group can create their own survey, collect the data from the class, and each student in the group can be made responsible for creating one of the graphs. The group can then use the four graphs to interpret the data and explain how the different displays can infer different information. Attached FilesCreating and Interpreting Graphs: Bar Graph File Extension: pdf Creating and Interpreting Graphs: Circle Graph File Extension: pdf Creating and Interpreting Graphs Frequency Table ;File Extension: pdf Creating and Interpreting Graphs Checklist File Extension: pdf Creating and Interpreting Graphs Practice File Extension: pdf Return to the Beacon Lesson Plan Library.

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dolescents are known for having periods of labile mood swings, irritability and withdrawal from family connections. This process can be part of normal growth and development and passes as a phase or it can be the first inklings of depression. The key to determining whether to consider this possibility is the duration of these symptoms, other symptoms like sleeping too much or too little; change in appetite, grades and friends and lack of pleasure in activities that they formerly enjoyed. Winter months, with the lack of sunshine and the weather forcing more time indoors, can be a time when these symptoms might be more noticeable to family members. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is thought to run in families, so family history can play a role in whether this is to be considered. Lack of family history should not rule it out, however. It is found most often in northern climates where there is likely to be longer and darker winters. Natural sunlight is always best, but things light using full-spectrum light bulbs and light boxes can help. Vitamin D supplements are also helpful, since this is the vitamin most likely to be deficient due to lack of sunshine. Another disorder with depression as a symptom is bipolar disorder, which has been diagnosed in adolescence with increasing frequency over the past few years. Bipolar disorder differs from major depression because in addition to the symptoms listed, there may also be unusual high or euphoric moods, characterized by lack of sleep and grandiose ideas. These disorders require professional assistance to differentiate, so this information is not meant to be diagnostic, only to pay attention to what might be a developing issue. It is important to note that increasing stress at home or school or in relationships can also lead to these kinds of symptoms, so look at all aspects of the situation before deciding a course of action. The school or church counselor can also be a resource for adolescents and making sure that your adolescents know all of their options is important in helping them take charge of their health, whether mental, emotional, spiritual or physical.

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In cell biology, the Golgi apparatus, Golgi body, Golgi complex, or dictyosome is an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells, including those of plants and animals (but not most fungi). The name comes from Italian anatomist Camillo Golgi, who identified it in 1898. Its primary function is to process proteins targeted to the plasma membrane, lysosomes or endosomes and those that will be secreted from the cell, and sort them within vesicles. Thus, it functions as a central delivery system for the cell. Most of the transport vesicles that leave the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), specifically rough ER, are transported to the Golgi apparatus, where they are modified, sorted and shipped towards their final destination. The Golgi apparatus is present in most eukaryotic cells, but tends to be more prominent where there are a lot of substances, such as enzymes, being secreted. The structure and internal function of the Golgi apparatus is quite complex and is the subject of scientific dispute. The Golgi apparatus consists, like the ER, of membranous structures. It is made up of a stack of flattened cisternae and similar vesicles. The cis face is the side facing the ER, the medial region is in the middle while the trans face is directed towards the plasma membrane (Fig. 1). The cis and trans faces have different membranous compositions. The transport vesicles from the ER fuse with the cis face of the Golgi apparatus (to the cisternae) and empty their protein content into the Golgi lumen. The proteins are then transported through the medial region towards the trans face and are modified on their way. The transport mechanism itself is not yet clear; it could happen by cisternae progression (the movement of the apparatus itself, building new cisternae at the cis face and destroying them at the trans face) or by vesicular transport (small vesicles transport the proteins from one cisterna to the next, while the cisternae remain unchanged). Lately, it is also proposed that the cisternae are interconnected and the transport of cargo molecules within the Golgi is due to diffusion, while the localisation of Golgi resident proteins is achieved by an unknown mechansim. Once the proteins reach the trans face, they are embedded into coated transport vesicles and brought to their final destinations. An example is the modification of glycoproteins (used in cell membranes). Vesicles from the ER contain simplified glycosylated proteins. In the Golgi Apparatus, carbohydrates are attached and removed from these glycoproteins, creating a diversity of carbohydrate structures on the proteins. After they have been secreted in to the cell the vesicles fuse to the cell membrane and release their contents.

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Data Papers are a new type of scholarly articles, which are rapidly gaining momentum in the scientific community. They are peer-reviewed scholarly publications that describe data sets and provide an opportunity for data authors to receive the academic credit through citation and re-use of the published data. Data Papers of this kind have been recently published in cooperation among the international organization Global Biodiversity Information Facilities (GBIF) and the journals ZooKeys and PhytoKeys. Most online keys to identify biodiversity (e.g., species and genera) are usually based on structured data. There are several software packages to create interactive keys; however a significant deficiency of them is the lack of a permanent scientific record and of a proper citation mechanism. Now, a new initiative is being put forward, for establishing the Online Identification Key (OIK) as a new type of scientific article, that is a derivative of the Data Paper. The model is illustrated by an exemplar paper describing a new software platform for creating online keys, MOSCHweb. The paper and an associated editorial piece are published in the open access journal ZooKeys. "MOSCHweb is a new software platform that facilitates constructing of online identification keys. Our ZooKeys paper describes the main features of an interactive key to the Euro-Asiatic genera of tachinid flies implemented as an original web application and discusses briefly the advantages of these tools for both biologists and general users", said the lead author Dr Pierfilippo Cerretti from the University of Roma 'La Sapienza'. "The publication of an online key in the form of a scholarly article is a pragmatic compromise between the dynamic structure of the internet and the static character of scientific articles. The authors of the key will be able to continuously update their product, to the benefit of its users. At the same time, the users will have available a citation mechanism for the online key, identical to that used for any other scientific article, to properly credit its authors" commented Prof. Lyubomir Penev, founder and managing director of Pensoft Publishers. The elaboration of the data paper format was funded in part by the European Union's FP7 project ViBRANT. |Contact: Pierfilippo Cerretti|

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|Name: _________________________||Period: ___________________| This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 8. Multiple Choice Questions 1. How does Dido kill herself? (a) With a lion bite. (b) With a sword. (c) By drowning. (d) With poison. 2. Where do Dido and Aeneas become "married"? (a) On a boat at sea. (b) At the ruins of Troy. (c) At the altar of Juno. (d) In a cave. 3. After first meeting Dido, what does Aeneas send for from his ships? (a) For his son Ascanius and for gifts for Carthage. (b) For his father Anchises and his medicine. (c) For his best toga and shield. (d) For weapons to surrender them up to Dido's people. 4. Who does Anchises predict will bring and Age of Gold to Latium? (d) Caesar Augustus. 5. Who is Aeneas told will be willing to fight with him against the Latins? (b) King Latinus and his Latins. (c) King Evander and his Arcadians. (d) Turnus and his Etruscans. Short Answer Questions 1. What does Neptune say must happen for Aeneas and his followers to have save passage over the seas? 2. How does Cloanthus win the boat race during the funeral games? 3. Which of the following is not an excuse Aeneas offers to Dido for why he must leave her? 4. What does Sinon say will happen if the Trojans violate the wooden horse? 5. Which of the following is NOT a type of funeral game? This section contains 345 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)

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What is Google Earth? Google Earth is known as a geographical, map and virtual globe information program created by Keyhole, Inc. and acquired by Google in the year 2004. It was originally named as EarthViewer 3D which is capable of mapping out the Earth by superimposing images acquired from aerial photography, GIS 3D globe and satellite imagery. This program is now available under three various licenses. These are Google Earth which is known as a free version which comes with limited functions, Google Earth Plus which comes with additional and more useful features and Google Earth Pro which is primarily designed for use commercially and requires annual payment. The program is capable of offering 3D images of buildings and terrains located in various parts of the Earth’s surface. It also takes advantage of DEM or digital elevation model data that are collected by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission of NASA. It allows you to see the entire Earth in three different dimensions. It is also a huge help in exploring and placing location bookmarks on Mars and the moon and in getting directions using essential variables like cities, street names and establishments while also functioning as a source of information relevant to a user’s location. Among the most useful features installed in Google Earth are the following: - Panoramo and Wikipedia Integration - Featured Planes including Cirrus SR-22 and F-16 Fighting Falcon - Street View - Flight Simulator - Sky Mode - Historical Imagery - Water and Ocean Feature Brainmeasures Google Earth Certification Program Gathering all the information that you need to become an expert in using Google Earth is now possible by enrolling in the Google Earth certification program offered by Brainmeasures. With the help of this Google Earth course, you will get to know more about all the functions of Google Earth as well as all of its useful features. The certification course provides a highly comprehensive Google Earth training which is sure to hone your knowledge and skills about the program so coming out as an expert user of the program will never become impossible. As soon as you complete the Google Earth certification course and finally receive your certificate in this field, you will become a certified professional when it comes to using the program and you can start providing your skills, knowledge and expertise in the field for a fee. Highlights of the Google Earth Certification Program from Brainmeasures The Google Earth certification program which you can now access at Brainmeasures is your ticket towards completely understanding the Google Earth program. Brainmeasures Google Earth certification course covers the following vital topics that are related to Google Earth: - Introduction to using Google Earth - Viewing the Earth in accordance to what Google shows - Finding places, things and businesses with the help of Google Earth - Making some adjustments on the way you view the world - Customizing your Google Earth program in order for it to perfectly meet your requirements - Basics of fine-tuning Google Earth - Adding points of interests and layers into the program - Working as a cyber tourist - How to mingle with the online community with the help of your personalized Google Earth program? - Effectively importing images and data - Taking advantage of all the advanced features installed in Google - Earth including the Google SketchUp - Effectively designing Google SketchUp - Building polygons and any other complex structures into the program - Best places to visit to obtain coordinates - Learning some of the most reliable sources of essential data files - Tools that you can use in making the most out of Google Earth and in improving its functionality - Understanding the default contents of the entire layers pane - Understanding the longitudes and latitudes of some of the major landmarks in a specific location Beneficiaries of the Google Earth Certification Program The Google Earth certification program which is now offered by Brainmeasures is capable of benefiting anyone who is greatly interested about mastering the Google Earth program. It is extremely beneficial for a wide range of individuals and professionals who would like to take advantage of Google Earth and start making the most out of its ability to act as extremely powerful communication tool and offer information about essential locations and places especially if they visit a foreign destination. Job Opportunities after Completing a Google Earth Certification Course Enrolling in a Google Earth certification course and completing it is a huge help especially if you strongly desire to make some positive changes in your career. As a Google Earth certification holder, expect the following positions to become immediately available for you: - Geo-marketing Head - Geospatial Database Developer - Google Earth Specialist - Geographic Information System (GIS) Engineer - Technical Geospatial Solutions Engineer - Google Earth Product Marketing Manager Expected Salary for Google Earth Certification Holders Completing a Google Earth certification course is also beneficial in the sense that this will allow you to boost the level of your income. If you are already a Google Earth certification holder, then you can expect to start working as a geospatial database developer which will let you earn around $47,000 to $89,000 per year. You can also work as a GIS engineer which usually offers an annual salary of $61,000 to $85,000. If you work as a geo-marketing head, then you can expect this profession to offer you a salary of around $75,000 to $145,000 yearly. We Guarantee Brainmeasures Certifications Are Just Worth Brainmeasures is an ISO 9001-2008 certified company, Brainmeasures is a leading online skill testing company. Our certifications are acknowledged by employers worldwide. Reason behind this trust is our world class testing standards. Brainmeasures offers skills tests in over 1200 varied fields and over 100 professionally developed courses and certification programs. - Certification tests are developed by experienced professionals and subject matter experts. - Each test goes under four rounds of proofreading to make it 100% error free. - All tests developed are first taken by experts who judge its standards and then give their feedback. - Tests are developed to check actual understanding of candidate’s knowledge of the subject and not mere on basis on difficulty level. - While developing each test this fact is considered that what is the motive and purpose of testing. - Each test developed checks complete knowledge of the test taker on that particular subject. - Complete testing is so designed that a candidate has to finish the test within given time frame thus ruling out chances of using unfair means. - Our Certifications determine the performance capability of an individual critical to the job. - Minimum standard of achievement is set by subject matter experts All certifications are updated regularly to include latest additions to the field.

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Last weekend I spent a few hours holiday shopping, visiting both boutiques and big box stores. Every shop that I visited smelled more delicious than the next. Scents of lavender, vanilla, cinnamon and spice hit me like a ton of bricks as I walked through each doorway. Unlit candles were strategically placed throughout almost every store emitting scents intending to remind us ‘tis the season to shop. Ever since I can remember, candles have been peppered throughout my living space providing me, and anyone who visits, with familiar and delightful scents. Since having children, my lighted candle craving has toned down a bit. Fire and children don’t mix well. However, candles continue to provide everyday enjoyment and represent the universal symbol of the holiday season for many of us. For this reason retail shops tend to ramp up their candle inventory during the holiday season offering candles in varying scents, colors, shapes and sizes. Approximately 35% of candle sales occur during the holiday season. Unfortunately, not all candles are created equal. According to a study presented at the American Chemical Society, candles can be responsible for adding nasty pollutants to your indoor air. It’s hard to imagine that something as small and simple as a candle can actually be a culprit in indoor air pollution, but it’s true. Most of the candles on the market are made with paraffin wax, derived from petroleum, and scented with synthetic fragrances, also derived from petroleum. In the study by the American Chemical Society, researchers found that the petroleum-based candles emitted varying levels of cancer-causing toluene and benzene, as well as other hydrocarbon chemicals called alkanes and alkenes, which are components of gasoline and can irritate respiratory tracts and trigger asthma. Not something you want to breathe in. The levels of these toxic chemicals can build up in a closed room without much ventilation. Soot is the solid particle that results from incomplete combustion of carbon containing fuels, primarily petroleum-based fuels. Candles are known to produce soot and this microscopic airborne pollution can lodge itself deep in the lungs. An Environmental Protection Agency report on candles and indoor air quality found that one type of candle could emit 100 times more soot than another. Scented candles were more likely to produce soot than unscented. Soot exposure can harm all of us, but soot specifically harms babies, as it can cause premature birth and low birth weight. What you can do - If a candle begins to smoke, place the candle in water. Keep in mind longer wicks and higher flames may produce soot. - Make sure the room is properly ventilated when lighting candles. - Look for candles made from soybean, palm, hemp, or beeswax. These aren’t petroleum-based and most likely won’t emit the same toxic chemicals as a paraffin wax candle.

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This December, countries will gather in Paris to hammer out a global agreement to limit climate change at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties. The last attempt to do so ended in acrimony and recrimination; Copenhagen has gone down in history as a failure. Six years on, should we expect things to be different in Paris? I would argue yes for two reasons; one encouraging, the other less so. Improved conditions for a deal The costs of a low-carbon pathway are falling, while the benefits are becoming increasingly clear. Since Copenhagen, the costs of renewable energy technologies have continued to fall precipitously—by around 75 percent for solar photovoltaic cells and 30 percent for wind turbines. Renewables are now the second largest source of electricity worldwide and are competitive with fossil fuels in a growing number of geographies. Although coal remains the largest and cheapest source of power, it kills; the costs of premature deaths from exposure to outdoor air pollution can approach, or even exceed, 10 percent of gross domestic product in high-carbon emitting countries. The local benefits of low-carbon technologies, in terms of cleaner air, fewer deaths, less illness, and higher productivity are increasingly clear. There is growing evidence that the transition to a low-carbon economy is well underway and that economic growth and carbon emissions are decoupling: 2014 was the first year of global economic growth without growth in energy emissions. Perhaps most crucially for Paris’s prospects, there is closer alignment between the United States and China as indicated by their joint announcements on climate change in 2014 and 2015; this signals political appetite for a deal between the world’s two largest emitters that was not evident at Copenhagen. Lower ambition, better odds Some of the improved prospects are clearly the result of changes in the wider economic and political context. However it is also the case that prospects for agreement have improved as ambition for the strength of any deal has declined. Before Copenhagen, the aspiration was for countries to negotiate legally binding emissions reductions within the context of an aggregate “top-down” target. Since then, negotiations have moved towards a softer, “bottom-up” framework in which countries make nonbinding, nonstandardized pledges of any kind they wish. This shift is reflected in the official terminology for these pledges: intended (i.e. nonbinding) nationally determined (i.e. not top-down) contributions (i.e. not commitments), or INDCs for short. While there is still expectation that countries in Paris will agree (or agree to agree) to some kind of legal instrument, it is not expected that the INDCs themselves will be legally binding. Essentially, negotiations have traded architectural integrity for political feasibility: the softer, looser framework now being negotiated is more palatable to key parties, particularly the United States and China, thereby improving the chances of an agreement. Unlike at Copenhagen, the INDCs have been submitted in advance of Paris, potentially simplifying the negotiating dynamics. The problem is that they do not add up to a total consistent with the globally agreed goal of keeping warming below two degrees Celsius: the guardrail above which climate change becomes very dangerous. This should not be surprising, of course—it would be naive to suppose that the world’s largest collective action problem will be solved through individual action, which is essentially what the bottom-up INDC approach attempts to do. Raising ambition, closing the gap To avoid “locking in” insufficient contributions, negotiations will have to continue after Paris to raise ambition and close the “emissions gap” between what is pledged and what is required. The problem is that the gap looks like it will be very large, signalling low collective ambition and throwing into question the credibility of any stated aspiration to close it. The INDCs pledged for Paris look set to reduce global emissions by about six gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (Gt CO2e) from where current policies suggest they would be in 2030. For a good chance of keeping warming below two degrees Celsius, emissions will need to be cut by around sixteen Gt CO2e more—about the same as the current emissions of the United States and China combined. Relative to existing policies, ambition will need to more than triple if the emissions gap is to be closed. The leading proposal for how to close the gap is for countries to submit new INDCs every five years that are more ambitious than the last, leading to a regular “ratcheting up” of effort and incremental narrowing of the gap. The logic is that processes of learning, innovation, and deployment will steadily reduce the cost of a low-carbon pathway, making it politically easier for governments to increase their pledges over time. This should in turn drive faster progress towards a low-carbon economy, creating virtuous “cycles of improvement.” The problem is that, so far at least, government ambition has lagged behind technological progress. While low-carbon technologies have made dramatic progress since Copenhagen, the INDCs indicate government ambition has increased more modestly. What would a robust ratchet mechanism look like? The apparently weak feedback from technological improvement to political ambition and the size of the emissions gap both underline the need for a strong process to ratchet up ambition. Ideally, the Paris agreement would include an explicit recognition of the scale of the emissions gap (and therefore the extent to which ambition must be increased) and a requirement that each country commit to submitting increasingly ambitious INDCs. An independent scientific analysis for each review point based on the latest science and emissions data would allow governments and civil society to monitor progress toward closing the gap. The process could be further strengthened through the inclusion of an analysis that allocates the emissions reductions needed between countries, based on a set of predefined equity criteria. This would provide a common basis on which to scrutinize and assess pledges, increasing accountability and making it harder for unambitious countries to “free ride” on the efforts of others. It would, however, almost certainly be resisted by many governments due to its “top-down” nature. Of crucial importance is the question of when a ratchet process would begin. Current proposals for a so-called “stock take” in 2023 or 2024, when countries would presumably first review the emissions gap, would not see governments table more ambitious INDCs until 2025, a decade after Paris. By then global emissions will need to have peaked for a decent chance of keeping global warming below two degrees Celsius. This would be much too late. An earlier ratchet process is therefore crucial to a successful Paris outcome. Ideally the first review would occur in the next few years, with a first upward revision of INDCs in 2020, when the Paris agreement is implemented. Few governments have any appetite for raising ambition again so soon after Paris, however. Securing a strong, frequent and early ratchet process will be a challenging, but critical, objective for progressive countries. A long-term goal? Considerable momentum has emerged around the idea of a long-term decarbonization goal, which could send a strong signal about the future course of the global economy, facilitating long-term planning and low-carbon investment, and providing a reference point for subsequent five-year cycles to increase INDC ambition. In their 2015 declaration, the Group of Seven leaders recognized the need to decarbonize the global economy within the second half of the century. This was mirrored in a joint statement from Germany and Brazil, showing that this is not only a developed-country aspiration. Might such a target make it into the Paris agreement? Possibly, though the devil will be in the detail. The recent U.S.-China announcement avoided saying anything concrete about emissions reductions (how much, by when) when it recognized the need for “global low-carbon transformation during the course of this century.” This suggests China’s position has not changed since Copenhagen, when it insisted on striking a long-term global emissions goal from the text. Although a long-term goal would be a welcome outcome from Paris, it cannot credibly substitute for near-term targets to which governments can be held accountable. The corollary of this is that a long-term goal itself is only credible if the INDCs indicate a plausible chance of meeting it. This is currently not the case: the INDCs imply higher emissions in 2030 than today, which is patently not consistent with any plausible pathway to eliminate emissions during the second half of the century. A long-term goal can only be as credible as any mechanism to raise the ambition of INDCs. The question is not whether Paris will deliver a deal. It will. Nor is the question whether Paris will secure sufficient commitments to limit global temperature rises to below two degrees Celsius. It won’t. The real question is whether Paris can agree a credible mechanism to deliver an early, material increase in ambition that keeps the two degrees Celsius goal alive.

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PART ONE BASIC CONCEPTSChapter 1The Central Concepts of EconomicsChapter 2The Modern Mixed EconomyChapter 3Basic Elements of Supply and DemandPART TWO MICROECONOMICS: SUPPLY, DEMAND, AND PRODUCT MARKETSChapter 4Supply and Demand: Elasticity and ApplicationsChapter 5Demand and Consumer BehaviorChapter 6Production and Business OrganizationChapter 7Analysis of CostsChapter 8Analysis of Perfectly Competitive MarketsChapter 9Imperfect Competition and MonopolyChapter 10Competition Among the FewChapter 11Economics of UncertaintyPART THREE FACTOR MARKETS: LABOR, LAND, AND CAPITALChapter 12How Markets Determine IncomesChapter 13The Labor MarketChapter 14Land, Natural Resources, and the EnvironmentChapter 15Capital, Interest, and ProfitsPART FOUR APPLICATIONS OF ECONOMIC PRINCIPLESChapter 16Government Taxation and ExpenditureChapter 17Efficiency vs. Equality: The Big TradeoffChapter 18International Trade Back to top Rent Microeconomics 19th edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Paul Samuelson. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

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- (Photo: AP Images / Emilio Morenatti) In the days leading up to World Refugee Day, government bodies, donors and NGOs have been working harder to raise awareness for the more than 42 million refugees and internally displaced people who live in the world today. And because of the tendency for people to view refugees as distant numerical figures, World Refugee Day supporters this year have been shedding light on their plight with the theme “Real People, Real Needs” in hopes of reminding people that each and every single one of the 42 million have a very human story to tell. “Refugees are not faceless statistics – they are real people just like us who through no fault of their own have lost everything,” said Ron Redmon, spokesperson for UNHCR, the United Nation’s refugee agency. “So World Refugee Day is a good time to remember the 42 million uprooted people around the world who are still waiting to go home,” he added Friday. Since 2001, World Refugee Day has been marked every year on June 20 under a resolution passed by the U.N. General Assembly. This year’s observance on Saturday is considered especially important as it falls during a time of “enormous global uncertainty,” as Redmon pointed out. “[T]hose who work with refugees are struggling more than ever to meet even their most basic needs,” the UNHCR spokesperson commented. And the “sobering reality,” he added, “is that there are substantial gaps in our ability to provide them with essentials such as shelter, health, education, nutrition, sanitation and protection from violence and abuse.” The challenges are further compounded by lengths of displacement – some of which may be short-lived while others can take years and even decades to resolve, as UNHCR’s Antonio Guterres noted. “We continue to face several longer-term internal displacement situations in places like Colombia, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia,” the U.N. official reported Tuesday, when the UNHCR released this year’s annual report. Currently, nearly half of the refugees that UNHCR has taken responsibility for hail from Afghanistan (2.6 million) and Iraq (1.9 million) – the latter of the two reportedly having witnessed some 790,000 flee in 2008, according to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, which released their own report last week. And a disproportionate amount of the 1.9 million are believed to have been part of Iraq’s dwindling Christian minority, which not long ago was 1.4 million-strong. Since U.S.-led forces invaded the country and toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, more than 200 Christians have been killed, dozens of churches have been bombed, and some 250,000 to 500,000 Christians have left the country. And though the Iraqi vice president has publicly urged Christians to stay in Iraq and vowed protection, critics say nothing is being done to make this possible. "The suffering of Iraqi Christians has been beyond description and is not yet over. More than ever, the Iraqi Christians need our prayer and support,” said Jonathan Racho, International Christian Concern’s regional manager for Africa and the Middle East. On the Sunday following World Refugee Day, Christians worldwide will hold a second observance to raise awareness on the plight of refugees and likely devote special attention to Christians in Iraq. On World Refugee Sunday, believers around the world have been called to support and pray for the uprooted people of the world, individually and through their churches. “As Jesus calls his followers to be concerned for all of ‘the least of these,’ WEA (the World Evangelical Alliance) calls the worldwide evangelical community to participate in this event and pray for families who because of war, violence or disaster are forced from their homes and communities," urged WEA International Director Geoff Tunnicliffe, whose network of Evangelicals had a hand in World Refugee Sunday’s establishment. "In our ongoing concern for the poor and the marginalized, WEA is pleased to be a part of promoting World Refugee Sunday on June 21, an attempt to mobilize the global church to pray for the more than 40 million refugees and internally displaced peoples,” he added. According to UNHCR’s recently released “Global Trends” report, refugees and asylum seekers account for 16 million of the total 42 million uprooted people while internally displaced people uprooted within their own countries account for some 26 million. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST (2 p.m. to 2 a.m. GMT), a new web site of UNHCR, www.refugeedaylive , will feature live video streams from Iraq, Pakistan, a refugee camp in Africa and a settlement for the displaced in Colombia. UNHCR says it will be the first time in history that the world will be able to witness refugee camp life in real time. The first two nations highlighted will be Chad and Colombia. The rest will be announced at later times.

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New flu vaccine has smaller needle And protects against new strains Updated 1:01 am, Wednesday, October 10, 2012 There are few reasons to skip your flu vaccine, and fear that the shot might hurt really shouldn't be one of them this year. The new-in-2011 intradermal vaccine, an into-the-skin flu shot, has a smaller needle that makes the injection hurt less (though there may be pain later). Other options include a high-dose shot for those 65 and older and a nasal spray for healthy folks 2 to 49. Some children from 6 months to 8 may require two doses for a full immune response. So with no vaccine shortage, no priority list and minimal expense paired with well-stocked pharmacies, grocery stores, clinics and doctors' offices, 2012 is the flu season of no excuses. Flu strains that circulated in the Southern Hemisphere influenced the contents of the U.S. vaccine, which includes the 2009 H1N1 plus new variants of Influenza A and Influenza B. "I predict this flu season is going to be much worse than last year because we haven't seen these two strains recently," said Dr. Joshua Septimus, a clinical associate professor of internal medicine at The Methodist Hospital. "I am certainly concerned that people aren't going to take this year's flu season seriously because last year's was so mild." "The one thing we can predict with absolute certainty is that influenza is always different and the viruses are constantly changing," Baker declared. "The fact that we have two new strains circulating means that it may be a very bad season." The push for universal vaccination continues after the 2009 H1N1 "swine flu" pandemic was followed by two comparatively normal years of illness. It's never too early to vaccinate because building immunity takes about two weeks. "The flu kills 35,000 people in the average flu season, and they're not all old, young or pregnant," Septimus said. "The only person who should not get a flu shot is the person who has an anaphylactic reaction to eggs." Until becoming a nurse seven years ago - two decades into a career in health care - Brenda Green skipped an annual flu shot. "Before, I was on the administrative side, so I didn't understand the importance," said Green, 52, now a registered nurse at LBJ General Hospital. "My mother is nearly 80 and I can't take anything home from work to her and I have to protect my nieces and nephews. … I made my husband get one, too." LBJ, part of Harris Health System (the new name of the Harris County Hospital District), is among the local health care institutions strongly encouraging employees to receive an annual flu vaccine. For several years, The Methodist Hospital System and HCA have required flu immunization for all employees - even those outside clinical settings. Though the official flu season is October through May, Texas and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintain surveillance through the summer. Since July, the CDC has reported more than 300 illnesses, 16 hospitalizations and one death nationwide caused by a "pig flu" variant. The outbreak has been mostly in the Midwest, with no confirmed cases in Texas.

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Nov 17, 2010 NIAID experts expect major flu vaccine advances in next decade In a review of new influenza vaccine technologies, two experts from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases predict that the next decade will bring advances that "will substantially decrease vaccine production time, provide enhanced protection (especially in populations at greatest risk), and end mismatches between vaccine strains and circulating viruses." The article, by Linda C. Lambert, PhD, and NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, MD, was released online today by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The pair say moving from egg-based to cell-based production and adding adjuvants are "steps in the right direction," but the best hope for "revolutionizing" the field lies in new vaccine technologies. In a discussion of next-generation vaccines, they look at recombinant proteins, virus-like particles, viral vectors, DNA-based vaccines, and research on "universal" vaccines. A vaccine that provides lifelong protection against flu may not be achievable, but the goal of a vaccine that would be given every few years instead of annually and would protect against genetically drifting strains and emerging pandemic strains is worth pursuing, the authors maintain. Nov 17 NEJM article NIH awards $10 million to develop skin-patch flu vaccine The idea of using a skin patch studded with tiny, dissolving needles to deliver influenza vaccines has received a $10 million boost in the form of a National Institutes of Health grant to three institutions involved in developing the technology. The 5-year grant was awarded to the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, and PATH, the Seattle-based nonprofit organization, according to a Georgia Tech news release. The funds will be used to address key technical issues and move the microneedle patch through a phase 1 clinical trial, according to the release. The grant also will be used to compare the effectiveness of the patch and that of traditional intramuscular flu vaccines. The microneedle patches, which contain hundreds of needles so small that they penetrate only the outer layers of skin, could be applied painlessly by patients, officials said. "We believe that this technology will increase the number of people being vaccinated, especially among the most susceptible populations of children and the elderly," said Mark Prausnitz of Georgia Tech, the project's principal investigator. Nov 16 Georgia Tech press release Jul 19 CIDRAP News story on animal test of microneedle patch CDC updates advice for antiviral treatment in flu patients The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its recommendations on antiviral treatment for influenza for the 2010-11 season, keeping them generally in line with the 2009-10 recommendations. The agency recommends prompt antiviral treatment for patients with severe or progressive illness and those at higher risk for flu complications. The recommended medications are oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), since recent data show that more than 99% of flu strains in circulation are sensitive to them. Although oseltamivir is not approved for use in infants less than 1 year old (and an emergency use authorization issued during the H1N1 pandemic has expired), the CDC recommends its use for treatment or prevention in this age-group when indicated, since infants face an increased risk of complications. The agency says that patients who have mild illness and are not at risk for flu complications are not likely to benefit from antiviral treatment begun more than 48 hours after illness onset. Clinicians are advised to monitor national, state, and local antiviral recommendations during the flu season, since they may change, particularly depending on resistance profiles of circulating flu strains. CDC antiviral recommendations for 2009-10 season Pandemic H1N1 could become more virulent, reassort with seasonal flu The pandemic strain of influenza H1N1 could evolve to become more virulent, say the authors of a study published yesterday in mBio, and its propensity to reassort with seasonal H1N1 strains could increase in the future. The researchers sought to fill several holes in current knowledge of the behavior of H1N1 strains, namely, the genomic-scale interaction between the pandemic and seasonal strains, the pattern of further adaptation of pandemic H1N1 to humans, and whether adaptation could mean higher virulence. They co-infected differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial cells with seasonal H1N1 and pandemic H1N1 viruses in three different ratios (10:90, 50:50, 90:10). When the pandemic strain was originally present in higher or equal proportion to the seasonal, only pandemic virus genotypes were found in the progeny viruses. The adapted viruses, however, contained mutations that caused a more virulent phenotype than the parent viruses when tested in cell culture and in ferrets. When the seasonal strain was originally present in larger proportion, a reassortant containing the hemagglutinin gene from that strain and the remaining genes from the pandemic strain was found. With future reassortment would likely come a neuraminidase inhibitorresistant pandemic strain, given that such resistance has developed in seasonal strains recently, say the authors. Nov 16 mBio article Amount of egg in flu vaccine varies, according to study Researchers found that influenza vaccines can contain varying amounts of allergenic components like egg or gelatin, according to a study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting that wrapped up yesterday. Allergists suggest that any patient who is allergic to eggs or gelatin or has had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine be tested to the specific vaccine lot number that he or she will be given before being immunized, according to a Medical News Today article. "It should never be assumed that tolerating one dose of influenza vaccine suggests future tolerance," the authors said. The CDC recommends that those who have a severe egg allergy not receive the influenza vaccine, but the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI, a different organization, which did not sponsor the meeting) said last month that, given proper precautions, most egg-allergic people do not need a skin test before receiving a flu vaccine. Nov 16 Medical News Today article CDC guidance on vaccine safety Oct 15 CIDRAP News story on the AAAAI recommendations

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The first step in a wireless LAN (WLAN) deployment is to ensure that desired operation begins with a site survey to assess the Radio Frequency (RF) behavior in a specific environment. Many issues can arise in a wireless network due to poor planning and coverage. It has been discovered that many site surveys are not performed properly or the site survey is omitted altogether. The intended purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for proper planning, preparation, and identification of the key items to check through the analysis of a survey report. Cisco recommends that you have knowledge of these topics: - IEEE 802.11 Wireless - Wireless LAN Design This document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions. The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command. Refer to Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for information on document conventions. Types of Site Surveys There are three types of surveys: Passive, Active, and Predictive. Passive surveys are surveys that are performed with a listen-only mode. The survey client never associates to the access point (AP). Such surveys can be helpful when you look for rogue devices or you want a good gauge of downlink RF coverage from the infrastructure devices. These can be accomplished with a passive survey: - Identify rogues - Locate RF trouble zones quickly - Validate final RF setting - Perform initial surveys The most significant loss of information with passive surveys is uplink information, Physical (PHY) rate boundaries and retransmission. PHY rates are generally based on RF signal and noise levels. A passive survey only reports signal propagation for beacons measured by particular clients. PHY rates can only be measured by actual data that is sent to and from an AP. Active surveys are performed with the survey client associated to the APs used throughout the survey. When a client is associated, it performs all the tasks a typical 802.11 client performs, which includes rate shifting data rates as the RF condition changes and performs retransmissions. Active surveys are commonly used for new WLAN deployments because they provide the most details upon which to base a design. There are two main methods used in active surveys: - Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) Method: This method locks a client into an AP's radio MAC address and prevents the client from roaming. - Service Set Identifier (SSID) Method: This is more commonly used for post-deployment scenarios and used to survey multiple APs. It enables the survey client to associate to an SSID where the client roams between multiple APs. Predictive surveys are performed with a software program. The program uses the information about the coverage area to perform AP placements based on RF algorithms. These surveys are typically void of any type of field measurements. The best times to incorporate a predictive survey include: - When the deployment environment has not yet been built. - In order to obtain a budgetary environment for WLAN-related hardware. - When roaming requirements are less stringent. Prepare for the Survey Use this checklist to help you prepare your survey. Identify Primary Requirements: - RF application needs (voice, data, location, etc.) - Type of facility - Type of client devices - Industry vertical - Customer questionnaire Identify Customer Facility Requirements - Campus (indoor and outdoor) - Obtain digital floor plans from customer Identify Requirements for Type of Client Devices - Minimum Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) - Minimum Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) - Delay and Jitter tolerance - Maximum transmit (Tx) power Plan for the Survey Use this checklist to plan for your survey. - Access building type - Anticipate difficult zones - Confirm surveyed areas - Check details of area not mentioned on the main coverage map - Check unexpected roaming path Select Proper Survey Model Determine Proper Deployment Characteristics - Dense deployment - Highly mobile (Many cells; high-reliability; fast-moving clients) versus nomadic (temporary position) - Predictive versus Actual Specify the tools to complete the survey - Obtain digital floor plans from customer - Spectrum analysis tool like Cisco Spectrum Expert - Professional survey tool such as Airmagnet Survey or Ekahau Site Survey Define Client Devices to be Deployed - Maximum Tx Power level - Receiver Sensitivity Determine Physical requirements: - Understand cable considerations - Mounting considerations - Outdoor grounding and lightning protection - Consider placement of additional APs for monitoring and sniffing Checklist of Base Items to ask the Site Survey Provider - Frequency bands to be used: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz. - Tools to be used in order to complete the survey, such as Airmagnet, Ekahau, and so on. - Active or passive survey. - Auto sampling. - Type of adapter to be used to perform the survey. - The coverage areas that are 'in-scope' or 'out-of-scope', such as stairwells, elevators, electric rooms, air shafts, mechanical areas, and so on. - Heat map that displays RF coverage for all 'in-scope' areas with coverage set at the target RSSI for cell edge with a signal legend. - Heat map that displays SNR for all 'in-scope' areas with the target SNR and an SNR legend. - Heat map that displays the noise floor for all 'in-scope' areas with the target noise floor set and a noise floor legend. - Spectrum Analysis screenshots and recordings of possible sources of interference. Define what is desired in the analysis - Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), spectrograms, duty cycle, max hold, and so on. - Identify and list possible sources of interference. A walkthrough should be performed through the facility. Ask about and look for possible sources of interference, such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, and so on. - The AP hardware to be used. For example, the heat maps may look different for Aironet 3500 Series Access Points verses Aireonet 3600 Series Access Points. The AP should be selected to match the AP that is planned to be purchased and deployed. - If a passive survey is performed, define how many AP's at a time are planned to be used, one or three. Three is quicker than one, but the AP placements might be sub-optimal. - Identify the type of survey to be conducted: voice, location, or data only. Mistakes That Make a Survey Poor Mistakes can be made with the use of survey tools that are able to make a site survey report look good. These mistakes can make an entire floor or building appear to have sufficient coverage when, in reality, client devices in certain areas might have very weak coverage. You should always request the actual survey data files with the survey report so the actual data can be re-examined for mistakes and issues that are not shown in the survey report. The map calibration in a survey tool allows you to define the correct distance between two points on the map. For example, you can draw a line across a 40-foot wall on the map and specify that the distance of the line represents 40 feet. The rest of the map can be rescaled based on this defined distance. If the map is not properly calibrated, the heat maps generated from the AP do not represent the correct distance. Data gathered from a map that is not properly calibrated results in a completely inaccurate survey report. It is recommended to verify the map calibration in survey reports where the heat maps do not look correct. Most cases you see a single data point or AP radio provides much larger coverage in the survey map when compared to actual coverage. It is a good practice to view AP heat maps one at a time and verify whether the coverage looks too big or too small. For example, you might see an AP heat map cover an entire floor; this could be an indicator that the calibration is not properly configured. You might also notice maps that do not look accurate where the image looks stretched or skewed. This can be an indication of an invalid map that is not properly scaled. Best practice to always use a long distance on the map when you measure a distance that is used for calibration as this results in better accuracy. Discrepancies by even a millimeter with the use of a small doorway has a more harmful result when compared to discrepancy by a millimeter when an entire hallway is used. The default dimensions after a drawing is imported is 120 feet by 120 feet. If you see a map still calibrated at 120 feet by 120 feet, it is an indication that the map is not calibrated. Note: You cannot recalibrate the map after the survey is performed to repair survey data that was taken when the map calibration was not properly scaled. You must correct the map calibration and perform a new survey. Figure 1: Improperly-scaled Map with default dimensions of 120 feet by 120 feet Figure 2: Properly Calibrated Map You should always verify the map calibration. Measure the distance between two points on the map and verify the accuracy. You can use the 'measure tool' in AirMagnet to measure the distance between the desired points on the map. Figure 3: Measure Tool The 'Signal Propagation Assessment' allows the site survey application to predict signal propagation between data points. If this value is too high, the results render inaccurately and might show acceptable signal levels in areas where there is insufficient coverage. When you view a report where you see the signal extend far outside the building walls or areas where data points were taken, might be an indication that the 'Signal Propagation Assessment' is set too high. The default for AirMagnet is 40 feet, which might not be precise enough for accurate results. A setting of 15 to 20 feet provides results that are more accurate. As mentioned earlier, it is always a best practice to view AP heat maps one at a time. You should take note how far the signal propagates from a single AP, and also note that you should observe that the signal becomes weaker as you move further away from the AP. You can change the 'Signal Propagation Assessment' value to a different value after a survey has been completed without the need to perform the survey again. Figure 4: Signal Propagation should be changed from the defaults It is important to verify the survey path on which the data points were taken. The survey path should follow a valid walking path and should not have paths that go through walls. The survey path should also have a walking path that shows data points collected inside rooms and offices where there is desired coverage. It is possible that you do not have proper coverage in a room or area that shows coverage but does not have a walking path or data point. You should also verify that the doors to the rooms and offices were closed when the data points were collected. Assess the survey path in order to verify how often data points are collected. Incomplete Walking Path Data points were not taken in all locations; this includes inside the offices along the bottom of the floorplan. Areas in white signify that no measurements were taken. Figure 5: Incomplete Walking Path Complete Walking Path Data points were captured inside the offices along the bottom of the floorplan. This is denoted by the red and blue line that can be seen inside the rooms. Figure 6: Complete Walking Path Considerations for Capacity For areas such as conference rooms, which might have high client density, it is important to consider client capacity needs as well as coverage. When you consider client capacity, it is important to check which applications are used on the client devices in order to understand how much bandwidth is required. Channel Scanning, SSID, and Adapter Type It is important to check the 'channel scan list' to ensure that all of the channels that are in use are included in the list. It is recommended that you scan only the channels that are in use by the wireless infrastructure. You might receive inaccurate readings if you walk too fast between data points and do not give the adapter enough time to complete the entire scan list. If you scan for rogue devices, you must be aware that rogue devices on channels that are not in the scan list are not detected. Figure 7: Channel Scan List Another recommendation is to only scan or view heat maps for SSIDs that are provided by the wireless infrastructure. This is very important in buildings where an adjacent floor belongs to another party. The bleed through from their wireless infrastructure might appear to be your own coverage. You must take note on what adapter was used in a site survey. The adapter should have similar characteristics to the adapters on the devices that are actually to be used in the wireless network. You should always verify what type of client adapter was used throughout the survey. A client adapter with a better receiver sensitivity and stronger antenna does not provide accurate results to compare against clients that are actually used in production. Key Items to Check in a Post-validation Survey The primary objective of a post-validation site survey is to provide detailed information that addresses the current RF coverage and determines whether there is sufficient coverage to support the network design requirements. Post-validation surveys should also include information that addresses interference sources, equipment placement, and rogue devices. The site survey documentation serves as a guide for the verification of the wireless infrastructure. This document discusses the major topics that should be covered in a post-validation survey report. Coverage defines the ability of wireless clients to connect to a wireless AP with a signal strength and quality high enough to overcome the effects of RF interference. The edge of the coverage for an AP is based on the signal strength and SNR measured as the client device moves away from the AP. The signal strength required for good coverage varies dependent on the specific type of client devices and applications on the network. To accommodate the requirement to support wireless Voice over IP (VoIP), refer to the RF guidelines specified in the Cisco 7925G Wireless IP Phone Deployment Guide. The minimum recommended wireless signal strength for voice applications is -67 dBm and the minimum SNR is 25 dB. The first step in the analysis of a post site survey is to verify the 'Signal Coverage'. The signal coverage is measured in dBm. You can adjust the color-coded signal gauge to your minimum-allowed signal level to view areas where there are sufficient and insufficient coverage. The example in Figure 8 shows blue, green, and yellow areas in the map have signal coverage at -67 dBm or better. The areas in grey on the coverage maps have deficient coverage. Figure 8: Signal at -67 dBm When you check the signal coverage, make sure the AP's radio transmit power does not use a transmit power greater than what the client devices can support. For example, by default, the Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7925G uses the highest available transmit power by default (17 dBm / 50 mW for 2.4 GHz and 16 dBm / 40 mW for 5 GHz). It is possible to have a survey report that shows good coverage in all areas; however, if you have APs that operate at the highest transmit power, you might still experience uplink issues where the client devices do not support the same transmit power. For areas where there is deficient coverage, and you increase the AP transmit power to levels that the client devices cannot support, this only increases coverage on the downlink. Figure 9: AP Transmit Power Levels Check the site survey to determine whether the channel overlap is adequate for devices to roam to the next AP before the signal is lost from the previous AP. For example, based on the RF guidelines specified in the Cisco 7925G Wireless IP Phone Deployment Guide, you must use non-overlapping channels and allow at least 20 percent overlap with adjacent channels when phones are deployed in the 802.11b/g environment. For voice deployments, it is recommended that the cell edge should be at -67 dBm with 20 percent overlap. Figure 10: Channel Overlap SNR is the ratio of a given transmitted signal to the background noise on that channel. The RF guidelines specified in the Cisco 7925G Wireless IP Phone Deployment Guide require a minimum SNR of 25 dB (25 = -92 dBm noise level with -67 dBm signal). You can view the SNR heat map on the AirMagnet toolbar pull-down menu and change the selection from Signal Coverage to SNR. You can also adjust the color-coded signal gauge to your minimum-allowed SNR level to view areas where there is sufficient and insufficient SNR. Blue, green, and yellow areas in the map shown in Figure 11 have SNR of 25 dB or better. Areas in grey on the map do not meet the minimum SNR of 25. Figure 11: SNR at 25 dB The noise floor is a mixture of all of the background RF radiation found in the environment that surrounds the system in use. RF signals must be higher than the noise floor in order to be detectable as a valid, useful signal by a receiver. For an SNR of 25 dB and signal at -67 dBm the noise level must not exceed -92 dBm. You can view the 'noise floor' heat map on the AirMagnet toolbar pull-down menu and change the selection to Noise Floor. You can also adjust the color-coded signal gauge to your minimum-allowed noise floor level to view areas where the noise floor level exceeds -92 dBm. Grey areas in the floor shown in Figure 12 have noise levels that do not exceed -92 dBm. Orange and yellow areas have a noise level that exceeds -92 dBm. Figure 12: Noise Floor at -92 dBm The RF signal can bleed through from floors above and below. It is important to know how much signal bleeds through the floors because this can cause co-channel interference and can also be the reason why an AP radio operates at a very low power level. Additionally, this might be the reason why it appears that adjacent APs on the same floor have dynamically chosen the same channel. You can view a map with the AP placements on each floor and verify that the AP placements are not stacked directly above or below the same AP placements on a given floor. AP placements across floors should be staggered to provide better coverage. You can check the AP radio neighbor list in order to verify bleed through and verify whether you detect APs that are on different floors at a strong signal level. The Cisco WLC Config Analyzer on the Cisco Support Community provides a detailed picture of AP neighbor information. Rogues and Interferers Rogue APs are wireless APs that have been installed on an enterprise network without the authorization of the enterprise information technology department. Most rogue APs are not installed securely and can be used by outsiders to gain access to an enterprise network. In addition to the security risk posed by these devices, rogue APs are a source of co-channel and adjacent channel RF interference, which degrades the performance of the enterprise WLAN. If there is not a business justification for these APs, they should be disconnected immediately from the network. When disconnected, this improves the overall network security and reduces RF interference with nearby infrastructure APs. If, however, these Aps do serve a required business function, you should investigate the prospect to integrate the application into the current corporate WLAN infrastructure. A separate walkthrough is normally completed with Spectrum Experts in order to detect and record rogue devices and interferers, which gives you a snapshot of what was detected at that time. Figure 13: Spectrum Experts Do not rely only on this report or continuously rely on the infrastructure to detect and report interferers and rogue devices. Rogue devices that are detected by the infrastructure devices should be reported to a management system for further triage and investigation. Figure 14 provides an example of the Network Control System (NCS) security summary tab. Figure 14: NCS Security Summary Tab Use WLC Link-Test to Assist with Coverage Assessment In order to determine whether the current AP coverage is sufficient for the applications that run on a client, the WLC provides a user-friendly link test tool. How to check for AP coverage Step 1: With the client associated to an AP, and from the MAC address that matches the client, select WLC > Monitor > Clients. The Client Details are displayed as shown in Figure 15. Step 2: Click the Link Test button and run the link test. This action performs a bi-directional link test that determines the current coverage of the client. If there are no lost packets, then try to move the client away from the AP in order to determine whether there is any additional range available while enough signal is maintained to have quality application performance. Figure 15: Client Details with Link Test Option One coverage goal is to require a signal of -67 dBm RSSI or better to the AP, with an assumption that a noise floor of -92 dBm, for an SNR of 25 dB. When you perform coverage tests on 2.4 GHz, it is recommended to have the lower data rates disabled. This is because the -67 dBm RSSI coverage area is much larger at one (1) Mbps data rate than 12 Mbps. This is a range versus bandwidth design consideration. Dense 2.4 GHz networks might have high channel utilization. The most effective way to reduce channel utilization is to remove lower data rates. Understand Wireless Data Rates Wireless data rate configurations are one of the most critical tools available to tune and optimize wireless networks. The choice of data rate directly impacts coverage and performance; therefore, it is essential to understand how changes to data rates impact an environment. Coverage (Cell Size) Lower data rates can be demodulated across greater distances than higher data rates. This is because of the lower complexity encoding schemes — the signal can be understood at a lower SNR. Enable lower data rates in order to increase the effective range of the AP; disable the lower data rates in order to decrease the effective range of the AP. Figure 16: Coverage (Cell Size) If you increase the range, this results in greater coverage at the expense of overall throughput. In 2.4 GHz deployments (and very dense 5 GHz deployments with limited channels), this is likely to negatively impact channel utilization as a result of adjacent co-channel interference. On the other hand, if you decrease the range, this results in better performance and reduces co-channel interference, and effectively decreases channel utilization. Figure 17: Coverage (Cell Size) The key is to balance these options in order to achieve the best performance based upon the desired AP density and client/application requirements. For example, if you have voice services in the environment, you are likely to have a higher density deployment and should disable the lower data rates to improve performance (guideline for 792x is 12 Mbps as lowest). If you have a warehouse with old 802.11b scanners, obviously you must keep the lower rates enabled. Version 7.2 of Wireless LAN Controller software enhances our control of the environment through the use of RF profiles, which allows you to set data rates on a per AP group basis. In general, most deployments set the lowest enabled rate as the mandatory rate. High density and multicast environments might have multiple higher mandatory rates. Refer to the Multicast Delivery section in this document for more details. 802.11 management frames are sent at the lowest mandatory (basic) data rate. The primary concern with this is beacon traffic. For example, if one (1) Mbps is defined as mandatory in a dense deployment with six (6) SSIDs, then 67 percent of airtime (bandwidth) is used on beacons alone. If 12 Mbps is the lowest mandatory rate, then only five (5) percent of airtime is consumed by beacons. When you disable the lower data rates and limit the number of SSIDs, this reduces time spent on management traffic and allows for more bandwidth for the connected clients. Figure 18: Management Frames In general, Multicast/Broadcast frames are sent at the highest mandatory (basic) data rate. There is an exception if there are current associated clients that transmit at a rate lower than the highest mandatory rate. In this situation, the AP sends Multicast/Broadcast frames at the highest mandatory rate that is below or equal to all of the current client transmission rates. For example, the highest mandatory rate is 24 Mbps and lowest mandatory is set to six (6) Mbps. If all clients on that BSSID transmit at 24 Mbps or higher, then use 24 Mbps to transmit multicast. But, if any one client rate shifts down to six (6) Mbps, then the transmission occurs at six (6) Mbps. Otherwise that client cannot receive it. Change the mandatory rates in order to modify multicast performance. When you set high mandatory rates, this allows higher bandwidth multicast streams to be delivered, although all clients might not receive the stream very reliably. If you set lower mandatory rates, this allows the stream to be delivered to lower signal strength clients at the expense of bandwidth performance. Common Troubleshooting Scenarios - Suspect poor coverage/not enough AP density — If AP transmit power is already at the maximum, you can enable the lower data rates to allow clients to connect from farther away. This has a negative impact on performance, but it can help the customer understand that additional APs might be necessary. - High Channel Utilization — In order to attempt to reduce channel utilization and improve performance, disable the lower data rates. Ask the customer if they have any 802.11b/legacy clients before you make this change, to avoid problems. - Large number of SSIDs — Try to reduce the number of SSIDs that are broadcast. AP groups might help. Every SSID has 10 beacons to transmit per second by default, so you can save some airtime. - Multicast traffic — If devices do not receive the multicast stream reliably, you might need to lower the mandatory data rates. If the multicast stream is bandwidth intensive, such as High Definition (HD) video, you might need to set a higher rate to mandatory in order to improve performance. Verification of Signal Strength - Use the software application inSSIDer. - Use the neighbor list on a Cisco 792x Wireless Phone. inSSIDer is a Wi-Fi scanning application developed by MetaGeek. It is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit). It allows you to track received signal strength with the wireless adapter that is already installed. You can sort the information on many criteria, which includes MAC address, SSID, Channel, RSSI, and Time. Note: inSSIDer is not a full solution for wireless packet and spectrum analysis. inSSIDer can be downloaded at MetaGeek. When you have downloaded and installed inSSIDer, you can see the home screen as shown in Figure 19. Figure 19: inSSIDer Home Screen The various filters that you can apply are located at the top of the screen. In Figure 20, the filter is set on the SSID guestnet. Filter on the SSID that you want to measure to avoid any incorrect results from nearby rogue wireless networks. You can also filter by channel, network type (Infrastructure/Adhoc), and Security (Open, WEP, WPA/WPA2 Personal/Enterprise). inSSIDer can show a graph of the signals strength and channel information for ease of analysis. In the example in Figure 20, it shows the filter is set on SSID guestnet on the 5 GHz Channels tab. Figure 20: inSSIDer guestnet 5 Ghz Channels Tab For best scanning performance, be sure to connect your workstation to the SSID you want to verify. This ensures faster processing of Beacon and Probe Responses. Remember, for voice services, the goal is to have at least two (2) APs heard at -67 dBm or greater at all times. In this example, voice services fail in this environment, as there is only one (1) signal strength greater than -67 dBm (with the assumption of a noise floor of -92 dB, which allows for a SNR of 25 dBm). You can verify whether the signal strength varies over time in your environment, if you suspect any RF issues caused by environmental changes. Figure 21: inSSIDer Verify Signal Strength Neighbor List on 792x Phone The Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7925G, 7925G-EX, and 7926G can be utilized to verify coverage with the Neighbor List menu. In order to access the neighbor list menu on the Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7925G, 7925G-EX, and 7926G, select Settings > Status > Neighbor List. The connected AP is highlighted in red. With the Auto scan mode enabled (by default), the Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7925G, 7925G-EX, and 7926G idle (not on call), Auto scan only scans when the current signal lowers to the scan threshold, so only a single AP is visible in the list. In order to view all APs in the neighbor list menu with Auto scan mode, place a call from the Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7925G, 7925G-EX, and 7926G, where scanning occurs constantly while the phone call is active in Auto scan mode. With Continuous scan mode, the Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7925G, 7925G-EX, and 7926G always scans, regardless of call status (idle or on call) or current AP signal level (RSSI). With Unified Wireless IP Phone 7925G, 7925G-EX, and 7926G Release 1.4(2), neighbors are listed in order from the strongest signal to the weakest signal with the use of Auto-RSSI, 802.11a or 802.11b/g mode. If you use Auto-a or Auto-b/g mode, then the neighbors are displayed in this order: - Preferred Band Neighbors with >= -67 dBm RSSI. - Less Preferred Band Neighbors with >= -67 dBm RSSI. - Preferred Band Neighbors with < -67 dBm RSSI. - Less Preferred Band Neighbors with < -67 dBm RSSI. Figure 22: Neighbor List Note: The Channel Utilization (CU) metric shown in Figure 22 refers to the Quality of Service (Qos) Enhanced Basis Service Set (QBSS) index, which has a maximum value of 255. Divide the value reported in CU by 255 to achieve a channel utilization percent. The guideline for voice deployments is to keep CU under 105 (105/255 = approximately 41 percent).

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Kogia breviceps (de English: Pygmy sperm whale Spanish: Cachalote pigmeo French: Cachalot pygmée Kogia breviceps © Würtz-Artescienza (see "links") Pygmy sperm whales are somewhat porpoise-like in body shape, and robust, with a distinctive underslung jaw, not unlike sharks. They have the shortest rostrum among cetaceans and the skull is markedly asymmetrical. Pygmy sperm whales reach a maximum size of about 3.8 m total length and a body mass of 450 kg and are larger than dwarf sperm whales. Colouration in adults is dark bluish grey to blackish brown on the back with a light venter. On the side of the head, between the eye and the flipper, there is often a crescent-shaped, light-coloured mark often referred to as a "false gill". Teeth are only found in the lower jaw and are very sharp and thin, lacking enamel (McAlpine, 2002). Although the two currently recognized Kogia species are not so obvious to distinguish at sea by non-specialists , the morphological evidence backed by recent genetic analyses confirm species-level differences (Chivers et al. 2005). Duffield et al. (2003) even developed a method to distinguish both species based on myoglobin and hemoglobin While the precise distribution of the pygmy sperm whale is unknown (Mcalpine, 2009), it is evidently an oceanic species that lives mostly beyond the edge of the continental shelf in tropical and temperate waters around the world. It ranges north to Nova Scotia, the Azores, The Netherlands, Miyagi on the east coast of Honshu, Hawaii, and northern Washington State. It ranges south to the Cape Province, the Tasman Sea, Islas Juan Fernández, and Chile (Rice, 1998), and Argentina (Bastida and Rodríguez, 2003). It appears to be relatively common off the southeastern coast of the USA and around southern Africa, south-eastern Australia, and New Zealand (Carwardine, 1995). Distribution of Kogia breviceps: deep temperate, subtropical, and tropical waters beyond the continental shelf (Taylor et al. 2008a; © IUCN; click for larger map). A total of 28 strandings were reported for Europe until 1991 (Duguy, 1994). Further strandings were recorded in Hawaii (Mazzuca et al. 1999), Sable Island, Nova Scotia (Lucas and Hooker, 2000), Spain (Abollo et al. 1998), Veracruz, Mexico (Delgado et al. 1998), Chile (Sanino and Yañez, 1997), France (Duguy, 1991), Micronesia (Eldredge, 1991) and South Australia (Kemper and Ling, 1991). There was a sighting off Vietnam (Smith et al. It is unknown whether the populations are isolated (Carwardine, 1995). However, Martin and Heyning (1999) reported the cyamid amphipod species Isocyamus kogiae Sedlak-Weinstein, 1992 for the first time from a K. breviceps stranded in southern California, extending the known range of this amphipod from Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia, to the northeastern Pacific. This ectoparasite suggests that pygmy sperm whales from both sides of the Pacific are not isolated from each other. 3. Population size In areas where they frequently strand, members of the genus Kogia are considered to be one of the most common species to come ashore. While many large males strand, many Kogia strandings also consist of a female and small calf or a female that has given birth only recently. However, as with K. sima, there are no real estimates of abundance (Caldwell and Caldwell, 1989). Mcalpine (2009) summarizes that neither population size or trend are known. The best U.S. Atlantic abundance estimate for Kogia sp., 395 (CV=0.40), stems from two 2004 surveys, where the estimate from the northern U.S. Atlantic is 358 (CV=0.44), and from the southern U.S. Atlantic is 37 (CV=0.75). This joint estimate is considered the best because together these two surveys had the most complete coverage of the species' habitat. A separate estimate of pygmy sperm whale abundance could not be provided due to the uncertainty of species identification at sea. Furthermore, the available information was judged insufficient to evaluate trends in population size for the western North Atlantic (Waring et al. 2007). Barlow (2006) estimates that a total of 7,138 pygmy sperm whales are found in the outer EEZ of Hawaii. Using corrections for missed animals, Ferguson and Barlow (2001) re-estimated the abundance as approximately 150,000 of both species in the eastern tropical Pacific. 4. Biology and Behaviour Habitat: K. breviceps seems to prefer warmer waters: there are records from nearly all temperate, subtropical, and tropical seas. It is rarely seen: it tends to live a long distance from shore and has inconspicuous habits. It is often confused with the dwarf sperm whale (K. sima), with which it had been synonymized until Handley in 1966 again recognised and re-described them as separate species. With few field records, it was long uncertain whether the two can be distinguished reliably except at very close range (Caldwell and Caldwell and Caldwell (1989) suggested that K. breviceps lives in oceanic waters beyond the edge of the continental shelf while K. sima lives over or near the edge of the shelf. Wang et al. (2002) compared the diet of both Kogia spp. off coastal Taiwan and conclude that pygmy sperm whales fed on much larger cephalopods such as Taonius pavo compared to those ingested by dwarf sperm whales, while dwarf sperm whales ingested more Histioteuthis miranda than did pygmy sperm whales. These results support the view that pygmy sperm whales live seaward of the continental shelf and that dwarf sperm whales live more in coastal waters, i.e. the opposite of what Caldwell and Caldwell (1989) suggested. However, this spatial segregation was not apparent in the study of Mullin et al. (1994) who, by aerial observation, found both species over water depths of 400-600m in the North-Central Gulf of Mexico. These waters of the upper continental slope were also characterised by high zooplankton biomass (Baumgartner et al. 2001). Behaviour: When seen at sea, they generally appear slow and sluggish, with no visible blow (Jefferson et al. 1993). K. breviceps is said to be very easy to approach, lying quietly at the surface practically until touched although it will not approach boats by itself and is rather timid, slow moving and deliberate. Like its congener, K. breviceps spends considerable time lying motionless at the surface with the back of the head exposed and the tail hanging down loosely. K. breviceps is reported to float higher in the water with more of the head and back exposed than K. sima (Caldwell and Caldwell, 1989). Dive times of up to 18 minutes were recorded from a rehabilitated animal, although most dive durations are shorter (Scott et al. 2001). Schooling: Most sightings of pygmy sperm whales around Hawaii were of single individuals (Barlow, 2006), but Mcalpine (2009) summarizes that group size ranges between 1-6. Food: Studies of feeding habits, based on stomach contents of stranded animals, suggest that this species feeds in deep water on cephalopods and, less often, on deep-sea fishes and shrimps (Caldwell and Caldwell, 1989; Jefferson et al. 1993; Santos and Haimovici, Beatson (2007) investigated the stomach contents of pygmy sperm whales stranded on New Zealand beaches between 1991 and 2003. The diet was found to include fish and crustaceans, but is comprised primarily by 23 species of cephalopods, dominated by juvenile individuals of the families Histioteuthididae and Cranchiidae. Stranding data of both Kogiidae do not seem to bear out any strong seasonal changes in distribution nor any migrations, although some writers have suggested such in very general terms (Caldwell and Caldwel, 1989). Duguy (1994) suggests that the species may migrate from the coast to the open sea in summer, since most strandings e.g. in Florida occurred during winter and fall. In Europe, there are more strandings in winter, which supports this hypothesis: Mcalpine (2009) remarks that in the NE Atlantic, most strandings occur in autumn and winter. Direct catch: Pygmy sperm whales have never been hunted commercially. Small numbers have been taken in coastal whaling operations off Japan and Indonesia (Jefferson et al. 1993). Incidental catch: A few have been killed in Sri Lanka's gillnet fisheries, and it is likely they are killed in gillnets elsewhere as well (Jefferson et al. 1993). Perez et al. (2001) report on occasional by-catches in fisheries in the north-east Atlantic. Waring et al. (2007) summarize that total annual estimated average fishery-related mortality and serious injury to this stock in the Western North Atlantic during 1999-2003 was 6 (CV=1.0) Kogia sp. Total fishery-related mortality and serious injury for this stock is not less than 10% of the calculated Potential Biological Removal (PBR = 2 in the western North Atlantic) and therefore, cannot be considered to be insignificant and approaching zero mortality and serious injury rate. This is a strategic stock because the 1999-2003 estimated average annual fishery-related mortality to pygmy sperm whales exceeds PBR. Pollution: Watanabe et al. (2000) present data on organic pollutants found in small cetaceans stranded on the coast of Florida and Marcovecchio et al. (1994) summarise the available knowledge on environmental contamination in marine mammals off Argentina. However, Bustamente et al. (2005) analysed 12 trace elements (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, organic and total Hg, Mn, Ni, Se, V, and Zn) in two stranded specimens and conclude that trace elements in whales on New Caledonia beaches, South Pacific, are below levels for concern. Tarpley and Marwitz (1993) report on a young male pygmy sperm whale stranded alive on Galveston Island, Texas, USA, which died in a holding tank 11 days later. During necropsy, the first two stomach compartments (forestomach and fundic chamber) were found to be completely occluded by various plastic bags. Gastro-Intestinal blockage and subsequent death caused by plastic debris has also recently been documented by Stamper et al. (2006). Waring et al. (2007) also list that remains of plastic bags and other marine debris have been retrieved from the stomachs of 13 stranded pygmy sperm whales in the southeastern Noise: Two pygmy sperm whales stranded in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, between 15 and 16 January 2005. Coincident with the stranding, one US Navy vessel was known to have used sonar for seven minutes about 90 nautical miles southeast of the stranding area (Kaufman, 2005, in Parsons, 2008). Known and hypothetical Range States (Taylor et al. 2008a) : American Samoa; Angola; Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Aruba; Australia (Tasmania); Bahamas; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belize; Benin; Bermuda; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada (Nova Scotia); Cape Verde; Cayman Islands; Chile (Juan Fernández Is.); China; Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Cook Islands; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Cuba; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Fiji; France; French Guiana; French Polynesia; Gabon; Gambia; Germany; Ghana; Gibraltar; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Guam; Guatemala; Guernsey; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Ireland; Isle of Man; Jamaica; Japan (Honshu); Jersey; Kenya; Kiribati; Liberia; Madagascar; Malaysia; Maldives; Marshall Islands; Martinique; Mauritania; Mexico; Micronesia, Federated States of; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Netherlands; Netherlands Antilles; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Niue; Northern Mariana Islands; Oman; Pakistan; Palau; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Pitcairn; Portugal (Azores); Puerto Rico; Réunion; Saint Helena; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Pierre and Miquelon; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tomé and Principe; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa (Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape Province, Western Cape Province); Spain; Sri Lanka; Suriname; Taiwan, Province of China; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Togo; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America (Hawaiian Is., Washington); Venezuela; Viet Nam; Virgin Islands, British; Virgin Islands, U.S.; Western Classified as "Data deficient" by the IUCN. Not listed by CMS. Listed in Appendix II of CITES. This species is insufficiently known with respect to all aspects of its biology and potential threats. Collection of by-catch and sighting data is strongly needed. For recommendations on Southeast Asian stocks, see Perrin et al. (1996 in Appendix Please see account on Kogia © Boris Culik (2010) Odontocetes. The toothed whales: "Kogia breviceps". UNEP/CMS Secretariat, Bonn, Germany.http://www.cms.int/small-cetaceans © Illustrations by Maurizio Würtz, Artescienza. © Maps by IUCN.

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- Studies show that many kids with food allergies are bullied - About 8% of U.S. kids have at least one food allergy - Talk to your allergist to develop an action plan In kindergarten, Owen Kellogg came home sobbing one day because another boy at school had told him that he had a peanut, and that he was going to force Owen to eat it. Owen, now 7, is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, said his mother, Haylee Kellogg of Cedar Hills, Utah. In reality, the taunting boy did not have a peanut, but Owen didn't know that -- he just knew that eating a peanut could make him stop breathing. It's hard for parents of food-allergic children to keep them safe at school when there are so many opportunities to eat snacks and meals with unsafe ingredients. For some kids, just touching a certain food or inhaling particles of it could cause a reaction. But on top of the safety question is a social one. A study released last week suggests that almost half of children who have food allergies have been bullied -- sometimes by having food thrown at them. "Clearly, it's an issue for these school-aged children in terms of how they interact with their peers," said Dr. Clifford Bassett, director of Allergy & Asthma Care of New York. "Immediately, when there's a diagnosis of food allergy, there's a little bit of a stigma." The new study furthers the mounting evidence that many kids with food allergies may endure social ostracism while also trying to eat safely. A 2010 study in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology said that 35% of kids over age 5 with food allergies have endured bullying, teasing or harassment. Parents of children with food allergies reported in the study that these incidents -- both physical and verbal -- happened because of food allergies. Food allergy is a growing problem in young people. As many as 8% of children in the United States have at least one food allergy, according to research data. There is no cure for food allergies. The only way to stop a life-threatening reaction, called anaphylaxis, is an epinephrine auto-injector, which allergists recommend that everyone with severe food allergies should carry. Allergists offer skin or blood tests to see what specific foods may cause reactions, but they cannot know how severe those reactions will be -- some people may have only mild symptoms, while others may stop breathing. Negotiating school safety Owen's family moved nearly 30 miles from Spanish Fork, Utah, to Lehi, Utah, when Owen was in kindergarten, so that they could live in a school district with some peanut-free accommodations. Peanut products aren't sold at lunch at Owen's school, said Kellogg. When Kellogg learned about the peanut taunting incident, she went to see the school principal. The result was that the other boy, who had also been bullying other kids, was moved to a different classroom. At the bus stop, Kellogg met the woman partly responsible for food allergy awareness at Owen's school: Jessica Norton, whose 11-year-old daughter Grace is allergic to peanuts, soy and various kinds of beans. Grace is the only one of three siblings who has food allergies; so is Owen. When Grace was in first grade, she had to eat her lunch in the principal's office on days that the school served peanut butter, to avoid a reaction from coming into contact with it. This solution was not optimal, in Norton's view. She petitioned the school district to stop serving peanut products, and was successful. Like Owen, Grace also experienced bullying because of her allergy. A boy would often chase Grace around with peanut butter in hand -- once, he touched her face with it, making her break out in hives. She only told her parents a couple of months after it stopped happening. These days, she doesn't get picked on that way, Norton said. "I think she can, kind of, stand up for herself now, and will stand up for herself now," Norton said. Standing up to other adults Norton was surprised by the negative reactions reflected in the CNN.com reader comments about provisions for allergic kids in schools. In a story about the recent bullying study, user "Brad Heddan" wrote, in response to one reader, "how about you keep your sickly kid home? That is what homeschooling is for. (...) we don't have to accommodate your sick kid." And "lorie" wrote, "Many allergies can be life threatening. It is completely unfair and ridiculous to expect 400 other families to change their eating habits because you can't teach your kid not to touch someone else's food." These sentiments were also seen on the comment board on a 2010 story about food allergy bullying. At that time, Norton chimed in explaining Grace's school's situation and adding, "My only thought is this, teaching children compassion for others is a good thing. And frankly, it seems a lot of adults that have made comments on here could use a little compassion too.' Norton has not felt that level of backlash from her efforts to keep Grace safe in her own community. A few parents have made remarks of the "Why do we have to accommodate your daughter?" variety, but generally everyone has been kind and supportive. "We're talking about life and death here," says Norton. "If it were their child's life, they would do everything they could to make sure their child's life is protected." Making people understand Communication with teachers, administrators, coaches, and the school nurse is key to ensuring that a food-allergic child does well, in terms of staying safe from allergens and psychologically speaking, Bassett said. It's also important to talk to a child about bullying, which can have serious psychological consequences, such as anxiety, Bassett said. It's harder to get teenagers to not take risks when it comes to avoiding problem foods and always carrying the epinephrine auto-injector, Bassett said. "Unfortunately the adolescent and child psyche is very sensitive to what people think and say and do," he said. Kellogg is proactive about getting Owen's peers to understand his situation. Every school year, on the first day, Kellogg takes a book called "Allie the Allergic Elephant: A Children's Story of Peanut Allergies." The teacher reads this book to the children in the class so that they better understand what it means to have food allergies. She also brings allergy-safe treats to keep in the classroom so that Owen can have them if someone brings in unsafe sweets to celebrate a birthday. He carries an epinephrine auto-injector with him. "School is the scariest thing for me because a lot of people just don't understand how serious it could be," Kellogg said. Norton also has a routine for the beginning of Grace's school year: Talking to the teacher about foods and determining where the epinephrine auto-injector should be kept. The classroom policy is that if kids ate peanuts for lunch, they are supposed to wash their hands. She and her husband John told their son Jack, who is Owen's age, to keep an eye out for Owen when they were attending the same school -- to tell a teacher if he were being teased. Jack and Owen are still friends. "I just didn't want anyone picking on him and if you have friend who will stand up for you, it makes a big difference," Norton said. A table of their own? When it comes to what the best course of action is in terms of protection from allergens, the plan should be individualized, Bassett said. You want to shield children from harm, but you also want to let kids be kids, he said. The Kelloggs moved to Cedar Hills in May. At Owen's new school, there is a special table where children with common allergies can -- in theory -- sit together for lunch, isolated from kids who bring food that would be unsafe for the allergic group. Owen sat at the table for the first couple of days of school this year, alone. Back that the regular lunch table, Owen takes several precautions. He owns his own lunch box and doesn't put food on the table. He has antibacterial napkins so he can wipe contaminants off the area where he sits. And he knows what peanut butter looks like and smells like, so he can avoid it. However, Kellogg said she believes Owen's school can do more to raise awareness and practice caution regarding food allergies. "I'm going to have to be the Jessica Norton in this school, and go in and make it known that they have to do a little bit more to protect these kids," Kellogg said. Does your child have food allergies? What's your strategy for allergy protection at school?

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Women head up to 25 percent of all households in Lima, where single mom Catalina Zevallos and her 7-year-old daughter Maria live. Maria Bartolo Zevallos sits at the kitchen table, squinting into her blue notebook. Strands of the 7-year-old's long black hair spill onto the pages as she scribbles her homework assignment. Despite her own exhaustion, Catalina Zevallos Cruz looks intently over her daughter's shoulder, her eyes strained from the single light bulb illuminating their one-room home. Each day Catalina awakes before dawn and walks to a local bakery to begin work at 5 a.m. When her shift ends at 6 p.m., she walks to the Compassion-assisted Forjadores de Esperanza to pick up Maria. Catalina does this dusk-to-dawn trek alone with no husband and no extended family members, she is her daughter's sole caregiver. Despite her long day, the single mom sits ramrod straight at the only table in her home, in one of two wooden chairs she owns, watching her only child do her homework. "I'm concerned about her studies," Catalina says. "I want her to know more for her future." Increasing Numbers of Single Moms While the majority of families in Latin America are traditional two-parent households, an alarming rise in single-parent households is occurring in the region. Single mothers, like Catalina, are the breadwinners for 60 percent of the poorest families in Latin America. Experts claim that men abandoning their families, increases in single women becoming mothers, and the premature deaths of men have contributed to the rise in single-mother households. Single mothers often lack the income, resources and time that two parents can give a child. In a developing country like Peru, monetary assistance can mean the difference between a family's ability to survive or not. Typically, single female heads of households make less than their male counterparts if they find work at all. Catalina works 13 hours a day, six days a week, but earns just U.S.$44 a month the equivalent of 13 cents an hour. "We need many things," she says. "Sometimes the money I earn at work is just enough to pay for school supplies." Hope Through Compassion Necessities like food, health care and even clothing would go unfilled if it were not for Compassion, says the young mother. In Maria's neighborhood more than half the adults are unemployed and are extremely poor. Catalina says sponsorship for Maria has allowed her to have something that many families in her community do not have: hope. "I feel very joyful," she says. "For Christmas and (Maria's) birthday her sponsors send money and the sisters at the project help me to buy clothes for my child." Maria says she feels special, too. Many children in her neighborhood live in poverty and do not have Compassion sponsors. "I pray that other children will have a sponsor like I have," she says. What did you like about this story?

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The Scientific Revolution is a name that some modern historians use to describe what they call the beginning of modern science in the mid-1500s. At that time natural philosophers (the term scientist was not coined until the 1800s) began to publish scientific hypotheses with the recently invented printing press. Most leftist historians typically point to Copernicus' publishing of his heliocentric theory as the beginning of this revolution, although the actual starting date is debated. The heliocentric theory stated that the Earth revolves around the Sun, as opposed to the geocentric theory that Sun revolves around the Earth. In fact, Copernicus had no observations or experiments to show that his model was better than others, and his methods were not significantly more accurate or scientific than those of Ptolemy that had been in use older cosmological models for over a thousand years. Rather, his system was praised for reasons that have little to do with science. He symbolized the challenging the millennia-held beliefs of antiquity. The 1600s saw relatively rapid change in astronomy, which was still closely tied to mysticism and astrology, as men such as Tycho Brahe, Kepler, and Galileo made progress understanding the solar system. The height of the so-called revolution was seen with the expansion of scientific societies such as the Royal Society in the 17th century, and the emphasis on the experimental method (later called the scientific method) and the creation of Newtonian physics, which had enormous impact upon European culture and philosophy in the 1700s. The 1700 and 1800s saw a massive expansion in countless fields of study. Biology was expanded as thousands of specimens were brought from voyages and colonies worldwide to botanical gardens in centers such as London, and were categorized by men such as Karl von Linnaeus. Chemical inquiry was increasingly popular, and culminated in the discovery of oxygen by Joseph Priestley and Antoine Lavoisier, ending an ancient belief that air was its own element. Geological study unearthed countless fossils, which fostered varied debates between those, such as Lamarck and Lyell, who argued for an old earth or even biological evolution, and Catastrophists, such as Georges Cuvier, who sought to reconcile scientific discovery with literal accounts in the bible. Influence of Religion An 1867 article in the church-oriented Contemporary Review uses the phrase, while making the point that the scientific revolution was not only not, as often implied, an opposition to religion, but was in fact largely the work of the clergy. The author suggests that "Galileo, the layman, was himself partly to blame for the persecution which the churchman, Copernicus avoided." He then continues: - Let us mark down, for instance, the names of churchmen as they come before us in the history of the scientific revolution which lies parallel to the Reformation. As far back as the twelfth century, the great mystical theologian, Richard of St. Victor, described the true method of physical inquiry... Raymond Lully became a Franciscan missionary. Roger Bacon has all but lost his title of Doctor mirabilis under the designation of Franciscan friar. Cusanus was a cardinal.... Copernicus passed over from medicine to the Church, and spent much of his life as a cathedral canon. It is the same in every branch of intellectual movement. Churchmen are ever foremost in the ranks... A notable fact in relation to Christianity and science is that the birth of modern science occurred in Christianized Europe. Sociologist Rodney Stark investigated the individuals who made the most significant scientific contributions between 1543 and 1680 A.D. In Stark's list of 52 top scientific contributors, only one (Edmund Halley) was a skeptic and another (Paracelsus) was a pantheist. The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians. Sir Francis Bacon, sometimes referred to as "the Father of Modern Science", wrote: "I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind." unique features of Christian theology. In False conflict: Christianity is not only compatible with Science--it created it Stark writes: |“|| Recent historical research has debunked the idea of a "Dark Ages" after the "fall" of Rome. In fact, this was an era of profound and rapid technological progress, by the end of which Europe had surpassed the rest of the world. Moreover, the so-called "Scientific Revolution" of the sixteenth century was a result of developments begun by religious scholars starting in the eleventh century. In my own academic research I have asked why these religious scholastics were interested in science at all. Why did science develop in Europe at this time? Why did it not develop anywhere else? I find answers to those questions in unique features of Christian theology. Even in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the leading scientific figures were overwhelmingly devout Christians who believed it their duty to comprehend God's handiwork. My studies show that the "Enlightenment" was conceived initially as a propaganda ploy by militant atheists attempting to claim credit for the rise of science. The falsehood that science required the defeat of religion was proclaimed by self-appointed cheerleaders like Voltaire, Diderot, and Gibbon, who themselves played no part in the scientific enterprise...... Dr. Charles Thaxton similarly states: |“||P. E. Hodgson in reviewing Stanley Jaki's Science and Creation said: "Although we seldom recognize it, scientific research requires certain basic beliefs about the order and rationality of matter, and its accessibility to the human mind . . . they came to us in their full force through the Judeo-Christian belief in an omnipotent God, creator and sustainer of all things. In such a world view it becomes sensible to try and understand the world, and this is the fundamental reason science developed as it did in the Middle Ages in Christian Europe, culminating in the brilliant achievements of the seventeenth century."||”| Thomas Kuhn's book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, popularized the term scientific revolution (and paradigm shift) to describe changes in accepted scientific thinking in a particular scientific field brought about by a new theory. Kuhn believed that the changes are not necessarily rational or leading to progress. The Copernican model of the revolution of the Earth around the Sun was one of his best examples. Notes and references - Eg, see http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture10c.html - Hannah, J (1867), The Attitude of the Clergy Toward Science, The Contemporary Review, 1867, volume IV, p. 7 - Williams, Alex,The biblical origins of science, Journal of Creation 18(2):49–52, August 2004. - Bacon, Francis, Of Atheism - T.S.Kuhn, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions", University of Chicago Press, 1962.

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Tuberculosis is an infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads from person to person when a contagious individual sneezes, coughs, or speaks and the TB germs are inhaled by others. Tuberculosis usually infects the lungs but can infect any part of the body, including the kidney, brain or spine. Close contacts of TB cases, such as household members, coworkers or others who spend considerable time together, can become infected. Most infected persons have latent TB infection (LTBI). Persons with LTBI do not have TB symptoms (i.e., coughing, fever, night sweats, coughing up blood) and are not infectious to others. It is crucial, however, that persons with LTBI receive treatment, because some persons with LTBI will eventually develop TB disease. With appropriate public health measures and with the right treatment regimen, TB can be prevented from spreading to others in the community, and patients with TB can be cured of this potentially life-threatening disease. Services available at CCDPH: - Treatment for latent TB infections and TB disease including directly observed therapy - Case management for clients diagnosed with active TB - Screening for high-risk clients only which are those who have a compromised immune system, are an immigrant from an endemic area, or are a close contact of someone with TB Suburban Cook County residents seeking TB screening for pre-employment or school enrollment should contact their primary care doctor as routine screening for low risk individulas will no longer be conducted at CCDPH clinics as of December 19, 2014. To make an appointment for at a CCDPH TB clinic or to report a case of Tuberculosis, please call (708) 836-8600. CCDPH Referral and Linkage Agreement for Agencies Licensed by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS).

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